Star Rail: The Aeon Hunters

Clara was nervous the entire time, but she was glad the performance was successful. The entire thing was completely improvised and she only had like 15 minutes to read the abridged story of the Tales of Winterlands. It was also a bit awkward, since her character Anna is supposed to be in a relationship with Artem or Dan Heng.

"Nice work Clara," March said, seemingly out of breath. "Phew… That was pretty darn exhausting, hope I have enough energy for the war tomorrow, ahaha!"

March has done far more than enough, Clara thought. Her special effect puts literal magic into their performance. Her narration covered up their mistakes, her ice covered up their blunders, and her ever so dramatic voice kept the audience engaged.

"You did really great Miss March, we couldn't have done it without you," Clara said.

"Aww, no need to thank me, it's nothing," March pet her head with a kind smile.

"But still…" another voice steps into view. It's Dan Heng, the one playing as Artem. Clara thinks that Dan Heng was a bit too calm and composed to play as Artem, but who is she to judge? "I think that's a bit too excessive March, you should rest now," he turned towards Clara. "You too Clara, it's already late."

March pushed Dan Heng away playfully. "Whoa, hey, hold on there tough guy. Show's over, don't get so casual with our talent," she giggled. "Don't worry, I'm fine, really,"

Clara followed the two out of the orphanage and saw Mr. Svarog talking with everyone. She wondered what it would mean for her now that Mr. Svarog is the leader of the Wildfire. Would she also need to tell people what to do? Would Mr. Svarog have less time to spend with her? No, she shouldn't be selfish, she's not the only one who needs Mr. Svarog.

Then, Clara noticed a certain doll talking to Svarog. The Trailseekers told her that her name is Herta. Though they never told her that the doll can speak. Is she like a regular robot or someone like Mr. Svarog she wondered?

"And you must be Clara," the doll suddenly turned towards her. "Hmm…" the doll tilted her head and walked closer to her. "You can call me Herta, the 83rd Member of the Genius Society,"

"Oh, umm, nice to meet you, Miss Herta…" Clara bowed a little respectfully. Genius society sounds like a big deal and this doll seems like someone experienced, like Mr. Svarog.

The doll tilted her head and folded her arms. "Hmm… Your…" she glanced at Mr. Svarog. "Family told me about you and quite honestly I am impressed," she looked at Clara up and down. "How old are you Clara?"

"Eh? Umm… I think I'm 14?" she looked at Svarog. "I mean… I don't know for sure, but it's been 14 years since Mr. Svarog took care of me,"

The doll raised an eyebrow and turned to Svarog. "And you took care of her yourself?"

Svarog simply nodded. "Affirmative, Clara is under my protection ever since I found her," he replied.

"You're impressing me more and more," Herta said. "To think a distinguished gentlemen like you are stuck down here in this frozen planet," she looked at Svarog's clothes and attire. "You almost remind me of my good friend Screwllum,"

Svarog nodded. "I accept your compliment,"

Herta walked towards Clara and held out her hand. "Here, what do you think of this, Clara?"

Clara looked at Herta's hand, finding it composed of joints like dolls. "It's… very intricate…" she blushed a little. "May I?"

"Of course, go ahead, consider it a favor from auntie Herta,"

March and Dan Heng froze after hearing that. Not a single one of them believed what they just heard. The former shook her head and slapped her cheeks. The latter took a deep breath to clear his mind. 'Must've been the lack of sleep,' they both thought in sync.

"This is… Umm…" Clara moved around Herta's fingers. "There doesn't seem to be any rotor, like a puppet…" she tilted her head. "And when there's a puppet, there are strings…"

Herta raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"So... This puppet isn't something like a robot that has its own energy source," Clara turned to Herta. "You are controlling this from elsewhere and that… It's being moved by external force, which is provided… somehow…"

"Well aren't you a clever girl?" Herta said as she pulled her hand away. "I can't believe talents like you gets wasted all the way inside a frozen planet," she folded her arms. "You might even have what it takes to work in my Space Station,"

"Oh, umm, thank you, Ms. Herta,"

The puppet turned to Svarog. "So, Clara here is your daughter, yes?"

Svarog paused. "Clara is family," he spoke.

"I'll take that as a yes," Herta folded her arms. "Silicon-based life forms are very rare. One of my good friends hailed from such planet that caters to such… Peculiarity. So the prospect of finding this one… I'm sure he'd love to hear more about this place,"

"Silicon-based life forms?" Clara asked.

Herta turned to Clara. "Well, do you believe that Svarog is just a soulless machine?"

The girl quickly shook her head. "No, no, Mr. Svarog is different. He… He has this, thing… Like he can think on his own…"

"And that, is life," Herta shrugged. "Well in the broadest, overly simplified sense. Others who are more involved in this topic than me would perhaps have another opinion on it," she looked at Clara fondly for a moment. "And you are… the only person in the entire cosmos who are known to be raised by robots."

"Umm… Yes…" Clara replied.

Herta finally turned to the Trailseekers. "You got room in the Hyperion?"

"What?" March asked. "I mean… If she doesn't mind," she glanced at Svarog. "And her parent, also don't mind,"

"Right, I keep forgetting how families work," Herta shrugged. "In any case, I'm just gonna leave that to you Clara," she produced a strange emblem from her pocket and gave it to Clara. "This is a written invitation given to you personally, by Madam Herta to be her apprentice,"

Clara gazed at the emblem with wide eyes. "Th-thank you… But I'm afraid…"

"You don't have to give me your answer now," Herta said simply. "Just know that… People would kill to get one of those. Show it to the next IPC personnel that troubles you and they better start running,"

With that, Herta turned to the Trailseekers. "Now, there's one other thing that piqued my interest in this planet," she walked towards Dan Heng. "A living, space-time anomaly… As you put it,"

Dan Heng nodded. "Yes, Seele of the Wildfire,"

Seele, who's been standing idly behind them blinked. "Me?" a metallic glint flashed before her eyes and she teleported away on instinct, she made a stance a few feet away from them with her scythe at the ready. "Oi… What was that for?"

"I believe this is an eating utensil," Herta replied, revealing that it's just a spoon she waved in front of her face. "But I don't eat, at least not as a doll," she tossed Seele the spoon who caught it with her hand. "I have other things I'm curious about though…"

"What?"

"Quantum Tunneling," Herta replied. "I admit, it's nothing new, I can do that too," she snapped her fingers and teleported right behind Seele. The girl turned around and stepped back in surprise. "However, my ways of doing it are… more dependent of equipment, something that you obviously don't have,"

Seele folded her arms as she prepared her answer. It's the one true answer for all her power. The answer that she gave to those who asked her, whether it's strangers or those most precious to her. The true origin of her power.

"I have no idea!" Seele declared, a little too proudly.

Herta blinked. "I expected that answer, I wouldn't expect someone like you to understand the nuance of Quantum Fluctuations and the uncertainty principles," she explained. "However, I am interested in studying more about you, what do you say?"

"Well, what's in it for me?"

Herta tilted her head. "Hmm… I'll terraform your planet back into its former glory. So, you don't have to waste a few hundred years for all the ice to thaw out after we fixed your little Eternal Freeze problem. You get to sunbathe on Belobog Beach in just under 10 years! How about that?"

Seele blinked, almost not believing what Herta just said. "You can…" she shook her head. "Ah fuck, wait, wait, this is not my decision to make…" she turned to Svarog. "Oi, chief, should I say yes?"

Svarog nodded. "Terraforming the Planet would be beneficial in restoring Belobog into its former glory,"

"What the big guy said,"

Herta raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to ask what that 'study' involves?"

Seele blinked. "Are you going to dissect me?"

The puppet shrugged. "Among other things, don't worry I will make sure not to create any lasting damage on your body or psyche," she explained.

"Sure, whatever," she said. "Just promise me you fix this world,"

"Of course, it's a deal then,"

With that, Seele turned to the Trailseekers who are looking at her like she just made a deal with the devil. "What?" Seele asked.

"No, nothing, welcome to the team Seele! Glad to have you here," March replied simply. "Grief counseling is available every 3rd Saturday, free cakes available every weekend on the Hyperion Lobby,"

"What?" Seele asked again.

"I suggest learning Stoicism and look up the philosophy of Sisyphus," Dan Heng added. "It might help calm your mind,"

"…" Seele turned to Herta. "Can I…" she noticed then that the doll is simply standing there, lifeless. "Fuck…"