Star Rail: The Aeon Hunters

Dan Heng gasped with bated breath, sweat dropping down his face. It was not easy controlling a water dragon that big from a distance like that. He dropped on the spot and took a deep breath. "Sorry… Give me a second…"

"It's okay," Pela said. "Take your time, thanks for saving them…"

"Trailseekers huh?" Seele suddenly said. "Are those your friend?"

"Yes, March 10th and Stella," Dan Heng coughed and staggered up. "They're supposed to do research on the city and… not whatever that is," he sighed, finally recovering. "In any case, Pitch-Dark Hook the Great, you know that girl?"

Seele folded her arms. "She's the boss of the moles, the child gang of the underworld," she looked at Hook who's being dragged kicking and screaming by Natasha. "She… well, she's supposed to be taking care of the children of the underworld, but…"

"Natasha sent a child to take care of children?"

"Hey, don't ask me, I'm not the one calling the shots around here," Seele sighed and gazed at all the sparkling flakes of ice falling down from the sky. "And I guess you guys are pretty darn cool, that's the most interesting stuff I've seen in years," a small smile formed on her face. "I don't mind joining on that ride to be honest,"

Bronya narrowed her eyes. "Hmph, how irresponsible,"

Seela glanced Bronya. "Guess no amount of Geomarrow can stop overworlders heart from freezing over huh?" she didn't even look mad this time, just disappointed. "Anyway, let's continue, Chief Oleg is waiting for us in the Great Mine."

"That was dangerous," Bronya said.

"Shut up princess, nobody cares," Seele replied.

They continued their way through the city to the entrance of the great mine. Some miners are seen walking around there, looking at the sky in confusion. But most quickly ran back to the mine after checking the situation outside.

"So this is where you mine Geomarrow Ores," Dan Heng said, looking around the place and keeping up with the 'lead scientist' persona. "who's in charge of the mining operation? The Wildfire?"

"Wildfire's pretty much in charge of everything around here," Seele replied. "If you're gonna start asking about mining operations, equipments, and geomarrow yield per day… You better ask someone else," she shrugged.

As the two walked deeper and deeper into the mine, they finally found it. A gigantic geomarrow right in the middle of the mine. There's a mixed gathering of crowds and robots around the gigantic geomarrow ore.

The group hurried down to the ore and saw two figures standing in the middle of it. An old man and a gigantic robot. The two seems to be in a conversation, not heated, but not relaxed either. They noticed Seele and the old man waved his hand.

"Seele! What a sight to sore eyes, come, are you alright?"

Seele nodded. "I'm alright, these are the overworlders that you wish to see," she looked at the giant robot. "Good evening, Mr. Svarog,"

The robot nodded. "Subject Identified: Seele, Affiliation: Wildfire, Status: Temporary Ally," it spoke in a robotic manner. Then the robot turned to Bronya and Pela. "Subject Identified: Overworlder, Affiliation: Unknown, Status: Unknown. Proceed with introduction,"

Dan Heng took is a cue to introduce himself. "My name is Dan Heng, the leader of the Trailseeker,"

"Sensor detects a deceit in tone, please provide the truth for valid introduction," the robot said.

"Ah…" Dan Heng slowly nodded. "My name is Dan Heng, a Viyadhara and a defector from Xianzhou. I am the acting leader of the Trailseeker. I am here to investigate the phenomenon known as the Eternal Freeze under the order of our leader, Welt Yang and Madam Herta,"

"Sensor detects no attempt at deceit, continue on the next subject," the robot turned towards Pela and Bronya.

Pela gulped and started first. "My name is Pelageya Sergeyevna, I am the Former Intelligence Officer of the Silvermane Guards. I am here to find the truth behind the Eternal Freeze and save the people of Belobog from the Supreme Guardian's Tyranny."

"Sensor detects no attempt at deceit, continue on the next subject,"

Bronya however, didn't say a word. She was shocked to hear that the robot says that there was no trace of deceit. If this is the case, then… then it means that the supreme guardian is a tyrant? Impossible, this all must be a trick to sway her on their favor.

"Subject Overworlder, please continue with your introduction,"

"My name is Bronya Rand, I am the daughter of the Supreme Guardian, Cocolia Rand," she said. "I am here abducted against my will and I desire an explanation for all of this,"

"Sensor detects no attempt at deceit, introduction complete," the robot then stood up. "Self-introduction start, name: Svarog, Affiliation: the Architect, Directive: Protect Belobog for as long as possible from the Eternal Freeze,"

The old man stood up. "And I guess it's my turn," he waved his hand. "My name is Chief Oleg, the leader of the Wildfire," he gave everyone a kind smile. "I hope Seele didn't bring you any trouble Lady Bronya, don't take her words to heart, she's like that to everyone,"

Seele rolled her eyes. "Not that I didn't give you a special treatment princess,"

Oleg chuckled and sat back down. "In any case, sit down, there is a lot to discuss unfortunately," he gestured at the robot. "Boss Svarog has kindly set aside his precious time with his family to talk to us regarding the matter of… well, everything."

Bronya sat reluctantly sat down in front of Oleg. In her eyes, he's the mastermind behind her abduction and possibly all these troubles involving the outsiders. She demands explanation for this atrocity.

"Speak, then, what is your purpose bringing me here?" Bronya asked.

"So you may see what's going on here, princess," Oleg replied calmly. "If we don't bring you down here now, you will live your entire life never stepping foot on this place and not knowing what's going on down here,"

Bronya lowered her gaze. "Mother will…" she tried to say, but even she felt the excuse have gone stale in her mouth. "Continue,"

"The other reason, is… well, we wish to make sure of one thing," Oleg's tone turned cold all of a sudden. "Lady Bronya, have your mother been feeding you lies or truth?"

"Well of course, mother has been very truth…"

"Lies," Pela said suddenly. "The guardian has been feeding Bronya with her lies," she stepped forward. "Lady Bronya is ignorant to the horrors happening in Belobog. She's sheltered by her mother, not shaped into her image,"

Bronya narrowed her eyes. "Pela, who are you to tell me…"

"Lady Bronya, your mother tried to kill me," Pela said with finality. "And you didn't know that, you rejected that truth," she sighed. "You're not like her,"

Bronya's eyes widened. "Mother tried to kill you? But you assaulted her!"

"All I did was asking her to give the Trailseekers a fair trial before they executed them," Pela took a deep breath. "I've desperately wanted to tell you this, Lady Bronya… But I know you wouldn't believe me and that's good, that means you are as innocent as everyone else…"

"Execution…" Bronya whispered. "No, that's…" she shook her head. "I will not, decide, I… I have to talk to mother, she must have an explanation,"

Chief Oleg nodded. "So you've been fed lies by the Supreme Guardian," he folded his arms and sighed. "Then there is no need for us to be looking for a new Supreme Guardian,"

"What are you talking about?" Bronya asked.

"Well, to put it simply, a peaceful revolution," Oleg replied. "And yes, that sounds terrible, and it is our last-ditch scenario. But if you are willing to work with us, usurp your mother's throne, Belobog will see the light of a new day without anymore tragedy."

Bronya stood up. "So you want me to be your unwitting pawn, is that it!?"

"It's nothing like that," Chief Oleg replied. "I am simply saying that having you as the Supreme Guardian can't possibly be worse than your mother,"

Is her mother really that bad? Bronya wouldn't, couldn't believe it. Everything Cocolia did is for the good of her people. There's no way that…

"I look forward to seeing your reign, Lady Bronya," Pela said softly. "You are the last hope for Belobog,"

Bronya took a deep breath. "Just… one thing… let me speak to mother first… make it happen, and I'll do as you say…" she said.

It was as if Belobog exhaled a breath that they've been holding on for decades. Chief Oleg laughed quietly in relief, the vagrants and the miners dropped their weapons, and even Svarog looked more at ease. Everything is going well.

"We will make it happen, Lady Bronya, you will have your talk with her," Oleg then turned to Svarog. "Now that that's over with, let's continue with the other matter, the transfer of power,"

Svarog nodded. "Chief Oleg of the Wildfire, you request to relinquish your position as the acting leader of the Wildfire to me in exchange for my help in usurping the Supreme Guardian's Tyranny. Is this correct?"

Oleg nodded. "Yeah, it is," he looked around him. "And the entire underground also, ah but I want you do it tactfully Boss Svarog, don't send the citizen to chaos,"

"I accept your offer, I will now begin calculation on how to usurp the throne minimizing lasting collateral, physical, and mental damage on the citizens," Svarog went silent for a while and everyone simply waited. "The calculation process takes longer than expected, insufficient data on the current state of the surface,"

Pela took out her phone. "I have a friend who can help us with that. What sort of data do you need Svarog?"

"The Supreme Guardian's current motivation," Svarog replied. "The Supreme Guardian's true accomplice and superiors."