"Ah, what a delightful tale~"
With a satisfied sigh, Felicity left Qlipoth Fort, her steps light and carefree, leaving the mother and daughter to deal with their mess.
After all, the power Bronya wielded was hers, granted by Felicity herself. Even if the girl had a sudden lapse of reason and chose to rebel, Felicity could take it all back without breaking a sweat.
She had indulged in the spectacle of popcorn and idle amusement long enough. It was time to turn her attention to more pressing matters.
For instance, checking on the Stellaron's progress.
The life energy of Jarilo-VI had almost been consumed, drained to the last drop, yet Felicity had replenished it with her own force. Her power of Abundance could do far more than restore energy; it could revitalize the entire planet if need be. The planet itself could be born anew under her influence.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, a frown pulled at the corners of Felicity's lips as confusion danced across her face.
She had just realized that the Stellaron, which had been greedily absorbing life energy not long ago, had stopped. Its once insatiable hunger had completely stilled. The ominous presence of the Stellaron was now buried in a suffocating silence.
"How odd… Did someone discover my intervention with Jarilo-VI?"
Felicity scratched her chin, her expression still calm but tinged with curiosity. It wasn't difficult to sense if anyone had noticed the subtle flow of her power, especially after the Stellaron had consumed a fraction of it. With a mere thought, she pinpointed the location.
"Opposite the Fragmentum? Of course, that makes sense. The Fragmentum originates from the Stellaron, after all."
A hum escaped her as she floated effortlessly, her body rising from the ground. Without hesitation, she entered the rift world, her movements fluid as though she belonged there.
The Rift, now a wasteland, was littered with remnants of the once-proud Silvermane Guards who had been assigned to watch over it. Those stationed in the administrative district had long been summoned by Bronya, while others remained at the front, locked in a never-ending struggle. Monsters from the Rift were relentless; even the fallen soldiers rose as twisted, grotesque forms, part of the ever-growing horde. Victory against them was a distant, impossible dream.
As Felicity walked through the devastated streets, she looked at the armored figures stationed along the way with a quiet sadness. How far they had fallen. Cocolia had pushed them into this abyss, and now there was no turning back.
Her gaze caught something on the wall nearby—a few tattered posters. At first glance, they might have been mistaken for abstract art. But upon closer inspection, the large "WANTED" written across the top made it clear that these were, in fact, wanted posters.
Felicity tilted her head, her lips curling into a slight, bemused smile as she studied the distorted image on the paper. The figure depicted had emerald green eyes, platinum blonde hair, and a smile that, though strange in its abstraction, carried a certain magnetic charm.
The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning.
It was... her. Unmistakably.
Felicity's hand flew to her forehead in exasperation, and without a second thought, she tore the poster from the wall. But as her eyes skimmed the others nearby, she paused. After a brief moment of consideration, she chose not to tear them down.
"Mm?"
Before she could continue her journey, a peculiar nasal sound caught her attention. She turned to find the Silvermane Guard officer from before standing just behind her. Gepard. His expression was one of confusion, his eyes narrowing as he scanned Felicity.
To him, Felicity was just an ordinary tree. At least, that's how it appeared—yet there was something inherently wrong with this little tree. He hadn't seen anything like it on this road... nor on any road in Belobog. There was no green to be found in this city.
It wasn't that Gepard had an exceptional memory; rather, it was because there was no greenery here. Ever.
His mind flickered back to the time they fought together, when vines had sprouted from the ground under Felicity's command. He instinctively became alert. This was the Rift, a place where danger could rise at any moment.
His hand tensed at his side, preparing to summon a shield at a moment's notice. He wasn't going to let anything catch him off guard again.
Without warning, he struck.
"Bang!"
The sound of his fist colliding with something dense echoed, like hitting steel. His hand stung from the shock, and he stumbled back, his eyes wide in disbelief. The little tree, now revealed to be Felicity, stood unfazed, her expression one of playful indifference. She snapped her fingers, and wooden stakes shot from the ground, binding him with unnerving precision.
"You're planning to overthrow the city builders and destroy Belobog! Surrender at once!" Gepard barked, his voice trembling with authority.
Felicity blinked, cocking her head in bemusement. "Hm? How did you figure that out?"
"The glory of the Supreme Guardian protects us, allowing us to see through all conspiracies!" Gepard declared proudly, as though it was the most obvious truth.
Felicity stared at him for a long moment, her lips curling into a playful smirk. She wasn't sure what to make of his serious tone, but one thing was clear: she didn't have the patience to entertain him any longer. With a snap of her fingers, she tightened the wooden bonds around him.
"I'm not in the mood for a lecture," she said, making a face at him as she continued on her way.
Gepard struggled against the stakes, his frustration mounting. He roared for help, calling out to his companion up ahead.
"Dunn, stop her!"
Dunn, who had heard the commotion and stood to investigate, hesitated. He had met Felicity before—had even witnessed the miracle she performed alongside Bronya. He hadn't known what to do the moment he laid eyes on her again. His hesitation was palpable.
"Dunn?" Gepard's voice was frantic. "Why aren't you doing anything?"
Dunn turned to face his comrade, his expression heavy. "I'm sorry, Gepard," he said quietly. "But this woman... she saved my life, as well as the lives of my men. I can't simply call her a 'wanted criminal.'"
He paused, his gaze shifting back to Felicity. "I think there's been some kind of misunderstanding."
Gepard's eyes widened, disbelief and confusion battling on his face. "But... you're part of the Silvermane Guard!"
Dunn gave a solemn nod. "I know, but... the light she brought that day—it's still vivid in my memory. I can't just turn my back on that. If possible, Madam," he addressed Felicity directly, his voice softening, "could you tell me your purpose?"
Felicity's gaze softened, and after a brief pause, she gave a small, graceful nod. "Of course."
--+--
T/N: She might be a masked fool with all these stories.