"Alright, alright, don't be angry anymore."
In a relatively quiet corner on the edge of Stellaron Town, [Cocolia] was sitting on a piece of discarded machinery, next to the trial version of [Bronya], who was puffing out her cheeks and radiating an "I'm unhappy" aura.
"Hmph!"
[Bronya] turned her head away, but her body honestly leaned closer to her mother.
The real Bronya stood a few steps away, looking from one to the other, her expression so complex it could fill a thesis.
She finally couldn't help but ask: "So they are..."
"That's right, I summoned them!"
Stella puffed out her chest proudly, her "praise me" expression making Seele unable to help but cover her forehead.
"Wait, let me take a moment to process this..."
Bronya held her forehead, feeling as if her worldview was undergoing an earthquake of magnitude eight.
"So you mean, this... this existence that is exactly like my mother, and this... other me, were all created by you through some kind of ability?"
"Summoned! It's summoning!"
Stella corrected her.
"They both have the personality and abilities of their originals; I only provided the form of existence! And look, Ms. [Cocolia] is so gentle, and [Bronya] is so cu—uh, powerful?"
Halfway through, she received a death glare from [Bronya] that seemed to say, "Who did you say was cute?", and she immediately corrected herself.
[Cocolia] stood up and walked over to Bronya, her purple eyes filled with genuine concern: "Yes, child. Your mother—the real Cocolia Rand—did not come to the Lower District."
"She is likely still in the Upper District."
[Cocolia]'s voice was calm, but her words made Bronya stiffen.
"Being bewitched by the Stellaron."
"Stellaron? Bewitched?!"
Bronya's voice rose sharply, her pupils constricting.
"What are you talking about? What is a Stellaron? My mother, she—"
"Don't be anxious, I will demonstrate it for you."
[Cocolia] softly interrupted her, then performed an action that left everyone stunned.
She extended her right hand, fingers together, and without hesitation—plunged it into her own chest.
"Squish."
It wasn't the sound of flesh tearing, but more like the soft sound of an energy body being penetrated.
But the visual effect was absolutely shocking.
"Hiss—!"
Stella gasped, shrinking back, her hands tightly clutching her own chest.
"It looks painful! Even if you don't seem to feel pain, it hurts just to watch!"
Seele also subconsciously took half a step back, her scythe already held horizontally in front of her: "What are you—"
"Mother!"
Both Bronyas exclaimed simultaneously, rushing towards [Cocolia].
But [Cocolia] just shook her head at them, felt around inside her chest, and then—slowly pulled out an orb radiating an ominous light.
As soon as the glowing orb appeared, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop a few degrees, and the air became thick and oppressive.
"It's fine, this is just a part of the'setting' within me."
[Cocolia] said calmly, there was no wound where her chest had been penetrated, only faint particles of light flowing there.
"I am not the real Cocolia, so this is just a replica, but its nature is similar."
She held the Stellaron in her palm, and everyone could clearly see its unsettling form.
"Is this a Stellaron?"
Seele frowned, the tip of her scythe pointing at the crystal.
"It feels... terrible."
[Cocolia] nodded, her gaze never leaving the Stellaron in her hand: "This Stellaron has no self-awareness; it is just a replica. But the Stellaron of Jarilo-VI—the true Stellaron of your world—not only has consciousness but is also very cunning and filled with the power to bewitch people."
Her tone became heavy, her purple eyes looking into the distance, as if penetrating layers of rock walls to see the castle shrouded in ice in the Upper District.
"And it has been bewitching the real me for a long time."
There was a deep sadness in [Cocolia]'s voice.
"Starting from seven hundred years ago, from the first time the City builders discovered it, it has been whispering, tempting, and weaving lies."
"And the real me."
She looked at The real Bronya, her eyes full of apology and heartache.
"Because of the increasingly desperate situation in Belobog—the cold wave not receding, resources drying up, the people struggling in misery—she has gradually been eroded by its whispers and persuaded by its lies over the long years."
"It told me that only by accepting its power could I save Belobog."
[Cocolia] smiled bitterly.
"And I... believed it. Or rather, I chose to believe it, because I could not see any other hope."
Bronya stood there, as if frozen.
Her lips trembled slightly, and she tried to speak several times, but could not make a sound.
After a long while, she said in a voice that was almost inaudible: "Ho... how could this be..."
"Mother... has been enduring all this?"
Her voice was laced with tears.
"And I knew nothing, I was still doubting her, thinking she had become cold, become a stranger..."
[Bronya] walked over and gently patted The real Bronya's shoulder—the action was a bit awkward, after all, she was patting "her own" shoulder.
"This is not your fault."
[Bronya] said.
"The Stellaron's bewitchment is silent; it exploits people's fear, sense of responsibility, and love. Mother... the real mother, she wanted to protect Belobog too much, and wanted to protect you too much."
[Cocolia] "pressed" the Stellaron back into her chest—yes, just pressed it back in, a scene that made Stella gasp again—then walked up to Bronya and gently cupped her face with both hands.
"Listen, child."
[Cocolia]'s gaze was incredibly serious.
"Now you know the truth. But knowing the truth is not for you to blame yourself, but for you to understand that your mother needs help, and Belobog needs help."
"But... what should I do?"
Bronya's voice was full of confusion.
"If even Mother cannot resist the Stellaron's bewitchment due to despair, what can I do?"
"You can do a lot."
[Cocolia] said with a smile.
"You can seek allies, you can gather information, you can... trust those who are willing to help you."
Her gaze swept over Stella, Seele, and her other self.
Bronya took a deep breath, and the demeanor of a Silvermane Guards acting officer returned to her.
"I understand."
Bronya stood up straight, her eyes becoming firm.
"I will find a way to save Mother and Belobog. And on this path..."
She looked at Stella: "I need your help."
Stella's eyes lit up, and she immediately nodded: "No problem! Leave it to me!"
[Detected strong emotional energy, "firm determination and trust" from Bronya, obtained 30 stellar jade.]
[Current stellar jade: 1270]
Stella almost jumped up: "I can try summoning another character now!"
Everyone's gaze was focused on her.
[Bronya] raised an eyebrow: "Now?"
"Now!"
Stella said excitedly.
"Maybe I can summon some super powerful character to help!"
Seele sighed: "Why do I have a bad feeling about this..."
Stella had already closed her eyes and started operating the ten-pull on the system interface.
And in a place she couldn't see, Bronya quietly asked the trial version: "Are you... really a clone summoned by Stella? Do you have your own consciousness?"
[Bronya] smiled: "I have the memories, emotions, and willpower that 'Bronya Rand' should have. As for whether I am 'real'... that depends on how you define real."
She looked at Stella on the side: "But at least, I believe that my desire to help you is real."
Bronya was silent for a few seconds, then said softly: "Thank you... other me."
[Bronya] was stunned for a moment, then showed a warm smile: "You're welcome... myself."
Stella, not far away, suddenly shouted: "It's out! Gold light! I got a gold!"
Everyone's attention was instantly drawn over.
Today's Lower District was still peaceful—if you ignored that strange person who was shouting about the gacha results, and the two Bronyas who were discussing "self-identity and the essence of existence."
But at least, they were beginning to truly understand each other.