NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17: Last Bastion
"...Hey, it feels like it got a bit warmer!"
March exclaimed as they entered the city alongside the Silvermane Guards. According to Gepard, this was the Administrative District.
Bridges and elevated walkways crisscross the district, connecting the upper echelons of the city with the lower, while beneath, the ground is often blanketed in a thin sheen of snow, untouched and silent. Every corner of Belobog's administrative heart is dominated by the weight of its purpose — organized, efficient, and coldly calculated, its skyline a silent monument to the threats that lay outside these stalwart walls.
If he was being honest, Sunny felt quite out of place here. The civilians that were scurrying to their place of business or to complete their errands seemed quite high-class. For an outskirt rat who survived off of scraps and synthpaste with a handful of credits, such a sophisticated civilization was quite alien to him.
Gepard paused at March's words.
"...That's because you're in Belobog, the last bastion of humanity."
March blinked at his peculiar choice of words.
"Last bastion?"
Sunny was actually quite curious about the cause of the planets current climate. Back on Earth, snow was something that could only have been seen every decade or two, at least where he had lived. If he recalled correctly, the city he lived in was somewhere in Asia.
Gepard stood silent, seemingly trying to recall something. After a few moments, he explained to the trio.
"Seven hundred years ago, monsters from beyond the sky set the world ablaze. The land was turned to scorched earth, with raging infernos and billowing towers of smoke stretching beyond the horizon. In the midst of the conflict, the Eternal Freeze descended without warning. Suddenly, sweeping winds brought blizzards which buried the invading Legion. Belobog was all that remained."
'Legion?'
Was the Antimatter Legion connected to the Stellaron in some way? If that was the case, then the reason that they had invaded the Herta Space Station…
Sunny mentally shook his head. It was much too early to craft any theories. He'd need more substantial information first.
"The steadfast Architects built this city. Under the protection of Qlipoth the Preservation, Belobog remains forever warm in the face of unrelenting cold."
'Another Aeon.'
He had already been gazed upon by Nanook, and that experience hadn't been very pleasant. It was only worsened by the fact that he was having an existential crisis at the time.
March suddenly leaned in whispering in a low tone so as to not let Gepard hear.
"...He's sure saying some weird stuff."
Sunny sighed. Of course she didn't pay attention to a thing Gepard had said. He was worried that he might have to give her an overly-simplified recap later.
Despite having only known each other for a couple days, Sunny was getting a very good grasp of her character.
Dan Heng shrugged at her remark.
"A marked change in tone. It sounds like he's quoting from a historical record."
March nodded before furrowing her brows.
"Uh-huh, so why is he telling us all this?"
"You wanted to know."
The three of them stiffened slightly at Gepard's sudden words. The man seemed to have heard their entire exchange without an issue.
***
"We saw strange creatures outside the city... They must have come from a tear in corroded space. A Fragmentum, correct?"
Dan Heng inquired as they walked through the streets of Belobog. Gepard slightly widened his eyes at his question, but it was almost unnoticeable to someone who wasn't paying attention.
Of course, Sunny kept a shadows eyes on Gepard, so he was able to observe him without directly looking at him.
Just in case.
"How do you... That's right. Out there in the blizzard, there are still many threats... including the monsters you saw."
Dan Heng looked back in the direction they had came, back to the harsh, frigid landscapes of this frozen world.
"Monsters of that type rarely venture outside the Fragmentum... meaning the corrosion affecting your planet is already very serious."
Gepard sighed, showing that the situation was truly looking desolate.
"The Silvermane Guards are continuously engaged with the enemy, but I'm afraid the situation is bleak... After your meeting with the supreme guardian, I would like to consult you on this matter. We're lacking in intel."
As they walked, they naturally drew in the attention of the passing pedestrians. An unknown group following the Silvermane Guards was bound to stand out among the streets.
"Look, Captain Gepard's back!"
"So impressive... I want to become as strong a Silvermane Guard as him!"
"What happened? Seems serious..."
"Who are those guys behind the captain? Look at their attire, so strange..."
'…How annoying.'
Sunny didn't like how he was suddenly turned into a spectacle. It only made sense, considering that his Aspect was meant for assassinations and such. At least, he would assume so considering the fact that it mainly specialized for stealth and scouting.
Right now, he really wanted to step into the shadows to hide out of sight.
However, his displeasure was quickly turning into amazement.
From outside Belobog, Sunny caught a glimpse of a massive building that pierced the sky itself. However, it only seemed more impressive and worthy of awe up close. As they approached, Gepard spoke to them.
"We're here. This is Qlipoth Fort, the heart of Belobog and headquarters of the Architects."
Qlipoth Fort loomed on the horizon like an ancient, forsaken relic, its jagged silhouette cutting through the mist of hazy clouds that clung to Jarilo-VI. Towering walls of stone and steel, weathered by time and battle, encased the fort like the bones of a long-dead giant. The structure seemed almost alive, pulsing with a cold, oppressive energy, as if it were the ultimate protector of the last rope of civilization.
Above, the sky hung heavy with clouds, casting a somber gray hue over the jagged peaks that surrounded the fort. Smoke curled upward from distant chimneys, and the air was thick with the scent of burning coal and metals from the heaters that were spread across Belobog.
Qlipoth Fort was an astronomical feat of engineering, standing strong despite the dire state of this dying world. It stood as a symbol of hope. A symbol of warmth in this frozen hell.
A symbol of Preservation.
…A second later, Sunny internally cringed at his theatrical description. It's not like Qlipoth Fort was THAT impressive. At this point, it was like excessively glazing a donut.
…Somehow, Sunny knew what a donut tasted like despite never having eaten one before.
"The Architects?"
Gepard once again adopted his "textbook explanation" tone.
"The saviors of humanity. Long before the arrival of the Eternal Freeze, the Architects braved the doubts and derision of the people, never wavering from their construction of its defenses. History has proven that their decision was the correct one."
He gestured towards the towering structure in front of them.
"The Architects named this fortress after Qlipoth, Aeon of Preservation. Under their direction, humanity has withstood external enemy attacks and held off the Eternal Freeze. Even today, we resist the Fragmentum's corrosion."
"This fortress is also the residence of the Supreme Guardian."
March asked curiously:
"What's a Supreme Guardian?"
"The leader of Belobog, elected and appointed by the Architects. The Supreme Guardians have watched over this city for generations, sheltering the people from harm. The current guardian is Madam Cocolia Rand. Every major strategic decision is issued by her."
Without warning, March suddenly elbowed Sunny, causing him to glare at her.
"…What?"
March covered her mouth with her hand as she whispered with a cheeky smirk.
"You know… this Supreme Guardian sounds like a big deal."
"…And?"
Of course she was a big deal. Sunny wasnt stupid. In fact, he'd believes that he's quite above average in the intellect department.
Sunny's eyes lingered on a trash can. He had to remind himself that he could check it out later.
'Ah… the treasures to be discovered!'
March huffed.
"Obviously, the plot is leading to me being the long-lost daughter of the Supreme Guardian."
Sunny almost burst out laughing as they walked up the stairs leading to Qlipoth Fort. Instead, he settled with a stifled snicker.
March narrowed her eyes.
"What's so funny?"
Sunny replied in humorous tone.
"Shouldn't the daughter of the Supreme Guardian be… elegant or something? You probably chewed on rocks as a kid."
"The Madam Cocolia Rand does have a daughter."
'…Are we really that loud?'
Gepard had once again listened in on their conversation, which Sunny had thought was relatively hidden.
At his words, Sunny looked at the smug, self-proclaimed daughter of the Supreme Guardian. Her barbaric demeanor was a sharp contrast to the prim and proper design of Belobog. There was no way that she was actually the equivalent of a princess to this — actually, to any group of people.
It couldnt be true, right?
"Heh… my theories are never proven wrong, you know?"
Gepard shook his head.
"The Supreme Guardian's daughter is currently within Belobog, so… I don't believe your theory holds any weight."
March's face didn't even slightly twitch, eternally stuck in that smug expression. Not noticing or not caring, Gepard continued.
"And your companion here is right. The daughter of the Supreme Guardian must be suited to lead and stand as a symbol for the people of Belobog, and — no offense — but I don't believe you have those qualities."
March started to… vibrate? It seemed like she was about to explode.
Seeing her fragile state, Sunny smiled.
"She's probably a whole lot prettier than you too."
***
After an unspecified amount of time, they had finally reached the top of the ridiculously long stairway. At some point. Sunny had augmented himself with a shadow in order to keep himself going.
'Seriously, how does one make a stairway so long that an Awakened Demon needs to augment himself?'
Sunny looked to his left, watching as March looked at him with nothing but pure hatred. He waved at her with a disarming smile, but that only caused her to glare even harder.
She had somehow survived the onslaught of poorly-disguised insults that he had thrown her way. To rub salt in the wound, Gepard would occasionally add on with completely innocent remarks that damaged her pride even more.
Sunny looked down at the Happy shadow, that seemed to be telling him to not be a bully.
'…I'm not a bully. I was just stating the truth!'
…That might have been only because of his flaw, but his point still stands!
Gepard nodded to one of the workers here. The worker in question hurried away as he went deeper into Qlipoth Fort. Gepard turned back to the trio.
"I will now bring you to see Madam Cocolia. Please have your words at the ready. Her time is precious, so she prefers concise communication."
March suddenly snapped out of her sour mood.
"Uhh... We're gonna see her right now? Can I at least find a place to freshen up first?"
…It seemed that she still had quite a bit of snow in her hair. Despite this, it wasn't easily noticeable. Somehow, it practically blended in with her hair, seeming like a natural facet of her bright-pink follicles.
Sunny paused before nervously turning back to Gepard. What if he messed something up and got a bounty placed on his head?!
"Is there any etiquette we need to observe?"
Gepard shook his head.
"Rest easy, the Madam Guardian doesn't care about formalities. Not to mention, you've only just arrived, it would be unexpected if you were familiar with Belobog customs."
Well that's a relief. Sunny was really worried about breaking some obscure taboo…
"I've dispatched a messenger to send word, Madam Cocolia will be aware of your arrival. Come with me."