Chapter 16: Frozen and Banished

"Dunn."

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

The howl of the bitter winter wind drowned the world in a never ending cascade of snowfall, the cold biting deep into the flesh and bones threatening to freeze her under the thick clothes she wore. Yet the warmth in her tone was unmistakable and the voice was loud to his ears despite the noise around them.

Dunn looked down to Serval, his helmet shifting slightly down so he could meet her gaze. "It's okay. I don't mind"

He had his shield up against the turbulence, protecting Serval against the onslaught easily with his bulk and armor, as the woman ambled through the snow by his side. The hike to Everwinter Hill was long and arduous even by Silvermane standard in normal days, now with the storm coming it had become even more difficult. Dunn had worried that it would be too much for the others but they exceeded his expectations.

A few feet on his back left was Mei, looking no worse for the wear as she led the three teenagers through the heavy snow, with Seele on the rear of the group to provide lookout for them. Dan Heng walked close to March to help her every time the pinkette stumbled on something along with Stelle, ensuring March alright as they continued on their way in a steady pace.

"I didn't mean for this," Serval elaborated with a gentle knock on the inside of his shield and Dunn's attention returned to her. "I meant for helping us."

He paused at that, eying Serval and the rest through the gap of his helmet, and nodded slowly. "The Captain puts his trust on you."

But Serval was not convinced. She rolled her eyes good naturedly and smiled fondly at him. "You know that's not it."

Of course he knew. Orders were absolute and must be executed at the best behest of oneself. This time, however, he had reasons. Personal reasons. "Madam Supreme Guardian is... Was a friend," he said evenly, trying his best to hide the sting from his tone. "The time we spent together was fun. If what you said is true..."

Serval had told him about the Stellaron and its malice because Dunn deserved to know as much and he had been quiet since then. She knew what he was thinking. Serval herself had the thought when she first heard it so she allowed him the moment of clarity, the moment to process, just so he could reach his own conclusion.

Dunn was a good and honorable man. Despite his rather intimidating complexion, he was very gentle and kind to his compatriots. Something Serval had witnessed for countless times when he was a part of her band many years ago. She had no doubt that he would make a wise decision.

"You know what you have to do." He didn't say anything, at least verbally, but he did nod resolutely. Serval smiled again, this time with an obvious sign of sadness, and gently patted his gauntlet wrapped around his spear. "Thank you."

"You're always like this, you know?" Dunn began anew with a shake of his head and Serval could picture him frowning disapprovingly beneath his helmet. "I kind of dislike it."

"What do you mean?" Though, his words could be interpreted negatively, there was not a hint of disdain in it. Rather, he sounded somber and it confused Serval.

"You sticking your nose on something you shouldn't have to," he explained. "It will always end up hurting you. Be it then or even now. Nothing's changed."

"Dunn... I have my reasons. I don't want them to lose their friend like I did mine. If there's a slightest chance to prevent that then I'm willing to take it." Her eyes lowered and Serval sighed a quivering breath. "It's painful. I understand that more than anyone else."

"I might be not as close with her but she's also a friend so I understand, too. This time I will not allow you to suffer in silence again. This time I will bear the pain with you." He then sent her a glance and through the helmet Serval could see the gentle smile he had. "At least, there's two people here who know and understand why we have to help."

Serval grinned. "Lay your heart into my perfect machine."

"I will show you what you wanted to see."

She laughed then, loud and unreserved filled with warmth and appreciation towards one of her best friends. "You still remember!"

Dunn chuckled and smirked. "You kidding? That's my favourite song we've ever come up with."

"Sing it together with me, then!"

"Eh, no. You know I have a terrible vocal."

"What nonsense. Come one, there's nobody to judge! Just you and your old friend!"

"Serval, no..."

But Serval didn't listen. She was already knee deep in the song, continuing where they left out, singing with all her heart and soul. With a defeated sigh, Dunn mumbled along yet the smile he had was unmistakable. If only it was not obscured by the thick metal he wore.

Even you know

Even you know

This was all for nothing

Just a sad show

Just an ego

I suppose though

As far as I know

We were both pretending

I suppose so

But what do I know?

The rest of the walk went in a tense silence afterwards with Dunn occasionally signaling for them to follow his every instructions with clear, easily understood details. The last thing he wanted was for them to accidentally step on one of the many fragile primordial ice surfaces and freeze to death, though he briefly wondered how much tolerance they had to begin with against the cold. So far they didn't show much aside from mild discomfort, which was a lot less than what he expected especially from people who allegedly weren't from Jarilo-VI.

Sometimes, he, Serval and Mei had to help the three teenagers cross a particularly difficult terrain and structures but aside from those moments, the travel went on smoothly and it didn't take long for them to reach the summit of Everwinter Hill.

The rocky mountain side acted as a natural barrier against the harsh snowstorm and it protected them from the harsh wind the higher they went, especially once they reached the passageway that led directly to the mountain peak with it being carved into a ravine a long time ago.

"What is this place?" Stelle asked, glancing around curiously. Dunn regarded her for a moment before answering.

"A research ground," he replied, gesturing with his head towards a mass of scraps and rusty infrastructures in one side of the mountain. A big line of pipe that seemed to run across the mountain itself. "But in the past, Everwinter Hill was one of the many military industrial sites. There was a factory here but it's long gone now."

"Do you guys go here often?"

"Of course. We patrol this place regularly to ensure no citizen is in peril."

"People go here?" March chimed in with a raised eyebrow. "I can't imagine people willingly go here for no reason."

"People sneak out of the city from time to time for various reasons. We hand out permits for those with official business but not everyone gets that privilege. Average citizens mostly are restricted from exiting the city and venturing the wilderness for safety reason."

"But people go out, still." It wasn't a question as Stelle made herself clear but Dunn nodded affirmatively nonetheless. "I kind of understand. Belobog may offer them protection but seeing the same things again and again can get a little boring."

"People are curious. Humans are curious," Dunn repeated, holding a hand in front of March and gesturing for her to walk a little to the side. He stabbed the snowy ground she almost walked on and revealed the dark, otherworldly substance of Fragmentum Corrosion underneath. "That doesn't mean they're less of a headache for us Silvermane Guards, however."

"Fragmentum Corrosion..." Seele muttered, kneeling down to examine it on the ground. The snow couldn't stick on it and it seemed a lot like the dark void of space in the white ground.

"I see figures..." Mei announced and they looked up further up the way, sure enough various humanoid shapes were visible in the mist. "More frozen Antimatter Legions? I can't feel a sign of life."

"They're long dead," Dunn informed, shaking his head. "Let's go, we're close."

They followed closely behind him. It wasn't long until the rock beneath their feet gave away into stairway, another trace from the past, and another wonder found them.

"Woah, what is that?" March wondered out loud and the group looked up.

"Is that a giant mechanical hand?" Stelle joined her, approaching the metal hand that covered the pathway almost like a tunnel. "Is there a giant robot here or something?!" She asked, suddenly excited.

Dunn chuckled at her enthusiasm. "It's the Engine of Creation which we used to build Belobog and assist on its defense in the past. And yes, it's a giant robot."

"Dude, I bet it's just like Titans in Warhammer!"

"A what?"

"Titans! They're these bipedal robots that sometimes are big enough to rival a mountain with weapons just as big." She paused then, hands on her hips. "So, is it still working?"

Dunn blinked behind his helmet, a little taken aback and confused but still managed a shrug. "Nobody really knows when it was last activated, so I'm not sure."

"What a shame," she said dejectedly, tracing her fingers over the enormous digits of the robot as they walked through them. Hers were so small they couldn't even compare. "It would be so cool to see it in action."

"Don't jinx us!" March warned with a hiss. "The last time you tempted fate, we almost got obliterated by the Doomsday Beast!"

Stelle blinked owlishly. "Look, all I said is that if it's really a dragon and not a lizard then it is surely capable of breathing fire."

"Yeah, and you nearly got killed because of it." March groaned, running a hand over her face almost tiredly. "God, that was scary. I still tremble whenever I recall it. I don't want to see my friend die especially in her first mission."

"Don't jinx me!"

They continued to bicker amongst themselves and for a moment Mei allowed a small smile to grace her lips. Children always found the time to joke around, even at the most tense of moments like this, and it's an innocence worth protecting. She had seen it before, multiple times in fact as she had led countless teams of students in the fields, and even before that. Mei could easily picture herself, Kiana and Bronya in the bunch for they were the exact same thing in the bygone past.

That seemingly careless attitude and simple happiness where everything else didn't seem to matter. A thought only the youthful had the luxury to think. Mei was fond of them, of children in general because they reminded her of her cause and reason to fight.

If not for the world, then for the precious smiles. For their budding, infinite possibilities.

"You okay, Seele?" Mei asked the woman behind her after catching her spacing out, a little worried as she hadn't spoken a word since a while. Seele had been anxious and it was obvious to Mei from the beginning.

Seele blinked, clarity returning to her purple eyes as they met Mei's. "Yeah, don't worry about me. I'm just... on edge."

"... you're bleeding out Quantum energy." Mei pointed out, gesturing at Seele's hand. Seele frowned and brought the appendage up, seeing her fingers buzzing and flickering in and out of existence without her intention, and clenched the digits to make it stop.

She shook her head. "I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong, but I don't know what."

"Has it happened before?"

Seele sighed deeply. "Yeah. A long time ago." She paused then as she recalled the memory. "It was shortly before they closed off the Underworld. Oleg was a Silvermane Guard tasked in protecting the Underworld. It was the final monster incursion where he almost got killed."

Mei grimaced. "Well, that is..."

"Not comforting at all, right?" Seele finished dryly with a scoff. "This unease comes up whenever someone close to me is about or almost die. It's like a curse or some other cryptic bullshit."

Mei fell silent at that, looking at Seele with wide eyes. Thunder, however, had no problem in voicing both of their thoughts with a mocking laughter that bounced about in her head.

"She cannot escape her affinity with Death. Not even the cosmos can separate her from her role."

"She's also the epitome of rebirth," Mei muttered and Thunder hummed, not denying it. To Seele she then said "I'm sure Bronya is alright."

Seele's head snapped towards Mei, for a second she looked like someone who had just gotten hit by a terrible realization. A mixture of horror and shock etched on her feature before it was gone just as quick as it appeared. "Yeah. She better be."

For some reason it only increased Seele's sense of urgency.

They'd ascended Everwinter Hill for some time now and sure enough it didn't take them long until they finally found Cocolia and Bronya. Dunn directed them past a closed road that led to a former testing ground where the mother and daughter were, though their attention almost immediately went to the Stellaron elevated high on a platform before them.

"Bronya!" Seele called out, taking a step forward only to stop on her feet. A torrent of feelings churned on her stomach as her brain processed at what she saw. "Bronya, we're coming to save you!"

Bronya didn't react. In fact, she didn't seem to hear her call at all with her back facing the group. Anxiety brewed in her chest and Seele began to call for her power, ready to flash in to Bronya and get her back, until an armored arm blocked her path.

"Wait, miss Seele." Dunn shook his head and she proceeded to glare at him, demanding explanation. "Allow me to talk with Madam Supreme Guardian."

"Us," Serval corrected bitterly. "Let us speak with her first."

Seele gritted her teeth but she willed herself to relax, nodding stiffly as she lowered her scythe she didn't realize she had summoned. It came so naturally for her that it didn't take much to imagine her eyes glowing red at the moment. "Something is wrong with Bronya."

"I know, but going headfirst thoughtlessly can only end up disastrous," Serval tried to reason. "Let us figure this out."

"Fine."

"So, that's the Stellaron?" Mei asked the three teenagers after wrenching her eyes from Seele and her interaction with Serval, earning a nod from Dan Heng and March. "Stelle?"

The ashen haired girl blinked at the call of her name, glancing up to Mei who subtly frowned when she saw the unnatural glow in her golden eyes. "I've never personally seen one, actually," she said almost distractedly as she stared up at the Stellaron again, almost in a trance. "It feels... odd."

"Are you okay?"

"Hm? I don't know," Stelle put a hand to her chest where a strange, pulsating feeling surged in and out with the beat of her heart. "I... don't know."

Mei looked at her worriedly, so did March and Dan Heng. At the same time, she saw Serval and Dunn approaching Cocolia and Bronya near the platform, both looking tense as they confronted their past and future.

"Madam Supreme Guardian," Dunn greeted with a salute and Cocolia turned her head to look at him. Her eyes flicked to Serval but it was so quick, as if she was purposefully disregarding the blonde's presence before returning to Dunn. "I am Lieutenant Dunn."

"I have given out strict order to not be disturbed, Lieutenant. Not by you or anyone else." She paused then as she fully turned on her heel to face the group. "Certainly not by those criminals, either."

"I'm aware, Madam, but there is a serious matter you must be made aware of."

"Your city is under attack," Serval cut in. Gone was her warm and playful tone, instead a cold and sharp knife took its place as she set her glare on Cocolia. "Isn't it imperative for the Supreme Guardian to be leading her people in this dark time?"

"I have a more important matter to attend," this time Cocolia did sound dismissive and it made Serval raged internally. "Someone who abandoned her duty would never understand."

"My duty was to uncover the lies you and your predecessors buried. People like you who think lives as mere numbers."

Sensing the approaching storm, Dunn gently put his gauntlet around Serval's shoulder to calm her down. "Madam Rand, you are suspected of treachery for working in cahoots with a malicious power. In accordance to Silvermane Codex, I am hereby declaring your arrest and delivery to the High Council for further investigation to your crime. Should you be found guilty, they will exact your sentencing and appropriate punishment." Dunn straightened up, his already impressive height unfurling even more. "Please do not resist for this is a lawful and reasonable arrest, otherwise you will be deemed guilty without trials."

Silence reigned over them, the only sound was the whistle of the wind and the subtle crunch of snow beneath their feet. Serval crossed her arms as they waited for Cocolia's response, knowing the woman had no choice but to comply to the order. The Silvermane Guards served under the Supreme Guardian but they had the authority to declare them unfit for duty as stated in the Codex as a mean to keep someone from getting too much power. From then, the High Council would then lead an investigation together with the State Department of Justice and the Supreme Court to determine whether the suspicion was justified or not.

If a Supreme Guardian was guilty of a crime, they would be removed from office immediately. Depending on the scale of said crime, the punishment could range from a simple dishonorable discharge to death. With Cocolia's, the latter was the most likely. Serval knew of the law for she was a former Silvermane, so did Cocolia.

"First, you turned my daughter against me. And now, you've also turned my people," she growled to the crew who tensed up at the clear danger in her tone. Even Stelle sobered up immediately with a blink. "Everything had been fine before your arrival."

There was no warning afterwards. With a sudden swiftness, a freezing lance materialized in Cocolia's hand which she then thrusted towards Serval with murderous intent. Serval had a split second to widen her eyes in shock, watching the attack happening helplessly with a flinch, only to gasp when Dunn blocked it with his heavy shield just as swift.

"Madam Rand!" He shouted warningly as he practically shoved Serval behind his armored form. "Madam Rand, what are you doing?!"

"To protect Belobog itself is a necessity and necessity demands prices. Throughout the years I have sacrificed more than anyone else ever has." She brandished her lance as it glow blue with a strange power, a coldness that swept over the land with nary a cease. A reflection to her cold determination. "No price is too big if it means the continuous existence of Belobog and its people. Even if it demands your blood."

"This is madness!"

"No, this is reality. The reality of our survival."

Survival meant a lot of things. For one to achieve it also required a lot of feats.

The strongest survived, the smartest survived, the nimble and quick survived. Each didn't necessarily had to understand the other yet one shared a common prospect; determination.

The determination to live another day, to carry on forward, to survive.

For the malicious itself it was also the same.

In a way, Seele understood Cocolia. Sometimes, the price simply didn't matter. Sometimes, you're forced to do what you thought was right. Something you might regret later but only later, for what was important was that moment you lived at. The present that determined your survival for tomorrow. A dead man had no future, after all.

Regrets would always come later. Regrets were something for your future and future you to worry. The wise would find lessons in them but for the desperate it only echoed one kind of thought; When will I be forced to do it again? Will I survive the second time and the time afterwards?

The matter of survival had no ends. It was constant. Those who were freed from it, were either dead or mad. The sane and living had that burden on their shoulders, the only difference was the weight they carried.

And Cocolia carried with her the burden of an entire city, possibly an entire planet even if what the Astral Express crew told her was true, that Belobog was the last cradle of civilization on Jarilo-VI.

Seele had been selfish in her survival, at least until she learned her lessons to protect her own people. But the few handfuls she had didn't compare to Cocolia's who had thousands under her rule, which was why she could say with certainty that Cocolia was wrong in her conduct.

When you had that many people, names and faces would begin to blur into numbers and, eventually, lives to spend and save in the equation for the greater good. To save two people, you needed to sacrifice one and for Cocolia it would've been acceptable. Adding zeroes would only result in a similar fashion and it would've been acceptable. At one point, you'd stop thinking on how many to save but how many to sacrifice. Such was the life of a Supreme Guardian, a beacon of hope that hid shadows underneath it where its light couldn't reach, a shadow of its own making.

Seele hated everything about it.

The thought of Bronya losing herself like that, just like Cocolia, was both horrifying as it was infuriating. She knew Bronya for only a brief of time yet in that time she had wormed her way to Seele's list of people she cared about because Bronya was better than her in everything, better than the monster Seele knew she was, and she wanted to protect that. Seele was selfish for wanting to protect her friends but Bronya wanted to protect everyone, regardless whether they were good or not because she believed it was right, that it was the right thing. Something Seele would never be.

Bronya had proven herself to be capable and willing to fulfill her wish, working tirelessly to bridge the two separate worlds just so they could be one and together again, so lost families could find solace in each other again. That desire alone was more noble than anything Seele had ever done in her life and it was worth her respect for the Silvermane Commandant.

For that beacon to shine, it needs a friend in its shadow to protect it. A monster so terrible it keeps the others from tainting its light.

The first flutter of butterflies graced her fingertips, a ghostly touch of power belonging to the decayed and dead, and then it moved to caress her arms and cheeks like a gentle and loving touch of a mother to her daughter. Seele leaned in to the touch, finding comfort in the anomaly without an ounce of fear or trepidation, for she knew it meant her no harm. It never meant her no harm. If anything, it was like a companion to her, the other half of her soul that always was there with her. Always there for her.

Seele exploded in a sea of butterflies.

Her movement was fast, too fast for normal human to follow, and she seemed to reappear right beside Bronya to grab the Silvermane back to safety. Cocolia caught sight of her as she flashed back into existence but she didn't make a move to stop her, simply regarding Seele with cold indifference before she disappeared again.

"Get her back to safety!" Mei yelled, just a split second before Seele reappeared back near the crew with Bronya close in her grasp. Seele briefly wondered if the woman saw her moving, impossible as it was but then again it was Mei, with how quick Mei ordered her before she discarded the thought in exchange for a nod. Tugging on Bronya's hand again, she took off into a run down the mountain.

"I'll come back after I get her to shelter!" Seele promised loudly, earning a nod from the crew.

"Serval, we have to retreat." Dunn told the blonde behind her who frowned in return.

"What? Why?"

"I cannot guarantee your safety if we stay here," he confessed with a glare towards Cocolia, a hint of anger and sadness in his eyes. A part of him couldn't believe that Cocolia had tried to kill Serval which the blow was undoubtedly intended to, while a bigger part of him decided that the fight was beyond his capability. He was a soldier and tactical acumen was his best skill so he was certain with his assessment. "Miss Mei, I suggest we retreat and wait for reinforcement."

"We don't have the luxury, I'm afraid," Mei suggested calmly. "The Silvermane Guards are busy."

"What do you propose?"

"We fight her," Stelle declared resolutely. "Right here, right now. The Astral Express don't back down from challenges."

Mei smirked. "You heard her. You go with Serval and leave this to us."

"But—!" Serval tried to protest but Mei cut her off with a shake of her head.

"Don't worry, I'll look after the kids."

Serval hesitated, obviously conflicted. At least, until Dunn tugged on her hand gently to gain her attention. With a frustrated snarl, she glared at Cocolia who watched the interaction with an almost detached look.

"Let's go, Serval," Dunn pulled her and Serval allowed herself being dragged. "We have to check on Madam Bronya."

The mention of Bronya tipped her decision to leave and she grunted with concession, but not before giving Cocolia another glare. "Mei, do what you have to do. All of you."

Mei regarded Serval's indignant expression calmly with her amethyst eyes. "Yes."

Without another word, Serval and Dunn left to follow where Seele and Bronya went to, going down the hill to catch up with the pair. Stelle and March watched them go while Mei and Dan Heng had their eyes set on Cocolia as soon as Serval and Dunn left.

Wordlessly, Mei pulled Seven Thunders out of its scabbard and held the sword in one hand, its blade glowing slightly with electric energy. The trio taking it as their clue to summon their own weapons and prepare.

"Talking you down is a wasteful endeavor," Mei began to Cocolia, tone full of distaste. She tried to not relate this Cocolia with her own but everything the woman before her did was a reflection to Earth's Cocolia. It made her sick just thinking about it. "You can be as stubborn as a mule. At this point, we all know we're past the talking term."

"Your words would not sway my resolve either way," Cocolia responded coldly. "You're just an outsider who know nothing about our way of life. How dare you spite on my reign and sacrifices when you're but a visitor?"

"Your sacrifices... or your people's? There's a difference between spending and wasting lives."

Cocolia's face darkened and Mei knew she had hit something deep, something utterly hurtful that had been buried in layers of pretenses. Thunder was having a blast in her head, laughing and jeering at Cocolia despite her obvious obliviousness. "Enough of this!"

Cocolia swept her lance, sending a wave of frigid air towards the crew and making them brace, but it wasn't the attack she intended. As the cold and mist dissipated, a bright glow emanated from her lance, poised ahead towards them ominously. The Stellaron seemed to responded to her action, glowing and pulsating brighter it made the throbbing in Stelle's chest even more pronounced as she quietly gasped for air.

"I've buried people to protect Belobog and I would do it again and again if it means Belobog's continuous existence. A few more of you would be nothing in comparison." She raised the lance and shouted to the heaven itself. "Rise! Engine of Creation!"

The mountain shook.

Ground splitting open as snow rolled down in a massive avalanche, burying dead trees and abandoned infrastructures in a terrible blanket of pure white. A deep rumble and cracking filled the air before, much to their shock, a gigantic metal construct rose from the mountain side behind Cocolia.

It blocked out what little sunlight the planet got and casted over them a long shadow, giant hands resting on the edge of the cliff beside Cocolia. Stelle felt genuine terror when its four glowing red eyes looked down towards them. Despite the knowledge that it wasn't technically alive, it still looked like it was burning with fury and malice as it stared down on them.

A colossus and the ants.

"Oh..." Stelle mumbled numbly. "Guys, I think I really did jinx it for us..."

There was never a response from the others. There was never a chance to respond because the giant suddenly raised its hand into a fist and slammed it to where they were with unmatched might, splitting the ground open with ease.

Seele ran and ran, unheeding to her aching wound or the weight of the person she dragged with her down the mountain through the way they just came earlier. Blood rushing in her veins while her heart beat loudly in her chest with every pulse agitating the wound in her forehead with an uncomfortable pain that come and go rhythmically yet ceaselessly at the same time.

Yet, Seele paid it no heed. Her thought set on one thing only; get Bronya to safety as soon as possible and away from the brewing conflict behind them.

With Cocolia going rogue, the responsibility of the next Supreme Guardian now belonged to Bronya alone. If Cocolia won, she would bury the truth with them so protecting Bronya was a must since she held the power and authority to declare Cocolia renegade, giving her the justice and punishment she deserved. Her testimony was beyond important that even Seele recognized that.

There was also the fact that Bronya would be the next Supreme Guardian. If Belobog lost their current and future Supreme Guardian, chaos might ensue with the power vacuum left behind. The Architects would eventually choose the next heir from the common folks but bureaucracy worked slow, even more so regarding the Supreme Guardian.

If what Bronya told her was true, it could take them years to train and teach the chosen heir. That was one of the flaws of their system, that a Supreme Guardian could not be elected so suddenly as an adult. At most, a teenager might be chosen and while they trained them, the situations in both Underworld and Overworld might have deteriorated too much for everyone.

They simply could not afford that.

Seele's breath exited in a series of rapid puffs, a thin mist that eventually dissolved into nothingness behind her. She kept on sprinting with Bronya in tow, not a word spoken between them as they descended down a flight of rocky steps, while Seele kept her hand tightly wrapped around Bronya's wrist. She had tried to engage Bronya in conversations but she only replied in silence so Seele gave up, thinking that Bronya was probably too disturbed by the ongoing events to properly talk with her.

She had seen it before. When people couldn't comprehend something drastic, they would just shut down from the shock. Seele had lost count on how many times she saw someone stared at their severed limbs or dead relatives with empty eyes, unable to cope with the sudden realization of their lives henceforth, back in the Underworld. People suffered on daily basis it almost numbed her to see but only almost since each time she always felt a pang of pity and sympathy for them.

It was good. It meant she's still sane and normal. Otherwise, she wouldn't be here risking her life to save Bronya and basically everyone.

Seele huffed at the last bit. Everyone. A previously unthinkable prospect she hadn't known would be a reality. She just wanted to live, not play hero in this wretched story.

A deep rumble interrupted her thought as the ground shook. It was all she got as a warning before a giant boulder tumbled down from the side of the mountain high above them. Seele stopped and grabbed Bronya with both hands, steadying and shielding her from the smaller rocks as the boulder rolled down across their path before falling to the edge and further down the mountain side, disappearing off the cliff with a trail of dirt and snow following it close.

"Holy shit, that was close," she muttered before she looked up to where it came from. The whispering wind blocked all sound in the distance and the snow covered the world like a thin blanket, making it impossible for Seele to make up anything that was happening in the peak of the mountain but the shaking ground was enough to make her worry for the Astral Express crew.

Mei had told her to go. Actually, Mei was the one that proposed to Seele this particular idea, convincing her that they would be fine fighting Cocolia alone. Seele had wanted to help, she really did as a form of payback to Cocolia for what she had done to the Underworlders, but protecting Bronya was more important than revenge.

"Let us take care of her. For you, preserving your future is more important than your revenge."

Mei usually didn't dictate something for others but that time she did, it was almost like she was an entirely different person. Her tone wasn't unkind, far from it, but the slightest hint of condescension she heard was enough to make Seele double over. It wasn't directed at Seele specifically but the effect was the same regardless.

Mei wasn't wrong, however, and Seele knew that deep in her heart.

Releasing Bronya from her protective embrace, Seele looked over the Silvermane Commandant to make sure she was unharmed, patting her up and down to see for any injury. Thankfully, she found none.

With a sigh of relief, Seele grabbed Bronya's hand again and pulled on her. Only this time she didn't move no matter how insistent Seele pulled to the point that if she pulled any harder it would hurt.

Seele furrowed her eyebrows, turning back to look at Bronya. "Bronya? What's the matter? We have to go!"

Silence was her answer, Bronya not making a noise. Her expression was set in a reverie while her normally lively silver eyes were now dull and cold without a spark of warmth behind them. Not even that Bronya was this detached. Even despite her aloofness there was still a hint of light, of something that indicated her burning soul within.

But this Bronya... she didn't seem to be alive, despite her breathing and warm flesh telling Seele otherwise.

Seele realized something was wrong, terribly wrong with Bronya.

This wasn't her being shocked, she thought as she grabbed on Bronya's shoulder and shook her gently to rouse her with no success. Something happened to her.

Panic, fear and apprehension settled on the pit of Seele's stomach and she took a step back from Bronya, widening eyes never leaving the Silvermane Commandant. Seele fumbled with her phone and paused, staring at her contact list as she was unsure who to call in current situation. She needed help, desperately so, as she could feel Bronya slipping further and further down the proverbial chasm she was in.

In the end only one name stood on the front of her mind and she pressed dial, mentally thankful to whoever set up service towers in the mountain range that made calls possible, and raised her phone to her ear.

That was a mistake.

In the split second vulnerability she exposed, her world exploded in a searing white pain. Seele wasn't sure when she started to scream, or when she stopped, but the burn in her lungs were nothing to the agony blooming in her abdomen. Even once the cause was removed, it didn't stop. Even when Seele dropped to her knees while clutching at her stomach it didn't stop.

Her hands found the source of the pain and she looked down with blown pupils, a mixture of shock and hurt in her gaze as they settled on the flowing scarlet. The substance was warm on her fingers as it slipped through the gaps, down to her waist and thigh before seeping into the white snow beneath, painting it red.

Still in an apparent disbelief, she brought one of her hands up closer to her eyes, trembling and red before her purple orbs. Those orbs would then shifted further up to Bronya and traced the rifle in her hands, its bayonet colored in the same crimson Seele's fingers were.

"Bronya...?" She croaked out, voice hoarse from the scream tearing her throat, before she slumped forward, lying on her bleeding stomach limply.

Time moved in an almost uncertain pace to Seele as her vision darkened, everything tunneling into a shadow that offered no certainty. She laid there in the pool of her own blood, feeling cold not from just the snow on her skin but also an ugly sense of betrayal.

Between shallow gasps, she wondered if this was how she was going to die.

Amidst the slowing beating of her heart and the rush of blood in her ears, she heard the soft crunch of snow as Bronya moved. Her boot filled her vision for a brief second before it disappeared and despite her fading consciousness she could still make out the direction Bronya was heading for.

"W... ait..." Seele breathed out, willing her body to move but only succeeding in bringing her bloodied hand up near her face before her strength finally escaped her. Another sound filled her ears but it was so distant to her she failed to discern it. "Come... back..."

The cold was gone now, replaced by a numbing sense of serenity. Seele's vision had almost gone that the only thing visible was the red of her own blood, now almost frozen on her equally cold fingers. She let one, stuttering breath before her chest ceased moving entirely.

"Heh, look at you."

A purple butterfly landed on her fingertip, so oddly bright in the darkness creeping around her. Seele's unfocused eyes found it but with her life teetering on the edge, she had no power to respond except with one simple last thought.

Please...

It seemed to pause, tilting its head to the side as it looked at Seele, before an echoing laughter pierced through her muddled thought.

"You are hopeless without me."

Right before her eyes the butterfly suddenly changed color. Red, like the color of her blood and her eyes.

Seele gasped.

I shall always chase after thee

A lost welt sailing before me

Into the deep end of the Sea.

TBC.