Star Rail: The Aeon Hunters

"Whoa…" March gasped in amazement. "This place is amazing," she took out a camera and start taking pictures. "To think there's a civilization like this, deep underground…"

Beside her, Pela gazed at the sight with wide eyes. She took out her phone and took as many pictures, eager to share this beautiful sight to Lynx. From the buildings, the cave ceiling decorated with numerous geomarrow ores, and all the people living normally. It was unlike what she ever imagined.

"Welcome… To Boulder Town…" Sampo's muffled sound came from behind them. Lying face first on the ground while Stella dragged him by the foot. "We should head to Natasha's clinic first, the princess got too much dose of my sleeping gas."

March sighed a little. "Sleeping gas… I swear, you triggered every single red flags I have on creepy weirdos," she muttered to herself. "I've met countless people in countless worlds, and you are the sketchiest of them all,"

"I am flattered that you think so highly of me," Sampo declared despite his face is dragged to the floor.

Soon enough, they made it to Natasha's clinic. A beautiful woman stood at the entrance; her hands crossed in front of her chest. It seems like they've been watching them for a while now.

"Greetings Trailseekers, my name is Natasha. Chief Oleg informs me of your arrival," Natasha said with a warm smile. "Please, bring Lady Bronya in here, I will help extract the Sleeping gas from her system,"

Dan Heng stepped into the clinic and put Lady Bronya on one of the empty bed. "Thank you, Natasha," he then turned to the rest of the group. "And the escort that you sent us? I apologize for bringing him home in this state, but… complications occur."

"No worries, it happens," Natasha replied. "The rest of you, please come on in, if you are hurt anywhere please let me know," she glanced at Sampo. "You can leave the man outside."

"Natasha! You hurt me!" Sampo stood up the moment Stella let go of his foot. "These people, they attacked poor innocent Sampo for no reason,"

Natasha blinked. "You always give people reason to beat you up, Sampo," she sighed. "Anyway, go report to Chief Oleg for your payment,"

"Ah, but see… The journey was harsh and unforgiving, would it be…"

Natasha kicked Sampo out of the clinic with practiced ease before closing the door behind her. "Sorry about that, but there's no one else in the underground is more capable of traveling between here and the surface better than him," she explained.

The Trailseekers sat down on a sofa as Natasha poured down some tea for them. "Chief Oleg explained to me the situation," she sat down on a couch facing the five of them. "It was the Supreme Guardian, was it not?"

March nodded. "Yeah, she tried to execute us for no reason!" she pointed to Pela. "Then she tried to kill Pela, for asking her to give us fair trial!"

Natasha sighed. "An orchestrated betrayal… Cocolia sees you as a threat to her reign," she took a sip of her tea and looked up in deep thought. "Then, what are you going to do here? What is your purpose to be in this world?"

March turned to Dan Heng.

"At first, we simply wish to learn about this planet and the people who lives in it," Dan Heng explained. "We are researchers under the guidance of Madam Herta of the Genius Society. We've went through countless worlds, learning and studying about them," he folded his arms. "And right now, we wish to investigate the strange meteorological disaster known as the Eternal Freeze,"

Natasha's eyes widened a little. "The Eternal Freeze?"

"Yes, it's not a normal disaster you see? Your planet is very close to your solar body, there is no reason for your planet to be covered in ice," Dan Heng explained. "We wish to figure out why this Eternal Freeze occur and if we succeeded, we can share you the knowledge on how to stop it."

There was a moment of silence as Natasha looked down in deep thought. She looked around her clinic and sighed softly. "I'm sorry you have to get caught up in this… Conflict, outsiders. But right now, even the underground cannot support you,"

"It is quite alright, we can manage it," Dan Heng replied. "We only need a place to stay, you can provide us with job if we must work for it,"

Natasha shook her head. "It's alright, a great acquaintance of mine owns a hotel nearby, you can stay there free of charge."

March resisted the urge to say something about hotels and gave Natasha a thankful smile.

"Miss Natasha," Pela said suddenly. "My name is Pela, the Intelligence… I mean, the Former Intelligence Officer of the Silvermane Guards. May I ask you a few questions?"

Natasha raised an eyebrow. "You may ask me questions, but I cannot promise that I will answer everything,"

Pela nodded. "So, first of all, do you operate this clinic on your own?"

Natasha shook her head. "No, I have some volunteers from the Wildfire to help me operate this clinic,"

"The Wildfire?"

Natasha nodded. "They are the ones in charge around these parts. The peacekeeper to say the least. They made the law, tell people what to do and what not to do, and they uphold the law. They punish trouble maker and reward good behavior,"

"Ah, would it be safe to assume that the Wildfire took over the job of the Silvermane Guards after they are retracted back to the surface by the order of the Supreme Guardian?"

"Yes, yes they do,"

Pela nodded and took out her note. She wrote some stuff down before nodding. "Are you part of the Wildfire? Miss Natasha?"

"Yes, the Wildfire helped me with getting the medicine and supplies for the clinic while also make sure that no troublemakers ever disturb this place," Natasha explained. "They protect us and the citizens view Chief Oleg, the leader of Wildfire, as their own leader."

Pela wrote something and nodded in satisfaction. "Thank you, Miss Natasha for your explanation,"

March nudged Pela's shoulder. "That's way too stuffy Pela," she grinned at her. "If you want to make people talk, you gotta get all chummy with them, ask them about their likes and dislikes before you ask them about their deepest secrets,"

Pela blushed a little. "Sorry… force of habit, as an Intelligence Officer, I have to speak and behave as directed in the Silvermane Guards code of conduct," she said. "I mean, I'm not a Silvermane Guard anymore, but…"

Natasha chuckled softly. "It's alright, I understand…" she took a look at her drink. "Chief Oleg was also like that back then, very strict and formal. I suppose it comes with being part of Silvermane Guard,"

Pela's eyes widened. "Chief Oleg, the leader of the Wildfire, was a Silvermane Guard?"

"So I've heard," Natasha took another sip of her drink and smiled at her. "You should talk to him, there are plenty of things you can learn from him,"

Pela slowly nodded. "I will… Thank you Miss Natasha,"

"You're welcome,"

A girl came walking towards them. "Miss Natasha, she's awake,"

Natasha nodded and stood up. "Your friend Bronya is awake, you should talk to her. Especially since her 'escort' was rather forced,"

March gestured at Pela to go ahead and speak to her. The young girl sighed and nodded, bracing herself. She walked to the Bronya's bed and saw her sitting there, lost in thought.

"Lady Bronya," Pela said.

Bronya turned to Pela, her expression colder than the city she hailed from. "Congratulations, you've earned yourself a hostage," she muttered. "I can't believe I was so stupid…"

"No!" Pela shook her head. "It wasn't part of my plan to bring you here, I mean… How can we predict that you will personally pursue us?" she sighed and sat down next to Bronya. "Lady Bronya… truthfully, I've never been so terrified before, being this far from home, outside of the protection of Belobog, surrounded by so many strangers…"

Bronya's expression softened. "Strangers?"

"Lady Bronya, I've never stepped foot underground my whole life," Pela said. "My loyalty is to the people of Belobog,"

"Yes, and your actions reflected that," Bronya replied sarcastically.

Pela was quiet for a while. She then looked out the window of the clinic, to the city outside. "Lady Bronya… the people underground are also your people…" she took a deep breath. "I… it's okay if you don't believe me, but… at the very least, you should talk to your people who are trapped here and abandoned by the Supreme Guardian."

Bronya opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. She looked down and slowly nodded. "I do have something to say to this… Chief Oleg and the Wildfire," she folded her arms. "What do they want? Overthrow the Supreme Guardian?"

Pela looked down. If even she gets caught up in Cocolia's lie, she can only imagine what Bronya must've been through. To deal with Cocolia 24/7. It's already a miracle that Bronya doesn't grow up to become someone like Cocolia.

Back in the sofa, the Trailseekers are already planning their next moves.

"So, we are going to meet up with Chief Oleg of the Wildfire, yes?" Dan Heng asked. "Then, we can continue on our research on this city,"

Natasha nodded. "Yes, that's basically it," she tilted her head and took a closer look at the Herta doll. "Your friend, is she alright? She hasn't spoken a word since we get here,"

March giggled a little. "She's not a person, it's a doll," she took Herta's hand and showed it to Natasha. "See?"

Natasha's eyes widened. "Oh my… this is impressive…" she looked at Herta and waved her hand in front of her face. "She's very lifelike… is she based on a real person?"

"Yep, she's based on her creator and our boss, Madam Herta," March replied, giving the doll a nudge. "I bet she lend us one of her dolls to remind us that she's always watching. I mean, isn't this like having your superior breathing down your neck?"

Natasha chuckled softly. "I suppose it is…" she admired the doll for a moment before letting it go. "Ah, in any case, I have told Chief Oleg of your arrival. He'll send someone to escort you and guide you around the city,"

The door burst open. "Heyyy friend!"

"No," March said without even looking at the door. "Tell Oleg to send someone else, literally anyone else but this weirdo,"

"Gah, so cold! I already apologized Miss March!" Sampo whined.

Natasha gave the Trailseeker sheepish smile. "I'm sorry, but our most capable members are busy with something else," she paused for a second. "Unless you want to split up? We can have one group meeting Chief Oleg and another exploring the city."

"I think that would work," Dan Heng said. "I shall go meet Chief Oleg with Pela and Bronya. March and Stella will go and conduct preliminary research on the city," he turned to the puppet. "I will leave Madam Herta's puppet in the clinic, if that's fine with you."

Natasha nodded in agreement. "That would be alright, Sampo will lead you to meet Chief Oleg, and as for the tour…" she walked out of the clinic and looked around for a bit. "Hook! Come here!" she exclaimed.

There was a blur of yellow and a little girl, barely ten, burst out of the entrance. "Who dare summon Pitch Black Hook The Great!?" her shrill voice echoes through the clinic. "The leader of the Moles and the ruler of the underground!" the little girl declared proudly. She then turned to Natasha. "Ah, if it isn't the evil witch! My Archnemesis!!! What manner of treachery are you concocting now!?"

Natasha sighed and turned to March. "It's either her, or Sampo,"

"I'll take her,"