Chapter 166: A New Beginning
The silence left by Asat Pramad's chaotic exit was almost as deafening as the battle itself. For the first time in 700 years, the oppressive howl of the eternal winter had ceased. In its place was a new, unfamiliar sound: the steady drip... drip... drip... of melting ice.
Belobog was spared. The automatons that had turned hostile under the Lord Ravager's influence froze, their red ocular sensors fading to a passive blue before they returned to their programmed duties. The very air felt different. It was still cold, but the biting, supernatural malice was gone.
Sunlight, no longer a pale, distant disc, poured down with genuine warmth. Icicles that had clung to the eaves of Qliphoth Fort for centuries shattered on the cobblestones below. On the streets, citizens cautiously emerged, shedding heavy furs. They stared at the sky, then at their hands, as if rediscovering what it meant to feel.
The entire planet of Jarilo-VI, a world defined by its struggle for survival, was suddenly, shockingly, thriving.
Days later, the main hall of Qliphoth Fort was packed. It was an unprecedented sight. Stern Silvermane Guards stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the rugged members of Seele's Wildfire, their shared survival forging a tense but respectful truce.
Cocolia stood before the Supreme Guardian's seat, her voice amplified by the hall's acoustics, resonating with a strength and clarity not heard in years. "Today, we honor not just a victory, but a rebirth."
She turned to the figures standing before her. Bronya, Seele, and Gepard were awarded Belobog's highest military honors, their chests gleaming with new medals.
Then, Cocolia paused, her gaze resting on the black-haired young man at the center. She held a heavy, folded cloak of pure white, trimmed with intricate gold thread—the colors of the Supreme Guardian herself.
"For courage that defied despair, for strength that turned the tide, and for a will that saved our world from the brink," Cocolia announced, her voice thick with emotion, "I, in the name of all of Belobog, hereby confer upon Orion the title of—'Spear of Belobog'!"
[Inorin's Note: The title "Spear of Belobog" signifies a protector with executive authority equivalent to the Supreme Guardian, a position created specifically for Orion.]
She personally draped the cloak over his shoulders. It felt heavy. Orion looked at the honor, then at the cheering crowd, and an almost imperceptible smile played on his lips. A hero? Me? The irony was delicious. The Emanator of Elation, hailed as a savior. Aha would be proud. This was, perhaps, the greatest joke of all.
Finally, Cocolia turned to the Astral Express crew. "Our most esteemed friends. You came to us as outsiders and fought for us as family. I bestow upon you the title of 'Eternal Guests.' All of Belobog's resources, from this day forward, are open to you."
Himeko, ever-graceful in her red coat, stepped forward. She gave a slight, respectful nod. "Your generosity is overwhelming, Supreme Guardian. We are truly honored."
Her smile was warm but firm. "However, for us Nameless, we walk the path of the Trailblaze. Our mission is the journey itself—to see, to connect, to mend."
She glanced back at her crew, then at Orion. "Making new friends, and ensuring they have a future to pioneer for themselves... that is already the best compensation we could ever ask for. We will happily accept your friendship."
Cocolia looked at her, understanding dawning in her eyes. She respected the decision. "Then, Belobog will always be your home, whenever you choose to return."
The celebration banquet that followed was unlike anything Belobog had ever seen. The somber, ration-focused atmosphere of the past was replaced with genuine revelry. Music played, and for the first time, laughter echoed freely in the Administrative District.
Orion found himself cornered by a surprisingly competitive Stelle.
"Another one!" Stelle slammed her empty glass of Underworld-brewed fruit wine on the table, her cheeks already a bright pink. "You may have beaten those beasts, 'Spear of Belobog,' but you can't out-drink the Galactic Baseballer!"
Orion raised an eyebrow, swirling the sweet, potent liquid in his own glass. "Is that a challenge, Trailblazer?"
"It's a declaration of victory!" she slurred, pouring him another full glass. "Drink up!"
March 7th, seeing this from across the room, immediately dragged Dan Heng over. "Look! They're going at it! My money's on Stelle!"
Dan Heng just sighed. "March, don't encourage them."
Seele sauntered over, her arms crossed, a smirk on her face. "Hmph. Can't even hold his liquor. How disappointing."
Bronya, ever the picture of composure, simply observed from a distance, though the slight twitch of her lips betrayed her amusement.
Glass after glass was emptied. The competition escalated from drinking to arm-wrestling (which Orion won with embarrassing ease, much to Stelle's pouty protests), and then back to drinking.
Hours later, the banquet hall had quieted. Most guests had departed. Orion, his head spinning pleasantly from the wine, leaned back on a plush sofa. The battle was over, the Lord Ravager defeated, the girls he... cared about... were all safe. He felt a profound sense of peace.
A soft weight slumped against his shoulder. He turned his head and saw Stelle, fast asleep, her face peaceful and unguarded. She had, at some point, declared victory and then immediately passed out.
He smiled softly and was about to ease her into a more comfortable position when his own exhaustion, the culmination of a year of high-stakes battles and emotional turmoil, finally claimed him. His head lolled back, and he fell asleep, his arm still protectively around the girl who had slumped against him.
They were discovered the next morning by a mortified Bronya, who had come to check on the state of the hall. The two "great heroes" were found fast asleep, tangled together on the sofa in a way that was anything but dignified.
A few days later, the Astral Express was ready to depart. The repairs were complete, and the Path was clear.
Stelle stood on the platform, her bag slung over her shoulder. She kept glancing back at the entrance to the station. Himeko, Welt, and Dan Heng were already aboard.
He... isn't coming to see me off.
An inexplicable emptiness bloomed in her chest. It was illogical. They were just friends, comrades who had fought together. But that strange, nagging sense of familiarity she felt around him, that pull... it made this departure feel less like a "see you later" and more like a loss.
"Stelle! Let's go! The train's leaving!" March 7th called from the carriage door.
Stelle took one last look at the empty entrance, her shoulders slumping, and turned to board.
"Oh~" March 7th's voice was suddenly right by her ear, full of teasing. "What's wrong? Don't want to leave?"
"No! You're overthinking it..." Stelle denied, her face heating up.
"Really?" March 7th grinned, wiggling her eyebrows. "You're not waiting for a certain Spear of Belobog to come give you a dramatic, tearful farewell?"
"I'm not!" Stelle protested, a bit too loudly.
"Aha! So you were thinking about him!" March 7th poked her cheek. "I don't blame you. He's handsome, ridiculously strong, and he even gets along with you... but you've got some serious competition, you know."
March 7th started counting on her fingers. "First, there's the Supreme Guardian's heir, Lady Bronya. She's elegant, smart, and they went to the military academy together. Classic childhood friend setup."
"Then," she continued, "there's the Underworld leader, Seele. Cool, strong, with that whole 'opposites attract' vibe. Plus, they have a deep, mysterious past!"
"And now there's you, the girl from the stars..." March 7th leaned in conspiratorially. "Stelle, if you want to win, you've gotta be more proactive! Why don't you just stay? We can come back for the wedding. I'll be your maid of honor!"
"Wha—I—You—He has Bronya and Seele!" Stelle's brain short-circuited, her cheeks burning. "I'm not marrying him! Stop talking nonsense!"
"Hahahaha!" March 7th cackled, clutching her stomach. "You're too easy to tease!"
Just as Stelle was about to drag March 7th onto the train by her hair, her breath caught.
A familiar figure was walking unhurriedly down the platform. He wasn't wearing his new "Spear of Belobog" uniform, just a simple black coat. It made him look less like a hero and more like... himself.
"Oh dear." March 7th saw him too. Her grin widened. "My work here is done." She gave Stelle a firm pat on the back. "Go get him, tiger!"
She then waved enthusiastically at Orion. "Bye-bye, little brother Orion! Take good care of your harem! See you later~" With a final giggle, she vanished into the carriage, leaving Stelle alone on the platform with him.
The bustling sound of the station seemed to fade. Only the quiet hum of the Express's engine remained.
Orion stopped in front of her. The platform was empty, just the two of them.
"You..."
"I..."
They both spoke at the same time, and both immediately stopped, a little embarrassed.
Orion chuckled softly, breaking the tension. "You first."
Stelle clutched the strap of her bag, suddenly finding the ground incredibly interesting. Her voice was small, tinged with a sadness she hadn't anticipated. "Orion... I'm leaving."
She said it. She didn't know what else to add. The distance between this planet and the next star was unimaginably vast. When... if... will we meet again?
"Yes, I know." Orion's reply was so calm. It made her heart sink a little further. He didn't seem sad at all.
This is it, then. "Before I leave..." Stelle took a shaky breath, as if making a final, impulsive decision.
She suddenly looked up, closed the distance in two steps, and threw her arms around him, burying her face in his coat.
This time, it wasn't a drunken slump or a playful tackle. It was a strong, desperate hug, fueled by an intense reluctance she couldn't understand. Why did leaving him feel like leaving a part of herself behind? They were just comrades for a few days... but why did it feel like she'd known him for a lifetime?
She felt his body tense in surprise, then relax. A hand gently patted her back. "What are you doing?" he asked, his voice soft.
"Saying goodbye..." she mumbled into his coat, her voice thick.
Orion, however, chuckled. That was not the response she expected.
"Saying goodbye to what?"
Stelle pulled back, confused, and met his smiling eyes.
She heard him say, in the most matter-of-fact tone in the world:
"Stelle, I'm here to go with you all."
"...Huh???"
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