Solomon groggily opened his eyes as the dream came to an end. The first thing he saw was Sirin — and behind her, a massive dragon staring at him. Taking a deep breath, he said with a faint smile,
"...Sirin, good morning."
"Hm! Big brother, good morning☆!" Sirin gave Solomon a toothy grin as Bella happily roared beside her.
"Big brother, what should we do now? This place is boring! Sure, there's a throne and a lot of beautiful views, but it's still boring!" Sirin complained as she vigorously shook Solomon's shoulder.
"Goodness… let's go then. Can you use your Void's core to travel? I fear we might not be able to go back to your world." Solomon lifted Sirin in his arms as he stepped down the stairs.
"Uh… probably…? I don't know." Sirin said, shaking her head with a frown before brightening again. "But I can try!"
By the time Solomon reached the ground, his bare feet touched the soil — yet not a single speck of dirt clung to his toes.
"Then, I'll leave it to you, Sirin." Solomon smiled softly, and Sirin nodded happily.
"Yes, leave it to me, big brother!"
Focusing her energy, Sirin created a black wormhole beneath them. The two fell into the darkness, Bella following, as Sirin channeled the passageway to the unknown.
Solomon's eyes calmly observed the distortion around them. When the fall ended, he opened his eyes to a world of white.
"Snow…" he murmured, scanning the endless expanse.
"Big brother, where are we?" Sirin asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"I don't know, but let's hope we can find a village nearby."
"Hm! Okay!" she replied brightly, gripping his robe with her tiny hand.
"Big brother, what do you think of this place? It's cold, isn't it☆?"
"It sure is. What kind of food do you want when we find a village?"
"Pancakes!☆" Sirin declared, making Solomon raise an eyebrow — then laugh softly.
Their conversation continued, the sound of Solomon's footsteps crunching through the snow echoing in the silence.
Then he heard something. His ears perked up; his gaze followed the distant echoes of battle. There — a woman with long blonde curls, clad in a military uniform that hugged her form. She brandished a fiery lance as she shouted orders.
"Charge! Don't fall behind! If one of you is injured, retreat immediately!" Her voice rang clear and commanding.
Flame and ice monsters surged forward, their clash shaking the frozen air. Solomon and Sirin watched from afar. Sirin scoffed,
"Hmph! Just another despicable human. What an amusing sight to see☆."
"That's not a nice way to put it, Sirin," Solomon said calmly. "They're risking their lives — you shouldn't treat them as amusement."
"Retreat!" the woman shouted, unaware of the shadow rising behind her.
"Madam Cocolia!"
"Supreme Guardian Cocolia, look out!"
She froze as the monsters struck — but before the blow could land, countless light particles condensed in the air. Beams of pure energy shot forward, obliterating the creatures in an instant. Craters scarred the ground, steam rising from the impact.
"This… By the Aeons, what kind of attack was that?" Cocolia gasped, eyes wide.
Through the drifting light, footsteps echoed. A tall, white-haired man emerged, his tan skin and flowing robes gleaming in the snow. He carried a girl with purple hair and star-bright eyes — her violet dress fluttering in the wind.
It was Solomon and Sirin.
Solomon smiled gently, while Sirin stared scornfully at Cocolia and her soldiers.
"Hi there, Miss. Do you happen to know a village nearby?" Solomon asked kindly.
Cocolia blinked, still dazed, then quickly straightened.
"You… thank you for your help," she said softly, her eyes finally meeting his.
"I'm glad to see that you're okay, Miss." Solomon smiled gently at her.
Cocolia gave a curt nod before turning to her soldiers.
"Everyone, retreat! Fall back to the main gate and tend to your wounds!"
"Yes, ma'am!" The soldiers obeyed, carrying the wounded and disappearing through the snowstorm, leaving only the soft crunch of boots fading into the distance.
When the air finally quieted, Cocolia turned back to Solomon, her gaze sharp.
"Back to your question—where are you from?"
Her voice carried authority, no hesitation. Solomon blinked once, taken aback by her directness.
"Where…?" he echoed softly, thinking for a moment. "I suppose you could say we're from afar."
His vague tone made her narrow her eyes. "From afar? Don't joke with me. There's no life beyond Belobog." Her grip on the fiery lance tightened, flames licking faintly at its tip.
Seeing her stance, Solomon sighed and raised his hand in a calm gesture.
"...Would you believe me," he said evenly, "if I told you we're from another planet?"
Cocolia froze, the wind howling around them. Her expression hardened at first, but her eyes flickered with thought. She lowered the lance slowly, her voice softer now.
"...Another planet, you say?" She looked down, her breath forming pale mist. "I once heard stories passed down from my ancestors—tales of a visitor who would descend from the sky. I never believed such nonsense."
She looked up again, eyes meeting Solomon's golden gaze. "But seeing you now… that robe, that light… perhaps they weren't lies after all."
Sirin tugged on Solomon's sleeve, her star-like eyes gleaming with wonder.
"Big brother, did you hear that?☆ A visitor beyond the sky! Can people really travel from world to world?"
Solomon smiled faintly at her excitement. "It seems so, Sirin. The universe is vast—much larger than we ever imagined."
"Wow… that's amazing!" Sirin's voice sparkled with awe, her hands clutched to her chest as she stared up at the gray Belobog sky.
Cocolia watched them quietly. Her expression softened—just for a heartbeat—before the cold air reclaimed her composure.
—-------------------
As they walked through the maze-like path, ruins and shattered walls stood as solemn witnesses of old battles. The air carried a faint metallic tang — remnants of smoke and iron — while the whisper of the wind brushed against the broken statues lining the road. Sirin's curious gaze darted from one relic to another, her silver hair catching the dim light.
"Big brother," she murmured, "was this place… also destroyed by the Honkai?"
Solomon looked around the fallen spires and scorched banners. "Perhaps not the same Honkai we knew… but destruction always leaves a familiar scent."
Cocolia stopped before a towering set of steel gates embedded into the mountainside. She pulled a key-like device from her coat, inserting it into a crystalline socket. With a deep rumble, the gates began to part, releasing a heavy gust of snow that washed over them. Cocolia didn't even flinch — she simply adjusted her posture and strode ahead with quiet authority.
"Welcome," she said, turning to them as the gates fully opened. "To the last remaining city of our world — Belobog, visitors."
As the blinding light faded, Sirin's eyes widened. The city beyond was a patchwork of old grandeur and survival. Ancient towers crowned with frost loomed beside pipes that hissed faint steam into the frozen air. Golden lights flickered from windows, their warmth defying the endless snowstorm above.
"Woahhh…" Sirin whispered, her voice filled with wonder. "It's like… a city from an old legend."
Cocolia gave a small, rare smile. "That's because it is one. Built from the remnants of the old world and guarded by every generation that refused to let it fall."
They passed under the colossal archway, entering the bustling main street. People dressed in thick coats and mechanical gear turned as Cocolia walked by. Cheers erupted from the crowd — calls of "Glory to the Guardian!" and "May the fire never fade!" filled the air.
Sirin blinked in surprise at the admiration surrounding the woman. "They really love her, huh?" she whispered.
"Of course," Solomon said softly, observing the way Cocolia nodded to her people with distant composure. "A protector often carries the weight of worship… and the loneliness that follows."
Cocolia halted at the plaza, reaching into her cloak to produce a leather pouch that jingled faintly with metal. She handed it to Solomon. "You can use this for a while. Buy food, find warmth. Consider it… a token of Belobog's hospitality. Mr…?"
"Solomon," he said, placing a hand on his chest politely. "And this is Sirin, Miss."
"Cocolia," she introduced herself in return, "the Supreme Guardian of Belobog."
She nodded once, her expression steady. "Explore, eat, rest. I have matters to attend to. Perhaps we'll meet again soon."
"I understand," Solomon replied. "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Cocolia."
Without another word, the Guardian turned, her crimson cape sweeping lightly as she disappeared into the glowing streets.
---
Sirin tugged Solomon's sleeve. "Big brother, let's go! I wanna see what kind of food they have here!"
He chuckled quietly. "Alright, alright. Lead the way, little explorer."
The two wandered through Belobog's lively heart. Steam pipes lined the buildings, crackling with life as mechanical carts rolled by. The scent of baked bread and roasted meat drifted through the air — a rare warmth in this frozen world.
They stopped at a stall where an old man sold something resembling dumplings, their surface steaming in the cold. Sirin leaned over the counter, eyes shining. "What's that? It smells so good!"
"Snowfang buns," the man said proudly. "Best in the Underworld — soft bread, meat filling, a bit of spice to chase away the chill."
Solomon placed a few of the coins Cocolia had given him on the counter. "We'll take two."
As they sat on a nearby bench, Sirin bit into hers, eyes sparkling. "Mmm! Big brother! It's warm inside! Like sunshine!"
Solomon smiled faintly, watching her eat with such joy. "Enjoy it. Not every world offers warmth so easily."
After a moment of silence, Sirin glanced at him. "Do you think this place is a home for us, big brother?"
He looked at the sky — a swirling ceiling of gray clouds, pierced by faint rays of light. "Home is wherever we stop walking, Sirin. For now, this is enough."
She smiled softly, leaning on his shoulder as snowflakes fell around them. The laughter of the people echoed faintly in the distance — fragile, but real.
And for the first time since leaving their world, the two wanderers felt something they had almost forgotten.
Peace.
A/n: Guess who's back from dead? Yes, it's me the author! Anyway, here is the chapter after two months being dead. Peace!!(─.─||）