Star Rail: The Aeon Hunters

Lynx is conflicted.

The explorer had made her choice to join the Trailseekers. Surfing through the great beyond and exploring different worlds have always been everything she wanted ever since she was a child. The frozen of wasteland outside of Belobog can only do much to satiate that Wanderlust.

However, when she stepped into the Hyperion for the first time of her life and meeting the true leader of the Trailseekers, she was afraid.

"The choice is yours," Welt Yang stood before her, the walking cane on his hand pulsating with power beyond her comprehension. Light gleamed off his spectacles, preventing her eyes from meeting his gaze. "There will be no further consequences, should you decide to turn around right now,"

Lynx bit her lip, she tried to look at Stella, March, and Dan Heng. But they simply sat on the seat surrounding the main lobby, gazing at her silently. She's on her own now, her own choice, for her own life.

"Just... to make sure I don't misunderstand," Lynx began. "You... wish to kill all Aeons?"

"Kill is a term used for mortals," Welt replied. "The Aeons themselves are never 'alive' to begin with. They were the ones who created the definition of 'alive'," he waved his hand. "We wish to lower their influence on the cosmos until they stop being... a divine power."

"Right..." Lynx took a deep breath. "So... what will happen to, places that depends on the Aeons? Like umm... Belobog? We survived the Eternal Freeze because Qlipoth..."

"Is it Qlipoth that brought your civilization this far?" Welt asked. "Was it Qlipoth and their creations who built the walls of your city? Was it Qlipoth who created those machines that gave you warmth against the cold everlasting? Was it Qlipoth created the very city on which you may thrive?"

Lynx gulped. "N-no... it's... the Architects..."

"Credit where the credit is due," Welt spoke with finality.

"I..." Lynx looked down. "But... there's no harm in... believing in divine forces... right?"

"Need I remind you that The Supreme Guardian, Madam Cocolia Rand, seek Divine Force's help for salvation?" Welt tilted his head. "She believes that the Stellaron, another force beyond human understanding, is going to safe her people... How did that go?"

Lynx shrunk under his gaze, really, she should stop talking. What does she know about Aeons? All she knew is 45 different ways to cook Frozen Slugs under a campfire. Not... Forces beyond her comprehension.

"Umm..." Lynx closed her eyes. "Can you..." she took a deep breath. "Promise me that what we do will bring more good than harm?" she opened her eyes, pleading at the man before her. "I don't want to hurt anyone..."

Welt's gaze softened ever so slightly; a ghost smile formed on his face. "Of course, I have no intention on causing needless harm," he folded his arms. "My problem with the Aeons is that they cause disasters that only other Aeons can solve, it was as if us mortals are at the end of the day, powerless against them."

Lynx nodded slowly. "Right..." she did a little jump, hyping herself up. "Okay! I see, okay then," she clasped her hands together, pausing for a moment to steel her nerves. "I agree, we should totally do something about the Aeons," she took another deep breath and slapped both her cheeks. "Should've listened to Serval more, now that I think about it."

"So, it's a deal then? Lynx Landau of Belobog, you would join us?"

"Yes!" Lynx replied with a smile. "Where to next?"

"Good question," Welt turned around towards a door leading to another side of the room. "Our next destination depends on your friend's decision,"

"My friend?"

As if on cue, the blast door opened, revealing a couple of puppet stepping out of it. One is a certain Emanator walking with carefree, almost smug smile on her face. The other has white hair and bright red eyes, carefully walking beside her with a nervous smile on her face.

"Next stop!" Herta began. "My Space Station,"

Welt turned around. "Get yourself comfortable, Lynx, Clara," he waved at them. "Welcome to the team, refer to Dan Heng if there's anything you need,"

With that, Lynx and Clara sat next to each other on a seat facing the Trailseekers. "Whoa..." the former put a hand on her chest. "That was... Nerve wracking," she muttered to herself. "What about you Clara?"

"It was... a bit complicated," Clara looked down. "I already accepted to be Madam Herta's apprentice since last week, she then gave me a task to redo some policies in the space station to practice management," she smiled sheepishly. "We were reviewing the results of my changes, all is green, thankfully."

"Wait, so you already know?" Lynx asked. "About Mr. Yang's goals?"

"Umm... I don't know how Mr. Yang worded it to you," Clara said. "But it's not 'kill' the Aeons. Because they are above the concept of life and death. The goal is to make them less... of a problem," she explained. "Kinda like, making a cave less dangerous by adding railings and lightings. We don't want to destroy the cave; we just want to make it easier to traverse."

Lynx blinked a little. "Oh my god... he should've gone with that explanation," she groaned. "I thought we're going to start slaying the Aeons like vengeful demons..."

"Ehehe... I don't think that's possible..." Clara giggled softly. "Besides, by making civilizations more independent from the whims of the Aeons, we'll be saving more life and bring more prosperity, you know? Instead of depending for divine protection, we help people to create their own divine protection."

"Yeah, like that!" Lynx nodded in agreement. "Oh my gosh, if that's all there is to it, I wouldn't have hesitated..."

"Well not really," Clara looked down. "Sometimes, the Trailseekers would have to do some dirty work to get things done, like when they abducted Bronya or stage a coup,"

"True, but like, it's for the good, right? Cocolia was evil,"

March stood up and walked up towards the two. "Not that easy Lynxy," she put both hands on her hips. "Welcome to the team by the way," she sat next to the two before turning to Stella and Dan Heng. "You guys too!"

Dan Heng rolled his eyes while Stella jokingly saluted at her. They then sat next to March as the girl rummaged through her bag.

"Anyway, Lynx, you might not know this, but like," March took out a bounty poster. With a mugshot of herself. "We're wanted criminals," she gave Lynx a sheepish smile. "It's a long story, but let's just say we pissed off way too many people when telling people to stop simping for the Aeons,"

Lynx blinked owlishly, silently counting the number of zero in that poster. She gave up after the 18th zeros and slowly nodded. "I see... So uhh... am I also gonna get a bounty?"

"Nope!" March grinned. "See, that's why we've been thinking," she looked between Lynx and Clara. "How about we make another Branch of the Trailseekers? Instead of the super dangerous terrorist led by Mr. Yang, you guys can be a group of researchers and explorers led by Madam Herta!"

"Oooh!!!" Lynx nodded in agreement. "That'll be so cool," she turned to Clara. "What do you think?"

Clara smiled softly and nodded. "I agree, Madam Herta also told me about this," she looked at March. "Stella is joining us too, right?"

"Yep, cuz Stella here is still pure and innocent," March said.

Stella put a hand on her chest, closed her eyes, and made a serene smile on her face. "I am a moral elite who would never do any sort of crime," she declared.

March gave her a thumb up. "So yeah, we're nearing Herta's Space Station now," she began. "They will provide everything you guys need to become Herta's research partner," she winked at them. "Don't be shy, take anything you need."