Chapter Text
Soulmates have always seemed pointless to Seele.
It’s a miracle to even meet your soulmate in the first place. Let alone fall in love with them and vice versa. It was a rare occurrence for said soulmates to even stay together, the universe is faulty after all. Even if they did stay together, the vines you receive from that love would only serve as a target in the underworld. A sign of vulnerability that some people would take advantage of.
With how much there was to do, Seele never thought she’d have time for a soulmate anyways. The couples that she’d seen were cheesy and sappy enough that she’s grown sick of all the crap that romantic love could bring.
(She doesn’t think about the widow wandering the town. Eyes listless as her gray vines marked her to the world. The love of her life having died to the Fragmentum beasts. Seele doesn’t think of her at all.)
Wildfire was enough for her. It gave her a purpose and she respected Natasha and Oleg enough (a lot) to help them rally up the trouble that stirs in their part of the world. Monsters constantly tried to barge their way into the town, and they were succeeding. Rivet Town recently evacuated and they were being backed into a corner bit by bit.
Seele, admittedly, hasn’t had much rest lately. Probably why her words have been clipped sharper and blunt as of late. Bandages from fights lie dirty on her body as she leaned on a wall.
She’s one of the heavy-hitters dammit, she can’t afford rest while the fragmentum creatures start crawling back into their territory.
“Seele, thank goodness you’re still here.”
Oleg smiled kindly towards her, his eyes seeming more tired than usual. The grip on her scythe tightened in preparation for the next thing she’d have to do, “Chief Oleg, do you need anything?” She tried to soften her words, Oleg isn’t a rowdy vagrant or beast that she beats up on a regular basis, he’s someone she holds in high regards. Her words have always come out quite blunt.
“We have a Silvermane down here.” That got Seele’s attention. “There hasn’t been a guard here in over a decade.” She whispered in a hushed tone. How one would even get down here made her question Oleg’s info, let alone the question of why an Overworlder would bother coming down here.
“Heard Nat say she was the Guardian’s daughter too.” Oleg continued with no heed to her words. “Ran away since she got treated, and now we can’t find her.”
“So it’s my job to go find her?” Images of a snobby, stuck up girl showed up in her head. Just like the ones in those fairytales Natasha used to read them. It gave her a headache.
“I was hoping you could bring her to me,” He said with a wave of his hand, “so, until she shows up, yes.”
A small sigh left her lips at the news. “You owe me big for this one.” With those words, she was off in a flurry of butterflies. Leaving the man to stand in the alleyway on his own. She could vaguely hear him promising a good meal after this mission. She held his word on it, she’s going to need one after dealing with a Silvermane for an unknown period of time.
Minutes passed as she zoomed across the vantage points of the Underworld. As of now, nobody seemed like an Overworld princess, just the same vagrants and fighters of the town. There were a lot of vagrants.
Too many of them.
And they all seemed to be gathering over there.
Now that she was paying attention, there seemed to be a white speck in the middle of those vagrants. A girl with low hanging drills and quite a regal outfit. Looks like she found the princess. (Seele wouldn’t admit to anyone that she found her beautiful.)
Those weren't the only odd coloured specks in the mix. Three specks in colors and clothes she’s never seen before stood to the sidelines. That was a concern she filed for later. Why later? Because directly next to them was the figure of someone that Seele knew automatically meant trouble.
Here she thought those stupid guards would’ve got Koski by now. Guess that’s another reason why they’re useless.
Sharp words were locked and loaded for the princess below. Before she could open her mouth however, the vagrants currently surrounding the princess had readied their shovels and pickaxes in a fighting stance. Clearly aiming for the girl’s head, looks like this wasn’t a peaceful meeting.
A gunshot rang in the air, and that’s enough of a warning for her to strike
Scythe in hand, her butterflies cut the bullet clean in the air. Quantum energy sparked in the air around her as the scum that had shot the bullet was flat on his ass on the ground from the blast. Her gaze eyed the group of vagrants in the area. Thankfully, it looked like none of them had a gun except for this one.
“You dare attack someone on our turf?”
She spun her scythe in her hand. Butterflies made of quantum surrounded her body once more as she stared down the few men that hadn’t run like cowards back to their mothers. Foolish is what they were, bravery was nothing if you didn’t have anything to back it up with.
“Well?” Her scythe rested comfortably on her shoulders. The calm before the storm stirred the tension and anger of the men. “How about a few rounds with me, cowards.”
No response came before the first strike hit the guy on the ground. Screams of pain filled her ears as blood gushed out of the vagrant’s wound. Dodging a random shovel thrown her way, she zipped through the crowd and chopped the group down from the back. Flaps of wings carried her feet as she sliced through them. A loose shovel hit her a few times, but it was just enough for her to store enough quantum energy to finish them off.
In a sea of collected butterflies, she lost herself to the electrifying feeling of the elements and swirled herself into a storm. Giant slices of energy filled the crowd. Trapping them in the sensation of a girl weaving through the fabric of space. In a blink of an eye, the energy shattered, leaving shard-like stabs littering their bodies.
Whoever wasn’t unconscious had finally decided to join their comrades and hightail back to wherever they came from. Blood covered her hands as she wiped it off the rest of her body. Fastening her scythe back to its holster, she finally had a good look at whatever she had to deal with. First on the list being the little shit that’s currently talking.
“— got some nerve looking for trouble in Wildfire territory-” He never got to finish his sentence before the tip of Seele’s scythe was at his neck.
“Shut it, this entire thing has you written all over it,” She retracted her scythe just enough for it to not touch his skin, “Wildfire is already busy, we don’t need a side order of Koski on our to do list.”
His frantic nodding nearly hit her blade. Seeing as she probably won’t get a satisfying answer, her attention shifted to the princess next. Her face seemed to be in shock, probably from having such a close call with a bullet. Who moves backwards from a bullet anyways?
“Heard a Silvermane paid us a visit,” Seele made the show of checking her out, “is that you?”
Whatever emotion had been on her face before, quickly got replaced with anger, “You kidnapped me.” Seele couldn’t figure out if she was pointing towards her, or the coward behind her. Though, all things considered, her being here probably had something to do with Koski anyways. “What is the meaning of this?”
Just as she’d expected, this girl thinks she has the right to talk like that, “Listen to her, ‘What’s the meaning of this?’” She tried to mock her voice, even if it sounded nothing like that high pitched (lovely) voice she spoke in, it did wonders in feeding Seele’s pettiness. “Still thinks she’s a princess down here.”
She did stay quiet at least, “How’s it like living easy up there?” The drag of her scythe filled the air as she thought about her words, “Ever think about us down here?”
“We do not live easy.” Her offense was almost hilarious to hear, “ Our forces are constantly in battle with the enemy, defending Belobog from attacks of monsters, above and below.”
The longer she talks the more pissed off Seele felt, “Below? You think taking away the guards and sealing us off protects us?” Rage bubbled under her skin, just how spoiled was this brat? “Do you even hear yourself? You’ve doomed us to save your precious Architects.”
“The Madam Guardian has her reasons.” She defended herself once more, though more hesitant than before.
The Madam Guardian. Hah. As if that’s a good excuse.
That’s enough, whatever sob story this princess was going to pull up, she’ll have to save it for Natasha and Oleg. The scythe-user had enough of her words and she can’t lose her cool now.
“Enough, Chief Oleg wants to see you, and he has more than a few questions.”
“Oh, that’s just perfect!” Koski chimed in as the tension thickened, “We were heading there too, room for four more?”
Seele didn’t hesitate, “Fully booked.”
Something about his sentence did pique her interest however. In the form of those specks, stood three people, two women and a man who looked nothing like what she saw in her life. “Who are they?”
The gray haired girl stepped forward and flashed her a grin and a hand, “Sampo’s friend.”
Suspicion overcame her immediately. No friend of Sampo was a good one. “Most of the underground’s your enemy then.” Despite how distrustful she tried to act, something else was up with these people, and she intended to know what.
Sampo started talking again, but Seele’s been tuning him out for a good while at this point. Fully expecting to hear nothing but lies and sweet nothings from the man’s mouth.
Her attention was focused on the outsiders that were currently talking, “We’re looking for a Stellaron!” The pink one exclaimed from behind her friend. As if whatever she said was common knowledge, a Stellaron. She’s seen the term in one of Natasha’s books once, but never bothered to learn what it was. “If we can find it, we’d be able to stop the disasters from-”
Whatever she was going to say was cut off as Sampo loudly laughed, “Hahaha, ahem, let’s keep that to ourselves yeah?” Something tells her that what they’re hiding wasn’t just a stupid fairytale. These people, they don’t even look Belobogian. Their features were off. The man’s ears were pointed sharp and skyward. Entering the personal space of the pink girl felt as though she was being faced with the power of ten snowstorms. Not to mention, the slight glow of gold that came from their spokesperson’s chest.
They were beyond suspicious. If Seele had the time she would squeeze the information out herself.
But, Seele would much rather handle suspicion right now. The stare directed to her head was nigh uncomfortable and she thinks the Guardian’s daughter was doing it on purpose.
“Besides it’s not like Seele would understand, let’s save it for the chief!” The scammer ended rather rudely. Unfortunately, he wasn’t wrong. Seele had no idea what a Stellaron could even be, let alone help.
Besides, she has a mission at hand.
“You’re right, I don’t understand nor do I plan to send a message either.” She’s spent enough time looking for them. Hopefully everyone was alright at the Great Mine, she couldn’t waste more time here. “Wildfire’s got trouble at the Great Mine — the chief's busy. If you really want to find him, come look for me at the mine entrance.”
Before any of them could respond, she had disappeared in a flash. Just as fast as she came, she left like the wind. Leaving the outworlders and Koski to follow her to the entrance. Along with the princess. Her stern facade barely stood against the barrage Seele had thrown her way, she stayed silent for the last part of their conversation, looking as though she’s in deep thought.
Seele realized she never got her name.
She also realized that she had left the princess with them. The royal that she was meant to bring with her. If she weren’t zapping at high speeds, she’d slap herself
Here’s to hoping she’ll follow them and not make my job harder.
The feeling of curiosity didn’t leave her, though. There was something that big that’ll happen, and Seele hopes it won’t doom them further.