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Chapter Text

[Eastern Siberia, January 2010]

[Ten years since the Second Eruption]

The little girl sighed, staring up at the cloudy sky.

Siberia was once beautiful.

At least that was what the grown-ups often told her.

She was reminded of it as she sat against a broken down military vehicle's left rear wheel, her silver hair, arranged in a pair of drills, faintly drifting in the breeze as she held onto her Dragunov sniper rifle like a lifeline.

She occasionally adjusted her orange dress and warm blue coat as her gray eyes focused on the descending sun as it disappeared in the horizon, bathing the snowy landscape in orange.

Siberia was once beautiful, until disaster struck and destroyed it all. Though the lands themselves had been restored, the same couldn't be said for its soul, replaced with a void occupied by both the desperate and the opportunistic.

If given a choice, she should choose to be amongst the opportunistic, or at least her uncle had told her so.

Said uncle was currently in front of the vehicle, holding its hood open while muttering curses under his breath.

The little girl assumed whatever he was trying wasn't going well.

For them to be stranded there for over half an hour was a matter of misfortune. Her uncle had brought her along to his latest task — a relatively safe protection job — and afterwards decided on a whim to introduce her to a few sights nearby while everyone else went straight home.

Her uncle's car deciding to break down along the way clearly hadn't been part of the plan.

She almost felt bad for all the teasing her uncle was sure to fall victim to when they got home. Many of the other mercenaries already joked about the old car being on the verge of becoming scrap metal. The longer it took to get home, the worse he'd have to suffer.

Still, she wouldn't be of any help fixing the car, and so she continued to sit there and look around. Fortunately, they had stopped on a rather tall hill, the slope mere meters in front of her promising not only a painful trip below if she rolled down but also a nice view of the surrounding area.

If she were to be asked to describe the snowy plains and distant villages across the forest underneath, then she'd likely call it beautiful if she hadn't known better.

But the problem was that Siberia was once beautiful.

And a distant explosion reminded the girl of why, the sudden ball of fire in the distance nearly making her jump.

Her uncle cursed a bit more loudly. "What the hell is going on now? Is that bastard Gantulga at it again?"

The girl paused for a moment to remember who that was.

One of the warlords who operated around that area, if memory didn't fail her. Probably one of the foreigners, if the name was anything to go by.

"I'll check it," she told her uncle as she rose to her feet, rifle still in her grasp as she approached the slope.

It was then that the girl realized she left her binoculars in the car.

She was about to turn around when she saw more explosions in the distance.

It was curiosity that led her to ignore her uncle's safety lessons and raise her rifle instead, looking through the scope.

Her blood ran cold, the weapon nearly falling out of her hands.

Far away, there were things she could only describe as monsters rampaging, and various women with swords and guns and other weapons fighting them.

For a long moment, the girl stood frozen, her mind attempting to understand what her eyes observed. She heard tales of monsters who walked across Siberia in search of victims, but even if she had believed those to be more than uninspired bedtime stories, she would still be paralyzed by the sight of so many.

Behind her came the sound of the car starting up alongside a sigh of relief. Her uncle had finally fixed it.

The girl found herself caring little for it. Rather than walking away to resume her journey home, she instead moved her rifle around, an eye still looking through the scope, trying to understand what she was staring at.

"Alexeievna?" her uncle called out.

She didn't reply, her scope focusing on a fair-skinned white-haired girl clad in a cloak whose back was turned against her, facing a grown man who seemed to be related to her and who held a pair of strange pistols.

More important was the fact she was floating around and casually creating strange lances to launch at her foes.

Perhaps the girl was dreaming. Or she had eaten something bad. There were only so many explanations for what she was seeing. 

"Alexeievna?" her uncle called again. "What are you— Hey, what do you think you're doing?!"

The panic in her uncle's approaching voice at seeing her use a sniper rifle as a replacement for binoculars didn't register. Nothing did aside from the being she found herself watching.

A brunette pale woman in a dark uniform similar to the others suddenly broke through all the monsters, running at the white-haired girl with a massive sword in her hands.

Through the scope, the silver-haired girl saw the woman hesitate at the sight of the white-haired girl.

Hesitation meant death on the battlefield.

Then she noticed a light glow next to the white-haired girl.

She was about to do something bad. For a split second, the silver-haired girl wondered if she should do something about it.

And then the white-haired girl suddenly spun around.

Despite the distance between them, glowing yellow orbs glared back at the silver-haired girl, meeting her eyes with extreme accuracy. 

It was on reflex.

The girl pulled the trigger.

But she didn't brace at all, letting go of the weapon and falling back on the snow with a terrorized look that she was certain she never made before.

Her uncle swore loudly then, and the girl realized the large man was right next to her. Before she knew what was happening, one of his arms grabbed her while the other reached for the dropped weapon, wasting no time afterwards to rush back to the car.

He must've thought she had just shot at the forces of a local warlord.

She wished it had been that simple.

The girl was so shaken she could barely tell what was happening. One moment her uncle was carrying her, and then next she was strapped to the car's back seat as the man sped away.

… She had no way to understand the consequences of her actions.

Ø

When the mysterious sniper took their shot and a projectile was fired directly at her, the Herrscher of the Void didn't even need to think.

A pair of portals was enough for the bullet to miss its mark, instead hitting the snow by her side.

For a short moment, the Herrscher of the Void felt like grinning. She had just foiled whatever plan these worms had. Clearly the sniper, one of those foolish Valkyries no doubt, had been waiting for that chance.

And then that female Valkyrie's massive sword made contact with her midsection, and the Herrscher noticed her mistake.

The Herrscher didn't even have time to curse her momentary distraction as her small, weak vessel was launched across several meters, hitting snow and sinking with a painful sensation on her side.

She scrambled to her feet with a scowl on her face and vengeance in her eyes, ready to murder the worm who dared to lay a hand on her.

Instead, she was met with that accursed man several meters away, pointing his Divine Key at her.

"... Papa?" the Herrscher called out to him.

She saw his eyes waver. For a moment, she thought she could still take him by surprise, perhaps at least remove an arm.

Said hopes were dashed when the man pulled the trigger not even a moment later.

But rather than firing at her, the flames exploded against the ground before her. In front of her eyes, the world was encased in light, and then smoke.

Before she could even begin to celebrate the man's weakness, his inability to harm the flesh puppet he decided to call his daughter, a shadow moved by her side.

This time, the vessel proved too sluggish. She barely had time to raise an arm before it approached, and suddenly something was jabbed into her neck.

She pushed the figure away, but the deed was done.

She could feel her grasp on the vessel begin to fail. What sort of poison had the humans concocted?

In a last-ditch effort, the Herrscher of the Void summoned as many lances as she could, not even bothering to aim, launching them haphazardly in every direction through the smoke in hopes of doing something.

A strangled scream came from nearby, alerting her that perhaps her lances had, in fact, hit something, but she couldn't even feel pleased by such a small accomplishment. Not when her consciousness was on the verge of sinking into an abyss.

She attempted to summon more lances. To continue her attack at all costs.

But it was to no avail.

Shadows began to cover her vision. The body refused her commands to keep moving before her enemies could reach her.

"Not yet...! I haven't… even…!"

Her legs failed her. As the smoke began to dissipate, her vessel hit the snow with a soft thud.

"Kgh…!"

She couldn't move. She was so tired. 

It was over.

"..."

She could hardly see anything anymore. Her ears only caught the howl of the wind across the Siberian plains.

"... Kiana! Are… in there…?!"

A pair of arms embraced her, taking her somewhere, and she hated how comfortable they felt.

Even so, as darkness claimed her consciousness, the Herrscher drowned in that comfort. Against her better judgment, she sank into the feeling of being put to sleep rather than torn apart until her mind gave in.

Still, she swore.

Whenever the gift of consciousness decided to grace her once more, she would be ready.

This wasn't over.

Not by a long shot.

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Ø

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Through the Moonlit Void

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[Eastern Siberia, February 2010]

The Siberian village coated white by snow lay quiet under the starlit sky, a serene blanket of darkness interrupted only by the faint flickering of lanterns lighting the cobblestone paths. The air carried a crisp chill, typical of the region, as if to dissuade any from venturing into the frigid lands beyond the village's borders.

If that was nature's warning, then unfortunately a certain Kiana Kaslana would have to ignore it.

The young girl, no older than eleven, tiptoed cautiously as she moved behind buildings, a pair of braids dangling over her shoulders as her blue eyes searched her surroundings at each stop. She was clad in a brown, heavy coat and mittens, and on her back was a similarly colored backpack styled after a chameleon that was almost as big as herself, in no small part thanks to all the things the villagers saw fit to give her the previous day.

Despite the hour, the village wasn't entirely still. Though most of its residents were resting, women in familiar black uniforms that wouldn't be out of place in a comic could be spotted around the area, wandering around, sitting down for a rest, and just generally making Kiana's life more difficult.

Maybe Kiana would've stayed for a while longer if it wasn't for them, but there was nothing she could do now. One of the few messages her father left behind was for her to keep an eye out for Schicksal and avoid them like a plague, after all.

Well, even if he hadn't left that message, the fact the Valkyries were asking around for a girl that fit her description had to be enough to justify her escape.

Kiana's feet left a trail behind the houses, each step bringing her closer to the village's front gate that would lead her beyond the walls surrounding it. The utensils within her backpack clinked with each movement, forcing her to walk far slower than she wanted to.

Her father had left her his phone with a built-in Honkai radar and the contact of some "Mr. Thunder," alongside a note explaining that she should call the mysterious man whenever she needed help, but none of that would solve her current problem.

No, she had to be a proper Kaslana and deal with this herself, at least this once.

Still, the situation wasn't as dire as it could have been. 

Peeking from behind a house, she was greeted with the sight of a Valkyrie's back as she spoke to a villager, a unassuming middle-aged woman who was more than happy to play coy and go on about how she never saw a child that matched the description, how they'd have better luck on another village to the north who was far more distant than she made it sound, and even inviting her to turn in early at the village's inn instead of continuing such a fruitless search deep into the night.

When the Valkyrie was distracted, the villager shot Kiana a look carrying an unspoken message.

The girl nodded, continuing on her way as silently as possible.

Living in Siberia had given these villagers a certain bias toward groups of people who came looking for missing children, especially children untarnished enough to fetch a high price.

It didn't take long for the village to collectively decide that the Valkyries were their enemies.

Kiana felt a little bit warm at how they went so far to protect a child who wasn't even their own.

In the beginning, she had the nagging feeling that they were only pretending to be nice and would happily sell her away if it benefited them. Kiana didn't understand why, but that belief was almost ingrained in her mind.

Now, she wouldn't even dare to think like that again. She'd have to remember to apologize if she ever came back in the future, even though she had the sense to not act out on her bias during her stay.

Of course, she also felt worried that the Valkyries would do something bad to the villagers for not giving them what they wanted, but so far they hadn't. Kiana hoped that wouldn't change after she was gone.

… Well, if the Valkyries did have a habit of wiping out villages on a whim, surely the horror stories would have arrived before the women themselves did.

Besides, there was no use in worrying about that when she should be focusing on leaving.

Right foot forward, left foot forward, and little by little she inched closer to her goal. It was only a matter of minutes until she reached the gate and was able to leave these Valkyries behind—

"————"

For just a moment, Kiana's vision went black and a loud ringing reached her ears. Her body lost its strength, causing her to stumble and fall face first on the snow, her backpack weighing down on her even worse than before.

When her senses returned in full, she felt her panic rising.

That definitely made some noise, didn't it? She couldn't hear anything for a moment there, but there's no way it didn't.

Cursing under her breath, Kiana scrambled to her feet, trying to control her hastened breathing as she resumed walking.

She couldn't believe it. The stupid episodes were happening more and more often lately, but she had hoped that whatever problem she had would be polite enough to wait until she had finished her escape.

Maybe she should have told Mr. Vache about them when she visited the Cioara Clinic for the last time, but she avoided the topic because the man was already overprotective enough. Kiana wouldn't be surprised if half of her backpack's weight was just medicine.

Only now did it hit her that not telling anyone that she was occasionally blacking out had been a stupid move.

The only thing she could do was pray that no one felt like checking whatever noise she made—

Kiana heard a yawn from behind her, and the sounds of footsteps on snow from that very same direction made themselves clear to her.

The girl froze, still staring forward.

"Hm?" a tired female voice began. "What are you doing, kid?"

"..."

Slowly, the white-haired girl turned around.

As luck would have it, one of the Valkyries did decide to check the noise.

However, the bright-skinned Asian woman in question looked dazed, her red hair tied in a messy ponytail and orange eyes almost glazed over. It seemed as if she hadn't gotten a decent rest in a while.

Kiana felt a little bit of hope at that.

People were really, really stupid when they were tired. Or at least her father was. She hoped that was the norm.

So she put on her best smile as she stared at the woman.

"I'm going camping nearby with Papa," Kiana told her as if it was a matter of course. "Did I wake you up, miss?"

The woman simply stared blankly at her for a few seconds.

"... Just be careful," she mumbled, turning around and walking — or shambling, more like — away with another yawn.

For a few more seconds, Kiana stood there, halfway expecting the woman to come back with questions.

She didn't, disappearing around the corner of a house, and that was that.

Kiana let out a sigh of relief before resuming her journey, moving just a tiny bit faster than before.

She couldn't wait to be as far from these Valkyries as possible.

An hour later, Kiana decided that she'd rather deal with the Valkyries.

As it turned out, trekking uphill on snow sucked.

Her feet sank into just enough to make walking a chore, and her large backpack, though not sentient, apparently really wanted her to roll down back to the bottom of the hill.

In an attempt to distract herself from her circumstances, Kiana began to wonder about her next step. With Schicksal pursuing her, it didn't sound very smart to stay in some random village for long.

But then what did that leave? Would she need to spend the rest of her life moving from place to place?

The villagers had told her about a relatively close village to the east that would definitely give her shelter, but she wouldn't be able to stay there for long with Schicksal this close.

They also mentioned a mercenary group to the west, settled around the Ural Mountains, that might take her in, talking about how their leader had a soft spot for children, but the situation was the same. If she went there, she shouldn't stay for more than a little while.

Kiana wasn't raring to start a fight between Siberian mercenaries and Valkyries, after all.

Finally, she could also head south and seek a place called the Cocolia Orphanage for shelter, but the same issue applied. How could a plain orphanage stand a chance if Schicksal came knocking?

The girl tried to think hard about her future, but by the time all of her patience was spent — more specifically two minutes later — she could only come up with one idea.

She had to look for her father.

Of course, he’d left her behind, but there had to be a good reason. The most she could gather was that it had something to do with Schicksal, the mess that happened back during their last outing, and keeping her safe, but if the Valkyries were already following her, why shouldn't she just go to him? She could even try to ask that "Mr. Thunder" to help look for him, assuming he was as reliable as her father made him sound.

Staying in that village hadn't been bad, but she already missed living with her father. Even if he couldn't do chores that well, or if the breakfast he made was always a bit burned, or—

"————"

Darkness took her again.

When Kiana's senses returned, she was lying on the snow facefirst.

Weighed down by her oversized backpack, she flipped to her side and spat out some snow, bringing up a hand to clean her face.

… Again, trekking uphill on snow sucked.

Kiana sighed, untangling herself from her backpack and rolling away onto her back.

Above her, the stars seemed less comforting and more mocking, shining towards her as if asking why exactly she was looking at them instead of being on her way.

Or maybe Kiana was just miffed in general and projecting her feelings onto the stars.

Her dumb thoughts aside, the hill she had been climbing was quite tall, all things considered. Under the moonlight, she could see the vast expanses of snow-covered forests that occupied so much of Siberia, the distant Ural Mountains that may or may not become one of her stops, a bunch of figures in the distance running towards her, the village where she came from a bit behind them…

…

Oh, there were figures in the distance running towards her.

Actually, those were Valkyries.

That was bad.

Kiana rushed to her feet, grabbing her backpack with the Kaslana strength that the villagers repeatedly told her a child shouldn't have and quickly putting it on.

Did that woman that Kiana ran into get some rest and come back to her senses?

That was bad. Really, really bad. 

Kiana couldn't get caught this early. Or at all, honestly, but it'd be embarrassing for her adventure to end on its very first night.

Feeling her heart pick up its pace, she turned to continue climbing the hill, trying to rein in her growing panic and think calmly—

"————"

Her body stopped responding again and she fell flat on her face.

Ø

Murata Himeko, the temporary captain of the Valkyrie Assault Squad, cursed under her breath for the umpteenth time as she made her way towards the fallen girl uphill alongside her squad, running on snow with her Schicksal greatsword in hand despite the discomfort.

It was bad enough that her very, very stupid sleep-deprived self had allowed the target to escape, but now she had just watched the girl in question collapse on her face on snow, her heavy backpack pushing her even further into the snow.

That was as good as a death sentence in such situations.

Failing to capture the girl was one thing, but Himeko would be damned if she caused her to die while attempting to escape. If her hospitalized captain didn't kill her for it, Himeko would urge her to reconsider.

And to think that a mere month ago they were only investigating a sudden surge of Honkai energy in Siberia, and suddenly they were given the task of hunting down a Herrscher that just so happened to be a little girl.

(Possible Herrscher, Himeko reminded herself, because it wasn't officially confirmed despite the fact the girl was so obviously one, or at least the result of an experiment attempting to recreate one. Ragna refused to tell her about it whenever she asked.)

So maybe Himeko was still a bit miffed about the girl's sudden rampage a month ago, but considering the (possible) Herrscher hadn't been going around burning down villages and laughing maniacally, the woman was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

But answers could wait until the mission was accomplished and the Herrscher was secure.

Although the rest of her squad was understandably wary, gripping their weapons as they all approached the fallen girl, Himeko placed her greatsword on her back instead, trusting the fancy Honkai technology to keep it in place as she lowered herself to the ground, flipping the girl to her side so she could at least breathe properly.

The girl's skin was cold to the touch, but Himeko didn't let that discourage her as she checked for a pulse—

"Now," a man's voice suddenly sounded from uphill, "what do you girls think you're doing?"

Himeko froze.

All the Valkyries were ready for a fight in a matter of moments, but Himeko knew that wouldn't accomplish anything.

Cursing under her breath yet again, the woman glanced up, grimacing at the man looking down at them from mere meters away.

If the blue jacket, white hair, and azure eyes held in a cold gaze weren't enough of a dead giveaway, the way the man aimed both halves of the Judgment of Shamash at the group of Valkyries would be enough to tell who they were dealing with.

"Here's a suggestion," Siegfried Kaslana told them with a levity that his face didn't show, both his arms steady as they held the Shamash handguns, "get away from my daughter and no one's becoming charcoal today."

Honestly? Himeko was just glad there was a warning at all.

Whether the man had been lurking around all along or simply returned when told the Valkyries were approaching the village where the target resided, he still had the perfect chance to scorch them all before they could muster up any resistance.

She could tell that the other Valkyries were raring to go after the man who so easily fled with their target, back on the same day Captain Ragna was taken out of the fight. Some of her squad even believed he had something to do with the Captain's injury, despite the woman herself reporting the target's rampage as the cause.

So, before anyone could seal their fate as barbecue, Himeko brought up a hand, signaling them to stand down.

"Return to the Eos—" their aircraft, "—and await further instructions."

Himeko could already hear the objections from the other Valkyries. "A-Are you serious? Himeko, that's—"

"I know who that is, and this is an order," she said, using the same authoritative tone Ragna used whenever she had no time to explain something.

They finally got the message, movements hesitant as they began to descend the hill one by one towards their aircraft.

Even so, Himeko didn't move, still crouching by the little girl.

Siegfried raised an eyebrow.

"You failed first aid training multiple times," Himeko said, looking straight at the man with a steely expression. "At least according to Captain Ragna."

He narrowed his eyes.

Himeko continued, "I'm inclined to believe her if you're willing to waste this much time while your daughter has hypothermia."

She saw him hesitate, his aim growing unsteady for a moment.

Her gaze never left his.

Finally, the man sighed, lowering his weapons.

"Try anything funny and you're toast," he told her in a resigned tone.

That was good enough for her.

As she got to work, Himeko could only hope the girl was having something resembling a good dream.

Ø  

[???, February 2010]

Instead of waking up eating more snow, Kiana instead opened her eyes to a completely black landscape surrounding her, devoid of anything besides an invisible floor under her feet.

That was new, she thought, perhaps a bit too casually, but only because the alternative when facing this kind of situation was completely losing it.

She blinked, glancing down at herself with wide eyes. Despite the darkness, her form was perfectly bright. She was wearing the same coat and mittens, but her backpack was nowhere to be seen.

Not that she particularly cared about where her backpack went. That ranked really low in her list of worries at the moment.

As it should, considering she was standing in some dark void. Again, new experience.

Crap, was she dead?

Oh no, bad line of thought. It only pushed her closer to a panic attack.

"You're actually conscious," a girl's bored voice echoed in the void, nearly giving Kiana a heart attack. "How unexpected."

The white-haired girl felt like saying something about how she actually just passed out. As she spun around to face the source of the voice, however, her breath caught in her throat.

What greeted her merely meters away was a large throne made of stone, cracked and chipped by time but no less sturdy.

Atop it sat a girl around her age with porcelain skin, long lilac hair, and impassive yellow eyes, clad in an intricate white and dark purple dress.

Her piercing gaze seemed to simultaneously stare into Kiana's soul and treat her as nothing worthy of note. Kiana had no idea how to face it head-on, leaving her with an uncertain look that was definitely unbefitting of a Kaslana.

"Who are you?!" Kiana asked the mysterious girl, tensing up and mentally readying herself for a fight. "Are you the one who made me attack Papa and those Valkyries?!"

"Oh? You actually remember that much?" Now she looked mildly interested. "Even more unexpected. Did I not push you down to the depths of your mind? Then again, it was quite an unfortunately brief affair, I suppose. Too little time to finish drowning you in the darkness of sleep."

So that was a yes. "I saw it all in a dream! I don't know who you are, but—"

"Silence."

"?!"

Kiana didn't know what happened.

One moment she was ready to face the girl before her, and then an unbelievable pressure suddenly fell down on her, nearly making forget her own thoughts as it attempted to force her down to her knees.

As she fought to remain standing, the purple-haired girl continued to stare at her, gaze almost bored. Whatever kind of attack she was pulling off, Kiana was fairly certain she could keep it up for a long time.

Even so, the Kaslana didn't yield, staying on her feet despite her body's protests.

Then, a sigh left the mysterious girl's lips.

"You Kaslanas," she spoke the name as if it was a curse, "are far too stubborn. It's not even entertaining."

She slowly rose from her throne, feet gracefully touching the invisible floor beneath.

"Very well," she began. "I suppose I could sate your curiosity, if only as a reward for lasting a little bit longer than I expected."

A cruel smile crossed the girl's lips.

"I am the one who once brought this wretched world down to its knees in a matter of hours, showing humanity the price of their endless arrogance."

Slowly, she began to walk towards Kiana.

"I am the one who ravaged this world for my amusement, striking fear and bringing death to all those you called your mightiest warriors!" 

Kiana knew she had to move, but her legs refused to move under the unending pressure.

"I am the herald of your end! Sent to extinguish all you insects under the divine command of God!"

As the girl approached, a dark purple energy gathered around her.

"I am Sirin, the Queen of Honkai!"

Her voice echoed endlessly, as if coming from everywhere within the void at once.

"The foolish man you call your father may have defeated me once, but he, in his endless arrogance, failed to notice I hadn't been fully vanquished. And now, with my rebirth, this world shall be reduced to a desolate wasteland covered in rivers of blood! Know that you have only him to blame!"

Despite being a Kaslana, Kiana wasn't able to stop the fear from showing in her face as the girl stopped in front of her.

Sirin relished that expression, her smile becoming a feral grin.

"And a worm like you… is not even fit to witness my return."

Saying that, Sirin attacked.

Kiana closed her eyes in fright.

She felt something push her entire existence away, deeper than a physical touch, as if her very soul was under attack.

And then… she felt nothing.

…

…

…

No, it was not that she felt nothing more. 

To be more specific, absolutely nothing happened beyond that.

The pressure she felt also disappeared a few moments later.

"What…?" she heard Sirin say.

Kiana took that as proof that she was still alive, slowly opening her eyes.

Though Sirin was still in front of her with an outstretched hand towards her face, the energy that the other girl gathered was gone, and Sirin's stupefied face was rather compelling evidence that such a thing wasn't supposed to happen.

The white-haired girl blinked. "Uh…"

That sound seemed to break Sirin out of her daze, and she brought back her hand, letting it bathe in purple energy before thrusting it towards Kiana again.

She couldn't stop herself from flinching at the motion, and once again she felt a strange spiritual push, but it was even weaker than the previous one.

For a second time, nothing happened, the energy fizzling out like a faulty lightbulb.

Sirin looked positively perplexed as she brought her hand up to stare at it.

"Wait, why…" she spoke, her mind clearly having trouble processing what happened. "Nyet, I refuse to believe this. There's no way…"

Kiana felt a realization wash over her, not her own but Sirin's, the loud thought reaching her as if they had some sort of connection.

This girl didn't have enough energy to just erase her outright.

She had spent most of it intimidating Kiana.

At that moment, the Kaslana felt something within her give away.

This had to be the strangest dream ever.

It was too much. Everything about the situation she found herself in was so… implausible.

Honestly, Kiana couldn't help it.

She laughed.

Not just once. No, she simply couldn't stop after she began, not when faced with such a surreal situation.

So she laughed, and laughed, and laughed.

When Sirin gave her a startled look, it only made her laugh harder. The purple-haired girl grit her teeth and glared at Kiana in response, but that had the very same effect, and the laughter grew louder.

And then the Herrscher lunged at her with all the fury of a slightly older child.

"Whoa!" Kiana took several steps back just in time to evade the Herrscher's fist, a wide grin on her face. "Hey, careful! You could've hurt your hand there!"

Sirin was positively seething as she regarded the white-haired girl.

"So what if I can't remove you from my new body immediately?" she began, her voice dripping in venom as she brought up both her fists. "It shouldn't be difficult to kill a worm like you the old-fashioned way!"

Kiana's grin didn't diminish as she fell into the fighting stance her father taught her. "If you wanna fight, that's fine by me! Looks like I'm beating up my first Herrscher today!"

Yellow eyes narrowed at the declaration. "Die!"

Sirin lunged at her, throwing another fist, and while Kiana easily evaded it, she was surprised to see that Sirin's form was actually… serviceable.

Not as good as her father, but Sirin actually dodged the first punch Kiana threw, so that had to count for something.

Unfortunately, she seemed to forget Kiana had two arms, a misconception the Kaslana quickly cleared up by driving her other fist directly into the purple-haired girl's stomach.

Sirin gasped in pain, stepping back clutching her midsection with utter disbelief on her face, as if she couldn't believe she had taken a hit.

Kiana huffed, lowering herself back to her stance. "What? Can't keep up, Herrscher? Didn't you want your rivers of blood?"

The purple-haired girl stopped to give Kiana a wide-eyed stare for a few seconds.

"... I'll make sure not even God can bring you back."

Kiana let out a laugh. "How are you doing that? Got any fancy Honkai magic tricks left?"

Sirin slowly brought up a hand.

Purple energy gathered around it as it began glowing, crackling with power.

"I don't even care if it takes everything I have left," Sirin spoke slowly, voice once again echoing and full of purpose. "I will purge every trace of your existence today."

"Oh, look, you can still make some pretty sparkles," Kiana scoffed. "Hey, do your worst. Maybe it'll actually tickle this time—"

She wasn't ready for Sirin to lunge at her with far more speed than before, right arm readying a punch. With no time to evade properly, Kiana hastily brought her hands up to block.

Of course, she also didn't expect to feel like she was hit by a swinging tree, her body unable to withstand the force as she was sent flying away with a surprised yelp.

Her body hit the floor at least three times before she stuck to it, her back sliding against the solid nothingness beneath for at least a dozen meters before she came to a stop.

And then she noticed that everything hurt a decent amount.

Kiana groaned, slowly rising to her feet despite the lingering pain. "Ow, okay, so probably not a dream—"

A shrill noise was all the warning she had to dive to the side, a purple laser as wide as a baseball sailing past the spot where her head was a second before.

Just like that, Kiana's earlier cheer was mostly gone.

The girl scrambled to her feet, eyeing her foe warily.

Sirin calmly walked towards her, glowing purple hand raised and cold fury in her gaze.

"You're just like a cockroach, aren't you?" Sirin spat out the words. "Disgusting. Is every Kaslana like this?"

Despite the dire situation, Kiana still let out a (slightly nervous) laugh. "Just the good ones."

Sirin's eloquent response was to shoot another laser. 

Kiana barely managed to move out of the way, the bright energy cutting some strands of hair.

"Stay still if you wish for a quick death."

She didn't wish for any kind of death, actually, but she had the feeling saying as much wouldn't help the situation.

"Now, hold on," Kiana began, moving back at the same pace as the approaching girl, doing her best to imitate her father's confident smile. "I get that we started on the wrong foot, but what if—"

"Die."

Kiana hastily leaned aside to let the laser sail past.

"Do you mind?!" she shouted at the approaching girl, indignant. "It's rude to try to kill people while they're talking! Besides, I thought you were running out of energy to waste it like this?"

Sirin actually came to a stop a few meters away, seemingly considering Kiana's words.

She lowered her glowing hand.

"Huh." Kiana blinked. "I'll be honest, I didn't expect you to just stop and…"

The Kaslana trailed off as the energy surrounding Sirin's hand erupted into a glowing blade encasing everything from her wrist down.

Kiana stared at it for a moment.

"... A sword instead of shooting lasers. You focused more on the 'wasting energy' part than the 'it would be rude to kill me' part, didn't you?"

Sirin smirked. "Guess."

Then she rushed at Kiana.

The white-haired girl bit back a curse as she ducked under a slash, jumping back to avoid another as she began to rush backwards, away from the slash-happy Herrscher.

Sirin easily followed her movements with a wide grin, moving towards Kiana at the same pace while waving her energy sword around.

"Hey—" The blade almost caught her nose as she leaned back. "—I get that this looks cool—" A sidestep, just big enough to keep Kiana's shoulder attached. "—but if we could just talk— Crap!" 

The dangers of walking backwards quickly revealed themselves as Kiana lost her balance, tripping and falling on her back.

Sirin's blade followed her down with a stab.

Against all common sense, Kiana brought up both hands just in time to grab the blade by its sides, holding it in place mere millimeters away from her neck.

Fortunately, the blade was surprisingly solid, and the energy was merely warm rather than burning, allowing Kiana to push it away even as Sirin put her weight behind it.

The purple-haired girl didn't seem amused by her blade's failure to meet flesh, her smirk giving way to a glower.

"Like I was saying…" Kiana forced the words out amidst the struggle. "What's gonna happen when you actually run out of energy? Shouldn't you worry about that?"

"I will," came the Herrscher's venomous reply, "as soon as you're gone and I have my new vessel!"

Not a notion that Kiana wanted to entertain.

She wracked her brain, trying to look for a way out that preferably didn't involve getting stabbed.

"But do you really think you can kill me fast enough?" Kiana continued, trying to focus despite the circumstances. "I mean, there were some Valkyries chasing me like five minutes ago. Isn't it bad if they catch you?"

Sirin snarled, bringing the blade close enough to touch Kiana's neck. "That won't be an issue if you just die already!"

It'd really help if she had some kind of weapon, but she didn't have her backpack with her. The whole situation was really unfair, considering Sirin could wave energy around like it was one of the comics her dad showed her.

Personally, Kiana didn't want to know how it felt to be slashed apart in some weird dark place that didn't even seem to be the real world.

… Wait. Not the real world.

"I mean, does killing me have to be the only option here?" Kiana asked, pushing the blade back a few centimeters. "It might get really dull in here with just one person!"

"Minds are only meant to have one person, you fool!"

A very interesting choice of words, and one that Kiana was quite thankful for. 

She rather liked the confirmation that she was on the right track.

Her eyes fell on the energy blade threatening to pierce her.

'Disappear!'

And it did.

Because this, as it turned out, was within her mind.

Sirin's eyes widened as her blade of energy faded on the spot, leaving to fall forward towards Kiana.

The Kaslana wasted no time, willing a weapon just like Sirin's to manifest as she pointed her hand at her falling foe, her efforts being rewarded by a light blue energy gathering around said hand.

For a split-second, Kiana saw the panic on Sirin's face, and the way her purple energy once again surrounded the hand that previously held her energy blade.

A pair of simultaneous hisses sounded as both weapons gained their form at once.

And, just like that, Kiana's gambit worked. The light blue blade being emitted by her own hand was going right through the Herrscher's chest, Sirin unable to do anything but stare in disbelief at the sight of the solid energy puncturing her form and keeping her from falling further towards the white-haired girl.

Unfortunately, Kiana miscalculated some details.

For one, she genuinely didn't expect Sirin to be able to reform her blade so quickly.

If she had, then perhaps there wouldn't also be an energy blade, this one strikingly purple, currently piercing her heart.

For a moment, both girls were still, neither quite understanding what happened. There was no blood, no smell of charred flesh, nothing to confirm what happened besides their own eyes.

That, and the pain that suddenly sparked all over her body, forcing a hiss out of Kiana's lips as her weapon disappeared. Sirin seemed to share the same experience, her energy blade dissipating as she fell face first on Kiana's shoulder with a bloodless hole through her chest, much like Kiana's own.

The impact had the both of them groaning in agony.

"You—" Sirin began, echo gone from her voice. "You absolute… mudachka… I should just—" A sharp breath. "—just finish killing you…"

Kiana grit her teeth. She wanted the Herrscher off of her, but she had the feeling any movement whatsoever would put them both through hell, a notion Sirin seemed to share considering she hadn't tried anything yet.

"H-How…" The white-haired girl took a deep breath. It didn't help. "How are we… not dead?"

Sirin sighed like that was an idiotic question. "Mindscape… tupitsa …"

"Oh…" Kiana blinked, grimacing even as the pain became slightly more manageable. "So… we're gonna be fine?"

The Herrscher didn't reply.

Kiana didn't like the sound of that.

"We're gonna be fine… right?" she tried again.

Sirin shuddered against her shoulder, gripping Kiana's coat. "This is… unfair… So, so, so unfair …! I was this close, so why…? Why?!"

Kiana heard a sniffle.

The Herrscher was crying. She had a crying Herrscher on top of her. 

That painted a very bad picture of the situation.

It was then that Kiana noticed that it wasn't that the pain was subsiding. She was just starting to feel numb instead.

"... Did we actually stab something important?" she still asked dazedly. "Are we going to die?"

A low growl escaped Sirin's lips. "Congratulations on defeating your first Herrscher," she spat out in a tearful voice. "I'll make sure to haunt you in Hell."

So they were going to die.

That was…

…

Oh. Kiana was going to die.

She felt herself seize up as it hit her.

Kiana was going to die there, right after leaving the safety of the village. 

On a logical level, she understood she should be proud of it as a Kaslana. Even though she had a Herrscher of all things sealed within her for whatever reason, Kiana was about to put an end to the threat for the very low price of just her own life.

That sounded even more heroic than all the tales her father had told her about the Kaslanas, but…

"... I don't wanna die," Kiana spoke up, barely even in control of her own mouth. "I just got started! There's no way I can die here!"

She knew that made her a bad Kaslana, but she couldn't help it.

Sirin sighed. "What you want doesn't matter. Get ready to be braindead first and proper dead second."

"No, I just can't!" the white-haired girl repeated. "I… Papa's gonna—"

"That bastard wouldn't be able to do anything even if he was here!" Sirin glared up at her, uncaring about her tearful face. "We're going to die no matter what because you couldn't just give me this stupid body!"

"You're the one who started it!" Kiana shouted back, her own tears threatening to fall. "Can't you do some Herrscher magic to fix this?!"

Sirin gave her a disbelieving look. "Do I look like God to you?! If I had enough energy in my Core, I'd already have healed myself!"

"Then just take it from me!" Kiana told her. "I made that laser sword thing, didn't I?! So I have energy too!"

"I don't even know where the hell you got that energy from—"

The Herrscher suddenly stopped as her brain caught up to the conversation.

"That's right, I got energy from somewhere! " Kiana continued. "So you can get some from me, right?!"

"..."

For a few seconds, Sirin simply stared at Kiana.

Then she rushed to sit up, straddling Kiana in a movement that would have certainly hurt had they both not been numb enough by that point.

"I'll actually make sure you die first if you're lying," Sirin said as she pointed an open palm towards Kiana, letting energy gather around her hand.

Rather than attacking, however, Kiana instead felt like something was rummaging around her very existence. It wasn't uncomfortable, per se, but it felt weird.

And then she felt it.

Within her was something akin to a closed lid, just barely allowing some energy to reach her. Only now that Sirin was so close to it did Kiana notice its existence. 

"Here it is," Sirin said, smirking. "Now, all I need to do is—"

Just then, Kiana forcefully willed the lid shut completely, not allowing even a drip of energy to reach either her or the purple-haired girl.

Sirin seemed momentarily confused before fixing a glare on her. "Human, is this some sort of joke—"

"Heal me first," Kiana cut her off, giving the Herrscher a level stare.

"... What?" Sirin looked like she could barely believe what she was hearing.

"I want you to heal me first," she repeated, "and then I'm gonna let you heal yourself. After I'm done."

The Herrscher snarled. "Do you expect me to believe that? You'd happily let me die afterwards!"

"And you wouldn't do that to me?" Kiana huffed. "But I swear on my honor as a Kaslana that I'm not letting you die in exchange for this. If that's not good enough, then I guess we're just gonna die together."

Sirin's glare was outright withering.

Kiana met her gaze unflinchingly.

They stood there for what felt like minutes, their bodies growing more numb by the moment as their end approached.

And then the Herrscher's body actually flickered for a second.

The momentary panic on her face was actually rather human.

"Fine!" Sirin almost growled at her. "I'll heal you first, so get out of the way!"

That was good enough for Kiana.

She let go of the mysterious lid, allowing Sirin to once again reach for it and slowly pry it open.

And then it blew open all at once, energy bursting forth like a fountain and making Kiana's entire form glow like a lighthouse.

"What in—" Sirin recoiled in surprise, covering her eyes. "This is… What are you?! Are all Kaslanas like this?!"

"I-I don't know!" Kiana told her, watching in amazement as the hole in her chest began to close by itself and feeling returned to her "body."

As soon as her wound was gone, her glow dimmed as if it had never been there.

"This is cheating!" the purple-haired girl said. "This has to be cheating! I didn't even do anything besides—"

She cut herself off, giving Kiana a wide stare.

Kiana had a feeling she knew what the Herrscher was thinking.

Now, Kiana, or her consciousness or whatever, was fully healed, meaning she had no reason to help Sirin. It was the logical conclusion of their unfair deal, regardless of whatever nonsense caused Kiana to recover without much of Sirin's involvement.

And that would've been the smart choice, all things considered.

Still, against all logic…

Kiana didn't like the idea of just letting someone wither away in front of her when she could do something, even if it was a Herrscher.

Maybe it was because Kiana gave her word, and breaking it would go against everything her father taught her.

Maybe it was because Sirin had technically been the one to save her, despite also being the one to almost kill her in the first place.

Maybe it was because she saw the Herrscher crying and panicking, acting more like a normal person rather than an unfeeling monster.

And maybe it also had something to do with how Sirin wasn't actively trying to kill her at the moment. That made empathizing with her a fair bit easier.

… Well, Kiana hadn't been making many smart choices that day, and it seemed she was going to continue that trend.

She was already a bad Kaslana, anyway.

"So?" she began, tilting her head at Sirin. "Aren't you gonna grab some energy too?"

Sirin gave her an incredulous look.

For several seconds, she didn't move, as if waiting for Kiana to retract the offer.

"Are you serious?" the Herrscher eventually asked.

Kiana shrugged. "I mean, if you actually wanna die that badly…"

That was the push the Herrscher needed.

Disbelief was still clear on her face as she reached towards Kiana's energy once more, siphoning it. Little by little, the hole in her chest also closed up.

And then she was as healthy as when Kiana first saw her.

Kiana made sure to close the lid shut as soon as Sirin was done, just in case she got any ideas.

"That's that, then," Kiana said with a smile. "Now, if you could just get off me…?"

Sirin was almost in a daze as she did so, rising to her feet and taking several steps away, allowing Kiana to rise to her feet.

"Are you stupid?" Sirin asked bluntly. "You actually gave me energy? Did you hit your head when you were little? Wait, no, I know you did."

"Hey!" Kiana narrowed her eyes. "I gave my word, didn't I?"

"A human's word is worthless!" the Herrscher shot back. "Humans love to lie!"

"Well, I didn't, did I?!" Kiana yelled at the ungrateful girl, pointing at her. "You're fine now, so the least you could do is thank me!"

"And why would I thank you when you're the one who stabbed me?!" Sirin countered, walking up to Kiana and trying to slap her pointed hand away with more force than necessary—

Sirin immediately recoiled, cradling her hand as if she had slapped a wall.

Kiana's arm didn't even budge.

"What, still hurt?" Kiana crossed her arms. "Well, I'm not giving you any more energy if you're going to be like this!"

Rather than responding, Sirin glared at Kiana and reached out to her.

"Hey!" Kiana leaned back just in time to avoid the girl's hand. "Do you really wanna go at it again? After all that?"

"Stay still, worm," the purple-haired girl told her. "This is important."

"Like hell it is!" Kiana shot back as Sirin tried to grab her again, taking a step back to avoid her attempt. "Do you think I'll just let you—"

The instant Kiana was distracted, Sirin took her chance and moved close enough to push her away.

Or at least she attempted to, because the only result she attained was pushing herself away from Kiana, as if the Kaslana was bolted to the floor.

Except she clearly wasn't, taking a step back with a dumbfounded expression at what just happened.

"Eh?" Kiana blinked. "Were you always this weak?"

"I'm not weak, you worm!" Sirin snarled. "You did something, didn't you?! Made some kind of barrier!"

"Did I?" The white-haired girl looked at her own hands with a puzzled look. "I don't remember doing anything. Are you sure you're not the one who's weaker?"

"Am not!" As usual, Sirin only seemed to get more annoyed at that. "At least make your lies believable! Either you made a barrier or you sealed my strength!"

Kiana blinked, staring. "So… you do admit you might be weaker?"

"Shut it!" Sirin clicked her tongue in annoyance, turning away with a huff as she began to think.

'This… cheater!' Her anger was already starting to boil once more. 'Just what the hell did I awaken within her?! This is so unfair…! If only I still had God's blessings with me, I might've been able to overpower whatever she did, but those humans had to steal them all!'

"Eh?" Kiana tilted her head. "What do you mean 'God's blessings'?"

Sirin spun back to her, staring in surprise. "What? I said that out loud?"

"Didn't you?" Kiana tilted her head in confusion. "You didn't notice yourself muttering?"

"Don't be stupid! I don't mutter!" Sirin shot back indignantly.

'I don't get it! How did she hear that?!' she thought with growing horror. ' Wait, can she hear my—"

"—thoughts?" Kiana finished, surprised. "Is that what's going on?"

Sirin looked outright scandalized.

"Don't read my mind," she spoke plainly.

Kiana huffed. "It's not like I did it on purpose. Maybe you're the one thinking too loud? Anyway, what was that about blessings?"

Sirin grit her teeth. "I don't have to tell you a single—"

"You mean they were gems with Herrscher powers?" Kiana blurted out, a mix of horror and awe growing in her features. "You were how many Herrschers at once?! Five?! Six?! How is that fair?!"

"I— You weren't supposed to—" Sirin sputtered unintelligibly. "Stop looking into my mind! Don't you know what privacy means?!"

"You had a dragon?!" Kiana blatantly ignored her. "Wait, you mean she's still alive?!"

"Shut up and leave Bella out of this!" the Herrscher snapped at her. "Get out of my head! I don't know what kind of magic you did, but I'm not letting you get away with this disrespect!"

Gathering energy around her palm, Sirin stepped forward and punched Kiana right on her face.

It did even less than a breeze.

"So," Kiana spoke, completely ignoring the attack, "does that mean you kinda need those four extra gems to go all 'herald of the end' and stuff?"

Sirin didn't respond, instead punching Kiana again to no effect.

"Wait, it sounds like those gems are still out there," Kiana continued as if nothing was happening, looking away deep in thought. "It wouldn't be nice if a bad guy got their hands on all of them…"

The Herrscher didn't cease, delivering an endless flurry of punches that the other girl didn't even register.

Well, whatever Sirin was doing with her own energy seemed to be preventing her from hurting her hands, considering she didn't stop punching for a moment, but even with all that effort Kiana still couldn't feel a thing.

"You! Worm!" Sirin shouted. "Die! Die! Die!"

"Hm…"

Kiana simply stood there. Thinking and ignoring the Herrscher currently punching her.

"Die! Perish! Meet! Your! End! You disrespectful worm!" Sirin shouted pointlessly as she continued. "Argh! I swear to God, the instant I get my Cores back—"

"...!"

Kiana suddenly perked up. Without warning, she grabbed both of Sirin's wrists, bringing her punching session to an abrupt end as she looked at the Herrscher with an excited smile.

"I figured it out!" she told Sirin with sparkling eyes.

Sirin was too bewildered to reply with the proper amount of venom. "W-What?"

"I figured out where to go from here!" she clarified, letting go of Sirin. "I know what we need to do next!"

"There is no 'we,' you fool," the Herrscher shot back. "There is only 'me' and the worm currently occupying my new body! "

"Y'know, I just realized something." Kiana showed no signs of hearing the other girl, instead walking past her, forcing Sirin to turn around. "I'm actually pretty weak, now that I think about it. Dad had to protect me whenever we went out to fight Honkai Beasts, and you took over my body without even a fight a while back. No wonder dad just left me somewhere safe instead of bringing me along for whatever he's up to."

"It's my body," Sirin protested, half-heartedly following the other girl. "But at least you seem to finally understand where a worm like you stands."

"Yeah, something like that," Kiana replied in a dismissive tone that only served to anger Sirin further. "But, see, I think I know a way to fix that."

Sirin rolled her eyes. "Yes, by giving me this body and erasing your own pathetic existence."

Kiana had a big grin as she glanced back at Sirin. 

"What if I just use God's blessings instead?"

The Herrscher stopped walking.

"What."

Her eyes widened as she realized where Kiana was walking to.

Before them sat the mental projection of Sirin's moon throne where she greeted the girl during her arrival.

"You only became the 'herald of the end' or something because of those gems, right?" Kiana stopped right in front of the throne, crossing her arms as she eyed it appraisingly. "And now they're scattered out there somewhere for bad guys to grab. So, isn't the answer simple?"

Without further ado, Kiana moved. Right in front of the Herrscher of the Void, the girl shamelessly sat on her throne.

As if that hadn't been enough disrespect, she crossed one leg over another and leaned on the stone armrest, a self-satisfied smirk reaching her features as she met Sirin's wide eyes.

"So I can be a hero like dad, I'll take God's blessings for myself," she declared, "and become the next Queen of Honkai!"

"..."

It was with an uncharacteristically blank gaze that Sirin regarded Kiana for several seconds.

The white-haired girl in question simply grinned back.

And then, after what felt like an eternity…

Sirin's eye twitched.

"What."

.

.

.

.

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Ø

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[???, February 2010]

During his time in the Sea of Quanta, the progenitor of House Kaslana had made it a habit to take the role of a Will of Stigma.

Of course, he didn't actually need to. Usually, the Stigma would be managed by an AI that took his appearance, an artificial Form made especially for the job.

Still, in his situation, there were only so many ways he could make himself useful. A person could only stew in distant regrets lost to time for so long.

Even so, centuries on the task didn't prepare the man for what he saw that day.

"...!"

A little girl, the artificial Kaslana who inherited the Second Herrscher's genes, facing the living hate that the Herrscher left behind within her own mind long before she could possibly be ready for such a trial.

And almost winning.

He watched as life slowly seeped out from the both of them. Though calling it a soul would be rather presumptuous, they still damaged the very core of each other's sentience.

"..."

It would have been exceedingly easy to do nothing. To simply witness the remnants of the Herrscher who once brought disaster upon the world scatter into nothingness, all for the price of a single girl's life.

Perhaps he would even have done so in the distant past. To sacrifice the lives of others for the greater good was something he had already grown used to.

And yet, a single stray thought made itself known at the last moment.

What would his old friend think of him?

"... Hmph."

Thus, he allowed the girl to harness some of the power of the Kaslana Stigma.

When she naively offered the power to the successor of the Herrscher of the Void out of pity, he took that chance to subdue the weakened Herrscher while her sentience was wholly exposed to the Kaslana Stigma.

And while the consciousness who declared herself the Herrscher of the Void had ultimately survived the ordeal, she was effectively neutered as long as the girl continued to push her down, no more than a servant of the Kaslana Stigma who failed to realize her situation.

"..."

In no uncertain terms, it hadn't been worth it. The vengeful Herrscher's continued existence was still a risk. If the girl whose body served as the Herrscher's prison ever faltered or gave up entirely, the consequences would be catastrophic.

But the long centuries by himself seemed to have had an effect on him.

For the man, anything resembling a conscience should have been left frozen and shattered in a bygone era, and yet now he felt strangely pleased.

He wondered what his old friend would say if he were still by his side.

After all, the man currently known as Kevin Kaslana was not someone who would readily accept sparing a Herrscher, precautions or not. And now he had done just that on what amounted to a whim.

Not even he could explain his own decision.

"... The future, huh…"

Perhaps it had been hope that had moved his hand. Hope in Project EMBER. In the idea that a different approach was the true path to victory.

Then again, finding a proper reasoning did not matter anymore. Not after the deed was done. Now, the only thing left to do was to stop observing, step away, and allow the girl to carve her own path.

Despite everything, he was surprised to discover that he held high hopes for her.

Perhaps she would become something great enough to surpass even the man himself.

"I'll take God's blessings for myself, and become the next Queen of Honkai!"

…

…

…

"... What," he found himself saying at the same time as the Herrscher.

On second thought, it might be a good idea to keep a closer eye on the girl in the long run.

Just in case.

Chapter Text

[Eastern Siberia, February 2010]

When Kiana opened her eyes, she expected to be buried in snow.

Instead, the view that greeted her was a wooden ceiling, not unlike that of the cabin she and her Papa lived in for as long as she could remember.

Not only that, but she was in a bed with a rather comfortable pillow under her head, still clad in her heavy clothes and under a warm blanket.

Next to the bed, she could see her large chameleon bag leaning on the wooden floor against an old, small dresser, and it didn't even look like it was opened.

That was… strange. Shouldn't the Valkyries have caught her? Kiana expected to be tied up in some sort of flying transport heading to Schicksal, where she would probably be subjected to endless painful experiments by monsters wearing the skin of humans and watch as all those she held dear were taken from her one by one—

Kiana blinked, suddenly realizing she spaced out.

Weird.

Carefully, the young girl moved the blanket aside and sat up, and the first thing she noticed was just how good she felt.

There was no fatigue at all, and even bruises unrelated to her attempt to leave the village were suddenly gone.

In fact, she felt as if she could fight a dozen Honkai Beasts by herself.

Kiana stretched, expecting some kind of pain, but none came. She really was in top shape. 

"Almost like I'm some kinda superhuman now…"

"Because you ARE, you insolent inse—"

Startled at the reverberating double voice, Kiana threw her pillow with all her strength.

She was met with the sight of said pillow phasing harmlessly through Sirin as she sat atop the dresser, where she clearly wasn't half a second ago. 

Then the pillow hit the wall and exploded in a rain of feathers.

As they slowly floated down around them, Kiana stared.

"Oh, it's you."

"Don't 'oh, it's you' me, you fool!" Sirin shouted. "Not only do you casually disrespect me at your own peril, but you just made a noise loud enough that you might as well have attracted those pesky Valkyries here!" 

Kiana stopped to consider her words.

Outside, the world seemed to be quiet. Not even the wind was being particularly loud.

The lack of boots rushing towards their location was quite assuring.

Then she crossed her arms, eyeing the petulant Herrscher. "You're the one shouting, though." 

Sirin only seemed to grow more irate by the second. "Only you can hear me! I can be as loud as I want— Hey, where are you going?! I'm not done talking, you absolute—"

"Yeah, yeah." Saying that, Kiana finally placed her boots on the floor, rising to her feet and carefully walking to the door. "Did you bring us here with your amazing Herrscher powers?"

At that, Sirin gave Kiana a look that was in equal parts offended and in disbelief at her utter audacity. "You— I— How dare— I only just woke up here, worm! The same as you! How can you expect me to have done anything yet?!"

"Really?" Kiana's hand stopped at the door's handle as she glanced back at the Herrscher with a rather unamused look. "You know, I don't think this whole plan for me to become the Queen of Honkai is going to work if you don't step up your game too."

Kiana watched as Sirin's anger simmered for a few moments, only for her to pause as she processed the words, raising an eyebrow. 

Finally, her expression morphed into one of heavy, disbelieving confusion at Kiana's utter audacity to simultaneously imply she's slacking off and act as if Sirin agreed with her insolent idea to steal her throne.

'Is she messing with me?' Kiana heard Sirin's thoughts loud and clear as it flowed through their new bond, the Herrscher's attempts to shield her mind disrupted by her shock. 'Does this insect think this is funny?'

The answer was yes, for the record. On both counts.

"So," Kiana began after she had her fun, "if you're a ghost in my mind, can you check whether there's anyone outside? It sounds like someone else brought us here. Unless you don't mind Schicksal shipping us off to one of their shady labs and poking us with needles."

Then she paused with a blink.

Her Papa hadn't mentioned anything like that before, so where did it come from?

Kiana's musing was interrupted as Sirin let out a growl, shaking in anger.

She leaned forward and extended a hand towards Kiana, as if attempting to strangle her from a distance with her Herrscher powers.

It tickled a little.

Time passed like that. Sirin glared at Kiana. Kiana gave her an obviously fake smile.

After ten seconds, Sirin groaned and floated off the dresser, making her way to the door and poking her head through it for a moment before pulling back.

"There's nobody here, worm."

She sounded so tired.

"Can't you use your Herrscher powers to sense if there's anyone nearby?" Kiana wondered aloud. "Sounds better than looking around."

Sirin's eye twitched at that, her glare returning in full strength. "Maybe if someone hadn't made me waste all the energy I gathered! If you're so interested in my powers, why don't you give me more of that energy you magically have?"

Rather than retorting, Kiana crossed her arms, looking away with a thoughtful gaze.

"But you won't, will you?" Still glaring, Sirin gave her a cruel smirk. "You'd rather keep me here, restrained and powerless, to be used as a basic tool. A trophy of your 'victory over Honkai' or some nonsense of the sort. Keeping me as a slave, despite acting as if you're some sort of hero. Such hypocrisy is only to be expected from humans—"

"How do I do that?" came Kiana's sudden interjection.

Sirin paused her spirited monologue.

"What?"

"How do I give you more energy?" Kiana repeated. "I mean, we're not in my mind anymore, so what am I supposed to do here?"

She blinked at Sirin, awaiting a response.

Sirin blinked back at her in disbelief, still floating in place.

"Just… Just do it," she told Kiana after a moment.

"How?"

More silence ensued.

"... You're not unwilling, you're unable to," Sirin concluded then, her tone level as if she could scarcely believe it. "You're foolish enough to trust me with more energy, and yet too useless to grant it to me. Bozhe moy, you're the worst vessel in the world." 

"Hey!" Kiana whisper-shouted with a pout, unwilling to risk (again) alerting someone. "I told you I'm the future Queen of Honkai, not a vessel!"

"God, take me now."

Kiana rolled her eyes at the melodramatic Herrscher.

Figuring there was no further help to get from Sirin, she carefully opened the door.

What greeted her was the living room of a wooden cabin not too dissimilar to her own home, except for how barren it was. There was basic furniture, yes, like a couch and a table with chairs beside it, but they all seemed quite old and partially dusty, as if someone only had time to get rid of the worst of it.

Looking at the state of the cabin, it was a wonder she didn't wake up on a hard floor instead.

"Is this someone's old holiday home or something…?"

"A holiday home, you say. In Siberia." She could sense the utter disbelief from the Herrscher as she floated beside her. "I knew you were stupid, but that's a new low. No one would willingly come to this hellhole."

Kiana sighed. "I know, but that's a nicer thought than 'the owner probably died and the place was ransacked by thieves nice enough to not break the windows.'"

That was enough to get a dry laugh from the Herrscher, something which Kiana wasn't certain whether to be proud of as she turned around and walked to her bag. Carefully putting it on her back where it belonged, she made her way out of the room, marching straight towards the door, and—

"... Wait, you fool, I didn't check outside—"

—opening it to a gush of freezing wind… and the very same red-haired uniformed Valkyrie she tricked back at the village, greatsword on her back and arms crossed as she looked at Kiana with a wry smile that seemed almost amused.

Sirin immediately floated in front of Kiana, more as a sign of aggression than protectiveness, and extended a hand towards the woman's throat.

"..."

"..."

Nothing happened, because of course.

In the real world, Kiana and the woman simply continued to stare at each other.

"Kill her." Sirin turned around to face Kiana. "She's a Valkyrie. Kill her before she captures you, worm!"

Kiana was the first to open her mouth.

"Oh, it's you again," she greeted the woman with an overly cheery tone. "Welcome to mine and Papa's camping cabin! He's outside right now. Did you need something?"

The woman continued to stare at her with crossed arms.

'Oh,' Kiana thought, 'she was the one who brought me here, wasn't she?'

With a glare, Sirin floated closer, her face almost touching Kiana's cheek.

"Do it. Kill her. Do it now. What are you waiting for?"

Kiana let out a nervous laugh.

Then she turned around and ran towards one of the closed windows in the living room.

"Siegfried entrusted you to me for the time being," the woman suddenly spoke up. "Just for a short while."

That stopped Kiana in her tracks.

Slowly, she turned back around to regard the Valkyrie with a cautious look.

"She's lying!" Sirin yelled into her ear. "It's such a convenient lie, too! You might be a fool, but surely you're not this stupid?!"

The woman slowly stepped into the cabin, closing the door behind her.

Kiana gulped, forcing herself to glare.

"Prove it."

"Argh!"

The woman seemed to think for a moment, and then…

"Pizza toast tastes better when it's a little burnt," she said, as though it was a fact.

Kiana continued to stare at her for several seconds. The Valkyrie stood in place, looking a little nervous herself, as though any movement might send Kiana scurrying away like a small animal.

"... What was that about Papa?"

Sirin seemed to be doing… something that made her vibrate by the edge of Kiana's vision, gritting her teeth and shaking her hands impotently.

"You are a fool, and you will die a fool! You absolute tupitsa—"

'Shush.'

And just like that there was no more sound coming from the Herrscher into Kiana's mind, even though she was clearly still shouting something.

How convenient.

The woman had no clue of what was happening, but she still gave Kiana a relieved smile. "You might want to sit down for this, sugar. I got a bag of pelmeni here if you're hungry, all ready to eat. Bought it in your village before that whole mess, though they're... pretty cold at this point," she finished sheepishly. "I could try heating them up with my greatsword? It can, uh, get pretty hot."

Oh, like Shamash.

Kiana perked up.

This Valkyrie was already so much better than the other person in the room.

Sirin promptly made a very mean gesture towards her.

It only proved her point further.

Ø

As she sat on the old wooden chair, eyeing the visibly amused Valkyrie sitting across the circular table, Kiana did her best to maintain a serious face.

A feat made more slightly difficult by the way she was stuffing her face with pelmeni from a paper bag on the table, stabbing and bringing them to her mouth with a toothpick.

And also by the muted floating Herrscher on the other side of the room looking at her like she was walking trash.

But, honestly, Kiana was more focused on the pelmeni.

"Sho," Kiana began, "whach dich yu wanch to shai?"

"Sugar, you should either eat or talk," the Valkyrie advised. 

Narrowing her eyes ever so slightly, Kiana finished swallowing down the pelmen.

Then she silently brought another to her mouth.

"Choosing to eat, huh." Rather than offended, the woman seemed more amused than anything. "Alright, I suppose I'm the one with a lot to speak about, hm?"

She cleared her throat.

Kiana swallowed and stabbed another pelmen.

"The name's Murata Himeko, first of all," the woman introduced herself. "Given name Himeko. As you probably know, I'm one of the Valkyries sent to look for you and bring you back to Schicksal."

Kiana stopped chewing.

"Not that I plan to."

She resumed chewing.

Himeko sighed, crossing her arms. "As luck would have it, your father showed up and argued otherwise. You probably know how persuasive the Judgment of Shamash is."

That brought a smirk to Kiana's lips as she continued to eat.

Sirin, for her part, scowled even harder instead.

Oh, that's right, she experienced Shamash first-hand.

'Sucks to be you,' Kiana thought, wondering whether the Herrscher could hear if she willed it.

The answer was yes, it seemed, from the way Sirin twitched in place, shot Kiana an utterly flabbergasted look, and began (quietly) shouting at her while making vaguely threatening gestures.

Kiana was right, though.

"So he told me some interesting things, and we reached a deal," Himeko continued, unaware of the Herrscher that Kiana was in the process of tormenting. "I bring you to some of his friends, he doesn't turn me into charcoal, and I get to go home and pretend none of this ever happened."

The next time Kiana swallowed, she took the chance to speak. "Where is he?"

Himeko gave Kiana an apologetic look. "Probably long gone by now. Sorry."

Kiana sighed. Sirin smirked at her.

'It still sucks to be you,' she thought to the Herrscher.

That wiped the smirk off her face.

Kiana focused on Himeko again. "And why can't he bring me to his friends himself? Or take me along? He didn't explain anything and just left me behind!"

She was not bitter. Really. Just… trying to understand.

"Weeeeeell…" The woman suddenly seemed nervous, as if she wasn't sure what to say. "See, thanks to Schicksal, there's this very bad thing inside you—"

"The Herrscher of the Void?" Kiana interrupted her. "The one that took over and made me attack Papa and the Valkyries?"

Himeko froze for a few seconds.

Then she sighed.

"Okay, so you know." She shrugged again, frowning. "The short story is that your father was involved in defeating the Herrscher a decade ago, and she really, really, really hates him. Then Schicksal put the Herrscher in you for who knows what reason. Him staying with you might make the Herrscher more… motivated to do a repeat performance, let's say, so he opted to keep his distance."

Kiana blinked.

Sirin herself didn't seem to be able to decide whether to grin or frown at that piece of information. If her volume was turned back up, Kiana had a feeling she would be stuck between going all in on boasting that she made her Papa scared, or directly insulting the man for his lack of will.

"That's just dumb," Kiana concluded.

Himeko had to hold back a snort. "Yeah, well, it's not my call to make, considering which of us has a Divine Key. But that's the gist of it."

Kiana hummed, stabbing another pelmen to shove into her mouth.

The woman across from her leaned back against her own chair, suddenly more at ease. "Right now my team thinks Siegfried has you and I'm on his trail, moving alone to attract less attention. Your father was nice enough to provide a borrowed car. Seems like he made plenty of friends around here."

The perks of wiping out Honkai Beasts for cheaper than mercenary companies.

"The idea," Himeko continued, "is that I bring you to the Ural Mountains to the west, and his friends take you somewhere safer out of Schicksal's sight. You might even be able to talk to him again. Then I tell Schicksal that I lost the trail, return the car, and go home, preferably to be reprimanded rather than punished for treason," she finished, sounding almost proud of herself despite the fact it wasn't even her plan. "Sounds good?"

"And how do I know you won’t just drag me to Schicksal?" Kiana asked her as soon as she swallowed. "Doesn't sound like you have anything to gain from going through with this now that Papa's not here to threaten you."

Both Himeko and Sirin seemed startled by Kiana's sudden questioning.

… Hey, she wasn't stupid.

After a moment, Himeko actually chuckled at her. "Well, you're right about that, sugar. Your father convinced me that it would be very bad for the Overseer to get his hands on you, but right now all I have is my word." 

She glanced away at the scenery outside the nearby closed window.

"Your father also said there would be consequences from his friends if I tried anything funny," she told Kiana, "but I can't really prove any of it. If you want, you can just walk out by yourself, but…"

Himeko eyed Kiana's small, bundled form up and down. Then she glanced at the enormous chameleon bag next to the table.

"No offense, but—"

"Offense taken," Kiana spoke up, crossing her arms. "I'm great at walking."

Himeko stared at her for a moment.

Sirin seemed to be considering self-deletion, somehow.

"... Sugar, I caught up to you because you fell flat on her face while running away."

Kiana almost considered telling the Schicksal Valkyrie about the Herrscher in her head just to deflect the blame.

Almost.

Instead, she pouted.

"Also," Himeko continued, "I'm not sure you can avoid every single Schicksal patrol until the Urals on foot. Or get there on time, for that matter. And if you also doubt that there's anything to be found there, that leaves you pretty aimless, doesn't it?"

Kiana considered her words for a moment.

She wasn't wrong, and the pizza toast thing that she couldn't reasonably have forced out of her Papa was pulling a lot of the weight here, but there was still a big blank.

"Who are his friends?" she asked, because the Valkyrie's avoidance of elaborating on them felt very important.

"Didn't tell me," she shot back instantly,  "but I can take a guess. What do you know about Anti-Entropy?"

Kiana made a show of thinking.

Then she unmuted Sirin.

'So, ever heard of them?'

"Wha— You dare—"

'If you don't answer, I'm gonna have to mute you again, you know?'

Extortion? No, that was clearly behavior control.

And since Kiana was feeling nice, she opted to ignore all the startled curses sent her way.

To Sirin's credit, it only took ten seconds for her to get back on track.

"Anti-Entropy… are a bunch of fools, led by a traitor Herrscher." Sirin sounded disgusted as she spoke. "I killed him again and again, but he kept cheating and coming back! Not to mention his insane ramblings of being a hero of humanity or something, and calling me a dark queen like I was some manner or second-rate comic book villain for him to surpass! And if that wasn't enough, he also kept throwing one-liners—"

'Okay, you convinced me.'

"—Excuse me?!"

"I'll go with you," Kiana told Himeko, "but I'm leaving if you do anything shady."

The woman gave her a relieved smile. "You won't regret it, sugar."

'Yeah, we'll see.'

"And here I thought you were growing a brain, you useless—"

Kiana muted Sirin and reached into the bag to stab another pelmen.

… Only to realize it was empty.

She let out a low whine, getting up from her chair. This was their cue to head out, she supposed.

Himeko's chuckle caught her attention. She looked up to see the woman holding another paper bag, that one still filled very much unlike the one on the table.

"These should help a little during the trip, right?"

Yep, Kiana came to a decision.

She liked this woman.

"...!"

That, of all things, seemed to drive the ghostly Herrscher into an even worse frenzy.

Ø

The breeze's biting cold, even with her heavy clothes, was nothing if not familiar to Kiana as she followed the Valkyrie outside, carrying her large backpack and second bag of pelmeni (plus toothpick).

The Siberian plains were as desolate as ever, the winter scenery painted white and only decorated by spaced out trees and occasional boulders.

Himeko kept a hand on her greatsword as she led Kiana to what could pass as a road near the cabin, only identifiable under the snow by track marks and the slightly lower ground.

There she saw a military four-seater pickup truck parked, the kind that seemed old enough to have survived the Second Eruption.

Her Papa once told her that Siberia had a ton of military surplus, only some of which was ever used for good reasons.

Kiana supposed this was a good reason. 

Assuming it wasn't a trap.

Himeko opened the back door with a smile, beckoning Kiana. "Here we go, now. Careful with the backpack on your way up, sugar."

In response to being treated with kid gloves, Kiana shot her a look somewhere between wary and unamused.

It didn't seem to faze Himeko at all.

Biting back a sigh, Kiana took off her backpack and climbed into the car, placing it next to her and moving to fasten her seatbelt. Himeko closed the back door, climbed into the front seat, and placed the greatsword next to her.

"From here to the meeting point, it should take about… two weeks, give or take," the Valkyrie said as she turned the ignition keys, making the car roar to life. "Would be less with real roads, but… Eh."

As she spoke, Himeko stepped on the gas pedal, and they began moving across the white landscape, slowly picking up speed.

"Just need to hope HQ buys it that I'm on a solo pursuit with no chance to slow down enough for reinforcements." Himeko shrugged, glancing at Kiana through the mirror. "Your father said he'd leave a convincing enough trail for Schicksal to believe it, at least, so nowhere left to go but forward, hm?"

Kiana squirmed in her seat, eyeing the scenery outside past the glass. "... Right."

She opened the bag and brought a pelmen to her mouth with the toothpick, and just like that the conversation was over.

As she ate, Kiana brought up a hand and tapped on the window. The glass was reinforced, as expected. Kaslanas were freakishly strong according to her Papa, but even for her it might take some effort to shatter it in case of an ambush. Or a trap.

"Having second thoughts, insect?"

The sound came from the other side of the backseat, across her backpack. Or maybe that was just how her mind interpreted it.

There was no faint reflection of Sirin against the glass. Not that Kiana expected any.

'Oh, you can unmute yourself?'

Sirin growled. "I'm the Herrscher of the Void, fool! Of course I can! Not that I'd expect a worm like you to understand just what a Herrscher is—"

'Now you're just being annoying.'

Sirin's voice was muted again.

Kiana was able to get through three pelmeni until Sirin was able to undo it.

"You—"

'If you can't stop insulting me or ordering me around for five minutes, even though I went out of my way to save you after you tried erasing me, I will keep muting you faster than you can unmute, and I won't even feel bad about it.'

Maybe that was harsher than she intended, and Sirin did play a part in Kiana's continued survival after nearly killing her, but…

Well, she only had so much patience.

"..."

To her surprise, Sirin actually remained silent. 

That was a start, even if Kiana knew better than to expect it to come from a sudden change of heart.

It was probably spite, actually.

Kiana glanced at the other side of the car. Sirin was sitting on the farthest seat, or at least mimicking it considering she was more or less a ghost, arms crossed and staring outside with a scowl.

Yep, spite.

"... If I had my powers, or even Bella," she spoke after a few moments, "this pointless trip would be over within the hour."

Kiana swallowed her pelmen, shoving another in her mouth.

'Then tell me how to do Herrscher stuff.'

"No."

'Then tell me where to fetch your dragon.'

"No."

Well, that didn't exactly give Kiana many options, then, did it?

That seemed to be all that Sirin was willing to talk without devolving into insults, as she fell into silence. Kiana took that moment to observe the sceneries passing by as she ate.

Siberia was enormous. Across the plains, she could see forests covered in snow, small villages interrupting the endless white, and in the distance, the Ural Mountains that supposedly would lead her to safety and, perhaps, her father.

Idly, she wondered if it would have looked so barren without the Second Eruption, and the many outbreaks that still happened to this day.

'This world really needs a hero, doesn't it?'

"Heroes aren't real," Sirin scoffed. 

Kiana was about to retort, when—

"... They cannot be real."

Rather than the venomous fervor that Kiana came to expect, the words sounded quieter, carrying an unexpected weariness instead.

It made Kiana wonder about many things. But if there was a specific thought that sounded the loudest in her mind, it would be…

'I just need to prove you wrong, then.'

Sirin gave no reply. She showed no signs at all of having heard her.

Kiana sighed. All she could do was go back to staring at the white wasteland outside.

Himeko seemed to notice the shifting mood, glancing at Kiana through the rear-view mirror. "Something the matter, sugar?"

"Ah… It's nothing."

And that was that.

With a hum that didn't make her sound all that convinced, Himeko went back to focusing on the so-called road.

"..."

Left with nothing else to do but think, Kiana found herself wondering…

Even with God's blessings, would she really be able to change things? Could she really become a hero like her Papa?

The howling wind of the Siberian tundra outside offered no answers.

.

Ø

.

Oftentimes, Siegfried found himself wondering whether a normal life was simply out of his reach as a Kaslana.

For the umpteenth time, he looked down at Shamash, holding both pistols in his hands. He could feel the warmth they emanated, enough to be uncomfortable for most people.

His blue coat would be hardly enough to stave off the cold as he sat within the cave, so his Divine Key could have been of use to warm him up.

If the cold still bothered him, that was. It hadn't for a decade now.

He glanced outside. In the distance, the car he had borrowed from a nearby village moved across the snowy landscape, carrying both his daughter and the Valkyrie he had an enlightening conversation with earlier.

That was his cue.

Siegfried rose to his feet, stretching as he did so. 

He would do his part, and hopefully that Valkyrie would do hers. Then he'd simply have to talk-slash-threaten Welt into not using his daughter for his grand plan of transcending the Honkai through the indomitable human spirit and a lot of Herrscher Cores, and that would be the end of it.

If everything went well.

Which was a rarity these days.

He was starting to get tired of things getting out of hand, honestly.

"Alright," he whispered to himself, "time to get to work."

With Shamash in his grasp, Siegfried let out a sigh and walked outside.

It was time to find out what else fate was preparing to throw at him.

Chapter Text

[???]

Kiana opened her eyes to blinding white.

The air reeked of antiseptic and something sharper — blood, definitely.

Her arms were strapped to a cold metal bed, her legs bound at the ankles. A hospital gown clung to her skin, thin and scratchy.

… What was going on?

She tried to move, but the restraints bit into her wrists. Panic flared within her.

"Sirin?" she called out. "This is your doing, isn't it? This isn't funny!"

"Subject is awake," a voice droned from somewhere nearby.

Kiana jerked her head up. A one-way mirror spanned the wall in front of her, reflecting only her own wide-eyed face.

The sound of a door opening reached her ears. Suddenly, there was a man by the bedside, his features completely hidden in shadows save for his pristine white lab coat.

He brought up a syringe.

No.

No, no, no—

"Begin the experiment."

The needle was stabbed into her arm.

Kiana screamed as everything burned.

Suddenly, memories that weren’t hers flooded her mind.

A girl with lavender hair, smaller than her, curled by the edge of a dark cell littered with similarly small bodies.

A man in a white coat smiling as he adjusted a dial. "You are a pioneer, Sirin. Your suffering will save millions."

The girl’s screams, fearful at first until, little by little, rage consumed them.

Then, the visions shifted. Now it was Kiana in the cell. Kiana with tubes down her throat. Kiana sobbing as hands pried her eyelids open—

"Pathetic, isn’t it?"

Sirin’s voice echoed through the room. The mirror wall’s reflection warped, and suddenly the Herrscher was standing there across the surface, smirking at Kiana.

"This is what your precious humanity does to little girls they call ‘special.’" A laugh, sharp as broken glass. "And you still want to be their hero?"

Kiana gritted her teeth amidst the pain. "This isn't… normal! These aren’t even my memories!"

"Oh, but they could be." The mirror cracked, blood seeping between the fractures onto the floor. "Schicksal would’ve strapped you down the moment they caught you. Cut you open to see what makes you tick. Can you say Anti-Entropy won't do the same?"

Next to her, a metallic door slid open. Another shadowed researcher walked in, pulling in a wheeled tray filled with syringes and surgical tools.

Kiana’s breath hitched.

Not real. This isn’t real.

"Let me out of here!" Kiana yelled at the Herrscher. "If you don't, I'll—"

Sirin laughed and snapped her fingers.

"Shush."

And just like that Kiana's mouth was sealed shut by an invisible force. 

"Hmph?!"

"Typical. Did you think you had won just because you had me powerless for a moment? Were you expecting to relax and have sweet dreams?" A grin was growing on Sirin's face. "Fool, you can't keep me chained with such a half-hearted effort. Just keep quiet and let me show you what you refuse to see."

The second researcher picked up a scalpel. The blade glinted under the sterile lights as he leaned closer.

Kiana thrashed against her restraints, her muffled screams vibrating in her sealed mouth as the blade approached. The more she struggled, the wider Sirin’s grin grew, until—

A strange aura, a shade of blue, flickered across Kiana's form for a moment.

*snap*

The strap holding her right arm tore.

Sirin’s smirk faltered.

Kiana's hand snatched his wrist before the blade could reach her. The researcher flinched as fingers dug into his flesh like claws; the scalpel clattered to the floor.

Sirin stared. "You—?!"

Kiana wrenched.

A sickening crack. The researcher howled in pain.

She didn't stop to think about what she had done.

Her other hand ripped free as well, slamming into the throat of the other researcher. The shadowed figure gagged, stumbling back, and Kiana ripped her ankles free, leaping off the bed.

Kiana opened her mouth to let out a breath, finding no resistance to the motion, and that was when she realized it.

She was back in control.

Time slowed as the realization washed over her, the shadowed figures becoming sluggish.

The nightmare was over.

"Tch. How disappointing," she heard Sirin say. "Fine, return to the waking world. But what happened here is proof that whatever protection you have can't chain me forever. Never forget this."

Indeed, Kiana should wake up.

This was it. The situation had already been resolved from the moment she took back control.

"..."

And yet…

It felt as though something deep inside was…

S creaming at her. Telling her to do something else.

And Kiana—

"You should be proud," the man told her, uncaring that she was shaking, pointedly ignoring her pain and tears. "Through your sacrifice, humanity will find salvation."

"...!!!"

Kiana complied.

Just like that, time resumed.

She reached for the wheeled tray and swung it without hesitation at one of the shadowed figures.

The metal bent as the shadowed figure fell down, and Kiana simply raised the tray and struck again, and again, and again, until the man stopped moving.

They hurt her.

They deserved this.

"…Oh."

Sirin’s whisper was barely audible amidst the rush Kiana felt.

"Haaah…" Bent wheeled tray in hand, Kiana stopped to look down at her handiwork. A black liquid pooled underneath the figure, and she felt…

Satisfied?

No.

Not yet.

"Human?"

At the sound of the sliding door opening again, Kiana spun around to throw the tray at the remaining researcher who was attempting to escape, sending him careening to the sterile floor. Making her way to him, she leaned down to grab a fallen scalpel.

The fallen shadowed man seemed to look up at her. "No, please—"

He said nothing more as Kiana grabbed his collar and stabbed the scalpel into his throat. More black liquid flowed to the floor.

It was easy. Far too easy to do it. To give him exactly what he deserved.

She let go, allowing the corpse to fall to the floor as she eyed the opened door.

Kiana wasn't done yet.

There were more villains to purge.

She pulled the scalpel out of the thing's corpse, holding it tightly in her hand, and stepped over the twitching shadow figure.

The hallway beyond stretched endlessly — white walls, flickering lights, doors marked with numbers.

From the distance, an alarm wailed.

Good. Let them panic.

She stalked along the hallway, her bare feet leaving smeared prints of dark liquid. The air smelled like copper and ozone now.

Next to her, Sirin’s reflection flickered across the polished walls, as if following Kiana with disbelief all over her face.

"…You’re not supposed to do this," Sirin told her. "Not without my— Not out of your own choice! This is a punishment, not… not your playground! You're just a vessel! What gives you the right to go against me?!"

Kiana didn’t turn to look. "They hurt us."

The words stumbled out without a thought.

"I— That’s not the point! You’re—" She let out a frustrated snarl. "You’re a hypocrite! All that talk of ‘heroism,’ yet here you are, slaughtering them like cattle!"

Kiana paused at a door marked 'Subject Containment.' Through the glass, she saw rows of small beds. Small shadowed figures.

Hovering over them were three more featureless researchers.

Her grip on the scalpel tightened.

"I'm dealing with villains."

She kicked the door open.

Researchers scrambled like insects, their voices a chorus of distorted pleas.

"It wasn’t me—"

"I was following orders—"

"We were trying to save the world—"

Kiana didn’t listen.

The first died with the scalpel buried where his eye should be.

The second screamed as she wrenched a fire extinguisher from the wall and brought it down on his skull.

The third was quick enough to avoid the fire extinguisher as she threw it at him, but not enough to avoid Kiana as she tackled him to the floor.

Kiana’s hands closed around his throat. His shadowed face contorted, glitching like a broken screen—

—and then morphed.

The man’s features sharpened into clarity: a middle-aged face, sweaty with terror, his Schicksal insignia glinting on his collar.

Real.

For a split second, Kiana hesitated.

The researcher wheezed. "P-please… I have a d-daughter—"

…

And then she saw red.

"How many of these 'test subjects' had families too?"

Kiana’s grip tightened.

… This time, the liquid was, in fact, red.

Blood pooled around the corpse, seeping into the cracks between tiles.

Even so, Kiana found herself… calmer than she knew she should be.

Light footsteps sounded from behind Kiana. 

"You didn’t stop."

The Herrscher's reverberating voice sounded strange in a way Kiana couldn't describe.

But Kiana didn't question it as she rose to her feet, wiping her hands on her hospital gown. The fabric came away stained.

"They deserved it."

It really was that simple.

"You…" Sirin’s voice wavered. "You enjoyed it."

Kiana looked down at her crimson-stained fingers. She could still feel the rage simmering beneath, but otherwise?

She hardly felt bothered.

"'Enjoyed' is probably not the right word," she told the Herrscher, "but… I don't think I'm satisfied yet."

Sirin didn't reply.

"There are still villains like these around, aren't there?" Kiana asked. "Back in reality."

Without waiting for an answer, she turned around to face the Herrscher—

Her eyes widened.

The figure staring back at her with wide eyes wasn't a purple-haired girl.

It was a perfect copy of herself, down to a pristine hospital gown, save for the golden human eyes adorning her face.

"... Who are you?"

It took Kiana a moment to realize it was the Herrscher who had asked that question, her voice suddenly normal.

"I'm…"

Kiana froze.

That had been her voice.

Distantly, she realized there was a certain color in her field of vision that shouldn't have been there.

She looked around the room.

The shadow-children in the beds remained motionless. Small. Broken.

Unsaved. Ignored for the sake of revenge.

And on the farthest wall was a one-way mirror like in the first room, but this time the reflection was different.

It showed a young girl with long, untamed purple hair, dressed in a bloodied hospital gown.

With bright blue Herrscher eyes.

"That's…"

The dreamscape shuddered.

Without warning, the walls of the lab peeled away, revealing an endless void. The shadow-children in their beds dissolved into smoke. The corpses bled into the darkness.

Only Kiana and the Herrscher were left in the emptiness.

"I'm…?"

Until they, too, dissolved into nothingness.

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, February 2010]

When Kiana's eyes snapped open, heart beating hard in her chest, she was on the back seat of the pickup truck once again, secured by a seatbelt and with a cheek firmly planted against the glass window.

The weak light washing over the vehicle meant it was already getting dark.

She blinked once, twice, and then finally went through the effort of unsticking herself from the window, shaking her head in an attempt to wake up.

That dream had been…

… What was that?

She let out a shuddered breath, attempting to calm herself down.

Sirin was… No, she had been…?

'A-Are you there?'

She had no idea what possessed her to call out to the Herrscher as if that'd offer some sort of comfort, but no response came regardless.

Was she alone again?

Kiana rubbed her eyes and looked around the car.

On a first pass, the seat next to herself and her chameleon bag was vacant. The car was stopped, and Himeko was nowhere to be seen.

And then she glanced outside and saw the woman pacing near the car, scowling at her phone under the sunset.

Well, that… was one mystery down. But what about—

"You…"

Kiana whipped her head back to the other seat.

Sirin was suddenly there where she hadn’t been seconds ago, sitting with crossed legs and staring strangely at Kiana.

She blinked at the attention. "C… Can I help you?"

That was a stupid thing to say, and she knew very well, but she had no idea what else to go with.

She belatedly realized that she spoke out loud.

Well, it wasn't like Himeko was in the car to hear her.

"... You're a freak," Sirin decided.

"Wha…t?"

The Herrscher didn't elaborate, opting to look away out of her own window instead.

"Go talk to that stupid Valkyrie. She's been like that for twenty minutes." After a moment's hesitation, she continued, "You sure took your time to wake up after me. Don't tell me you decided to have more 'fun' there."

Kiana couldn't help but tilt her head quizzically at Sirin. Everything about the exchange felt strange. "What… What do you mean?"

Sirin sighed.

"Whatever. Just go ask her what's wrong. Being on the move was the only thing making this dumb trip bearable."

There was something weird about the atmosphere, but Kiana still moved to unfasten her seatbelt anyway. 

"So… you like road trips?"

Another stupid thing to say, honestly.

But rather than insulting Kiana for it, all the Herrscher did was sigh again, providing no response.

Well, if she was going to be like that, no point in trying to hold a one-girl conversation.

Kiana opened the door, feeling the cold despite her heavy clothing as she stepped out towards Himeko.

Good. The freezing temperatures were providing a rather useful distraction.

"Auntie, are we lost?"

Himeko stopped pacing immediately. "Who's an auntie… Ugh, no, sugar. I know exactly where we are." She glanced towards something in front of the car. "The roads, however, are a different story."

Kiana followed her gaze and…

Oh. Yes, that seemed problematic.

In front of them, where the road should continue, was a large field of scorched craters, quite recent by the uneven snow.

"I think there was a skirmish here?" Kiana supplied a rather obvious piece of information.

Himeko just let out a long sigh.

"Yes, well," she began, pocketing her phone, "I'm hoping going the long way around won't waste too much time. We don't have a lot of that to spare."

She turned around to look at Kiana, mouth opening into what might have been an attempt to reassure the girl, but the words died in her throat.

"Sugar," she began, "are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost. Something wrong?"

"Ah—" Kiana jolted in place. Was it really showing on her face? "I… just had a bad dream. So, where are we headed now?" she quickly changed the subject.

Himeko stared at her. "If you need someone to talk to…"

Then it wouldn't be a Valkyrie.

"I'm fine, really," was what Kiana said instead, forcing a smile. "Just want to get this over with, you know? Maybe Papa will finally show up there, right?"

That earned her a disbelieving look from Himeko. She could clearly tell Kiana wasn't being entirely forthcoming.

Not that she could do anything about it, though.

"Alright…" Himeko drawled, turning away from Kiana with some slight hesitation to look at the distance. "We might need to take a detour south to a nearby village. We're still in the clear from Schicksal patrols around here, so our only worries should be of the more… local sort. Nothing I can't handle, mind you."

In other words, the risk of a dozen armed people jumping out of hiding to rob them.

Just a normal day in Siberia, all things considered.

"So what are we waiting for?" Kiana asked, already walking back to the car. "C'mon, it's already getting dark!"

Himeko sighed. "Coming, sugar. Just let me figure out a route first."

"'Kaaaay," was all Kiana replied as she climbed back onto her seat.

Himeko could only give the kid a wry smile as she settled back into the car.

Quite energetic, that girl.

Also terrible at lying, for that matter.

Usually, that wouldn't be an issue. Everyone had things they didn't feel comfortable talking to strangers about. Nothing wrong about that in most situations.

Except in most situations, a kid didn't shake in terror and call out a Herrscher's name in their sleep, nor did they refuse to wake up no matter what.

The woman looked at her phone once more.

With a sigh, she put the device back into her pocket.

"Continue as usual, huh…" she muttered under her breath as she returned to her car. "I swear, if this gets me killed, I'll be haunting those Anti-Entropists forever."

The life of a pawn was as annoying as ever.

Ø

Things hadn't gone as planned, in the end.

They did successfully reach the village by the time the sun had gone down, yes.

Assuming it could still be called a village.

Kiana kept her eyes pointed outside as the car slowly moved along the snowy road. In the darkness lit up only by the car's headlights, she could see the ruined wreckage of what were once buildings.

They had been leveled rather thoroughly, but she couldn't quite tell by what.

She pointedly refused to focus on the vaguely human-shaped shadows scattered on the snow.

Himeko seemed to take notice of her interest, speaking up, "Doesn't look like it was done by conventional arms. I'd say Honkai Beast. Keep your eyes open, it might've not wandered off too far."

Kiana didn't need to be told twice.

For added safety, she reached out to her backpack and produced a wooden baseball bat from it, holding it close. She could see Himeko glancing back at her with a curious look, but the woman didn't question it.

It might not work against the bigger ones, but better safe than sorry.

'Let me guess, you think they deserved it.' 

Kiana felt something akin to surprise reach her.

"I didn't say anything," Sirin replied after a moment.

And indeed she had been strangely silent the past few hours. Kiana hadn't even threatened to mute her.

'So you don't think they deserved it?'

Five seconds of silence.

"Being unable to protect themselves was their own fault," was what Sirin finally said. "That's enough for them to deserve it."

Kiana had to stop herself from letting out a disbelieving laugh.

'You… really are just a human-shaped Honkai Beast, aren't you?'

A spike of anger.

Before Sirin could reply, Kiana continued, 'I thought you might have at least a decent reason to be like this, but that was all? Some humans hurt you and you decided to murder absolutely everyone?'

Kiana could feel the rage growing. She didn't know whose.

"... What gives you the right to talk to me like that, worm?"

'The fact you act like an animal,' Kiana shot back, still eyeing the shadows outside. 'No rhyme or reason. Only kill, kill, kill.'

"And what about you?" Sirin asked, her words seething with anger. "You enjoyed pretending to be me in that dream, didn't you? You killed as well, don't you dare pretend otherwise!"

Kiana's hold onto her bat tightened. 'There's a difference.'

Sirin laughed. "Really? A difference? And what is it?"

'I killed them because they were evil,' Kiana thought, turning to glare at Sirin's form, 'not because they were human!'

The Herrscher simply grinned in return.

"Humans are evil. They all deserve to face a painful end."

It was at that moment that Kiana felt something snap.

The words tumbled before she could stop them.

'Then Bella deserved it too!'

Kiana didn't know why she said that. Not when she knew for a fact Bella was apparently the Herrscher's dragon.

Until the memories tumbled into her mind.

A brunette girl in her arms.

Hurting.

Dying.

"It's killing me from inside, Sirin! Don't let them put that thing in you!"

"Subject expired at 2312 hours. This batch is too weak. They're dying like flies."

When she blinked back to reality, the first thing she noticed was the utter silence in her link with Sirin.

The second was the Herrscher's utterly stunned face. 

… Kiana had made a mistake. Though she didn't understand it perfectly, she knew for a fact she shouldn't have said that.

She needed to...

To what? What could she do at this point?

Kiana swallowed, looking away from Sirin. She focused outside again, her mind working overtime to find a solution to… whatever this was.

And then she saw it.

A human-like shadow moving near a particular house's wreckage.

"There's someone here!" Kiana suddenly spoke up.

Before Himeko could even attempt to reply, Kiana pulled up the door latch and swung the door  open, tumbling outside with her bat and running towards the shadow.

She just needed to be doing something.

Be somewhere else.

Anywhere but sitting next to Sirin after saying something like that. 

"Kiana?!" she heard Himeko call out to her, but she just…

She couldn't. Not now.

So she stumbled into the darkness, eyes looking for the shadow she saw from the car as she ran between the wrecked houses.

"... You certainly have a lot to say for someone who's not even human herself," she heard Sirin's voice from behind her, filled with venom. "Then again, I suppose you did forget."

Kiana knew she had been the one to mess up, but Sirin's words still made a strange panic blossom in her chest.

She instinctively muted the Herrscher and ran faster, trying to put some distance between herself and the ghost.

"Want to know what that stupid Valkyrie didn't tell you? The reason why you have a big bad Herrscher inside of you? It's because you were made to be my vessel."

The image of a strange laboratory crossed her mind. A tube filled with a green liquid. A blonde man staring at her across the glass.

Mute. Mute. Mute.

Kiana ran between two houses, uncaring of where she was actually going, her search for the figure entirely forgotten.

"You're a puppet. A copy of that man's precious daughter."

A girl just like her standing next to her Papa, staring at her with big, curious eyes.

Kiana held her head with a groan. It felt like something was trying to get in.

"And you know the best part?'

She willed Sirin to be silent, but it wasn't working, nothing was working—

"She died for you."

An explosion. A girl falling to her death.

Her father giving her a name that wasn't hers, shouldn't be hers, she didn't deserve—

Mute. Mute. Mute. Mute. Mute. Mute. Mute.

Kiana's foot caught on something, and she fell down into the snow with a startle, the bat escaping her grasp.

"You killed that girl, and then happily took her place. You're just a substitute."

When she looked up, she saw the Herrscher— the ghost— Sirin standing before her, form still clear despite the darkness, looking down at her despair with a smile of utter enjoyment.

"So don't you dare act like you're somehow better than me. Because, you know what?"

Kiana felt tears start to well up in her eyes.

Fuzzy, everything felt far too fuzzy, and she didn't know what was happening.

Sirin didn't care, crouching down to Kiana's level, staring straight into her soul.

"You're a murderous monster. Just. Like. Me."

And Kiana didn't even bother trying to mute her this time.

It was all so… hazy.

Was the Herrscher trying to get into her head?

Or maybe… the problem was herself.

"Ha… Hahahaha…"

Amidst the cold, her tears began to fall, and yet she didn't understand why she was laughing.

It couldn't be happiness or relief.

The sensation that weighed down on her… Kiana couldn't tell if it was lighter or heavier.

What she could tell was that Sirin's smile seemed to shift, losing its edge ever so slightly, becoming almost…

Victorious?

"See? We're finally getting somewhere," she told Kiana with a sickly sweet voice that never came out before. "Come on, now. You're making the vessel dirty."

She reached out, and… Kiana actually felt Sirin's touch this time as she took hold of her upper arms, like warm, buzzing energy.

Kiana shuddered, something inside her finding the contact utterly revolting, but she still moved, rising up to her feet on shaky legs as Sirin supported her.

Was Sirin even a ghost?

Maybe Kiana was the ghost possessing a body that didn't belong to her.

Everything seemed to be spinning distantly. She could hardly focus.

The Herrscher held her with so much gentleness that she felt like she was going insane.

"Now, let's start small, shall we?" Sirin began in a voice that Kiana found impossible to ignore. "That stupid Valkyrie. Why don't we—"

A footstep in the snow.

Sirin suddenly stopped, glancing somewhere behind Kiana with narrowed eyes.

Though she felt strangely sluggish, Kiana followed her gaze.

A strange man stood there in the darkness, dressed entirely in black and wearing a gray metallic mask with a single glowing ruby red eye.

He stopped in his tracks, as though he hadn't expected to be noticed.

"... And who might this soon-to-be-dead insect be?"

Against her own will, Kiana found herself opening her mouth to ask—

The strange man suddenly rushed at them, producing a syringe filled with an unknown liquid.

"...!"

She knew what was going to happen.

He would inject her with that and then drag her to some dark facility where she would be poked at and tortured and—

Without warning, Kiana felt her body seize up, overwhelmed by a sudden terror.

"N Y E T !"

Her body moved by itself.

She felt a strange sensation in her eyes as she raised a hand towards the approaching man, unsure of what she was doing but strangely certain that it needed to be done.

And then a flash of red covered her vision.

The sound of metal hitting metal reached her ears at the same time as a rush of heat.

Suddenly Himeko stood in front of her, greatsword drawn, its glowing edge illuminating their surroundings in red.

The man was slumped on the snow, emitting something that looked like sparks.

Himeko looked back at her, serious. "Kiana, are you alright?"

She tried to reply, but her dry mouth didn't seem to obey. Instead, she could only nod dumbly.

That was enough for Himeko to let out a sigh of relief.

"Come on, sugar. We're leaving."

Himeko walked up to her, holstering her greatsword on her back and reaching down to grab Kiana's discarded bat. Then, before Kiana could react, the woman had already lifted her up as well with her other arm, holding Kiana close as though she were light as a feather.

She expected to feel a wave of uneasiness at the contact, but it never came.

Everything was still strange, like an invisible fog covered the world around her, but she felt comfortable allowing the Valkyrie to carry her to the car.

Kiana looked back at where she had stood with Sirin.

The Herrscher was still there, staring at the fallen man with an expression of empty, mute horror.

No, not at the man, but the cracked syringe on the snow next to him.

It almost felt like Sirin was in another place entirely.

As if sensing Kiana's gaze, Sirin turned to look back at her, expression frozen.

And Kiana reached out a hand to her, opening her mouth to say—

'Himeko, wait, Sirin's still there, you're forgetting…'

By some miracle, the thought never made it to her mouth, her mind catching up just fast enough to inform her that obviously Himeko wouldn't notice the absence of someone whose existence she wasn't even aware of.

Even so, Sirin seemed to shudder for some reason.

Her form flickered once, then twice, as if wondering whether to disappear.

And then, after what felt like an eternity, she began listlessly floating after them. Her eyes kept returning to the syringe, as though it would move by itself if not observed.

Sirin's face was completely devoid of emotions as she did so.

Ø

How much time passed?

Kiana didn't know. She simply sat in silence on the backseat next to her chameleon backpack, staring blankly at the darkness outside as the car moved.

Himeko had simply checked up on her, hugged her for some reason, and began driving away from the ruined village without a word.

No reprimands. No questioning. Nothing.

It felt wrong.

But maybe that was just because she didn't know about the Herrscher. Maybe she would simply abandon Kiana if she found out. Maybe her father would do the same.

Maybe he already had, with how he left her behind.

Kiana had to stop herself from shuddering.

She glanced at the Herrscher by the other window across from her. She still seemed… empty, staring outside at nothing in particular, the same way Kiana herself had been doing.

What exactly happened back there?

And how much of what Sirin said was true?

… Could Kiana even ask Himeko without risking the Valkyrie turning on her for knowing too much? Or perhaps for possibly being a Herrscher's marionette?

"..."

Besides…

Kiana glanced at Himeko, making sure that she was sufficiently distracted by driving.

She carefully shuffled to the side. Her arm moved behind the backpack, slowly so as to not attract the Valkyrie's attention even if she were to glance at the mirror.

And then Kiana's hand touched Sirin's arm.

It felt warm and… active, like something was buzzing underneath. Not quite like flesh, but not entirely solid either.

The Herrscher jolted as if waking up from a daydream, shooting Kiana a startled look.

Kiana didn't react outwardly to it.

'... I can touch you now.'

She wasn't certain which tone she wanted to convey.

It ended up sounding like a rather stupid statement of an easily observable fact.

Sirin blinked at her, mouth opening and closing as though she wanted to say something. She eventually settled on staying silent, going back to staring outside with a slightly more focused gaze.

Kiana continued to touch her arm.

It was certainly strange, considering Sirin simply phased through everything before. It was almost like the ghostly Herrscher had… evolved during Kiana's lapse of control.

That was probably bad news, wasn't it?

Still, even if that was the case…

'... Sirin.'

The Herrscher looked at her, expression preemptively annoyed.

'Sorry.'

That expression promptly became one of utter disbelief.

"Wha…" Her eyes seemed to narrow and widen as if she didn't know exactly what kind of expression to make. "Are you… Did that man actually manage to inject you with something weird?"

Kiana sighed. 'I said something stupid. You had a reason to be mad this time.'

Sirin pointed at her, ready to say something.

When that failed, she raised a hand, as if to argue a point.

Soon afterwards, she tilted her head, looking at Kiana like she had grown a second head.

Sirin wasn't muted. Really, she wasn't.

"You can't be real," the Herrscher finally settled on.

'Really? I let you off for trying to get into my head twice in a row and that's the thanks I get?'

"The problem is that you're doing it at all! There has to be something wrong with you—"

"Sugar?"

"...!" "...!"

They both jumped in place. Kiana let go of Sirin's arm and focused on the rearview mirror, where Himeko's eyes found hers.

"Sorry, did I startle you?" she began, actually sounding apologetic. "I just wanted to say we shouldn't have to worry about any other guys like that one for a while. Your father said he dealt with it."

Kiana perked up. "Can I talk to him?"

Himeko's frown was already enough of an answer.

"Sorry again. He said no direct contact until we figure something out for your… Herrscher problem."

The girl deflated on the spot, disappointed. Next to her, Sirin shot her a look that was… surprisingly blank, all things considered.

Kiana simply stared back with tired eyes.

'Well?'

Sirin blinked. "'Well' what?"

'Aren't you going to say he abandoned me? That he got tired of pretending to be family when I turned out to be this different from his daughter? That he's just treating me like cargo that he's guarding?'

The Herrscher rolled her eyes, looking away. "Why, so you can mute me for insulting your precious 'Papa'?"

Kiana snorted, her blue eyes moving to the world outside once again. On the reflection, something seemed different about her eyes, but she couldn't place a finger on it.

'... Not much of an insult if that's what it looks like.'

If Sirin reacted to that, Kiana wouldn't know. She wasn't looking.

What her eyes did see was the way dark clouds were rolling in to cover the night sky, and how the wind began to pick up pace.

A snowstorm.

And what a great timing.

Sirin clicked her tongue, or at least produced a sound similar to it. "Always like this…"

"Just our luck," Himeko unknowingly agreed with the sentiment from the driver seat. "Looks like we'll just have to find a place to stop at."

"Is there even anywhere nearby?" Kiana found herself asking. She was hardly paying attention to where they were at this point.

"Well…" The Valkyrie paused, considering her options with a grimace. "Some… supposed 'nobles' live around here. Honestly, they seem more likely to have us thrown out."

"They only have a choice if you allow them," Sirin scoffed. "Foolish woman."

"But," Himeko continued, glancing at the greatsword on the seat next to her, "in the worst case, we could probably… argue otherwise."

Both Kiana and Sirin stared at the Valkyrie for a few moments, speechless.

'... You can admit you like her too,' Kiana thought, glancing at the Herrscher.

Sirin crossed her arms, looking away with a 'hmph.' "Our lines of thought simply happened to align for a moment. That is hardly an excuse to like her. I'll still kill her alongside all the other insects eventually."

The only thing Kiana could do was sigh, leaning against the window.

Maybe she shouldn't think about it too hard. Yeah, it was just natural for a Herrscher to want to wipe out humanity, right? Like an instinct instead of a rational choice. Nothing to take personal offense at unless she wanted to be mad all day every day.

That "traitor Herrscher" who supposedly led Anti-Entropy was probably the weird one.

'This is this, and that's that,' she reasoned. 'I just need to focus on the present, step by step, until I have the gems and become the Queen of Honkai.'

That day couldn't come soon enough.

"So, nobles, huh…" she trailed off, thinking. "I can sort of guess what kind of person they are if they actually call themselves that. Do you remember their name?"

Himeko hummed, speeding up as she searched her memories.

"I think it was… the Mal Family?"

Chapter Text

[Eastern Siberia, February 2010]

The snowstorm hit just as the Mal estate's perimeter fence came into view.

Kiana pressed her forehead against the freezing window as the pickup's headlights illuminated row after row of iron bars stretching into the blizzard's whirling darkness.

In Siberia, where just living to see another day was a blessing, that kind of fence, whose metalwork was too elaborate for mere security, wasn't just a boundary — it was a statement.

This was someone's idea of declaring to the world that they were simply better than the rest of the commoners.

It was disgusting. 

"Disgusting," Sirin echoed her thoughts from her spot on the other end of the backseat, across the large chameleon backpack.

'You could wait until we meet the owner before saying that, you know?'

The Herrscher shot her a questioning look. "What, you expect that to change my mind? To change yours?

Kiana hesitated.

'... I didn't say that.'

Truth be told, she didn't expect much from people who lived like this.

"Finally," Himeko said, her voice tight as the car slowed as they approached the main gate. "Took us long enough."

Kiana nodded absently, her breath fogging the glass.

Beyond the fence, a long gravel drive disappeared into the storm, flanked by skeletal trees bent at unnatural angles. Somewhere in that white void stood the Mal mansion, probably.

Hopefully.

Would be a shame to arrive only to find out it had been leveled by a Honkai event or skirmish.

Suddenly, there was movement.

Two figures materialized from the blizzard, their outlines sharpening into armed guards in black winter gear, holding onto rifles of different models.

The lack of uniformity was telling.

"Contractors," Himeko said unprompted, sounding slightly impressed. "Expensive ones, at that."

The lead guard raised a hand, his face covered by goggles and a balaclava as he approached the vehicle.

Before any request was made, Himeko rolled down her window just enough for her voice to carry. "We're seeking shelter."

The guard's breath plumed in the air. "No unauthorized entry."

Himeko's grip on the wheel tightened. "Tell your employer that the one making the 'request' is a Schicksal Valkyrie. Terada Chieri."

And then, to Kiana's surprise, she displayed a document that did, in fact, seem to display that name.

A pause. The guards exchanged glances, eyes finally falling on the greatsword next to Himeko.

That seemed to finally make the lead guard more cooperative, as he stepped away and grabbed his radio.

The conversation was lost amidst the wind’s howling, but it seemed to go well, considering that the gates soon began to swing inward with a groan of metal.

"Follow the path to the estate and park near the entrance," the guard said. "Do not stop. Do not deviate."

As they passed through, the estate unfolded around them, revealing a vast, snow-choked landscape of outbuildings.

Servants' quarters loomed to their left, their windows dark. To the right, a greenhouse, its panes no doubt reinforced to withstand the season.

The drive seemed to stretch forever, the mansion itself only a smudge of light in the distance.

Kiana sighed, leaning against the door as she stared at the snowstorm outside, relentless as it had been from the start.

That was bad news, she thought.

"When it's like this, the storm usually lasts a few days," Sirin said, strangely helpful despite her bored tone. "So Anti-Entropy might just lose their patience and leave without you, after all."

And there it was.

'You're not helping,' Kiana thought with a huff.

"I'm not trying to."

Kiana rolled her eyes at the entirely expected response.

She wasn't looking forward to having to leave the car. Hopefully the Mals wouldn't mind a trail of snow in their home.

After what felt like an eternity, they were finally approaching the main building, a dark gothic mansion that looked straight out of some of the fairytale books her Papa brought home sometimes.

"..."

Kiana stared forward at it with suspicious eyes.

There was… something off. She could feel it by the very edge of her mind.

As if someone was attempting to peek in through a gap.

She threw a glance at Sirin, about to chide her for messing with her again, only to see her eyes darting around even as she attempted to act unbothered.

'Is someone messing with me? Or… us?'

Sirin seemed almost impressed. "Oh? When did you stop being an easy target?"

'Hey, you…'

Then she saw it.

Across from Sirin, beyond the window, the snowfall seemed to slow down, as did their car.

As did the whole world, in fact.

Even Kiana's exhaled breath hung frozen midair for a single crystalline moment.

And then, as if by magic, the world lurched forward again.

Kiana blinked.

"Did you see that?" she asked aloud, glancing at Himeko.

"Hm?" Himeko looked back at Kiana through the rearview mirror. "See what?"

That was a no, then.

"... I must've imagined it," Kiana told her after a moment. "This place is spooky."

Himeko laughed, focusing ahead once more. "That it is, sugar."

She definitely didn't imagine it.

Kiana turned to Sirin. 'Hey, was that…'

Her thoughts trailed off as she noticed the Herrscher suddenly perked up rather than bored, wide eyes pointed straight at the mansion.

Kiana followed her gaze, finding a third-floor window.

And a small figure, smaller than Kiana, peeking from behind dark purple curtains, revealing only long lilac hair and a single yellow eye gazing at them.

No, more specifically…

Gazing directly at Sirin.

"Heh…" Sirin cut through the silence. "To think there'd be someone this bold…"

The Herrscher was scowling, and Kiana could practically feel her growing indignation.

"■■■■"

"Ugh…" Kiana rubbed her temples as a strange static noise buzzed at the edges of her mind, like radio interference from a distant station.

Sirin’s fingers dug into the car seat, phasing through the fabric. "That little insect is playing with us," she hissed, her ghostly form flickering with agitation.

Then another pulse of noise, forming half-heard words.

"…play? …you… me…?"

The voice was childish, singsong, but distinctly wrong, like a recording played backward in a way that only sounded like real words by pure coincidence.

Kiana’s vision swam for a moment, the car’s interior tilting sideways before snapping back.

Himeko frowned into the rearview mirror. "You okay back there?"

"Fine, just moved my head too fast," Kiana lied, gripping her backpack where her self-defense tools laid. 'Sirin, what the hell was—'

"Quiet." Sirin’s golden eyes burned as she stared at the window. The lilac-haired figure hadn’t moved. "She’s listening."

A third pulse. This time, the voice became clearer.

"Come find me! I’ll hide… and you’ll seek…!"

"You dare mock me?!" Sirin’s snarl was outright venomous.

‘That girl… is she a Herrscher too?’

"She’s nothing," Sirin’s rage cut through her thoughts. "A stunted, mewling copycat who doesn’t know her place!" 

But the Herrscher couldn't hide her true thoughts from Kiana, not entirely, no matter how well she built up her mental shields.

There would always be cracks, and through those she could feel something rather startling coming from Sirin.

'Don't worry,' Kiana thought before she could stop herself, 'I'll protect you, too.'

It was an instinctive response, a spontaneous reaction to the growing unease she felt from the Herrscher.

And it did have an effect, judging from how the feeling was nearly instantly replaced by confusion.

Sirin shot her a dumbfounded look. "What…?"

Kiana blinked, suddenly feeling sheepish. 'Uh…'

Thankfully, that was when the car rolled to a stop before the mansion’s grand entrance. Two more armed contractors flanked the doors, their postures stiff.

Himeko killed the engine. "Alright. Let’s— Kiana," she suddenly called out, stopping before opening the door. "You’re pale as a ghost. What’s wrong?"

Kiana opened her mouth—

—and the static returned, this time a whisper.

"Don’t tell… " the voice said. "Grown-ups spoil games… Just come play…!"

"... Just feeling a little under the weather," Kiana lied once more to the Valkyrie.

Perhaps she shouldn't have, maybe sharing the truth would be safer, especially considering the look Himeko gave her at the obvious lie. But it was quickly becoming quite difficult to think things through with so much company in her head.

"Oh, I’ll play with you, worm," Sirin replied, her voice deadly quiet. "But don't blame me for how this game might end."

"Hahahahaha…!"

A fading, childish laughter is all they received in return. High-pitched, giddy, but somehow wrong.

Even so, Kiana let out a relieved sigh as she felt the mental invader let go of her mind, only fully noticing the clumsy yet strong grip now that it was gone.

Before Himeko could attempt to fish for more information, the mansion's front doors creaked open to reveal a broad-shouldered butler flanked by more armed men.

The Valkyrie shot a glance at her Honkai-powered greatsword.

Around them, the snowstorm continued to howl.

They weren't afforded any opportunity to second-guess their decisions, from the looks of it.

Kiana caught one last glimpse upward, only to see that the third-floor window where the girl stood was now dark.

No turning back now, she thought, holding onto her chameleon backpack and attempting to calm her nerves.

The game had already begun.

Ø

The moment the heavy oak doors groaned shut behind them, Kiana knew they had stepped into a world of lies.

The grand hall of the Mal estate was filled with calculated opulence — crystal chandeliers cast light across polished marble floors, their reflections warped by the intricate patterns of imported tile. Thick velvet drapes in deep crimson framed towering windows, their heavy fabric obscuring the storm outside.

But the regality of it was more or less ruined by everything else.

Armed mercenaries stood at measured intervals along the walls. Their postures were relaxed, but their eyes never stopped moving. Kiana counted twelve in the hall alone, their weapons like nothing she saw before — sleek, quite futuristic, barrels ribbed with glowing blue veins. Not normal arms like those of the guards outside. Not even close.

Himeko’s hand twitched, no doubt resisting the urge to reach for the hilt of her greatsword.

At the center of the hall, descending the grand staircase with deliberate grace, was a middle-aged woman who had perfected the art of appearing horribly gaudy.

Her deep blue backless dress, coupled with dark silk sleeves, formed an outfit that seemed better fit for a ball than casualwear. Her dark hair was pulled into an elegant twist that seemed more like an attempt at displaying maturity rather than vanity. Her porcelain skin seemed far healthier than anyone who lived in Siberia would reasonably be. She wore a pearl collar that was probably worth enough to feed entire villages for months, if not years.

And her violet eyes were sharp. Calculating.

"Terada Chieri," she greeted, her voice warm, as if they were old friends. "What an unexpected pleasure."

Himeko inclined her head, just enough to be polite. "Lady Mal. You can just call me Chieri. We appreciate the shelter."

"Oh, please. Just call me Vera." Her gaze slid to Kiana, lingering for a fraction too long. "And this must be your… daughter? Sister?"

"Ward," the Valkyrie helpfully supplied. "Luna Orlova."

Kiana forced herself to remain still under that gaze. There was something in the way the woman looked at her — not with recognition, but more like a merchant evaluating merchandise.

Sirin made her presence known by floating beside Kiana, disgust clear on her face. "She doesn’t know who you are, " the Herrscher murmured, "but she wants to. I'd suggest skewering her before that point."

The suggestion felt strangely appealing, for once.

Vera gestured toward a sitting room where a fire crackled in an ornate hearth. "Please, warm yourselves. The storm shows no sign of relenting, and you must be exhausted."

They followed her there, Kiana acutely aware of the mercenaries shifting subtly to flank them.

The sitting room was no less ostentatious than the hall. Gilded mirrors lined the walls, their surfaces warped with age, reflecting the firelight. A tea set had been laid out on a low table, steam curling from the spout of a polished silver pot.

Now, Kiana didn't think of herself a kleptomaniac, but if she ever had the opportunity to snatch something expensive enough to cover all necessary expenses for months at least…

Well, no one would ever know. Other than Sirin, at least.

Vera settled into a high-backed chair, her posture poised. "Tea?"

"Not poisoned at all, I'm sure," Sirin mused, more to herself than out of an attempt to warn Kiana. "Ugh, I want to kill her so much."

Himeko, for her part, didn’t seem interested in sitting, or playing along at all. "We won’t impose longer than necessary."

Vera’s smile didn’t waver. "Nonsense. A storm like this could last days. You’ll stay as my guests."

It wasn’t an offer.

Kiana’s fingers tightened around the strap of her backpack, quickly calculating whether it'd be best to throw it or take her time grabbing her bat from within.

As she did so, Vera personally poured tea into delicate china cups. Using her own two hands. Shocking. "I must admit, I’m surprised to see a Schicksal Valkyrie so far from headquarters. And with a child, no less."

Himeko’s expression remained neutral. "Official business."

"Of course." Vera’s eyes gleamed. "Though, given recent… developments in Siberia, one can’t help but wonder."

Kiana stiffened.

"Typical greedy human," Sirin’s revulsed voice came. "She’s fishing for easy information."

Vera took a sip of tea, her gaze never leaving Himeko. "Things have begun moving around these parts, so to speak. The mercenaries you see here have been invaluable in securing my estate." Vera gestured idly toward one of the mercenaries stationed by the doorway. "Expensive, but worth every ruble."

Kiana studied the nearest mercenary, once again eyeing the strange futuristic weapon in his grasp.

Vera followed her gaze. "Ah. You’ve noticed their little upgrades. I was told they have access to certain… specialized suppliers."

"Suppliers who deal in anti-Honkai weaponry?" Himeko’s voice was dangerously calm. 

At that, Versa simply smiled back. "One must adapt to survive, Valkyrie. Especially when Honkai beasts grow bold." She set her cup down with deliberate care. "And especially when enhanced individuals roam unchecked."

The threat hung in the air.

Sirin’s annoyance rolled in waves. "I'm telling you. Skewer her."

Kiana… didn't particularly feel like muting Sirin for saying that.

Fortunately for the carefully maintained peace of the situation, Himeko didn’t rise to the bait. "I understand. That said, we’d like to retire for the night rather than continue bothering you, if you'll allow it. Luna's probably tired from the trip."

Vera’s fingers tapped against the armrest of her chair. "Of course. Natasha!"

A girl stepped forward from the shadows near the doorway.

She seemed younger than Himeko, a teenager even. Fair skin that was also too healthy for a Siberian, alongside long light gray hair tied into a messy braid, and uninterested pink eyes.

Her uniform was simple, the dress of a junior maid, but her posture was too rigid, her gaze too sharp.

Natasha bowed slightly, expressionless. "My lady."

Vera gestured toward Kiana. "Escort our young guest to the blue suite. Ensure she has everything she needs. I still need to discuss some important details with our Valkyrie friend here."

Himeko’s jaw tightened. "Surely we can discuss that tomorrow."

"Oh, but I believe it's better to deal with such matters as early as possible." Vera gave her a sweet, extremely punchable smile. "Besides, Natasha might be a newcomer to my estate, but she is quite capable of keeping the child safe, assuming you're willing to allow us to display our hospitality. Of course, if you disagree with that…"

The mercenaries shifted subtly, their grips tightening on their weapons.

Himeko’s fingers flexed, but she didn’t reach for her greatsword. Not yet.

Kiana met her gaze, a silent question in her eyes.

Himeko gave the barest nod. "I'll be with you soon, sugar."

"This is a mistake."

Kiana knew it was. But every single choice in this situation counted as a mistake, so where did that leave them?

Natasha stepped forward, her expression unreadable. "This way, miss."

As Kiana followed her out of the room, she caught one last glimpse of the scene. Himeko's glare, Vera’s smile…

And Natasha’s pink eyes, watching her like a raven.

Ø

The moment they left the sitting room, the atmosphere shifted from veiled hostility to something far more dangerous and immediate.

Natasha moved with a silent precision that a normal maid wouldn't have, her pink eyes scanning every corner as she led Kiana down the corridor, as though more of an ingrained habit than a conscious choice.

Sirin floated beside her, leveling Kiana a serious stare. 

"Can you remain alive by yourself for a few minutes?"

Kiana did her best not to react outwardly. 'Hm? Worried?'

"That you'll ruin the vessel, yes." The Herrscher seemed outright indignant at the idea that she cared beyond that. "But I sense that child somewhere around here, and turning my attention to her means missing whatever stupidity you pull off."

'... Huh.' Kiana blinked. 'I think that's the most words you ever said to me that were more than just insults or complaints.'

Sirin's scowl was quite telling. "... You're stupid."

Saying that, she floated away, off to do her thing.

Kiana kept half her attention on their surroundings while watching Sirin phase through walls like an irritated specter. The Herrscher darted in and out of rooms, her golden eyes narrowed as she searched for their elusive observer.

"I know you're here, you little rat," Sirin snarled, sticking her head through a grandfather clock. "Come out so I can throttle you properly!"

Kiana barely suppressed a snort.

Natasha glanced back. "Something funny?"

"Just... thinking about clocks," Kiana lied smoothly, gesturing at the antique timepiece Sirin had just vacated. "Do they all sound like they're screaming when they chime?"

The maid stared at her before resuming their march. "You're strange."

They walked in silence for several moments, passing by several patrolling mercenaries, before Kiana spoke up again. "So, how long have you worked here?"

"Long enough to know better questions exist," Natasha responded flatly.

Kiana's eyes tracked Sirin floating upside-down through a chandelier. 'Would you stop that? You're making me dizzy.'

"Then help me find this insufferable brat!" Sirin righted herself, scowling. "She's toying with us. I can feel her watching, but I just hit some sort of wall if I wander too far from the vessel—" She suddenly whipped around. "There!"

Kiana discreetly followed her gaze to an empty stretch of hallway.

"Gone again," Sirin growled. "This task is beneath me."

Deciding to ignore the ghost, Kiana refocused on Natasha. "What kind of questions should I be asking then?"

The maid slowed near a branching corridor. For the first time, something like genuine consideration crossed her features. "If you're so bored, try 'Where exactly can a mercenary band get anti-Honkai rifles?' Should make for an interesting conversation."

Before Kiana could respond, a floorboard creaked above them. Both girls froze.

Sirin shot upward through the ceiling. "Got you now, you little—!" Her triumphant shout cut off abruptly. "...Empty hallway. Damn it."

Kiana exhaled slowly. "This place is creepy."

Natasha sighed. "You have no idea." She resumed walking at a brisker pace.

As they passed a window, the storm outside rattled the panes. Kiana caught their reflection — her own tired face, Natasha's guarded expression, and just for a moment, a flicker of lilac hair in the glass behind them.

She spun around to find nothing there.

Natasha twitched. "Saw something?"

"Just jumpy, I guess." Kiana forced a smile. "So… why are you here?"

Better to start trying to figure out the suspicious maid before things potentially got stabby.

The maid stiffened almost imperceptibly. "Does it matter?"

Kiana shrugged. "You don't look like someone whose childhood dream was… this."

Natasha actually snorted. "You know just how little childhood dreams matter in this hellhole."

"Maybe," Kiana agreed. "But I'm pretty sure someone with combat training has better things to do than being a servant."

The maid twitched again. "Good little girls in Siberia learn to shoot at age ten. I'm not special in that regard."

Kiana gave her a look. "The best little girls leave this place behind by sixteen. Or so I was told."

"Well..." Natasha sighed. "Not everyone has a choice, do they?"

Kiana hummed. "Family?"

"None left alive," Natasha replied brusquely. "Not that it matters to you."

"It does mean you have nothing tying you down to this place, though," Kiana reasoned.

Natasha said nothing as the seconds passed.

Maybe that counted as a win?

"That aside," Kiana began, attempting to restart their exchange, "you're Natasha what?"

The question earned her a look. "You're quite interested in things you have no business in, aren't you?"

Kiana returned a grin. "Surnames have history. Sets you apart from all the other Natashas."

"Maybe that history is long dead," Natasha shot back, refocusing forward.

"All the more reason why you should share it. It shouldn't hurt if it means nothing anymore," was the admittedly flimsy reasoning Kiana gave her.

She knew she was being more nosy than usual, but honestly? At this point she just wanted to keep the maid walking and talking rather than giving her the opportunity to do anything strange.

When no response came, Kiana started wondering whether she had killed the conversation for good.

A minute passed.

The maid sighed.

"... Cioara," she said in a resigned voice. "Natasha Cioara. Like you said, it means nothing at this point."

Kiana suddenly perked up.

"Cioara?" she repeated. "As in… Vache Cioara?"

Natasha stopped so suddenly that Kiana nearly bumped into her.

"Enough!" Sirin's shriek echoed through Kiana's skull as the Herrscher came barreling through a wall. "The brat keeps— Wait, why are you two just standing there?"

'Uh… Kinda busy. Don't you have a weird girl to look for?'

"Do not presume to order me around," Sirin said, but did float past a nearby wall to continue her search.

"... Vache?" her voice came quieter than before as she turned around with a strange look in her eyes. "Saw that name on some tombstone?"

Kiana blinked. "Uh... no? Vache Cioara runs the apothecary in a village I stayed a while in. Tall, grumpy, complains about the cold constantly?" She patted her chameleon backpack. "He's the one who packed this for me before I left. Didn't talk much about it, but he mentioned his sister was named Natasha—"

Natasha's breath came faster now. She looked at Kiana like she was seeing a ghost. "Describe him."

"Uh... blonde hair, gray eyes, permanent frown, has this weird scar on his left thumb from a mortar and pestle accident?" Kiana tilted her head. "You're really his sister? But he said you also had blonde hair and—"

"I changed," Natasha cut her off sharply. "But so did he, if he frowns as much as you say…"

Sirin floated between them, looking disgusted. "This family drama is tedious. The real threat is—" She suddenly whipped around. "She's right behind you!"

Kiana spun just in time to see a flash of lilac hair disappear around a corner.

Natasha's combat instincts kicked in, the girl dropping into a defensive stance. "What is it?"

"Uh…" Kiana trailed off, relaxing. "Probably the wind?"

The maid stared at the spot suspiciously before straightening. When she spoke again, her voice was different — less guarded, more exhausted. "Don't dismiss it so easily. This place isn't… exactly safe. Either for you or for me."

Sirin groaned. "Wonderful. Now we're exchanging pleasantries with the enemy. Meanwhile, that pint-sized menace is—" She vanished through another wall mid-rant.

Kiana studied Natasha, tilting her head.

"You really don't want to be here," she realized aloud.

Natasha's jaw tightened. "I don't recall asking for your analysis."

"But you're here because...?"

"I already told you." She turned around and resumed walking, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Having choices is a luxury not everyone is allowed."

Kiana hummed. "Do you really have none?"

Rather than responding, Natasha stopped before a heavy oak door.

"Your room," the maid said stiffly, turning to Kiana. "Don't wander. Not if you want all your internal organs to remain internal." Something shifted in her eyes. "I mean that as a warning, for the record. Not a veiled threat. I'm not Lady Mal."

Kiana smirked. "And thank the heavens for that, right?"

Something akin to a smile crossed Natasha's face for a fraction of a second before disappearing.

As Kiana stepped inside, Natasha hesitated. For a brief moment, her professional mask slipped. "Vache... he's really...?"

"Alive and still terrible at making tea," Kiana confirmed with a small smile. "At Ugoyan. You should pay him a visit after the storm."

Something fragile flashed across Natasha's face before she schooled her features.

"... Maybe I should."

Without another word, she shut the door.

Right then, from somewhere in the mansion, childish laughter echoed.

Kiana stiffened.

"Don’t go looking for her," Natasha's voice slipped past the closed door.

"Looking for who?"

A pause.

"Girl with lilac hair," Natasha replied. "Lady Mal's adoptive daughter. Sin Mal."

Kiana had figured, honestly.

Natasha continued, her words measured, "This is from before I arrived, right before the mercenaries were hired. I was told the girl was perfectly behaved, until she disappeared for about a week last month. Came back... different." Another pause. "Supposedly made the nanny claw her own eyes out. The woman kept screaming about Sin being a demon child while they took her away. Other servants ended up… different after meeting her. They quit soon after."

A nervous laugh made its way out of Kiana's lips. "Sounds…"

"Incredibly creepy?" Natasha finished for her. "Yes. I've been fortunate enough not to run into her yet, but who knows how long that'll last. Just… stay in this room. Lock the door. And try not to let any strange girls in."

"... I'll do my best."

There wasn't much else Kiana could say.

She heard Natasha sigh. "Yes, well… do try to stay alive until sunrise. I doubt you caught Sin's interest just yet, so there shouldn't be a problem, but don't take any chances."

Oh, if only she knew.

Footsteps retreated down the hall. Right on cue, Kiana stepped closer to the door and turned the lock.

"Finally, some useful information," Sirin drawled, materializing upside-down from the ceiling. "So someone did things to the brat. How quaint."

Kiana ignored her sarcasm, walking to the expensive-looking four-poster bed. The room was lavish in a way that felt suffocating — blue drapes, a fireplace that cast flickering shadows. She dropped her backpack onto the quilt, opening it to take her baseball bat out.

Just to be safe.

"Well?" Sirin drifted closer, her golden eyes gleaming. "You heard the maid. Are you going to cower in here all night?"

Kiana shot her a look. "You want me to go looking for her? Right now?"

"Of course!" Sirin threw her hands up. "That little insect has been taunting us since we arrived. Mocking me." Her voice dropped to a venomous whisper. "She needs to learn her place."

Kiana sat on the edge of the bed. "Natasha literally just warned me—"

"That coward?" Sirin scoffed. "Oh, please. Are you not interested at all? You heard what she said. The little monster's been driving other servants insane. Are you going to wait for more victims before acting? Why, maybe she'll break that Valkyrie next!" She laughed, moving to sit on the bed with her ghostly form as she regarded Kiana with a smirk. "What a hero you are."

Kiana frowned. "I thought you wanted me to be more careful?"

"To avoid damaging the vessel," Sirin clarified, "But that’s not important right now." She floated closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. "Think, you fool. That girl, Sin, she saw me. She spoke to me. Do you know how rare that is? Are you not worried about what that might mean?"

Kiana hesitated.

The rational part of her knew Natasha’s warning should be heeded. But another part — the part that had felt Sin’s unnatural gaze, that had witnessed time stutter — burned with curiosity.

And Sirin knew it.

"Tick-tock, vessel," the Herrscher spoke, drifting toward the window. "Every second you waste, the little monster grows bolder. And, let me remind you, she'll have plenty of time to act during our stay."

Outside, the storm howled, a reminder of their unfortunate circumstances.

Somewhere in the mansion, a child’s laughter echoed again.

Kiana made her decision.

She was pretty sure she'd regret it, though.

.

Ø

.

The door of the storage room clicked shut behind Natasha, plunging her into near-darkness. She remained still for several seconds, listening for footsteps.

Five minutes. That's all she could risk.

Her fingers found the hidden compartment in her sleeve, extracting the slim communicator. The device activated with no other indication than a faint vibration against her palm.

A robotic voice emerged from it, "Status."

"Target secured in guest quarters," she murmured, lips barely moving. "Schicksal Valkyrie is currently distracted by the host. If everything goes well, she will be given a separate room."

"Any issues?"

In other words, excuses for why she didn't just grab the girl and leave.

Natasha's thumb hovered over the disconnect button. "The subject is far too active tonight. Curious. Possibly a danger to the target. And the target is more observant than expected. Despite the Valkyrie's current distraction, immediate extraction would require excessive force with very high chances of outside interference."

The line was silent for a moment. "You hesitate."

"Calculating operational viability," she corrected, tone flat. "Capabilities of target are unknown, capabilities of subject are very much known, and nothing will be accomplished with a mistimed move. Unless a mistake is part of the directive?"

Another pause. Too long.

"Maintain surveillance." The words carried finality. "Your continued survival is also necessary for the mission. That is all."

The line died.

Natasha stared at the communicator. 

Yeah, right.

Send the pawn who was careless enough to voice discontentment into the meat grinder first, and then swear that they absolutely expect her to come back alive.

She should've just left without a word.

Then again, if she had, she wouldn't have come across the very… interesting information the target provided her.

Now, what should she do with it…

Without warning, the storage room's door knob twisted behind her.

Strange. She heard no footsteps.

Natasha was suddenly very much aware of the knife hidden under her uniform's skirt, an accessory not at all strange in Siberia and ready for immediate use.

She began turning around as the door creaked open.

"I'm on inventory duty," she announced, slipping back into her maid persona. "Lady Mal wants the linens accounted for before… Oh?"

Instead of another maid, she saw a child, but not the child.

Rather, it was another young girl, around ten perhaps, dressed in slightly oversized tactical combat gear sans a helmet that contrasted with her smooth, spotless fair skin that spoke of a youthfulness that would be startling anywhere other than Siberia. Perhaps the mercenaries had failed to find a helmet of the right size, considering her age.

And, of course, she carried a Kalashnikov with more experience than a child in a civilized place would have.

Typical.

Her unemotional gray eyes found Natasha's, and then moved to analyze the rest of the room, her silver hair styled in a pair of drills waving lightly at the motion.

Finding nothing suspicious, she nodded at Natasha. "Bronya thought she heard something strange here."

"The young lady, perhaps?" Natasha offered. "She's been… wandering tonight."

"... Hm."

Saying that, the mercenary girl simply turned around and left without another word, closing the door on her way out.

Natasha let out a breath she had been holding.

"The best little girls leave this place behind by sixteen, huh…" she whispered to herself. "Wonder if she'll be amongst those who make it… Well, it's none of my business."

Shrugging, Natasha made her way out of the storage room.

A child's giggle echoed across the empty hallway just as she closed the door shut.

Natasha pointedly ignored it as she walked away.

That, too, was none of her business.

Chapter Text

[Eastern Siberia, February 2010]

[Mal Family Estate, Past Midnight]

Himeko hated stuck-up nobles.

Of course, this has been only her first time dealing with one, but she had a feeling the opinion would stick.

Always acting like they were simply better than everyone else, looking to intimidate those beneath them to sate their stupid pride, and then there was the greed.

Oh, yes, the greed.

At least Himeko had managed to keep the greatsword on her back without much fuss. Of course, the silent threats and insinuations probably helped, but it was a feat to strike the balance of holding her ground yet not pissing off her gracious host too much.

And yet, plenty had been taken anyway.

An hour — and half of her mission funds — later, Himeko was finally being led across the hallways to the so-called blue suite by the same maid who took Kiana there.

Natasha was, to put it simply, terrible at hiding how conspicuous she was. The way she moved, discreetly inspecting corners and brushing a hand over what was quite obviously a hidden weapon under her skirt, spoke volumes.

Then again, this was Siberia, and Himeko was still getting used to what passed as common sense around those parts.

When they reached a certain heavy oak door, the maid stepped aside.

"Miss Luna is inside," she told Himeko with a bow, gesturing towards the door. "She is likely asleep, however. The bed is quite comfortable, or so I am told. After you've finished confirming her well-being, your room is the very next door."

"Thanks," Himeko mumbled back, impatient, already knocking on the door. "Sugar, are you there? I'm coming in."

No response.

Maybe she really was asleep…

Before Himeko could open the door, she felt a buzzing in one of her pockets.

She gave an apologetic look at the maid — who was probably waiting for her to enter the room before leaving — and fetched her phone, eyeing whatever message she got.

"... Hm?"

Himeko blinked, reading the message again and again.

The maid seemed to notice her strange behavior, leaning closer. "Is something the matter, miss?"

Oh, yes, there was most certainly a matter.

Without bothering to respond, Himeko practically pushed the door open, rushing in.

"Miss?!" She heard the maid follow her into the room. "What is wrong… Fuck."

Himeko didn't comment on her cracking composure. Not when there was plenty of reason for it.

Her eyes washed over the room. She didn't care for the fancy furniture that barely seemed to have any cohesion other than being expensive, instead zeroing in on the bed.

Kiana's heavy, warm clothing, and her big chameleon backpack laid on it.

The girl herself was nowhere to be seen.

And on her phone, a single message was displayed on the screen.

"Why is my daughter scaling the side of the mansion?"

.

Ø

.

The library on the first floor was a large, labyrinthine room with rows upon rows of bookshelves, most of which probably hadn't been touched in ages. The lights within were sparse, only illuminating as much as was necessary without hurting the eyes.

The perfect entrance point, in other words.

Without a sound, a bent wire entered through a gap underneath a pair of windows, attempting to ensnare the latch several times. A few seconds later, it slithered back outside and re-entered in a slightly different bent shape for a second try.

A minute passed.

The wire retreated once more.

'... Sirin, you can touch stuff, right?'

"Ugh, fine…"

As if by magic, the windows were unlatched, opening outwards by themselves to face the snowstorm.

A brief burst of cold wind and snow invaded the heated mansion, and in that same moment, a certain young girl tumbled in, a quiet thud sounding as she fell into a crouch on the polished wooden floor.

Behind her, the windows closed by themselves. Exposed to the higher temperature, the evidence of a break-in was already starting to melt.

Kiana let out a long breath.

Her long white hair, braids undone to avoid knocking something down by accident, was covered in snow, as were her black short-sleeved shirt and dark combat pants lined with pockets, both previously stored away in her backpack specifically for this kind of occasion.

A black harness held a knife sheath over her left breast, and an old MP-443 handgun was holstered by her right hip, additional magazines stashed in her pockets. Both very useful tools one simply couldn't leave home without in Siberia.

Obviously, she had her wooden baseball bat on her back, safely stored in a custom-made leather scabbard that she ordered back in Ugoyan before setting out, thinking it'd look cool if she ever needed to carry her best self-defense tool around without occupying her hands.

It did, in fact, look cool.

Kiana shook for a few moments to rid herself of the snow, and then snapped her head up. She looked left, and then right, seeing only tall bookshelves forming a multitude of aisles before her.

No cameras pointing at that specific window, just as Sirin had told her.

She tiptoed to a nearby low shelf, pressing her side against it as she kept an eye on her surroundings.

And then she brought a hand up to her ear.

"This is Kiana," she whispered to herself. "I made it into the first floor through the library. The security really is much lighter than on ground level. Reaching the target's room on the third floor will be much easier from here. Awaiting further instructions."

"This is Sirin," the Herrscher replied. "Stop playing around and focus, stupid. And don't speak out loud."

'... I'm going along with your idea. You could at least let me have a little fun.'

"Nyet."

'Hmph.'

Kiana wanted to argue further, but the sound of footsteps coming from one side of the room was reason enough to focus on moving along.

She got up and began walking down the nearest aisle towards where the doors should be, keeping an eye on any surprises.

"Camera on ceiling to your right two bookshelves further. Go left then right for a blind spot, and stop after three bookshelves and wait."

Kiana hummed in response, doing as instructed until she reached the mentioned spot.

She stuck close to the bookshelf, listening for footsteps once again. 

As the seconds passed, she almost felt like making a run for it, but held it in. Calling the library well-guarded would be a mistake, but one slip-up would still be enough for every single mercenary in the mansion to know someone was snooping around, and Kiana wasn't quite up to that challenge.

"Looking at how the patrols are moving…" Sirin trailed off for a moment, thinking. "Go left until the far wall, then right before you're seen. You have about… fifteen seconds." 

'Really?!'

"Thirteen."

Kiana let out an irritated huff as she moved, trying to run in the quietest way possible to the wall. She managed to duck out of view the moment footsteps announced the moving patrol.

Breathing out a sigh of relief, Kiana attempted to catch her breath.

"Heh." Sirin sounded surprisingly satisfied. "These fools wouldn't notice a Chariot in a glasshouse. And that woman said they were worth every ruble?"

Kiana paused at her tone.

'You know…' she began, considering her words. 'You told me to stop playing around, but you sound like you're having quite a bit of fun.'

"Shush. Now keep moving down the aisle and stay in cover at the end."

The girl rolled her eyes, but still moved steps quiet as she approached the edge of the aisle, stopping shy of walking out in full view.

She lowered herself to a crouch once more. 'How does it look?'

"Double doors leading outside, but two dumb mercenaries standing guard… Oh, I got it."

Before Kiana could ask what she meant, there was the sound of something crashing on the other end of the library.

"Eeep!" she heard a young-sounding male voice say from her hiding spot. "I-Is that the demon kid…?"

A groan from the same direction, followed by another male voice, this one gruffer, "That's the sound of books falling, idiot. Some moron probably tripped into a bookshelf. Go check it out."

"A-Alone?" the first mercenary squeaked. "Are you sure? I-I mean, isn't that how people die in horror movies?"

"Tch, dumbass. Who said this is one of your third-rate flicks?" Then, a long sigh. "Fine. Stay here. I'll be back in a minute."

"A… Alright…"

Kiana heard a muttered string of curses, along with a pair of footsteps moving away from her position.

'... Huh. That worked?'

"Not yet… Hah!"

This time, she heard the sound of a single book falling, this time much closer.

That, and the terrified shriek of the younger mercenary.

"D-Dmitry!" he yelled, already running after the other man. "It's the demon kid! She's here!"

"Bastard, don't just leave your post!" a shout came from the opposite side of the library. 

"B-But I'm scared!"

"Ha!" an amused male voice sounded from a few aisles away. "Is the kid giving you trouble again, Dima? And here I thought you liked being a matushka!"

The gruff voice didn't hesitate to respond, "Nikolai, you can take your nonsense and shove it up your—"

"Don't linger," Sirin urged her. "Move before a patrol passes by the hall outside and blocks the way out."

Kiana was already moving before she was finished talking, leaving her hiding spot and running up to the expensive-looking double doors.

Amidst the chatter of the mercenaries, it was rather easy to open the doors and slip away unnoticed, closing them behind her.

Ø

The silver-haired girl's legs swung slightly as she sat on the wooden chair, her boots not quite reaching the floor. The Kalashnikov in her hands was nearly as long as her arm, but she cleaned it with practiced motions. Her uncle had drilled the steps into her until she could do them in her sleep.

The radio crackled, making her jump. "All units, disturbance in the library. Possible intruder."

Her rag froze mid-swipe across the barrel. An intruder? In this weather?

Another voice sounded, shrill with panic, "It's her! The demon kid! I think I heard laughing—"

"Shut your mouth," a deeper voice growled. "Nikolai's team is sweeping the area. If it really is the kid playing pranks again, we'll find out."

The girl's fingers tightened around the cleaning rod. The other mercenaries always talked about "the demon kid" in hushed tones. How she made people see things, how the last nanny lost her mind from it.

She might've doubted it if she didn't occasionally hear the disembodied giggling.

Then again, even if she hadn't, she already knew that demons and monsters were real.

The radio stayed silent after that. No orders for her. No requests for backup.

She looked down at her rifle, then at the clock. Only twenty minutes until her next patrol. The adults had it handled. They always did.

So the girl went back to cleaning, humming one of the folk songs she heard back at camp as she waited for her turn to be useful.

Ø

The hallway outside the library was a long, shadowed stretch of wood-paneled walls and flickering sconces. As Kiana made her way forward, listening for footsteps, portraits of the Mal family's ancestors stared down with judgmental eyes, their expressions frozen in permanent disapproval. 

Or at least Kiana assumed they were the Mal family's ancestors. From a first impression alone, she wouldn't put it past that Vera woman to buy a bunch of random expensive portraits to show off to others.

And speaking of first impressions, there was something… strange about Sirin that didn't quite match Kiana's expectations.

Since the nightmare, the Herrscher had become able to interact more with the world, and Kiana had been mentally preparing herself to order her to stand down the moment she tried anything funny.

And yet… she hadn't even attempted to get her hands on a weapon so far.

"T junction ahead, two idiots to the left path guarding a door to a kitchen," Sirin reported into Kiana's mind. "One's half-asleep, the other's reading a magazine. Pathetic."

Kiana's eyes quickly assessed her surroundings.

'... I've been meaning to ask, but where are you?'

"In the walls, duh," she replied as though it was a stupid question. "Take cover by the junction."

Kiana stopped just shy of becoming visible to them, pressing herself against the edge of the wall. In the silence, she could hear light snoring and a careless humming.

"Hm, there's nothing of importance in the kitchen, so we need to go the other way… Oh, this one should be easy." 

This time, Kiana didn't bother questioning her, having an idea of what she was playing at.

She was proven right when a cacophony of falling utensils came from nearby.

"What in—" "Bwah—?!"

"Go."

Kiana didn't need to be told twice, rushing past the distracted mercenaries as they turned to the kitchen behind them.

"Hahahaha!" The Herrscher sounded outright elated. "This is far too easy! We'll be by that little monster's doorstep in no time!"

'Ha… hahaha…'

Once again, no murder attempts for Kiana to interrupt.

If it was because Sirin knew Kiana would stop her, then… she'd be complaining about having to spare those "worms" or somesuch, wouldn't she?

Kiana wasn't about to question her and risk giving her ideas, but it was almost like she was… distracted?

… Was murder not a natural Herrscher urge?

"Stop!" 

And stop she did, only then noticing the footsteps coming from further ahead where the hallway turned left.

Oh, an incoming hallway patrol. That could be bad.

She looked around, frantically looking for a hiding place.

A click sounded to her left, attracting her gaze. There, she was met with the sight of a small section of the wall, a meter-tall panel just wide enough for an adult to fit in, swinging outwards to reveal a… dark hidden compartment?

Sirin's ghostly form stood there, hand pushing the hidden door open. "Cease the gawking and come in!"

Then, to Kiana's surprise, she actually reached out to grab Kiana's wrist and dragged her through the wall's tight gap, closing the hidden door shut behind them and plunging them into darkness.

At least until another click sounded, and a lightbulb on the ceiling suddenly illuminated their surroundings.

The burst of light made Kiana wince, blinking quickly in an attempt to adjust.

Before she could ask any questions, Sirin let go of her wrist and eagerly floated to the hidden entrance, phasing through it to observe the hallway outside.

Kiana took that chance to let her eyes wander around.

It wasn't merely a hidden compartment. The inside wasn't exactly spacious, but the wooden walls were spaced enough to allow enough space for a pantry room, and by the corner of the room was a small spiral staircase leading upstairs.

Her observations were brought to a halt by the sound of Sirin giggling.

She pulled back from the hidden entrance, whipping around to give Kiana an honest-to-god grin.

"They actually walked right past! You should've seen it, vessel!" she practically laughed out. "Oh, I'm so glad to know that greedy woman's money was wasted on these fools!" 

'Yeah…' Kiana trailed off with an awkward smile. 'So, uh… What's this place?'

"A servants' staircase, obviously," she answered easily, sounding almost proud of her knowledge. "Those egotistic insects who call themselves 'nobility' used to prefer that their lowly servants remained out of sight at all times unless needed, and thus these secret staircases were commonplace."

'I… see…' She wasn't sure how to reply to such an earnest explanation from the Herrscher. 'You sure know a lot.'

"Of course. Herrschers know everything, vessel." Sirin preened under the praise, smirking. " Now, stop wasting time on obvious statements and let's go."

Saying that, she floated upwards, past the ceiling.

… Sirin had to be really distracted to be so purposefully helpful.

It took a moment for Kiana to gather her bearings after that, but when she did, she followed the Herrscher through the staircase.

Ø

The radio's sudden burst of static made the silver-haired girl flinch, her polishing rag slipping from the Kalashnikov's receiver. She caught it before it could smudge the freshly oiled bolt.

Even so, the transmission that followed turned her blood to ice:

"All units, second disturbance in kitchen near library. Proceed with caution."

Her thumbnail dug into the cleaning rod's groove. 

Two incidents in thirty minutes. Patterns meant tactics. Tactics meant an intruder.

Her eyes darted to the wall clock. Five minutes until scheduled patrol.

The rifle came together with three sharp snaps of reassembly. Her uncle's voice growled in her memory, "Better a beating for initiative than a coffin for obedience."

She got up and moved, but hesitated at the storage room door. Another lesson whispered louder, "Only foolish wolves hunt alone."

The girl glanced at the sleeping forms of two off-duty mercenaries on the floor.

On one hand, they could help, but…

Well, grown-ups rarely believed children's warnings until it was too late.

She made her way out of the storage room. A servant’s stairwell loomed at the end of the hall as she approached, its narrow entrance half-hidden behind a tapestry.

The girl ignored the chill creeping down her spine as she began making her way up. The steps groaned underfoot, as if the mansion itself was unhappy with her.

Halfway to the second floor, the sound hit her.

Not the creak of old wood, but the crisp tap-tap of a pair of barefoot feet on the steps. Close.

Behind her.

She whirled so fast her drill pigtails lashed her cheeks. The rifle's stock slammed against her shoulder as she took aim down the spiraling darkness.

Nothing.

Just an empty stairwell.

"..."

Her breath came sharp and quick as she forced herself to keep moving.

Ø

Kiana carefully pushed the hidden door open, peeking into the second floor's hallway.

It seemed identical to the floors below, save for a violet carpet and plenty of stands along the walls holding expensive-looking vases.

'Is there really even less security here…?'

"Some prefer their attack dogs out of sight," Sirin replied, peeking from behind Kiana. "I'd wager we'll find none on the third floor. Now stop asking stupid questions and keep going. We're so close I can feel It."

Slowly, Kiana stepped out into the open, closing the hidden entrance behind her.

She looked both ways, seeing only stretching hallways.

'Well, here goes nothing.'

Picking a direction, she—

"That's the wrong way, stupid."

… Picking the other direction, Kiana crept down the hallway, her boots silent against the violet carpet. The vases lining the walls gleamed under the dim sconces.

She eyed them out of curiosity, wondering how many of them were even the real deal. Either way, they seemed to be maintained as though they were, their surfaces so polished she could see her warped reflection in them as she passed, along with the hand behind her reaching for her neck—

Kiana spun around.

There was no one else with them.

Not visibly, at least.

Sirin floated ahead, her golden eyes scanning for threats. "Hmph. No guards at all within my range." She sounded almost disappointed. "I expected at least a few. Is there such a big gap in the patrols, or did the little monster do something to scare them off?"

Letting out a shaky breath, Kiana shot her a look as she resumed moving. 'You wanted more resistance?'

"Don't be absurd," Sirin shot back. "I simply expected to see more of the waste of money that woman hired."

Ahead, the hallway branched left and right. Sirin pointed to the right.

"That way. The main staircase to the third floor is—"

A floorboard creaked.

Both froze.

Kiana's hand flew to her baseball bat. Sirin's form flickered, her fingers curling like claws.

Silence.

Then—

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Small, barefoot steps. Just around the left corner at the next junction.

Kiana's pulse spiked. 'Is that…?'

Sirin's lips peeled back, as if a silent snarl. 

"Finally."

She shot forward, phasing straight through the left wall to scout ahead.

Kiana went after her, pressing herself against the wallpaper.

The footsteps had long stopped by the time she reached the edge of the wall. The air grew colder.

Then—

"Boo."

A whisper, directly into Kiana's ear.

She nearly yelped, spinning around—

Nothing. Again.

Sirin burst back through the wall, looking furious. "She's toying with us!"

'No kidding!' Kiana rubbed her ear, shuddering. 'Did she just—?'

"Time manipulation," Sirin spat. "A cheap trick. She paused just long enough to sneak close, then unpaused to whisper." Her eyes narrowed. "Pathetic. She didn't even tear out your throat."

Kiana swallowed, bringing a hand up to her very much untorn throat. 'You know just what to say, don't you...'

A giggle echoed from the ceiling.

Sirin's head snapped up. "Enough! Come out and face me properly, you coward!"

"But hiding is the fun part…" Sin's voice was singsong, drifting from nowhere and everywhere. "Besides… you're cheating. You're both cheating."

Kiana frowned. 'Both?'

Sirin growled. "What nonsense are you going on about now?"

"Sirin and her peek-ahead-through-walls," Sin continued, her voice bouncing between the vases. "Kiana and her listen-like-a-good-girl. Not fair! It's like you're ignoring me to play by yourselves! I wanna play too!"

A vase toppled.

Kiana flinched as it shattered, porcelain skittering across the carpet.

Sirin's eyes blazed. "You want to play? Fine." She whirled to Kiana. "Change of plans. We're not sneaking anymore."

'Wait, what—?'

"Whatever she's doing, she's practically bleeding out energy and yelling out where she is," Sirin explained in a hurry. "Just follow my directions and run down the right path."

Kiana didn't argue any further. Insteadl, she bolted down the hall, Sirin streaking beside her.

Sin's laughter sounded all around them, gleeful and unhinged. "Yesyesyes! Now it's a game!"

Kiana had no idea where the voice was even coming from.

"Don't overthink, it's telepathy," Sirin cut off her thoughts.

Kiana skidded around the next corner, any attempts at being quiet long forgotten as she ran like her life depended on it. Without warning, Sirin yanked her sideways just as a chandelier crashed down behind them, glass exploding across the carpet as Kiana righted her stance.

'How did she—'

"She brought it down with an energy projectile in stopped time," came the Herrscher's timely explanation. "Doesn't seem like the little monster is aiming at you, though. Tch, if only I had more energy to stop time right back at her!"

'You can do that?!'

"Focus on running! And go left to the main stairs!"

Another junction approached, and Kiana didn't hesitate to do as instructedThe mansion's central staircase stood before them — a triple-tiered monstrosity of dark mahogany connecting all three floors.

Sin’s laughter echoed from the upper landing. "Catch me if you can~!"

Sirin snarled. "Oh, I’ll catch you, you little—"

Kiana took the stairs two at a time. The air grew thicker with each step, as if the mansion itself resisted their ascent.

Halfway up, time stuttered.

The world lurched—

—and Kiana’s next step landed sideways, her balance betraying her as gravity twisted. She barely caught the railing, her stomach lurching as the staircase stretched beneath her, the top landing suddenly impossibly far.

Sirin’s hand clamped around her wrist and yanked. "Move, you idiot! She’s warping your perception!"

Kiana stumbled onto the next step, and the illusion shattered. The stairs snapped back to normal, but the damage was done. Her knees wobbled, her vision swimming.

Even so, she kept moving.

The final flight of stairs loomed before them. Kiana's lungs burned as she took the last steps three at a time.

"Go left at the end of the corridor," Sirin hissed as soon as Kiana's feet touched the carpet. "I can feel her—"

A grandfather clock by the wall struck midnight with a sound like a dying breath, forcing Kiana to glance at it. The hands spun wildly backward as the casing trembled. Kiana's vision blurred—

—then cleared to reveal the clock now read 3:33 AM, its pendulum frozen mid-swing.

Kiana nearly stumbled.

"Don't look at it!" Sirin yanked Kiana forward. "Whatever nonsense you see is fake! The more attention you pay to her illusions—"

"No cheating~!"

A strange static filled Kiana's mind, drowning whatever Sirin was saying. The Herrscher's eyes widened as she realized it, her features twisting into borderline rage.

But Kiana had no time to linger on what happened.

Not when she saw a flash of lilac at the end of the corridor, turning right.

"There!" 

She forced her feet to keep moving even as her steps began to ripple through the floorboards, as though she was running on a cracking frozen pond.

Not real. Just like Sirin said.

Even so, she didn't understand why the Herrscher flew right to the farthest wall, shaking her head as an uncharacteristic flash of panic crossed her face.

Or at least she didn't, until she turned right.

Time seemed to slow, this time not the psychic girl's doing.

A silver-haired girl in combat gear, likely younger than Kiana, stood at the corridor's turn, her boots planted in a perfect shooter's stance. 

The light from the sconces glinted off the Kalashnikov's barrel as it swung up toward Kiana on instinct. The silver-haired girl's drill-shaped pigtails swayed with the motion, her gray eyes widening almost imperceptibly behind the iron sights.

Recognition struck like lightning.

The mysterious girl who fired at Sirin, her visage forever etched into Kiana's mind from her constant dreams back in Ugoyan of fighting her Papa and the Valkyries, clear in the way that probably only a Herrscher's senses could make out, as far away as she was.

And this girl probably thought Kiana was Sirin.

Kiana's hand flew to her baseball bat, pulling it out from its sheath. Left without choice, she rushed at the armed girl, twisting aside.

A gunshot rang, the bullet whizzing past where Kiana's head had been, and the miss gave her the opportunity to angle her bat and swing it at the girl's side.

But she moved faster, using her rifle to block the bat.

A crack resounded as metal hit metal, the younger girl's arms unable to muster the strength to keep her rifle from flying away and hitting the wall—

No, she purposefully detached the sling and let go of the rifle.

Kiana barely had time to process her own realization before the girl moved, drawing a combat knife and swinging it at her jugular. 

She twisted aside in her forward momentum, feeling the knife's edge whisper past her jugular as she rolled past the girl. As soon as she stopped in a crouch, she saw the girl moving to follow, and so she did the first thing she thought of.

Kiana threw her bat at the mercenary girl.

She ducked under it quite easily as she rushed at Kiana, but it gave Kiana the time she needed to unsheathe her own knife, swinging to catch the girl's as it came at her.

The knives clashed with a sharp screech of steel. Kiana's arms trembled from the impact — this girl shouldn't have been able to match her strength at all, yet here they were locked in a deadlock, courtesy of Kiana's terrible footing at the moment.

With a sudden twist, the girl disengaged, her knife flashing upward in a vicious arc. Kiana barely jerked back in time, the blade slicing through the front of her harness, sending the empty knife holster clattering to the floor as she scrambled to her feet.

'Too fast…!'

Kiana barely registered the thought before the girl was on her again, knife darting forward. Each slash came faster than the last, forcing Kiana into desperate parries.

A particular one would've made contact with her side, had Sirin not chosen that moment to shoot forward and barrel right against the girl's back.

Her gray eyes widened as she stumbled forward, her balance ruined, and Kiana took that chance.

With her free hand, she grabbed the girl's knife hand and pulled on it, using it as leverage to twist the both of them and fall on top of her. Before she could react, Kiana already had her knife to the girl's throat while pinning down her wrist, leaving her unable to make use of her own blade.

The silver-haired girl went rigid beneath Kiana's grip, her gray eyes wide with a genuine fear that Kiana hadn't expected to see. Her breath came in short, controlled bursts, but the pulse under Kiana's knife hand hammered.

"Who... What are you?" the girl whispered as she stared into Kiana's eyes. "Are you here to summon more demons?"

Kiana blinked. "What? No I'm—"

"Hey! No fair!"

A high-pitched whine cut through the tension, startling them both and drawing their attention. 

When they looked at the source, a lilac-haired girl, as small as the mercenary girl, in an expensive and frilly black and purple dress stood pouting at the end of the hallway, only a single narrowed yellow eye visible as the other hid behind her bangs. 

And, of all things, she stomped her foot like a petulant child. "I was having so much fun with tag-hide-and-seek, and now you're playing with someone else!"

The silver-haired girl's composure broke completely. "Y-You're—" her voice cracked with very real terror.

And then, with a stutter, time stopped again, rendering them all immobile.

Except this time, like the very first one, Kiana could still see and hear.

"You're all cheating," Sin Mal pouted, walking towards them. "Sirin goes through walls, Kiana listens to Sirin, and you—" She jabbed a finger at the silver-haired girl's motionless face. "—are stealing my new friends. You all deserve a punishment, but what should it be…?"

She then made a show of bringing a hand up to her chin, walking around the three girls while humming to herself.

A few seconds passed, and then…

Sin smiled as an idea came to her, running to stand before the three where they could all see. "Alright, I've decided! This girl is my friend too!" she declared, pointing at the silver-haired girl. "That way, no one is stealing anyone's friends! But as for punishment…"

The girl grinned, revealing a sharp set of teeth, not unheard of as far as Siberian mutations went since the Second Eruption.

Also very useful at making Kiana nervous.

"Matushka told me I wasn't allowed to do this anymore, but it should be so much fun with this many friends!" She clasped her hands together with manic glee. "She doesn't need to know, right? Right?!"

'I have a really bad feeling about this…'

" ■■, ■■■■■?"

'... I still can't hear you.'

" ■■■■!"

Underneath Sin, her shadow stretched unnaturally long, not matching the light sources. It grew longer and longer, slithering up the walls.

"Let's go somewhere grown-ups never look!" Sin chirped, rocking on her heels. Under her bangs, a lavender glow shone from her hidden eye. "To my favorite place!"

The shadows surged forward like a tidal wave.

Time resumed, but by then there was nothing that could be done.

The last thing Kiana heard was the silver-haired girl's whimper of terror before the world dissolved into nothingness.

An endless void consumed all of her senses, as though she had been kicked out of the world itself.

And then…

A blinding light.

…

…

…

"Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…~!"

.

Ø

.

Himeko stopped caring about getting permission to head upstairs as soon as the gunshot rang.

As she rushed past the guards, running up the main stairs, she could hear Natasha behind her telling the guards to stand down and let the Valkyrie deal with it, likely an attempt to minimize the chaos, followed by her own frantic footsteps as she followed Himeko.

Hopefully not to stop her. At the moment, Himeko was fairly certain nothing short of a Parvati would be able to achieve that.

She didn't know what was worse: that this happened as soon as she looked away from Kiana for less than an hour, or that it was Kiana herself who went out looking for trouble.

Himeko already had some choice words for that brat.

If anything, the previous worst-case scenario in her mind involved some sort of conspiracy from the Mals, not… whatever this was.

She reached the third floor in less than a minute, and even then it felt like an eternity. Running across the hallway, she turned right, coming face to face with—

A discarded Kalashnikov by the wall. Kiana's bat, forgotten on the carpet.

And absolutely nothing else.

She let out a few ragged breaths from the sudden exertion, observing the scene with a sharp gaze until Natasha arrived, skidding to a halt next to Himeko.

Seeing the fallen objects, the maid cursed under her breath.

"Now… this is the part where things get complicated," she said with a grimace. 

Himeko looked at her. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

Natasha's lips pursed into a thin line. It seemed as though she was wondering how much to say.

Until footsteps sounded from behind them.

"In short?" a new, mature female voice spoke up. "It looks like Miss Luna just became Little Sin's newest toy for the foreseeable future, and someone else was dragged along for the ride."

Both Himeko and Natasha whipped around in surprise.

A fair-skinned woman, likely about a decade older than Himeko, stood there in a heavy military coat, long blonde hair tied in a hasty ponytail and hands in pockets as her purple eyes met Himeko's gaze.

It was a person Himeko had been warned about by multiple sources. Someone to stay away from at all costs while in Siberia.

But, honestly? Himeko should've seen it coming the moment anti-Honkai weaponry entered the equation.

"I believe we have much to speak about regarding this situation, Miss Terada," Cocolia, local warlord and leader of Anti-Entropy's reformist faction, greeted her with a frown. "Or maybe you'd prefer if I called you something else?"

Chapter Text

[Eastern Siberia, February 2010]

[Mal Family Estate, Past Midnight]

Himeko's boots pounded against the violet carpet for the seventh time.

She'd counted.

Seven sprints down the third-floor corridor. Seven times reaching Sin Mal's ornate bedroom door. Seven black voids swallowing her vision, only for her to blink awake standing at the corridor's start, facing the other way where Natasha's grim face greeted her.

"I do believe I told you it's pointless." Cocolia sighed from her spot leaning against the wall, polishing a dark revolver with her coat sleeve. "Though I do admire your persistence, if anything."

Himeko growled, stepping towards the corridor once more. "What the hell is—"

"Manipulation of senses," Natasha cut in, catching Himeko's wrist before she could do an eighth repeat. "Sin's... condition lets her set up some kind of keep-out field. To us, you made it half the way before turning around. It always caused some trouble whenever Sin brought a new 'playmate' to her room. If you want, I can try—"

Cocolia holstered the revolver with a click, observing the scene with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Charming as it is to see such a helpful maid, would you be so kind as to let the adults deal with this situation?"

The maid stiffened. Just for a heartbeat, Himeko thought she might disobey, only for her to bow stiffly, turning around and walking back the way they came.

Himeko quickly took hold of her phone and typed out a summary of the situation for Siegfried. Just in case.

"Now, if we're done with pleasantries..." Cocolia straightened, brushing imaginary dust from her coat. "The field should disperse in a few hours, and Miss Luna should be found in Sin's room, as I already explained. I can't speak for her mental state, but she'll be alive, considering previous incidents."

Himeko narrowed her eyes, discreetly assuming a stance that would easily let her pull out her greatsword. "I should've expected your little group to have a hand in producing an unstable psychic girl."

"But we didn't," came Cocolia's casual response as she moved closer to Himeko, crossing her arms. "It might shock you to learn we don't engage in such dangerous experiments with little girls."

"Yet," Himeko shot back.

"Quite a hurtful assumption to make regarding our future endeavors," was Cocolia's dismissive response. "But regardless, I only learned of Sin when the leader of these mercenaries contacted me shortly after accepting the contract. Our esteemed Lady Mal deigned it unnecessary to mention her when describing the task, you see. She's quite tight-lipped about how this came to pass, as well, the snake that she is."

Himeko hummed, not quite relaxing yet. "And you also gave mercenaries anti-Honkai weaponry in response to a creepy child with tell-tale signs of Stigma experiments?"

Cocolia actually chuckled at that. "Oh, no. I had already supplied them by that point. If you must know, we began this partnership when he reached out to me after he and his ward witnessed a rather startling Honkai event, which seemed to put some things in perspective for him. It happened about a little over a month ago, if I'm not mistaken."

Himeko paused at a certain piece of information. "... A month ago, you say."

And Cocolia actually smirked at her. "A month ago, yes. I'd be worried if you didn't remember, Miss Murata."

Oh, joy. So she wasn't bluffing.

That wasn't just pointless rambling, either. It was a declaration that the mercenaries were also essentially her men, and Himeko was hopelessly surrounded.

A threat.

Well, not that it changed much of her situation since arriving at the mansion. She just had to keep standing her ground.

"You sound like you think you can deal with Siegfried with numbers." Himeko chuckled. "Not a very safe bet, if you ask me."

"Good thing I'm not betting on that, then." Cocolia shrugged. "I'm simply establishing that hostilities would be troublesome to all involved, not to mention the collateral damage that none of us wishes for. I was hoping to talk. With the both of you, if possible."

Himeko raised an eyebrow. "Really now?"

"Yes." Cocolia gave Himeko another humorless smile. "I'd be thankful if you'd call him here. It's not like the girl is with us for his presence to trigger the Herrscher, right?"

At that, Himeko took a moment to think.

She would, of course, call Siegfried regardless. But if she played her cards right, she could get a concession or two out of Cocolia before that point.

Worth a try.

"You know, before making demands like that, you could at least apologize for sending those androids after us," Himeko told her. "Not that they gave us any trouble."

A half-truth. That had been a close call on her side, with how close that android came to Kiana, but Siegfried eliminated the rest quite easily before they could approach.

"... Androids?" Cocolia, against Himeko's expectations, seemed genuinely confused. "I don't remember deploying any forces against you."

"What?" Himeko narrowed her eyes. "Then what exactly was—"

A window nearby was opened, inviting a cold gust carrying a clump of snow that hit Himeko square in the face.

"Ah, my bad," Siegfried's voice sounded, followed by the sound of the window closing. "Took me a while to unlock. Wouldn't want to start things out with a mess of broken glass, right?"

Himeko silently wiped the snow off her face, shooting him a very unamused look as he shook off the snow covering himself.

"... No, it's fine," she told him. "We were just discussing some things."

Cocolia opened her mouth—

Siegfried didn't even spare her a glance as he strode past them. "Yeah, just a sec, gotta check up on my daughter first."

—Cocolia closed her mouth with a stunned look.

Himeko resisted the urge to laugh. It didn't seem as though Cocolia was used to someone blatantly ignoring her authority in favor of some other priority.

And then she realized what Siegfried said.

"Wait," she called out to the man as he walked towards Sin's room, "there's a field that alters your perception and…"

… And Siegfried reached the door without issues by the time he looked back. "Hm? I mean, I do feel a bit weird, but it's not actually that strong. I actually expected some heavy stuff from what you described, like full-on mind control, but it feels more like… downing a couple cans of beer in a row, you know? Not enough to get a buzz going, though."

Himeko found her eye twitching in annoyance.

Yeah. She was sorry for being so weak.

"That's… great," she told him. "Just watch out for anything else when you open that door."

The man gave her a quick thumbs-up before opening the door.

And then his face morphed into shock.

Himeko swallowed. "Is… everything alright?"

All things considered, her life was probably forfeit if Kiana had been hurt under her watch.

But rather than responding, the man instead entered the room, the sounds of footsteps against the carpeted floor continuing for just a few seconds more before stopping.

He was looking at something, and Himeko had no idea at what.

Cocolia seemed to snap out of her shock then, letting out a groan. Without a further word, she… turned around and began walking away towards the main staircase.

"Hey!" Himeko found herself calling out on instinct. "You're leaving now? We were in the middle of a conversation!"

Cocolia didn't even bother with a glance to address her. "Save it for later. I can tell exactly where this is going. Tell Siegfried I'm off to make a call for some important equipment for him to set up in Sin's room if he wants to check up on his daughter." Then she paused, finally turning around and speaking louder, "And that he better leave her where she is instead of moving her and risking making everything worse!"

"I heard you!" he shouted back from Sin's room. "What do you take me for?!"

At that, Cocolia simply gave a "hmph" before continuing on her way.

Himeko blinked.

This was… a truce, right? Did they just form a truce simply because Siegfried existed?

Before she could wrap her mind around whatever direction their interaction just took, Siegfried left Sin's room, eyeing his phone as he walked to Himeko.

"So," Himeko began, "what's the situation?"

Siegfried… cracked a tired smile? And then he showed her his phone's screen. "Took a picture of it. Might wanna take a look for yourself."

And that she did.

Then she did it again, tilting her head.

"... Eh?"

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, February 2010]

[Fairy Tale, Playtime]

Kiana's eyes snapped open.

The first thing she noticed was how… comfortable she felt. As if she was lying on the clouds themselves.

As her senses returned, she glanced down, seeing…

"... Huh?"

She was clad in a beautiful white frilly dress, the kind that only ever seemed to appear in fairy tales, and white heeled shoes. The clouds she felt were actually the far-too-large luxurious bed underneath her, clad in blue covers.

Blinking, Kiana sat up on the bed

Something fell from her head, landing softly on the bed. Kiana took hold of it almost instinctively.

In her grasp was a silver crown encrusted in blue gems.

Uneasy, she began eyeing her surroundings.

A bright wallpaper, carpeted azure floor, and ornate oak furniture, from a bedside table to a wardrobe and bookshelf.

On one side of the room was a wooden door with intricate carvings that looked expensive enough to make the Mals look poor, and opposite to it was a pair of large windowed doors leading to what seemed to be a balcony.

Before Kiana could figure out what was happening, a girl's giddy voice echoed through the room.

"Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…~!"

Kiana jolted in place, eyes searching across the room for a possible source of the voice.

There was none.

"There lived an evil queen who always had her way~!"

"... Sin?" she called out hesitantly, moving to sit by the bedside.

A giggle came.

"You shouldn't talk to the narrator, silly!"

"Narrator…?"

Before Kiana could question her further, a sudden lack of weight on her hands made her realize the crown wasn't in her hands anymore, and there was a slight extra weight on her head.

Kiana didn't even need to check, but she did so anyway, bringing up a hand.

The crown was back on her head, after all. Practically glued to it, in fact. She couldn't even adjust it.

With a confused frown, she rose to her feet.

Though she expected to have some difficulty with the heels, it felt… far too comfortable to stand on them. As if they were normal shoes.

There was no way this was reality.

"Amongst her followers, one stood above them all~! A loyal maid, always at her beck and call~!"

Suddenly, Kiana had a strange urge to do something very specific.

As if following a script implanted straight into her mind, she clapped twice.

"Servant!" she called out.

Right on cue, the wooden door swung open, and in came…

Kiana's eyes widened.

Sirin, entirely solid like the first time they met in that strange place, had her eyes closed as she sleepwalked into the room, wearing a maid outfit just like the female servants of the Mal Estate and pushing a cart housing a tea set and a tray filled with delicate pastries: petit fours glazed in pastel colors, macarons stacked into pyramids, and a single medovik cake dusted with gold.

The Herrscher moved like a wind-up doll, her steps too precise, her posture stiff, making her way past the bed and towards the balcony.

"Sirin?" Kiana called out, following her.

No response.

The balcony doors swung open on their own, revealing an elegant wrought-iron tea table set for two. A lace-trimmed parasol shaded it from the bright sky, despite the fact that it should've been past midnight, and beyond the balcony railing stretched a large courtyard flanked by a forest of candy-colored trees, their branches heavy with what looked like gumdrop fruit.

As if that wasn't enough, Kiana watched in stunned silence as Sirin arranged the tea set with mechanical precision. The Herrscher's usual smirk was absent, replaced by an eerie blankness as she poured steaming amber liquid into a porcelain cup.

"Your Majesty's tea," Sirin recited, her voice like a normal girl's for the first time since Kiana had met her, albeit in a hollow monotone. She placed the cup near the edge of the table.

Before Kiana could react, Sirin walked up to her, eyes still closed, and gently grasped her wrist with a hand that felt far too human, far too normal for a Herrscher.

Kiana couldn't help but shiver as she was led to the balcony by that warm touch, guided to sit on an empty chair.

Then things got worse.

Sirin knelt and pressed her lips to Kiana's knuckles, like a servant demonstrating her eternal loyalty.

Her brain promptly shut down.

'... Ah,' she thought distantly as her mind restarted, cheeks growing warmed, 'there's that funny feeling again.'

Sin's giggling echoed all around, and then—

Golden eyes flew open.

Kiana could feel the exact moment Sirin’s consciousness returned. The way her breath hitched, the tremble of her fingers where they cradled Kiana's hand. The Herrscher's eyelashes fluttered with panic as she processed three impossible truths simultaneously:

She was kneeling.

She was wearing a maid outfit.

She was kissing Kiana's hand.

And as her mind struggled to make sense of the situation, the silence stretched on and on.

At least until…

"... WHAT—"

Sirin recoiled as if electrocuted, her face flushed in something between deathly embarrassment and apocalyptic rage.

Her eyes fell on the stunned Kiana, lingering on her for a few seconds as if wondering who to blame for the current situation. Then, rather than lunging at her, Sirin seemed to decide on other priorities, frantically looking around for the true culprit.

"What the hell is this?!" Sirin yelled out at the sky, running to the edge of the balcony and placing her hands on it. "You bastard, who do you think you are to humiliate me like this?! I'll tear you apart limb by limb!"

That was enough to snap Kiana out of her stupor, blinking rapidly as her senses returned. "Erm, that was… strange…?"

"And you!" Sirin turned back to Kiana with rage in her eyes, seemingly rethinking her plan to spare her. "How dare you enjoy this?!"

"E-Enjoy?! No, I was just surprised!" Kiana squealed, raising both hands towards Sirin as if that'd deter her in any way if she were to attack.

"Liar!" Sirin stomped towards the table. "I could practically sense all the degenerate nonsense going through your—"

A pink macaron shot through the air like a sugary bullet, lodging itself perfectly between Sirin's parted lips.

Her indignant voice became a muffled "MMPH?!" as she stumbled back, hands flying to her face.

"Tut-tut~!" Sin's voice chimed. "No breaking character, Miss Grumpy! This is a romantic scene!"

Sirin spat out the macaron down the balcony without hesitation. "Romantic scene?! Even if I were to ignore all the other reasons for me to end you, why would a queen and a maid have a romantic scene—"

Another macaron from the table, a yellow one, shot straight into her mouth.

A second direct hit.

"But I saw some maids reading fairy tales like this!" Sin replied with cheer. "Something about forbidden love? It seemed nice! Even though I didn't understand some of the words!"

… What exactly had this girl seen?

Keeping that question to herself, Kiana watched in horrified fascination as Sirin's face cycled through expressions normally reserved for extreme amounts of violence and murder.

In her anger, the Herrscher bit down on the macaron instead of spitting it out like the first.

And then…

"This... This is..." she breathed, the word slipping out as if in a trance. "Sweet…"

It was as if all the rage was erased from one moment to the next as Sirin's fingers traced her lips in wonder.

Kiana couldn't help but stare.

If, even for just a moment, she forced herself to forget what exactly Sirin was, she looked like a normal girl tasting her first macaron. A girl who'd never known sugar melting on her tongue, never felt the crisp give of a pastry shell between her teeth.

Curiously, Kiana reached out for another macaron herself, bringing it up to her mouth.

… Sweet, indeed.

Now that she thought about it, had Sirin eaten anything since Kiana met her? Did she even have the ability to before this moment?

She looked at Sirin, who was still in a daze.

"Here," Kiana murmured before she could stop herself, lifting the teacup from its saucer and offering it to Sirin. The porcelain was warm where Sirin had poured it moments ago, and the liquid trembled slightly in her grasp.

Sirin's gaze snapped to the teacup. For a heartbeat, Kiana thought she might smack it away.

Then, with the caution of someone who expected disaster to strike, the Herrscher took the cup instead.

Their fingers brushed.

Kiana's breath caught.

Once again, Sirin's hands were warm. Not the scorching heat of Honkai energy that once cut through them both, but living, blood-and-skin warmth that lingered where their fingertips met.

Sirin seemed to notice it too. Her eyes flicked up, golden meeting blue, and for once there was no hatred in that gaze. Just raw, bewildered curiosity.

Then she tipped the cup back and took a big gulp.

"Ah!" Kiana's chair nearly toppled as she scrambled to her feet. "Sirin, wait—"

But the damage was already done.

The Herrscher made a gagging sound as she hurriedly lowered the cup, nose scrunched, her shoulders hunching slightly as she coughed to the side.

She actually gasped.

"Bitter," she announced, as if accusing the tea of betrayal.

Kiana couldn't help it. She stifled a laugh.

"Even I know you're supposed to sip it, dummy."

Sirin's glare lacked its usual venom. "I told you not to order me around," she muttered, but her fingers tightened around the empty cup like she was afraid of someone stealing it.

Walking up to the table, she took another macaron to her mouth, munching on it as if in a hurry to taste the sweetness before swallowing, and then took a much smaller sip of the tea.

"... Better," she admitted quietly. Then she set the teacup down with deliberate care, her fingers lingering on the rim. "Now…"

Sirin looked up, glaring at the blue sky as if she could see something beyond it.

"Sin Mal," she called out to the girl, using her name for the first time, "You have exactly ten seconds to explain why I shouldn't reduce this pathetic dollhouse to atoms."

Kiana tensed.

Was that a bluff? Or did Sirin actually have enough energy to do something destructive in this space?

She didn't want to make any bets, considering the last time she "played around" with the Herrscher.

"Silly~! Stories need endings!" A petit four levitated, attracting the Herrscher's gaze as it spun lazily above the table. "The Evil Queen and her maid have to—"

"Five seconds," Sirin interrupted.

"—reach the last page! Then poof!" The pastry exploded in a shower of sprinkles. "You can leave!"

Sirin remained silent for a long moment, then flicked her gaze to Kiana.

She simply gave Sirin an awkward smile, unsure of what exactly she wanted.

And then a huff escaped the Herrscher's lips as she moved to sit on the empty chair across from Kiana.

"One tale." She brought a macaron to her mouth. "One."

Kiana blinked. That was... a suspiciously violence-free result.

Sirin caught her look and scowled. "What?" She shoved two pastries in her mouth at once, words muffled by crumbs.

"You..." Kiana eyed the rapidly diminishing number of sweets. "You do realize she just bought you off with food, right?"

"Mm. Temporary stay of execution." She leaned back, crossing her legs as she glanced at the sky. "Well? Get on with the story, then."

Kiana stared as Sirin popped a petit four into her mouth, looking like a cat who'd claimed the sunniest spot on the windowsill.

The Herrscher of the Void, pacified by sweets.

She wisely decided not to comment on it, instead reaching for an unused porcelain teacup and pouring some tea for herself.

"The Evil Queen's favorite pastime... " Sin continued the tale in a singsong voice, "...was watching executions during teatime~!"

The courtyard below rippled like disturbed water. Candy-colored cobblestones bled into a makeshift plaza where a crowd of animal plushie spectators materialized — bears with button eyes, rabbits clutching cotton candy, all murmuring in squeaky voices.

At the center stood a towering plush scaffold upon which sat an executioner's block, its surface stained with what Kiana hoped was strawberry jam.

Then the silver-haired girl appeared.

She stood rigid in a knight's iron armor, clutching an oversized plush axe. Her gray eyes were glassy, movements puppet-like as she dragged a giant stuffed bear in a prisoner's cap up the scaffold and to the block.

Kiana's teacup clattered against its saucer. "Oh no."

She had totally forgotten about the mercenary girl. So she was dragged in alongside herself and Sirin.

That was bad.

Kiana was… not quite used to, but still more resistant than usual towards this kind of illusory nonsense after her experiences with Sirin, but that girl was in for a rude awakening, wasn't she?

Her blank expression didn't change as she forced the plushie to kneel. The crowd cheered in high-pitched squeals when she raised the axe.

"Sirin," Kiana hissed. "We have to—"

"Wait." Sirin's eyes gleamed. "This might actually be entertaining."

"Those who opposed her could only stare in fright, as examples were made by her loyal silver knight~!"

The axe fell with a "foomp" and the bear's head popped off, revealing cotton stuffing that snowed across the plaza. The plushie crowd erupted in applause as the silver-haired girl mechanically lifted the severed head by its ear—

—and that was when she blinked.

Recognition flooded her features. She stared at the plush head in her hands, then at the bloodless block, then up at the balcony where Kiana and Sirin watched.

Her face paled as she let go of the plush head.

Kiana rose from her seat. "It's okay!" she shouted at the girl, raising her voice to be heard above the crowd. "This is all just—"

"SILENCE FOR HER MAJESTY!" Sirin's booming voice interrupted her.

At that, the plush crowd immediately stilled, button eyes swiveling toward the balcony in perfect unison.

The silver-haired girl also flinched.

Kiana shot Sirin an annoyed look. "Hey, are you trying to spook her?"

The Herrscher just brought another macaron to her mouth, glancing at Kiana for just a moment.

It was then that the silver-haired girl's gaze locked onto Kiana. Her lips moved soundlessly, fingers tightening around the axe handle.

Sirin smirked. She picked up a macaron between two fingers and — with deliberate slowness — took a bite. "Well?" she called down, crumbs dusting her maid's apron. "Aren't you going to bow to your queen as she addresses you?"

The girl looked at the axe. At the headless plushie. At the crowd of staring toys.

Then, before Kiana could say anything more, the armored girl promptly dropped her axe, walked right off the scaffold, and fell to the ground with a loud "clang" like a discarded doll.

"..."

Kiana blinked.

One of the plushies, a guard wielding a stuffed spear, approached to poke the silver-haired girl.

But she wasn't moving. At all.

"Ah," Sin's cheerful yet puzzled voice sounded, "The silver knight has… fallen and fainted from excitement! Hm… Can someone go wake her up? We can't continue the story like this!"

Sirin snorted into her teacup. "Pathetic."

And all Kiana could do was bury her face into her hands.

Ø

Kiana watched with worry as a group of plushies dressed as servants carried the young armored girl into the room, placing her on the bed.

Next to her, Sirin huffed, holding onto a tray filled with sweets. "A proper queen would've prepared a guest room instead of bringing her so-called loyal knight to her bed. It's good to know you're still mediocre even in this role." Then she paused, giving Kiana a look. "Unless you wanted to bring your knight to bed?"

"Can you stop with that?" Kiana sighed, crossing her arms and returning Sirin's look with annoyance. "Seriously, what's gotten into you?"

The Herrscher decided not to answer that in favor of bringing a petit four to her mouth.

On the bed, the plush servants began attempting to shake the girl awake.

"C'mon, the story's just starting!" Sin's voice echoed. "It'd be way too boring for it to end here! So, so boring!"

Kiana shifted uncomfortably.

'Hey,' she thought to Sirin through their bond, 'is this really alright?'

'You'll have to be more specific than that, vessel.' Sirin's voice replied in her mind

That, too, lacked the usual reverberation Kiana had been growing used to.

'I mean sticking around. I know it's nice to be able to eat, but shouldn't we be looking for a way out?'

'Oh, that?' Sirin thought disinterestedly. Kiana could practically feel her mental shrug. 'Already have one.'

'Eh?'

'A way out,' Sirin clarified. 'This is just a poorly made veil over your dreams. Just some pulling at the seams and it'll all fall apart.'

'... And you're not doing it because you can eat here.'

This time, the Herrscher scarfed down two macarons at once.

Then, she continued, 'Whoever made this girl like this, I can tell why they simply discarded her afterwards.' A huff. 'This is quite an impressive-looking failure. Terrifying for a common insect, no better than a bundle of party tricks for a Herrscher like me. Or it would be, if I was the one between the two of us with access to your cheating source of energy.'

Kiana stared.

'She could stop time.'

'Common ability,' came Sirin's swift response as she licked her fingers. 'Those Valkyries from before also did it.'

'You said she had projectiles?'

'Easy and wasteful,' the Herrscher said, bringing a piece of cake to her mouth. 'No better than throwing energy around. Or rather, that's exactly what it is.'

'The… the illusions…?'

'Connecting to others like that is probably more unusual, but your mental defenses are pathetic.' Sirin actually chuckled. 'Really. You began seeing and hearing things so easily. Even perceiving my voice wrong. It was embarrassing. Had you not been caught so quickly, I'd have dismantled her tricks the same way I did your muting nonsense.'

Kiana bit back an instinctive response. 'And… this weird domain?'

'I could've dragged her into one of my own if you weren't limiting me so much.'

Kiana glared at Sirin.

Sirin smirked back at Kiana.

"..."

"...Heh," the Herrscher snickered out loud.

Kiana let out a sigh.

'Well, sorry for being such a burden.'

'See? You finally understand.' Sirin took hold of a macaron and held it out, hovering right by Kiana's lips. 'Here, a reward.'

Kiana eyed the pastry with narrowed eyes, and then at the smug Herrscher.

"..."

She snatched the macaron and shoved it in her mouth. Just to avoid wasting food, imaginary or not.

Her frown would have to be enough to display how unhappy she was with the situation.

'That aside,' Sirin continued with a mouth full of macarons, 'you might want to check up on your loyal knight. She's been pretending to be asleep for the past two minutes.'

Kiana's head snapped toward the bed where the silver-haired girl lay. Now that Sirin mentioned it, she could see the tension in the girl's jaw, and the way her fingers dug almost imperceptibly into the sheets.

The plush servants' shaking grew more frantic, their stuffed paws shaking and patting her with increasing desperation.

"Wakey wakey~!" Sin called out. "The story has to continue! If you won't cooperate… I'll have to make you~!"

The girl's eyelashes fluttered, just once, before she steeled her expression back into unconscious stillness.

'I warned you~!'

Oh, Kiana had a bad feeling.

'Sirin,' she thought at the Herrscher, 'I think this might turn ugly fast. Maybe we should—'

It was then that golden threads materialized above the bed, descending like spider silk toward the girl's limbs. The moment the first strand brushed her wrist, she pulled it away and bolted upright with a gasp, gray eyes wide with terror. Not at the plushies. Not even at the threads themselves.

At Kiana.

"You—" The girl scrambled backward until her back hit the headboard. "Stay away! Bronya won't let you demons do as you wish!"

Sirin arched an eyebrow, popping another macaron into her mouth. "Is she referring to herself in the third person? Another strange one."

The threads twitched, curling toward the girl's throat.

Kiana moved before she could think.

"Change of plans!" She lunged across the room past the plush servants, ignoring how the armored girl squealed as she grabbed her and hauled her off the bed like a sack of potatoes, as if she weighed nothing. "We're leaving!"

"What?!" The girl kicked weakly in Kiana's grip, her boots connecting harmlessly. "Unhand Bronya, demon!"

"Not a demon! The name's Kiana! Also, no time!"

She immediately rushed to the door, slamming it open and running outside.

That the heels didn't make her fall on her face was another stark reminder that this wasn't the real world.

The hallway stretched before them like a sweetened nightmare — walls striped in alternating pink and white like peppermint bark, floorboards made of what appeared to be hardened caramel that stuck slightly to Kiana's shoes. Lollipop sconces cast a sickly sweet glow on portraits of grinning gingerbread men. Even the air smelled of sugar.

"Hey!" Sin's voice echoed from the walls, now tinged with annoyance. "This isn't in the script!"

Glancing behind herself, Kiana saw a tide of plush guards emerge, brandishing candy cane spears as she followed after them.

"Sirin!" Kiana adjusted her grip on the squirming girl, who had progressed from kicking to attempting to bite her forearm. "Little help?!"

'You made your bed, vessel,' the Herrscher spoke into her mind. 'Now enjoy carrying it.'

"This isn't funny!" Kiana ducked as a stick candy shot past her head like an arrow, embedding itself in a gumdrop wall ornament. The silver-haired girl chose that moment to land a solid elbow to Kiana's ribs.

"Let Bronya go!" the girl snarled, her drill pigtails whipping wildly. "Bronya won't be part of this—"

Another stick candy projectile. Kiana pivoted, using the girl's armored body as an impromptu shield (earning an outraged screech) as she bolted down the hallway. The plushie horde's squeaky battle cries echoed behind them, gaining ground alarmingly fast for creatures with no knees.

"Can you stop that until we're not being pursued by angry plushies?!" Kiana yelled at her cargo. "I don't know if you noticed, but they're coming after the both of us!"

The girl — Bronya — went rigid in Kiana's arms. For one terrifying second, Kiana thought she might start screaming.

Then, with visible effort, the young mercenary went still.

"Bronya understands," she said through gritted teeth, her voice admirably steady despite the circumstances. "Temporary alliance. Against... them. Now place Bronya down."

Kiana didn't have time to question it. She set Bronya down just as a candy cane spear whizzed between them.

To her credit, Bronya didn't bolt. Instead, she snatched the embedded spear from the wall with surprising strength, spinning it in a practiced grip. "Left corridor," she barked, pointing with her free hand. "Bronya saw guard rotations when she was brought in earlier. Less... whatever these are... that way."

Kiana blinked. "You were pretending to sleep as early as—?"

"Move!"

They broke into a sprint before the wave of plushies reached them.

Indeed there were few plushie guards in their way, but still some. Bronya moved with military precision, using the candy cane to bat aside any cutesy guards in their way. Kiana covered their rear, grabbing a lollipop shield from a fallen plush bear and using it to deflect incoming jellybean projectiles.

"Guards! Get the cheaters!" Sin yelled from nowhere. "Why are you two being so mean to me?! I just wanted to play!"

"Bronya has questions," the girl told Kiana as they rounded a corner. "Many questions. But first—" She kicked open a closet door, revealing a spiral staircase made of what appeared to be giant pretzels. "—escape. This place has a similar internal layout as the mansion."

Kiana couldn't help but grin as they clambered downward. "Not bad for someone who was trying to bite me thirty seconds ago."

"Bronya reserves the right to resume biting if deception is revealed," she shot back. "Any plans after leaving the castle? Can't run forever."

"Sirin said this is just a dream, so I… might be able to rip it apart if I can figure out how to borrow some of Sirin's powers," Kiana explained just as they reached the bottom of the staircase.

"Sirin?"

Oh, right.

"The purple-haired girl," Kiana explained, pushing open a door that led to the ground floor's hallways and smashing a dog plushie with her shield. "She's the demon you're so afraid of. She was possessing me back when you took your shot."

"Possessing?" The terror that crept back into Bronya's voice made Kiana worry whether she'd trip amidst their rush. "Then you're the demon's… familiar?"

"Vessel," Kiana corrected. "Or so she says. I have her under control."

"Are you sure?" Bronya asked just as they entered the mansion's foyer.

"Prrrreeeetty sure?" Kiana couldn't actually inject any certainty into her words.

They ran through the foyer, making their way towards the hallway that led to the entrance's grand double doors.

And then their dreams were crushed.

Without warning, the entrance burst inward. A battalion of teddy bear soldiers poured in, their button eyes gleaming with malice as they prepared to throw their candy cane spears. Kiana barely had time to raise her shield and move in front of Bronya before the first volley of stick candy projectiles whistled through the air.

Before she could process what was happening, something hit her shield with enough force to make her lose her grip, sending it flying away to a corner of the foyer.

Then—

A sickening thunk.

The plushies suddenly stopped their advance, as if to watch.

Kiana looked down. A candy cane spear protruded from her chest.

From behind her, Bronya gasped. "You…"

After a moment, Kiana blinked. Slowly, she turned around to face Bronya, finding her wide, horrified eyes aimed at the weapon intruding Kiana's body.

Her hands flew to the wound instinctively, fingers coming away stained cotton-candy pink.

She should be in agony. She should be collapsing. Instead, she felt…

Nothing.

Tentatively, she licked her pink-stained fingers.

"Ugh." She grimaced. "Super sweet. Like liquid sugar."

Bronya's expression shifted from terror to utter bewilderment. "You... tasted your own—"

"MEANIES!" Sin's wail shook the intertwined licorice chandelier. "You're ruining EVERYTHING! This was supposed to be a BEAUTIFUL fairy tale about—"

A macaron hit the floor between them with a loud splat.

All sounds ceased.

"Enough."

Sirin calmly strode in from the way they came, holding onto a newly refilled tray of sweets as she approached the two girls. She took a bite of a white macaron before continuing, uncaring of Bronya's terrorized gaze on her as the silver-haired girl rose to her feet in an instant, seemingly ready to bolt.

"Obviously you're not dying, you fool," Sirin told Kiana. She waved her free hand, still holding the half-eaten macaron, and the candy cane dissolved into sprinkles, leaving not even a hole behind, only the not-bloodstains. "This is a dreamland. Pain and death are optional. And speaking of this realm..." Her golden eyes gleamed as she licked frosting from her fingers. "I'm growing tired of the way the little monster chose to communicate."

With a snap of her fingers, the world twisted like taffy being pulled, and suddenly a lilac-haired girl in an expensive black and purple dress materialized mid-air, tumbling to the marshmallow floor with an undignified yelp.

Sirin smirked, licking her thumb. "Much better. Now we can have a proper conversation."

Sin Mal looked up, her mismatched eyes wide with shock as she realized she'd been dragged into view.

For a moment, her eyes darted between the three of them, then her small hands balled into fists as she scrambled to her feet.

"You're all TERRIBLE at this!" she shrieked, stomping her foot hard enough to make a nearby plush soldier topple over. "The queen runs away! The knight faints and then fights back! And you—!" She jabbed a finger at Sirin, who was calmly eating another macaron. "You keep CHEATING!"

Sirin swallowed with deliberate slowness. "Your story was boring."

"IT WAS PERFECT!" Sin's voice cracked. "I worked SO HARD! And you just— You just—!"

Bronya inched backward, her candy cane spear raised uncertainly. "Is she... malfunctioning?"

Kiana watched in horrified fascination as Sin's tantrum reached critical mass. The lilac-haired girl's chest heaved, her bangs obscuring her face as her shoulders shook. The entire world around them seemed to pulse in time with her ragged breathing.

Then—

The single, wet sniffle that sounded was more successful at making Kiana's heart skip a beat than the non-fatal stabbing had been.

Even Sirin froze mid-bite.

"Nobody... ever plays right..." Sin's voice had lost all its anger, replaced by something small and broken. "They either run away... or try to hurt me... or—"

A sob tore through her tiny frame.

Sirin calmly swallowed. "...What."

Bronya seemed about as lost as the Herrscher, looking between Sin and Kiana as if wondering what to do now.

"I just..." Sin wiped at her face with her sleeve. "Wanted someone to... to follow the story... just once… Waaah…"

After that, she said nothing more, the silence filled by only her sniffles and occasional hiccups.

Sirin stared at the crying child like she'd grown a second head. Slowly, deliberately, she turned to Kiana.

"Vessel," she said with utter seriousness, "fix this."

Kiana's mouth fell open. "Me?! Why?!"

"Because it's not going to be me," Sirin answered seriously.

Which, fair, but still.

Bronya edged closer to Kiana, whispering, "Bronya votes we find a way out before Sin figures out any other demonic tricks."

But Kiana ignored her, stepping forward instead, her earlier wariness replaced by an uncomfortable pang of recognition.

It was familiar, somehow, the loneliness that this girl practically exuded.

"Hey," she said softly, crouching to Sin's level. "We can, uh... start over? Maybe a different story this time?"

Sin peeked through her fingers. "... Really?"

"NO," Sirin and Bronya said in unison, only to give each other an odd look immediately afterwards.

Kiana shot Sirin and Bronya a glare before turning back to Sin. "Look, it's the middle of the night. We've got practically until morning since we are already asleep. Instead of forcing us into your story and telling us what we can or can't do, why don't we all figure out a story together? You could even join in properly this time."

Sin's sniffles slowed. A single yellow eye peered from behind her fingers. "...Join?"

"Yeah!" Kiana plopped down cross-legged on the marshmallow floor, ignoring how it squished beneath her. "You know, be a character instead of just the narrator. That way you get to play with us instead of at us."

The dreamscape's pulsing stabilized slightly.

Sirin's macaron hovered halfway to her mouth. "Absolutely not."

Bronya stepped backward. "Bronya would rather—"

"Great!" Kiana clapped her hands, drowning them out. "So what kind of story would everyone like?"

Sin wiped her nose on her sleeve, thinking. "I… don't know. Something with a happy ending?"

Kiana snapped her fingers. "Then how about a heroic quest? We could do a proper adventure! Treasure, monsters, and everything else!" She gestured around them. "You've already got the fantasy setting down."

Sin sniffed once more, wide eyes looking up at Kiana. "...With puzzles?" she asked hesitantly. "And a dragon at the end?"

Sirin rolled her eyes. "I don't remember accepting… Oh, fine. If you provide enough offerings, perhaps."

Bronya's grip tightened on her candy cane spear. "If there is no other choice, then Bronya requests... more reliable weaponry, as well. For her own peace of mind."

Sin slowly rose to her feet, still looking fragile in a way she hadn't been in reality, and then she clapped.

The world lurched around them, the foyer dissolving into a sprawling forest of licorice trees and gumdrop bushes. A path of caramel cobblestones appeared beneath their feet, leading toward distant mountains made of stacked waffle cones.

"Once… Once upon a time," Sin began, still standing among them, "a kingdom's sacred macaron was stolen by—"

"Hold it." Sirin's golden eyes narrowed. "A macaron."

Sin puffed her cheeks, though any anger seemed half-hearted at this point. "It's a magic macaron… The last one baked by the Sugar Goddess before she—"

"Died of diabetes, presumably," Sirin deadpanned.

A surprised giggle escaped Sin's lips at that. "Ah, um… Maybe?"

Sirin actually gave her a strange look, as if she wasn't expecting a positive reaction.

Kiana quickly decided to bring the conversation back on track. "Sacred artifact, got it. So we're the...?"

"The Hero Party!"

Sin clapped again.

Kiana's queenly outfit transformed into a sturdy adventurer's tunic with a breastplate. Her crown shrank into a silver circlet, while her impractical shoes became knee-high boots lined with fur. An ornate shortsword was suddenly sheathed on her hip.

Bronya's armor streamlined into a much lighter fitted leather jerkin with silver pauldrons, her candy cane spear transforming into a much smaller dagger as a sheathe appeared on her hip. At the same time, a bow and quiver were suddenly on her back.

Sirin's frilly maid outfit dissolved into high-collared violet mage robes. While her tray of sweets remained in place, in her free hand was suddenly a long wooden staff with intricate carvings.

Finally, Sin's elaborate dress became a patchwork coat with dozens of hidden pockets. She grinned with her sharp teeth as twin daggers appeared at her hips.

"There!" Sin spun, her mismatched eyes gleaming.

"The stoic archer!"

Bronya simply blinked owlishly.

"The grumpy sorceress!"

Sirin's eye twitched at the description.

"The valiant warrior-queen!"

Kiana examined her changed appearance with a raised eyebrow.

"And… the dashing rogue!"

Sin struck a pose as she finished.

"... Hm." Bronya experimentally moved in her new outfit. "Bronya can work with this."

Sirin flicked her wrist, making a nearby licorice tree spontaneously combust. "Marginally better." Then she sighed. "I reserve the right to incinerate everything when this becomes tedious."

Kiana grinned as she tested the balance of her newly appeared shortsword. "Yep, I think we're all ready now!"

It was then that the waffle-cone mountains rumbled ominously in the distance.

Somewhere beyond the candy treeline, a massive chocolate castle stood. Nearby, a similarly chocolatey dragon unfurled its wafer-thin wings.

Sirin was scowling. Bronya was already muttering something about regretting life choices.

Kiana pointedly ignored them as she offered a hand to Sin.

"What are we waiting for?" she asked. "C'mon, it's adventure time!"

Ø

The candy trees loomed, their licorice branches woven so tightly that even the artificial sun barely pierced the canopy. The ground was a treacherous mix of caramel puddles and brittle toffee, crunching with every step.

They’d been walking in circles for what felt like hours.

It was probably fifteen minutes instead.

Kiana wiped sticky sap from her cheek. "Okay, new plan. We mark the trees so we don’t double back."

Sin, perched on a gummy bear-shaped boulder, swung her legs. "Orrrr we let the story guide us! Lost in the woods until the dreamland comes up with something interesting!"

Bronya gave her a suspicious look. "Bronya does not trust this dreamland at all."

It was then that Sirin, who had been silently fuming for the past few minutes, finally snapped.

"Enough!"

Her staff flared violet, energy crackling along its length. The air smelled like burning sugar as she leveled it at the nearest tree.

"If the forest won’t let us out," she began, "I’ll erase the forest!"

Kiana lunged. "Wait—!"

Too late.

A beam of "magic" lanced through the trees, incinerating a perfect tunnel through the candy-coated trunks. The smell of scorched caramel filled the air…

Along with an ominous creaking.

The canopy groaned. Then, like dominoes, the intertwined trees began to fall.

Kiana didn’t hesitate. She grabbed Sirin’s wrist and yanked her into a sprint. "Start running!"

Bronya moved automatically, scooping up Sin (who let out an excited squeal) and bolting after them as the forest collapsed in their wake.

They barely cleared the treeline before the last licorice trunk crashed behind them, sending up a plume of powdered sugar.

Silence.

Then—

Kiana turned to Sirin. "That was your solution?!"

Sirin shrugged, brushing sugar from her robes. "We’re out, aren’t we?"

Kiana groaned. "Next time, ask before committing arson."

Sin clapped as Bronya placed her down. "But it was so cool!"

Bronya exhaled sharply through her nose. Then, with the air of someone surrendering to the inevitable, she walked ahead of them.

"... If we must traverse this nightmare," she muttered, "Bronya will navigate. If this is anything like reality, Bronya has the necessary skills."

Sirin eyed her. "And you decided not to mention it before?"

Bronya gave her a look, a mix of apprehension and newfound annoyance. "Bronya was hoping for a better solution."

With that, she moved ahead before the conversation could continue.

Ø

The river of golden caramel bubbled violently, its surface dotted with floating marshmallow flotsam and the occasional spinning candy rock.

The only way across was a series of unstable wafer platforms, shifting with each surge of sticky current.

Kiana tested the first with her boot.

It wobbled dangerously.

"Okay, maybe if we—"

Sirin sighed, flicking her staff. A bridge of hardened sugar crystals formed in midair. "Must you always be so eager to take the scenic route?"

Sin practically vibrated in excitement. "So cool!"

The Herrscher was clearly attempting not to form a prideful smile.

Bronya eyed the bridge suspiciously. "… Bronya would rather swim."

Kiana let out a nervous laugh, stepping onto it first. "C'mon, let's hurry it u—"

That was when Sirin let the bridge crumble.

Ø

The path through the gumdrop fields had been endless, the sugary terrain slowing their progress to a crawl.

Sirin was losing her patience.

Just as Kiana was preparing herself to stop another arson attempt, a figure appeared on the caramel-crusted hill ahead — a walking lollipop with stick limbs, a peppermint-striped top hat, and a rather literal candy cane.

"Ah! Travelers!" it called in a strangely deep voice. "You look lost! Might I offer assistance?"

Kiana perked up. "Finally, someone helpful—"

"Kill it," Sirin said flatly, already raising her staff.

Bronya's hand twitched toward her bow, eyes narrowing. "Bronya concurs. No being in this place is benevolent."

Sin tilted her head. "But look at its hat! So cute!"

The lollipop chuckled, adjusting its top hat. "Why, thank you! It's quite rare! Crafted by the Sugarplum Fairies themselves!"

Sirin's eyes locked onto the hat. "...Exactly. Kill it."

Kiana stepped between them, looking at Sirin. "Okay, I know you want to murder every candy person we meet, but what's up this time specifically?"

Sirin pointed at the hat. "I want that."

A beat of silence.

Bronya pinched the bridge of her nose. "So this isn't about suspicion at all."

Sirin crossed her arms. "It's suspiciously convenient that it's wearing something I want."

The lollipop took a nervous step back. "I—I could simply trade you the hat—"

"No," Sirin hissed. "I'm not handing over anything I own."

Kiana groaned, turning to the trembling lollipop. "Sir, what do you want for that hat?"

The lollipop seemed to brighten, if that made sense. "I'd trade it for... that rogue's left dagger!"

Sin took a step back. "Absolutely n—"

Sirin vaporized the lollipop's cane with a pinpoint energy beam.

"Or," the lollipop squeaked, "you could just take the hat! No trade necessary! Haha, silly me!"

It flung the hat at Sirin's feet and bolted, rolling downhill at alarming speed.

Sirin scooped up the hat, dusted it off, and took a bite off of it.

"... Hm. Decent."

Bronya stared, for once more unimpressed with the Herrscher than afraid. "That was theft."

Sirin huffed. "Efficient acquisition."

Kiana facepalmed. "We're terrible heroes."

Ø

The marshland stretched before them, its surface a shimmering mosaic of golden syrup pools and unstable sugar crust.

Kiana had taken exactly three steps onto what appeared to be solid ground when the caramel gave way beneath her.

"Ah, crap!" she yelled out as the viscous liquid climbed past her thighs. "Uh, what should I—"

Bronya was already moving. Her fingers closed around a cluster of pop rocks from Sin's belt pouch, and threw it into the pit.

The resulting explosion sent a geyser of caramel into the air.

Kiana shot out of the mire like a cork from a champagne bottle, landing hard on the sugar-crusted shore in a sticky, sputtering heap.

"... Ow," she said.

Sirin blinked. "That… shouldn't have worked."

Bronya dusted powdered sugar from her gloves. "In this place? Everything works."

Sin, who had been ominously quiet, suddenly perked up. "Ooooh! Does that mean—?"

Bronya barely had time to shout "NO—" before Sin belly-flopped into an adjacent syrup pool, a whole pack of pop rocks clenched in each fist.

The resulting detonation showered the entire marshland in caramel rain.

Ø

The towering golem of compressed rock candy loomed over them, its fists the size of boulders.

"Bronya, distraction!" Kiana ordered.

Bronya didn't even respond, already moving and loosening arrows at the golem.

"Sirin, artillery!"

The Herrscher scoffed but leveled her staff. Violet energy gathered, then faltered. "Its core's protected by—"

Kiana didn't even wait for Sirin to finish, already throwing her sword towards its chest. The blade broke its way past the surface and remained there, cracks spreading around the puncture.

Not good enough.

"Sin!"

"On it!" Sin cartwheeled up the golem's arm, attempting a few slashes along the way only to sheathe her daggers when they proved ineffective. In a quick movement, she jumped off and took hold of Kiana's sword, planting a foot against the golem and yanking the blade out, falling with it.

Even so, the hole was already starting to close, the cracks disappearing as the golem regenerated.

Until a glowing arrow made its way past the closing gap.

Bronya let out a breath, lowering her bow.

"Boom."

Right on cue, an explosion rocked the golem from inside, blowing the hole wide open.

Revealing a glowing rock candy.

Sin fell on her feet, already grinning at Sirin. "Blast that!"

"Don't rush me!"

She lifted her staff, already glowing with energy, and fired.

Her magic laser struck, blowing through the golem's core in a shower of rainbow shards and exiting from the other side.

Without its core, the golem crumbled into shards of candy.

Silence ensued, only broken by Sin politely returning Kiana's sword.

"Was that a combination attack?" Kiana suddenly spoke up. "I think that was a combination attack."

"Yep!" Sin was practically vibrating. "That was the best thing ever!"

Bronya hummed as she relaxed, though she seemed a little taken aback herself. "That was… adequately effective."

Sirin rolled her eyes, walking up to the remains of the golem. "Call it whatever you want."

She took a shard of rock candy and bit into it.

After a moment of consideration, she started gathering more shards.

Ø

The throne room of the chocolate castle trembled as the massive dragon reared back, its wafer wings spreading wide. Molten caramel dripped from its maw, sizzling as it struck the candy-cane tile floor.

Bronya barely managed to throw herself behind a peppermint pillar before another searing blast of caramel scorched the air where she'd stood.

"Bronya revokes previous satisfaction with the outfit," she muttered. "Needs more plate. Magic, preferably."

Across the room, Sirin's staff flared violet. "Finally, something worth—"

"No fire in the chocolate castle!" Kiana lunged, grabbing the back of Sirin's robes and yanking her sideways just as the dragon's tail smashed through the spot she'd been standing.

Sirin growled. "Unhand me, you—"

"The weak spot's the white chocolate crest!" Sin's voice rang out.

A startled glance revealed she had somehow scaled the dragon's thrashing tail and was now perched on its spine, one hand gripping a protruding candy spur for balance, the other pointing wildly at a spot between its wings.

Bronya didn't hesitate. She nocked an arrow, took a steadying breath—

—and froze.

The angle was impossible. The dragon's movements were too erratic. Even with her skill, the shot was—

Sirin's staff slammed into the ground beside her. "Ugh. Aim here."

Violet energy arced from the staff's tip, forming a shimmering, narrow path through the air that seemed to connect to the weak point no matter how much the dragon moved.

A perfect trajectory guide.

Bronya's eyes narrowed. She adjusted her stance, drew the bowstring taut—

The dragon roared, twisting violently. Sin yelped as she lost her grip and went tumbling—

Bronya loosed the arrow.

That was the start of their counterattack.

Ø

In the distance of the shortbread shore, the chocolate castle atop a cliff crumbled into the sea of sparkling lemonade.

Sin let out an impressed sound as she sat next to Bronya, hugging the girl's arm and leaning against her as though she were a big plushie. "And down it goes!"

Bronya tilted her head. "Bronya doesn't understand why it's falling without structural damage, but she will let it slide. This is her first time on a beach, after all."

Sin raised a hand. "Same here!"

Kiana chuckled from her spot leaning against a nearby candy cane palmtop tree. "Same for me. I wonder where this place came from. I mean, people dream of things they know, right?"

Sirin shrugged, standing a few feet behind them as she finished eating the remains of the chocolate vase she had snatched during their frantic escape. "Pictures and imagination, probably. Chances are this is all wrong. Not that it matters."

They fell into silence after that, watching as the castle disappeared under the waves.

And then…

"This…" Sirin suddenly spoke up mid-bite, slowly, considering her next words. "... was actually completely pointless, wasn't it?"

"Really?" Sin didn't seem disheartened by her words at all. "I thought it was great. So much stabby-stabby."

Bronya hummed. "Direction was… passable."

Kiana eyed the Herrscher. "You seemed pretty pleased with all the eating."

Sirin huffed, rolling her eyes.

Then shoved the final shard of the chocolate vase into her mouth.

Kiana chuckled, reaching into her bag. "Then how about this?"

She took out the golden sacred macaron they had recovered, holding it out to Sirin.

Sirin raised an eyebrow. "Weren't we supposed to bring it back?"

"Shame it was lost into the sea." Kiana grinned. "I'm sure having defeated the dragon will be enough for plenty of riches. Besides, as the queen, I can do whatever I want, right?"

That earned her a strangely intrigued look from Sirin. "As expected of a human. How corrupt."

She took the macaron anyway, biting into it—

A loud clang sounded.

Kiana stared, stunned. Even Bronya and Sin turned around to look.

Sirin stood frozen and wide-eyed, biting into the still intact golden macaron.

"..."

She slowly brought it out of her mouth, staring at it.

"This… is gold," she spoke, disbelieving. "Actual gold."

Sirin twitched.

Kiana took a step away from her. Though Sin just seemed curious, Bronya was suddenly wary again.

"Are you telling me…" Sirin began, her hand trembling. "That the only thing inedible in this forsaken world… is the stupid macaron we set out to recover in the first place?!"

She grit her teeth, her hand closing around the golden macaron as if trying to crush it.

Kiana was very worried.

"Uh, Papa said that in times like these we should take a deep breath and—"

Sirin suddenly moved.

Before anyone could stop her, she let out an angry yell and, with surprisingly good form, launched the golden macaron towards the horizon where the blue sky and lemonade sea met.

And then… she did nothing more, simply standing there and breathing out her newfound rage.

Kiana blinked.

"Well," she spoke up, " now it's lost into the sea."

"Maybe space," Bronya muttered.

"Yeah, whatever." Sirin crossed her arms, pouting. "So, adventure's over. When do we wake up?"

Sin tilted her head as she looked up at the Herrscher, thinking. "I think it's almost time for breakfast, but can we stay a little longer?"

Sirin stared back in defiance. "And why should I agree to that? I'm giving you a chance to put an end to this farce before I tear it apart myself."

That earned her a bright smile from Sin. "I think there are some truffle bushes over there. Have you tried them yet?"

The Herrscher narrowed her eyes at the child, who simply continued to smile back.

A second passed. Two seconds.

Sirin turned around and walked off towards the candy vegetation.

"... Huh." Kiana stared at the Herrscher's retreating back. "I think I'll go keep her from incinerating anything."

She followed after Sirin, receiving a quick wave from Bronya and an excited one from Sin. The two then went back to watching the sea.

And that was how they spent the closing minutes of the dreamland.

Ø

Kiana stirred, her consciousness drifting back from dreamland.

The first thing she registered was warmth. A cozy, drowsy heat pressed against her side

Her eyes fluttered open.

She was in a big bed, covered by a plush violet blanket, but not alone.

Sin’s face was smushed into Kiana’s shoulder, drooling slightly, while Bronya had an arm thrown across both of them, their breathing slow and even.

Kiana’s brain short-circuited.

Wait. When did—?

Memories trickled back.

The ill-fated night adventure. The misunderstanding with Bronya, and being ambushed by Sin.

Their adventure. 

Kiana sat up abruptly, heart pounding.

As the storm outside continued to rage, the luxurious bedroom was bathed in a dimmed morning light, its floor covered in animal plushies and walls adorned with childlike drawings of candy kingdoms and dragons.

This… was quite obviously Sin's room.

"It seems about right for her, doesn't it?" Sirin said as she manifested sitting on the bedside, one leg crossed over the other. "Creepy little thing."

Kiana gave her a small frown. 'Don't be mean.'

Sirin huffed. "I'm being factual."

That was when the door creaked open.

Himeko’s face appeared in the gap, her expression shifting from concern to exasperation as she took in the scene. "Finally awake, sugar?"

Kiana froze. "I, uh…"

Himeko pinched the bridge of her nose. "Do you have any idea how worried we were? You vanished from your room in the middle of the night. Then we found all three of you passed out in here like some kind of…" She gestured vaguely at the cuddle pile. "Impromptu sleepover."

Sin mumbled something incoherent and nuzzled deeper into Bronya’s side. Bronya, still half-asleep, instinctively pulled her closer.

Kiana’s face burned. "It wasn’t— We didn’t—"

Himeko sighed. "Just… warn someone next time." She turned to leave, then paused. "... And wash up back in your room. Breakfast is soon."

The door then clicked shut.

Kiana groaned, flopping back onto the pillows.

Sirin rolled her eyes. "This is what you get for being so careless. That maid told you to stay in your room, didn't she?"

'... Going after Sin was your idea, you—'

.

Ø

.

One of the mansion’s many unused parlors had become their makeshift war room. The heavy violet curtains were drawn, the only light coming from the sconces along the walls.

They’d already dismantled the Stigma monitoring equipment. All that was left was shipping it back to Cocolia's facilities.

The woman in question sat lazily on a plush armchair, facing the empty tea table and the sofa where the room's two other occupants sat.

"Let’s not delude ourselves," she told them. "Though the traditionalists paint themselves as benevolent and merciful, I find it difficult to believe they would allow the girl to live if they knew the Herrscher was awake. Not with the risk of a repeat of the Second Eruption right in front of them."

The words hung in the air.

Siegfried’s jaw tightened, his hand instinctively twitching toward the holstered Shamash. "Then it’s fortunate they're not here."

Himeko crossed her arms, looking at the two like they were insane. She was the one with the least bargaining power in the room, but that didn't mean she had to like it. "You’re suggesting we hide this from the rest of Anti-Entropy?"

Cocolia’s smile was razor-thin. "I’m suggesting we consider our options. The Herrscher of the Void is not just awake, she’s cooperative, to an extent. And, more importantly… she’s useful."

A beat of silence.

Siegfried’s voice was dangerously quiet, "You want to use my daughter like a tool."

"Don’t pretend it's not the best option." Cocolia’s gaze flicked between them. "At the moment, the rest of Anti-Entropy would see a monster to imprison or put down. But what if she's only brought to their attention by the time she's something else? A tried and tested asset?"

Himeko’s nails dug into her sleeves. "She’s a person, Cocolia. However dangerous."

"Which is something that needs to be established beyond reasonable doubt in advance, away from those who might harm her out of fear," Cocolia countered, then looked at Siegfried. "Let's say you keep to your mission of delivering the girl to the traditionalists. I assume your plan is to protect her yourself afterwards. But can you be there at all times?" she asked him. "I know you can't. You know you can't. I had plenty of people to protect, and I couldn't."

Siegfried narrowed his eyes. "Get to the point."

"My point," Cocolia continued, stressing the word, "is that secrets have expiration dates. According to our records, you were there a decade ago when our Sovereign showed you what is done to Herrschers who endanger humanity, regardless of the form they take. When Kiana’s in their custody, and the Herrscher makes herself known, accidentally or otherwise, would you want to bet her life on someone else's restraint?"

Siegfried grit his teeth, muttered something under his breath, but offered no objections.

The unspoken answer settled over them.

Cocolia straightened, adjusting her gloves with deliberate calm. "I have a proposition. One that keeps Kiana safe, Sirin under control, and all our hands clean."

She smiled at them.

"Interested?"

Siegfried regarded her for a few moments, considering his options.

"... Sure, we'll hear you out," he finally spoke, leaning forward with resolute eyes.

Even if this was all an obvious attempt at manipulating them for her own gain, he couldn't discount her words so easily. Not when it was his daughter's life on the line. Not when she did have something of a point.

However…

"That is," he continued, forming a wry, humorless grin, "assuming you don't mind hearing a proposition of my own after you're done talking."

It was exactly because this was about his daughter that he couldn't give in so easily, either.

He was a Kaslana, after all.

Chapter Text

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Fairy Tale, Playtime Once Again]

Laughter echoed across the candy village illuminated by the bright sky.

A little rogue ran amidst the gingerbread houses, dodging the candy citizens as she chased after a white-haired adventurer.

"You can't run foreveeeer~!" Sin called out amidst her giggling.

Kiana grinned back at her. "Can't I? Watch me—"

She promptly ran into a candy cane lamppost, crashing straight into the ground.

Sitting on a nearby bench, a young archer watched the girl hastily climb to her feet with a groan and continue running away from the little rogue.

 "Idiotka," Bronya muttered as she grabbed an orange lollipop from a pouch on her waist, bringing it up to her—

Something held onto the candy, stopping Bronya's hand.

She looked at it, and there she saw their dignified sorceress suddenly sitting next to her, mouth enveloping the lollipop that Bronya still held.

Her narrowed golden eyes seemed like they were daring Bronya to do something about it.

So she did, by pulling the lollipop.

Sirin made a stubborn noise and pulled back, yanking the stick out of Bronya's hand.

She shamelessly pretended not to have done anything strange as she settled next to Bronya, bringing up a hand to hold onto the lollipop.

Bronya stared at her now empty hand, considering what just happened.

"... Is Sirin a starving animal?" She frowned as she took another lollipop from the pouch for herself. "Or just greedy. Acting like everything is yours..."

Sirin's retort was to point straight at Bronya's face with an upturned hand. "I'm a Herrscher. Everything that exists belongs to me, human."

Bronya still didn't know what exactly a Herrscher was.

So she bit back a retort, narrowing her eyes at the Herrscher's hand.

A second passed. Then two.

Sirin's hand moved to swipe the pouch of lollipops.

Bronya fetched it right on time, holding it out opposite to the Herrscher.

The end result was a staring contest with a very unamused Sirin. And also Kiana running by and grabbing the pouch from Bronya's hand.

"Ha!" was Kiana's eloquent response to the pair of glares sent her way, glancing back. "You snooze, you lo—"

She ran straight into a caramel fountain, falling right inside it with a big splash.

Sin giggled as she approached. "That's not for bathing, silly!"

Kiana slowly rose from the fountain covered in caramel, movements sluggish as if she could hardly believe that just happened.

"I wonder," Sirin casually began, leaning towards Bronya, "should I stop disrupting the fool's sense of direction? It's starting to get messy."

Bronya blinked.

"Sirin was doing what?"

The Herrscher didn't bother responding to her, as if she had actually been talking to herself. She lazily rose to her feet, making her way to the fountain.

To Sin, specifically.

"Servant, I find myself bored," she declared, as if it was everyone's problem. "Is there nothing else to do than waste our time here?"

Kiana wiped the caramel off her face, eyeing Sirin. "Weren't you the one who said you didn't want another big adventure so soon?"

"Yes," she agreed, "and now I'm bored. So one of you better do something about it before I lose my patience."

If Kiana hadn't groaned then, Bronya would have.

Valid as Sirin's threats were, to be appropriately cowed felt like a wasteful and mind-numbing endeavor after everything.

With a sigh, Bronya rose to her feet, walking to the others. She very much doubted things would remain peaceful for long at this rate.

By the fountain, Sin considered Sirin's request for a moment, thinking.

And then she suddenly grinned, clapping her hands.

The world shifted.

From one moment to the next, the candy village disappeared, replaced by a grand circular ballroom of glazed gingerbread and tall mirrors lining up the walls.

Kiana, who was in the middle of licking her hand, was also suddenly clean.

She stopped, lowering her hand with a frown.

"New place, new game!" Sin declared.

Bronya eyed the walls. The mirrors were angled so that every single one displayed their reflections.

Save for one behind Sin, its reflection displaying the wall behind them but nonsensically devoid of their presence.

"... Bronya does not trust this," she muttered.

"The rules are simple!" Sin pirouetted, her reflections curtsying instead. "Find the real me!" 

She took a step back, closer to the abnormal mirror.

"Don’t get tricked by the fakes!"

The mirror's surface rippled as though it were liquid.

"And—"

The ground lurched.

For a fraction of a second, the dream stuttered.

The ballroom walls flickered, blackened, revealing a glimpse of something else.

Cracked plaster. Bloodstained floors. A pair of bloodied scissors.

Then, another stutter, and normalcy returned as though nothing happened.

Kiana staggered, and even Sirin seemed to lose her balance. 

"What—" Kiana began, blinking. "Did anyone else see—"

"Sin," Bronya interrupted, rushing to the girl in question.

But Sin wasn’t listening.

Her breath came too fast, her fingers clutching her skirt. Her reflection in the mirrors wasn’t hers anymore—it was smaller, younger, its eyes wide with terror.

Bronya reached out to Sin.

The clock on the wall chimed.

3:33 AM.

The mirrors all shattered at once.

Sirin actually let out an uncharacteristically startled yelp as the shards fell.

Bronya didn't stop to think. She pushed Sin down to protect her from the shards, and on the corner of her vision she saw Kiana do the same to Sirin.

But it hardly made a difference.

Because darkness swallowed the dream whole.

Ø

[???]

It always began the same way.  

Sin Mal was small again, her feet bare against the cold hardwood of her childhood home. The scent of her mother’s perfume lingered in the air.

The clock on the wall ticked, steady as a heartbeat.

3:33 AM.

Then… the creak of the floorboard.

Her door was open.

The man’s shadow stretched long across the hallway, his breath ragged, his fingers curled around a knife.

Two bodies laid on the floor behind him, visible despite the darkness. A man and a woman, painting the carpet red.

Sin tried to scream. No sound came out.  

She reached for the scissors on the night desk — her first mother’s sewing scissors, the ones with the little bird engraved on the handle, which shouldn't have been there at all because it didn't happen this way at all, and yet…

The shadow lunged.

Metal flashed.  

Blood sprayed.

Ø

Sin woke with a gasp, her fingers clawing at nothing, the Mal family’s silk sheets tangled around her legs.

For a moment, she just laid there, staring at the canopy above her bed, her breaths ragged. The dream was fading, but she still felt the weight of the scissors pressed against her palm.  

She flexed her fingers.  

Empty. 

Just like her bed.

Sin blinked, looking around. Everything was dark, and she was by herself, but that didn't make sense.

Where did the others go?

She hadn't been this alone for days now.

Sin rose to her feet and began walking to the door, for once uncaring that she was just in her violet nightdress, or that her mother would reprimand her for her lack of dignity as a Mal.

She reached the door.

It opened by itself.

But instead of a hallway, it revealed pure darkness.

"I need more than the usual," her mother's voice echoed. "Those Schicksal mutts are sniffing all over Siberia. I need better security, and that means more funds to hire them with."

"In that case," another woman's voice replied, "how about revisiting my earlier offer?"

The voice made Sin shiver.

She needed to leave.

Her body turned around practically by itself, running to the window.

Something grabbed her shoulder, keeping her in place.

Terrified eyes looked back, and there she was, taller than Sin remembered.

White dress that would fit one of mother's hosted balls. Dark skin. Long black hair.

A black jackal mask peering into her soul.

"I've been meaning to meet you for a while now," she said, her calm voice setting off every alarm in Sin's head. "I've seen the results of your check-ups. You're an… interesting girl."

She squeezed Sin's shoulder.

The girl whimpered.

"I wonder how long that'll last."

Sin opened her mouth to say something, anything, but then...

A sharp pain suddenly attacked her.

For just a moment, her senses faded entirely, leaving only the hurt. When they returned, she was dressed in a hospital gown within a small, sterile cell.

And then her body began burning from inside.

Sin let out a whimper as she fell to her knees, gasping for air as she held her chest.

All over her body, strange lines were glowing, and it all hurt, and she wanted to stop.

"I-I'm sorry!" she begged to no one in particular, her tears falling freely. "I'll be a good girl, so please… Please…!"

Footsteps.

"M-Mother?" she whimpered. It tasted like blood. She'd bitten her tongue.

Amidst the pain, Sin looked up.

The masked woman stood outside her cell, looking down at her with something that felt like disgust.

"Useless."

That single word cut through Sin like a knife.

"I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. To think I wasted an entire week only for some paltry little tricks." She huffed. "If it weren't for the deal, I would feed you to the Honkai Beasts myself for this."

"A-Ah… I'm… sorry…"

Despite the pain, she forced herself to climb to her feet, taking a step towards the woman.

She didn't know why, but it was her fault, so she needed to apologize properly—

Someone grabbed her hair.

And then yanked.

The next moment, her spine cracked against the mirror, the shards flying outwards and biting into her skin. She collapsed onto the carpet, only then realizing this was her mother's office.

A polished show pressed down on her fingers.

"Half payment for half a product," her mother mused, looking down at her. "That was what she told me. But it wasn't only that." She crouched, gripping Sin's chin hard enough to leave marks. "Do you know what else I was told? That you begged like a common street rat."

Sin's breath hitched.

Her mother's slap came before she could ready herself.

"Smile," she ordered.

Sin's lips obeyed before her mind could catch up.

Perfect. Polished. A Mal through and through.

Her mother tilted her head. "You disgust me. The Mals do not beg. We do not grovel." Her heel ground into Sin's fingers. "And yet, there you were, whimpering for mercy like some… peasant."

Sin said nothing. Did nothing. She simply bore the pain and continued smiling at her mother.

The woman scowled.

"Thank me."

"Thank you, Matushka," Sin told her obediently.

"For?"

"For… not casting me out."

Her mother's laugh was as sharp as a knife. "Oh, no. That was the bare minimum. I want you to thank me for the overwhelming kindness I'm displaying to you right now."

Sin's throat burned, but she kept smiling. "Thank you… for punishing me."

"Good girl."

Her mother stood, brushing herself off as if Sin had been the dirtiest thing she touched in ages. "Clean this mess. And yourself. You don't even look good enough to be sold."

She turned and walked away. The door clicked shut.

Sin hiccuped. Once. Twice.

Stopped.

It was pointless. It never changed anything.

Only silence was left.

Wobbly legs lifted her up. She turned around, gazing into the broken mirror.

The leftover shards displayed a disheveled little girl, bearing bleeding scratches all over and wearing a ruined expensive dress.

Not even good enough to be sold.

And then…

She laughed.

It began quiet, small, and then burst, becoming something unhinged. Her smile didn't falter even as tears fell.

The room warped. The mirror's cracks pulsed like veins, the walls breathed, the chandelier dripped, the carpet crawled.

"Wa... up! Hey!"

A girl's distant voice cut through the space, sharp as a blade.

But Sin didn't stop, laughing louder and louder.

"Are you ignoring me?!"

She wanted her real parents. She wanted to disappear. She wanted her plushies and sweets and stories and heroes and happy endings and…

"I gave you an order, human! Wake! Up!"

Someone yanked her away—

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Mal Family Estate]

—and she nearly fell out of her bed, stopping right by the edge.

Sin blinked, confused, as her senses started returning to her.

She was… in her room again, in her violet nightdress like in the dream, but her surroundings were much brighter, with the light from outside not quite snuffed out by the curtains in the way.

Definitely not 3:33 AM, then.

It was the third day of the snowstorm. That much she managed to remember as she came back to her senses.

That meant she had three new playmates for a while by then.

And floating next to the bed, holding onto her arm with a grumpy look, was one of them. A certain purple-haired ghost.

Today, it seemed she decided to wear (a ghostly copy of) one of Sin's least frilly violet dresses.

Sin gave her a big smile.

Empty. Meaningless.

"Sister Sirin looks really pretty!" she said.

The other girl's eyes widened for a moment before she looked away with a huff, letting go of Sin's arm.

"Of course I do. And I told you to stop calling me that." Then her glare returned. "But I'm more interested in knowing what you think you're doing, servant. It's quite bothersome."

Sin was about to ask what she meant, but then she felt it.

At some point, she had started… reaching out.

Her heterochromatic eyes once again moved across the room. Nothing seemed out of place, but that was just as expected.

She sat up on her bed and closed her eyes for a moment, and when they reopened, her lavender eye bore a faint glow.

Tendril-like shadows coming from her were now clearly spread across the room, twisting and reaching out.

And Sirin was covered in them, the shadows appearing almost like transparent dark paint over her form.

The tendrils wriggled.

Sirin shuddered, in the way of someone unused to being hugged. "Stop it."

Sin smiled again. "'Kaay~!"

The shadows moved to retreat from Sirin, but not before squeezing her nonexistent form once more.

She made a funny noise.

"Servant…!" Sirin growled. "If it weren't for your offerings, I swear I'd… Ugh, whatever." She crossed her arms, eyeing Sirin warily. "Now, care to explain what happened?"

Sin tilted her head, still smiling. "What do you mean?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yesterday's… Today's… The dream, you fool. It fell apart from one moment to the next, and those two idiots were sent straight to their own dreams instead."

At the mention of the other two, Sin turned to look at the bed.

Bronya was wearing yellow HOMU pajamas, wriggling with a frown under the covers in an attempt to escape her binds.

Said binds were actually just Kiana in one of Sin's frilly white nightdresses, hugging Bronya like a plushie with a big smile despite the other girl's hand on her head trying to push her away.

Sin's tendrils were also all over them, though a pair of bigger ones were reaching straight into their hearts. Another linked the two together instead, a little gift left behind by Sin.

To avoid making them uncomfortable, Sin willed herself to let go of the two girls, the shadow tendrils returning to her.

Mostly. The big ones tethered to their hearts could stay.

If she let go of Kiana completely, she'd also find it harder to see Sirin, after all. Same for Bronya.

Then, with that out of the way, she eyed their snuggling forms, frowning a little.

"... Seems nice," she mumbled.

"Seems stupid," Sirin said, and it sounded quite mean. "Now. Explain."

Sin turned back to her with a big smile.

"Maybe my focus just slipped~?" she explained in a carefree voice. "I almost never play this often with others! It's so fun!"

Sirin’s eyes narrowed into slits. "Your focus slipped?" Her voice dripped with disdain, but something flickered in her gaze — something sharper than her usual disinterest. "Don’t insult me. You were choking on your own screams. You must take me for a fool if you plan on denying you were having a nightmare at the very least."

"Hm… But so what~?" Sin’s smile didn’t falter. She twirled a lock of hair around her finger. "Nightmares are just stories! And stories can’t hurt—"

"Liar." Sirin’s hands shot out, grabbing Sin's shoulders. "You think I don’t recognize that kind of fear? The kind that makes you beg for death instead of mercy?"

A pause.

No response came to Sirin's words. Not immediately, at least.

The clock on the wall ticked.

Sin’s lavender eye glowed brighter.

Then, after a moment, the glow in her eye died down, and she laughed.

It was a sweet sound. She made sure of it. 

"Is Sister Sirin worried about me? But I’m fine! Perfectly fine! See?" She spread her arms, presenting herself. "No screams! No tears! Just happy, happy Sin!"

Sirin’s expression twisted. For a second, Sin thought she might hit her.

But then the Herrscher huffed, letting go of Sin and looking away. "Tch. Whatever. Waste my time again, and I’ll unmake your dreams so thoroughly you’ll forget even your own name."

Sin giggled, something shifting in her gaze. "Promise?"

Sirin actually faltered, but it only lasted a moment — then she was shooting Sin a burning glare, as if it'd make her change her tune.

Which was a silly idea, of course.

Sin had experience with worse glares than that.

The moment stretched like that, not a word spoken between them.

And then Sin spun on her heel, her nightdress flaring as she looked at the two girls atop her bed.

"Anyway! Time for breakfast!" She leaned closer, poking Kiana's cheek. "Up, up, up, lazyheads~!"

"Really…?" Kiana groaned, swatting at the air before going back to hugging Bronya. "Five more minutes…"

Bronya, ever the light sleeper, cracked one eye open. "Bronya demands that the idiotka release her before the situation escalates."

"This is what I get for sharing my heat…?" Kiana grumbled. "Pah, you're really as grumpy as a wolf… Here, let's see if some belly rubs improve your mood—"

She was promptly pushed off the bed, hitting the carpeted floor with an "oof."

"... I'm awake now," Kiana helpfully notified them from her landing zone.

Sin simply giggled, as though that was a normal sight. "Let's go, I want pancakes today!"

Behind her, Sirin lingered, arms crossed. Watching.

Sin didn’t look back.

(If she did, she was afraid she might see something worse than anger. Something that would make even the shadows under her skin squirm.)

So, as the girls prepared for the morning, Sin laughed louder, brighter, and pretended not to notice that something was wrong.

She ignored the looks the others gave her when they thought she wasn't paying attention, and the way Sirin’s ghostly fingers occasionally twitched, as if to grab her again.

Focusing on those things wouldn't make her happy, after all.

And she had to be happy.

Ø

Kiana knew there was something wrong with Sin even before waking up.

Well, no, she knew from the start, but there was something wronger with her today.

After a short bath, they dressed up — Bronya managed to get away with her own white fur scarf, orange dress, and blue jacket with a similar fur, while Kiana was practically forced into one of Sin's white dresses that was probably the price of a house in Siberia.

Her usual braids were nowhere to be seen thanks to Sin's insistence on brushing her hair today, and ensuing lack of experience on how to braid it properly.

Kiana promised to teach her later.

And then they went to eat breakfast in the tea room next to Sin's bedroom.

They hadn't eaten in the dining hall since Kiana's first day at the mansion, and she was glad for it. The less time she spent in Vera Mal's presence, the better. That woman reeked of deceit, and Kiana thought so before Sirin had even started disparaging her.

Kiana still refused to kill her like Sirin wanted until they had enough information.

As always, the breakfast looked like it belonged in a painting.

A lace tablecloth, probably older than all three of them combined, spread across the circular table. Crystal dishes, gold-trimmed cups, fresh fruit arranged like sculpture. The pancakes Sin requested were stacked high in a silver dish kept warm under a glass lid, while syrup came in a tiny porcelain pitcher that looked far too dainty to touch.

It was almost like they were still in the dream.

"Bon appétit~!" Sin chirped, slicing herself a neat square of pancake and sliding it onto her plate with the precision of a child imitating a royal.

Kiana reached for her own, pausing mid-motion as she glanced across the table.

Bronya hadn’t moved.

Her silver eyes were locked on Sin, though her fingers were taut on her fork. Watching.

Sin, meanwhile, hummed a little melody under her breath, pouring syrup in a slow spiral. It dripped in a steady rhythm.

Too steady.

Kiana hesitated, then stabbed into a pancake and plopped it on her plate.

The loud slap of food on china made Sin jump slightly.

"... Sorry," Kiana said after a moment.

Sin smiled at her. Bright. Perfect. Too perfect.

"Don’t worry~! Clumsy guests are cute guests, anyway!"

That earned a sharp exhale from Sirin, who was floating just above the unoccupied chair beside Kiana, arms folded and a glare pointed at Sin.

"Charming as ever," the Herrscher muttered dryly. "Why don’t you tell them what happened in the dream, since we’re all so happy to pretend we’re not wondering."

Sin’s smile twitched.

"Oh, that?" she said too quickly. " Dreams flicker sometimes. Probably because I was tired~!"

"You were screaming."

Kiana’s fork paused halfway to her mouth.

Sin didn’t flinch. She didn’t even blink. Just took a dainty bite and chewed with a practiced rhythm. Like she hadn’t heard a thing.

"I don’t recall that part," she said after swallowing. "Maybe that was Kiana~?"

Kiana stiffened.

"No," she said, setting her fork down. "It wasn’t."

For a moment, there was silence.

Sin only smiled harder. She took another bite. Chewed slower this time. Swallowed.

Then looked up at them both, tilting her head slightly. "Why are you staring like that~? I said I’m fine. Just a silly dream, that’s all. Don’t worry about it."

Bronya finally moved. She pushed her chair back, slowly, the legs scraping lightly against the carpet.

"You deflected the question."

Sin’s hands froze mid-motion.

Kiana spoke up, softer this time, "Sin… You’re not fine."

She didn’t answer right away. Just looked down at her half-eaten pancake as if it had betrayed her somehow.

Then…she giggled.

"You’re both being so dramatic today! It’s just a dream! It's not like I’m broken or anything."

Sirin narrowed her eyes. "You are."

"Then I’ll glue myself back together," Sin replied, sweet as spun sugar. "Now eat, eat! Don’t let the food get cold~!"

Her hand reached for the syrup again, but it trembled — just for a moment — before she steadied it.

Kiana glanced at Bronya.

Bronya glanced back.

Neither of them said a word, but the look was enough. Agreement passed between them like code.

Something was very wrong.

And she wouldn’t talk about it.

Not here. Not like this.

The best they could do for the moment was to eat their fill and pretend they were not planning their next move.

A few minutes later, Sin set her fork down with a satisfied hum and dabbed her lips with a silk napkin.

"I’ll clean up here~!" she declared brightly. "I’m the host, after all. And a good host must keep things spotless!"

Kiana opened her mouth, but Sin was already rising from her seat.

"I insist!" she said, ushering them toward the hallway. "You’ve been such lovely guests, so please let me handle this part. Go on now!"

And then the doors shut behind them.

So, as they awkwardly stood there for a few moments before hesitantly walking away, Kiana only had one thing to say.

"There's something wrong with Sin."

Both the floating well-dressed phantom and the silver-haired mercenary in her company turned to face her, giving her a blank stare.

"I-I know we already established that!" Kiana defended herself from what felt like an accusation against her intelligence. "I'm more wondering what we can do about it. I mean, it definitely has something to do with her mom, right? There's no way it doesn't. Sin didn't get like that overnight."

"Not our problem," Sirin answered quickly.

Too quickly.

"You know what's up with her," Kiana guessed.

Sirin huffed.

"Even if I did, which I do not," she stressed, "it would still be none of our business. Don't you have better things to worry about? Like your nonsense of replacing me as the Queen of Honkai?"

"I can't do much stuck in this mansion, can I?" Kiana shot back, pouting. "Besides, how could I call myself the Queen of Honkai if I can't help a single person?"

"That… has nothing to do with that title, fool."

'Stop speaking aloud,' Bronya's thought sounded in Kiana's mind. 'Voices from the right. Main stairs.'

The link Sin gifted them — which Sirin swore she could easily replicate and improve if she cared enough to — was already doing wonders.

'I say we check it out.'

"... I'm not stepping in if you get caught."

Kiana narrowed her eyes at Sirin.

The Herrscher actually… stuck out her tongue at Kiana.

Mean.

Their footsteps grew lighter as the main stairs came into view, but no one else was around. The voices seemed to be coming from somewhere below, on the second floor.

"You’re really not going to let me pass?" came a woman's voice. "What are you afraid of? That I'll ask her nicely to come with me and she'll say yes?"

Kiana blinked as she approached the stairs to listen better, the others following along.

That sounded like… Cocolia?

The woman, a local warlord with ties to the mercenaries, arrived on the same night as Kiana and Himeko, talking about having been caught by the snowstorm on her way to an important task.

As if.

The way Himeko kept glancing at Cocolia like she expected her to pull out a weapon at any moment spoke volumes of how little she trusted her.

Still, what was she talking about?

"You don’t get to do whatever you want just because you’re annoyed," Himeko answered. She wasn’t raising her voice, but it still sounded resolute. "If you really want to see her, how about considering the offer?"

"Oh, please," Cocolia hissed. "Let’s not pretend that's a deal. It's a takeover."

"Then maybe you shouldn’t have pushed your luck in the first place," Himeko shot back.

"I pushed because I know what the others would do in the worst case," Cocolia snapped. "Fear makes them blind to possibilities, and very much open to rash decisions—"

"You don’t get to pretend this is altruism," Himeko interrupted. "You just want an asset."

Something about that word — asset — made Kiana’s chest tighten.

She leaned against the railing next to the stairs, looking down. Only more stairs greeted her as they twisted down, the two women right out of view underneath.

There was a beat of silence. Then Cocolia exhaled through her nose, tired and sharp.

"Maybe. But her safety is a necessity regardless. I wouldn’t do any of this if I didn’t think she could be protected under me," she spoke with annoyance, as if lecturing an unruly child. "As for that man, he just wants a leash short enough to be holding me by the throat."

"You’re still breathing, aren’t you?" Himeko said, deadpan.

That earned a huff. "Barely."

Kiana leaned back. What were they talking about? Why did it sound like her dad… traded something?

Or worse, her?

"Complain all you want," Himeko continued, "you're definitely not getting a private chat with her today."

"She doesn’t even know what she’s carrying, not truly," Cocolia said suddenly, and her voice had dropped — not softer, just colder. "She’s a child playing house in a room with a bomb."

"Maybe we all are," Himeko murmured.

They fell into silence once more.

Kiana glanced at Sirin, who seemed entirely disinterested, and at Bronya, who stood behind her with a focused expression.

At least someone else was treating this seriously.

"You're too calm about this," Cocolia said down below.

Himeko let out a dry laugh. "In this mess? Someone has to be."

"Not you," Cocolia replied quickly, as if she expected that sort of answer. "Not someone who I know for a fact was forced into this. What are you getting out of this? You can't possibly be thinking of following this through to the end then washing off your hands and returning to Schicksal."

Another beat of silence.

"You can't be serious," Cocolia deadpanned.

"Maybe I just like avoiding loose ends," Himeko replied in the same flat tone.

"You'll be the loose end at this rate," Cocolia shot back. "At least be a little worried that Siegfried might put a bullet in your head when this is over."

That made Kiana's eyes widen.

Her father wouldn't, right…?

"A lovely thought," Himeko replied sarcastically, "but there's not much I can do about it."

"Perhaps if you side with me—"

"No, thanks."

Himeko seemed to have a knack for driving the other woman speechless, because there was yet another moment of silence.

"You Valkyries are stupidly stubborn." Cocolia sounded tired. "Or maybe just stupid."

Himeko chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment, coming from you."

"Annoying, as well." A long sigh sounded. "See that your attitude doesn't get you killed so soon."

"... Thanks."

Footsteps echoed, likely Cocolia's as she went away.

Kiana remained there, fingers curled tight around the railing. Sirin looked at her from the corner of her eye but said nothing.

As for Bronya…

'Not enough information to draw a conclusion,' her thought came as she stood by Kiana. 'But it clearly had something to do with Kiana.'

Very clearly so, yes.

'In the worst case, I could… take Sin and run away, maybe?'

'Bronya can help you hide in the next vehicle heading back to base,' Bronya supplied, placing a hand on Kiana's shoulder.

"Yuck," Sirin said.

The other two pointedly ignored her.

'Thanks, but…'

Kiana sighed, turning to look at Bronya.

'We should be worrying about Sin right now. I'm not in trouble just yet. And I wanted to talk to Aunt Himeko first about Sin, assuming she's… actually willing to help, you know.'

Which was the best she could come up with to avoid thinking "assuming she and Papa are not too busy planning on selling me out to help with the Sin situation."

Bronya didn’t respond immediately. She stepped forward, her eyes scanning the now-empty staircase like she expected one of the women to reappear.

'We could talk to Uncle Maxim,' she offered eventually. 'He should already be up.'

Kiana blinked. 'Maxim?'

Bronya nodded. 'The Silver Wolf of the Urals. In charge of the Silver Wolves. Trustworthy.'

Kiana tilted her head. 'I… haven’t really seen him much. Or at all.'

'He stays out of the way on purpose.'

Sirin finally spoke again, floating closer with a frown, "Last I heard, that blonde woman was the one who sold him those fancy anti-Honkai toys some of these worms are carrying around, and we're still not sure whether she's working with Sin's so-called mother, what with her convenient appearance. They could all be in cahoots for all you know."

'Uncle Maxim only started working with Miss Cocolia again recently because Bronya told him about seeing Sirin two months ago, and his ties to Vera Mal are only professional. He’s careful. Doesn’t trust easily,' Bronya’s thought cut cleanly through Sirin’s sarcasm. 'He raised Bronya. Trustworthy.'

That made Kiana pause. She only knew Bronya for a few days, but she had a feeling that this girl rarely volunteered personal history like that.

'You think he’ll talk to me?' Kiana asked.

Bronya turned to her fully. 'He’ll talk to me. I’ll take you.'

"Aw, how sweet," Sirin said aloud, mock-clasping her hands. "But, and I'm not even sorry to point this out, having raised you doesn't make him trustworthy. It makes you biased."

Neither of them responded.

Kiana squared her shoulders. 'Alright. Let’s go talk to your uncle.'

Sirin rolled her eyes.

That, too, went ignored.

Ø

The wind had picked up again. The cold was seeping into the mansion even with all windows closed.

Himeko was glad for her uniform's internal heating.

She leaned against one of the hallway's windows, her breath fogging out in short puffs as she pressed the call button on her secure phone.

A few long seconds passed before the signal connected.

“Siegfried here,” came the familiar drawl, slightly muffled under static due to the storm. “Miss me already?”

Himeko snorted. “More like I wanted to check if you had been caught yet. You’re not exactly known for staying out of trouble.”

“That’s not fair. I’ve been perfectly ghostlike this entire time.”

“You left boot prints on the south slope.”

There was a pause.

“…Those could be anyone’s.”

She let out a laugh despite herself. “Right. Just wanted to confirm you’re still nearby. Things are tense. Cocolia's getting pushy.”

“A threat?”

“Still unclear.” Himeko’s gaze drifted down to the lower courtyard. Nothing but snow and stone. “But she hasn’t made a move yet. Kiana’s still safe.”

“Good.” Siegfried’s tone sobered. "Just say the word if anything happens."

"Got it." Then Himeko smirked. "Try not to leave any more trails."

"Hey."

That was all he said before hanging up.

Himeko shook her head as she lowered the phone.

All things considered, he wasn't the worst person to be forced to temporarily work for—

A sound.

Soft.

Behind her.

Her instincts kicked in too late.

She whirled, reaching for the greatsword on her back — but something slammed into her side, too fast to register. She hit the floor hard as a numbing cold spread through her limbs, not from the cold but from—

Poison?

Her vision blurred. Shadows swam. A flicker of movement — a familiar shape.

A maid.

And then, darkness.

Ø

The eastern wing of the third floor of the mansion was quieter, its silence a different kind of oppressive than the storm outside. It wasn’t abandoned, not really, but the mercenaries stationed there carried themselves with an air of discipline that made Kiana walk a little bit straighter.

From what Kiana remembered, there were quite a few rooms filled with expensive items in that part of the mansion, so such an atmosphere was justified, even if just a little.

Bronya led without hesitation, barely speaking as they weaved through the carpeted halls. The few soldiers they passed offered the younger girl small nods of recognition.

It had been easy to get around Himeko, who often patrolled like the mercenaries to keep an eye out for threats, but they shouldn't push their luck and linger too long.

They found Maxim near a frosted window that overlooked the courtyard, dressed like as much of a soldier as any other mercenary. He had his arms folded behind his back, his long coat swaying slightly as he turned.

He was impossible to mistake.

Tall, broad-shouldered, and with white skin weathered by time and small scars alike. He had short brown hair, a trimmed beard, and a black eyepatch covering his right eye, leaving only his left one bearing an icy blue color.

The handgun at his hip was sleek, clean, and definitely not ceremonial.

As they stepped close, he reached out and patted Bronya on the head.

With a perfectly straight face.

Bronya didn’t react outwardly.

"Uncle Maxim. Stop that."

He didn’t stop.

"Promotion treating you well?" he asked. "From bodyguard to playmate. I hear the hours are worse. Some startling things about the girl herself, too."

Bronya side-stepped out of range. "Small obstacles."

"Mm." He cast a glance at Kiana. "I suppose it must be fine if the other playmate looks intact. Physically, at least."

Kiana frowned slightly. "Could you not talk like I'm not here?"

He didn’t acknowledge her protest.

"We came to ask about Sin," Bronya said.

That got his attention. He blinked once and straightened slightly.

Kiana stepped forward. "She had a nightmare. It was… It looked bad. The kind that doesn’t come out of nowhere."

"We think it’s something from the mansion," Bronya added. "Or tied to it. Probably Sin's mother."

Maxim was silent for a long moment.

"Did she say anything about it?" he asked eventually.

"No," Kiana said. "She pretended everything was fine and kicked us out of the room."

"Classic." Maxim sighed through his nose. "And you want what? Extraction?"

"An option," Bronya said. "Later, if needed. Something realistic."

Maxim scratched his jaw.

"The girl's a Mal. Obviously, any action has to stay off the record." He looked back at the window. "Contract ends in a few months. If she’s still alive then... Officially, we do nothing. If she takes advantage of all the people moving around to sneak out while we're leaving? So be it."

He looked at Bronya. "But if you’re asking for more than that, I can’t give it. We’re hired protection, not vigilantes. If we cross the line, we lose our contracts — and a lot of us run the risk of starving. I can’t make that call for everyone."

Bronya nodded once, like she expected nothing else.

Sirin huffed, finally deciding to speak up.

"A few months…" she repeated, sounding strangely bitter. "In other words, she'll be left waiting for help that won't arrive in time. Typical. If she's lucky, she'll snap and murder every last human in this hellhole rather than dying like a worm."

Kiana had to fight the urge to glance at her.

"One other question," Bronya continued. "Are there any orders concerning Kiana?"

Maxim’s good eye narrowed slightly. "From Lady Mal? No. From Cocolia? Also no. But I'll keep you informed if I discover anything suspicious."

"Thank you," Bronya said, nodding once more.

Maxim’s gaze lingered a moment longer. Then he gave a small shrug. "Don’t expect miracles. But I’ll have some people keep an eye on the girl."

Sirin snorted. "Oh, right, the one-eyed man will be ‘keeping an eye’ on the girl — I'm sure he has plenty to spare."

Bronya paid no mind to Sirin, tugging on Kiana’s sleeve. "Let’s go."

As they walked away, Sirin’s voice muttered from behind, "That was entirely useless."

But Bronya didn’t stop walking.

She dragged Kiana to the main stairs, then down to the first floor, and kept walking.

'Contractual standards,' she thought through the link.

Kiana blinked. "Huh?"

'The Silver Wolves have strict minimum operating standards embedded in every contract,' Bronya explained quietly. 'They won’t assist clients involved in human trafficking, human experimentation, and such.'

Sirin scoffed again from just behind them. "Oh, so they’re not just useless — they’re moralistic mercenaries. How lovely—" And then she paused. "Wait. Human experimentation? That means…"

Kiana’s eyes widened. 'Sin definitely had something done to her. You think we can find proof here?'

'Possibly,' Bronya replied. 'We just need to look.'

She didn’t smile. But there was a faint light in her eyes — focused, cold, hopeful.

'And if we find it,' she thought, 'we can pull off Uncle Maxim's plan and get Sin out as soon as the storm ends.'

Ø

Sin didn’t return to bed so much as retreat into it.

She’d finished organizing everything from breakfast first, just like she said — the dishes, the silver, even the cloth napkins folded just the way the older servants preferred.

It had been an excuse, but she also didn't want to be a liar.

Liars were punished.

And once that was done, she slipped back into her room and pulled the covers over her head as if to hide.

Her dress — black and violet, buttoned tight up to her throat — was stiff with too much structure to be comfortable in bed, but she didn’t move to change. She lay curled sideways in the massive canopied frame, perfectly still beneath the heavy blankets, as if movement might summon someone she didn’t want to see.

Like her mother.

Her curled fists rested near her chest, fingers twitching with half-formed thoughts she refused to voice. Her carefully brushed hair — which she had insisted on styling herself — was already beginning to tangle against the pillow.

In the silence, her breathing slowed, shallow and deliberate.

She didn’t cry.

But she also didn’t sleep.

Sin didn’t remember when she stopped pretending to sleep and just started staring at the darkness inside the blankets.

The dress itched against her skin.

Kiana had laughed earlier. Not a mocking laugh — not like the ones she was used to — but a soft, bright one, because her hair had turned out so wrong. Because Sin didn’t know how to braid and the only salvation was to let it flow freely.

For a brief, impossible moment, it felt like none of this was real.

Her mother had allowed it.

That was the problem.

Her mother didn’t allow things without a reason. Kiana had been permitted to stay near, but it wasn’t out of mercy. It wasn’t because Sin had begged.

It was because she was being set up to lose her.

Kiana would be taken. Just like Sin had once been.

And Bronya… Bronya was a mere afterthought. A bonus. Her mother had said as much.

Sirin hadn't even figured into her mother's plans. That was the one little secret Sin managed to keep. And yet...

Sin swallowed dryly.

She didn’t know what to do.

There was no way for her to confess to Kiana. She couldn’t tell her, because then Kiana would hate Sin for being a liar. So would everyone else.

She could feel her heart pounding harder under the covers, and for a terrifying moment, she almost called for someone. Kiana, Bronya, Sirin, anyone. But she said nothing.

Because what would she even say?

"We're only allowed together because I’m bait."

Her thoughts spiraled tighter, like they were coiling in her chest, sharp and choking.

And then—

A knock at the door.

Sin flinched.

Not the way a human flinches when startled — but the way a rabbit flinches before it runs.

It was soft. Not urgent. But not hesitant either.

Her breath hitched. A second passed. Then another.

Of course. It was probably Kiana. Or Bronya. They’d noticed something was wrong. They’d come back. She’d pretend. She could pretend long enough.

She forced herself to move. A smile. She needed to smile. That’s what normal people did.

Sin almost stumbled as she rolled off the bed too quickly, rushing for the door. She adjusted her posture, wiped at her cheeks, and ran a hand over her dress to smooth the wrinkles.

The smile didn’t reach her eyes as she opened the door.

She opened the door.

And then her smile froze entirely.

Not Kiana.

Not Bronya.

A maid.

Natasha.

Pink eyes, expression unreadable as always. The maid, younger than most of the other servants, stood more like a soldier, hands clasped neatly in front of her.

The maid didn’t speak right away. Just took in the sight — Sin in full formal wear, hair a little messy, skin too pale, smile not reaching her eyes.

"Lady Mal is requesting your presence," Natasha said carefully.

Requesting, she says.

Sin knows for a fact that was not the word her mother used.

It couldn't have been. Because Vera Mal did not make requests.

So she nodded mechanically, because what choice did she have?

"Of course. I’ll be right there."

She began to close the door.

Natasha didn’t move.

Her pink eyes studied the girl carefully. And then, something in her expression shifted — not dramatically, just the barest flicker of recognition.

She said nothing, but Sin froze anyway.

Natasha turned to leave, her braid swinging lightly behind her. "I’ll wait outside. Take your time."

She didn’t say anything else. She didn’t have to.

For the first time that morning, Sin’s smile dropped as she closed the door with shaking fingers.

There was no mistaking it. She had been seen.

She had been seen.

Her mask was starting to crack, crumbling piece by piece, and when it finally shattered entirely…

What would happen when her ugliness was in the open for all to see?

Ø

Before anything else, Kiana and Bronya had to get ready for any eventualities.

That, of course, meant Kiana had a reason to grab her cool operative outfit again, bat sheathe and all, while Bronya simply collected her weapons, forgoing her combat gear from the night Kiana met her on the grounds that it was just oversized enough to be cumbersome.

It turned out that a pair of little girls wandering around the mansion armed wasn't even worth a glance in Siberia. Not that it was a surprise.

What was surprising was not running into Himeko at any point.

Of course, Kiana was planning on avoiding her in the first place, but she expected to at least catch sight of the woman, or have to employ an excuse or two if she was caught.

Not seeing her at all was…

A lucky break, maybe?

After that, it was just a matter of searching for leads.

That, surprisingly, took barely half an hour.

Kiana pressed her hand against the hollow wall on the first floor, tapping sharply.

'This has to be it.'

Sirin hovered just behind, her pale eyes narrowing with unmistakable impatience. "Yes. It is. There's a hidden passage behind the wall. I already checked. What are you even doing?"

'Then Bronya's guess was correct,' Bronya thought from her spot a few steps behind. 'The architecture in this section would make no sense unless there was a hidden entrance.'

Sirin shot Bronya a look. "Hmph. I suppose even you are useful at times, human. You know what? If you become my servant, then maybe then I’ll spare you when I inevitably wipe out humanity."

Bronya blinked once. 'No, thanks.'

Kiana caught the moment Sirin twitched at that.

"What the hell do you mean 'no, thanks' you—"

'Sirin,' Kiana interrupted, 'can you check if there are any mechanisms inside the wall or on the other side? You're the only one who can do it.'

Sirin paused at that, scowling at Kiana.

Then she huffed.

"You're useless without me, vessel. Honestly, how hopeless…"

She disappeared past the wall, and soon enough the sounds of taps and clicks occupied the silence.

That should take a few minutes. Hopefully Sirin would be done within the gap between mercenary patrols, but honestly? Even if a patrol passes by, if Sirin stops making noise for a minute or two, they'd just look like two girls standing in front of a wall.

Weird, but not alarming. They were pretty safe.

And since they had time…

'Hey,' Kiana thought into their link, glancing at Bronya. 'Just to confirm, does it really not bother you, being around her? You know, the Herrscher who killed millions, destroyed Siberia, and left it like this?'

Bronya shrugged. 'Bronya was taught to keep moving forward. It's how we survive in Siberia. Also, Sirin was scarier before, but now? There are worse monsters, Bronya believes.'

Kiana frowned, surprised. 'You think there are monsters worse than Sirin?'

'If Sirin was that bad, we wouldn't even be able to hold a conversation,' Bronya explained matter-of-factly. 'And Bronya doesn't particularly care for seeking justice. Few people in Siberia do. As long as Sirin doesn't actively behave like a monster, Bronya won't treat her as one anymore, despite her past.'

'Huh.' Kiana crossed her arms, looking at Bronya curiously. 'That's definitely a unique way to look at it. A bit careless, maybe.'

Bronya tilted her head slightly. 'Kiana says that as if she doesn't think the same. You're comfortable around Sirin, too.'

'Sort of.' Kiana’s expression grew pensive. 'I mean, all things considered, I just basically… accepted I'm a bad person, kinda? A good person can't just shrug off something like that. But I don't really feel any drive to punish her, even though she still gets murdery sometimes. I really should, as a Kaslana— Oh, that's right, I didn't tell you what kind of family I'm from yet.'

"Stupid heroes of justice wannabes," Sirin supplied from across the wall.

'... That was uncalled for.' Kiana pouted. 'But yeah, I'm actively ignoring justice here, and that makes me a bad Kaslana. Maybe I should be having a bigger crisis about it right now, but it just kinda comes and goes based on how bad my day is, you know.'

Bronya hummed. 'Sirin also feels more like someone who obtained weapons too destructive and easy to use.'

'Oh, yeah, that!' Kiana perked up, as if the pieces just came together in her mind. 'It happens a lot around here, right? Other kids getting their hands on guns that someone lost and really bad stuff happening.'

"Hey," Sirin’s voice snapped sharply, as if personally insulted. "My reign of terror is not something to be downplayed as a child's careless mistake."

Before either of them could respond, a harsh click echoed, and the wall slid open, revealing Sirin and a hidden narrow stairwell leading into darkness downwards.

Sirin’s eyes glinted with grudging satisfaction as she smirked. "And the passage is open. You're free to admit you can't do anything without me, humans—"

Just then, a new sound rang out from their right.

A slow, deliberate clap.

All three of them froze.

Kiana turned sharply, hand already on the handle of her bat. Bronya shifted into a guarded stance, placing herself just slightly in front of Kiana as she raised her Kalashnikov.

Sirin just floated above the threshold, golden eyes narrowing.

Walking down the hallway towards them was a familiar figure.

Long blonde hair tied into a ponytail. Heavy military coat. Pale skin. And eyes — violet, cool, and sharp enough to pierce straight through them.

Cocolia.

"Well, would you look at this," she said, her voice a low drawl. "A hidden passage? It seems Lady Mal has been keeping some secrets."

No one answered at first.

Bronya’s expression didn’t change, but Kiana felt the atmosphere grow tense.

Was Cocolia working with Vera Mal, after all?

If she tried to stop them now…

Kiana flexed her grip on the bat.

But Cocolia didn’t reach for a weapon. Didn’t shout. Didn’t threaten.

Instead, she took a few slow steps closer, gaze sweeping across the three of them. Her eyes lingered on Bronya the longest — something unreadable flickering in her expression — before she sighed and stopped a few paces away.

"I assume whatever you’re about to do is profoundly stupid," she said. "And I doubt asking nicely would be enough to convince you not to go ahead with this."

Kiana squinted. "... Are you threatening us?"

"No." Her lips curled into something that might’ve been a smile. "As the only responsible adult available, I’m inviting myself."

The silence that followed in the next few seconds was deafening.

Bronya lowered her weapon, but kept it poised for use if necessary. "What is your goal?"

"I've met children like you. I'm simply saddled with the knowledge that you’ll do something reckless the second I look away," Cocolia said plainly. "And I can’t let that happen."

Bronya didn’t budge. "We are not your responsibility."

Cocolia’s gaze flicked toward the secret passage. "Then let’s pretend I’m curious about this mansion's secrets as well."

Kiana met Bronya’s eyes briefly. Their mental link was quiet, but she felt the faint buzz of uncertainty.

If they refused, would Cocolia stop them? Report them? Worse?

"Kill her," Sirin suggested. "Hide her body down there."

'... Considering it,' Bronya replied.

Kiana's mouth twitched for an instant at the suggestion.

'Can we leave the murdering for when we're not missing critical information?'

"I could strangle her myself."

'That'd force me to order you to stop, and you know how much you hate those binding orders.'

"Coward."

In the following moments, no one relaxed.

But they didn't reject Cocolia outright.

And then Kiana slowly allowed her grip on her bat to relax.

"Fine," she told Cocolia, still eyeing her suspiciously. "But we'll keep an eye on you."

Coming from a little girl, that probably had less of an effect than she wanted.

But it was still the best she could do.

Cocolia gave a slow nod, a satisfied smile plastered on her face. "Very well. Lead the way."

Kiana cautiously walked toward the stairwell, Bronya falling into step while Sirin lingered by the side to glare at Cocolia. The woman in question followed them closely from behind, hands casually pressed into her coat's pockets.

And behind them, the wall slid shut.

.

Ø

.

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Outskirts of the Mal Family Estate]

The wind howled, thick flakes of snow hissing sideways through the branches of frost-coated pine. Somewhere beneath their sheltering canopy, a lone figure sat crouched, eyes half-lidded, coat open at the collar like he barely noticed the subzero temperature.

Siegfried Kaslana exhaled steam through his nose. A thermos steamed beside his boot. Snow was piling on his shoulder, ignored.

In his coat's pocket, his phone buzzed.

Siegfried fetched it, took a glance, then sighed as he accepted the call. "Einstein. You know how I feel about work calls during a snowstorm."

A sigh came through the line. "Your personal preferences are noted. More importantly, have you noticed anything unusual in the past hour?"

He reached for his thermos and took a long sip. "Define unusual. Siberia is a special kind of nightmare, if you hadn’t noticed."

"The Honkai density in your area is increasing," she said. "Not within the mansion. It’s spiking around it. Converging."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Enough to bring in Honkai Beasts?"

"Not yet, but soon. Your field sensors would detect it within the next few minutes, though I’ve already sent the sync update."

He hummed, placing the thermos down on the snow. "We sure it’s not Sirin screwing around again?"

"No. Sirin is inside the mansion. Her residual Honkai signature hasn’t moved much since morning."

Siegfried stood, stretching as if getting ready for something. "Schicksal?"

"We saw no movement from their forces in this area."

"... Cocolia?"

"Also no movement."

"Then someone else." Siegfried brushed the snow from his shoulders. "Same clowns that sent those tin cans after the girls?"

"That’s our leading hypothesis," Einstein said. "This feels… too calculated."

"Wonderful," Siegfried muttered. "Can’t even camp in peace. I was halfway through a very nice bottle of—"

"Siegfried."

He sighed. "Yeah, yeah. I’ll keep an eye on the perimeter."

"Good. And Siegfried?"

"Mm?"

"If our perpetrator plans on having Honkai Beasts encroach on the mansion, it’s not just to attack. It’s to box them in," she spoke with her usual calculated tone, but even then she seemed more on the edge than usual. "This must be part of a bigger plan. Be careful."

"Got it."

The call ended.

Siegfried clicked the phone off, slipped it into his inner coat pocket, and rolled his neck once.

"Heh… Guess it’s almost party time."

He reached for his Shamash guns, casually spinning them as he brought them up.

"Here's hoping they don't mind an uninvited guest."

Chapter Text

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Outskirts of the Mal Family Estate]

The storm was breaking. It wasn’t gone, just weakening with each passing hour.

At the moment, the sky above the Mal Estate was still heavy, the sun behind it nothing more than a pale smear, but it was only a matter of time until it cleared up, at least somewhat.

Not that they were in any position to enjoy such a thing.

Maxim stood knee-deep in the snow with his rifle raised. Steam curled from its barrel, one more Honkai Beast falling apart.

His breath misted, short and sharp.

Behind him, his squad of Silver Wolves fell into formation again, adrenaline still running high. They had the weapons needed to survive this — Cocolia had made sure of that. Anti-Honkai rifles, grenades, whatever tech she had stockpiled and willing to share.

However, that didn't mean they wouldn't have to work for victory.

"Northwest perimeter breached."

"South ridge spotted movement."

"Multiple signatures near the river path, closing fast."

"Boss, they're all over the place–"

Each voice from the comms was just another batch of bad news.

Maxim clenched his jaw, muttering curses under his breath.

"What the hell is this?" he growled, scanning the treeline. "A set-up?"

He wasn't an expert, but he had a feeling you didn't just get this kind of coordinated Honkai activity in the middle of a blizzard unless someone wanted it.

His gloved hand pressed against his earpiece.

"Someone tell me Bronya's accounted for."

"Should be still in the manor with the main group."

"Keep it that way."

He glanced toward the distant shape of the mansion. If this kept up, then maybe he should have someone grab Bronya and…

No. The beasts were everywhere. There was no clean exit.

He swore again and moved, boots sinking through the softened crust—only to stop dead.

A blur.

White. Fast. Low to the ground.

It came from the trees, a little thing compared to some of the beasts they had felled — maybe a scout-type Honkai Beast or some kind of suicide bomber, too quick for a proper ID. His rifle was halfway up, reflexes screaming—

Too slow.

It would reach him and then he'd certainly be dead.

Disappointing way to go, too.

Then came another blur — this one blue.

Something humanoid, long-coated and tall, dropped between him and the beast.

A ponytailed white-haired man in a blue longcoat.

He moved so fast he blurred again, and his boot connected with the Honkai thing, launching it back through the air, just before both of the man's hands swept out wide, guns in either grip.

Maxim barely had time to clock the gun's strange design before the stranger pulled both triggers.

A burst of flames left the barrels, erupting in a fan across the path. Snow melted into slush in an instant. The Honkai Beast barely had time to react as flame consumed it whole, leaving nothing but ashes.

Silence followed.

The man turned, not so much smug as casual, as his blue eyes scanned the man he had just saved.

"Hey," he said. "You Maxim? Need a hand?"

Maxim blinked, still processing what happened, a thousand questions stalled behind sheer disbelief.

"… Sure," he said at last, rifle lowering. "That'd be appreciated."

Maybe Lady Death wasn't coming for him just yet.

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Mal Family Estate, Vera Mal's Office]

The flames of the ornate fireplace danced along the golden frame, but warm was the last thing that the room could be described as.

Vera Mal, who had decided to wear an expensive purple aristocratic dress more fit for a ball than casual wear, stood in front of her ornate oak desk, one hand cradling a glass of wine, the other resting lazily on her hip.

"I'm growing tired of your delays."

Sin stood near the door — posture flawless, hands clasped demurely before her. Dressed like a doll. Smiling like one, too.

Beside her, Natasha stood with a soldier's rigidity, arms behind her back, gaze sharp and unreadable.

Vera took a slow step forward. Her glass clinked as she set it down on her desk.

"I allowed the girl — that Kaslana brat — to sleep on the third floor, where she hardly has the right to be. I even allowed that little mutt, that silver-haired thing, to trail after you. Do you think I enjoyed watching you all play house like some charity case? Living out your stupid fairy tales like they're real?"

Sin provided no answer. Just her smile.

"I indulged you," Vera continued, "out of the kindness of my heart. Do you understand the insult I've swallowed for your sake?"

Before Sin could say anything, Vera turned toward Natasha next.

"And you — stop hesitating," she ordered, her voice cold as ice. "You, as well as your friends, are here on Jackal's coin, and yet I see far less progress than expected. Do you think I enjoy allowing people like you under my roof for free?"

Natasha didn't flinch. "The girl is special, not to mention surrounded by obstacles. If I wasn't careful, I—"

"We are out of time," Vera snapped. "The storm will end soon. Jackal's offer for the Kaslana girl is astronomical. I want that money. And I am not losing it because you, one of hers, got cold feet." She took a deep breath, letting it out almost like a growl. "I was told you were special amongst all the dogs she sent, something more than human, and yet I see nothing of the sort. Shall I bring this up to Jackal next time we speak?"

"... There will be no more mistakes," Natasha said plainly.

"Good." Vera turned away, downing the last of her drink in one motion. "Have you dealt with that Schicksal woman?"

Natasha nodded. "Of course. She will not be a problem anymore."

Sin tried not to shake at that.

Himeko… was dead?

This was Sin's fault, wasn't it? All because she didn't capture Kiana earlier…

There was no coming back anymore.

Vera chuckled. "Jackal's little Honkai pets are already crawling through the snow, keeping those moralistic mutts and the girl's father busy. All that's left is for you and your fellow attack dogs to deal with Cocolia out of sight."

Natasha nodded. "We're waiting for the moment her guard drops."

"Then make it drop," Vera hissed. "Drug her. Gut her. I don't care. Do it today. Understood?"

No one spoke for a moment.

Natasha bowed.

"Yes, Lady Mal."

Sin's hands tightened slightly.

She still said nothing.

Then, Vera walked behind her desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a silver tray with a slim glass syringe resting neatly atop it. The liquid inside glinted pale blue in the firelight.

She turned, tray in hand, and walked to Sin.

"As for you," she said, pressing the tray into the girl's hands, "this is what you will use to fix your failure."

Holding the tray, Sin looked down at the syringe.

Still smiling.

"You'll stab her with it," Vera said, slow and clear. "In the arm. The neck. I don't care. Just make her sleep. That's all you have to do."

A pause.

"And this time… you will do it yourself. No more excuses. No more dithering. I want her unconscious and ready before nightfall."

Sin nodded. "Yes, Matushka."

Vera's smile was not kind.

"You want something from me, don't you?" she murmured, circling Sin like a vulture. "You think I don't see it? The way you cling to that other girl as well, that mercenary rat. Bronya, was it?"

Sin didn't answer. Her hands were shaking slightly now, even as her smile held.

"If you do this," Vera whispered, stopping just behind her, "if you give me Luna, then maybe I'll consider giving Bronya to you. Call it a reward. You want a playmate so badly? Earn it."

Sin's voice was quiet as she spoke, "You'd… really let me have her?"

"I said maybe," Vera snapped back. "That depends entirely on whether or not you fail again."

Sin didn't speak. But she clutched the tray tighter, like it might anchor her to something solid.

Then Vera waved a hand. "Get out. Both of you. Bring me results or don't come back."

Sin gave a quiet bow and turned, her steps careful.

Natasha followed wordlessly, the door clicking softly behind them.

Vera smiled to herself in the quiet that followed.

All the pieces were finally in motion. Neither the foolish girl nor the ones attempting to protect her had any idea that the game was already over.

And if things became even more troublesome than expected…

Well, that was what Jackal's little gift was for.

Ø

Sin walked in silence.

The syringe lay on the tray, the glass smooth and fragile, delicate like porcelain. Like her.

She stared at it as her feet guided her down the marble corridor on their own. One step after another. Like clockwork.

The fluid inside sloshed faintly as she tilted it.

Was this what she had to do? Something like this, just so she wouldn't be alone anymore?

Of course it was.

Of course she wouldn't get to keep the three of them.

She had to choose. She always had to choose.

Something inside her twisted.

She thought of their time spent in her dreamland that terrified other servants. Of games that no one else played with her before. Of the past days that felt like an entirely different life.

Sin could have that.

Maybe not all of it.

But… some of it.

One was better than none, wasn't it?

Her grip on the tray tightened.

'If I don't do this, I'll lose everything.'

She hated how that sounded exactly like she already had.

Under the weight of her own thoughts, her steps slowed.

And then she noticed.

Someone else was walking behind her.

"…You're following me," Sin said without turning around.

The footsteps paused. Then resumed. Slower.

"I was making sure you don't trip and stab yourself," Natasha said dryly.

Sin turned her head. Just a little. "Do you… want something?"

Natasha stepped closer, eyes on the tray.

"Let me see it."

Sin blinked. "Why?"

"I just want to check it," Natasha explained, her voice bearing a tinge of authority. "I'm familiar with this kind of thing. It's better to make a final check-up before putting it to use."

A long pause passed before Sin silently handed the syringe over.

Natasha took it without hesitation, holding it up to the light. She turned it slightly, studying the plunger, the viscosity of the liquid, the sharp gleam of the needle.

And then, still holding it, she asked—

"Why haven't you killed her yet?"

Sin stiffened.

"You could," Natasha continued. "She's weaker than you. Especially after what Jackal did. You could end this whenever you wanted. So why haven't you?"

"She's… my mother…"

Natasha huffed. "No, she's not. She's no mother. Not even family. You don't owe her anything."

Even as those words came, Sin didn't react. She just lowered her gaze, avoiding Natasha's eyes.

"…But if not her," she whispered, "then who would want a thing like me?"

There was a pause.

"I could—"

Sin looked up, surprised.

But Natasha had already looked away, jaw clenched, eyes narrowed, as if she'd just realized what left her mouth.

"I said too much," the older girl muttered.

"Ah…"

Sin looked down again. At the floor. Anywhere but her.

Her grip on the tray had gone loose.

"... The things you want," Natasha said, her voice neutral, "and the things others want from you aren't always compatible. That's something I learned the hard way."

When Sin looked at Natasha again, the older girl was glancing out of the hallway's window with a faraway gaze.

"The difficult part is figuring out what exactly you want for yourself," Natasha continued, her voice distant.

The sounds of fighting were already approaching. Gunfire and explosions.

The mercenaries were having trouble.

Natasha sighed, looking down at Sin.

"At some point, you'll have to make a choice," she told the younger girl. "When that happens, make sure it's one you won't regret, regardless of where it might lead."

Natasha stepped forward and, only now, placed the syringe back onto the tray in Sin's hands.

Sin didn't look at it. Her gaze didn't leave Natasha as the older girl turned and walked away.

She just stood there until the sound of footsteps faded.

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Mal Family Estate, Hidden Passageway]

The stairwell groaned beneath their steps. Fluorescent lights buzzed to life one by one as they descended, revealing the stone walls that clearly hadn't been maintained in a while.

Kiana stayed near the front, one hand grazing the cold wall. Cocolia brought up the rear, eyes focused from the moment they descended into the darkness, and Bronya, ever careful, kept glancing back at the woman.

The only one who seemed unbothered, bordering on uninterested, was Sirin, floating lazily beside Kiana.

"Well," she muttered, "I have to admit I'm surprised. I hardly expected this house to manage to be disgusting in two entirely different ways. Up there stinks of greed, and down here smells like rot."

Kiana didn't respond, trying to keep her focus as they descended. The air felt heavier down here, which, well, made sense for a hidden passage into an underground floor, but it certainly didn't help.

At the end of the stairwell was a short stone hallway leading to a junction, and straight ahead was a metal door with a bolt latch.

Sirin's unlocking expertise probably wouldn't be needed for this one.

They reached it together, and Kiana wasted no time in unlocking the door and pulling it open, entering the room.

She immediately regretted not taking a moment to prepare herself.

Rows of cells stretched out in both directions. Most were empty. A few held broken beds, scraps of clothes, or worse — dark stains left behind.

Kiana slowed.

Sirin floated in after her, probably already preparing some scathing remark about the ugliness of humans and their habits.

But she didn't get the words out.

Kiana noticed it a second too late. Sirin, halfway through a sneer, had stopped entirely. Motionless in the middle of the room like something inside her had shut down, her eyes fixed on something.

'Sirin?' Kiana asked through their link.

No response.

Just then, Bronya walked into the room. Her expression didn't change, but her grip on the rifle tightened. Cocolia entered last, her boots pausing just past the threshold. For a moment, she just stared.

"… What the hell is this?" the woman muttered, low and sharp. Her voice was barely recognizable compared to the smug and satisfied tone she had before. "I knew she was up to something like this, but actually seeing it…"

Kiana barely paid attention to the woman, her gaze focused on Sirin's still and unresponsive form.

She stepped forward, looked past Sirin, and saw what she was staring at.

A ruined cell, just like the others.

Except this one…

Kiana's breath caught. Her heartbeat raced for reasons she could hardly explain to someone else.

But how she felt was hardly the main issue at the moment.

She turned to the others.

"Go on ahead," she said, trying to keep her voice level. "Check the other rooms. There's something here I want to look at."

Cocolia's gaze lingered. Her eyes narrowed.

She didn't move.

"We should stick together," she said. "This… isn't the kind of place anyone should be left alone in."

Bronya glanced between Kiana and the frozen Sirin, and then back to Cocolia.

"She just needs a moment," Bronya's voice came quiet but steady.

It made Cocolia blink.

The woman gave Bronya a questioning look, as if attempting to understand what was going through her head.

Bronya did nothing except stare back.

"Just a moment," she repeated.

Cocolia's mouth tightened, looking strangely uncomfortable with the entire situation.

"… Fine," she said at last. "But if she's not out in ten minutes, I'm coming back."

Bronya nodded and turned to lead the way. Cocolia hesitated another moment, glancing once more at Kiana… then followed.

Their footsteps faded into the hall, leaving only the room's suffocating silence.

Kiana exhaled slowly, watching Sirin.

She still hadn't moved.

Kiana stepped closer.

'Sirin.'

No answer.

She stopped beside her. Sirin didn't react. Not to her voice, not to her approaching presence.

Kiana turned her head, looked into the cell.

A damaged teddy bear sat in the cell.

Almost like an abandoned occupant.

The teddy bear was small. Old. Torn in several places. It sat slumped in the corner, as if it had been there forever. Like it had been forgotten.

Kiana felt something cold coil in her chest.

She knew for a fact that it wasn't a teddy bear that Sirin was seeing there.

Her father had taught her a few things about how to deal with civilians in shock during outbreaks, but, how much of that was even applicable here?

'… It's not real,' she thought softly after a moment, pushing the words to Sirin. 'Not anymore.'

Still no answer.

Kiana slowly extended her hand, waving it in front of Sirin's face.

This wasn't like the fake Babylon Labs from that dream. It wasn't an environment under Sirin's control. The nightmare wasn't filtered through the lens of revenge and justice.

Here, it was a reminder suddenly thrown at Sirin with no warning.

She doubted even the Herrscher expected herself to react this way, carefree as she was when floating into the room.

'You're not there,' she tried again. 'You're here. With me—'

Before she could finish, Sirin's hand moved — sudden, desperate — and latched onto hers tightly, like Kiana would vanish if she let go.

Her body vibrated faintly like no human would, like pure energy on the verge of losing its shape.

"Can't… think..."

'You don't have to,' Kiana thought to her. 'Just hold on.'

She placed her free hand over Sirin's, and then…

Kiana waited.

They stayed like that for several minutes. Just enough for Sirin's eyes to regain a little of their focus. Enough for the shaking to stop looking like collapse and start looking like exhaustion.

Kiana looked back at the cell.

Then she spoke aloud, quiet but sharp.

"I'll kill Vera Mal myself."

Sirin's head turned, just slightly. Her grip twitched.

"You're not supposed to say that," she said, sounding almost shocked. "Something like that… It should be me, not you…"

Kiana sighed. 'You weren't supposed to be dragged back there, either. This is just another reason for me to make her pay.'

Something strange crossed Sirin's gaze.

Her fingers twitched again, but she didn't pull away.

"… Forget it," Sirin muttered after a while, looking down at where their hands met. "This didn't happen."

Kiana didn't press. She just gave a gentle tug.

'Come on. They're waiting.'

Sirin didn't resist. She drifted forward beside Kiana, still holding her hand like it was the only real thing in the world.

Then—

'Is everything alright?' Bronya's thought reached them.

Kiana glanced at Sirin, the phantom's gaze still downturned and distracted.

'... Mostly. Did you need something?'

'Da. Go left and then right when you leave the room. Need the master of unlocking again here.'

This time, Sirin let out something between a huff and a laugh.

It was an improvement, at least.

Ø

They found Cocolia and Bronya standing in front of another metallic door, but one with a proper lock rather than simply a bolt latch.

"So?" Cocolia asked, crossing her arms. "Can you do the same psychic unlocking trick you did up there?"

Kiana let out a nervous laugh. "Um, let me try."

She stepped forward, placing a hand on the door as if she was going to do something herself.

'Yeah, she definitely knows something… But I'm going to need your help again.'

Without a word, Sirin drifted forward to the locked door. Her fingers hovered briefly over the cold metal lock before she began to work it.

She was being… strangely cooperative. Or maybe she was just focused?

Once again, only quiet clicking noises sounded, echoing across the hallway.

And then the lock clicked open.

The door swung open to reveal a long, narrow room lined with tall metal shelves. The air inside was thick with dust and the faint scent of aging paper and rusted metal. Rows upon rows of boxes, file folders, and crates filled the space.

Maybe they struck gold.

As they entered, Cocolia's eyes scanned the stacks, lips tightening at the sight of some crates marked with hastily scrawled labels — "Medical Supplies," "Rations," and even "Property of Vera Mal."

She swallowed hard.

"Well, isn't this lovely?" Cocolia said in a tone that implied anything but.

Bronya was already moving, placing her Kalashnikov on her back and checking a few boxes near the doorway.

"This isn't enough for Uncle Maxim to terminate the contract," she said, rifling through old documents. "Just things like food and clothes."

As Kiana hesitantly stepped deeper inside, her eyes caught something — a large battered metal case by the floor, its size closer to one of the treasure chests they found in dreamland, its lock rusted but intact.

She reached out, fingers brushing the case's rough surface.

Sirin hovered nearby, watching silently.

"Could be something worth checking," Kiana said, eyeing the lock.

Kiana considered asking Sirin for help again, but…

She grabbed the lock herself instead, and without delay, pulled on it hard.

It broke apart quite easily, if not a bit too loudly.

The perks of being a Kaslana.

Inside were several more stacks of documents.

Bronya's attention seemed to have been caught by the noise, because she moved closer, reaching in and grabbing a stack of them to skim through. 

"Names. Ages. Transfer logs…" she muttered. "There are dates here. Numbers. Codes."

Kiana grabbed a stack of logs of her own, her eyes scanning them one by one. "Some of these are even younger than me…"

There were far too many entries. Most had no surnames. Some had crude photographs stapled to the corner showing small, frightened faces. Others were crossed out entirely.

Bronya muttered, "Transfers... to other regions. Some overseas. It's a trafficking network."

Behind them, Sirin hovered, her gaze trailing the floor. Not a word. Not even a scoff.

'I'm not even surprised,' Kiana found herself thinking in her stead. 'Vermin like Vera Mal like sticking together.'

That made Sirin glance at Kiana, looking a little more alive.

Good.

Cocolia let out a grunt from another corner of the room. "Found something else."

When Kiana and Bronya headed over, they found standing over an opened box filled with…

"What's that filled with?" Kiana asked, narrowing her eyes.

Bronya reached into it, drawing out a sealed plastic bag. Inside were thin, single-use kits — long cotton swabs, tubes, sealed syringes.

"Blood test kits?" she asked, holding the bag up. "To check if they were sick before selling them?"

"Maybe that," Cocolia said. "Or maybe… to test for something else. Honkai adaptability. Stigmata. Metabolic anomalies. No experiments were done here, not directly, but someone she worked with was likely doing them."

Silence befell the room for several seconds.

Kiana turned to her, frowning. "Knowing that kind of thing… You're not just a local big shot, are you?"

Cocolia met her gaze. "I'm someone on your side. And that's all we have time for."

That should have invited at least a comment from Sirin. But the phantom girl remained still. She was looking downwards again, as if she'd already retreated somewhere Kiana couldn't reach.

Kiana clicked her tongue.

Fortunately, that also fit her exchange with Cocolia. The woman took it as a sign they were done, pulling out her phone and photographing the documents.

"Take what you can," she ordered. "Photos, papers, anything you can fit in your pockets. We don't have time to collect all this, and walking around with a full box would be suicide. The rest can be recovered after we're done with the business above."

After they kill Vera Mal, she probably meant.

Bronya nodded without hesitation, going back to the case to see which logs took priority. Kiana did the same, kneeling next to her. Sirin didn't move, but her eyes followed Kiana's every action.

Once they'd gathered all they could, Cocolia moved to the doorway, glanced both ways, then looked back at them.

"We go. Now."

No one argued as they moved. Cocolia at the front, Bronya following behind, and Kiana…

She took a moment to glance at Sirin as she floated beside her.

Still withdrawn.

Enough to not even complain when Kiana discreetly took hold of her hand and dragged her after the others.

They left the room behind, and not one of them looked back.

Making their way back through the dungeon was a simple matter. All it took was ignoring the dust, not jumping at flickering bulbs, and simply walking.

But fate seemed to decide that was a bit too easy for them.

Just as they turned the last corner before the staircase, three figures stepped into view.

Kiana let go of Sirin's phantom hand before anyone caught sight of her strange behavior.

And then her eyes widened.

Natasha stood front and center — still in her maid uniform, not a hair out of place. Beside her, two others dressed just the same moved into position with a strange synchronicity.

There was no more politeness in their expressions. No traces of the servants they were supposed to be.

Kiana's steps slowed along with the others. Her free hand twitched toward her side.

"Natasha," she called out. "You're… in on this?"

The woman regarded her flatly. "If it helps you sleep, I had no part in this," she said, voice level. "And I really am thankful for the information you gave me before. I would be even more thankful if you came with me without resisting."

Kiana tensed up, glancing at the others, only to realize Bronya had suddenly moved in front of her, Kalashnikov in hand.

With a step to the right, Cocolia did the same, standing sideways in front of both girls.

One of the maids scoffed, glancing at Natasha. "Enough games, Raven."

Kiana couldn't stop a perplexed expression. "Raven…?"

Just then, Cocolia raised a hand behind her, where only Kianan and Bronya could see.

She spread out five fingers.

Kiana narrowed her eyes. Bronya's hold on her rifle grew tighter.

"Thought about my offer?" Natasha — Raven — suddenly asked Cocolia. "It's generous, really. Hand over the Herrscher. Join us. Or—"

"Or?" Cocolia's voice was ice.

Behind her, Cocolia's hand moved.

Four fingers.

"Or," Raven replied, "we take her over your corpse."

Cocolia didn't flinch. "Tell Jackal she should've sent someone who can negotiate."

"Cute," Raven said, a small smirk appearing. "But I'm not bluffing. This is the end of your road."

Three fingers.

Behind Raven, one of the agents leaned toward her. "Why are you even talking to her? Let's just—"

"Because," Raven interrupted, "Jackal could really use an Anti-Entropy executor on her side."

Kiana's eyes widened.

Anti-Entropy? Did that mean Cocolia was actually one of the good guys here instead of a weird warlord with a conscience?

Kiana glanced at Sirin, even if only to check her reaction—

Sirin wasn't next to her anymore.

Her wooden bat, once on her back, was also gone.

Cocolia's hand moved again. Two fingers.

"Last chance," Raven warned the woman. "Don't be stupid."

One.

Cocolia smiled faintly. "Sometimes being stupid is the right answer."

And with that, her arm moved in a blur. A metal canister arced through the air — no time to shout.

Kiana noticed one of the maids reacting quickly, too quickly, pulling out what looked like a gun.

She also saw Sirin appearing through the wall behind the very same maid, bat in her hands that she somehow managed to bring with her through the solid surface, eyes promising murder.

Bronya suddenly turned around, a hand letting go of her Kalashnikov to clap over Kiana's eyes.

*Bang*

A violent white flash erupted in the hall. The fake maids recoiled mid-step, knocked back as their equilibrium shattered and a shriek of static noise blasted through the narrow space.

At the same time, a second bang sounded, this one metallic, followed by a shriek of pain.

Cocolia was already moving — one arm snatching Kiana by the sleeve, the other grabbing Bronya's vest as she shoved them forward.

"Go! Move!"

They bolted past the staggered agents, heading for the staircase.

Kiana could hardly see what was happening in the rush, but she did hear a second metallic impact.

Maybe Sirin was awakening to the convenience of bats.

"After them!" Raven's voice rang out, sharp now, no longer composed.

Footsteps pounded after them, and Cocolia, finally letting go of the girls, was clearly limiting her speed for their sake.

But the head start was bought, and that was all they really needed.

Sirin caught up quickly just as they began climbing the stairs, floating next to them with a strangely satisfied air about her, and a slightly more dented bat in her hands.

'... Since you borrowed it, can you fix that with Herrscher powers?'

"Ask me again later."

That wasn't a no.

At the top of the stairs, the fake wall blocked the way.

'Can I ask you to open that, then?'

Sirin simply grunted, shooting ahead and slipping through the wall.

It began shifting open immediately.

Master of unlocking, indeed.

They pushed forward—

But just as Cocolia stepped out into the hall, a figure lunged from the hallway.

A blade flashed.

Cocolia didn't flinch. She grabbed the woman by the arm, used her momentum against her—

And launched her right into the hidden entrance, down the stairwell.

Sirin, on the other side of where the attacker came from, took that chance to phase an arm through the wall and touch the mechanism again.

Click.

The stone slid shut, trapping their enemies on the other side.

Even so, Sirin was frowning, the bat hanging limply beside her.

"I could've taken her."

Kiana paused only long enough to give Sirin a strange look.

Oh no.

Maybe this was more about the violence than the bat, specifically.

"Keep moving," Cocolia barked, pointedly ignoring what must've looked like a floating wooden bat to her. "Now!"

They ran.

That was when they realized there were plenty of new sounds compared to when they went underground.

Namely, fighting.

Gunfire cracked from the distance outside the mansion. An explosion, then. Somewhere further off, a scream rang out—human, terrified. Nothing coordinated.

The mercenaries were engaged. With what wasn't clear.

As they moved along the hallway, servants darted around or kept their heads down by the walls, some clutching each other in panic.

Some of them were staring at the bat in Sirin's grasp with fear in their eyes.

Well, nothing could be done about that at this point.

Either way, whatever was happening out there, the chaos was spreading.

Sirin let out a curse, darting ahead and disappearing into the walls. Whether to scout ahead or to hit enemies before anyone else could, Kiana didn't know.

With the mansion unraveling around them, Cocolia seemed to decide they shouldn't bother with subtlety anymore.

"There's an aircraft hidden to the east slopes," she said, quick and curt. "We can make use of this chaos to—"

"No," Kiana replied simply.

Cocolia glanced over her shoulder, blinking. "No?"

Kiana met her gaze. "I'm not leaving without Sin."

The older woman stared at her for half a second, then sighed.

"Of course you're not," she muttered under her breath. "Fine. She might use those tricks of hers to try to stop us if Vera tells her to. Better to deal with it now."

Just then, one of the servants ahead moved wrong. Too fast. Too direct towards them.

Cocolia didn't hesitate. Her revolver was already in her hand.

The shot echoed sharp and cold. The fake maid collapsed with a grunt, blade clattering to the floor.

"Keep moving," Cocolia snapped. "We don't have time to hesitate."

"Vessel!"

Ahead of them, Sirin emerged halfway through the wallpaper, pushing open a hidden door and revealing a narrow side room and a staircase.

A servants' staircase.

So that was why she went ahead.

Kiana nodded and then said for the rest, "There! Let's go!"

Bronya entered first, followed by Kiana.

Behind them, Cocolia seemed to see something, firing two shoots down the hallways before following suit.

They wasted no time rushing up the shadowed stairs.

In a matter of seconds, they burst out onto the third floor through another hidden door.

For Kiana, who spent her days with Sin since arriving, this was far more familiar than the ground floor.

The air up there was still and stale, heavy with the faint scent of dust and lavender polish. A long hallway stretched before them, lined with doors and bathed in the light that made it to the windows through the storm outside.

There was no sign of enemies. No sounds of footsteps. Just the echoing sounds of the skirmish outside the estate.

They ran.

Kiana's eyes flicked sideways through the glass. The snowstorm was starting to die down, just enough to allow some visibility of the fight.

Rapid bursts of automatic fire. Grenades exploding.

Familiar shapes moving in the distance.

They were fighting Honkai Beasts.

And then—

A burst of flames.

It arced up like a giant bonfire had been lit and then snuffed out, too bright to be anything but unnatural.

Her father.

Kiana almost stopped. Her breath hitched, heart seizing in her chest. Her foot faltered.

But then she continued running.

Not now.

She forced her body forward.

Sin first.

At the junction ahead, Cocolia threw out her arm, halting them. They stopped abruptly, breathless, heartbeats pounding in their ears.

"We split here," Cocolia said, her voice clipped. "You two go find Sin. Quickly."

Bronya narrowed her eyes. "Why not all together?"

"Because she might panic," Cocolia answered. "Depending on how Vera's been treating the girl, she might not be stable. If she sees someone unfamiliar, especially an adult, she could lash out."

Her gaze flicked to Kiana. "She trusts you. You're the best shot at getting her out clean."

Kiana swallowed. No pressure, then. "Right."

Cocolia looked back the way they came, her revolver already in hand. "I'll handle Vera Mal."

A part of Kiana wanted to object, because she wanted to be the one to kill that woman, but—

"Fetch that foolish girl first," Sirin practically ordered as she floated next to them, placing the bat back in Kiana's back sheath.

Kiana did her best not to turn towards her with an incredulous look.

'W… What?'

"Eradicate the vermin after we fetch the girl," she repeated, as though the issue was that Kiana hadn't heard her. "Assuming this woman fails to do her task properly."

Kiana felt almost dizzy all of a sudden.

Sirin was simply…

What?

Then Bronya nodded at Cocolia. "We shouldn't take long."

As if snapped out of a daze, Kiana followed up with her own nod.

It really wasn't the time to hesitate or ask questions.

Then, the group split without ceremony — Kiana and Bronya darting down the eastern hall, while Cocolia peeled off toward Vera Mal's office.

They were on a time limit, and they all knew it.

Ø

Cocolia kicked open the heavy doors to Vera Mal's office without subtlety, revolver raised. 

The room inside was dimly lit, filled with the smell of cedarwood and aged wine.

At the tall arched window across the ornate wooden desk, watching the chaos spill across the distant hills, stood Vera Mal, wine glass in hand, clad in a purple ball dress that looked ridiculously gaudy for Cocolia.

Her back was turned to the entrance.

She didn't turn immediately.

"What an ugly sight," she said calmly, sipping from her wine glass. "But sometimes the path to greatness requires a little smoke. A little blood."

She turned her head slightly, casting a glance over her shoulder with those ugly violet eyes that, Cocolia assumed, only seemed to understand personal gain.

"Soon enough, Jackal will have her prize," Vera said smoothly. "And I will be the richest woman in Siberia. Especially after you're gone."

Cocolia's mouth twitched. "You did all this… for money?"

Vera's gaze slid toward her, amused. "Not just money, dear."

Cocolia's voice sharpened, "You joined hands with those snakes, for what? A bigger estate? Private islands? Stock options?"

Vera turned fully now, smiling like a cat. "Oh, you misunderstand. The end goal is not money—"

Cocolia fired.

The bullet punched a hole through the wall right where Vera Mal had been.

Where Vera Mal should've been.

Because she had disappeared.

"—but power," her voice whispered into Cocolia's ear.

She turned around then, trying to elbow the woman's face.

Once again, she wasn't there.

"Impressive, is it not?" Vera spoke from her spot in front of her desk.

Cocolia turned to point her gun at the woman.

She simply stood there, sipping on her wine.

"My daughter is quite fond of this trick," Vera shared, as if starting a casual conversation. "As for me, all I needed were some instructions and a little… push."

She tossed something to the carpeted floor.

An empty syringe.

The needle's tip glowed faintly violet.

"Jackal gave you that," Cocolia said, narrowing her eyes. "And you just… injected it into yourself?"

Vera smirked, then. The face of someone certain of their victory. "This was a little gift. A contingency. Just in case things got… difficult."

Cocolia's jaw tightened. "You're an idiot."

"Oh, come now." Vera chuckled. "There is no need to behave in such a… pedestrian manner simply because your death is certain."

"... I'll admit this much," Cocolia muttered, "I underestimated you. And it might have cost me my life—"

Still holding her revolver, her hands shifted, a finger touching her own wrist under her coat's sleeve.

And then the world stuttered and froze.

This time, Cocolia could perceive it. Colors distorting. The unseen force holding her in place. Vera Mal's unbearable smirk.

Alteration of the local rate of passage of time. Low range, probably, if this woman knew anything about conserving energy.

Time Fracture, just as she thought.

"But it did cost you your life," Vera spoke, placing her glass of wine on the desk and taking hold of a letter opener instead. "Allow me to do you a favor. You can see and hear me this time, correct?"

She didn't wait for a response she knew wouldn't come, taking slow, measured steps towards Cocolia.

Vera stopped in front of her.

"You should be honored," she began, smile widening. "Few in this forsaken place are granted the opportunity to see their end coming."

She raised the letter opener, pointing it at Cocolia's throat with a grin.

"Allow me to grant you that honor."

And then—

The sound of a gunshot from within the mansion broke the silence as Kiana, Sirin, and Bronya reached Sin's door.

It came from the direction Cocolia went.

They had no time to think about that.

Kiana didn't hesitate to push the door open.

The room inside was the same as she remembered — tidy, soft-toned, strangely intimidating with all the plushies eyeing any visitors.

Sin sat on her bed, hugging her knees, when she looked up at the newcomers.

"Everyone…?" she said quietly.

"Hey," Kiana answered, stepping in slowly. "We're getting out of here. Come with us."

Sin hesitated. Her fingers curled into her sleeves. "But… Matushka said…"

"Who cares what the vermin said?" Sirin interrupted, floating closer. "You're my servant. You're coming along."

Bronya remained at the door, scanning the room, but even from there she nodded at Sin.

Sin's lips trembled. For a moment, she looked like she might cry. 

"… Okay," she told them.

Kiana let out a relieved sigh. She reached out her hand to Sin.

The girl grabbed it, getting up from her bed.

And then she looked at Kiana.

"… Before we go," she said softly, "can you do me a favor?"

Kiana opened her mouth to respond.

Next to her, Sirin's eyes focused on the bed and widened.

"Kiana—"

Bronya started to move.

And then the world stopped.

"Stay still for a second," Sin whispered, "like a good girl."

She turned to the bed, where, previously hidden by her dress, was a syringe filled with an unknown pale blue liquid.

Taking hold of it, Sin turned back to Kiana.

She seemed on the verge of tears as she brought it to Kiana's arm.

Then, when the needle made contact with Kiana's skin—

Vera Mal recoiled at the sudden pistol-whipping to her head, letting out a startled yelp.

The Time Fracture's field fell apart in that single instant.

Another gunshot sounded, but unfortunately the enhanced woman had the apparent capability to simply dodge under the bullet's trajectory as she stumbled back. The next three bullets from the revolver were similarly avoided.

The final one, however, managed to catch her shoulder, sending her tumbling back against her desk.

"Y… You!" she growled, her appearance disheveled from all the movement, her previous grin replaced by an intense glare. "How…?!"

It was Cocolia's turn to smirk as she lowered the empty revolver.

"Precautions," she explained. "Necessary when your little trick can be done by every Valkyrie worth a damn."

Underneath her coat's right sleeve, a bracelet, easily confused for a digital wristwatch from a distance, glowed with energy.

Kiana's instincts screamed.

She didn't think. She moved.

Time was still — but she pushed through it. The motion was raw, clumsy, jagged like tearing through water, but she moved.

And not a second too soon.

As if a distant glass shattered in a million pieces, time forcefully resumed as Kiana let go of Sin and leapt back, heart pounding in her ears.

Bronya gasped. "What—?!"

Sin stood frozen, syringe still extended, blinking in disbelief.

"… You moved," she said. Her voice trembled with confusion. "But… I stopped you."

Kiana let out a shuddered sigh.

"Yeah…" she breathed out. "The time trick… I think I figured it out?"

More nearby gunshots sounded.

It seemed like Cocolia also found trouble, surprisingly.

Vera Mal was trembling with rage.

"No matter," she hissed, rising back to her full height. "I'll simply have to tear you apart with my own hands."

The wound on her shoulder was closing up, pushing out the bullet.

Cocolia let out a laugh.

"How barbaric, coming from nobility," she mocked the other woman. "I've seen recruits after training with more grace than that."

Still holding onto her empty revolver, Cocolia reached into her coat.

Vera took that chance to lunge at her, unwilling to give the other woman a chance to reload.

It was fortunate, then, that what Cocolia pulled out was a second, fully loaded revolver with anti-Honkai bullets.

A growl sounded.

Sirin.

"Stupid girl…" she hissed, glaring at Sin. "So this is the choice you made? Or is it the choice she made for you?"

Sin trembled. Her fingers curled tight around the syringe. "It doesn't matter," she said, barely audible. "I have to. She said I had to. I'm a good girl. Good girls… obey."

Dark tendrils uncoiled from her shadow under the room's lights, reaching around Sin.

They weren't physical, but they also were not something they wanted touching them if they could help it.

Bronya took a step back, eyes narrowed. She kept her Kalashnikov lowered. "Kiana. Orders?"

Kiana clenched her fists, thinking. 

'Sirin, try to grab that thing from her before she does something dumb.'

"She can hear us."

'Don't let that stop you.'

'What about us?' Bronya asked.

Kiana eyed Sin as she shook in place, staring back with an intensity she hadn't seen even during her first night in the mansion.

She took a step back. Then another.

More gunshots sounded in the background. More evidence that Cocolia was in trouble.

In their current situation, getting close meant giving Sin a chance to act. There were a dozen ways she could trick them, trap them, inject whatever was in there into Kiana, and then who knew what would happen.

So the solution was simple.

Kiana's eyes hardened, suddenly much colder than they were moments ago.

The sudden shift in her expression seemed to startle Sin. 

Even Sirin was staring.

"Sin," Kiana began, slowly, "there's nothing I can say to make you stop this, right?"

"Y… Yes!" she replied, suddenly unsure. "I'm… Sin's a good girl… A good daughter… so I have to do this for Matushka…!"

Once again, the sounds of gunshots reached them.

Kiana's eyes narrowed.

"Then the answer's obvious."

Cocolia let out a curse as she ducked under Vera's swipe that could've probably taken off her head, firing two shots into her torso to push her back.

She was already fetching more bullets to load into her revolver, the previous gun long holstered and her lack of foresight resulting in not having a third one to repeat that trick.

If she could hit this woman's head, then maybe that'd do the job.

Unfortunately, close-quarters combat with a ranged weapon against a physically enhanced enemy she couldn't make physical contact with was hell.

Cocolia ducked to the side to avoid a lunge that would've definitely been the end of her, her eyes scanning her surroundings for a proper response to the situation.

She couldn't kill Vera Mal. Not like this.

Frankly, she held some hope that the healing would be much slower with anti-Honkai bullets, but that hardly seemed to make a difference. Whatever Jackal gave her was strong.

So the plan of shooting her dead was right out unless, again, Cocolia managed to hit her head.

Which, again, was very unlikely for her to even attempt without dying, because this situation was hell.

… However.

It wasn't like doing this herself was her only option.

Her eyes fell on the office's entrance, still wide open since her entrance.

In that case…

Cocolia smirked.

The answer was simple really.

Kiana turned around, rushed to grab Bronya's hand—

Cocolia dodged another blind lunge from the berserking woman, positioned herself—

.

Ø

.

—and, without an ounce of hesitation, ran away from the scene.

.

Ø

.

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Mal Family Estate, Storeroom]

The world returned slowly.

Himeko's eyelids fluttered open, vision blurred and hazy. Every muscle in her body ached, heavy like lead. Her breath was shallow, the air stale with the scent of wood and oil.

Where…?

A dim light bulb buzzed overhead in the cramped, dark storage room. The wooden floor lacked any carpet. Wooden crates lined the walls. And standing before her — quietly, patiently gazing at her like a hunter eyeing prey — was a familiar young maid.

Natasha.

In her grasp was Himeko's own anti-Honkai greatsword, resting on Natasha's shoulder as if it weighed nothing.

Himeko tried to move.

Nothing.

The ropes binding her wrists and ankles were tight. Her limbs refused to respond beyond a twitch.

She had been drugged.

Her eyes narrowed.

"So," she rasped, voice dry, "who do you really belong to? Vera? Cocolia? The Overseer? Some other flavor of bastard I ought to punch?"

Natasha didn't react.

"Just skip the monologue," Himeko growled. "You're not getting anything out of me. Might as well kill me and move on. This is a waste of time."

There was a pause.

"… Agreed," Natasha said after a moment.

Then, without a hint of ceremony, she slashed the bindings with the greatsword.

The ropes tore like paper. Himeko blinked in confusion as her limbs were freed.

"What—?"

Natasha lowered the greatsword, setting it down gently beside her. She then produced a small injector and knelt, slipping the needle into Himeko's upper arm.

A sharp prick. Then warmth.

Almost instantly, Himeko could feel it — energy flowing back into her veins, the drugged haze beginning to lift. Her fingers twitched, clenched.

"What are you doing?" Himeko asked, voice regaining strength.

Natasha stood up, dusting her hands. "Things have progressed far enough. I don't need to keep you still anymore to prevent you from getting yourself killed."

She looked toward the door as if listening for something beyond it.

"The kids and Cocolia are on the third floor," she added casually. "Things are starting to get messy."

Himeko sat up, groaning. "You're helping? Why?"

Natasha turned her back, providing no answer.

"Who do you even work for?" Himeko called after her.

The girl paused as she reached for the door, glancing over her shoulder with a faint smirk.

"Soon?" she said. "No one. I'm about to be unemployed. Now, are you coming?"

Honestly, Himeko had a very long list of questions.

But right now?

"... Lead the way," was what she said instead, reaching for her sword.

Chapter Text

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Mal Family Estate, Ground Floor]

Himeko grunted as her blazing Honkai greatsword cleaved through the final fake servant, slicing him clean in two. The severed halves crashed to the floor with heavy thuds, trails of smoke curling from the scorched edges.

Rather than blood and gore, what greeted her was half-melted metal and synthetic muscle fiber.

The hallway was quiet again. Her latest kill twitched slightly, limbs jerking with faint servo whines.

Disguised androids. Or at least augmented humans. She couldn't tell for some of them.

Across the corridor, Natasha idly spun a knife she had produced from who-knows-where as she made her way to Himeko.

"You know," Himeko mused, lowering her blade, "I kind of expected a bigger challenge from a horde of… robotic secret agents."

Natasha didn’t answer immediately, already scanning the hallway in search of more unwanted company.

Himeko straightened up, regarding her. "So, Raven, huh?"

That finally earned her a flat look. "No time for chit-chat, Red. If we linger, they might send another like me."

At that, Himeko raised an eyebrow. "Like you? Another kid, you mean?"

"Another enhanced soldier," Natasha said curtly, rather unamused. "Faster, tougher, less polite than these piles of scrap metal. Pain in the ass."

A dry chuckle left Himeko's lips. "Good to know."

They had barely taken two steps toward the main stairs when a burst of footsteps echoed from the far end of the hall.

Heavy steps, and far too many of them. More of those androids, probably.

"Shit," Natasha hissed. "Your call. Deal with them now or run."

And possibly be ambushed by them later, was the part Natasha didn’t need to say out loud.

Himeko didn't answer immediately.

Instead, she reached into one of her uniform's pockets and smugly presented a small, flat disc-like device.

A compact Honkai mine.

Natasha blinked.

Then she grinned.

"Well, I sure am glad I didn't search you properly."

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Mal Family Estate, Third Floor]

Footsteps thundered through the third floor as Kiana sprinted past a suit of armor, flinging it down into Sin’s path.

Next to her, Bronya didn't even check whether that worked before firing behind her, targeting a chandelier’s chain. Glass and metal crashed down, hopefully slowing Sin down, also hopefully not falling straight down onto her.

They weren't in a position to worry about accidentally hurting Sin. If they pulled their punches, she would catch them, and if whatever was in that syringe managed to get both Kiana and Sirin out of the picture…

Well, none of them were under the impression that Bronya alone would be able to save the day if it came to that, skilled as she was.

Kiana didn’t slow as she took out her bat, shattering a nearby window to let the wind and ice of the dying snowstorm sweep into the corridor.

She heard Sin sputtering behind. 

Still far too close for comfort.

Sirin manifested in a flash beside Kiana, golden eyes narrowed. "Okay, out again, let me at her!"

Kiana didn't waste time with a response, still on the move alongside Bronya as Sirin dove at Sin, going straight for the syringe in Sin's grasp.

A glance behind, and Kiana saw shadow tendrils pierce right through Sirin, her form bursting into a puff of purple.

Kiana staggered as she felt the Herrscher being practically shoved back into her, pain flashing behind her eyes as Sirin reappeared beside her a second later with a scowl.

"That damn cheater!"

That was the fifth failed attempt.

"Whatever she's doing, I'm almost blocking it, so keep not dying for a while longer!"

'Da, marvelous plan,' Bronya thought into their link. 'Especially when you broadcast it for Sin to hear as well.'

"Shush."

Kiana didn’t pipe in, eyes focused forward as she attempted to formulate a plan other than waiting for Sirin to succeed.

Somewhere below them, an explosion suddenly shook the mansion, nearly making Kiana and Bronya trip.

A startled gasp sounded behind them, then the sound of a small body falling on the floor.

Kiana forced herself to keep running rather than stopping to check up on Sin.

If she tripped and fell, all the better to outrun her. They could deal with any injuries later.

"Sin’s not acting like herself," Bronya murmured aloud rather than through the link so Sin wouldn't hear, taking advantage of their small break to slow her pace a little. "Relentless. Can't keep running forever. Plan?"

"Office," Kiana said curtly, sheathing her bat. "Link up with Miss Cocolia and finish the job."

Sirin huffed as she floated alongside them and left it at that, leaving nothing for Sin to overhear.

She didn't seem to be objecting at least.

After all, the three of them understood the situation perfectly.

This incident wouldn’t end until Vera was gone.

"It'll get messy," Sirin muttered. "Messier, even."

Kiana didn't answer. She already knew.

Instead, she just ran faster.

There was a turn left ahead, leading to the office. As well as a window to the right. Maybe useful?

Without warning, gunshots cracked from just beyond the corridor’s bend, shattering the window.

A gust of wind and snowflakes spiraled into the corridor.

Possible change of plans.

Kiana didn’t hesitate, just gritted her teeth as she and Bronya rounded the corner, the cold hitting their backs—

—and came face to face with Cocolia running straight at them, boots hammering the floor. Behind her, Vera followed with a lurching, monstrous stride — ragged, shrieking, her body riddled with bullet wounds that should’ve ended her life three times over.

Definite change of plans.

She had a choice to make within the next second.

Her eyes flicked to Cocolia. The older woman had noticed them, but she wasn’t slowing down.

The gust of wind behind Kiana brought about a realization.

She won't be stopping at all.

No, Kiana and Bronya were the ones heading the wrong direction.

The decision came in a flash.

Without a word, she grabbed Bronya’s hand and pivoted, using Bronya's own speed and momentum to hurl the girl through the broken window.

'Sirin!'

The silver-haired girl yelped, caught off guard by the sudden launch into the freezing snowstorm, but in the next moment Sirin was already behind her, wrapping her arms around Bronya and stabilizing her arc.

"Fire!"  

Bronya didn't even question the command, raising her Kalashnikov mid-air and letting off a short burst into the corridor.

Kiana felt something warm within herself, and the bullets arced around herself and Cocolia, forcing a wrathful yell out of Vera as they píerced her all over.

"Heh, what would you do without me?"

Cocolia didn't even flinch at what must've seemed like divine intervention from her point of view. Rather, she continued moving, barreling into Kiana, pulling her up in a fireman's carry, and jumping out of the broken window into the snowstorm.

They landed on the white courtyard a moment later, Cocolia's legs somehow absorbing the impact without issue. All that surrounded them was the white of the snow and the howl of the wind, weaker than it had been a day ago and yet drowning out everything else save for distant explosions.

And then, still carrying Kiana, Cocolia started running away from the mansion.

Fast. Inhumanly so.

Around her, Kiana felt a similar warmth to the one within herself.

Was she doing something with Honkai Energy?

… Even so, it wasn't enough to fight off the chill. 

Kiana wasn't dressed for being outside. Her coat was still back in the mansion. Her black short-sleeved shirt and dark combat pants were not exactly fit for a snowstorm.

Oh, if only she had the foresight to assume things would go sideways and grab her stuff ahead of time.

'All good down there?' Kiana heard Bronya through the link.

Kiana glanced up, seeing a small silhouette following them from above.

'So when I ask for Sirin to take me flying, I'm an insolent worm, but when Bronya asks—'

"Save the stupidity for later!"

'... This isn't over, you hear me?'

Twisting herself in Cocolia's grasp, she looked up at the woman. "Can you put me down? And what's the plan?"

"I run faster than you," Cocolia shot back, "and I tried calling your father to ask for his position, but the signal's jammed. So we're heading to my aircraft—"

"But Sin—"

"—so I can gun down that woman with weaponry strong enough to drill a hole through a mountain," she finished in a pointed tone. "And then we grab the girl."

Kiana blinked.

"So we're not running?" she asked, if only to make sure.

Cocolia's mouth twisted into a dry smile, eyes still forward. "Consider me invested. I'll make sure that woman doesn't live to see the sunset."

Kiana found herself staring.

"So, those aircraft guns, how do they work? Just point and shoot?"

"Don't push your luck."

Sin slowed as she approached the window they had escaped from, still holding onto the syringe she failed to use.

She winced, glancing down at her boot-covered right foot. It might've sprained her ankle when she tripped.

But that didn't make a difference. She had to—

"And what do you think you're doing?" a familiar voice growled, full of venom.

Sin flinched, turning to her mother as the woman picked herself from the floor, marching towards Sin. Everything about her appearance was ruined, body covered in blood and slowly closing wounds, dress tattered and bloodied, and… were those glowing lines spreading around her skin?

She didn't have the time to ask before her mother grabbed her hair, pulling her close as she stared down at the girl.

It took everything in Sin's power to not yelp.

"You had one job," Vera Mal stressed, her glare pointed straight into her daughter's soul. "So why are those brats still up and running?!"

Sin couldn't quite stop her body from trembling.

"I… I just…"

"I don't want excuses," her mother interrupted, her hold onto Sin's hair tightening. "I want you to fix your mistakes."

And then she threw Sin out of the window.

It was obviously a thoughtless and impulsive move. It wasn't even angled properly — one of the sharp edges of the broken glass near the windowframe cut into Sin's right sleeve as she passed, leaving a big gash along her forearm.

The pain hadn't even blossomed properly when she hit the snow-blanketed courtyard on her back with a pained whine.

It wasn't fluffy like clouds. The snow hardly stopped her back from hitting the hard stone underneath, and something cracked, and if she hadn't been made special by that masked woman, Sin was quite certain she wouldn't be here anymore to feel all of this pain.

But she still held onto the syringe. At the very least she hadn't ruined that.

Her mother didn't have the same issues she did getting down, landing next to her as though the fall hadn't been any taller than the distance between Sin's bed and her room's floor.

Vera Mal looked down at her as though she was vermin.

"Get up," she growled. "If I catch them before you do, I'll kill that silver mutt myself instead of giving her to you."

Sin didn't have time to try to move before her mother had grabbed the back of her dress and threw her forward.

"...!"

She hit the stone again, this time with less force, less height, but it still hurt, and there were tears starting to form, and that didn't matter because she had to move.

So before her mother could punish her again, she scrambled to her feet, ignored the pain all over, and forced herself to run.

The first step felt unbearable, as did every other that followed, but within a few strides, she was going fast. Faster than she had before, faster than even an adult should be able to.

A sound left her lips. Something like a scream. Something like a roar.

Because she wasn't human, even though she pretended to be. She wasn't in a fairy tale, acting out a cute princess waiting for a hero or a cunning rogue going on adventures with her friends.

Sin was a little monster, and if she wanted her make-believe to continue, she had prey to catch.

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Mal Family Estate, Second Floor]

The stairwell shook under Himeko’s boots as she slashed yet another android disguised as a servant, the cut glowing red as it fell down the stairs, before continuing to follow Natasha racing upwards.

Another two lunged in from the sides as they cleared the stairs. Natasha was already moving, a flash of steel in each hand. One went down with a knife in its neck joint; the other stumbled as her heel slammed into its knee, giving her the opportunity to pierce its eye and throw it aside.

They didn’t slow down. Every second they stayed here meant more company.

"I have to give it to your organization," Himeko panted as she moved alongside the fake maid. "They seem very… thorough when it comes to infiltration. So many of them."

Natasha didn't answer, instead stopping by a window to look outside.

Her eyes widened.

Himeko paused a few steps ahead. "What's wrong?"

A frown marred Natasha's features. "You might want to take a look."

Through the frost-dusted pane, Himeko caught the movement at once — three figures tearing through the snow outside, white plumes rising behind them in the wind. One was unmistakably Cocolia, holding a smaller figure — Kiana — in her arms. Overhead, a dark speck — Bronya? — trailed close, somehow flying after them.

And behind them—

"... Oh, hell."

Vera Mal wasn’t running. She was lurching , her movements were wrong, inhuman, her body covered in wounds that should've been fatal.

The glow racing like veins under her skin pulsed brighter with every stride, each one kicking up sprays of snow.

Trailing a little further back was a child-shaped shadow with a gait too quick to belong to anything human.

"That’s your friend down there?" Himeko asked, already knowing the answer.

"That," Natasha muttered, "is my cue to tell you the situation just became complicated. Things like that are a pain to kill. A pain to escape from, too."

Below, Cocolia was cutting a direct line toward the far end of the estate grounds — not toward the vehicles, not toward the road.

Himeko’s grip on her greatsword tightened. "Then we’re wasting time here."

She waved her weapon against the window, shattering it and letting a cold gust in.

The woman glanced at Natasha. "Assuming they didn't sell it when I wasn't looking, my car should be by the side of the mansion. Follow my lead."

With that, she leaped out without waiting for a response.

Natasha stared for a moment.

"... Are all Valkyries this spirited?"

She did follow along, though.

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Mal Family Estate Grounds, Outer Perimeter]

The wind was screaming again.

Kiana squinted through it as Cocolia ran across the snow. Just minutes ago the storm had been thinning, the air almost clear enough to see the treeline. Now it was back with a vengeance — sharp needles of ice stinging Kiana’s cheeks, tearing at her hair.

"This isn’t just the weather," she muttered loud enough for Cocolia to hear.

"You’re right." The woman's one was flat, but Kiana felt her pace subtly increase. "It’s the Honkai. We have an outbreak. Energy levels are spiking. It makes the weather unstable."

"Meaning?" Kiana asked.

"Meaning if you get separated from me, you won’t find your way back before something else finds you first, so stay put."

That wasn’t exactly reassuring.

"...!"

Neither was the way that the storm suddenly stopped, frozen in time.

Kiana instinctively let the energy inside her flare up, trying to counter the time stop the same way she did with Sin—

But clearly she shouldn't even have bothered, because, even though she reacted a tad too late, Cocolia continued to move as usual.

"... Miss Cocolia?" Kiana began, confused. "The… time thing…?"

"Cheap trick, easy to counter," the woman responded.

"Exactly," Sirin agreed through their link. "You're the one who took too long to figure it out."

As time resumed, Kiana bit back the desire to start an argument. They had more important things to worry about.

She did pout, though.

Then, a sound reached them. Deep, booming cracks and bursts that the storm couldn’t quite swallow.

Automatic weapons. Several of them.

And something else beneath it. Roars Kiana had heard too many times to not recognize.

'Contact ahead,' Bronya thought through their link. 'Silver Wolf colors. Engaging Honkai Beasts.'

"Silver Wolves and Honkai Beasts ahead!" Kiana repeated for Cocolia's benefit.

As they approached, the scene unfolded before them.

A dozen Silver Wolf mercenaries were dug in along a shallow snowbank, their uniforms and coats half-blended with the drifts. Muzzle flashes in steady rhythm, each burst lighting the outlines of charging Honkai Beasts — varied white shapes that moved wrong against the snow, built more like dolls or golems than proper living animals.

"Hold the line!" one of the mercenaries barked, reloading his anti-Honkai rifle. A comrade beside him fired a rocket, the blast scattering a cluster of smaller flying Honkai Beasts into the air.

Even so, the monsters continued to advance.

"They're not listening to me," Sirin suddenly complained. "I'm ordering my soldiers to stop being nuisances and move out of the way, and they are simply… ignoring me! Argh!"

'Maybe you lost your touch?'

"You will be the first to die."

Nothing Kiana hadn't heard before.

Despite the chaos, Cocolia didn’t slow. "We’re breaking through their line. Stay tight."

"Are we helping?" Kiana asked, instinct already telling her to draw her handgun.

"No time for that." Cocolia’s eyes narrowed, her voice cutting through the wind. "We stay, Vera makes short work of them. We'll just push through and hope the Honkai Beasts are too distracted to care."

Kiana wanted to object, but that made sense. Vera was after them, after all, and the mercenaries would just become meat shields if they stuck around.

Dammit. So they couldn't assist at all?

'Bronya can help with that,' the girl in question thought at Kiana, apparently deciding there was no harm in Sin hearing it. 'So just stay here.'

That only made Kiana want even more to jump out of Cocolia's arms and do something, but that'd just put them all in danger, wouldn't it?

'Yeah, fine, I got it!'

How annoying.

With that, Bronya took aim and began firing from up above.

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Mal Family Estate Grounds, Approaching Outer Perimeter]

The military pickup truck’s engine roared as Himeko mashed the accelerator, tires clawing at the icy snow as they ventured into the snowstorm.

The vehicle bounced over uneven ground, the cold wind blasting through the open window onto the seat where Natasha sat rigid, a hand gripping the door frame like her life depended on it.

"You know," Natasha muttered, not bothering to hide the edge in her voice, "if you want to kill us before this whole mess can, this is a great attempt."

Himeko glanced at her with a smirk. "Don't be such a baby. Speeding never killed anyone."

"There are so many things I want to say to that." 

Instead, Natasha produced a dark and crimson segmented bow. She pulled on its string as she leaned out and pointed it at a cluster of small flying Honkai Beasts ahead, a black energy arrow manifesting and growing bigger by the second as it gathered energy.

"Heads up."

She loosened the arrow, vaporizing a few of the Honkai Beasts in the way in a burst of crackling light and blowing the rest away from their path as they drove past.

"Where’d you get that?" Himeko asked, genuinely curious as she steered around a frozen boulder.

Natasha’s smirk was sharp. "Any good maid has her secrets." She pulled the string again, another arrow forming as her eyes scanned the periphery. "Now, what’s the rest of the plan?"

"Well, going through Vera is suicide," Himeko began. "If she's as dangerous as you say, we're more likely to get the car cut in half trying to run her down, and then things get more difficult."

The fake maid nodded grimly. "Sounds about right."

"So we’ll circle around instead and fetch Cocolia and the kids. Then we find a way to link up with Siegfried, ask him to detonate Vera into the next dimension, and grab Sin." Himeko’s gaze was steady as she continued to accelerate. "Happy ending. If we can get there."

Natasha gave her a dry smile. "Plenty of holes in that plan. Are those supposed to be filled with hope and dreams?"

Himeko grinned back. "It's called improvisation, and I assumed a super secret agent like you had plenty of experience with that."

"Maybe." Natasha chuckled, leaning outside again to loosen another energy arrow. "Honkai-shaped bump, by the way."

The truck jolted violently, tires skidding as it slammed into something solid beneath the snow.

"Shit!" Himeko yelped, her grip tightening on the steering wheel as the vehicle lurched sideways.

Natasha whistled, glancing back at the supposed bump.

"Roadkill. Impressive, if bad for the vehicle's life expectancy."

"Well, that wasn’t part of the plan," Himeko growled under her breath as the pickup skidded back onto course. "I know visibility's terrible, but I can't believe I didn't see a Honkai Beast, of all things."

"Speeding," Natasha said.

"Brat," Himeko replied.

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Mal Family Estate Grounds, Outer Perimeter]

The mercenaries’ defensive line blurred past — flashes of gunfire and the roars of Honkai Beasts. Cocolia didn’t slow, weaving between the ongoing battle with just enough care to stay out of the crossfire as she carried Kiana across.

Overhead, Sirin continued to carry Bronya, the girl's rifle like a beacon of light in the snowstorm as she harassed any nearby Honkai Beasts, providing openings for the mercenaries to finish the job.

Things almost seemed to be under control.

Then a tendril of darkness snapped through the snow like a whip, piercing through Sirin.

Once again, she disappeared immediately, returning to Kiana, leaving no one to hold the other girl afloat.

With a startled shout, the smaller girl tumbled down, hitting the drifts hard and disappearing behind a snowbank.

"Bronya!" Kiana called out without thinking.

Not even considering what a distraction it'd be for the woman carrying her.

Cocolia skidded to a halt, eyes darting toward where Bronya had fallen, and that split second of hesitation was all it took.

From the whiteout ahead came a heavy, thunderous rumble as something massive barreled through the storm. The broad, armoured frame of a Chariot Honkai Beast broke through the storm, heading straight towards them.

Kiana’s breath hitched. "Move—!"

Before it could close the distance, an engine’s roar cut through the howling wind. Headlights burst into view from their right, and then—

A green military pickup truck slammed into the Chariot’s flank with bone-crunching force, sending the massive Beast skidding sideways and rolling into the drifts.

The truck’s driver door swung open, and Himeko leaned out. "You two! In the truck!"

Kiana blinked at the passenger seat — and froze for a half-second. 

Natasha was sitting there, a strange bow in hand, perfectly calm amid the chaos.

"What—?!" Kiana’s brain caught up. "She’s—"

"No time," Himeko barked. "You trust me or want to try your luck with that woman?"

That was a surprisingly good argument.

But Cocolia still didn’t move, her gaze flicking back to where Bronya had fallen.

'Go,' Bronya’s voice cut into Kiana’s mind through their link. 'Vera Mal is after you. Bronya will be fine here with the Silver Wolves.'

Another argument that made an annoying amount of sense.

"Just do it!" Sirin ordered as she materialized. "My foolish servant's link means I can remain near Bronya too. I'll keep the fool from getting herself killed uselessly, so go!"

Kiana clenched her jaw.

'... Thanks.'

"Hearing that from you sounds disgusting." Sirin huffed, disappearing as soon as she said that, heading to Bronya's side.

Kiana looked up at Cocolia.

"Vera's after us. Bronya's safer with the mercenaries. We need to go."

Cocolia’s hesitation lasted another heartbeat, but then she ran to the vehicle. Changing her hold onto Kiana, she pulled open the door before shoving the girl ahead, then climbed into the back seat right after her and slammed the door shut as Himeko threw the truck into gear.

Snow exploded behind them as the engine roared again.

The truck bucked hard over another snow ridge, suspension groaning in protest. Himeko kept one hand on the wheel, the other tapping impatiently against the shifter.

"Alright," she began, "next step is finding Siegfried. He blows Vera into confetti, then we—"

"No," Cocolia interrupted. "Forget Siegfried. Vera won’t give us the time to find him." She jabbed a finger forward. "Keep going that way. My aircraft’s concealed under a camo net. Dual autocannons and a missile rack—more than enough to put her down if you can get her into the open."

Himeko’s eyes flicked toward her in the mirror. "Sounds like you’ve been holding out on us."

"I don’t trust anyone until I have to," Cocolia said flatly.

From the back seat, Kiana leaned forward, fixing her gaze on the fake maid sitting in front of her. "Speaking of not trusting people, what’s she doing here? Last time I saw you, you were with the bad guys. Like… half an hour ago."

Natasha didn’t even glance over. "Changing sides."

"... That’s it?"

"That’s it." Natasha drew the bowstring back, another crackling arrow forming as she scanned the white haze outside. "You can file a complaint later if we survive."

A familiar presence brushed Kiana’s thoughts. 

'Vera and Sin passed by without even looking at us,' Bronya’s voice came through. 'Their speed is… too high. They’ll catch up soon.'

Kiana swallowed, meeting Himeko’s eyes in the mirror. "Vera's too fast. Sin, too. They might be able to outrun the car."

Cocolia clicked her tongue. "That damn freak. Sounds like Jackal went all out."

At that, Kiana glanced at her. "Jackal? That was Natasha's boss, right? The one that tried making a deal with you?"

"Former boss," Natasha supplied. "Crazy scientist. I assume she gave Vera Mal some sort of gift I wasn't informed of."

"She did." Cocolia nodded. "That fool injected herself with who knows what and turned into that. Might still be mutating."

"I'd be surprised if she wasn't," Natasha muttered under her breath.

Himeko gripped the wheel tighter, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at the rearview mirror. "Lovely. Then we’d better find your toy fast, Cocolia. Because that woman's coming right up."

Cocolia's eyes widened, and she turned around to look at the rear windowscreen at the same time as Kiana did.

A silhouette, dark against the blizzard, was slicing through the snow like it wasn’t there.

Fast. Too fast.

Natasha’s bowstring was already drawn back. She leaned out the open window and loosed a crackling energy arrow into the swirling white, the impact blooming into a bright flare before the storm swallowed it. She drew another, faster this time, and fired again in quick succession.

Cocolia didn’t hesitate either, opening her window, drawing her revolver, and leaning half her upper body out into the freezing wind. Muzzle flashes cracked like small thunderclaps, each round disappearing into the void.

Kiana swallowed.

Maybe if she was a bit taller, she'd be able to grab her gun and lean out on the other side, but as she was, she was more likely to fall out of the car.

"Can we go faster?" she asked.

Himeko let out a dry laugh, but there was no humor in it, more annoyance than anything else. "Sugar, any faster than this and we might actually turn this car into an aircraft on the next slope, and believe me, I would suck at landing it."

As if to help make her point, the ride jostled violently as the truck tore across uneven snow, every bump rattling through the frame.

Kiana leaned back, trying to steady herself when Sirin’s voice slid into her thoughts.

"Vessel," she called out, tone was sharper than usual, "that girl is trying to push past the link and into—"

The words fractured into a grinding static, warping into a shrill, needling pitch that stabbed straight through Kiana’s skull.

She hissed, clapping a hand to her temple as her vision wavered. The blizzard outside seemed to shimmer wrong for a moment, shapes stretching and bending like they were underwater instead.

Making her see things that weren't real. Placing a filter between herself and Sirin so she couldn't hear the Herrscher properly.

Sin.

Of course. It was just a matter of time before she got through, just like back then.

Kiana forced a deep breath, trying to push the interference back, and glanced over her shoulder.

Things weren't going well, even with Cocolia and Natasha both in action. The storm clearly made aiming a nightmare, a combination of the white haze surrounding them and the heavy winds pushing projectiles off-course. Still, they kept firing, hoping that even a near miss might slow her down.

It didn't seem to be making a difference, though. The dark shadow was approaching them, no more than a dozen meters away now.

And then, without warning, Vera's silhouette blurred, and she was gone from sight—

*THUD*

—until the truck roof dented hard above them.

The car swerved violently at the sudden hit. Natasha twisted around, bow already drawn, loosing arrow after arrow into whatever she saw on the roof. Cocolia did the same, hastily reloading before spinning on her seat to aim her revolver at Vera, pressing the trigger again and again.

But that didn't seem to be enough to throw her off.

The rear window beside Kiana exploded inward, shards spraying across her seat. A white arm, human-shaped but riddled with glowing lines, shot through the gap, steel-like fingers clamping around her arm and yanking her toward the jagged opening.

"Get… off!" she snarled, clawing at the grip as she pushed against the door, trying to keep herself from being dragged out, but Vera’s strength was relentless.

Cocolia let out a curse, rushing back into the car to pull Kiana back by the arm with one hand. With her other hand, she aimed the revolver at the white figure outside the window, gunshots roaring inside the vehicle as bullets pierced whatever Vera Mal became to no avail.

Natasha hesitated for a moment before setting her bow aside and pulling out a knife, leaning out to attack the mutated woman directly—

Then Himeko’s voice cut in, sharp with panic.

"Hold on!"

Kiana glanced at the front, only then noticing a moving, large shadow approaching.

Or rather, themselves approaching a large shadow.

Himeko swerved hard, but the snow didn't help with handling. Instead, they hit the shadow at an angle.

The impact was like hitting a wall. Whether it was a boulder or a Honkai Beast, Kiana couldn't tell, but the truck didn’t stand a chance — momentum wrenched it sideways, the world tilting, rolling.

Kiana felt herself tearing free from Vera’s grasp, her body weightless for a split second before the jagged window frame caught her hip, and only by the time the white and cold swallowed her did she realize that she had flown out of the car.

She attempted to regain her bearings, to figure out which way was up and down, when a whisper invaded her mind, somehow both quiet enough to make her shiver and loud enough to deafen the snowstorm.

'Sleep like a good girl.'

The headache erupted into blinding pain. Her vision fractured into shards of black and white, the snowstorm breaking apart into meaningless shapes.

And then the world became dark before she even hit the snow.

Ø

[???]

Cold.

That was the first thing Kiana felt as her senses returned. The frigid cold clung to her, settling deep in her bones.

Her eyes snapped open to a blur of white and snowflakes.

The snowstorm was back in full swing, surrounding her and drowning everything else, both sight and sound. She lay half-buried in a drift.

Her body protested as she pushed herself upright, moving into a crouch.

Very, very cold. Enough to make her shiver.

Kiana really missed her coat.

Pushing the thought aside, she let her eyes wander around. As expected, what little she could see through the snowstorm was only white and trees.

'…Sirin?' she reached into herself, uncaring if Sin overheard, but what came back wasn’t words, only garbled sounds, distorted and too close, like something whispering right next to her ear but never making sense. 

Still under Sin's influence, then.

This could be trouble.

Kiana opened her mouth to speak, only to cough once, then twice. Did she accidentally swallow ice or something?

"Himeko!" Her voice cracked in the wind. "Natasha! Cocolia!"

Nothing.

"AUNT HIMEKO!" She tried again. 

Once again, the only reply was the howl of the snowstorm.

That was bad. She knew for a fact that Valkyries were tough, so a crash like that wouldn't have been enough to kill Himeko, at least, but it still seemed like Kiana had flown away quite a distance.

She only had to hope the others were fine. And that Vera Mal hadn't finished the job while Kiana was out.

Not something worth thinking about.

Her right hand went instinctively to her hip, reaching for her gun.

Empty.

Her back, where the sheathe should be, was… also empty.

At the very least her harness still held onto the combat knife over her left breast. That much hadn't been lost to the snowstorm. 

She still would have preferred to have her bat, honestly.

Kiana staggered to her feet, every muscle aching.

Should she pick a direction and start walking? That didn't sound exactly smart, but staying still seemed dumber.

In that case, eeny meeny—

"There you are."

Her heart jumped.

Kiana turned sharply, and there stood Sin.

Saying she didn't look well would be an understatement. Her shoulders slumped, her breath shallow and ragged, and her eyes seemed exhausted. Her dress was ruined, her body was covered in cuts and bruises with a particularly bad one bleeding all over her right forearm, yet she stood upright.

In her gloved hand was the syringe they had failed to take from her, held like a dagger about to be put in action.

"… Sin," Kiana called out in a low voice. "You don’t have to do this. Vera’s using you."

Sin met her eyes with a cold resignation. "It doesn't matter. Matushka wants me to. She's family."

Kiana let out a long breath, a cloud of air puffing out in front of her. "You know she doesn't care about you."

Sin giggled.

"I'm so… jealous," the words escaped her lips like a curse. "The only reason you can say that… is because there are soooo many people who care about you…"

Kiana took a hesitant step backward, but her limbs felt heavy, every movement sluggish and forced. Was Sin messing with her body as well?

"Sin, wait—"

She didn't.

The girl lunged forward, barreling into Kiana and pushing her down to the snow and pinning her down. Without a moment's delay, Sin raised the syringe and stabbed down.

Kiana grabbed her wrist with both hands, trying to push it away, but it was hard, her arms trembling from exertion.

She wasn't sure if Sin was stronger or if she was unable to use her full strength under the girl's influence, but the fact remained that she wasn't able to get her off.

"But we care about you, too!" Kiana shot back. "Why else would we want to take you away from Vera? Just stop this and… let's get out of here!"

"Liar," came Sin's ice cold reply, her eyes boring into Kiana's. "I'm an ugly monster. You wouldn't care about me. You just pretended because I caught you. To make things easier for yourself." Something twitched in Sin's expression as she redoubled her efforts, pushing down the syringe. "At least Matushka doesn't pretend. She's family. Like your Papa. Like Bronya's uncle."

Kiana grit her teeth. "Family?! That's what this is all about?!"

The syringe grew closer with each passing moment.

"What else would it be about?" Sin whispered, leaning closer as she continued pushing. "She's all that I have. What do you want me to do? Abandon her?"

"If that's what you're worried about," Kiana growled, nearing her limit, "then… I can be your family!"

Sin paused at that.

"... What?"

"I can be your family," Kiana repeated, louder this time. "Papa, too. I can convince him. If we're family, then you're not losing anything leaving Vera behind, right? You can even ditch that surname. How about that?"

The other girl stared at her for several moments, her eyes widening.

Kiana saw the way her lips trembled. Felt the strength behind the syringe decreasing.

She relaxed, letting out a relieved sigh—

"Liar."

—and Sin took that chance to push again, stabbing the syringe into Kiana's shoulder, injecting the liquid into her.

Kiana let out a pained grunt as she held onto Sin's wrist, feeling an uncomfortable warmth spreading over her body. "S… Sin…?!"

"Go to sleep," came Sin's short reply. "For much longer this time."

She stared into Kiana's eyes intently, as though attempting to sear into her mind the moment Kiana finally closed her eyes.

And Kiana, left with no other choice, could only grit her teeth and stare right back, deep into all the anger and despair reflected into Sin's gaze.

The snowstorm continued to wash over them, the freezing cold all but forgotten by the two girls.

Then, finally…

…

…

…

"... Why?" Sin uttered after what must've been a minute.

Kiana glanced up at her, her earlier intensity replaced with confusion. "What…?"

Sin carelessly pulled out the emptied syringe, earning a gasp from Kiana, and stared at it.

"You shouldn't… be awake," Sin muttered, eyeing the syringe with a strange look. "Why is it… not working…"

Kiana blinked. "Uh… Is it broken?"

"Poison can't break!" Sin actually sounded on the verge of panicking. "How could this…"

Some sort of realization crossed her face.

"Ah…" she breathed out, deflating. "Miss Natasha… tricked me, after all…"

"Natasha…?" Kiana rubbed the sore spot where she was stabbed. "Okay, so I guess I should thank her, but… can you let me go now?"

Sin didn't reply.

Instead, she slowly turned to look at Kiana.

Her gaze was worryingly empty.

"... I just need to do it myself," she uttered, as if to herself. Behind the girl, Kiana could sense clusters of energy forming, her mind translating it into shadow tendrils readying themselves to attack. "I can make you go to sleep. Keep you asleep. For however long it takes—" 

Sin was interrupted, then, by a sudden spasm.

Her gaze lost focus, her syringe escaping her grasp and falling on the snow.

Then she fell onto Kiana, completely unconscious.

Just then, Kiana felt the haze being lifted from her mind, the pressure that was pushing down on her senses suddenly gone.

And in front of her, behind Sin…

"I understand now," Sirin said from where she floated, entirely unamused as she looked down at Kiana. "Not a single one of you can survive long without me. I'll keep that in mind."

It took about five seconds for Kiana to manage a response.

"Uh, thanks?" she uttered. "But… what did you do? Is Sin…"

Sirin huffed. "I wouldn't get rid of a useful servant so easily." She pointed at the unconscious girl. "I merely took the time to map out how to give her a taste of her own medicine. A little sensory overload was enough to put an end to her insubordination."

The Herrscher crossed her arms, shaking her head.

"To think she'd be as amateurish as to make the link two-way," she muttered. "I'll have to educate her properly once we leave. I can't have that phoenix woman countering her so easily when we begin to lay waste upon this world."

"... Right."

Kiana did her best not to think too hard about what Sirin was saying.

She took hold of Sin, lifting up the girl as she rose to her feet.

"So, where should we go?" she asked the Herrscher. "Link up with Bronya?"

"You mean rush straight into a horde of disobedient Honkai Beasts?" Sirin looked at Kiana as though she was stupid. "No, go find shelter. Let the pawns clean up this mess."

Kiana rolled her eyes. "Yeah, alright. Which direction?"

Sirin continued to stare at her.

"... Hey, you don't mean—"

"I ordered you to find shelter," Sirin repeated.

Kiana gaped at her. "You don't know where—"

"I said go find shelter, I have the other fool to worry about!"

With that, she disappeared in a puff of Herrscher magic once more.

"..."

Kiana grimaced, holding onto the unconscious Sin as she looked around her surroundings.

Yep, still white and trees and the inability to see more than ten meters away. She simply had to find some kind of shelter before they froze to death. Hopefully Sin was more resistant to that than a normal human.

Now, which direction?

…

"Eeny, meeny—"

A loud roar broke through the snowstorm, sounding almost like a very angry human woman if not for how it reverberated even above the howling wind.

Kiana promptly chose to go to the right and started walking.

.

Ø

.

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Siberian Wilderness, East of the Mal Family Estate]

Cocolia opened her eyes to the sound of a distant roar and an all-consuming snowstorm surrounding her.

That, and a stupid-looking Valkyrie looking down on her.

"... Oh, you're alive," Himeko said. "Shame."

Cocolia very reasonably presented to her a certain finger.

The woman grunted as she forced herself to get up. She pulled up her sleeve, checking a glowing bracelet that had become duller than before.

"Starting to run out of Honkai Energy," she grunted, already moving to check her snowy surroundings. Not that there was much to see other than snow, rocks, and trees. "A second crash wouldn't end so well for me. What's the situation?"

"A mess," Natasha joined the conversation, walking towards them. A glance at her direction revealed to Cocolia the wreckage of what had been their vehicle, now upside down by a snow-covered rock formation. "The kid went flying one direction and Vera Mal another."

Cocolia scowled, already considering her options. "A bad fall isn't enough to kill a Kaslana, but even so… Any idea which direction the kid went towards?"

All Natasha could offer was a shrug.

Himeko sighed. "Hard to keep track of directions when you're rolling around. What now?"

Diving into her coat, Cocolia took out a device, her reinforced phone, still intact despite everything.

She turned it on, finger moving quickly to check up on vital information.

"Now we keep moving," she concluded, pointing in a certain direction. "We're close to my aircraft. That should make dealing with Vera and finding the kids much simpler. We just have to…"

Another roar interrupted her, this one much closer.

Coming straight from where Cocolia was pointing.

All three of them turned to the sound. Through the snowstorm, they could see mounting shapes of varying sizes approaching. Some walked on long, disproportionate limbs, while others, smaller, flew along.

Cocolia could feel her patience wearing thin.

"... We just have to take out the trash," she finished, fishing for her revolver in her coat. "Hopefully the crash didn't turn either of you into dead weight?"

Natasha sighed, already bringing up her bow. "I don't think we have the time to clear them all out. Or the numbers. Either we get swarmed or Vera comes back for us."

"Then we don't waste time here," Himeko interrupted, stepping forward as she grabbed her greatsword. "We just need to get past, right?"

That earned her a questioning look from Cocolia. "Got something reckless in mind? Something that will probably get us killed?"

Himeko smirked. "We break through."

Cocolia stared at her. "Break through?"

The Valkyrie, who had clearly lost her mind, simply held her gaze for a second longer.

Natasha looked between the two of them, already pulling on her bowstring and charging up an energy arrow.

Himeko's greatsword came into life as she swung it to her side, its blazing edge melting the snow around her.

"Probable death is better than certain death, isn't it?" she asked. "So… we break through!"

Before anyone could respond, she rushed forward, her flaming greatsword trailing across the snowstorm.

Natasha, who clearly wasn't as mentally well-off as Cocolia assumed, simply followed along, already loosing energy arrows towards the approaching shapes.

And Cocolia…

"... Tch, fine!"

She ran after them, taking out her second revolver. 

Accuracy wouldn't be an issue. Not when she was about to be firing anti-Honkai ammo at Honkai Beasts from point-blank, like a maniac with a death wish.

Well, if Kaslanas could do it, so could she, right? 

If she was going to die, she might as well do it the Siberian way.

Chapter Text

[???]

It always began the same way.  

Sin Mal was small again, her feet bare against the cold hardwood of her childhood home. The scent of her mother’s perfume lingered in the air.

The clock on the wall ticked, steady as a heartbeat.

3:33 AM.

Then… the creak of the floorboard.

Her door was open.

The man’s shadow stretched long across the hallway, his breath ragged, his fingers curled around a knife.

Two bodies laid on the floor behind him, visible despite the darkness. A man and a woman, painting the carpet red.

Sin tried to scream. No sound came out.  

She reached for the scissors on the night desk — her first mother’s sewing scissors, the ones with the little bird engraved on the handle, which shouldn't have been there at all because it didn't happen this way at all, and yet…

The shadow lunged.

Metal flashed.  

Blood sprayed.

Ø

"Look at her, reading her books with that creepy smile…"

"Isn't she even a little bothered? Her parents just died, and yet she's acting like nothing happened."

"Does she even have a soul?"

"I heard she was found covered in the burglar's blood. Just standing there holding a pair of scissors."

"Do you think…"

"Maybe…"

"The one who killed her parents was the girl herself?"

"Obviously."

"Look at those empty eyes of hers."

"Have you heard the way she giggles? It makes me shiver."

"What is Lady Mal thinking, bringing in that thing just because she's a little pretty?"

"Who knows how long she'll stay obedient."

"Maybe she'll get her hands on another pair of scissors and we'll be next."

"That's not a little girl."

"It's a demon."

Ø

Sin woke with a gasp, her fingers clawing at nothing, the Mal family’s silk sheets tangled around her legs.

For a moment, she just laid there, staring at the canopy above her bed, her breaths ragged. The dream was fading, but she still felt the weight of the scissors pressed against her palm.  

She flexed her fingers.  

Empty. 

Just like her bed.

Sin blinked, looking around. Everything was dark, and she was by herself, wearing a violet nightdress, but that didn't make any sense.

This… wasn't right. None of this was.

Wasn't she in a forest just now? Following her mother's orders?

… Attacking Kiana?

Sin sat up, moving to get out of bed, only to realize there was something else with her.

A familiar white bunny plushie was right next to her body.

It was an ugly thing. Ripped and sewed back together multiple times. A dark bow, mismatched eyes, a cheap-looking dress that looked more like a rug.

Indeed, it was an ugly thing, but it was once hers, a long time ago. Before she had any reason to have nightmares.

And it shouldn't be here. Not anymore. Not in a place where she was not allowed old, ugly toys.

She reached for the plushie, but as soon as her fingers touched it…

It vanished.

Startled, the little girl fell backwards, falling off the bed with a loud thud.

… It didn't hurt. Not as much as she was used to.

That was what she got for getting too excited over a delusion.

Slowly, Sin rose to her feet. With a calm, hopeless step, she began walking to the door, and as soon as she reached it—

Something grabbed her hand, keeping her in place.

"You don't have to keep going there, you know?"

Sin's breath hitched as she turned around.

Kiana stood there with a smile, hair down, in the same dark shirt and pants she wore when they met… and when they fought.

"The window's right there," Kiana told her with a smirk, gesturing to the glass separating them from the outside world, her hold on Sin's hand gentle. "What do you say we slip out and disappear before anyone notices? Leave this place behind?"

Sin couldn't find it in herself to respond immediately, she could only stare with wide eyes.

Slowly, she took a step towards Kiana—

Her other wrist was suddenly pulled by something, stopping her in her tracks.

"And where do you think you're going?"

Sin froze.

She turned back, finding the door ajar and her mother standing there, holding onto her, glaring at her as though her mere existence was an insult.

The little girl felt her body slip out of her control, locked in place, trembling.

"I took you in when you were orphaned, fed you, gave you far better clothes than you deserve," the woman spat at Sin, "and this is how you thank me? Turning your back on me for a girl you've only known for a few days?"

"I-I…" Sin stammered, but no matter how hard she tried, she was unable to form a sentence. "S… Sorr—"

Kiana pulled on her hand then, bringing Sin's gaze back to her.

"C'mon, what's the hold up?" She smiled at Sin, as though there was nothing wrong. "I need to introduce you to Papa. Oh, you never saw a beach before, right? Me neither. How about we talk him into bringing us to one?"

Sin swallowed hard. "That… would be…"

A tug on her wrist brought her attention to her irate mother.

"You forget your place," she growled at Sin. "You are my daughter. You are mine. Who else would take in someone as broken and ugly as you? A disgusting demon who can't even pretend to be human properly? Don't be delusional. They'll discard you as soon as they're done making use of you."

A gentle pull on her hand.

"We're almost there," Kiana told her in a calm, certain voice. "Just a bit further and we can reach a happy end. Sirin will be there with us. Bronya too, probably. We'll just drag her along if she says no. What do you think?"

A sharp yank of her wrist.

"Stop living in your fantasies," her mother ordered her, her voice distorting, echoing all over the room in a way that it shouldn't. "A happy end? This isn't one of your pointless fairy tales. The only way a little monster like you will ever be happy is if you listen to me. That girl is a liar. People like that don't exist."

Fingers intertwined with hers.

"Want to find out if I'm telling the truth?" Kiana shrugged, gesturing to the window. "Just come along, then. Even if I'm a liar, it can't be much worse than staying here, right?"

Sin opened her mouth to respond, but the sensation of her mother's hold on her wrist tightening put an end to that.

"Remember who you are," the woman hissed, practically dripping venom. "Remember all that you'll ever be. You are Sin Mal. You are my daughter. Sin. Mal."

"Sin Kaslana."

The little girl felt her heart skip a beat.

She turned back to Kiana slowly, carefully, as though afraid that moving too fast would bring the world down on them.

"How does that sound?" Kiana asked her, wearing one of her carefree grins as if she hadn't just reached deep into Sin's soul with just a few words. "Sin Kaslana. My little sister. Not just for a little while, but for as long as you want. Think it has a nice ring to it?"

Sin's mouth was suddenly dry. Her mother's grip trembled in rage.

The little girl knew what the right answer should be. She knew exactly what she needed to do to keep her mother happy.

Even so, as her lips parted, all that escaped was a single question.

"... Why?"

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Siberian Wilderness, East of the Mal Family Estate]

The cavern wasn't as freezing cold as outside in the snowstorm, but it wasn't as far off as Kiana hoped.

She sat by the wall, eyes downcast, illuminated by the campfire's crackling flame.

It had been quite troublesome to get it started. Yanking out smaller trees, searching for anything dry inside the humid outer bark, crushing some of her leftover handgun ammunition to get her hands on some gunpowder, hitting her knife against a rock for sparks to bring the flames to life…

Well, it wasn’t exactly by the book, but she made it work somehow. She was suddenly thankful for those firecraft lessons her father gave her.

She also vowed to never go outside again without a lighter and something flammable, at least.

"..."

Kiana's eyes moved to the figure lying next to the campfire.

Other than the crackles of the fire and echoes of the storm outside, the only sound in the cavern was Sin's shallow breathing.

The girl looked like a mess. Cuts and scrapes, ruffled hair, a ruined expensive dress…

On her right forearm was the worst wound, a deep gash that she had gotten who knows where, but at least it was already starting to knit itself closed instead of bleeding everywhere.

Sin wasn’t normal.

Then again, Kiana knew that from the start. Besides, it wasn’t like she was any different in that regard.

She sighed, letting her head fall back on the cavern wall behind her.

"I messed up," Kiana whispered to herself, barely audible over the storm’s howl.

From day one, it had been obvious that there was something off with Sin's relationship with her mother. Even so, in the days that followed, Kiana decided that it was better to just keep playing with her, improving her mood, and not poke into what might've been a sore subject. Bronya simply followed her lead.

Even when they decided that they had to take Sin away from that place, they chose to act behind her back. Sneaking around, coming up with schemes…

And leaving Sin in the dark, as hopeless as ever. Right in her mother's grasp.

Of course she thought Kiana was a liar. She had done nothing to actually convince Sin she wanted anything more than to play with her for a little while then leave forever.

Maybe if they had at least told Sin, face to face, that they wanted to keep her safe and sound…

But Kiana had already made a mess of things. Even if — no, when — they finally wrestled Sin away from her mother, that'd surely leave her even more scarred in a way she didn't deserve.

A long sigh escaped her lips as she closed her eyes.

'Sirin? Bronya? Is everything fine?'

A response didn't come immediately, but Kiana didn't panic. She didn't know about Bronya, but if Sirin wasn't replying, it was because she was busy.

Right then, the Herrscher's voice sounded in her mind.

"Unlike a certain someone, I'm a bit occupied here. What do you want?"

Kiana let out something between an exhale of relief and a laugh.

'Sorry, it's just… Things were a bit silent. It made me wonder.'

The sound of a huff came through their link. "Well, maybe I figured out how to only communicate with the idiot I'm currently in charge of instead of broadcasting my thoughts to everyone at once. Is that an issue?"

'Hm… I guess you're a genius, after all.'

There was a pause.

"You're being weird," Sirin accused her, sounding strangely subdued.

'Sorry, just a bit bored,' Kiana lied. 'Keep doing… whatever it is you're doing. Punishing disobedient Honkai Beasts?'

"... Hmph. I hardly need you to tell me what to do."

Their link went silent with that, leaving Kiana once again alone with her thoughts.

She felt useless, just sitting there and waiting while everyone else fought. It felt like a punishment for her mistakes.

But leaving Sin behind unguarded would be unforgivable, even beyond all the ways Kiana had already failed.

Another sigh. She leaned forward, hugging her knees close as she eyed the unconscious girl.

"I just… really wanted to save you…"

"... Why?"

Kiana nearly jumped up.

That was when she noticed that Sin's eyes were open, reflecting the fire's glow, giving her a tired, almost vacant stare.

Logically, Kiana knew she should be immediately by Sin's side, checking up on her. But something kept her frozen in place, instead, simply staring back with wide, hesitant eyes.

Shame, probably. Over everything.

Sin took that as a cue to continue.

"Why would you… even care?" she asked, sounding genuinely confused. "I'm just… a creepy, ugly thing. You saw how I… greeted you back when you arrived…"

Kiana hesitated to respond. Could she even give a good answer? Or would she just mess things up even further?

Then again, staying silent would be a mistake, too.

So she opened her mouth and...

"You were just lonely," was what she went with.

"Normal lonely girls don't kidnap others into a dreamland," Sin replied immediately, voice perfectly flat. "They don't scare and break maids by dragging them into playtime. They don't smile when they're sad, and they don't just… decide to hurt their own friends…" she finished, voice growing as quiet as a whisper. "You're a hero, but I'm… I'm just the monster who the hero is supposed to defeat…"

"I… don't want to defeat you," Kiana muttered back, deflating where she sat. "Can't we just… forget who has which role and leave?"

Sin simply continued to look at her with a worryingly vacant look.

"I failed," she suddenly said. "Matushka will probably throw me away, won't she?"

"Well…" Kiana grimaced. "She's definitely a piece of work, so I wouldn't be surprised."

Slowly, Sin's mouth twisted upwards into a weak, fragile smile.

But, before Kiana could even start to feel optimistic, the small girl opened her mouth, and spoke in an empty, emotionless voice.

"I just… really… want to disappear..."

Kiana's eyes widened. A cold sensation coursed through her, almost as if the fire had gone out.

Hearing Sin talk like that felt wrong. Very, very wrong.

And, once again she didn’t know if she had the magic words to just… magically make it all better.

She let out a shuddered breath, gritting her teeth.

Was she really that useless, after all?

No matter what Kiana tried, it never seemed to be enough.

She couldn't be a proper Kaslana. Not even a halfway decent hero. She was such a liability that her father left her behind. She wasn't even his real daughter, just a cheap copy named after her.

And now… had she even failed at saving Sin for good?

She felt her eyes start to sting at the thought.

"Haha…" Sin's smile trembled, her eyes still on Kiana. "I just caused problems for everyone, didn't I?"

… No. That wasn’t right. It just… wasn't.

She couldn't simply give up at this point.

"I don't deserve your pity," Sin continued. "For a monster like me, isn't it better if I—"

Kiana felt something inside her snap.

"So what if you're a monster?!" 

Her sudden shout, echoing across the cavern, silenced Sin, the girl's vacant despair morphing into a startled look.

"It's not like you're the only one, okay?!" Kiana rose to her feet, her hands balling into trembling. "Sirin is… She's the one who destroyed Siberia ten years ago! Did you know that?! She killed millions and she's not even sorry! That makes her a monster, doesn't it?!"

Sin's eyes widened. "She… Huh?"

"And you know what else?!" Kiana continued, wiping her eyes that were growing blurry for some reason. "I didn't kill her! I saved her! And then, because I'm greedy, I decided that I want to get my hands on her power and become the Queen of Honkai so I can stop being so weak and useless! I'm a terrible hero! And I don't even feel that sorry for any of that, either, so that makes me a monster too, got it?!"

"W-Wait…" Sin seemed almost overwhelmed as she sat up, wincing at the sudden movement. "What do you… Queen…?"

"And Bronya!" Kiana wasn't done yet, even though she had to pause for a sniff, only then realizing she started crying at some point. "I told her about Sirin and she didn't even care, you know?! Not at all! So even if she's not a monster, she's still a pretty evil villain, alright?!"

"I said wait, I can't—"

"So!" Kiana interrupted her again, taking a step closer to the girl on the ground. "Are we not good enough?! Since we're all bad guys, what would be so bad about sticking with us?!" She sniffed again, stomping her feet. "I already said I want to be family with you!"

Sin's eyes were darting between Kiana and everywhere else, not quite sure what to do about the older girl's outburst. "W-We only just met a few days ago, why would you—"

"Because I decided you're important to me, you durochka!"

That shout seemed to finally drive Sin quiet, simply staring at Kiana with wide eyes.

Kiana sniffed again, rubbing her eyes to wipe off the tears as she attempted to control her ragged breathing.

It was only then that it hit her that she might've gone a bit too far there.

Still, it was a bit difficult to care with all the weird, annoying feelings swirling inside her. So she didn't apologize or try to walk back any of what she said. Instead, she stood there, sniffing and wiping her tears and just being a mess in front of Sin.

The younger girl regarded her blankly for several seconds, as if attempting to parse everything Kiana threw at her at once. Her lips parted and closed as she attempted to figure out how to respond, her sharp teeth glowing in the firelight.

After what felt like an eternity, Sin opened her mouth once more, this time with purpose—

And a loud, monstrous howl tore through the forest outside, close enough for the cavern to shake.

A cacophony of quieter roars, dozens at least, followed soon after.

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Mal Family Estate Grounds, Outer Perimeter]

The Anti-Honkai cannons provided to the Silver Wolf Mercenaries were far too unwieldy to be carried by normal humans.

Easily twice Bronya's size. Weighing as much as three or four people. Incredibly destructive. They were mounted on some of their vehicles as a measure for worst-case scenarios.

You could not yank them from the wreckage of a vehicle. You could not lug them around like a common rifle. You could not press the trigger and simply ignore the recoil that would likely send you flying. And you most definitely could not use them as a blunt weapon in a pinch.

After a bit of thinking, Sirin begged to differ.

And that was how Bronya found herself with one eye glowing yellow, swinging a white, metallic, cylindrical monstrosity by the upper handle at an incoming Seraph.

It made contact with a loud crack, launching the creature far into the snowstorm, towards another approaching, large shadow.

She didn't stop there, holding the cannon with both hands and aiming in that direction as she pulled the trigger. A deafening blast echoed past the howling wind as a large ball of energy burst forth, moving as fast as a bullet despite its size.

The silhouettes suddenly gained a hole through them as they crumbled onto the snow.

Good. Only a hundred left, probably.

Bronya pulled a lever on the side of the cannon, causing a wave of heat to vent out of a series of exhaust ports on the other side of the weapon.

The recoil was barely an issue with the Honkai Energy coursing through her. Whenever she felt like she was about to go flying away, an invisible force corrected her.

Now, the purple glowing lines slowly making themselves visible and snaking up her arms, though… were a problem for later.

"Bronya!" a mercenary's voice cut through the earpiece she had been given. "Heat signatures! Three o'clock!"

She turned to the direction in question, noticing no shadows visible in the immediate vicinity.

So she held the cannon pointing down, as though it were her Kalashnikov, and rushed into the whiteout ahead.

"Hmph. Human weaponry is as crude as ever," Sirin grumbled in Bronya's mind. "But I suppose this is good enough, for the moment. At least it makes you less of a dead weight, even with such an unfitting body. Now, if you're done getting used to that thing, we should go kill that woman already."

'Nyet,' Bronya replied as she fired another shot at a Honkai Beast's silhouette. 'Too many Honkai Beasts are converging on this section of the perimeter. The line will be broken if Bronya leaves.'

Sirin was silent for a moment, then let out something akin to a hum. "And why would that matter?"

'They'd all die,' she clarified. 'Both the mercenaries and the people still in the mansion—'

"And," Sirin interrupted, putting emphasis on each word, "why… would… that… matter?"

There were many things Bronya wanted to say to that.

Any attempts to do so, however, were interrupted by surprise as her body locked up in place, cannon aiming forward.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I think you're misunderstanding some things about me."

Suddenly, Sirin was floating next to her, looking down at her in disdain.

'Sirin, what are you—'

"Just because I decided that you're more useful to me alive," she continued, "doesn't mean I care whether these other insects meet their pathetic ends here. And I'm not particularly amused by your attempt to order me around, either."

Bronya attempted to move, only managing to shake a little from the exertion.

'Bronya will call Kiana—'

"Good luck with that." Sirin chuckled, sitting back on air, as though she were a queen on a throne observing a jester. "I've already silenced you in the link. My foolish vessel is too preoccupied with my new servant to notice something is wrong." 

A cruel smile crossed her lips. 

"So it seems I can do any single thing I want at the moment. How unfortunate for you."

That… was very unfortunate, indeed.

Bronya grit her teeth, considering her options. Except… there weren't actually any options, were there?

"You know," Sirin began, a tad too casually. It set off alarms immediately. "The only thing stopping me from ending all these other humans myself is how wasteful that would be, with how little energy I currently have. But…"

Her yellow eyes slowly fell to the cannon in Bronya's hands.

Oh.

The situation might have gone from unfortunate to disastrous.

"Since you are linked to my vessel, let me just try… something fun."

Without any warning, Sirin immediately floated into Bronya.

For a moment, the girl felt everything go black, and then there was something pushing her.

When her senses returned, she was still in the middle of the snowstorm, but…

She was floating, first of all. That, by itself, was already startling, but even more was the fact she was staring down at her own body, the startled look still all over its face.

And a pair of golden eyes replacing her gray ones.

Bronya could only watch as her body — Sirin — moved, one hand marred in glowing lines letting go of the cannon and rising up to her face.

She closed it, then opened it, again and again, as if testing it.

"Hm… For the moment, this will have to do," Sirin said aloud in a mix of her and Bronya's voices. "How amusing. As weak as it is, it still feels less disgusting than that girl's. Might be the lack of Kaslana blood."

The tone was all wrong for the person it was coming from.

Then she looked up at Bronya, her expression slowly changing into a smirk, one that body never wore before.

As she took hold of the cannon with both hands, Sirin couldn't hide how happy she felt.

It was finally time to put an end to these stupid games.

"What was it that you said before?" she asked, sounding outright giddy. "Compared me to a clueless child granted powers I couldn't understand? A misunderstood victim who didn't know what she was doing?"

Bronya narrowed her eyes, her ghostly form inching closer to her possessed body. "Sirin, calm down…"

In a single motion, using the body's Honkai-enhanced strength, Sirin lifted the cannon, pointing it at…

"The mansion and all those worms protecting it are in that direction, are they not?" she asked, though she obviously already knew the answer. "I wonder… What if I pull the trigger now? And then again? And again, and again, and again?" She had a big grin on her face. "What do you think will happen? Tell me, what happens if I do it? What if I kill every last one of them? What, then?"

All of a sudden, a low chuckle, devoid of any actual warmth, sounded from behind her.

"I don't know," came a sudden male voice, too close. "Maybe you can explain to me?"

Sirin's entire expression froze in an instant.

Slowly, carefully, she glanced behind her, and…

Yes, that did seem like the pair of Shamash guns a mere meter away, pointed straight at her face.

The white-haired man in a blue jacket holding onto them, scowling down at her, was quite startling as well.

"... Huh?" she said very eloquently.

Bronya immediately floated closer, face filled with urgency.

"Switch back."

Sirin blinked, taken aback. 'W-What—'

"Switch back, switch back, switch back—"

She did just that.

Bronya almost swayed as she suddenly returned to her body, the cannon in her grasp falling on the snow as her strength dissipated.

Even so, she didn't waste any time looking up at the man — Siegfried, probably — with her once again gray eyes.

"Bronya was just talking to herself," she lied to his face.

From the way he didn't even lower his weapons, Bronya assumed he didn't believe her.

"Sure you were," he replied, strangely casual for the situation. "And those eyes? You expect me to believe you can just switch colors willy-nilly?"

Bronya blinked at the man, tilting her head. "You can't?"

He gave her a completely blank stare in response.

Anything he would say next was interrupted by another approaching voice.

"Alexeievna!" Maxim yelled as he ran closer, the uniformed man carrying his gear and multitude of weapons as though they weighed nothing. As he slowed near them, he glared at Siegfried with his one eye. "Hey, she's a friendly. Put those down."

Siegfried seemed like he wanted to argue, but then he glanced at Bronya, narrowed his eyes, and just lowered the guns.

Maybe he didn't want to waste any more time, but Bronya had a feeling he'd be keeping an eye on her.

Her uncle stopped next to her, eyeing the fallen cannon next to her. "You were supposed to be in the mansion," he chided her. "And what's this I hear about you lugging around that thing like it's made of paper? Anything you want to share?"

"Bronya simply learned a new trick," she replied quickly. Probably too quickly. "Kiana taught it."

To demonstrate, she reached down for the cannon again.

'Sirin?'

"Hm?" the Herrscher responded, strangely distracted. "Oh, right."

The purple glowing lines appeared on Bronya's arms again, one of her eyes began glowing yellow, and then she lifted the cannon, propping it against her shoulder.

"See?" She patted the cannon. "Easy."

Her uncle narrowed his eye at her, silently observing for a few moments.

"... Sure it is," he finally said, moving his gaze to Siegfried. "Bad news. The Honkai Beasts are retreating."

That got Siegfried to raise an eyebrow. "Honkai Beasts don't just retreat. Think they're gathering somewhere?"

"I'm sure of it." Maxim nodded. "Especially since they're heading in the same direction my men say Cocolia and your kid escaped, being chased by our employer and her daughter," he added, pointing. "I won't even pretend I understand what's happening at this point, honestly. They had a car, but that's hardly much of an insurance against these things. Even worse if Lady Mal is turning into one of them."

Right on cue, several shapes moved past them, ignoring them altogether.

Siegfried cursed under his breath.

"Cocolia contacted me a few minutes ago," he revealed in a hurried voice. "Your comms might've been working, but turns out ours were jammed near the mansion, and things got troublesome on their side. Might need to go help. How's the defensive line here?"

"Not good," came the other man's response. "We were equipped for stragglers, not this kind of attack, and—"

"Why did you do that?" Sirin suddenly asked in Bronya's mind, taking her attention away from the conversation.

'Do what?'

"Don't play dumb. You covered for me, even if you were terrible at it."

Bronya readjusted the cannon to a more comfortable position. 'Should Bronya have not?'

Sirin sputtered incoherently for a moment. "O-Of course not! I just threatened to steal your body, force you to serve me, and kill everyone you hold dear! So why the hell would you come up with a bunch of stupid lies for me?!"

'Hm…' Bronya tilted her head, thinking. 'Because Bronya likes Sirin?'

The Herrscher didn't reply to that at first. Neither five seconds later.

'Bronya would also prefer if Sirin did not do things that could make Bronya dislike her, like killing everyone she knows,' she attempted to keep the conversation going. 'Because Bronya wants to continue liking Sirin.'

Still no response.

Bronya passed time attempting to catch up to what her uncle and Kiana's dad were saying, but it was a bit difficult after skipping the start. It sounded like they had a lot of casualties. This didn't seem like a normal incident at all. Maybe she should ask Miss Cocolia about the specifics later.

"... You're all crazy," Sirin finally spoke, strangely subdued. "Every single one of you is clinically insane. This isn't even an insult. You people need to seek help."

'Da.'

"What kind of response—"

Much as she'd like to continue teasing Sirin, a certain part of the conversation unfolding in front of her caught her attention.

"So," Siegfried began, "I'll need you to stay here and hold the line with your men in case any more trouble shows up, and while you do that, I'll go after the ladies. Got any car I can borrow? For the worst case—"

"Bronya will go as well," she interrupted, raising a hand.

Both men turned to look at her.

She held their gaze without a flinch.

Her uncle sighed, crossing his arms. "Bronya, even if you have that cannon—"

"Bronya will steal a vehicle of her own if you attempt to keep her here," she swiftly informed them.

Siegfried actually laughed at that.

"Sounds like you raised a real firecracker," he told Maxim. "Mind telling the kid that stealing a car in real life is different from games?"

Rather than responding, the man suddenly looked nervous.

Siegfried's smile faltered.

"... Hey, you didn't teach her how to steal cars for real, did you?"

Maxim still didn't answer.

Siegfried slowly turned to look at Bronya.

She simply stared back, as if daring him to say anything more.

He sighed.

"Freaking Siberia…"

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Siberian Wilderness, East of the Mal Family Estate]

The roars seemed to get closer with each passing moment.

Even so, Kiana didn't dare to even glance behind. With Sin on her back, she continued to run through the white-blanketed forest as fast as her small legs could take her.

And, as a Kaslana, the speed in question was considerably fast.

Still didn't feel like enough, regardless.

A misstep on a fallen branch nearly sent her tumbling, but she righted herself before her face met the snow, continuing to push forward.

"Kiana!" Sin instinctively called out from her back, only then seeming to remember their link. 'You can put me down! I can run!'

'Not with that foot, you're not!' she replied immediately.

'I-It only hurts a little!'

'That's enough to not risk it.'

The arguing was already starting to get tiring.

Despite her enhanced healing, running on a sprained ankle hadn't done Sin any favors, and Kiana wasn't going to let her trip and get eaten.

Or torn apart, more like. Kiana never met a Honkai Beast that actually ate people.

Hopefully that wouldn't change today.

"Turn a bit to the right," Sirin ordered in her mind.

'Got it.'

She did just that, redirecting to a narrow path filled with rocks and dead branches.

But, seriously, why was Sin so intent on harming herself even further just for the sake of not inconveniencing Kiana? Didn't she have any sense of self-preservation?

… Probably not.

Another reason to kill Vera Mal.

And then Kiana would be able to teach Sin how to accept help from others. Preferably before she did something stupid like… running away risking her life by herself to avoid putting others in danger.

She seemed like the type to, if just being carried due to a sprained ankle was enough to set off some kind of sense of inadequacy. 

Kiana could practically sense Sin's building unease through their link. That usually only happened with Sirin, what with their stronger connection. Either Sin was shielding her mind badly, or it was getting really loud in her head.

Maybe Kiana should say something before Sin requested to be put down again.

'Sin, are they gaining ground on us?'

'Huh? Um…'

Kiana felt Sin moving a little on her back, probably glancing back.

'I mean, I can't see a lot in the storm, but… Wait, there are some shapes getting closer!'

Trouble never did leave Kiana alone, it seemed.

'Sirin, how far is Bronya?'

"... If you had to guess, which direction do you think you're facing right now?"

Kiana's line of thought came to a halt for a moment.

'Are you… having trouble giving her directions?'

"No. Shut up."

She definitely replied a bit too quickly.

"Whatever, I got it," she moved on just as quickly. "Just stay on course."

Kiana did just that, her feet carrying her forward amidst the snow and trees, uncaring that she could barely see the path forward, until—

A sense of dread and weightlessness overtook her as momentum carried her forward, slowing with each moment from the opposing wind and air resistance.

Far below, through the snowstorm's whiteout, she could see distant shapes that vaguely resembled a large expanse of trees.

Sin yelped.

Did Kiana… just run straight off a cliff?

'Sirin…?!'

"Stick the landing."

'What the heck do you mean—'

That was about as far as the momentum carried them.

A yell escaped Kiana's lips as they began diving straight towards the snow-covered rocky formation on the cliffside below. Sin's hold on her became much stronger.

Kiana had a feeling the snow wouldn't be enough to safely soften the fall.

"... Hmph. Useless."

Sirin materialized next to them with a frown, chasing them down. She floated behind them, phasing through Sin to take hold of Kiana by her sides. With her pull, they began angling away from the ground, veering up from it just a few meters before going splat.

Kiana grit her teeth as she found herself hovering forward at incredibly unsafe speeds, at an even more unsafe height of just a bit over a meter above ground, swerving right and left to avoid blurry trees and branches coming at them faster than she could process.

"W-We're flying!" Sin exclaimed, somewhere between scared and excited. "We're really flying!"

Maybe Kiana would've shared more of her excitement if she wasn't in the process of having consecutive heart attacks in a row.

'C-Couldn't you have done this earlier?!' she asked Sirin. 'I don't have infinite stamina!'

"And I'm not omnipresent, so sorry if I was busy with the other fool," the Herrscher shot back. "You seemed to be doing well enough as a pack mule. Bronya, on the other hand, can't actually hit a single thing at high speeds without help."

The girl in question suddenly spoke up, 'Bronya would like to remind Sirin that this weapon's projectile speed is unsuitable for—'

"Sounds like you just have trash aim," Sirin interrupted her in a perfectly flat tone. "Should I turn off your super strength while I'm not there, since you'll be dead weight anyway? You can just throw that thing away somewhere."

'... Three minutes,' Bronya said after a moment, carrying a resolute tone that Kiana wasn't used to hearing from her. 'That is how long Bronya will need to adapt.'

It… kind of felt like their relationship was different, somehow?

Before Kiana could mention it, the scenery before her suddenly opened up. The obstacles of the forest were gone, replaced by a large, open field.

The visibility didn't improve much, but the lack of dodging trees did wonders for Kiana's stress.

And then she felt Sirin let go.

"... Huh?"

"You'll be fine this far, right?" the Herrscher asked. Kiana felt Sin being plucked off her back, then. "I'll need to help Bronya again. This time actually try to land properly."

She felt Honkai Energy coursing through her body on Sirin's command, reinforcing it.

Preparing her for impact.

'Sirin, you—'

Kiana's line of thought was entirely erased as she hit the snow facefirst, sinking into the snow and leaving a Kiana-shaped trail behind as the friction decelerated her.

When she finally came to a stop, she needed five seconds to regain her faculties, then five more to manage to turn around, looking up at the sky with a very unamused stare.

Sirin gently plopped Sin on the snow next to Kiana, helping her sit down.

"... Are you okay?" Sin asked.

Kiana's response was to turn her head aside and spit out a mouthful of snow before glaring at the Herrscher.

'I'll have my revenge.'

Sirin's response was to stick out her tongue and disappear.

Evil Herrscher.

Kiana forced herself to sit upright. That should've been enough to put some distance between them and whatever was chasing them, so that was a start, but what about actually getting out of there?

'Bronya suggests that you look up,' came the thought through the link. 'Incoming.'

Both Kiana and Sin did so, their eyes widening when they saw a distant shadow approaching from above.

It fell right in front of them, kicking up snow everywhere.

Including Kiana's face.

Mysteriously, none of it seemed to land on Sin.

Kiana coughed, wiping the snow off her face as she scrambled to her feet. "Sirin, how come you're helping everyone land except me—"

Her words died on her throat as her eyes processed who exactly had arrived.

Bronya had arrived, yes. On the backseat of another military pickup truck, carrying a really big cannon with arms covered in pulsing Honkai lines that were a little concerning to see, and with a yellow eye like Sirin's.

Even so, she gave Kiana a thumbs up.

'Support is here.'

As for the person actually driving the vehicle itself…

"Hey," Siegfried greeted them as he opened the door and stepped out. "Sorry for being late. Stuff got a bit complicated, didn't it?"

Kiana felt her brain struggling to process the situation. The best she could do was nod dumbly at her father.

'You… didn't say Papa was coming with Bronya…'

"Oh, my apologies," Sirin replied, anything but sincere. "It's just that I gagged whenever I thought of mentioning it."

Evil. Herrscher.

"There are a bunch of things we need to talk about," her father continued, fishing for something in his blue coat, "but first, here's a gift."

Kiana was barely able to react on time as he threw something at her, catching it on instinct.

What she received was an earpiece.

She didn't need any further instructions, putting it on and pressing a button on it. "Um, hello?"

"Kid?" Cocolia's voice came through. "Good. Siegfried didn't mess it up."

"Mess it up?" The man in question snorted. It seemed he also had an earpiece on him, though he didn't press any button as he continued, "Says the one who managed to get wrecked by the lady of the house and lose my kid in the first place."

"I heard that."

"I'm aware."

Cocolia sighed, and Kiana could practically hear her rolling her eyes. "Kid, we managed to get to my aircraft, so that's our ticket out. The problem is, you probably can't see it, but you have a whole horde of Honkai Beasts converging on you. Your best bet is to keep going east until the coast is clear enough for us to touch ground. Until then…"

A series of explosions sounded in the distance where they came from, bright lights flashing past the snowstorm.

Another glance upwards revealed nothing visible through the whiteout. They must be flying really high.

"... we can provide some support," Cocolia finished. "Start moving. And if comms cut off again, though I doubt they would this far out, just assume jamming and stick to the plan. Any questions or problems?"

"None," Kiana replied before Siegfriend could. "Make sure to save some missiles for Vera."

She heard Cocolia chuckle at that.

"No need to tell me twice," she replied. "Now get moving and try to stay alive. Out."

Kiana let out a relieved sigh. Okay, so that dealt with most of their problems.

She turned to look at her father. "So we just need to keep going, right?"

"No." He gave her an apologetic smile. "You need to keep going. I need to stay here and buy time."

Once again, Kiana's mind halted.

"W… What?" She blinked, unsure if she heard that right.

"It'll only get worse if we let them keep building up like this," he explained, crossing his arms. "So I'll stay here and deal with them, while you kids get in and drive far away. Cocolia's gonna be keeping an eye on you from up there. Least she can do, honestly."

"T-Then!" Kiana stepped forward. "I'll stay here too!"

"Kiana," Sirin warned her.

"Nope," Siegfried told her simply. "You need to go with your friends."

"Why?!" Kiana yelled before she could think better of it.

"We don't have time for this," Sirin spoke up again in her mind. "Just listen to the bastard and—"

"I-Is it because I'm weak and pathetic compared to you?!" The words started slipping out before Kiana could stop them.  "Or because I have a Herrscher in me?! Or… Or is it because I'm a fake?!" She knew she should probably shut up, but she couldn't. Not at this point. "Or maybe it's because I'm not your real daughter?! Because it's my fault that she—"

"Kiana."

His voice suddenly became serious.

Kiana stopped immediately, feeling her heart skip a beat. For a single, terrifying moment, she expected to see disappointment on her father's face, maybe even anger or hate.

So she didn't know how to react when he gave her a sad smile instead.

"You're still my daughter either way," he told her, his voice softer. "And I'm sorry if I ever gave you a reason to doubt that. You're not weak, either. You've already proved as much."

She swallowed hard, hardly believing her ears. "T… Then why…?"

"Right now, you have something you need to protect, don't you?" he asked her, his smile widening into something filled with pride. "Shouldn't that be your priority?"

Kiana blinked as her mind registered his words.

She glanced behind her. Sin was there sitting on the snow, eyes darting between Kiana and Siegfried, unsure of what to do next.

"... Yeah," Kiana muttered, turning back to her father. "So… I guess I should be going, then."

Sirin groaned. "Finally."

Siegfried grinned at her. "Yep. That's my baby doll."

With that, he started moving, walking around the car to face the direction the horde would be coming from.

"Alright, there's no time to waste," he told them. "The sooner your kids get going, the sooner Cocolia will have you all out of here. Then you can pick me up afterwards, okay?"

Kiana nodded, turning around to help Sin get up. "Come on. We're almost at the end."

"O-Okay…" Sin nodded. "Just let me— Eep!"

Kiana lifted her up in a princess carry, not even letting her finish, already walking to the car. "Nope, still no walking."

Bronya was already moving, opening the door and jumping out as Kiana placed Sin on the backseat and closed it again. By the time Kiana went around and entered on the other side, Bronya had already climbed on the driver seat, propping up her cannon on the seat next to her.

"Wait, can you reach the pedals?" Kiana asked as she fastened her seatbelt, glancing at Sin doing the same next to her.

"Nyet," Bronya replied casually. "Sirin can, though."

"I'm practically working for free here," the Herrscher grumbled.

"Help Bronya stack something on them, then."

"Who the hell are you to—"

Kiana tuned them out, turning to her father outside. "Papa, you better stay safe. Or else, I'll… do something bad, probably."

He let out a laugh. "I'll keep that in mind. Now get going before more trouble shows up."

"... Got it." Kiana nodded, turning to Bronya. "Let's go."

Another thumbs up. "Da."

With that, they drove away, speeding across the snowfield.

Siegfried watched them with a smile until they disappeared into the snowstorm.

They'd have a lot to talk about later. About her past and what it meant for her. Also about the Herrscher. That subject would be a little more tricky.

But, for what it was worth, he was glad she was still herself.

Now…

He calmly fished the Shamash guns from his blue coat, eyeing them as he considered the situation.

Even now, Kiana was still acting like a proper Kaslana. As her father, he could hardly afford to slack off after seeing that, right?

Siegfried took a deep breath, and with zero hesitation…

He flung Shamash upwards.

Then he spun around and punched the white blur trying to catch him by surprise from behind, sending it careening away to the ground with a burst of snow.

With that out of the way, he held out his hands, catching Shamash again as he aimed at the rude interloper.

"It's not nice to interrupt a guy when he's having a moment, you know," he said, smirking. "Then again, you don't look very nice yourself."

The humanoid creature in front of him, painfully rising to its feet, looked more like a parody of a woman than a real one.

Ashen white hair descended to the ground, far too long to be natural. Any clothes it might've worn were long gone, its dignity now only protected by the way its skin had become more akin to a white armor-like carapace. Its right arm, from the forearm down, had become a sharp, almost ice-like blade.

And when it looked up, a pair of glowing blue eyes with black sclera were what glared at Siegfried past a pained grimace.

He made it a point to grimace right back, his smirk receding a little.

"Ew. No offense, but was being human really that bad?" He tilted his head, eyeing the thing that seemed to be Vera Mal. "I mean, I won't pretend to know what you nobility people are into, but I kind of figured having two perfectly good arms was always en vogue."

"I have no patience for pests like you," the mutated woman practically growled at him in a distorted voice, shaking in anger. "You are the girl's father, are you not? Surrender her to me and I may just allow you to—"

She was interrupted by a massive explosion engulfing her, its flash illuminating the stormy hellhole they found themselves in.

Siegfried casually raised his smoking Shamash guns, grinning at the settling smoke.

"My bad," he said simply, as though he hadn't just caused a detonation equivalent to at least half a ton of dynamite. "That was just so uncreative I had to skip to the end. Now, if you'll excuse me—"

A blur of movement at the edge of his vision.

He instantly turned his body around, crossing his guns to block an overhead blade-arm.

"I'll make sure to carve out your heart and put it on display," Vera spat out at him, pushing down with all her might.

Siegfried's arms trembled just a little as he met her gaze with his own growing grin. "Hey, that did sound a bit more creative. See? You can do it when you try."

He didn't give her a chance to reply, swiftly moving one of his guns away from the block and pressing its barrel against the blade-arm itself.

"I think I got a decent retort, though."

When he pulled the trigger, it wasn’t an explosion that left the Divine Key, but a piercing shot that shattered the blade.

Vera lost her balance, falling forward, and he didn't waste a moment.

He pointed both guns at her and unleashed yet another fire blast that occupied his entire vision.

"So, thoughts?" he called out to the smokescreen. "Did that blow you away?"

Oh, that was a good one. He should use it more often—

From behind him, he heard something sailing along the air.

On instinct, he leapt forward, feeling something almost touching the back of his neck as he rolled into a crouch and turned around, holding up Shamash.

In the snowstorm's whiteout, he could see her silhouette and glowing eyes, with the new addition of a very long tail whose tip seemed almost blade-like as it receded, hovering above behind her back.

"Getting a bit too cutting with the criticism, don't you think?" He gave her a wry smile as he rose to his feet, aiming Shamash at the mutated woman. "Man, what happened to noblesse oblige?"

This time, she stood there, waiting for an opening rather than rushing in recklessly.

Or maybe she was just buying time, too.

Underneath, he could feel the tremors from the approaching stampede of Honkai Beasts. The one she was probably ordering around, or at least manipulating somehow.

Yep. Trouble.

He brought up one of his hands, still holding one of the guns, to his earpiece, pressing a button.

"Hey, I got the Mom of the Year here," he broadcasted. "I'll try to keep her busy for a while."

"Don't die too quickly," Cocolia responded.

"W-What— Seriously—" he heard Kiana sputter, sounding outright scandalized. "Don't die at all, more like!"

Siegfried chuckled. "Yeah, sounds like a plan. I'll give that a try."

At least one of them cared about his continued survival.

He lowered his arm, aiming the second gun at Vera again.

She was still there, observing his movements.

Decided to play it smart, did she?

Well, if he was going to keep his word and clear up the horde, he would have to direct plenty of attacks towards them instead of focusing solely on Vera. They might have been no harder to kill than flies for him, but just like flies, there were a ton of them in this dump.

Vera also seemed to have some kind of trick up her sleeve, because she wasn't just dodging really fast. There was no way. He definitely got her. Some kind of regeneration, maybe?

Siegfried wasn't entirely sure he could finish her off cleanly, or even hold her back for long, if his little multitasking endeavor was going to be this annoying.

He really missed working with a squad.

Should he just transform into that ugly thing again? No, it seemed like a great way to make the situation worse. Knowing his luck, he might just end up going after his daughter if he lost control and went all "death to Honkai" like a decade ago.

A really big explosion, then? Enough to erase all the Honkai Beasts, probably the forest too, and hopefully Vera as well?

Sounded like a quick way to tire himself out and leave an opening to be stabbed if it didn't catch her. He wasn't quite in the mood to die from overconfidence. Not to mention he wasn't sure he could manage a single attack that wide. 

Well, at least not in a controlled way. He could try to output all his energy at once, but he had never done that even against the Second Herrscher, and depending on the result, he wasn't feeling like accidentally killing everyone on that side of Siberia from the fallout of the equivalent of a thermonuclear explosion. If it came to that, he'd cause less damage calling his old boss and asking him to nuke his current position.

Bastard would probably do it, too.

In short, the situation was very annoying. A ton of solutions he couldn't use.

But, then again…

He never did enjoy things being too easy.

If Vera did slip past while he was playing exterminator, the least he could do was ensure she was tired enough for Cocolia to do the rest, right?

"Hey, turns out you do have some pretty nice moves, after all," he said loud enough to be heard above the snowstorm. "No wonder! I hear you people get plenty of lessons for those gaudy balls of yours. One issue, though."

Siegfried grinned.

"I'm not the kinda guy who just sits back while someone hits the floor."

He lowered his Shamash guns, bringing them together, but not before Vera took advantage of the opening to extend her tail, lashing out towards him.

With practiced ease, Siegfried backflipped away, the tail's bladed tip sailing harmlessly past his chin.

When his feet touched the ground, he swung Shamash's sword form across the ground, leaving a half-moon trail of sublimated snow.

"Let's dance."

He kicked off the ground.

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Siberian Wilderness]

The pickup rattled over the frozen plain, every bump felt by its occupants. The snowstorm swallowed the world beyond the headlights, but faint shrieks, much closer than the sounds of distant explosions that still reached them, were enough to tell they weren't alone quite yet.

Kiana sat in the back, tense, watching Sin. The girl hadn’t spoken since they left. She just stared at her lap, eyes half-hidden by messy strands of hair.

Had her speech — well, tantrum, more like — not quite reached Sin? Kiana felt like she should say something more, but maybe pushing the subject would be bad?

"… Are you cold?" Kiana asked instead.

She felt stupid the moment the words left her mouth.

"Why are you even talking to me?" Sin answered flatly. "If it wasn't for Sirin, I'd have just… delivered you to Matushka..."

Bronya’s hands tightened on the wheel, but she didn’t comment. Sirin, for once, kept quiet too. They probably understood that the situation was bad enough that almost anything they could say would only make things worse.

Well, that probably made them smarter than Kiana, because she leaned towards Sin to reply. "But you haven't tried again since you woke up. That's gotta mean something."

Sin’s lips twitched, but her reply came quick and bitter. "… Maybe it means I'm too weak and pathetic to see it through."

"Or maybe," Kiana shot back just as quickly, "it means you want something different from… this. Even if you don’t know what yet."

Sin looked away, staring at the floor.

"… You’ll regret this," she whispered.

Kiana sighed, leaning back. "Maybe. I've been doing a ton of things I end up regretting these days. But I get the feeling this won't be one of them."

Sin didn't respond.

For several seconds, the car was silent except for the engine and the muffled storm. 

Then Bronya spoke, her voice calm as ever:

"Kiana. Look down."

Kiana blinked. "Huh?"

She followed Bronya’s instructions — and froze.

Resting against her boots were two very familiar shapes.

The sheathed wooden bat she thought she’d lost in the crash, and her pistol.

"…Wait, how—"

"Because I bothered to pick them up along the way," Sirin’s voice cut across her thoughts, smug and sharp. "Unlike you, I don’t throw away my toys the moment things get messy."

Kiana pouted. "I didn’t throw them away! I got dragged out by that thing—"

"Excuses, excuses." Sirin’s mocking chuckle echoed in her head. "Honestly, if you can’t even hold onto a stick and a handgun, how do you expect to be a decent vessel for me?"

"I don't remember wanting that at all," Kiana muttered.

"Bronya thought Sirin liked her better as a vessel," their driver interrupted in an inexpressive voice.

Once again, they fell into silence. This time, even Sin glanced up at Bronya.

Kiana tilted her head. "What was that?"

"It was nothing," Sirin answered far too quickly.

"No, seriously—"

Sirin immediately materialized between Kiana and Sin, leaning down and grabbing Kiana's sheathed bat.

"This is mine now," she suddenly said, bringing it up to her chest. "Because you're a dumb, stupid vessel who can't take care of your things."

"That's— Don't—" Kiana sputtered unintelligibly. "You're trying to distract me! What happened between you and Bronya?!"

With a completely inexpressive face, Sirin looked her dead in the eye.

Then she phased through the seat, disappearing from the car.

Along with the bat.

"H-Hey!" Kiana glared at the spot where Sirin was a moment ago before turning a questioning look at the rearview mirror, meeting Bronya's eyes. "Seriously, what happened?!"

The girl blinked. "Kiana must understand that Bronya does not partake in gossiping."

Kiana let out a long groan, sinking into her seat. "Ugh, fine! Keep your dumb secrets! See if I ever tell you any of mine!"

In the corner of her view, Sin’s lips twitched — not quite a smile, but close enough to make Kiana not so annoyed with the situation as she might've otherwise been.

She wondered if that had been their plan all along—

The truck jolted as something heavy landed square on the roof, the whole frame groaning with the impact.

Kiana’s heart shot into her throat.

"Not again—!" she yelped, fumbling for her pistol. Before anyone could stop her, she fired twice, three times, holes puncturing the ceiling.

"Hey, cut it out!"

Kiana froze.

A face appeared upside-down in the window beside her, framed by whipping strands of braided light gray hair caught in the wind. Natasha’s calm pink eyes looked at her from behind the glass as if Kiana hadn’t just emptied half a clip inches from her head.

"N-Natasha?!" Kiana sputtered. "How are you even—"

"Jumped," came the simple answer.

Kiana's mind stuttered for a moment.

Jumped. As in from the aircraft. 

From the sky.

Probably kicked off a tree, too, considering she didn't go right through the roof at terminal velocity.

"… How?" she asked again, voice cracking with disbelief.

Natasha’s expression didn’t change. "Practice."

Kiana stared, then dropped her head into her hands. "Forget it. Nobody wants to tell me anything today…"

Seemingly satisfied, Natasha shifted slightly, one hand bracing herself against the frame. Then her gaze slid past Kiana.

Straight to Sin.

The younger girl stiffened. For a long, silent heartbeat, the two just stared at each other. Natasha’s eyes remained steady, and Sin’s tired, wavering gaze seemed to falter under the weight of it.

Finally, Sin looked away, fingers curling tight against her lap.

Kiana's eyes darted between the two. Was this another thing that was going to be kept from her?

Natasha sighed before looking at Kiana again. "Don’t worry. I’m just here to deal with the stragglers."

Apparently so, Kiana decided.

"Want to come in?" Bronya asked from the driver’s seat, as if this whole situation was normal.

Natasha shook her head. "I can aim better from up here."

And then she was gone from the window, back atop the roof. Seconds later, the twang of her bowstring sounded, followed by the hiss of an energy arrow streaking into the blizzard. Another, then another.

Inside the car, Kiana leaned against the seat. "I think we’re all insane."

Bronya didn’t argue.

"Pathetic."

Kiana’s head whipped sideways. Sirin was suddenly there, once again perched casually on the seat between her and Sin, legs crossed, chin propped in her hand. She looked at Kiana like a teacher unimpressed with a failing student.

"Firing away because of a little scare?" Sirin smirked, violet hair rippling faintly as if moved by a breeze that wasn’t there. "Truly the paragon of Kaslana bravery."

Kiana flushed red. "S-Shut up, I just had a long day, okay?! And give me back my bat!"

"Hm, I don't feel like it." Sirin stretched languidly before dissolving into a puff of light. "Not that I particularly care, but try not to shoot anyone else who's on your side."

"... Shut up," Kiana repeated with a pout, hugging her pistol to her lap.

So mean.

The truck’s engine droned on. Every so often, the faint twang of Natasha’s bow and the screech of a dying Honkai Beast cut through the storm.

Kiana's eyes kept darting around, the girl waiting for something to go wrong. Any second now.

Instead, the earpiece crackled.

"Kids," Cocolia’s voice came steady. "Looks like you’re in the clear. At this distance, the horde’s thinned out, and Vera hasn’t followed you yet. Keep going east just a little further. I’ll descend to pick you up."

The storm broke with a roar above them. A shadow moved against the swirling white.

Bronya was already slowing down the car. Or Sirin was. Kiana wasn't sure who was in charge of the pedals at this point.

"Almost there," Kiana muttered to herself.

Ahead, a large VTOL descended through the storm, engines bellowing above the gust, snow thrashing under its thrusters. When it touched snow, its underbelly split open, lowering a ramp lowering.

Himeko appeared at the edge of the ramp, greatsword strapped to her back, one hand braced against the VTOL's frame.

"Move it, girls!" she shouted. "We don’t have all day!"

Bronya slammed the brake, the truck sliding before crunching to a halt in the churned snow.

Kiana was already moving. She threw open her door, rounding to the back just as Sin pushed herself upright.

"I can walk," Sin muttered, her feet about to touch the ground.

"Nope." Kiana cut her off without hesitation, scooping her into a princess carry before Sin could even stumble. "Not risking it."

"Hey…!" Sin flushed, twisting against her hold. "I said—!"

"Complain later, survival first," Kiana shut her down, already bolting through the snow.

Bronya grabbed the cannon and hopped out of the driver’s seat with surprising grace for someone lugging around something bigger than her body. She steadied it against her shoulder as she ran after Kiana.

From above, Natasha dropped from the car's roof, landing lightly in the snow beside them. Without comment, she followed along, but not before turning around and loosing a last crackling arrow into the blizzard.

The roar of a dying Honkai Beast kept Kiana from asking what she was aiming at.

Kiana decided, then, that she would ask her father for some kind of thermal visor to hold onto every following winter, because the low visibility was getting ridiculous.

The four of them sprinted across the snowfield. Behind them, Sirin floated along, holding onto Kiana's bat.

The ramp loomed closer, the lights glaring against the storm. Himeko waved them forward, urgency sharpening her voice.

"Come on!" Himeko called out again.

Kiana gritted her teeth, legs burning, heart pounding. She felt like she was reaching her limit, but even so, she hugged Sin tighter and pushed on.

Just a little more and it would be over—

A look of horror crossed Himeko's face.

"Watch out!" Kiana heard Natasha shout.

Before she could realize what was happening, Natasha pushed her aside, throwing both Kiana and Sin to the ground. Bronya turned to look at them, only to freeze, eyes going wide.

Any questions Kiana might've had died in her throat when she looked up and saw a white, bladed tail piercing right through Natasha's torso.

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Siberian Wilderness, East of the Mal Family Estate]

Shamash practically howled with every strike. Each swing of Siegfried’s blade sent out flaming shockwaves that turned snow into steam. The sword burned bright enough to shine its own sun in the snowstorm, vaporizing scores of Honkai Beasts effortlessly.

And yet Vera Mal would not stay down.

Her silhouette kept rushing back through the whiteout. Sometimes she was cleaved apart mid-leap, sometimes erased in an explosion that made a crater where she used to be, sometimes caught point-blank by a downward slash that detonated on impact.

Each time, she appeared again from another direction. Untouched. With that annoying smirk.

"Can't say I'm fond of girls who are this persistent…" Siegfried’s grin, in contrast, was beginning to tighten into a snarl. "You're wasting both our time here, you know."

The next time Vera lunged at him, he caught her blade-arm on the flat of Shamash, twisted, and slammed his boot into her chest.

She went tumbling back, and he followed instantly, driving Shamash straight through her torso and into the ground. The impact erupted like a shell blast, a wave of heat cracking pushing snow away in all directions.

The blade pinned her in place. He forced more power into the wound, expecting the body to collapse.

Instead, Vera smiled. Her glowing eyes bored into his.

"Really?" she asked him calmly. Too calm, almost gentle. "Rather, I'd say I am wasting your time."

And then her form fractured right before his eyes.

Not into gore. Not even into energy and smoke. The body around his sword shattered like glass into brittle shards of crystalline ice.

Siegfried yanked Shamash free, stumbling a step back, his eyes scanning the storm.

She had been just… ice.

Every Vera he had cut apart. Every Vera he had blasted into nothing. Every Vera he had impaled. Not one of them had been her.

He hadn’t been fighting her at all.

Another Vera lunged from the side. He pivoted, slashing in a wide arc. The figure shattered again. More shards.

A Honkai Beast burst from the storm, and Siegfried bisected it without even looking, his eyes fixed forward. He tightened his grip on Shamash, but being angry did nothing.

Not when the real Vera was already long gone.

His free hand rose to his earpiece, pressing it in place. His voice dropped low, urgent.

"Bad news. Vera's not here with me. She was never with me. She's—"

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Siberian Wilderness]

"—going after you!"

Kiana was frozen in place. Her father's words barely registered.

Natasha’s body jerked as the bladed tail pierced clean through her torso. Her braid whipped with the force, her eyes widening only slightly before narrowing again in pain.

For a heartbeat, the world seemed to freeze.

Then Natasha looked at where the tail was coming from. Kiana followed her gaze.

Standing there, calmly walking past their car, was a monster that definitely wasn't human, but was still unmistakably Vera Mal.

On her chest was a beating shape glowing blue. What used to be her heart? Some kind of core?

Maybe a weakness, but…

Kiana could hardly formulate a plan at the moment. Not with what was happening in front of her.

"Oh…" Natasha coughed blood. "You… persistent bi—"

Then Vera wrenched her tail sideways, and Natasha let out a startled, pained cry as she was lifted and flung into the blizzard.

"Natasha!" Kiana screamed as the older girl's body disappeared into the snowstorm, swallowed by the whiteout.

No human could possibly survive that.

Even so, Kiana scrambled to her feet, trying to run after her, only for Bronya to block her path.

"Grab Sin," she ordered. "Run."

Kiana hesitated for a moment.

The words were sharp and steady, like Bronya knew exactly what sort of situation this was, and how unlikely they were to get out of this unscathed.

And then the tail lashed again.

Kiana's eyes flickered towards Vera at the sudden movement, but she wasn’t prepared well enough. She could do nothing but watch as the tail sailed towards them like a whip.

Then, before her eyes, it phased harmlessly through her body.

The same couldn't be said about Bronya

Even as she attempted to raise her cannon to block, the impact still caught her across the torso like a whip and batted her away with her weapon.

Kiana felt her blood go cold as their mental link went silent.

"Bronya!"

"Get a hold of yourself, you fool!" Sirin’s voice snapped through her mind before panic could set in. "I caught most of the impact, but she’s out cold… Chyort, wasn’t fast enough to phase her as well. Whatever, forget her for now."

Kiana's eyes fell to Sin on the ground, frozen in terror as she stared at the creature.

Right, her priority was to protect Sin.

Vera was after Kiana, but she was also very likely to do something bad to Sin if she got her hands on her. Bronya, just like before, should barely register in the mutated woman's mind with her prey right in front of her.

There really was only one thing to do.

Kiana lunged forward, hauling Sin into her arms before the girl could even protest. Sin’s hands clutched at her shirt, trembling.

When she turned to the VTOL, she saw Himeko already running towards them, greatsword drawn.

Himeko was a Valkyrie, so Kiana could probably let her buy time for a short while then come back to help once Sin was safe with Cocolia—

"How disappointing," Vera's mutated voice called out over the snowstorm.

Kiana felt a chill descend her spine.

"Down!" Sirin’s voice snapped. Her body materialized beside Kiana, shoving her and Sin flat into the snow.

A sudden gust roared over them as their car blurred past, slamming straight into Himeko’s path before she could even attempt to slash it.

Her greatsword escaped her grasp, flying away.

All Kiana could do was watch, heart hammering against her chest, as the truck skidded and rolled, kicking up snow until it finally toppled to a halt several meters away. 

Poking out from underneath the wreckage was Himeko's arm.

That… wasn't enough to kill a Valkyrie, right?

Kiana's eyes flicked to the Anti-Honkai greatsword lying near the wreck—

As though reading her mind, Vera's tail extended towards it, wrapping around its blade and raising it from the ground. Then, right before Kiana's eyes, the mutated woman's tail squeezed until the blade shattered, letting the pieces fall uselessly onto the snow.

That was one less plan available.

Kiana's hand snapped up to her earpiece. "Miss Cocolia!"

"Already on it," came her quick response.

The VTOL lifted in a matter of seconds, ramp still lowered, turning to face them and Vera as Cocolia gave up on the idea that they'd be able to get there by foot. Kiana was already trying to figure out the best way to jump onto the ramp on air when, from underneath the VTOL's wings, its missile racks opened for launch, and the projectiles roared free, trailing through the blizzard.

Kiana instinctively followed their trail, watching as they streaked toward Vera. Maybe this would finally—

That was when Kiana realized Vera was still smiling.

The woman brought up her human-shaped hand and…

*Snap*

The snow around her warped, and in an instant a dozen silhouettes materialized. Icy copies, all exactly like her, save for the distinct lack of a glowing blue core in their chests. 

They moved immediately, leaping into the missiles’ path. A series of explosions tore through the storm, destroying the clones without fail.

But not a single missile made it to the woman.

And then, as more clones rose from the snow as Vera continued to smirk at them.

"Surprised?" She began walking towards them, her eyes flickering to the terrified Sin. "As it turns out, the only person I can rely on is truly… myself."

Casually, as though she were simply ordering a maid to clean a dirty spot, she gestured to the VTOL.

The copies didn't hesitate. Their tails shot forward, past Kiana and Sin, piercing the VTOL's wings and thrusters.

The aircraft lurched and fell, slamming into the snowfield with a deafening crash.

On the ramp, Cocolia staggered into view, revolver clutched in one hand as she aimed at Vera. Hitting her core would be a very unlikely shot.

Cocolia couldn't even attempt it.

The real Vera's tail lashed before Kiana could even shout a warning, piercing clean through Cocolia’s arm.

Her gun clattered onto the ramp as she gasped at the sudden pain. Then Vera yanked her tail back out, pulling Cocolia forward, throwing her body onto the white-covered ground as her wound began painting the snow red.

"Stay there and try not to bleed out too quickly," Vera called out with an infuriating smile, tone as sweet as it was venomous. "You still have plenty to answer for once I'm done with these children. After all… I don't take kindly to being humiliated by the likes of you."

… Dammit.

Kiana's hands balled up into fists, crushing snow as though it'd change anything.

This wasn’t working. Everything was falling apart.

She turned to glare at Vera as the woman closed in.

"Did you truly think this would end differently?" Vera asked her, almost conversational as she allowed her copies to fall apart and dissolve, leaving only herself. "My daughter must have infected all of you with her fairy tale nonsense if you expected otherwise."

Her steps drew closer with every word.

Kiana cursed under her breath as she turned around, still lying on snow as she glanced at the petrified Sin.

This couldn't be it. Not so soon. But what was left to try? 

"This is the end of this farce," Vera said simply, tail readying itself behind her.

That was when Sirin appeared behind her, holding onto Kiana’s bat, the wood glowing faintly with Honkai lines.

"Don’t you dare look down on me, insect!" Sirin roared even though Vera couldn't possibly hear, swinging the bat with all her might—

Vera didn’t even look at her. As if sensing that there was something there, she simply allowed her tail to pierce Sirin's form.

Sirin suddenly flickered, her bat escaping her hands and flying away somewhere past Kiana. 

"Wha—?!" the Herrscher spoke in Kiana's mind. "That vermin ate my projection! That energy was mine!"

Sirin materialized once more by Kiana's side—

Vera's tail blew past Kiana at an angle, scratching her cheek and piercing right through Sirin's form again. Sirin disappeared once more.

"This cheater…!" Sirin cursed, though her voice sounded uncharacteristically panicked. "I need more energy! Vessel, do that thing again! That trick you pulled off after we fought!"

Kiana felt like her entire body was frozen, stopped in time, save for the sensation of blood trickling down her cheek.

"Vessel!"

Sirin's voice went ignored.

This couldn't possibly be a dead end, right?

But all it took was a single moment for everything to go wrong. How could someone like her hope to fix this? 

Kiana turned to Sin. The younger girl was frozen stiff, her body trembling, wide eyes locked on Vera. Her lips moved faintly, but no sound came out.

Still paralyzed. Just like Kiana herself.

"You know," Vera began as she approached, her distorted voice clear even through the storm, "Jackal has her eye on you. She wanted me to capture you for her. And I was willing to do so. But now… I see why exactly she wanted you. There is something inside you. A spark. One I want for myself."

Her smirk widened, cold and sharp, as she stopped mere meters away.

"Surrender it and I may consider keeping you alive," she offered. "After all, I will soon be in need of a new daughter."

… Disgusting.

That was the first thought that crossed Kiana's mind. 

Her whole body shook in utter revulsion, but even so, her legs continued to defy her. She wanted to shout back, but her throat was dry, and all she could hear was the pathetic rattle of her own breath.

Back there, her father said she was strong.

He had clearly been wrong.

"M-Matushka!" Sin's voice interrupted.

Kiana's eyes snapped to the younger girl, disbelief flooding her as Sin found the strength to rise to her feet before she herself could.

"Don’t! She hasn’t—"

The tail snapped forward before she could finish, wrapping tight around Sin’s throat.

Sin gagged, clawing at the ice-hard appendage.

"You forget yourself," Vera hissed down at her daughter, glowing eyes filled with disdain. "Do not speak when I have not granted you permission."

"...!"

Kiana’s heart lurched.

She couldn’t let this happen. She wouldn’t.

Finally, finally, she managed to scramble to her feet. Her trembling hands snatched her pistol from her holster, aiming square at Vera’s glowing chest.

"I won’t let you—!"

A white blur.

Agony filled Kiana's senses. Her gun slipped from her hands, falling uselessly onto the snow.

She saw the way Sin's eyes widened, filled with all-encompassing horror and despair.

"K… Ki…" she tried to call out, voice cracking as though she was about to break down.

"KIANA!"

"… Huh?"

Had that been… Sirin?

How strange. It didn't sound like her. Sirin didn't usually sound that desperate.

Kiana's eyes moved down, and that was when she realized why.

The end of Vera's tail, past the length strangling Sin, had speared straight through her chest where her heart was.

For a moment, Kiana hoped uselessly that Sirin had done the same phasing trick, but the red gushing out, dripping onto the snow below, dashed any remaining hopes away.

Oh, she should've dodged it. Maybe even with that time trick.

How amateurish of her to lose her focus like this, just because her enemy was a little bit scarier than common Honkai Beasts. She'd be reprimanded by her father if he were there.

Kiana choked, her whole body seizing.

Not that she'd get the chance to be reprimanded by anyone now.

She… was dead, wasn't she?

Vera glared at her with cold, dispassionate eyes.

"If you wish to be as rude as to interrupt me, consider my earlier offer rescinded," she hissed. "I shall carve out that spark of yours for myself soon, but until then… do expire quietly, would you?"

Vera flicked her tail casually, and then Kiana was flung away like trash, leaving a trail of blood along her arc.

She hit the snow hard, pain spreading through what remained of her ribs as the impact stole what little breath she had left.

She heard a despairing wail, only for it to be cut off forcefully.

"Look, Sin," Vera's words sounded over the snowstorm. "Do you see what you caused? You've done all of this yourself. This is entirely your fault. Do you understand?"

A choked cry was all that sounded in response.

Kiana tried to move. Her arms trembled against the snow, fingers clawing weakly as if she could push herself upright. Her legs twitched, but there was no strength left in them.

She could only watch as the white around her was stained by her own blood.

"Idiot!" Sirin’s voice echoed distantly in her mind, muffled, like she was screaming through a wall. "This is where you're supposed to cheat! So stop stalling and do it already!"

Kiana coughed, blood flecking her lips. Her chest burned.

She tried again to rise, but her body betrayed her, collapsing half a breath later.

"I'll… I'll wipe out humanity if you don't, do you hear me?!" the Herrscher continued, her words sounding more hurried by the second. "Even if this vessel is destroyed, I'll just look for another and… and do like I told you! I'll turn this world into a desolate wasteland covered in rivers of blood! That's what I'll do if you don't get up right now!"

Kiana's senses were faltering. Everything, even the roar of the storm, began fading into muffled echoes, like she was sinking under water.

"What do you think you're doing?! I gave you an order!" Sirin yelled. "You wanted to prove to me that heroes are real, didn't you?! What kind of pathetic display is this?! Are you really satisfied with going down this easily?"

Her fingers closed around nothing. She wanted her bat. Her gun. Anything.

But there was nothing but snow and her own blood around her.

"You're… a liar. Just like everyone else."

Her eyes fluttered, fighting to stay open. Shapes distorted into indistinct shadows.

And, finally…

"… I don't care if it's God or even the Devil who answers. If you can hear me, then…!"

Pure darkness covered the entire world.

In the end, the prayers of the phantom of a monster reached neither a god nor devil.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

But someone did listen, despite that.

"Ideals alone are not enough without strength. To push forward regardless… It couldn't have ended any other way."

…

…

…

"It was foolish, but… if all it takes is one more small push for you to reach towards deliverance…"

…

…

…

"Then, perhaps, that is my responsibility as well."

…

…

…

"Both as a Flame-Chaser... and as the first to bear the name of Kaslana."

…

…

…

Without warning, the darkness was washed in white.

Chapter Text

[Unknown Location, March 2010]

The sound of a tapping foot echoed around the room.

A large wall-mounted monitor displayed a group of heat signatures in real time through a satellite's camera.

Then, a huff.

"Poet," the woman wearing a jackal mask called out impatiently, crossing her arms. "Didn't you say the long-range unit would make contact in ten minutes?"

The Gray Serpent next to her kept his hands behind his back.

"Indeed," he replied in a masculine, emotionless voice.

"It's been fifteen minutes," Jackal nearly growled.

"That much time has passed, yes," was Poet's simple reply.

He didn't continue.

More silence followed. The tapping noise stopped.

"... Well?" Jackal asked.

Poet didn't react immediately. As if only belatedly realizing he was being spoken to, he slowly turned his head towards her. "What is it?"

"Where are they?!"

Jackal stomped her foot as she turned to face him, pointing at the screen.

"That fool was meant to turn into a mindless beast and cause a distraction so we could secure K-423!" the woman shouted at the android. "Except her energy readings are that of a Templar-class now!" She gestured wildly. "K-423 can barely even use her powers as of now, and she's up against a Templar-class! I have no use for a dead Herrscher! And you mean to tell me our forces are late?!"

The Gray Serpent regarded her for a moment.

"All things considered," he began, "I did recommend analyzing a sample of Lady Mal's blood beforehand—"

"Poet!"

"There is little I can do about the delay," he told her. "As you saw, they moved away from the original area of operations rather swiftly. Frankly, there is a non-zero possibility that the unit will not even be able to secure the girl at all, considering the... precarious nature of this developing situation."

Jackal groaned, bringing up both hands to hold her head.

"First that girl decides to turn her back on World Serpent like she doesn't owe everything to us," she muttered under her breath, "and now I'm reduced to hoping that a group of inexperienced children and two unprepared adults can somehow defeat a sapient Templar-class Honkai Beast with no assistance? Is it too much to ask for an important operation to go well?!"

Jackal sighed, shaking her head.

"Ugh… Whatever. There's still a chance. The others are of no consequence. Not Raven, not Cocolia, not even that underwhelming subject. As long as K-423 is alive by the time our forces arrive—"

"Oh." Poet's head turned slightly to the monitor. "I do believe K-423 has just died."

Jackal whipped around.

"She what?!"

Ø

[???]

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

Was this… death?

It was dark. She couldn't feel anything. No cold, no pain, not even her own body.

Was this… failure?

She wasn't strong enough in the end. Everything she did amounted to nothing.

Was this… the end?

"..."

No.

She refused.

The girl felt a spark of something ignite inside her.

Despair? Regret? Anger? Hatred? All of them?

"...!"

Visions of a life that wasn't hers crossed her mind.

Dirty cells filled with children. Torn and broken toys abandoned. Dead bodies piled up.

Bastards spitting lie after lie, taking life after life for their own gain. Satisfied smiles on their faces as if they thought themselves heroes for murdering the weak and innocent.

Monsters.

"!!!"

The visions shifted.

Underneath the mansion, where they also found such cells.

Once, they were certainly filled with children. Many who probably didn't find themselves in this world anymore.

"!!!!!!"

It kept happening.

Demons disguised as humans, wrapping their claws around the vulnerable, tearing them apart little by little with joyful grins, listening to their cries with unrestrained laughter, drinking in their dying screams with uncontrolled glee.

Vera Mal was one of those things, harming so many for her own pleasure.

"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

And that was why it couldn't end here.

It wouldn't.

She refused. She refused, she refused, she refused, she refused.

Kiana refused to just drop dead while that vermin in human skin was still alive.

"... Is that all you wish for?" a man's voice asked.

Something shifted between instants.

As though a switch had been flipped, the darkness became a pure white, stretching eternally.

And then Kiana had a body.

The sudden shift had her down on her knees in an instant. As much as she tried to get up, she couldn’t, like some kind of pressure was pushing her down.

Her eyes couldn’t focus. There was no ground, no sky, no horizon. She was lying down in some kind of void. The pain was gone, as well.

With a groan, she rose to her knees.

What was this place…?

"Is revenge all you want?"

A figure stood in front of her. A man, tall, broad-shouldered, with short white hair falling against the high collar of a long, dark coat.

He faced away from her, unmoving, like a statue.

Something about him prickled at her chest. His presence, flowing across the white space like it was part of it, wasn’t hostile. But it was heavy, like standing beneath the weight of a mountain. That, and incredibly familiar.

"This feeling…" she began hesitantly. "You’re the one from before, aren’t you? The one who healed me when Sirin and I—"

"What do you seek?" the man interrupted her. Calm. Cold. 

The question stopped her. "W-What?"

He didn’t turn. He crossed his arms, his back still to her. "Your desire. What is it? Salvation? Destruction?"

Kiana stared at him for a long time before, finally, narrowing her eyes. "I don’t… I don’t have time for this right now. Vera's still out there, and I need to—"

"To kill her?" the man interrupted her. "Is that your only goal? Was there not someone you needed to save?"

Kiana swallowed. Her hands, supporting her on the nonexistent floor, balled into fists.

"How do you expect to save anyone with wrath alone?" he told her, voice impassive despite his judging words. "If the only thing that matters to you is attaining revenge, then what makes you better than a monster?"

"Don't… just put whatever words you want in my mouth!" Kiana shouted, glaring at him. "Do you think I just forgot about Sin?! Is that what you think of me?! You don't have any idea how I feel!"

At last, he shifted, slightly, as if considering her words.

"Then, how do you feel?" he asked.

It felt like a challenge.

Kiana grit her teeth.

"I… do want to kill that woman! I do want revenge! But do you know why?! Because she's poison!" she shouted at the man. "People like her are like this! They hurt and break others for their own gain! At least the Honkai does it mindlessly, but those people dedicate their lives to do it! I don't want to kill her more than I want to save Sin, I want to kill her because that's how I'll save Sin!"

The man glanced back at her, his blue eyes searching for something, as if trying to read her soul.

"Your only enemy should be the Honkai," he said simply. "You already sympathized with a Herrscher. You should not feel this way, either. What makes you think your behavior is acceptable for a Kaslana?"

Kiana met his gaze without hesitation.

"'Thou shalt constitute thyself as a shield for the weak and innocent,'" she recited, her tone growing more agitated with each word. "That's the Kaslana oath I was taught! I don't care who you are or what you think a good Kaslana should be like! I don't even think I'm a good Kaslana myself! But if I didn't feel this way about someone who harms others and likes it, then I wouldn't be a Kaslana at all!"

Silence.

For several seconds, Kiana waited for a response. The man closed his eyes, as if deep in thought, turning away from her.

"And you believe you can wield such wrath righteously?" he finally spoke up again. "That you won't lose your way and become a monster worse than the Second Herrscher?"

Kiana huffed.

"There's no way I would," she declared with utmost confidence. "Besides, my Papa would stop me if I did that, wouldn't he? Or maybe you would," she told him. "If you can just get into my head like this, then you can do worse, can't you?"

The man sighed at that.

"You'd push on even if the life you seek can destroy you?" he continued. "If that is the kind of person you wish to be, the future that awaits you will not be kind. Your beliefs will be tested at every turn. Your dreams might be shattered mercilessly. You may wish for death and yet be forced to keep moving forward. To die here and now would be a mercy in comparison."

"That's not a mercy," Kiana practically spat out, "that's running away. And I'm not done yet. I don't care how much it hurts, I won't run away from what I have to do!" she declared, practically glaring at the man. "So you can either help me again or let me die for good, because I'm not giving up on this!"

"..."

Once again, silence fell between them.

And then…

"… I see. So be it."

His voice carried the faintest trace of something Kiana couldn't identify.

Then, a flaming greatsword appeared in his hand. The weapon blazed with its own light, fire licking along the blade, heat shimmering in the colorless void. 

"Whether your path leads to deliverance or ruin, in the name of Kaslana… I shall be the one to judge your choices and deeds."

The man drove it down into the ground before her. The impact sent a wave of heat across the void.

Kiana looked at the sword. The heat bit at her skin, even here.

"Kiana Kaslana," he uttered her name like a declaration. "You chose this path, so follow it to the end at all costs."

As though satisfied, he let the greatsword go—

Ø

[Eastern Siberia, March 2010]

[Siberian Wilderness]

—and when Kiana blinked, the void was gone.

She was kneeling on the snow, surrounded by the scarlet hue of her own blood.

Kiana gasped, looking down at herself. Blood clung to her chest, but… there was no wound.

"...!"

And then a terrible, searing pain rushed through her body, almost making her scream.

Energy swelled up from somewhere past a veil she couldn't see. Glowing lines spread around her body as it was filled with far more power than it could possibly withstand.

It was like every limb of hers was on the verge of falling apart, as if every bone, every muscle, was being torn apart only to reform afterwards, again and again.

Amidst the agony, the man's voice sounded once more in her mind.

"Is this too much for you?"

"Ha…!"

Despite the horrible pain, Kiana found herself grinning.

As if.

If it meant she'd be able to put an end to this, she'd even endure ten times more.

"... Finally awake, are you?"

Kiana forced herself to raise her head.

Before her, buried in the snow in the same way as in the void, was a greatsword. Not blazing, not divine, nothing like the one the man showed her, but a broken weapon instead, only a section barely Kiana's height still attached to the hilt.

Himeko’s greatsword.

And standing beside it, holding onto the hilt, was Sirin.

Her expression, for once, was absent of mockery. Instead, her eyes lingered on Kiana, sharp and serious.

"This vessel's reserves remain pathetic, to reach its limit with so little energy," Sirin muttered, though their words lacked their usual bite as she observed Kiana. "Still… I suppose this is the part where you start cheating, isn't it?"

Kiana grit her teeth through the pain. "Yeah… I guess it is."

Sirin’s eyes then flicked to the sword. "Get on with it, then. If you fill it with that energy you have now, even a broken hunk of metal should do plenty of damage to that weakling. Now go solve this mess."

"Right…" Kiana huffed out a weak laugh, her sight falling to the snow beneath them. "Sirin?"

"What?" The Herrscher gave her an annoyed look. "Don't waste any more time—"

"Help me destroy that woman."

Sirin paused.

Kiana looked up at the Herrscher.

"I told you that I'd kill her," she continued. "But I don't want to kill her. I want to eradicate her. Break her apart until there's nothing left. So help me make sure there's nothing left of her to ever touch Sin again," she pleaded again.

Sirin stared at her with wide eyes. She seemed speechless for a moment, as though trying to decipher something in Kiana's gaze.

"... Oh," she eventually uttered calmly. "This feeling again? I see…" 

She closed her eyes, thinking.

When she opened them again, she gave Kiana a wide grin.

"Very well," she answered firmly. "You'd probably mess it up if you did it by yourself. I ought to show you how to tear apart vermin like that, for future reference if nothing else."

And then she dissolved into nothing, her consciousness sinking back into Kiana’s chest.

The hum inside Kiana grew stronger. The Core deep within resonated with the energy flowing through her, taking in as much as it could and cycling it back out to Kiana's body, as though inserting itself into a system it had no place in.

Suddenly, the pain erupted tenfold, and then… 

"... Huh?"

It practically halved, becoming more manageable from one moment to the next.

"W-What a bad joke…" Sirin spoke in her mind, sounding strained. "You can't even… pull out a proper cheat, huh?"

"Sirin…?" Kiana forced out. "Are you—"

"We have a task to focus on, don't we?"

Kiana paused for a moment.

Then she smiled.

"Yeah…"

She rose to her feet, even as her body screamed at her to stop. With every slight movement, her legs trembled, her arms shook. She closed her eyes, trying to withstand the onslaught of pain. The storm howled, but she couldn't even feel its cold anymore.

It was like she was being broken apart and put together in a matter of moments, again and again and again.

It was overwhelming. It was agony.

And it was exactly what they needed.

She reached out to the greatsword in front of her, channeling energy into it. It glowed red like flames, energy bleeding from its broken edge as it attempted to function as it once did when it was whole, lines snaking up its form as it was reinforced with newfound energy.

Kiana opened her eyes.

Her left eye burned bright blue. Her right glowed fierce yellow.

She could see nothing through the whiteout, but somehow, she could sense exactly what was happening. With her mind's eye, she saw the monster ahead, her blade-tail wrapped around Sin's neck.

Ver Mal.

Her prey.

The girl exhaled slowly, centering herself.

Her grip tightened as she positioned the greatsword behind herself. Her body tensed.

And then she launched forward in a burst of speed, snow exploding in her wake.

Ø

Sin’s throat burned. The tail around her neck cut deeper every second, squeezing until the world started darkening.

"You could’ve had everything you wanted," her mother’s voice reached her ears like venom. "Safety. Family. All you had to do was listen. Obey like a good daughter."

Sin wanted to scream back. To curse her. To claw and bite and do anything but dangle helplessly in front of the person who had just taken one of the few good things Sin found in her life.

But she couldn’t. Her hands slipped off the carapace. Her legs kicked weakly. Her chest convulsed with each breath that failed to come.

It was hopeless.

And then she saw it in the corner of her vision.

A light in the snowstorm. Small at first, then growing, burning so bright the blizzard itself seemed to retreat before it.

For a single moment, Sin thought she was hallucinating.

But no.

Through the veil of snow, a figure burst forward, shooting straight towards Vera. A girl, shining, her outline haloed by the blaze of a glowing, shattered greatsword. Blood still streaked her clothes, but the wound that had ended her was gone.

Kiana.

Sin’s wide eyes blurred, not just from the choking tears but from disbelief so sharp it hurt. 

That couldn't be real. She had seen Kiana die. She had watched her fall. And yet here she was, like something that had stepped out of Sin's fairy tales.

Vera hissed, yanking Sin between herself and the approaching girl.

But Kiana didn’t falter, staying on course. Heat surged through Sin’s chest, but not pain. Kiana phased through her, the greatsword sweeping in an arc that tore through Vera's tail and slammed into her side.

The tail shattered in a spray of icy shards as Vera was launched away with a startled growl. The pressure at Sin’s throat was gone, the remains of the tail fragmented on the spot.

And she fell. 

Until a strong arm caught her, lowering her down with care.

"You alright?" Kiana’s voice came, firm but soft, though there was something… different. "She didn't hurt you too much, right?"

Sin wanted to answer. To tell her that she wasn’t alright, that she was broken and useless and scared. But her voice cracked, and all she could manage was the tiniest nod.

Kiana smiled at her. "Good. Now stay put. I’ll make her regret ever touching a hair on your head."

She crouched and placed Sin gently onto the snow before moving to yank off the remaining length of the shattered tail still around Sin's neck. 

When Kiana was done, she rose to her feet and turned around, standing between Sin and her mother as the mutated woman rose to her feet with rage written all over her face.

But, for once, it wasn't her mother that Sin was focusing on.

Instead, she looked up at Kiana, taking in every detail. The older girl stood tall despite everything, holding onto the shattered greatsword and glaring at the woman who had so easily defeated her mere minutes ago.

If it was Sin, she wouldn't have been able to do that. Cowering and obeying were all she ever knew. But as she looked at Kiana, she couldn't help but wonder…

Was that… what a real hero looked like?

"How dare… a mere child…"

Across the snow, Vera straightened. Her face twisted in fury as her severed tail writhed and grew anew, crystalline flesh knitting itself back into a blade.

But, for the first time, Sin thought she saw something else in her mother’s expression.

Something other than just anger and contempt.

Wariness.

Vera flexed her regrown tail, crystalline segments snapping into place. Her glowing eyes fixed on Kiana, narrowing. "You think a little trick makes you dangerous? In the end, you’re still just one girl."

Kiana glared at the woman, lifting the shattered greatsword onto her shoulder like it weighed nothing. "Wrong. I'm not the only one after your head."

At that, a flicker of confusion crossed Vera's face.

Then she tensed, spinning around—

A massive cannon swung horizontally and crashed against her blade-arm, the impact ringing over the snowstorm. Vera’s feet carved trenches in the snow as she was pushed back, leaving a trail in the snow.

Bronya stood there, one eye glowing gold, Honkai lines crawling bright across her entire body as she hefted the weapon again.

"Idiotka," she called out flatly, staring at Kiana. "You gave away my surprise attack."

Kiana gave her a small smile, though it disappeared fast. "I didn’t. You’re just too slow. Maybe you're the idiotka here? What do you think, Sirin?"

"... I think you both are," the Herrscher muttered. "Now just… shut up and let me focus on this energy unless you two want to explode."

At the reminder, a fresh wave of pain went through Kiana's body, brought about by the coursing energy. She glanced at Bronya, at the way her body was also covered in Honkai lines. For just a moment, the younger girl winced, and then it was gone.

She probably wasn't in a much better state than Kiana herself, in which case…

"We just need to kill her dead quickly, right?" she suggested.

Bronya hummed, already lowering her cannon to take aim.

"You… mongrels…"

The distorted voice brought their attention back to Vera as she straightened up, her glowing eyes filled with raw rage as her patience fractured.

"Disrespecting me like this—" 

Bronya pressed the trigger. 

The blast of energy impacted her immediately, exploding in a burst of light that kicked up a snowy smokescreen.

"Hm… You know, explosions have always been too quick for my tastes. Not enough time to draw out pain and suffering," Sirin uttered through their link. "But efficient, I suppose."

Bronya observed her handiwork, pulling the heat exhaust lever. "Think that was enough?"

Kiana narrowed her eyes. "I hope not. I'm nowhere near done with her."

A roar sounded, and from the smokescreen leapt five clones, anger distorting their faces as they lunged towards the girls.

"Oh," was all Kiana said as she glanced up at them. "Good."

Then she swung the charged greatsword.

A wave of energy burst outwards, tearing through all of them before they could come close—

The snow shifted.

They both leapt back as the real Vera burst from underneath, arm-blade slashing where Kiana had been.

"Actually digging around like a worm now, huh?" Kiana scoffed. "Finally accepting your place in the world?"

The mutated woman growled at them. "Big words for a corpse…!"

She snapped her fingers.

Once again, shapes crawled out of the ground, a dozen icy clones rising, eyes glowing, each moving in perfect sync.

Kiana shifted her grip on the shattered greatsword, wincing at the movement. "An infestation. Joy. Wanna do the extermination while I stab the source?"

Bronya rolled her eyes. "Hmph. Solo? Saving money by hiring fewer men than needed usually gets clients blacklisted."

At the very edge of her awareness, Kiana sensed movement.

She grinned, turning to face Vera and the copies she was creating.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that," Kiana said, sounding a bit too satisfied.

Vera snarled, moving a hand to command her clones—

*Bang*

As a crack tore through the storm, something impacted the back of her head, sending her stumbling forward.

Kiana took it as a cue to shoot forward at inhuman speeds, past the copies. Vera barely had enough time to raise her blade-arm to meet the shattered greatsword with a grimace.

"Hey," Kiana greeted the mutated woman as she pushed against her blade-arm. "You look even uglier from up close, you know that? Tearing off your head will be an improvement."

The woman's response was to give her a death glare.

Another bang sounded, piercing through several nearby clones. The roar of Bronya's cannon followed soon after, clearing a good amount of them from Kiana's right.

"Going this far, defying death, and for what?" Vera asked, trying to push back against the Kaslana's strength. "A worthless little girl you just met?"

A dangerous, sharp smile crossed Kiana's face.

"You think a worm like you has any say on someone's worth? I'll show you worthless…!"

To her left, the leftover copies moved to lunge at Kiana. At the same time as Vera's tail rose to slash at the girl—

*Bang*

—until it was shattered once more by an incoming bullet.

"...?!"

Vera instinctively glanced back.

A distraction. For a moment, her blade slacked.

Kiana took advantage of it. Her muscles burned as she continued to push them, but with a burst of strength, she managed to send the woman back several meters.

She didn't stop moving, turning to her right to slash through the copies lunging at her from that side, shattering them.

That left her back wide open. A stray fake tried to lunge.

Kiana didn't even need to worry.

Because suddenly Bronya was there behind her, swinging her cannon like it weighed nothing and shattering the copy.

"Protection costs extra," she noted.

Kiana didn’t get the chance to retort as they split up, avoiding the real deal's blade-arm coming in between them.

Vera was mad. That much Kiana could tell as she turned around to see the woman chasing after her, slashing wildly.

Good. She wanted her furious.

Kiana leaned back to avoid the blade coming at her face, then stepped aside to steer clear of a downward slash.

Blade out of the way. Wide open.

Her eyes flicked to the blue heart beating in the woman's chest, and she swung her weapon at it, only for it to be parried by Vera's half-regenerated tail. Kiana felt the greatsword bounce back, breaking her stance.

Annoying.

*Bang*

Another bullet impacted Vera's cheek before she could take advantage of Kiana's slip-up, cracking it ever so slightly.

But she seemed to have learned her lesson, because instead of being distracted, she instead regained her footing and dodged low under Bronya's high cannon swing.

Just the right for Kiana to grasp her weapon with both hands and swing it at her face like a bat.

With a shattering sound and a furious cry, the mutated woman was sent flying, rolling around the snow before coming to a stop in a crouch.

Her head was filled with fractures, on the verge of falling apart.

Unfortunately, they were closing up fast.

*Bang*

When another gunshot came again from somewhere to her side, she parried the bullet with her fully regrown tail rather than blocking it head-on, redirecting it into the snow.

"... You're troublesome," she growled. "I'll give you that much."

With her focus back, it was just a matter of moments until more copies were being formed around her.

Very annoying.

Then again…

Kiana's hands tightened around the greatsword.

That would make tearing her apart all the more enjoyable.

Sin couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Her heart hammered painfully in her chest as she watched Kiana standing her ground against her mother. Bronya was beside her, swinging and firing a weapon bigger than her body. And Sin could practically feel Sirin as she empowered the both of them.

They were… fighting back. Against her mother. 

It shouldn’t have been possible. It shouldn’t have even been imaginable. And yet—

A blur of movement snapped her out of her trance.

One of the ice copies had slipped through the chaos, reaching for her with jagged fingers outstretched. Sin’s breath caught. Her body froze up. She couldn’t even scream—

A black energy arrow punched clean through its chest.

The clone froze, fractured, then shattered into icy fragments that scattered across the snow.

Sin blinked, stunned.

Through the swirling whiteout, a familiar figure emerged.

Natasha.

Her uniform was torn open at the torso, the hole right where Vera’s tail had pierced her. But her body had no wounds. No blood. Her pink eyes burned steady and calm as she lowered her bow.

"… My bad," she began. "Rookie mistake. Would get fired for this if I wasn't already quitting."

Sin could only stare.

"Y-You’re… alive…?"

Before Natasha could answer, Kiana’s voice rang out.

"I actually had that covered!" she yelled, cleaving through a clone with her blade. "But thanks, Nat!"

Natasha glanced in her direction. A faint exhale escaped her lips, almost a sigh.

"I don’t recall being on a nickname basis with you, Kaslana!" she shouted back.

Then, as though nothing had happened, she turned her full focus back to Sin.

"This really isn't the best place to sit down," she told her. "Come on."

"H-Huh?" was all Sin could say as Natasha suddenly leaned down and picked her up.

Somewhere deep in her mind, past the sheer disbelief and exhaustion, she wondered why exactly everyone wanted to carry her today.

Then Natasha ran through the snowstorm, away from the battle, towards the grounded VTOL with Sin cradled in her arms like she weighed nothing.

When they approached, the first thing Sin noticed was that Cocolia wasn't lying on the ground anymore.

Well, not exactly.

She was lying down, but on the ramp rather than the snow, aiming down a sniper rifle set up with a bipod on the metal floor. She had a hand on the trigger, though Sin couldn't help but notice the way her other arm, still covered by her coat's sleeve, lay next to her, unmoving.

Cocolia pulled the trigger, wincing as some of the recoil transferred to her wounded arm.

Sin could swear she saw Cocolia mouthing some kind of bad word towards her mother.

"Hey," Natasha called out as they approached. "No more bastards sent this way?"

"None that I couldn't take out," Cocolia replied briskly. "I think she's too distracted to try harder. Put the girl inside. This bunch of scrap metal still works as a shelter."

Natasha didn't waste time replying, carrying Sin past the woman. She lowered Sin carefully, keeping her upright until she sat against a wall inside.

"I'll go get some payback," she said, rising up as she glanced between the other two. "Unless either of you need me for something?"

Cocolia huffed. "Just get going. Save the talk for when we're done."

If Natasha was bothered by her tone, she didn't show it, simply shrugging before walking out into the storm again, breaking into a sprint as soon as her feet touched snow.

With her exit, silence pressed in, only interrupted by the occasional gunshot.

Sin swallowed. "What… should I do now?"