Without even a moment to mourn the former Supreme Guardian Cocolia, the one who immediately rushed to Qlipoth Fort to invite Felicity and the others for a discussion was—Bronya!
Bronya had just finished her speech, and there was still much work to be prepared afterward. Even though only a day had passed, she was already overwhelmed with tasks.
At that moment, she stood alone before the Supreme Guardian's desk, gazing at the rows of her mother's belongings left behind, lost in thought. She didn't even notice the sound of Felicity and the others pushing the door open.
"—Bronya! We're back!"
March 7th, hands on her hips, called out cheerfully, pulling Bronya back to reality.
"Miss March, Mr. Dan Heng, Stelle, and—Lady Felicity, it's wonderful that you could make it to the speech."
Bronya turned around, a faint smile appearing on her slightly weary face. She nodded to everyone, but her gaze lingered on Felicity.
"Thank you."
Bronya sincerely expressed her gratitude to Felicity.
She knew that without Felicity's intervention, Belobog would never have resolved the crisis so quickly. Without the immense power bestowed by Felicity, she would never have mustered the courage to confine Cocolia within Qlipoth Fort.
And that Stellaron she hadn't even gotten a chance to see—there was no doubt Felicity had discreetly dealt with it.
"And... I'm sorry. I concealed some truths, including... part of your contributions."
Bronya hesitated but ultimately spoke her mind.
"It's fine."
Felicity nodded.
Belobog could tolerate lies, but it must never lose hope. The city had just been reborn from the blizzards. If, at this moment, it lost faith in the Supreme Guardian and the belief in 'Preservation'...
It would be on the brink of collapse.
Speaking of which.
Cocolia had still ended up dead. In Felicity's memory, she hadn't actually met the former Supreme Guardian in person, leaving her with a sense of regret, as if she had missed an important CG.
"But speaking of which, Bronya's speech was truly inspiring! If it were me, I'd be so nervous I wouldn't even be able to stand steadily."
March 7th, noticing the heavy atmosphere, lightened the mood with a laugh and praised Bronya.
"...It was merely weaving lies with pleasant rhetoric. I hope you never have to experience such things, March."
Bronya shook her head.
After a pause, she took a deep breath, as if gathering her courage, and suddenly turned to Felicity, saying:
"Um, Lady Felicity..."
"Just call me Felicity."
"...Yes, Felicity. I have a request."
Stunned by Felicity's interruption, Bronya's expression froze, and the courage she had mustered seemed to vanish in an instant.
But when she looked at Felicity's placid face, she inexplicably felt less nervous.
"Could you... stay in Belobog?"
"No."
Felicity refused without hesitation.
"So quick! I didn't even have time to get nervous!"
March 7th covered her mouth and muttered quietly, nudging Dan Heng beside her with her elbow, wanting to pull him into sharing some whispers.
Dan Heng gave March 7th a helpless glance but remained silent.
"Felicity still needs to go junk hunting with me! She wouldn't just run off so easily!"
Stelle appeared completely confident.
"It's about pioneering the unknown..."
Dan Heng finally couldn't resist commenting.
"Belobog's fate ultimately lies in the hands of its people. I'm just an outsider—even if I stayed, I couldn't help you much more."
For once, Felicity was being serious. She patted Bronya's shoulder and gently shook her head at her.
—What a joke. Even the Stellaron, the most dangerous thing in Belobog, couldn't do anything to her. Staying here would bore her to death!
"I understand..."
Bronya wasn't surprised, just somewhat disappointed as she nodded. After hesitating a moment longer, she asked,
"Could I... make one more request?"
"Go ahead, as long as it's not unreasonable."
Felicity nodded.
"Well then..."
Bronya suddenly stepped forward, reaching out with both hands to firmly grasp Felicity's palm, then gently raising it to rest on top of her own head.
Her pretty face suddenly flushed bright red, the shy blush spreading all the way down to her neck.
With her gaze slightly averted, Bronya lowered her head.
"...Could you pat my head like this for a while?"
Bronya whispered.
"..."
Felicity was momentarily stunned.
She thought that the pressure weighing on Bronya must be too heavy, making her subconsciously seek support. That support had once been Cocolia, and now it had shifted to her.
Bronya had been suppressing herself for too long.
Felicity didn't refuse, gently stroking Bronya's head with her palm.
She wasn't a saint, but she hated tragedies. If a story had to have a casualty, she hoped it would be herself.
After all, she'd just revive if she died, right?
After stroking Bronya's head for a while, Felicity subtly withdrew her hand. Suddenly, she spoke in a soft voice:
"Bronya, look up at the sky."
Bronya instinctively turned her head and gazed at the sky outside the window. The clouds had cleared, and brilliant sunlight shone down upon Belobog, making the entire city seem to sparkle.
"Though you have nothing, you are free."
Felicity said with a smile.
Bronya's eyes gradually brightened.
Yes, freedom.
The blizzards had ceased, and Belobog had finally escaped its fate of isolation and internal strife. Everyone could see the sky unobstructed by the massive snowstorms, everyone could enjoy complete freedom.
She seemed to see her younger self sitting on a gray stone bench, holding a twig as she wrote the ideal that would guide her entire life on the dusty stone path:
[Make the world a better place]
"...I will work hard."
Bronya nodded firmly.
Not just for the future of Belobog, or the ideals of its countless citizens. She wanted Felicity to know that the power bestowed upon her had not been wasted. Even after seven hundred more years, the children of Jarilo-VI would continue to gaze at the stars, holding hope in their hearts.
"Keep going."
Felicity encouraged.
As long as they found something to look up to and embarked on their journey with hope, she believed Belobog would soon emerge from the lingering effects of the Stellaron.
Speaking of which, how much influence did the Stellaron still have?
Felicity suddenly remembered she had infused an immeasurable amount of life energy into this planet. Perhaps before long, Jarilo-VI could restore the scenery of a thousand years ago.
She blinked but didn't mention this to Bronya.
Life always needs a little surprise, doesn't it?