Star Rail: The Aeon Hunters

Lynx has always thought she's prepared for the worst. When she found what being Silvermane Guard entails, she knew that someday, she will lose her brother. It's a thought that keep her awake at night, but after years gone by, she forgot about.

Yet… What she witnessed that day, was something that is even worse than nightmare.

And if she stays sleeping, maybe, just maybe, it can all stay a nightmare.

"Lynx,"

She recognized that voice, it's a voice from someone who could truly understand her. Should she answer that voice? That voice belong in the same world as that nightmare. If she answer it, the nightmare becomes true.

"Lynx,"

Again, the voice called out to her. Why does it want her to wake up? Just let her live in this nightmare, don't make it real.

"Lynxy…"

Lynx snapped her eyes open and took a sharp breath. She found herself coming face to face with Pela, her best friend. "Pela,"

Pela gave her a teary smile. "Welcome back, how do you feel Lynx?"

The girl sat up and put a hand on her head. "Terrible…" she muttered. "Awful… Bad… Worst Day of My Life…" Pela sat down beside her and they huddled together on the bed. "Where are we Pela?"

"We're underground," Pela replied. "This is Natasha's Clinic,"

Lynx looked around the building, she's heard of this place before. This is where they treat the ill deep underground. There are some people here, most she can only assume to be miners. "Oh it's the doll," Lynx turned to the Herta doll standing motionlessly.

Pela glanced at the doll. "Yeah… Say, Lynx, have you ever heard it speak?"

"Yeah, back in the surface, Serval want to take it apart and see what makes it tick, but the doll said no," Lynx smiled a little fondly. "Then the Doll gave Serval a hammer and told her to reverse engineer that instead,"

"Huh… Interesting…"

"Yeah, Serval even…" Lynx froze and she looked around frantically. "Wait! Serval! Where's Serval!?" her heart pound to her chest. "Sh-she made it here right?"

"She's okay!" Pela hugged Lynx, calming her. "She woke up before you and…" she averted her gaze. "She went out with Stella… to the surface."

Lynx bit her lip, as much as she trusts Stella's power, she's really not in the mood for losing another sibling. "Where are they going?"

"They're looking for supplies in the Hyperion, they'll head straight to the Rivet Town Orphanage once they're done," Pela took Lynx's hand. "If you're fine, I can take you there,"

"Okay, let's go, lead the way Pela,"

Pela nodded and turned to the Herta doll. "Natasha said we should bring this doll for protection," she folded her arms. "Now how do I make it walk? Do we just uhh… tell it to follow?"

Lynx took the doll's hand and pulled it, the doll didn't resist and start walking along with them. When she let go, the doll still follows the two automatically. "Huh, so that's how you operate it," she muttered. "Come on, let's go,"

The underground was far, far different than what Lynx imagined. Even the images Pela sent her simply couldn't do it justice. From the Geomarrow Ores glowing gently all over the place, hundreds of people going around carrying supplies and barking orders, and all the robots roaming all over the place.

"Citizens of Belobog, though the surface has fallen under the tyranny of Fragmentum, all is not lost! The Architects have blessed us with their true final bastion of humanity. Together with the gift from the stars, we shall take back our beloved world! Take heed of the words from the Great Architect and their creations, the city…"

Lynx couldn't help but stop and listen in on Bronya's speech. The way she spoke and held herself, it reminded her a little too much of Cocolia. Added to the fact that she's Cocolia's daughter, can she even trust her at all?

"Over here Lynx," Pela snapped her out of her musings.

Lynx nodded and followed Pela deeper into the city. Along the way, she began seeing strange golden structures, the same one she saw in the backwater pass. "Wait… Pela, this place is corroded…" Lynx said, looking around warily.

Despite this, robots and miners run around carrying supplies. Some carries weapons to fight off nearby Fragmentum monsters.

"Yes, that's why we have the doll with us," Pela replied, gesturing at Herta. "But don't worry, the Trailseekers managed to create some 'safe zones' in certain area, including the orphanage," she gestured at a large building in a distance.

"Ah, I see," Lynx saw a glimpse of a large robot fighting against fragmentum monster. "And Serval is looking for supplies for our use then?"

"Yep," Pela replied. "She's with Stella, Seele, and Sampo. So don't worry about them,"

The two finally made it up to the orphanage. Two large robots stood by at the entrance, nodding slightly at Pela and Lynx. Behind the robots, a bunch of people is prepping up tents and shelter for outdoor use. Some familiar faces greeted them.

"Lynx, you're awake," Natasha walked towards the girl. "My name is Doctor Natasha, how are you feeling?"

Lynx nodded. "I'm fine, really…" she looked around her. "Why is everyone camping outside?"

"These are the volunteers from Wildfire, they're here to protect the children staying inside," Natasha led the two into the orphanage, revealing a gigantic repurposed building. Geomarrow Ores illuminated the interior of the building and the floor is covered with fabric, blanket, and anything soft they can find.

Children huddled inside building. The older one help tend the younger ones, some are crying, others are running around, some are looking for their parents. The majority of them, however, are looking at a makeshift stage at the end of the room.

"Okay… One… Two… Three…" March's whisper came from somewhere. "GO!"

The entire hall lights up, glimmering flakes of six phased ice swept through the room. Beautiful chandeliers of ice began growing out of the ceiling, illuminating the room in sparkling light. The stage lights up in color as the people appeared on the stage.

"Far beyond the snowy horizon, a young man named Artem embarked on a journey…" March's voice echoes through the building as Dan Heng, wearing a thick explorer uniform, appeared on a stage. He began climbing tall ice wall in tune with March's narration.

The story continues with Artem falling off a cliff, being buried in the snow, and saved by a beautiful girl named Anna (Clara). Then the two went to a frozen city, a city built with rain water. They even met Dalmir (Luka) who hailed from the Lava Kingdom.

March worked extra hard with the effects, showing how a building and sculptures form from just a rain, showing how the people of the frozen city survives in the cold, and more.

"Whoa… That's so cool…" Lynx gasped in amazement. "What do you think, Pela?" she turned to her friends only to find her kneeling on the ground, watching the performance with tears in her eyes. "Pela??"

"N-no…" she sniffed and wiped the tears off her face. "I'm okay, I'm just… so happy…" Pela whispered. "I desperately tried to get this book approved in the Golden Theater… But the Supreme Guardian banned this book and…"

One of her biggest dreams just came true, right at this moment. To see the character she know and love come to life, to see the world she dreamed of appear before her with magic beyond the stars, to see people other than her, enjoy this beautiful story. A story of adventure, wonder, romance, and embracing the unknown.

Lynx smiled and sat down next to her. "After all this is done, I'm sure Lady Bronya wouldn't mind showing this story in the theater," she put an arm around her shoulder and simply watched the performance.

And for a moment… Lynx felt everything is alright…