"Maybe playing a song would be appropriate? After all, music can stir the emotions."
March 7th made a suggestion.
Delta's mouth twitched.
What kind of brain-dead suggestion was this?
"Playing a song? Are you serious?"
"It's called setting the mood! Look at how much pressure she's under right now. If we play something stirring, maybe she'll resonate with her will."
A melodious tune drifted out from the terminal in March 7th's hand.
[Some deserts on this planet were oceans once...]
"What song is this?"
"A song I copied from the Hyperion. I think it's called... Moon Halo?"
However, this song didn't make Bronya resonate; instead, it made Stelle feel as if she were seeing some kind of vision.
Himeko looked at her tenderly in a fire, saying nothing more.
The female voice from the terminal continued to sing. Stelle subconsciously moved her legs, stepping over the snow and walking straight toward Bronya, who stood before the Stellaron sealing device.
Bronya's hands were tightly gripping that dull, lightless Flame Lance. She looked up as Stelle approached step by step, lifting her hands slightly.
"What are you doing?" Bronya asked, her tone carrying a hint of defensiveness.
Stelle ignored the question.
Her hand covered the back of Bronya's, assisting her from behind to raise the Flame Lance.
Amber flames erupted from the tip of the lance, and a searing heatwave instantly swept through the surroundings. The century-old ice of Everwinter Peak, which had never melted, hissed under the high temperature, rising as white steam. The once dull and heavy lance was now enveloped in fire, the patterns on its surface flowing with a molten glow.
Bronya's long silver hair was blown backward by the heatwave. She could clearly feel the warmth from the other pair of hands on the back of her own, as well as the immense power conducting through the metal shaft into her entire body.
A crack appeared in the clouds, and long-absent sunlight poured down through the gap, landing on the tip of the lance Bronya held high.
Stelle released her hand from the back of Bronya's.
"Go and turn this imperfect story into..."
Himeko's voice echoed in Stelle's ears. Her gaze was somewhat hollow, and tears silently flowed down her cheeks. She didn't know why she was crying, but she simply couldn't control it.
"...the way you want it to be."
That last sentence was spoken into Stelle's ear by Aidan's divine sense.
"I..."
Bronya looked at the burning Flame Lance in her hand, not knowing what to say.
"It's not that you're incapable of burning; you just needed someone to lend you their flame."
Tear stains still remained on Stelle's face, but her eyes had regained their clarity. She let go, took a step back, and gave Bronya a somewhat clumsy smile.
"Now, it's yours."
Bronya opened her mouth to speak but found herself at a loss for words. She could only nod forcefully, gripping the Flame Lance tightly in her hands.
Cocolia said nothing. She just quietly watched the burning lance in her daughter's hand and the unprecedented look of determination on her daughter's face. The wind and snow blew her long hair, obscuring half of her face.
March 7th leaned in close to Stelle and whispered, "Are you okay? Why were you crying just now?"
Stelle shook her head and raised her hand to haphazardly wipe her face.
"I don't know, it was just... suddenly very sad." She looked down at her hands. "I think I saw Sister Himeko in the fire..."
Dan Heng's gaze swept between Stelle and Bronya, finally landing on the massive figure in the sky.
Stelle turned back and raised the greatsword in her hand. For some reason, holding this sword made her feel as if she had inexhaustible strength.
Moreover, it was very warm, like being embraced by someone.
"I can..."
Light up the sky.
She raised the sword, and orange-red flames blazed fiercely. They weren't searing, but warm. The firelight reflected on her face, illuminating those two tear stains that hadn't yet dried, and the amber flames lit up the entire sky.
"Put the sword away." Dan Heng stepped forward, holding cloud-striker in his hand. "You've released enough of your power."
Stelle obediently lowered her arm. The flames on the greatsword instantly retracted, returning to their original dark red appearance, yet still emitting a warm aura.
"I owe you all an explanation." Cocolia's voice was a bit raspy, but her tone was firm. "About the Stellaron, about the Everfrost, and about everything from the past few hundred years. When we return to Qlipoth Fort, I will tell the whole truth."
"No rush," Dan Heng said calmly. "Let's deal with the matter at hand first."
He looked up at the massive figure in the sky.
Aidan was "gazing" down with that featureless face. Although his expression couldn't be seen, Dan Heng somehow felt that this guy should be smiling right now.
Cocolia nodded and turned to look at the golden Stellaron firmly restrained by the silver cubes. It kept crashing against the transparent cage but could never break free.
"The Stellaron... how do you plan to handle it?"
"We will take the Stellaron away."
"I see."
"The Antimatter Legion will follow the trail of the Stellaron; we're taking it away to protect you."
Cocolia nodded.
First...
"Bronya, it is time to lift the travel ban between the Upper and Lower Districts."
The Stellaron had been sealed, and Qlipoth had manifested; she had to take action immediately.
"Lift... the ban?"
"I will personally announce the truth to all the people of Belobog."
Standing to the side, March 7th couldn't help but poke Dan Heng upon hearing this.
"Is this... what? A change of heart at the eleventh hour?"
"It's taking responsibility for her decisions."
"Mother, I will stay by your side."
"No need." Cocolia shook her head. "From today on, you must learn to face things alone."
— — —
After everyone returned to the Express, Welt felt like he was about to die.
Why did Stelle go out once and come back as a greatsword wielder?
What do you mean, you want to become the 'Flames of Incandescence'?
What do you mean, you saw Himeko in the fire?
Is this right?!
This is not right!
Aidan must have done this on purpose.
Welt squatted in Aidan's room, just waiting for Aidan to change back to another Path in the middle of the night so he could use his cane to give him a vigorous dose of 'care'.
It was known as...
The Education of Love.