He Who Feels Guilt [Honkai: Star Rail]

Narrator's Pov

Svarog's eye glowed a bit, before looking upwards and his eye started to create an holographic screen that started to show a recording, apparently between a Past Supreme Guardian and a scientist.

"This is the fruit of many years of research, Madam Guardian, the evidence is irrefutable, this so-called 'Stellaron' is the source of all the destruction." The voice of the man was the first one to be heard.

"The people will struggle to accept this conclusion, doctor, if we were to tell them that the almighty Alisa Rand activated this thing and triggered the Eternal Freeze..." The anxious voice of the past guardian followed

"It's the truth, madam... The truth won't change with the opinions of the people" some skepticism was in his voice, but he still continued "The reports before you are the precious result of painstaking effort on the part of Belobog's greatest scholars, you must trust the weight of its conclusion..."

"...I have never doubted you, doctor, on the contrary, I am resolute in the face of this conclusion" the woman drove a hand to her head. "From the moment I took up this mantle, that voice...their voice, has made its home in my mind, I cannot shake them"

The past Supreme Guardian simply let out a short grunt, before looking towards the doctor standing behind her.

"...I shouldn't be telling you this, let's return to your research, doctor, I'm afraid I cannot make these reports known to the public, Unless..."

"Unless? Unless what? Please proceed, madam..."

"...Unless you have found a way to completely destroy the Stellaron."

"I understand, in the name of Preservation...I will fulfill this mission."

The recording finished, but shortly after another one started, showing the same scientist as before, but noticeably older, alongside another scientist that seemed to be much younger than him.

The young researcher spoke first "...I don't understand, doctor. Why do we have to hide such valuable research results away? They're the work of a lifetime..."

A cough came out of the old scientist's mouth" Y-you're still young, child, there will come a day... a day when you do understand...The Supreme Guardian... sh-she sees further than you or I, all her decisions are for the security of Belobog..."

"I just think...it's a shame, Our research has hit an obstacle, Meanwhile, your results will be buried in the snow." Some pity could be heard in the younger voice.

The old researcher let out a short cough before speaking "Don't be upset, child, you still have lots of time ahead of you, When you find a way to destroy the Stellaron... our efforts will have been worth it."

The recording stopped and changed again, this time showing a woman with white hair, apparently looking directly at the camera while a Silvermane Guard stood behind her.

"This is... Why is there a robot here?" The woman asked proving that this was Svarog's POV.

"During his life, this was Dr.Mearsheimer's personal robot bodyguard, I heard it's a prototype from the great war...since the doctor and his assistants passed away, it's remained here, it hasn't moved an inch." The guard responded making the woman nod.

"Oh... I see, Let's start, We must unearth the doctor's research conclusions, all of them"

"Madam Guardian, I've found them... All the documents are here." Another guard appeared holding a box with various papers.

"Mm... good, that'll do."

"Madam Guardian, what should we do with the robot?"

"Ah... It would seem a great waste to destroy it, find someone to reset its system and then arrange for it to be sent to the Underworld, I hear that the development group is in need of a robot with defense capabilities."

"Yes, madam."

"I'm sorry, doctor...but these results must be taken care of by the Architects...One day, somebody will be able to carry out your behest."

"transmission complete, Concluding data transmission."

The transmission ended, and Svarog's eye stopped glowing looking towards the group.

"So that's all uh?..." March looked towards the others.

"They already knew about the Stellaron...but decided to keep it a secret from everyone" Dan Heng rubbed his chin a bit. "But why reject our help?"

"Maybe it's that classic thing of 'you know too much!' or something?" Stelle shrugged.

"I doubt it, they were searching for a way to destroy the Stellaron...even if we were outsiders, I don't think researchers would reject help" He spoke again.

"She's not completely herself at the moment..." Ryan said making the trailblazers look at him. "The first transmission, the Supreme Guardian spoke about her hearing THEIR voice ever since she took on the mantle."

"The Stellaron having a voice? Stelle, have you heard anything weird?" March asked towards the raccoon girl who thought for a bit.

"I've....been having weird dreams about Cocolia, I thought that they were just dreams but I'm not so sure now, and I heard a woman's voice" she spoke making Dan Heng nod his head.

"You have a Stellaron...probably you're hearing the other one's voice? If you hear it then it means that Cocolia has been hearing it too" Dan Heng made a small pause. "It's possible that the Stellaron is somehow manipulating her"

"Bronya...how are you doing?" Seele asked looking towards the girl.

"I...I just feel a little faint..." She drove a hand to her head. "M-maybe my mother wasn't aware...maybe she-"

"There's no use in lying yourself, Bronya" Seele crossed her arms over her chest.

Ryan saw the conflicted girl and let out a short sigh, she really was affected, Natasha approached taking the attention of the group.

"You four, I'd like to speak with you if it's possible, I know that we need time to process the information, but we need to plan our next move as soon as possible." The woman spoke looking towards the Trailblazers and Ryan.

"I agree" Dan Heng nodded with his head.

"Let's go to another place, let's leave Bronya some space" Natasha said before walking away.

The group of four followed the woman, leaving Seele and Bronya alone having a small talk, walking across the gate they had opened, Natasha stopped and looked at them.

"First of all, I want to thank all of you for doing this, with the furnace core opened, the path to the surface is close at hand" she bowed slightly but then frowned slightly. "But even with the furnace core unsealed, we can't go to the surface...who knows what the Supreme Guardian could do if we start to go to the Overworld..."

"Natasha...what's that on your back?" Ryan asked looking to the unknown weapon behind the woman.

"Oh...this is my grenade launcher" she replied as she grabbed her weapon showing it.

"So...when you run out of patients you make your own?" Stelle asked making the woman chuckle.

"It's not that, as the Leader of Wildfire, I couldn't just stand back while you fought, but it looks like I wasn't needed." She smiled lightly.

"Wait...YOU are the leader of Wildfire?!" March asked a bit surprised. "But what about Oleg?"

"Oleg has always acted on my behalf, thanks to him I can make time for the people, at the same time I was formulating a plan to deal with Svarog...with your arrival that plan was unraveled, and you have my thanks for that."

"Everything in a day's work for a hero." Stelle smirked.

"After all of this ends, the underworld will surely look at you as heroes, wildfire needs to build up strength before acting again, we need to wait for the opportune moment, as for you...I'll be sending someone I trust with you." The woman looked slightly towards Seele, who was still speaking with Bronya.

"Seele?"

"Didn't she tell you? She insisted on going with you, she's a good scout and a quick thinker, she'll be of much help...not to mention the fact that Bronya will also help." She looked again towards the group.

"Bronya got a big shock..." March spoke making the woman nod.

"Yes...but she's a strong girl, I know she'll recover" the woman smiled lightly. "You should go and rest, tomorrow you will be able to go to the Overworld, you'll need all the energy you can get."

"I don't mind going back to bed, it's all cozy an warm" Stelle smiled hugging herself.

"Lazy..." March deadpanned towards the girl.

"You three can go on ahead, I'll have a little talk with Svarog" Ryan smiled towards his companions. "I'll join you later."

Without saying anything else, Ryan walked again through the gate, seeing in the distance how Svarog simply kept himself on one knee, while Clara checked the robot's torso, apparently seeing if she could fix something, he approached both of them and spoke.

"How is he doing, Clara?"

"Mr.Svarog is fine, all his modules are perfect, there was some internal damage, but nothing serious, his external carcass will be easy to replace, but the repulsor blast is something complicated to fix..." she admitted letting out a short sigh.

"Sorry, I think I got a bit carried away" he bowed his hesd a bit but Clara shook her head.

"Don't worry Mr.Ryan, with enough parts I might be able to fix him today" she smiled lightly looking up at him.

"Good...Svarog, I want to ask you something" he spoke as he sat on the ground, looking at the robot.

"Proceed"

"Help us in taking care of the Stellaron"

"Request rejected, even if I no longer will stop you from going to the surface, my primary mission still lingers, Protect the Underworld, I must remain here" the robot replied quickly making Clara look at him slightly worried.

"For how long will you stay here? Your creator...that Dr.Mearsheimer, he spent his life trying to find a way to destroy the Stellaron, don't you want to finish what your creator started?"

"My creator's mission and mine do not align"

"I don't think so...you wish to protect the underworld, if we deal with the Stellaron the eternal freeze will stop, therefore, the corrosion will stop advancing any further, the underworld would be safe...and your mission completed."

"Information about a way of destroying the Stellaron doesn't exist"

"Because as far as I know, there's no way of destroying it...but 'sealing' it might be the same, my companions, the Trailblazers, during their travels, they have dealt with multiple Stellarons, when we reach it, they'll know how to stop it."

"Unknown information about the Current Supreme Guardian strength, I'm unable to calculate the success of an encounter."

"Then don't do that, have some faith, Svarog...when we stop the Stellaron, everyone will be safe, the underworld and overworld will be saved, it'll be...a safe world for Clara to grow in." He spoke looking at the girl who simply looked towards the robot. "The eternal freeze will eventually reach here...the corrosion has already started in the underworld, what are you willing to sacrifice for your mission... 'even if it's a single millisecond', that's what you said... let's turn those milliseconds into decades, centuries, millennia and far beyond that"

"...priority of primary mission...has been labeled down, new mission assigned, maximum priority...Save Jarilo-VI" the robot's eye glowed slightly before looking towards Ryan. "When I reach at least 70% of combat capability...I will join you"

Ryan smiled and stood up. "Thank you Svarog, my companions and I will come back here tomorrow to go to the surface"

"I will be waiting"

"I'll be taking my leave, I wish you luck with your recuper...reparation" he smiled softly before turning around and walking away.

He let out a short sigh as he walked away, he saw how Seele and Bronya had also left, he walked through the gate and had the intention to keep walking but a small pull on one of his sleeves stopped him.

"Mr.Ryan"

"Clara? What's up?" He asked looking down at the girl.

"I...wanted to thank you, for giving Mr.Svarog a chance...I would've preferred that the fight hadn't happened but.... everything came out well" she smiled looking up at him.

"Uhm...yes, thanks to you too, Clara, I don't think we would've been able to convince Svarog without you" he patted Clara's head lightly. "Also you're good at acting, you did it good when you shielded Svarog."

"You did it good too Mr.Ryan...for a moment I really thought you weren't going to stop" she smiled nervously at him.

Ryan's lower lip twitched slightly but he quickly smiled. "I told you we would have everything under control"

"Can you promise me something, Mr Ryan?" She asked and the boy looked a bit puzzled. "Please...make sure Mr.Svarog returns here after the Stellaron problem is solved..."

"...I'll make sure he returns in one piece...or at least in enough pieces to still be functional..." He looked away but Clara playfully slapped his leg.

"Don't make that kind of jokes." She pouted but then smiled. "But thanks Mr.Ryan...I'll feel much calmer now"

"....Before I leave I...wanted to apologize, I manipulated you, I used Svarog to get to you, and then I used you to get to Svarog...twice" he bowed his head a bit but Clara quickly shook her head.

"No no, I...know that, Mr.Ryan...I'm not a child, I understand that what you did was probably the only way...so I'm not mad" he looked up at him smiling.

"You and Svarog...you two really care for each other...I still feel bad for taking advantage of that, but thanks, Clara...you and Svarog really remind me of better times" he spoke with a little smile.

"You said you were also taken in...just like me, how was that man?" She asked a bit curious making Ryan flinch lightly.

"That should be a story for another moment Clara...right now it'd be the best if you focus on repairing Svarog and then rest a bit." He smiled slightly nervous.

"Uhm, okay, but you'll tell me about him later, okay?" She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Of course Clara, now go, don't let Svarog wait" he smiled and the little girl smiled before walking away.

As he watched the little girl go away and join her parental figure, he felt a small drop of guilt...joining the lake of guilt that he was already feeling inside of him, he drove his right hand to his left shoulder, trying to feel if any ice had started to grow without him feeling it...but nothing.

"Why aren't you acting? I feel guilt...so why? Why am I not frozen yet?..."

He frowned but then let out a sigh, his expression quickly returned to his calmed one, he turned around and again walked away, with the intention to join his companions and rest...

★ ★ ★

A/N:And that's today's chapter!

Ah yes, the classical update at 2 AM, never goes wrong, never gets old, and it will never get old.

Anyways, I'm going to sleep now, hope you enjoyed!