March 7th, Stelle, Dan Heng, Fan, and Gepard — along with four Silvermane Guards — walked into the city.
March looked around smiling "Hey, it feels like it got a little bit warmer!"
Gepard replied "Because you're in Belobog — the last bastion of humanity."
March said "Last bastion?"
Gepard began, his tone growing more solemn."Seven hundred years ago, monsters from above 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. Amidst the conflict, the Eternal Freeze descended without warning. Sweeping winds brought blizzards that buried the invading legion. Belobog was all that remained. The steadfast Architects built this city. Under the protection of Qlipoth the Preservation, Belobog remains forever warm in the face of unrelenting cold."
Fan thought to himself, How can this guy talk so much without drinking a sip of water...?
Gepard kept talking as they walked. No one else spoke — only him.
Finally, Gepard halted and said "We are here. This is Qlipoth Fort — the heart of Belobog and the headquarters of the Architects."
Fan stepped forward, clearly not wanting to hear more. "Can we meet the Supreme Guardian already?"
Gepard nodded. "Yes. Everyone, come with me to meet the Supreme Guardian."
As they walked, they spotted a silver-haired youth arguing with a blonde-haired woman who looked — oddly enough — like a single mother. (Not a joke. She really doe´s look like a single mother.)
The silver-haired youth spoke, clearly frustrated "But that's a meaningless sacrifice! How can you—"
She was abruptly cut off by the blonde-haired woman, who said calmly, "Ahem... You may leave, Bronya. Visitors have arrived."
Gepard addressed the blonde woman. "Madam Guardian, we have brought the outsiders to you."
The blonde woman nodded. "The messenger friend informed me. Well done, Gepard. You may leave now."
Then she turned to face the group of four. "Welcome, visitors from beyond the Eternal Freeze. Or perhaps I should say… beyond the sky? No? I am Cocolia Rand, Belobog's Supreme Guardian. I would be grateful if you could tell me why you have come."
Fan stepped forward."We are here for the Stellaron." (He had overheard somethings about it on the train — chapter 7 — while playing a game.) "If you know any leads about it, please tell us."
Cocolia raised an eyebrow."A Stellaron?"
Dan Heng explained, "Objects that fell from the blue onto separate worlds. Their appearance spelled disaster. Many of the planets we've visited have suffered from their effects. You mentioned an invasion by the Antimatter Legion. Soon after their arrival, this planet suffered the Eternal Freeze. At the same time, the phenomenon known as fragmentum space corrosion began to occur. Correct?"
Cocolia responded after a pause. "...Correct."
Stelle added,"The Stellarons were cast by the Aeon of Destruction."
March nodded and joined in, "Which is why the Antimatter Legion and Stellarons often show up together! Worlds seeded with Stellarons give birth to fragmentums. As for the Eternal Freeze… it must be a product of the Stellaron — unique to the environment of your world."
Cocolia's voice lowered. "We have indeed suffered the disasters you speak of — some of which continue to trouble us even today. But why do you care? Even if the Stellaron did bring disaster, I fail to see its connection to you. I don't believe anyone would go to such lengths to help a world unrelated to them… unless they had something to gain."
Dan Heng admitted calmly, "You're right. Our reason for coming here is not purely selfless. If we don't seal the Stellaron, we cannot leave this planet."
Cocolia looked at him sharply. "You... know how to seal the Stellaron?"
Dan Heng nodded. "We have the means."
Cocolia paused, then finally said, "Very well. If our present situation is truly the result of this so-called Stellaron, then your arrival is what Belobog has waited seven hundred years for. I am willing to assist you in any way possible to help you locate the Stellaron."
cocolia said to the group of 4 "It's getting late, and you must be tired. I will arrange for you to stay in our most comfortable hotel. Rest there and get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow at noon, I will send someone to escort you here, and we can discuss this urgent matter in greater detail."
The four outsiders exited the fortress.
Outside, Gepard was waiting for them.