After an hour, everyone has recovered and the Trailseeker is ready for another chapter of their adventure.
"Where's Bronya and Pela?" March asked.
"They're already at the Robot Settlement," Dan Heng replied. "Come it's this way…"
Dan Heng led the group through the Great Mines. Both March and Stella took in the sight in awe. The former took out her camera and snapped pictures of the Geomarrow Ores, the miners, and more. They also encountered some robots on their way there.
"Why does that robot look like a stop light?" March walked up to one of the robot.
The robot noticed them. "Scan in progress, Trailseekers, polite mode on," it skittered towards them. "Greetings, Trailseekers. How may I be of assistance?"
"Can you show us a way to the Robot Settlement?" March asked.
"Of course, follow me Trailseekers,"
They followed the robot deeper and deeper into the mines until finally… They found their way in the middle of snowy landscape. Dozens of camps were strewn all over the snow plains, with robots running around.
"Whoa…" March said, impressed. "So, this is the Robot Settlement," she took a picture of some of the robots. "I didn't expect a place like this exists in the underground…" she paused and narrowed her eyes. "Wait… why is there snow here???"
The robot led the trio through a gate. A large mansion stood at the end of it and a tall robot stood tall at the side of it. "We are here, Trailseekers!" the stop light robot announced.
"Thanks little robot!" March pat the robot's head before turning to the large robot. "And hi, umm, you must be Chief Svarog, right?"
"Affirmative," Svarog replied. "Welcome to the underground, outsiders,"
The door suddenly opened, revealing a little girl with white hair and bright red eyes. "Mr. Svarog, Lady Bronya is…" she then noticed the Trailseekers. "Oh, we have more guests," she gave them a polite bow. "Please excuse me, I will make some tea," she quickly returned to the mansion.
March could only stare mutely at the girl who just left. "Oh my gosh… She's adorable…" she whispered to herself.
"She's the new member of the moles!" Stella exclaimed, while taking out the paper. "See?"
"You're right, that's the girl," March turned to Mr. Svarog. "Mr. Svarog, who was that girl?"
"That is Clara," Svarog replied. "Clara is family,"
March blinked a little. "Where are her parents?"
"Clara's parent whereabouts are currently unknown. The search is delayed indefinitely by Clara's request," he replied simply.
After a moment, Clara returned. "Welcome, Mr. Svarog's guests…" she said softly. "You must be cold for standing out here for too long," she turned to Svarog. "Mr. Svarog, shouldn't we let them in? I've prepared some warm drink for our guest."
Svarog nodded. "Follow me, outsiders. Your friend Bronya and Pelageya is also waiting inside."
They all stepped into the mansion, revealing a very fancy Victorian era mansion. From the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, the soft red carpet beneath their foot, the furniture of carven wood, and more. There's even some sofa facing a fireplace where Pela and Bronya is sitting on.
"Whoa… For a robot, you have some really good taste…" March took a picture of the mansion interior. "I dare say this place has better taste than the Qlipoth Fort,"
"Your compliment is accepted," Svarog replied.
The Trailseekers walked to the sofa near the fireplace. Bronya and Pela is already there, sipping on a cup of warm tea as they sat there in silence. The latter noticed them and smiled. "Hello Trailseekers, sorry for leaving without you,"
"It's okay Pela," March sat down on the sofa. "How are you guys holding up?"
Pela blushed a little and looked down. "Well… I just… this mansion…" she stood up and looked around. "It looked just like how imagined the Aristocrats of the Lava Kingdom's Mansion look like," her eyes began to sparkle. "The beautiful chandelier, the magnificent staircase, and…"
The girl goes on to sing praises on the mansion, mentioning every immaculate detail of the interior. At a glance, she sounds like someone who's obsessed with interior design. But it wasn't really about interior design…
"And right over here… At the second window…" Pela already ran to the stairs and to the window with March and Stella following her. "Artem and Anna gazed upon the volcanoes, beyond the window, confessing their love…"
Bronya watched her from a distance while sipping on the warm tea. "I've never seen this side of her before," a fond smile formed on her face. "It's easy for me to forget that she's just a child… One of the youngest of the Silvermane Guard…"
Dan Heng nodded. "One of the best minds of her generation, I'm guessing?"
Bronya nodded. "Yes, she aced in every test we gave her," she closed her eyes. "Mother said that such potential should not be wasted, that's why we took her in," she chuckled softly. "We even forged her diploma so she can enroll herself to be Silvermane Guard."
Dan Heng went quite for a moment. As an immortal, the concept of youth has long lost its meaning. He looked at March and Stella who somehow get along with Pela in her act. Part of him wished he can be so playful and carefree just like them.
"You cannot ever lose it, you can only forget about it," Dan Heng spoke. "I've seen those who have lived for hundreds of years, dancing to the sound of music, crying at the loss of a toy, and walking off on to silly aimless pursuits called life…" he looked at Bronya. "You will find it again, Lady Bronya. The joys of youth,"
Bronya slowly nodded. "Thank you…" she put down her drink. "I wish I can speak more with you after I became the Supreme Guardian,"
"Who knows? Maybe we shall meet again someday,"
After a while Clara returned from a door nearby carrying a tray. She walked towards the two and smiled. "Lady Bronya and umm…"
"Dan Heng,"
"Right, Dan Heng," she set down the drinks on the table. "Please enjoy, you must be cold from walking outside," she turned to Pela, Stella, and March who are playing near the staircase. "Oh dear… They shouldn't play there, they could slip and fall…"
Clara walked up towards the three. "Hello, Miss Pela, and Trailseekers," she gestured at the table. "I've brought you some drinks. After this, Mr. Svarog will brief you on your next plan,"
Pela caught herself in the middle of her speech. Her face redden after she realized what she's been doing. "Oh, uhh, right!" she slowly walked down the staircase. "Sorry, Clara," she turned to the other two. "March, Stella, stop playing around, we have complicated matters to attend to,"
March blinked. "Weren't you the one who…"
"Hush, no talking in the hallway,"
Soon, everyone has sat down around the fireplace. Then, the door to the mansion opened, revealing Svarog and Natasha stepping into the room.
"Attention: The Guardian of the Underground has arrived," Svarog spoke.
March made a fist bump. "I knew it!" she shouted silently.
"Thank you Svarog, but please, just call me Natasha," the woman walked towards the group and sat down on an empty sofa. "How are you feeling everyone?"
"We're great, thank you for asking Natasha!" March exclaimed. "Also, I totally called it, you are someone important, there's no way you're not,"
Natasha chuckled softly. "My apologies for not telling you immediately," she turned to Bronya and Pela. "But you have to understand that the matters here are very delicate, don't you agree, Lady Bronya?"
Bronya nodded. "Yes, it's rather complicated," she sighed softly. "Ascertain my mother's intention, right? That's the final piece of information needed for our purpose," she tapped her fingers. "Would you believe me if I say that she's doing it for the sake of Belobog?"
Everyone shook their heads, even Pela.
"As I thought," Bronya took a deep breath. "But that's… the only thing she ever revealed to me. The good of the people, Belobog, a new world…"
"Then, what are our options?" March asked. "Should we go up there and spy on her?"
Natasha nodded. "Seele can conduct espionage on the Supreme Guardian, but I am hoping there's a more subtle way. Don't you have someone you can trust within the Silvermane Guard?"
"Well…" Pela took out her phone. "Lynx said she already prepared a friendly ambush for her brother,"
March tilted her head. "A friendly ambush?" she asked, amused.
"Yeah, Lynx and Serval already prepared this elaborate trap for Gepard. So, when he arrived to tell Serval about Lynx's disappearance, they can subdue him, tie him to a chair, and convince him that there's something wrong with the Supreme Gurdian," Pela explained the plan to everyone. "I can ask Lynx to have Gepard be our double agent."
"That girl better capture that in 4k," March giggled. "So we got that right? What's the matter? Is he too stubborn?"
Pela shook her head. "No… Lynx informed me that… Gepard hasn't been looking for her," she checked her phone. "Lynx said Serval is feeling anxious and now they're going to go look for him,"