The sound of the cable car's rumble grew louder as it approached, and Seele's ears perked up at the sound of Hook's excited yell, which was like a burst of sunshine in the otherwise dark and foreboding environment of the Underground.
"The cable car's back!" Hook cried out in excitement, her bright yellow eyes sparkling with anticipation as she bounced up and down. "Let me on! Let me get on! I wanna get up to the surface!" she exclaimed, her blonde ponytails bobbing with each enthusiastic step.
Seele watched as Clara, her long white hair fluttering in the gentle current of the air, swiftly lunged to seize Hook's arm. The girl struggled to hold back the enthusiastic miner's momentum as they ascended the divider.
"W-Wait, Hook!" Clara's voice was tight with worry as she desperately tried to anchor her friend in place. "T-The cable car hasn't stopped yet!"
As Seele gazed at Clara and Hook as they struggled, Hook ignoring her friend's heartfelt plea. Seele's face was a picture of growing frustration, her lips pressed into a thin, pinched line as she glared at Hook's impulsive actions, her eyes flashing with irritation. "For the love of the Builder... What in the world are you even doing, Hook?!" Seele's voice was a mix of exasperation and concern as she shouted out at the child.
Seele strode over to Hook, each shuffle of her boots betraying her irritation as she approached the young girl.
"You're going to get yourself killed!" she warned, her voice as cold as the winter outside and as sharp as the rocks that surrounded them. With a swift and decisive motion, she reached out and grasped the collar of Hook's coat, her fingers closing around it like a vice as she yanked her off the barrier and held her like a misbehaving cat in its owner's hand.
"Well?" Seele asked the girl as she was dangled in front of her face, her eyes narrowed slightly in annoyance as she waited for whatever excuse the girl would come up with.
Sensing Seele's irritation with her Hook's face fell into a sheepish grin as she gazed up at Seele with an apologetic expression. Her words tumbled out in a hasty apology as she began to struggle against Seele's firm grip.
"I'm so sorry Big Sis..." she managed to get out between her struggling and panting. "I just got really, really, REALLY excited!" she exclaimed, her words spilling out in a breathless rush. "I've been waiting for what feels like an eternity to introduce you to the Xianzhou people in person. I just can't help myself!"
Her words were laced with a mix of excitement and nervousness as she looked up at Seele with pleading eyes, her face a picture of apology to one who might not be used to her dirty tricks.
Glaring at the girl with a mix of annoyance and exasperation, Seele's eyes flashed with irritation as she released Hook's collar. Taking a deep breath, she let out a sigh as she stepped back.
"You're lucky I was there to catch you," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of frustration. "The cable car would have crushed you like an insect! You're going to get yourself killed one of these days."
She placed a hand on her forehead, her purple hair swirling around her as she shook her head. "Geez, Hook... You're always getting into trouble, and I'd have thought by now you'd have learned to at the very least pay attention."
Chuckling with amusement that dispersed her concern, Natasha's eyes sparkled as she approached the cluster of people. Her lips curled into a gentle smile, and her words were laced with a knowing tone.
"I'm not sure, Seele," she said with a sly, sideways glance at the young woman. "I still can't help but feel that someone among us has yet to tame that wild, untamed spirit of hers, even in womanhood."
Flicking her gaze over to Natasha, Seele's eyes flared with a hint of irritation.
"You know I never..." she began to say, the words catching in her throat as a wave of nostalgia swept through her. The memory of her own reckless youth, of being just as wild and untamed as the young girl before her. And getting chewed out by the very woman she was now standing across from, came flooding back. This flood of memories caused any irritation to dissipate, replaced by a softer expression.
"Never mind," she whispered, her purple eyes drifting down to the ground, as if she had returned to being a child again.
Now free from Seele's watchful gaze, Hook's bright yellow eyes gleamed with a mischievous spark as she turned her attention to the biggest threat, Natasha, smiling with a renewed sense of determination to escape retribution.
"Hey, I'm still finding my way, right? I swear I'll be more thoughtful next time, okay?" The girl's words were laced with a sincerity that seemed almost... rehearsed. Her yellow eyes sparkled with a hint of calculation, as if she were weighing her words carefully, like a delicate gem. Seele's trained gaze picked up on the blatant attempt to appear innocent, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at the girl's transparent attempt to manipulate Natasha.
With a warm, encouraging smile, Natasha reached out to gently touch Hook's head, her fingers softly combing through the young girl's golden locks, a caring gesture that revealed her deep affection for the spirited youngster.
"Why do I seriously doubt that?" she asked, chuckling warmly as if to say that the very idea was almost too ridiculous to consider, yet the tone was one of gentle amusement. "I should know better than to trust you to learn your own lesson, after all."
Leaning into Natasha's side, Seele watched as Hook's beaming smile lit up her face, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she turned a cheeky grin towards Seele, taunting her for her apparent success in escaping punishment.
This impish little...! Seele's thoughts flashed with irritation as she shot a stern, purple-eyed glare at the beaming girl, her face a mask of annoyance. But as she took a deep breath, the tension in her body dissipated, and her gaze turned instead to Natasha, her expression softening into a mix of concern and curiosity.
Natasha seems particularly lenient today... She thought to herself, her eyes lingering on her leader's usually indiscernible face, now radiating the jubilant expression that usually accompanied her since the reopening of the Underground. She'd have given Hook… anyone a stern lecture normally...
"Is everything alright, Seele?" Natasha inquired, her tone light and playfully teasing, yet beneath it, a subtle undercurrent of concern and curiosity that hinted at her already formed suspicions. Her piercing purple eyes sparkled with amusement and a deep-seated interest as they locked onto the girl.
Jumping at Natasha's inquisitive gaze, Seele's eyes widened in a mix of surprise and trepidation.
Shit... Was it that obvious? The young woman's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions as she struggled to craft a suitable response to Natasha's pointed question. But before she could even articulate her thoughts, the cable car operator, with having meticulously completed all the necessary pre- and post-operation checks, strode confidently forward and boomed out to the growing assembly, "Cable car to the Overworld, ready for departure!" The announcement echoed through the dimly lit cavern, sending a ripple of anticipation through the crowd.
... Well, that certainly sidesteps that conversation for now... Seele thought with some relief as she exhaled a deep breath, her shoulders sagging ever so slightly in defeat.
"Let's get on with it," she said with a quiet grumble, her gaze drifting back to the blonde-haired troublemaker, her eyes lingering on her face as if daring her to make a move.
"Stick with me, BOTH of you," she said firmly, her voice taking on a slightly stern tone. "I don't want to waste any time on your antics today."
She saw Hook's face fall into a scowl as she shot her a look of childish annoyance, a feeling that Seele was all too familiar with as she turned and began walking toward the cable car.
Following closely behind Seele, Clara occasionally looked between the imposing back of Seele and Hook's glowering face. The white-haired girl's eyes were filled with a gentle, wordless reassurance as she offered the girl a small, comforting smile.
"Don't worry, Hook," she said softly, her voice trying to comfort the girl. "We'll be in Belobog soon."
Turning her gaze away from the back of Seele's head, Hook's face changed to the picture of unbridled excitement, her bright yellow eyes sparkling with a sense of adventure that was simply infectious. Her blonde ponytails bounced with each energetic leap, as if they were being manipulated by an invisible string. "Yeah, and then we'll finally get to meet the Xianzhou people! I bet they'll have some of that incredible tech from their massive ship! And maybe some food too! You'd like it, Clara, I'm sure they'd have all sorts of tasty dishes! Like Berrypheasant skewers! Or this super sweet drink they call Immortal's Delight!"
Clapping her hands together with a burst of enthusiasm, Hook's yellow eyes sparkled just at the remembrance of the delightful flavors of Xianzhou's cuisine. Her stomach let out a gurgle of hunger that only increased Hook's rush to get to the surface.
"Come on, guys! Let's hurry up! I'm hun- I mean I really want to see the Xianzhou people!" Hook's bright yellow eyes sparkled with excitement as she dashed ahead, her large ushanka and thick coat flapping behind her as she rushed toward the cable car.
"Hook! Wait a-...!" Seele's urgent cry did little as she watched the girl's rapid pace, her blonde ponytails bouncing with each step. She realized that trying to contain her would be futile, and so she let out a deep sigh.
This is going to be a long ride... and a long day... She thought to herself as she trudged along, thinking about the day ahead and how people would be treating the aliens coming to their planet.
"What's so fascinating about these offworlders anyway? They don't seem all that impressive to me," Seele muttered under her breath without realizing she had spoken out loud.
Walking alongside Seele, Natasha's eyes were fixed intently on Hook's energetic and exuberant sprint ahead, a soft, wry smile playing on her lips.
"From everything Hook has said about them, they must be quite the impressive group," she remarked to Seele, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. "The Xianzhou are said to be one of the most powerful factions in the cosmos, according to the IPC's own records. Their advanced technology is reportedly far beyond anything we have in the Underworld, and even on par with that of the IPC, even surpassing it in some areas."
With her nostrils flaring, Seele let out a derisive snort as she scoffed at the mention of the IPC. Her light purple eyes narrowed, and a scowl etched itself across her face, as if the very idea of the organization was an affront to her.
"It's surprising that the IPC would so readily allow themselves to be portrayed as anything other than the epitome of excellence," she said with a sneer, her voice dripping with disdain.
Casting a disbelieving and increasingly displeased glance her way, Seele's expression grew more and more skeptical.
"And let me guess," she said with a tone of disdain. "The IPC and these Xianzhou people have some sort of 'decent' relationship by their standards. I'm sure this is just another one of their schemes to make us more dependent on them."
Seele saw the fear in Clara's eyes as she spoke, and the young girl's gaze darted around as if she was worried that someone from the IPC might be lurking in the shadows, eavesdropping on their conversation.
"B-But… But the IPC can't be entirely evil, can it? Miss Topaz was…?" Clara's voice faltered, her words hanging in the air like a question that refused to be answered. Even with the IPC's recent aid, even the ever forgiving Clara couldn't spin the IPC manager's initial actions into something that could be called good.
Her lips pursed into a scowl as she heard the mention of the IPC's manager's name, Seele's eyes narrowing at the very thought of it.
"You mean that bi-..." Seele began to say before catching herself, her face flushing with a mix of anger and embarrassment at the moment. She knew better than to swear in front of Natasha and Clara, as that would be the easiest way to get a scolding from Natasha.
"You mean that ever so 'delightful' woman, the one who had the audacity to kidnap the Svarog and hold the entire city of Belobog in her grasp? Sure, she had the 'grace' to return our city to us," Seele said, her voice dripping with a scathing disdain that could curdle milk. "But the IPC have already shown that they are nothing more than a group of people who are more than willing to take advantage of others in order to further their own interests, and I don't expect these offworlders from the Xianzhou to be any different."
Natasha's face fell, her lips pursing into a deep, concerned frown as she turned to meet Seele's gaze.
"Clara," she said, her voice laced with the motherly gentleness she was known for, but also a hint of the sternness that belayed an incoming lecture. "How about you hurry on ahead and make sure that Hook isn't getting into any kind of trouble?"
... Shit... Seele's mind was flooded with the familiar, childhood fear of Natasha's stern lectures, as if she were still a child, cowering in the face of her mother's disapproving gaze. She watched as Clara nervously glanced between her and Natasha, her eyes darting back and forth like a trapped rabbit, before finally mustering up the courage to nod and take off at a brisk pace, her small figure chasing after Hook.
"... Well?" Seele asked Natasha as they inched ever closer to the entrance of the cable car, her eyes casting a sidelong glance at the doctor's face. "What do you want to say?"
As they walked forward, Natasha did not respond at first, her features set in a contemplative expression, her eyes fixed on some distant point as if she were gazing at a cherished memory. The queue for the cable car seemed to stretch on interminably, and Seele's brow furrowed in a mixture of curiosity and wariness as she regarded her companion.
"... Seele... While I agree with you on the IPC and Xianzhou, that we should approach them with caution due to their earlier actions... I have to ask that you be more understanding. More open-minded about the state of things."
Saying nothing, Seele and Natasha stepped onto the cable car, their footsteps echoing the gentle creaking of the vehicle's metal frame as they made their way to the back and settled into their seats on the benches. There was an awkward silence between them as they sat, Seele crossing her arms and her eyes fixed intently on the exterior of the cable car as it lurched and began its slow, arduous ascent to the surface of the world.
Returning from the front of the car, Clara was pulling Hook's hand as they made their way to the back. Clara paused momentarily, noticing the awkward silence between Seele and Natasha, and nervously looked at the two women. She was about to say something when Hook suddenly spoke up, her voice overpowering the stillness.
"Man, I can't wait to show you guys the Xianzhou people," she exclaimed as she plopped down next to Natasha. "Luka said Miss Yukong would be coming by! You saw her in the pictures I took, right, Clara? She's a Foxian, and she's really pretty! And she's got a tail and big ears! Not ears like us, but... like... Fox ears!"
Smiling warmly at the clearing of the silence, Clara's eyes radiating with a sense of relief. "She's quite pretty isn't she?" she said softly. "A-At least from what your pictures showed. Luka was also talking about her, and he sounded like he respected her a lot."
Observing the scene Natasha continued to smile, her eyes focused on the girls. "It seems she's helped Luka with a situation during the Wardance that he's not allowed to discuss openly. Something about a critical match that needed to happen for both participants."
Letting out a derisive snort, Seele spoke up, her voice laced with a mix of amusement and annoyance. "Typical Luka," she muttered to herself. "He probably got into something he couldn't handle again and needed someone else to clean up after him."
Her gaze was still fixed on the exterior of the cable car as she continued to cross her arms, the tension between her and Natasha was palpable. "I swear... If he doesn't get his act together soon, he's going to get himself killed."
Faltering her earlier joviality, Hook's face had turned a light shade of red as she shot Seele a stern look. "Heeeeeey Big Sis! Why are you putting down Big Bro Luka!? He's been training so hard since the Wardance, and he's going to win his next match against that blue kid!"
Noticing the tense exchange between Seele and Hook, Clara gently reached out and touched the back of Hook's hand.
"H-Hook...," she began, looking at her with her reddish-pink eyes, "he's not called just 'blue kid'. His name is Yanqing."
Waving away Clara's outstretched hand, Hook's gaze was fixed with an unyielding determination on Seele's face. Her voice took on a slightly more forceful tone as she continued her tirade.
"Whatever his name is! It doesn't change the fact that Luka is getting even stronger... He's probably stronger than you are now, Seele." Her words seemed to challenge Seele's very being as they grew louder, more defiant.
...Honestly... It wouldn't surprise me... Seele's thoughts fluttered like a butterfly as she fleetingly gazed at Hook, before turning her gaze back to the window.
"Who knows for sure?" she pondered to herself, her voice barely above a whisper, laced with a hint of melancholy. "Not like it matters. Luka is just like everyone else. So concerned about rolling out the red carpet for the Xianzhou people to even care about the Underworld or the world he's from."
Opening her mouth to retort, a red-faced Hook glared at Seele with an intense anger in her eyes, one so uncommon to her face that it was almost comical. Before she could loose her temper, Clara's small, gentle hands grasped her friend's arm, and she was yanked away from her attempt to lash out.
"H-Hook! C-Come on, let's go back to the front of the car! We should be getting close to the surface, and we can be the first ones to see the fort!" Clara said, her eyes locked on Hook and clearly hoping that her words would be enough to sway her friend to not break out in an argument with Seele.
Resisting Clara's attempts to drag her away, Hook's small face scrunched up in distaste as she glared at Seele for several seconds before sticking her tongue out.
"Yeah, let's go, Clara," she said with a bit of a pout, her voice laced with disdain for Seele. "I don't want to sit around and listen to 'her'. She's been such a downer lately."
As Hook and Clara walked away, Seele didn't feel the weight of relief settle upon her. Instead, she was consumed by a burning anger and regret, her face etched in a scowl as she continued to glower out of the window. It was only when she heard Natasha's clearing her throat to get her attention that she was snapped back to reality.
"Seele," Natasha's voice was a gentle blend of concern and affection as she addressed the young woman, carefully choosing each word to clearly avoid setting her on edge. "...How have you been lately? You haven't stopped by the clinic for some time now. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to avoid me."
...She's not really wrong about that… Seele thought as she gazed out into the tunnel's darkness, her voice a low, guarded whisper. "I'm... Fine Natasha,"
The words came out as if she was being forced to articulate them, like a reluctant confession. "I've... I've been too busy with... things," she trailed off, her words dissolving into the shadows like a forgotten dream. "I've been eating... Properly of course. If that's what you're worried about."
A lie... on both points. And they're not even convincing ones... Seele thought to herself as she shook her head. "I also don't need patching up or any recuperation either," she added, her voice firm and resolute. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."
"That's not what I..." Natasha began, her words faltering as she searched for the right words to convey her meaning.
"I see... that's... good," she said, her voice taking a moment to take shape. Her features were clear in the mirrorlike surface of the cable car window as she looked at Seele with a gentle maternal concern.
"And... have you ventured up to the surface recently?" she asked, her tone measured and thoughtful. "I mean, like many others, you were helping out at the Museum while Stelle was in charge."
Feeling a stab of disgust, Seele's lips curled into a sneer as she recalled the memories of her time at the museum.
"Yeah, I was working up there for a while. I did have a bit of fun, gazing at the pretty rocks and the remnants of the world's forgotten relics – the bones and the artifacts that the people on the surface thought were so precious to preserve. "
Seele's voice was laced with a mix of disdain and a hint of bitterness as she thought back to her past experience. "All the while, I couldn't help but think of those who were suffering in the underworld, the people who were struggling to find even the most basic necessities. The people WE..."
The younger woman turned to look at Natasha, her eyes narrowing slightly as she continued. "Should be helping as Wildfire."
Holding Seele's gaze, Natasha's words were measured and calm in response to the younger woman's outburst. "... I see... So I take it you haven't been up there recently? Not even to see Miss Bron-?!"
"No I haven't!" Seele's words snapped out like the crack of a small twig being snapped in two, her patience wearing thin. Her arms were crossed tightly, her hands gripping them with a fierce determination. Her eyes blazed like smoldering embers, radiating a fierce inner light that seemed to burn in defiance of the world around her.
"I don't see what she has to do with anything," she said, clicking her tongue in a sharp, impatient gesture. "And she seems busy with her own things, like inviting aliens to our planet. I'm content to stay where I supposedly belong – in the shadows of the Underworld, where it's dark and quiet and I can be by myself."
Her eyes flashed with a disdain that was almost palpable, directed at Natasha, "So just drop it, okay?"
Within a moment of letting her emotions control her, Seele felt a pang of guilt seeing Natasha's soft, gentle voice as she said, "Alright, Seele. I won't push the issue... But I just... Just know that you can come to me, no matter what, and I'll be here to listen and help."
Natasha's words were like a warm, comforting blanket, enveloping Seele in their soothing, reassuring presence and only worsening her feelings.
...Shit... I-I didn't... I shouldn't have... Seele's thoughts were a jumbled mess of guilt and regret as she struggled to come to terms with her actions. The desire to apologize was there, but her pride and stubbornness held her back. She bit her tongue, the words of retraction caught in her throat, and instead offered a simple, yet sincere, "I know. Thanks, Natasha."
The two stared at each other for a moment, an awkward silence returning as they rose through the dark passageway. The first rays of natural light from the surface were slowly creeping in, casting an ethereal glow on their faces. As they ascended further, the light grew brighter, and the darkness began to recede.
Watching as the doctor's eyes sparkled with the light, Seele's gaze was drawn to Natasha's face, her features radiating a warm and gentle glow. It was a sight Seele had witnessed many times during their excursions to the surface - every time they stepped into the world above, back to Natasha's home, the doctor's face would relax into a bright and beaming smile, a stark contrast to the more serious and commanding demeanor Seele knew the woman to wear during the past ten years.
"We'll be getting to the surface soon," Natasha's voice was laced with an undercurrent of quiet excitement as she seemed ready to revel in the day's possibilities. "I implore you, Seele, to remain open-minded. If not for my or your own sakes, then for all of Belobog. This trade deal could be the key to unlocking a brighter future for the people of the city."
Letting out a gruff, exasperated grunt, Seele turned away from Natasha's piercing gaze, her body language screaming of reluctance.
"I'll try," she mumbled under her breath, her words laced with a sense of desperation, her frustration palpable. "But no promises," she added, the weight of her words evident in her tone. "
If they were to do something like the IPC..." Seele's gaze remained fixed on the faint, otherworldly light outside, her eyes lost in thought, her mind consumed by the past. "I just don't want anyone from... Belobog... to have their life ruined due to offworlder meddling."
As if on command, Hook and Clara ran back from the front of the cable car towards the two women, their faces illuminated by the growing sunlight. Hook's eyes sparkled with an inner light, while Clara's expression was a mix of concern and curiosity.
"Seele! Natasha! We have to come quickly!" Hook excitedly called out, her voice bubbling with a sense of adventure and urgency. "There's something truly amazing over the fort!
Looking between the two girls, Natasha's piercing purple gaze swept across their faces, her attention lingering on the small but significant concern etched on Clara's face.
"What do you mean, Hook?" she asked, the doctor's gentle tone a soothing balm to the girl's unbridled excitement.
Bouncing up and down with uncontainable glee, Hook's bright yellow eyes aglow with an infectious enthusiasm as she tugged at Natasha's sleeve, urging her to follow.
"Let's go! You have to see it!" she implored, her small, high-pitched voice filled with an unbridled eagerness that was impossible to resist.
Standing up with a smile on her face but a look of knowing concern in her eyes, Natasha allowed herself to be swept up in the exuberant energy of the young girl. Seele's gaze followed her, her eyes lingering on Natasha's back for a moment before they drifted to Clara, who was looking more than a little frantic.
"Clara." Seele asked softly, her voice laced with concern. "What's the matter?"
Looking at Seele with a nervous gaze, Clara's cheeks flushed a soft pink as she hesitated before whispering, "Th-There's something floating over the Qlipoth Fort. It... It looks like a spaceship of some sort. Something like the Xianzhou ships that were in Hook's pictures and videos."
Narrowing her already narrowed purple eyes even further, Seele's grip on her arm tightened with a subtle intensity as she gazed up towards the front of the car, where Natasha and Hook were standing, their shadows cast from the warm, golden light of the sun.
"... A spaceship...?" Seele's voice was tinged with a mix of surprise and mild incredulity. Her first instinct was to assume the worst, that it was the start of some elaborate ruse on the part of the Xianzhou delegation. However, her recent conversation with Natasha forced her to remain calm and open-minded.
"Well, the Xianzhou delegation needed to get here somehow, I suppose," she said, her voice measured and thoughtful. "...It's probably just their shuttle."
Biting her lip, Clara's brow was furrowed in worry. "But... but it doesn't look small at all, Seele! I mean, it looks even bigger than the fort!"
Focusing her piercing purple gaze on the young girl, Clara, Seele's face was a picture of worry and doubt. With a quiet determination, she rose from her seat and began to walk toward the front of the car, her movements a testament to her growing concern. "... Let me see this thing then."
Approaching her companions, Seele reached the front of the car and looked up into the sky over the Qlipoth Fort, her eyes drinking in the breathtaking sight before her. She was taken aback by something she had never seen before, and her jaw clenched in shock as she gazed up at it. A massive, gleaming ship, suspended in the air like a celestial wonder, was hovering above the majestic Qlipoth Fort, just as Clara had described.
With eyes shining with wonder and an expression of smugness, Hook pointed up at the ship and exclaimed, "Isn't it amazing?!"
When none of her companions responded, she practically bounced with excitement, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I saw one just like it back in the Xianzhou. It was huge! I even went on it! The Xianzhou people called it a... What was it again...? Oh right! A warship!"
With her eyes fixed upon the floating vessel, Natasha's face was smiling, but her eyes were filled with the stern commanding light of the leader of Wildfire.
"That is... quite a vessel," she observed, her voice measured and contemplative. "... What do you think Seele? What are they planning to do with it here?"
Grimacing as all of her danger senses went off at once, Seele's eyes were fixed on the imposing mass of the warship, her face etched with concern and her voice barely a whisper, but her words betrayed her unease.
"...Whatever it is... But I don't think it's good."