The dice incident was resolved, but the members of the Express crew couldn't be happy.
"The Stellaron problem is gone; we should have returned to the Express today," March 7th muttered. "But now..."
"The timing of this dice's appearance is too strange," Dan Heng frowned. "It appeared right after the Stellaron disappeared. And it even dropped that suspicious item."
Stelle also nodded. "I always feel like there's something else abnormal on Jarilo-VI."
"I agree," Dan Heng said to his companions. "I suggest we stay a few more days to investigate. What do you think?"
"Of course we have to stay!" March 7th immediately raised her hand. "What kind of Trailblazers would we be if we left without solving the mystery!"
"Agreed," Stelle added.
Dan Heng took out his phone to report the day's events to Himeko and Welt, and their request to stay. Soon, Welt's reply came: [Okay. Be careful, and contact us immediately if there's any abnormality.]
"Yay!" March 7th cheered. "We get to stay in Belobog for a few more days!" She walked towards Orion and patted his shoulder. "Little Brother Orion, we're staying! You've been treating us to meals these past few days, thank you, hehe..."
Orion smiled. "It's nothing. Supreme Guardian Cocolia gave me a long holiday specifically to accompany you all."
"Then we'll be troubling you even more~" March 7th then nudged Stelle, lowering her voice. "Hey, Stelle, did you hear that? This is your chance! 'Kidnap' Little Brother Orion onto the Express!"
"March 7th!" Stelle's face flushed. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Oh, don't be shy," March 7th chuckled mischievously. "From the first day we met, your eyes haven't left him."
"I didn't!" Stelle vehemently denied it, but her heart uncooperatively quickened. Like? Is this strange feeling... like? She secretly glanced at Orion, who was talking to Bronya. That sense of familiarity surged up again.
The next morning, Orion was woken by a noisy clamor. Outside the window, Belobog's streets were crowded with people, all shouting excitedly.
"What's going on?" He pushed open the window, and a wave of heat rushed in. A heat wave?
Orion was stunned. He looked up at the sky—the sun was releasing its light and heat without reservation. The sight on the street shocked him. Icicles on the eaves were melting rapidly, and the accumulated snow on the road melted at a visible speed. Belobog residents, who usually wore heavy winter clothes, were now starting to take off their coats.
"Spring... Is this spring?" an old man tremblingly stretched out his hand, his eyes full of disbelief. He had lived for over 70 years in eternal winter and had never thought he would experience such warmth.
The entire city was boiling. People walked out of their homes, stood in the sun, and felt the heat they had never experienced in 700 years. Some knelt and kissed the melting earth, some embraced each other and cried.
"Look! What's that?" someone suddenly pointed. On the snow-capped mountains outside the city, huge glaciers were collapsing.
"Orion!" He turned and saw Seele running towards him. "Did you see it? This sun actually melted the snow! The people from the Geomarrow survey said that the Underworld is flooded..." For original chapters go to N()velFire.net
"Is the Underworld okay?"
"It's alright for now. The Silvermane Guards and Svarog's automatons helped clear a lot of the water. But... how could this happen so fast? 700 years of ice and snow, melting overnight?"
When they arrived at the Goethe Hotel, the Express crew had already gathered.
"Orion!" March 7th excitedly ran over. "Did you see outside? Is this summer?"
"It's too abnormal," Dan Heng's expression was very serious. "According to records, Jarilo-VI shouldn't have such high temperatures even before the eternal winter."
Just then, Bronya pushed the door open, breathless. "Mother asked me to find you all!"
The group passed through the jubilant streets and arrived at Qliphoth Fort. In the Supreme Guardian's office, Cocolia stood by the window, gazing at the melting world.
"Orion," she turned, with both joy and worry in her eyes. "You've arrived." Her gaze swept over the Express crew. "Everyone, how do you view this... 'miracle'?"
"It's too abnormal," Dan Heng said bluntly. "The Stellaron just disappeared yesterday, and the eternal winter ends today. This is definitely problematic."
"Could it be..." March 7th suddenly spoke, "because of Orion's wish yesterday?"
At these words, everyone looked at Orion. Bronya briefly explained the monkey's paw incident.
"But I didn't actually make that wish," Orion shook his head. "It self-destructed before it could answer."
Orion fell silent. He was also pondering this question. If it wasn't the monkey's paw... then what power was at work?
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