"As expected, we've been detected. The Stellaron possesses abilities similar to detection magic," Sense remarked calmly. "Since we've already sent a message to Cocolia, Bronya is most likely bait now."
"...Continuing to follow these phantoms would undoubtedly be dangerous behavior."
"Yes, indeed." Sitting by the flowerbed's pond, Serie plucked a petal without looking up and asked,
"Sense, what would you do in this situation?"
"Lady Serie, I would press on."
——
A strand of Sense's hair floated gently onto her delicate palm: "I would follow the phantoms to find Cocolia, kill her, and then destroy the Stellaron."
[Through Stelle's resonance with the Stellaron, Dan Heng deduced that Cocolia's ambush likely lay ahead. The group proceeded with extreme caution.]
[After navigating several mechanical passageways, they saw the phantoms of Cocolia and Bronya again. The Fragmentum here seemed to have formed a special connection with Cocolia, repeatedly recreating her image.]
[As they approached, the phantoms replayed their conversation.]
[Bronya: "I don't understand… If what you say is true, then for centuries, every single Supreme Guardian resisted the Stellaron's call… Were they all wrong, Mother?"]
[Cocolia: "There is no right or wrong here—only human arrogance and shortsightedness. Our ancestors burned their lives to sustain this civilization, then faded into silence. They spent their lives composing hymns praising human courage, yet never spared a moment to gaze at the stars."]
[Cocolia: "To the grand entities among the cosmos, a millennium is but a grain of sand. The achievements of an insignificant race hold no value worth noting."]
[Bronya: "But what about Preservation's Qlipoth—isn't He one of the 'grand entities' you speak of? Hasn't Beloborg been under His protection all along?"]
[Cocolia sneered: "Preservation? When has Preservation ever spared humanity a glance? That's nothing more than the Architects' self-righteous delusion. You will hear the true voice of grandeur, Bronya… You will come to understand my choice."]
——
"Oh? So this 'Preservation' Aeon doesn't seem all that reliable after all."
In Mondstadt's tavern, Angel's Share, Sister Rosaria sat in the deepest corner with a glass of beer, quietly smoking: "Not even as dependable as our own Anemo Archon, Basbas."
Diluc and Venti sat across from her, unfazed by the presence of this elusive, chain-smoking nun.
"I should probably remind you… the Anemo Archon's name is Barbatos," Diluc said awkwardly, glancing at Venti beside him.
"Sorry, but what's the difference? It's not like the Archon ever visits Mondstadt much anyway." Rosaria flicked her cigarette lazily. "For all we know, He's probably off drinking in another country right now. The God of Freedom… ought to be free, after all."
"He's far more responsible than Barbatos. Seems like He's been building walls nonstop since ancient times… fulfilling His duty of Preservation. Just thinking about it exhausts me… Being a bard is much easier."
Venti, completely oblivious to Diluc's exasperated expression, said lightly, "You can't pay for your drinks with poetry this time."
"Ehh—Master Diluc, don't be so stingy~"
"It's just one glass of Dandelion Wine…" Venti grinned, leaning closer. "How about putting this one on my tab? I'll pay it all next time, promise. Deal, Master Diluc?"
"Hmm…"
Watching the Anemo Archon, who couldn't even afford his drinks, Diluc lowered his head in contemplation.
Perhaps… Qlipoth the Preservation was still slightly more reliable?
——
[The group passed through a spacious area. After defeating a humanoid Fragmentum monster, they soon encountered Bronya and Cocolia's phantoms again.]
[This time, the voices were clearer than before. Dan Heng sensed they were nearing the northern snowfields.]
[Cocolia spoke again of the past, recounting the history of the previous Supreme Guardians.]
[Cocolia: "The first Supreme Guardian commanded the Silvermane Guards here, buying fleeting respite at great cost. But the Legion from beyond knew no fatigue. She soon realized that mortal flesh could never withstand such a terrifying enemy."]
[Cocolia: "In her despair… she turned her gaze to the [Stellaron] and made her first wish. What happened next… you already know—"]
[Bronya: "So… the [Eternal Freeze] was actually a disaster born from humanity's wish…"]
[Cocolia: "Isn't it ironic? The Stellaron merely granted humanity's deepest desire, yet for centuries, we treated its existence as taboo."]
——
Shirou Emiya: "Why does this Stellaron sound so familiar to me?"
Artoria: "Shirou, if the Stellaron perfectly fulfills human wishes, wouldn't that make it just like the Holy Grail?"
"At least the method of fulfillment is similar." Illya, sipping her drink, explained: "The Stellaron did respond to humanity's wish—it eradicated the Antimatter Legion on the surface. But the way the Stellaron 'helped' might differ from human expectations…"
"Just like the Holy Grail. If you wished to be the richest person in the world, the Grail wouldn't give you wealth—it'd just kill everyone richer than you."
"Similarly, the Stellaron undoubtedly fulfills wishes through 'destruction' or 'negative' means. Though it deviates from human intent, the wish is technically granted."
Shirou's gaze fell, his heart heavy. "So from the moment the first Supreme Guardian made that wish, the people of this world have been paying the price? That's just…"
Artoria shook her head. "But Shirou, without the Stellaron, Beloborg would've been annihilated by the Antimatter Legion centuries ago. The spark of civilization survived this long—that couldn't have happened without the Stellaron."
"So from the very beginning… this was an inescapable dead end."
[The group pressed onward. Before long, they saw Cocolia's phantom again—but this time, Bronya wasn't with her.]
["Something feels… different about this remnant compared to the others?" March 7th cautiously stepped closer, puzzled.]
[Suddenly, before their eyes, the phantom slowly turned toward them.]
["Intruders… must not… approach…"]
[Seele's eyes sharpened: "Look out—March! Get back!"]