Chapter 8: Lost memories part 2
Continuing where we left off...
We follow the path that Eric indicated to us to go and we are heading towards Natasha's old orphanage to get the last things she asked us to look for.
To get to the orphanage we had to climb a lot of stairs and after a while we arrived at our destination.
Seele:We made it! It's been so long...but this place hasn't changed one bit. Oh! It looks like there's a lot of stuff piled outside. Let's go see if there's any rubbing alcohol for Nat.
Said Seele being happy that the supplies are in sight.
Bronya:These crates have been sitting here for many years, right? Even if they have materials in them, are you sure they are still usable?
Ritsuka:True. There are several risks that can happen to a person if these supplies are out of date.
Seele:Do you think undergrounders care about expiration dates? Even having any supplies is a miracle in itself.
Seele said, ignoring our concerns about the supplies.
💭I'm sure Nightingale would be furious if she heard that.
Seele was looking for supplies, but they were all empty, leaving her very frustrated. Suddenly a large ice Fragmentum monster appears behind us, taking us by surprise.
Ritsuka:That one is big.
I say this not being intimidated by seeing the big monster.
Bronya:I've only seen this kind of monster in the restricted zone....
Seele:Hmph. I don't care how big you are. You dare sneak up on us from behind. This is it for you pal!
With that me, Seele and Bronya started fighting the ice monster. His attacks were strong in a way, but as the fight is three against one, so we defeated him very easily.
Seele:Ha.... That was it?
Seele said, feeling a little breathless, but maintaining a confident attitude.
Ritsuka: Well, it was three against one. I don't see many chances of winning with that in mind.
I say this not being tired compared to Seele and Bronya.
Seele:Nah,I could've taken it on by myself. But still....fighting alongside you two was pretty fun.
💭Aham.... I'm sure you could solve this alone.
Seele:Should be all clear now. Let's poke around. The kids at the orphanage were always getting into scraps when we played out here. If I remember it right,there ought to be some supplies for our cuts and bruises stored in that corner there. I just hope the monster didn't get to them.
Bronya:It wasn't my imagination.
Bronya said, looking thoughtful.
Ritsuka:Hmm? What are you trying to say, Bronya?
Bronya:This building. This playground...I've seen it all before.
Bronya mutters leaving me and Seele confused.
Seele:What?! Come on, the overground and underground have been sealed off from each other for over ten years. It would've been news if a Silvermane Guard had come down here, let alone an Overworld Princess.
Seele said this after she had a thoughtful expression as she analyzed what she just said.
Seele:Wait,unless,before that....
Ritsuka: If Bronya was in the underworld before being sealed? Hmm.... If that's true, Bronya must have been a child at the time.
Bronya:Exactly! That would explain why my memory is very vague. Come on, I need to look around a bit more before I can be sure....
We start exploring the place to see if Bronya can remember anything else, until Seele gives me a brooch.
Seele:I found this. Here, take it.
Ritsuka:A brooch?
Seele: Natasha would often teach us how to make different handicrafts. This must be some kid's masterpiece.
Seele said, her cheeks red with embarrassment.
Ritsuka:And why are you giving this to me?
Seele: You gave that weird thing to that kid Eric. This thing may not be that valuable, but at least it can serve as a kind of substitute.
Ritsuka: But isn't that important to the child who did it? I don't think I deserve to have this.
Seele:Stop being stubborn and accept it!
Said Seele, making me laugh when I saw her attitude, which reminds me of Jeanne alter.
Seele:What are you finding funny, Ritsuka?
Ritsuka:Hehehe... I'm sorry, Seele. Who knew that even though you have an aggressive attitude you are cute on the inside.
This makes Seele turn red with anger and she has an expression I've seen several times in Chaldea.
Seele:What did you say?! You want to get punched in the face, you idiot!
Bronya: Calm down, Seele. Or you'll end up attracting more monsters here. And you, Ritsuka, know that it's not a good idea to tease her.
Bronya said, standing with her arms crossed, facing both of us.
Ritsuka: I'm sorry. The opportunity was in front of me and I couldn't resist.
I say this with an embarrassed smile, but Bronya still maintains an expression that she is not satisfied with my answer.
Ritsuka:What?
I say this being confused, but I don't receive any answers from Bronya.
Returning to our exploration, Bronya ended up finding two toys near a slide.
Bronya:What's up here? Some kind of toy?
Seele: Yep. You two choose which one to get, blue or red?
Bronya:Hmm...I'll stick with blue.
Ritsuka: Then I'll take red.
With our choices made, I took the red toy and Bronya took the blue one,but when I went to look at Seele I could have sworn I saw her wearing a black dress with red details and scarlet eyes.
This was so fast that I couldn't even register if this was an illusion or if I was going crazy.
💭 What was that?
I decide to ignore what happened for my own mental well-being.
Seele:Ha! Look at this. After over 10 years,the teeth marks are still here.
Ritsuka: Teeth marks?
Seele:Alright, well...this one time, a big kid was trying to steal this toy from me. I couldn't outwrestle hum for it, so I just bit down hard and hung on for dear life.
Bronya:Hmph...how boorish.
Ritsuka:Are you sure you didn't lose any teeth in all this?
Seele:Not that I remember.
We explored the place with Seele telling us a little more about her childhood. Eventually the three of us find a supply box that isn't empty.
Seele:Great,and It's barely demaged! Nat wouldn't have expected her old supplies from years ago to have stayed in such good condition.
Ritsuka: Then we're lucky to find it in time.
Bronya:You should still check the expiration date for things like rubbing alcohol. If It's expired,It won't be effective.
Seele:Hm, true. Let me check a few bottles. Huh? What's this?
Seele said with a snow globe with an owl and a rabbit inside the globe.
Bronya:This is... something from when I was a child.
Bronya said this taking Seele by surprise.
Seele:Wh-When you were a child? Are you sure?
Ritsuka: So you were actually here when you were a child.
Bronya: Yes. I remember now. I-I used to live here... B-Before the Architects took me away, before Madam Cocolia adopted me... I used to live here! I'm...an undergrounder.
💭This changes a lot of things....
Seele: You're...an undergrounder? Wait a minute... you're saying that Cocolia, the Supreme Guardian, adopted you?
Seele said, not believing what she just knew.
Ritsuka: It's no wonder that she is the commander of the Silvermane guards, and that she is called princess. After Cocolia, Bronya will take her place as Belobog's Supreme Guardian.
I say this while idly analyzing this piece of information that was revealed.
Bronya: I can't understand why I only remembered this now? My childhood memories are a mess.
Ritsuka: You were a child at the time. It's common for us to lose some memories of our childhood days.
Bronya:That's... probably the reason. The Architects Said that the guardian's successor is selected from among all people in Belobog. The selection process can take anywhere from a few years to a few decades. During that time, all children of the appropriate age in both the Overworld and the Underworld will be tested. In the end, only one child deemed as "worthy" will be chosen.
💭 Interesting....
Ritsuka: So you were one of the children selected for this test and when you passed you were taken to the surface.
Bronya: That's exactly what happened.
Seele:The children at the orphanage are always coming and going... I never thought there would be a future Supreme Guardian among us! Does Nat know about this? Maybe she was keeping it a secret...
Bronya:I don't think she knows. The selection of the successor is done with utmost secrecy, and the chosen child must completely say goodbye to their past.
And thus... I became the daughter of Madam Cocolia. My only identity is that of guardian successor, but I'm not good enough... Every day I see the Silvermane guards sacrificing their lives in the Fragmentum, but I've never had the resolution to change mother's mind. The underworld was suffering, but I never tried to help. I much less knew that it was my own house that fell into this drastic state. In the end, I couldn't protect anything. How could they have thought that I was worthy of being the successor...
Ritsuka: How can you say that if you're not even a successor yet?
I say this looking at Bronya with a serious expression and she stops crying and looks at me.
Ritsuka: Don't keep crying about what happened in the past, put your attention on the present and future! Do you want to change Belobog? So use what you learned today to make a change for everyone who lives here!
I say this to Bronya who has a smile of relief upon hearing my words.
Bronya:You're right, Ritsuka. There's no point in feeling sorry for myself now. You must have gone through something similar from what you told me. After all, we both have a great responsibility on our shoulders.
Ritsuka: I know it's a difficult burden to bear, but I'm only here because I had people who shared the burden with me. If you experience this again, don't hesitate to ask me or Seele for help if you need it.
I say this taking Seele by surprise.
Seele:Me? Not a chance. I'm terrible at comforting other people.
Ritsuka:Sometimes an honest and direct voice is what a person needs to feel better and you are the perfect person for that Seele.
Seele:Hmpf!
Seele, being embarrassed, just looks aside, not wanting to look at me.
After this pleasant conversation, Seele suggests that she take a tour of the orphanage with Bronya to refresh her memory of the past. Seele invited me to go with them, but I refused, wanting to end our mission quickly.
I'm still looking for the last thing missing from Natasha's list which is painkillers. During my search I end up being surprised to see Clara being here and she is accompanied by a robot.
Guardbot:Alert. Alert. Danger detected.
Ritsuka: I didn't come here with the intention of harming you, Mr. Robot.
I say this in a calm tone in front of the robot that is preparing to attack me.
Guardbot: Protect Clara. Starting active defense mode.
Clara:Perkins, don't! Stop!
Clara said, ordering the robot before a fight could take place.
Clara:I've seen this person before H-He's not bad, right?
Clara said looking at me.
Ritsuka:Nope. I came in peace.
I respond with a friendly smile at Clara.
Guardbot:Command received. Danger removed. Disabling active defense mode.
Clara: This place is dangerous. You must leave.
Clara said to me and I got a slight smile when I noticed the irony of the situation.
💭Look who's talking....
Ritsuka: I can't leave until I get painkillers to help the people who are injured.
Clara: Oh? I came here for these painkillers, too. There are a lot of people hurt in the vagrant camp, I guess the miners are no different?
Clara said and she lets out a sigh with a sad expression.
Clara:If everyone could get along, things could be resolved.
Clara said, handing me some medicine.
Clara:Mm.... Here you are. I hope the medicine is of help to you....
Clara said and I decide to take advantage of the fact that she's the only one here to ask some questions.
Ritsuka:Hmm...I heard that Svarog is always with you. What is the relationship between the two of you?
Clara: Mr. Svarog, he..... He is my family. I met Mr. Svarog when I was very little. He took me in ans he took care of me.
Clara tells me this and the comparisons between her and Illya only increase for me.
💭Huh.... Sitonai would get along great with Clara.
Clara:I'm really sorry about what happened back in the Great Mine.... Lord Svarog doesn't trust any humans besides me, especially everyone from wildfire.
I asked Clara why Svarog got involved in the conflict before and Clara explains that when Svarog heard that the conflict was on a large scale, he wanted to put an end to it. According to Clara's words, wildfire wants to leave the underground, but Svarog wants everyone to stay here. According to his calculations, the upper world is not safe and the underground is the ideal place to live.
Clara:He said his responsibility is "preservation". To do this he must make decisions that are best to protect humanity.
💭 That's exactly how Xiang Yu acts when he uses his skill.
Clara: I know wildfire wants to talk to Mr. Svarog.... But no matter how many times you talk to him, Mr. Svarog doesn't change his mind. So,please trust me! I'll try to persuade Mr. Svarog. Hopefully,one day he will finaly listen....
At that moment Seele and Bronya found us, Seele was surprised to see Clara being here.
I explain to the girls what I was talking about with Clara. Seele wasn't very happy to learn that Clara is helping the vagrants, but Clara explains that not everyone in that group is bad and that there are people who just want to survive.
With that in mind Clara asks if it's possible that Seele could share some of Natasha's painkillers with her, Seele accepts saying that it will hurt her a little, but Natasha will understand.
With everything resolved, Clara separated from us and we decided to go back to Natasha and deliver the things she asked for. We told Natasha that Clara took part of the painkillers and as Seele said, Natasha understood that this is something in Clara's habit of helping people.
With our mission over, I return to the hotel to make the most of the time I have left to sleep.
****************
Stella's vision.
*************
I decided to take the pill that my partner Ritsuka had given me to help me sleep.
I have to admit that it worked very well, I was able to fall asleep very peacefully.
But I didn't expect that when I closed my eyes something very strange would happen.
*************
I open my eyes having a strange feeling and I see that I am no longer in my room but in an alley in an unknown city.
💭Is this a dream?
I analyze myself and to test whether it is real or not I pinch myself and feel pain coming from my skin.
Stella: Okay. This is real. But how did I end up in this city? Obviously it's not Jarilo-VI.
💭This place appears to be empty.
It's very weird. In Jarilo-VI there is always a sign of life, but here there is only a huge morbid silence.
I decide to leave the alley to get a better idea of where I ended up, but when I start walking I feel a bad feeling behind me.
Stella: Who's there?!
I say this with my bat in hand, but all there is is darkness, but the bizarre thing is that the darkness of the alley starts to move.
Stella: What is this?
A blue flame appears from the shadows forming a large flaming claw. I've never seen anything like this in my life.
💭What is this feeling inside my chest?
It's a warm but painful sensation, as if something is trying to hurt my soul.
The flaming claw advances towards me at incredible speed and I prepare for combat, but something attacks the monster from behind making the creature disappear.
???: You shouldn't be in this world. Souls who have not experienced anguish or despair are not welcome here.
I hear a very familiar voice and the owner of this voice stands out to me.
He is a man with his body covered in darkness and visible in silhouette.
I analyze the man and see that his right eye is on fire, just like Ritsuka, who also had his right eye on fire when he fought Bronya.
Stelle:Ritsuka?
???:You must leave this world. Your journey does not take you to this place.
Stelle: Answer me instead of giving cryptic answers!
I say this getting a little irritated with him.
???: I am his shadow.
Stella: His shadow? What do you mean by that? Actually where are we?
???:That's not something for you to know. The important thing is that you must get out of here while in time.
💭Either he's ignoring what I'm saying or he really doesn't want to tell me anything.
Stelle:Ok you win. I have to get out of here. But do you even have a name? I can't call you "Ritsuka's shadow".
The man-shaped shadow is silent for a few seconds until he responds.
???:You can call me
Alter.....
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