(My dog ate my hand 🗿)

March gave Serval a quick run down of everything she needed to know, careful not to tell too much.

Some of this information was news to y/n, as she was absent doing her own thing during most of their time in the Underworld, but eventually the story came back to tie in with what she knew.

By the time March finished, y/n had laid herself across the shop counter after she got too tired to stand up on her own.

Caelus was attempting to drag her off while she clung onto it with surprising strength as Serval was mentally processing everything that March had just told her.

"So that's what's been happening. It's no wonder we hadn't heard from Bronya recently." Serval let out a small sigh, damn, why is everyone sighing so much cheer up, "After all these years in isolation and without a single world from below, this is what's become of the Underworld..."

Y/n raised a brow from where she was still lounging on the counter, "So... you believe us or nah?"

Serval offered y/n a smile, "I believe you, there's no way you could have made up a story like that. We also have Miss Seele here as living proof. As for the Stellaron. I know why Bronya got you to find me."

"Spit it out! No dramatic pauses!"

"Y/n, quit being rude!"

"When I was still one of the Architects working in the Scientific Research Division, I was researching the Stellaron." Serval explained, "I never thought I'd hear that word again after being expelled by the Architects... come on, I'll tell you everything."

"Not interested. I'll leave it to you all." y/n decided as she rolled off the counter to go investigate the store.

March immediately went to join her with a, "We'll leave this one to you and Caelus, m'kay Dan Heng?"

She joined y/n, looping her arm with hers as they went off to go explore the little workshop together.

"Anything catch your eye?" March hummed as y/n stopped at a wall with some gadgets on display and stared at it in silence, frowning.

"...nice."

"Yes, they're nice."

Y/n gave March a devious look and the young woman's playful expression fell, "No, y/n, Serval has been really nice to us. We're not stealing anything."

"Damn, worth a shot." y/n grumbled with a shrug before continuing on, "Let's check out more stuff. I wonder if she's got any swords I can buy."

"What is it with you and buying weapons?"

"Each weapon has a story, my friend."

As they explored, the others talked with Serval below.

I'm not typing all that 💩 so let me summarize.

Only a very few people in Belobog know of the Stellaron but never think to tie it in with the Fragmentum or Eternal Freeze. But, according to the data recorded Svarog, the truth was discovered only to be buried.

Those who wanted to discover the truth were "expelled" or "abandoned". Pretty suspicious, eh?

Serval had figured out that the Stellaron and the Fragmentum were linked, and she was l close to the truth, only for her to be ejected before she could discover that the Stellaron was indeed the source of the Fragmentum.

Before Serval lost her position, she was applying for permission to survey the Stellaron directly. Not long after she submitted her preliminary report and application, Serval received her punishment.

Clearly, someone  didn't want her research to continue *ahem ahem* that piece of 💩 Cocolia.

Finally, after a long talk—

"I don't know the exact location, but I used lab simulations and outbound surveys to establish a rough estimation of where the Stellaron may be." Serval was telling the little group, "According to the survey results, the Stellaron is likely to the north of Belobog... somewhere in the vast Snow Plains."

Dan Heng nodded, "We must locate it as soon as possible, ideally before Cocolia takes action. Could you tell us the way?"

The blonde lady smiled, "Not a problem, I was thinking the same thing! But I'm afraid telling you might not be enough." Caelus gave her a side eye, "The area to the north of Belobog has been almost completely swallowed up by the Fragmentum. If you want to get to the northern Snow Plains, you'll need to get past the Silvermane Guard Restricted Zone on the front lines."

"So even if we do get past all those guards... we'll still have an entire Fragmentum to get past." Caelus realized, "It sounds like the for of us and Seele might not be enough, and I don't think it's a good idea for y/n to be running around fighting monsters right now."

"Excuse me!" y/n shouted from above, "Y/n will be completely fine fighting monsters! It's what I do best aside from paperwork and laying around doing nothing! It won't kill me!"

"No, no, I think it will-!" Caelus began.

"Nah, it won't. Y/n is like a cockroach, she'll be fine!" March exclaimed from where she stood beside y/n, "Won't you? Our diligent train guard friend?"

"Are you making fun of me?"

"It was a genuine compliment!"

"As much as I'd hate to have y/n go through that, she would be able to keep us safe in the Fragmentum. But... I'd prefer it if we didn't run into a whole lot of trouble." Dan Heng decided, "Serval, do you know of any safe way through the Restricted Zone?"

"I could probably get you all through. Back in my official capacity days, I spent a lot of time in the north — I got to know the soldiers and officers on the front line very well. With those god awful posters being the only thing for people to go off of when identifying you, I think I could get you through without trouble." Serval chirped with a smile, "This calls for brainwaves, not brawnwaves."

"Really? That's great!" Caelus breathed.

"It's way less scary if someone you know is leading the way, haha!" March cheered with a look of relief.

"I wanna see the Stellaron too, y'know, it was my research topic for over a decade. You don't get that many decades in life." Serval pointed out and y/n averted her gaze whistling quietly, "That's settled then! We should head out as soon as you're ready."

"That'd be now!" Caelus hummed as he approached the door only for a knock on the other end to stop him in his tracks.

"Darn it, I forgot my brother said he'd be around today-!" Serval hissed, "Everyone, hide-! Quickly...!"

Seele, Caelus, and Dan Heng didn't have to be told twice as they ran to hide behind the pillar behind the counter while y/n and March ducked down on the upper level.

Y/n hid March behind her, girlie was very noticeable, and she peered out to get a good look at Gepard as he entered the shop.

"G—Gepard, it's you!" Serval began shakily, "I didn't think you'd have the time to visit with things so tense on the front line, hehe..."

Y/n scowled, 'Captain 🚚-up and Big Sis 🚚-up. They both choke whenever they're tasked with acting, sheesh.'

"Things are manageable, the latest wave of monster attacks has slowed. I'm back in the city to take care of a few matters, but I'll be back on the front line later..." Gepard paused, then gave his sister a small frown, "I thought I told you?"

Serval lagged, "Ah? Oh, yes, that's right..."

Gepard gave his sister a long, careful stare before he finally spoke, "...Sis, you look a bit pale. Did something happen?"

Y/n gave Serval a burning glare to the back, whcih she knew the woman felt, but Serval managed to muster up a nervous smile regardless, "N—No, why would anything have happened?"

"You don't normally use my full name."

A heavy sigh, "You said you hate it when I call you bro in public! Well I agree. It'd sound better if I started using your full name. Right, broseph?"

"...You can call me whatever you like. Look Serval, I'm here on official business today." Gepard went right back into serious mode, "There's something wrong with the Barrier Generator Device and the engineers in our unit don't know how to fix it. Can you take a look?"

"Those guys can't think outside the box. Of course they can't wrap their heads around my design." Serval grumbled, it didn't seem as though she was acting anymore, "I thought it was something big. Leave it here. I'll take a look."

"Sorry to trouble you." Gepard murmured as he offered the little item he'd asked Serval to fix.

Serval gave him an odd look as she set the item on the counter, "Why are you being so polite? Oh, and why's the city under curfew all of a sudden? Did something happen?"

"I..." Gepard hesitated before settling for a simple, "I've been instructed to keep it quiet."

The blonde woman shook her head with a sad little look, "Ah... Lil' Geppie... So grown up now... looking down on his civilian sister..."

Y/n covered her mouth to hold back a giggle.

"Don't say that..." DAMN IT, STOP SIGHING, "Forget it. If I don't tell you, Pela will..."

"Just like how she told me about you and a special someone of yours spending some quality time at Goethe Hotel, eh?" Serval snickered, giving her brother a playful nudge as his cheeks went pink.

"Please... let's not talk about that—"

Y/n couldn't even laugh, she felt rather embarrassed instead. She just meant to shoo the guards away, not create rumors about poor Gepard getting busy in a hotel with his mysterious lover.

Yikes...

"Lady Bronya suddenly appeared last night. She entered Qlipoth Fort without saying anything to anyone." Gepard explained as y/n fidgeted a little, beginning to worry about these rumors floating around, "The Supreme Guardian is worried that the four intruders may have followed Bronya out of the Fragmentum and back into the Administrative District."

Oop.

"She issued a curfew for the entire city, and ordered us to pursue and capture any suspicious individuals."

Damn.

"Ah! So that's how it is, no wonder I haven't heard from Bronya..." Serval said with raised brows, "Is she alright?"

"I'm not sure. She hasn't left Qlipoth Fort. The supreme guardian just said she'd returned. Nothing more." Gepard replied.

Y/n glanced down below and saw a certain look on Seele's face. Say... the kind of face a person would make when someone very dear to them is supposedly in danger~

"Ha. That's funny." March whispered to y/n as she peered down at the lower level, "Dan Heng makes that face whenever it's your turn to be train guard."

"Wait, WHA-!"

March slapped a hand over y/n's mouth and dragged her out of sight just before Gepard could look up at where they once were with a small frown.

Serval panicked very briefly before continuing, "Ehm, well, I was really worried about her. After she disappeared, Pela's workload doubled — she said she barely had time to go out."

Gepard slowly looked away from where he could've sworn he saw h/c hair and massaged his temples instead. Yeesh, he was beginning to see that woman everywhere these days...

"She really does tell you everything... oh, by the way, I left my Goethe Hotel limited-edition flask behind last time I was here." Gepard realized before beginning to head over to where Dan Heng, Caelus, and Seele were hidden, "Let me look for it. I think I left it over—"

"W—Wait!" Serval protested.

Gepard halted and gave his sister an odd look, his brows furrowed slightly, "What is it? You seem pretty off today, Serval..."

"It's, um... right!" Serval seemed to have an idea, "You remember how you neglected all those flowers to death? I piled them all over there during a bit of spring cleaning, and now they smell terrible! So... don't go over there!"

Caelus scrunched up his face, 'Seriously...?'

Gepard regarded his nervous older sister for a long moment, "...that seems like a strange reason not to take a look... plus, am I supposed to believe you were spring cleaning? You must be up to more forbidden research..."

In an instant, Serval's nervousness went away and was replaced by genuine indignation, "Am not — how dare you! What do you take your sister for, huh?"

Gepard looked like he wanted to say more but sighed instead, STOP IT, "Never mind. This is your space, and I shouldn't intrude. I've got business to take care of. Bye for now."

He began to walk towards the exit, but Serval still called out, Hey! Wait a sec — uh..."

Gepard gave his sister a curious look, and y/n went right back to glaring at Serval, 'Hey! What're you doing?!'

"Those intruders, I wanted to ask..." Serval began carefully, "What crime have they committed?"

"They're plotting to overthrow the Architects and bring harm to the city." 🐂💩, I SAY, 🐂💩!!!

A small growl slipped from y/n and March gave her a poke to the side as a warning. Y/n really wanted to jump down there and fight that dumb Captain again, and this time she wouldn't be holding back-!

"Huh... reminds me of the accusations against me." Serval said bitterly, "Cocolia's methods haven't changed."

"Don't say that, Serval." Shut up, Geppie, you sheep, "I know that you're still nursing a grievance against the supreme guardian, but this isn't a joking matter."

Sheep.

Serval was quiet for a long moment before shaking her head, "...You're telling me off again. Fine, whatever bro. You better be going, come listen to Pela and my next rehearsal."
(Serbal 💀)

"I will... if I have the time." Gepard said quietly before leaving. It was a long moment, y/n remaining still and listening to the sound of his retreating footsteps.

"The coast is clear." Serval said quietly after a couple more seconds had passed, "You can come out now."

Y/n and March lingered for a moment longer before the h/c haired woman gave her companion a glare and licked her hand which was still held over her mouth.

"I- HEY!"

"You were still holding on, idiot."

They joined the others on the lower level again, y/n wiping off March's hand as an indirect apology for licking her, Caelus wasn't sure what to say after the tense interaction between the two siblings.

Thankfully, they had March 7th.

"Phew...I nearly suffocated!" March sighed with a shake of her head, What kind of plot device was that, huh?"

"I almost lost my cool when he went for his flask." Serval murmured and y/n waved her hand at that.

"Don't worry about it, you did great." y/n assured her.

Seele still seemed very on edge despite the danger temporarily being gone, "This is bad. Bronya's in danger. We have to go save her!"

"And attempt to storm Qlipoth Fort by ourselves?" Serval demanded, "Forget it, Seele. I don't care how skilled you are. I'm not sending you on a suicide mission."

Seele gave her a look, clearly dissatisfied with this news, but Serval wasn't quite done yet.

"Rest assured, Cocolia may have changed over the years, but she'd never hurt Bronya. I'm certain of that."

Seele grimaced, "...You sound like Bronya herself. I don't get it... you guys are against Cocolia, and yet in some ways, you seem to trust her completely."

"Must be a family thing." y/n hummed with a shrug.

"So... guess we won't be trying to convince Gepard, huh?" Caelus tried and the blonde woman shook her head.

"Not without irrefutable evidence, otherwise, he won't question Cocolia's orders. If you go after him now, our plan is as good as over." she replied, "But, since he has to take care of some matters in the city, we can probably get to the Restricted Zone quickly enough without crossing paths."

She gestured towards the door.

"Come on, let's go to the restricted zone." she announced, "If we can get ahead of the curve and find the Stellaron, Cocolia will be out of options."

. 　。　　⋆　　•　 　ﾟ　　。 .　.　.　。 .　。
⋆　　　。　　 ⋆。　 ඞ 。　 . • .  .   ⁎ 。　. 　。　.　　⋆. 　　。 .　 .　　 .  ⋆.   。.   ⁎ 。•　 　ﾟ　　。

"Did you hear?"

"Mm?"

"One or two days ago, Captain Gepard was in Goethe Hotel with a woman...! James told me that the Captain was shirtless and everything, and the woman who was with him had nothing but bed sheets covering her!"

"You're joking!"

"I'm not, ask James!"

The same curly haired guard, let's just call him Soren, perked up when he hears his comrades talking. He turned to look at them curiously with a small frown.

"And get this, a couple minutes later, Mike and a couple other guards chased one of the intruders down an alleyway!" one of the guards hummed, "And guess which one it was-!"

"No." Soren turned around, "No, that's not-"

The guard grinned, "Sure was! It was the same one who's poster Captain Gepard drew so well!"

"Brain blast! I've got it!" one of the guards shouted, hopping to his feet, "I bet that the woman Captain Gepard was spending his day off with was the same one on the poster!"

"No!" Soren protested.

"Yes!" everyone else chorused.

No way. Captain Gepard in love with someone who intended to overthrow the Architects? It was extremely difficult to believe, especially since Gepard was the epitome of the perfect soldier.

He obeyed orders, never questioned the Supreme Guardian's rule.

Soren didn't believe it. It couldn't be true.

"Guys, let's just not talk about all this when Soren is around." another guard, this one called Zackery advised before giving Soren a little smirk, "You all know how much he loooves Captain Gepard~"

"I DO NOT!!!"

"Love triangle, love triangle~!"

"STOP IT!"

"All of you! Quit fooling around!" a voice snapped and all the soldiers scrambled to stand at attention as Captain Dunn arrived, "Gossip all you want later, now is not the time or place!"

Soren's face burned with embarrassment, but a group of people approaching them caught his eye. He recognized Serval, but not the others along with her.

The young man with short black hair looked a little familiar, but Soren couldn't be sure about where he'd seen him before. A woman with a rather rough looking appearance was there as well, she had a very purple oriented outfit.

Another woman with them had short pink hair and very vibrant eyes, a rather unique appearance that sort of reminded Soren of something. Now what exactly was it..?

There was also a young man with short gray hair and golden eyes, damn he had to be cold with only a flimsy shirt covering his upper body, but he seemed more focused on the person he kept close by his side.

And that person... Soren couldn't see much of their features due to the rather long hoodie they had on and the hood which covered their facial features. He did, however, catch sight of some h/c hair and s/c skin.

Soren frowned, 'Could this...'

"Hey, Dunn!" Serval greeted happily as she approached before Soren could put two and two together, "It's been a while. I didn't know you made security captain!"

"S-Serval, it's been a long time... you're still so..." Dunn cleared his throat before trying again, "Ahem. You look good."

The other soldiers elbowed one another and snickered quietly amongst themselves while Soren frowned, feeling as though something was... off.

"Allow me to introduce my assistants to you! They help me take care of business at the workshop" Serval chirped as she gestured to everyone else, "Everyone, this is Captain Dunn, an old friend of mine. He used to be an ace on the keys in the band."

"Oh? You play rock 'n' roll too?" March chimed, "Cool!"

Dan Heng only nodded, "Pleased to meet you."

"Hey." Caelus greeted simply before scrunching up his nose, "Oh... oh, wow, that's- erm... something smells weird..."

Dunn immediately seemed startled and coughed, "HM! Erm, Zackery, how many days has it been since you showered?"

Zackery paused, "Uh... I