Chapter 32: A Flicker Of Flame

Narrator's Pov

"Ryan!"

Stelle quickly ran towards the white-haired boy and him tightly, making Ryan let out a small grunt as the girl hugged him, he then gave a few pats to her back.

"Stelle, I can't breathe!"

"Sorry sorry-" she quickly separated from the hug letting him breathe freely.

"The Stellaron..." Serval approached looking at the glowing orb surrounded by chains.

"It seems to be sealed...partially" Dan Heng looked at the Stellaron curiously.

"I...did it mostly by instinct, I'm not sure if I fully sealed it" Ryan let out a short sigh while also looking at the Stellaron.

"I'll contact Mr.Yang so he comes and seals it properly, don't sweat it, Ryan, it's a good job, it shouldn't be able to do any damage anymore" Dan Heng smiled towards the boy making him nod his head.

"What...are we doing with her?" March asked a bit nervous pointing down at the unconscious Cocolia on the ground.

"Mother..." Bronya looked at her mother and let out a short sigh. "Ryan..."

"She's alive, barely, I managed to take the Stellaron out of her and seal it before it turned her into dust" Ryan crossed his arms over his chest while looking down at Cocolia.

"Why did you save her?" Bronya asked looking towards the white-haired boy.

"....death was too easy of an escape, she needs to..." He stopped himself letting out a sigh. "She has to pay for what she did"

"What...do we tell the people?" Serval asked looking at the group. "How do we explain this to them? They must've felt the quakes that the Engine of Creation did...everyone will have a lot of questions"

"Analyzing the situation...the outcome could be devastating for the people, specially those who live on the surface" Svarog spoke. "The idea of the Supreme Guardian plotting the destruction of Belobog and the Underworld will very probably lower their confidence in the Architects and the Supreme Guardian."

"But we can't just hide all of this to them, right?" March spoke a bit worried. "The people need to know at least about the Stellaron problem"

"Under the warning of the travelers from afar..." Bronya started to talk receiving the attention of the others. "Madam Cocolia coordinated an attack to the Stellaron to seal it, unfortunately, during the fight she suffered great damage and we still have to see if she'll overcome the injuries or will succumb to them, in the meantime, she'll be kept secured and will step down from the position of Supreme Guardian...that's what the people will hear"

"Bronya..." Seele frowned slightly in worry

"We'll keep mother in a cell... she'll be judged in private by only the most trusted members of the architects, whatever her fate may be after the trial... she'll be seen as a hero for the people" Bronya closed her eyes after talking.

"It...makes sense" Dan Heng drove a hand to his chin. "The people of Belobog need to trust the Supreme Guardian, if they knew what Cocolia did, it'd be like Svarog said, their trust would waver...if they couldn't trust their leaders, who could they trust?"

"It...feels wrong" March looked slightly down. "Lying like this, is it really necessary?"

"I'm sorry for making all of you carry with this information." Bronya looked towards her companions a bit ashamed.

"Bronya... we're your friends" Stelle smiled towards the girl before looking down at Cocolia. "I should break her legs-"

"Stelle, No" March gave a small bump to the girl's head. "We're done, right? Jarilo-VI can heal now"

"The storm will slowly dissapear...the Fragmentum won't expand aggressively anymore, but it won't dissapear either" Dan Heng replied to March making her burrow her brows.

"Don't worry, were pretty tough!" Serval smiled lightly "we'll make our planet feel all better with time, have faith in us"

"He~ if you say so, Serval" March smiled a bit less sad.

"This is just the start for Belobog...I'll be the one to take over the duties as the Supreme Guardian, mother was an outstanding Leader for many...I can't make them think less than that, Seele, could you please go to the underworld and tell everyone that the Stellaron was sealed and that the blockade will soon be over and they'll breathe freely" Bronya spoke looking at her friend.

"Leave it to me, Nat must be very anxious for the delay" the girl smiled softly.

"Thank you, Serval and I will go back to Belobog with my Mother and-" she let out a short grunt before stumbling slightly, though Seele was quick to hold her so she didn't fall.

"Bronya are you okay?" March asked slightly worried.

"Y-yes I am...I'm just a bit dizzy, I'll get better" Bronya smiled softly slowly straightening herself.

"Seele, Serval" Ryan spoke getting the attention of both of them. "You two should take Bronya and Cocolia back to Belobog, try to not be seen too much"

"Right...you guys are still technically wanted criminals" Seele let out a short sigh. "We'll take them to Belobog, can I trust you guys to talk with Nat?"

"Yes, don't worry, we'll make sure to not make you look bad" Stelle smiled putting a hand on her hip.

"Hehe, as if you could" Seele smirked before looking at the group a bit more serious "remember guys...keep the secret"

"We will" Dan Heng nodded with his head.

"Good, we'll see each other in while then" Serval smiled softly before she burrowed her brows slightly and slowly kneeled down to pick up Cocolia, putting her on her back. "Let's go back home, Cocolia"

The four women eventually left, leaving the trailblazers alongisde Ryan and Svarog in the platform, Ryan looked towards the Stellaron and let out a short sigh gaining the attention of the others.

"You three should take Svarog and go to the underworld" he spoke looking towards the other four.

"You're staying here, Ryan?" Dan Heng asked a bit curious. "I've already contacted Mr.Yang, he should arrive soon to properly seal the Stellaron"

"I know...I just...want to make sure a Fragmentum monster won't free it, like you said, I just partially sealed it, it could get free if a monster got too close" Ryan reasoned while crossing his arms across his chest.

"But...what it did to you before..." March looked at him clearly worried.

"I can deal with that now...I seem to have healed whatever it did to me before...besides, Without Cocolia to channel its power and being partially sealed, I doubt it could do something to me"

"You do have a point...and I've already contacted Mr.Yang so he shouldn't take too long, I guess it's fine if you stay here" Dan Heng let out a short sigh.

"Tell us if something bad happens" Stelle frowned lightly.

"My cellphone isn't charged Stelle..." Ryan smiled nervously.

"Well then just-!...scream really loud"

"I'll....try to?"

With a confused expression he saw the trailblazers leave the place alongside Svarog, he let out a short sigh before looking at the Stellaron, still glowing, Ryan slowly sat down on the ground and looked slightly behind him.

"Thank you"

"You're welcome, Madam Alissa"

The ghost of Alissa Rand smiled softly towards the boy, slowly approaching him while keeping her eyes on the Stellaron in front of them.

"To think, that the preservation wouldn't be our only salvation"

"What do you mean? You said Stelle inherited the will of the preservation"

"I know...but the Guilt was there too, was it not?"

"I..." Ryan kept himself silent for a few seconds, be looked down at his left hand and let out a short sigh. "I guess...you're right"

"There's nothing else for me to do, I gave everything I had left to save my world...now it's time for this generation to continue on" the woman smiled and looked down towards Ryan. "Tell me, Aeon of Guilt...why did you let Cocolia Rand live?"

"I have my reasons...as a god, I have to start acting in mysterious ways, right?" He asked as he slowly stood up.

"You don't even know do you?...you just felt you had to save her, was it...because of her guilt?"

"....I can't escape from this anymore, I've already become an Aeon" he looked at his hands and frowned. "It's...disgusting..."

"You're a weird one...some would be euphoric, to hold the power of a god in their hands..."

"...you don't have time anymore do you? The guilt you felt for your failure was what kept you here, but now...."

"I'll be leaving too, my guilt was given to you, and you used it to correct my mistake...there's nothing else that binds me here"

"Bronya will do a good job as Supreme Guardian, have faith in her"

"I will...I hope our world turns into a peaceful one...give my thanks to everyone"

"I will..."

With a last smile, the spirit of Alissa Rand slowly faded away, Ryan let out a short sigh and looked towards the Stellaron, driving a hand towards his left shoulder, he let out a small grunt as he felt some Ice growing on it.

"What the..."

Before he could fully process the situation, a sea of flames blinded him completely...

...

"Natasha, Oleg!"

March rose up her hand as they approached the clinic in Bouldertown, Svarog had decided to go for Clara and explain the situation to her by himself, so it was up to the trailblazers to share the information with the leader of Wildfire.

"Ah, it's you!" Natasha smiled a bit relieved.

"You move fast uh? I suppose by your faces that you brought good news?" Oleg likewise smiled towards the group.

"Yep! We- Uhm...Stelle! Why don't you explain it yourself? I'm not good with serious stuff..." March nervously looked at her friend.

"He~ I saved the world all by myself, there was this huuuuge monster, I bonked it so hard I sent it directly to the sun" Stelle smiled waving her hair with one hand.

Dan Heng let out a short sigh. "The Stellaron problem is solved"

"I see, so the tremors where the result of your battle, I suppose?" Oleg asked and Dan Heng nodded with his head.

"That's right...Cocolia....joined our side against the Stellaron, but she suffered a lot of damage, we don't know if she'll survive her injuries"

"Cocolia? She....Uhm, I understand" Natasha slowly nodded her head.

"The Supreme Guardian sacrificed herself uh?" Oleg crossed his arms before nodding slightly. "With the current state of that woman, I suppose our Silvermane Guard will take the mantle of Supreme Guardian?" He asked and the trailblazers nodded. "Good...she's a strong girl, she won't back down on her words, she'll be a great leader."

"Also, she said that the blockade would soon be over, and that you will breathe freely" March spoke with a little smile.

"Breathe Freely..." Natasha took a hand to her chest and smiled warmly. "I see, that's what we've always wanted...what happened to Seele?"

"She's alright, she just took Bronya back to Belobog, she might stay there to make sure she's fine" March smiled.

"I see...I'm glad everything turned out alright" Natasha smiled and let out a content sigh. "Could I ask you three something? I want to take these news to everyone, it'll really raise their spirits so..."

"We'll help, no need to worry, we'll spread the news like...'wildfire' " Stelle smiled

"...." Everyone around the trailblazer deadpanned looking directly at her.

"Ugh...can we split up?" March asked driving a hand to her head.

"It'll be for the best" Dan Heng let out a short sigh before he heard his phone ringing, he then pulled it out of his pocket. "It's Mr.Yang"

________________________________________

[Welt Yang]

"@Dan Heng @March7th @Stelle @Ryan , the Sealing of the Stellaron is complete and the spacial distortion is dissipating, good job"

[March 7th]

"Thank you Mr.Yang! But why did you tag Ryan?"

[Mr.Yang]

"Well, he should know of the situation of the Stellaron too, right? Or are you guys excluding our poor visitor because he's not a trailblazer?"

[Dan Heng]

"Mr.Yang, isn't he there with you? He said he'd be staying with the Stellaron to keep an eye on it..."

[Stelle]

"Yeah! He said he'd stay there"

[Mr.Yang]

"He... wasn't here, when I arrived, the Stellaron was all alone, it was partially sealed like how you said Dan Heng, but Ryan wasn't here"

[March 7th]

"I'm worried now...it's like the third time he suddenly dissapears isn't it?!"

[Stelle]

"I'll bonk him hard next time I see him..."

________________________________________

Ryan's body crashed against a rock, cracking it slightly, he let out a short grunt before he quickly stood and jumped up high, dodging a punch that ended up hitting the stone directly destroying it completely.

"What is that thing?! Is that an armor?"

Various flying swords appeared around Ryan and flew directly down towards the ground, 2 green swords moved quickly destroying the flying swords and then in a burst of fire a silver armor flew up towards Ryan, giving the boy a strong kick, he managed to block the kick with one of his ethereal swords but it still broke and forced him down against the ground.

Ryan's body hit the snow making a small crater, he quickly stood up and dashed away as the silver armor slammed down against the snow with a kick, letting out a big explosion that pushed him back.

"Who are you?!" Ryan rose his voice towards the explosion.

"Stellaron Hunter"

The smoke of the explosion slowly cleared away, showing how the silver armor walked out of the fire remaining from the attack, the gold trimmings across the armor glowed slightly as it opened both hands letting 2 green swords appear on them, and the silver Amor slowly let out a slightly distorted and robotic voice.

"SAM"

★ ★ ★

A/N: it's a bit short, but here's a treat for you all, another chapter in less than a Week, and also next one will have our babygirl Firefly c:

Anyways I gotta go study for today's and tomorrow's test–

Hope you enjoyed!