As time passed, a month had gone by since Solomon and Sirin arrived in Belobog. The two had spent their days wandering the city, aimlessly yet peacefully. Now, once again, they stood at the center of the city square.
Behind them, Cocolia waited—arms crossed beneath her chest, one heel tapping impatiently against the cobblestone. The faint shadows under her eyes betrayed the exhaustion she refused to show.
"So, Solomon," she exhaled, her voice carrying the weight of command and weariness alike, "may I ask why I'm here?"
Her gaze flicked between him and the curious citizens gathering around.
Solomon's white robe fluttered in the winter wind, the braids of his silver hair swaying like silk threads. The golden rings on his fingers gleamed as he turned slightly to face her.
"Cocolia," he began, voice calm yet heavy with something unspoken, "why do you think humanity deserves this treatment? Always at the center of tragedy—abandoned by fate itself. Monsters tearing through the land, whispers haunting the wind, disasters sweeping away what little they have... always leaving mankind as the broken survivors."
Cocolia said nothing. She already knew her answer—no, every answer was right, depending on whose eyes you borrowed.
Because they're ignorant. Because they're proud. Because curiosity always leads them to ruin. That was her truth.
But she wanted to hear his.
As if reading her thoughts, Solomon let out a small chuckle. "Indeed. Humanity is tragedy given form—driven by curiosity and ignorance. Their emotions overpower reason; their ideals crumble beneath desire. Yet," he paused, his golden eyes glinting like dawn over snow, "even so, they endure. They adapt. They never truly learn from their mistakes, but they do learn to live with them. In time, they grow—slowly, painfully—but always forward."
Cocolia's lips tightened. That's far too idealistic, she thought.
"So," she said finally, folding her arms tighter, "what's the point of all this, Solomon? Did you bring me here just to listen to you philosophize about morality and idealism being crushed under reason?"
"No, I am not. Just trying to speak about humanity since I'll be leaving. This world- humanity, faced greater threat, greater existence that needed an external force to end this hellish nightmare called 'Storm'." Solomon replied to her, she raised her eyebrow in confusion and opened her mouth,
"What are you trying to say, Solomon?" She narrowed her eyes at him, she grew impatiently as Solomon continued to talk vaguely.
"Tell me, do you believe in Prophecy, Cocolia?" Solomon stared at her eyes, waiting for her answer.
And yet, Cocolia scoffed- she snorted, and an irritated gaze at him, "Seriously, Solomon. You made me come here, those vague words you spout- just for this? Unbelievable." An exasperated sigh escaped from her mouth and she shook her head.
"Haha, what can I say, It's already in my blood." Solomon scratches his cheeks as he laughs lightly.
"A prophecy huh… why, are you a seer or something?" She asked jokingly, her hand moving towards her hips as she looked at him, playfully.
"Maybe? Maybe not? Or perhaps I am both?" Solomon gave an optimistic short response at her.
"Typical. Alright, I'll believe it. So what is this so-called "prophecy" you were talking about?" Cocolia gave up understanding this man in front of her, humoring him.
"But first, never believe what you hear that was carried by the wind, Cocolia." Solomon responded seriously, his eyes hardened at her, as she went stiff.
"...what?" She answered, her playful demeanor gone, and was replaced by alertness.
"The voice, the whisper of Stellaron, do not believe it. It will hold significant consequences to you, the Belobog and your daughter, Bronya." Cocolia's face turned into a scowl, she clenched her first and stared at him intensely.
"You… how do you know that- no, since when did you know that?"
"The moment you heard its whisper. It's devilish murmur that echoes through your mind, manipulating your consciousness until it kills you. The promise of a new world does not exist in that vile mouth of it, truly I tell you. If you believe that thing, you'll meet a consequence that will greatly endanger everyone else."
Cocolia went quiet as he listened to Solomon, she answered angrily, "what do you know! You know nothing about this world nor my people! THEY abandoned us! Never casting their gaze at the wall built by the belief of these people! It promised me a new world, a world where everyone can live happily without the 'storm'!"
Her sudden outburst made Solomon quiet, he listened patiently. His eyes never leave Cocolia, who was grasping with air because of her outburst.
Her knuckles turned white, her teeth clench each other tightly as her body shakes slightly.
The audacity of this man to lecture her, her! Questioning her choice for the better cause of her people! Cocolia thought to herself angrily, "Don't listen to him… He's a false clown. Listening to him will make you hesitate, think about your daughter, your people, for Belobog" it's hollow voice carried by the air entering her ears, whispering like a devil.
It continues to whisper at Cocolia, disrupting her thought trying to process a better solution- a better choice for her people.
"Ugh…" A grunt escaped from her mouth, she grabbed her head as the whisper continued.
"Cocolia, think reasonably. Do not be carried by the whisper of the devil, it brings no promises." Solomon softly said to her, the white robe flattered as the cold breezes suddenly stirred up.
Trying to hinder Solomon's voice from entering Cocolia's ear, yet Solomon's voice did not travel through wind, it directly traveled to her mind.
He enhanced his vocals, using a sound wave via magecraft to directly connect his voice to Cocolia's ear.
The winds howled as if the world itself rejected what Solomon spoke. Snow lifted in swirls, and the faint hum of the Stellaron pulsed in the distance — alive, aware.
Cocolia fell to one knee, clutching her head, her voice trembling with strain. "You don't understand… this power—it showed me visions! A city reborn, free from the cold, free from the shackles of the old world! Why—why should I not believe in that?!"
Solomon took a step forward, his expression soft yet solemn. "Because every false god begins with a promise, Cocolia. It offers salvation not to save, but to own."
Her breathing grew shallow, sweat freezing on her pale face. The whisper coiled in her mind, louder, crueler.
"Lies. He fears you, Cocolia. He fears change. Take my hand, and Belobog will rise—"
Solomon raised his hand, and the air shuddered.
"Be silent."
The whisper broke. The sound didn't echo — it vanished, swallowed by the golden sigils that spun around him, faint like dying stars. For a moment, there was peace.
Cocolia gasped, the pressure easing from her chest. She looked up, disbelief shadowing her sharp eyes. "You… silenced it?"
"For now," Solomon answered, his gaze distant. "But it will return. The Stellaron is not something to be silenced forever — only understood, or destroyed."
He crouched beside her, his golden eyes softening. "I understand your burden, Cocolia. The cold, the hunger, the endless waiting for a miracle that never comes. But tell me—" his voice lowered, heavy as judgment, "—will you save Belobog by surrendering it to the very thing that caused its suffering?"
She stared at him, her lips trembling, her body shaking with both fury and fear. "…If not me, then who? No one came to help us. Not the Aeons. Not the stars. You speak as if you know salvation, Solomon—then tell me, what should I do?"
Solomon smiled faintly. "Wait, and see. The wheels of fate are already turning. A messenger of hope is on her way."
Cocolia blinked, her voice faint. "A… messenger?"
"Yes." Solomon stood, looking toward the horizon. "Visitors from the sky will appear, one carrying a baseball bat, one who slumbers on the unknown ice and one who holds power to command the sea. And lastly, your daughter, Bronya shall bring salvation to this world."
Cocolia's eyes widened slightly at her daughter's name, her defiance faltering for just a heartbeat. Solomon looked at her, his white robe fluttering in the snowstorm like a dying flame that refused to go out.
"Remember what I said, Cocolia. Never believe what rides upon the wind."
"When… When will the visitors beyond the sky arrive, Solomon?" Cocolia immediately asked, a seed of hope finally bloomed at her heart.
"a decade or so-so." Solomon casually said, making Cocolia widen her eyes.
"A… decade? Isn't that a bit too long, if presumably, a decade will probably swallow us whole by this 'storm'." Cocolia thought to herself, trying to find a way to make this city survive.
"You don't have to worry about that. I'll handle the barrier for you, Cocolia." Once again, Cocolia looked at Solomon, his words… is this guy can seriously read my mind?
"No, I cannot. Your face showed all the answers, Cocolia." He smiled softly at her, as Cocolia stiffed again, a small redness appeared on her cheeks as the realization dawned on her.
"Oh… hahaha… wait, barrier?" She immediately realised what Solomon previously said, her eyes widened as she looked at him.
"That's right. I'll create a barrier that can reject anything foul, evil and alien nature according to this world. I'll also install a heater against the snow." Solomon replied to her, smiling and giving her a thumbs up.
"Solomon… Thank you!" She immediately hugged him, a burden she carried finally left her shoulder, as the tears finally came out from her eyes, burying her head into his shoulder.
Finally, a burden, a responsibility she carried throughout her life finally found a solution- no, multiple solutions that can save them against this disaster.
A/n: And that's it, lmao. I've been asking chatgpt about chapter capacity words I should do, if I make it 5-6k words or just straight it 1-2k words. It recommend to uses 1-2k words because it allows you, a reader of this fanfic to take a break to all information going on. So yeah, chat gpt truly save my brain from overheating, lmao! Anyway, thanks for reading! ( ╹▽╹ )