What did Bronya see?
Fierce winds, drifting snow, and flowers the size of shields. Then came the strange fragrance in the air and the low hum that burst like thunder in her ears.
She thought, perhaps she was dreaming.
If not, how could such a scene exist? Snow covered the land, yet flowers bloomed. People on the brink of death were being pulled back to life.
She saw emerald light, pulsing with life, rise into the air. The Silvermane Guards who had been writhing on the ground moments ago now stood on their feet again, disbelief etched on their faces.
Once they came to their senses, they all looked up—toward the girl floating silently above them.
Felicity looked down. From that height, the world below felt small, like she could see everything. But she knew she was no god. She was only an Emanator, far from the might of the Aeons.
Still, death was never certain.
She recalled the tale Herta once told her—of the Aeon of Abundance. The Merciful One had granted blessings for millennia, only to be hunted relentlessly by those of The Hunt. And suddenly, a thought occurred to her.
If she followed the Aeon's path, would she too become prey for The Hunt?
Felicity figured it was worth finding out.
She invoked the Path of Abundance, healing every wounded Silvermane Guard present. Raising her head, she let the blossoms bloom freely around her.
"I, Felicity, Emanator of the Path of Abundance, follow the Merciful One's will and offer all present peace from disaster and a lifetime of joy."
The flowers flourished further. With a flick of her finger, emerald energy turned to rain, washing down upon the battlefield, driving away Rift Creatures and soothing the Guards.
Felicity lowered her gaze.
She hadn't granted eternal life—just mended wounds and lifted ailments. Her strength leaned toward longevity, not immortality.
But this was enough.
She could grant long life, but she wouldn't—there was no need. The Merciful One never gave more than what was needed.
All she had to do was leave behind traces—proof that she had been here—before the day an arrow sharp enough to pierce the stars found her.
She withdrew her power, scattered the blossoms, and slowly descended to stand before Bronya, who seemed to lead the other Guards.
Bronya, staring at the girl who had appeared like a divine being, almost stepped back. But she held her ground and tried to stay composed.
"I... I am Bronya Rand, heir to the Supreme Guardian and acting commander of the Silvermane Iron Guard. It's an honor to meet you... Miss Felicity, Emanator of Abundance."
Bronya's words trembled slightly. She was trained from youth to guard her emotions, rarely losing her calm.
But this situation defied reason. She couldn't make sense of what Felicity meant by "Emanator" or "Merciful One."
Felicity saw her discomfort, but didn't mind. She gave a polite nod.
"Just Felicity is fine, Bronya. I come from outer space."
"...Outer space?"
Bronya fell silent. She had read many texts—some even mentioning civilizations beyond the stars. Before the cold wave and the Rift, this land had once flourished…
Back then, there were no icy winds, no walls sealing the sky. The world held infinite potential—until it was all lost.
"...Regardless, please state your purpose."
Bronya steadied her breath, trying to regain clarity.
She wasn't naive enough to drop her guard just because her soldiers had been saved. There was no such thing as free aid—there had to be a reason.
"Stellaron."
Felicity didn't hesitate. Her gaze locked onto Bronya's, voice calm.
"The Fragmentum is born from a Stellaron. Unless I seal it, I can't leave this planet."
She said nothing of the Astral Express. If danger came, it should fall on her alone.
"...So this Stellaron is what created the Fragmentum? The thing tormenting Belobog with endless monsters?"
Bronya's eyes widened. Even in ancient texts, she had never seen the word "Stellaron" before.
Each new term only added to her confusion.
"Not just the Fragmentum. Even the cold wave may be a product of the Stellaron."
"But... please give me a moment to think."
Bronya needed time. Too much information had come too quickly for her to respond clearly.
If the Stellaron truly was the root of it all—then Felicity, Emanator of Abundance, might be the hope Belobog had awaited for centuries.
Her kindness, her clarity, her calm... made it difficult to doubt her.
Yet Bronya couldn't decide.
Too many lives stood behind her. The weight of Belobog pressed heavy on her shoulders. She wasn't the one who could make that call.
"I'm sorry. I can't decide this on my own, but I will report your words to the Supreme Guardian. She will choose."
Bronya bowed slightly, showing sincerity. Even if the Supreme Guardian rejected Felicity, she had no wish to make an enemy of her.
"Good."
Felicity wasn't surprised. Gaining someone's trust was never something that happened at first meeting.
"If it's alright with you, please come with me. Belobog will ensure you're treated with the utmost care."
"No need. I'll appear once you've gotten the answer."
Felicity gave a small shake of her head. Since the answer lay with the Supreme Guardian, her presence didn't matter much. The Astral Express's people would arrive before long anyway.
Rather than reuniting right away, she chose to follow a thread that seemed far more intriguing.
Closing her eyes for a moment, Felicity sensed life stirring beneath the earth, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
With a graceful motion, she swept her hand. A flower-scented breeze stirred Bronya's long hair in response.
And then, Felicity vanished, as if she'd never been there.
"A visitor from beyond the stars...?"
Bronya whispered, eyes fixed on the spot where Felicity had disappeared.
"Lady Bronya!"
The voice pulled her back to reality. She turned to face the nearby guard, inhaling deeply as resolve returned to her gaze.
"Gather the troops. Have all Silvermane Guards fall back to the defense line. I'm going to see the Supreme Guardian."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The officer saluted, his voice loud, hope flickering behind the visor of his helmet.
--+--
T/N: Only going up to ch 25 today, so 4 chapters.