The Upper District, streets looking slightly desolate.
Seele, Stella, Stelle, March 7th, Dan Heng, and a complex-looking Bronya, the group quietly appeared at the entrance of a relatively secluded alley.
Seele poked her head out first, her sharp gaze sweeping across the snow-covered yet oppressively atmospheric street. In the distance, the silhouettes of patrolling Silvermane Guards and the outlines of towering city walls were faintly visible.
She pursed her lips: "Is this what the Upper District looks like now?"
"According to the 'encrypted telepathic message' sent by [Cocolia], she is currently using 'thunderous methods' to clean up the mess, while the genuine one—or rather, the Guardian troubled by the Stellaron, is currently 'visiting' at the workshop."
Stella lowered her voice, while unable to resist touching the somewhat garish golden laurel crown on her head. She always felt that wearing it could add some "luck," although she was often teased by March 7th for looking like a "birthday cake decoration."
"Mother..."
Bronya's fingers tightened slightly upon hearing this news.
Worry, guilt, and a trace of hesitation at nearing home intertwined, causing her voice to lower.
Meanwhile, in the Lower District, at the temporary training ground on the edge of Stellaron Town.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The heavy thuds echoed with obvious anger.
"I won't accept this! I won't accept this! I won't accept this, ahhh—!"
[Bronya] gritted her teeth, her beautiful blue-gray eyes burning with the raging fury of being "left behind."
She didn't use the firearm at all, instead using it like a high-grade metal rod. The gunstock whistled through the air, smashing again and again toward the nimbly dodging [Jing Yuan].
Several small pits were smashed into the ground.
"Wait! Miss [Bronya]! Calm down! This, this is just daily training! Stop at the limit! Stop at the limit!"
[Jing Yuan]'s usually calm and breezy expression was about to crack, his ethereal and sage-like image completely gone.
He clumsily bent, turned, and even performed a rather ungraceful roll to barely dodge the continuous fierce strikes aimed at his handsome face.
The force with which the gunstock was wielded didn't look like anything that should be in "training" at all!
Upon hearing his shout, [Bronya] paused abruptly, the gunstock hovering in mid-air, her chest heaving from anger and strenuous exercise.
She panted, her eyes still glaring fiercely at [Jing Yuan], as if he were the detestable guy who "approved Bronya to go up but didn't approve me."
[Jing Yuan] took the opportunity to retreat several steps, maintaining a safe distance, wiping away non-existent cold sweat with lingering fear, just about to speak to soothe her—
"Damn it! That is my mother! Mine!"
The more [Bronya] thought about it, the angrier she became. The stifling feeling of having nowhere to vent made her suddenly clench the musket in her hand tightly.
With a teeth-aching "creak," several fine cracks were actually squeezed into the sturdy musket body by her!
[Jing Yuan]: "!!!"
He instantly shut his mouth, held his breath, and tried to minimize his presence as much as possible, as if even the cowlick on his head (if he had one) was scared flat against his scalp.
In his eyes at this moment, this usually serious and somewhat straightforward Miss [Bronya] seemed to be surrounded by visible black resentment, even scarier than the shadows in the Rift.
Returning to the Upper District, outside the workshop.
Stella stepped forward and knocked on the door, using the "two heavy, one light" rhythm previously instructed by [Cocolia].
"Who is it? Not open for business today; if you're here to fix something, come back early tomorrow."
Serval's voice came from behind the door, sounding a bit tired and a bit wary.
"Serval, it's us. Cocolia... is 'resting' at your place, is she okay?"
Stella said in as calm a tone as possible, avoiding being heard by any potential neighbors.
There was silence inside the door for a few seconds, followed by a flurry of slightly panicked footsteps and the faint sound of things colliding.
"Ah? It's you guys! Wait, I'm coming to open the door!"
With a "click," the lock opened, and Serval poked half her body out, quickly scanning the group outside.
Her gaze lingered for a moment on the two gray-haired girls, slightly confused, then quickly locked onto the most familiar-looking, complex-expressioned Bronya.
"Bronya? You're back? These are...?"
Serval lowered her voice, her gaze sweeping over Seele and the others, especially the curiously peering March 7th and the calmly observing Dan Heng.
"Auntie Serval... it's a long story. Let's go in first; it's... not convenient out here."
Bronya said softly, stepping aside to gesture.
"Right, right, right, come in quickly!"
Serval quickly made way, and the group filed in, making the not-very-spacious workshop suddenly feel a bit crowded.
Serval quickly closed the door and locked it.
The scene inside the room stunned everyone except Stella.
In the center of the room, sitting on a sturdy chair, was Cocolia, carefully bound and covered with a thick blanket.
She had her eyes closed, her brows slightly furrowed, seemingly asleep, but her breathing was steady, and her complexion was much better than before—at least she no longer had that gray, defeated look of being shrouded in shadows.
"Mother..."
Bronya stopped in her tracks, her feelings even more complex.
Seeing her mother "quieted" in this way, her heart was filled with mixed feelings.
"Shh—"
Serval held a finger to her lips and whispered.
"Let her sleep for a while. That [Cocolia] doesn't know what method she used... uh, anyway, for once, she can't hear those damn Stellaron whispers in her head, so she's sleeping quite soundly. She must be exhausted, both physically and mentally."
Bronya nodded, her gaze fixed on her mother, not moving for a long time.
At this moment, Serval's gaze swept back and forth between Stelle and Stella, finally settling on Stella, who was wearing that rather conspicuous golden laurel crown that slightly reflected light even in the dim room, and asked tentatively: "You... are Stella? That'Summoner' kid?"
"It is me, Ms. Serval."
Stella nodded.
Serval looked at her, then looked at the sleeping Cocolia on the chair, then thought of that [Cocolia] who rushed out to "substitute" and was currently carrying out sweeping reforms in Qlipoth Fort, a sincere and emotional smile appearing on her face. She stepped forward and gently patted Stella on the shoulder:
"Although the process was a bit... hmm, beyond imagination. But still, thank you."
Thank you for the variables you brought, thank you for seizing that glimmer of possibility to turn fate around.
Stella rubbed the back of her head somewhat embarrassedly, almost knocking the laurel crown askew.
March 7th chuckled from the side and whispered: "See, I told you wearing this laurel crown makes you look like a meritorious hero!"
Meanwhile, Dan Heng's gaze had already fallen on some scattered blueprints and parts on the workbench, seemingly analyzing Belobog's current technological level.
Seele hugged her arms, eyeing the tightly bound Cocolia, and whispered to Stelle: "Your Upper District... way of handling family conflicts is quite unique."
Stelle: "..."
She decided not to comment for now.