Kiana stood crouched beneath a tree, thankful for the shade it provided her while she waited for Theresa.

«To be honest, I probably should have waited inside the ship but that empty piece of junk is giving me the creeps…»

However her thoughts were soon interrupted by the subtle roar of ship engines barely visible on the horizon. It wouldn't be long now. She'd get the answers she wanted.

A couple moments later and the small carrier ship was hovering a couple of feet above the ground, kicking up sand and wind all over the place. Kiana decided to stand up as she awaited her friends' arrival. And sure enough, Theresa Apocalypse soon found herself on the ground, looking for the young Kaslana. As their eyes met, Theresa's features brightened with joy and she rushed at her niece for a bone-crushing hug. Or at least the best one she could muster with that tiny body of hers.

«Thank goodness you're okay! It took a while for us to find you but once we did we pretty much rushed our way over here as fast as we could.» Theresa explained as she finally let go of Kiana to look at her face.

She looked sad.

«You are ok, right?»

«I'm fine. But there's something you don't want to tell me…» Kiana finally exclaimed, looking straight into Theresa's eyes.

«Come. You can rest in the ship until we get to the Academy and then I'll answer all of your questions.» Theresa replied while leading her away as Kiana finally nodded in acceptance. She would wait. And then she'd be together again with her friends. It would all be back to normal.

THREE HOURS LATER

«Kiana wake up. We're here.» Theresa shook Kiana and she let out a yawn, rising as she rubbed at her still sleepy eyes.

They hopped off the ship as the small crew bid them farewell, heading to the on-campus hangar. On their way they were greeted by Einstein, who in turn, dragged away Theresa for a 'private' conversation. That girl couldn't have been more loud even if she tried. Of course, Kiana overheard bits and pieces of that conversation. It had something to do with another Search and Rescue? It seemed as if all of Anti-Entropy was mobilising from St. Freya. Kiana had never seen so many Mechs in one place.

Finally, after Einstein left Theresa alone, Kiana went back to her side as she quietly asked.

«Why is St. Freya housing like, half of Anti-Entropy?»

«We're not. As hard as it is for you to understand this right now, we are indebted to them. And I hope they can keep helping us until this whole mess with Schicksal blows over.» Theresa answered swiftly.

«What happened to HQ anyway?»

«It's gone. Inoperational. Run over by Honkai and also not our problem anymore. The Overseer can handle things there I'm sure. What I'm not sure about is whether or not that's a good or bad thing.»

«Wait what do you mean it's not our problem?! Shouldn't we at least try and-

«No!»

Kiana stood silent in shock at Theresa's sudden outburst. She waited for her to elaborate.

«You, me, the other girls… we're not Schicksal Valkyries anymore…» Theresa finally explained with a somber expression on her face.

«W-What do you mean?»

«We defected. Trying to save you…»

«Me?! How could I be at fault for this? It can't have been that long since we were in that simulation right?»

«That's not it! It's not your fault. Things happened. Things beyond any of our control and it all went to hell before it got any better. But you're here now and that's all that matters!» Theresa exclaimed. She had a no nonsense look in her eye that basically said 'please don't blame yourself'

«So those things in the simulation, with Mom and the 2nd Herrscher… They really weren't real huh?»

«I'm afraid not. I'm sorry Kiana, I… I know it must feel disappointing-

«No, it's fine. Really.»

Theresa looked at Kiana as the tears in the young Valkyrie's eyes threatened to spill, but she held them back with a forced smile.

«I guess it was silly of me to think wishes could come true…»

Theresa's eyes widened for a moment. She could swear she saw Kiana's eyes change for a flicker of a moment. They changed into a shade of gold she had hoped she'd never have to see again, but the moment she blinked, that same golden tint was gone again, replaced with the original sea blue color she was used to seeing in her niece's eyes…

«Hm, maybe I imagined it…» Theresa thought as she redirected her focus to their destination.

«So, you said I needed saving. From what exactly? It must have been something really intense if you were forced to work with Anti-Entropy…» Kiana wondered aloud.

«Yes, I guess we can't simply brush off the rest of the details.» Theresa then motioned for Kiana to take a seat beside her as they sat on a bench. Theresa exhaled a deep sigh before turning to Kiana.

«You were captured by Overseer Otto, so that you could be used as an experiment…»

Kiana's eyes widened. She can't have heard that right, right?

«The Overseer did…»

«Yes. He wanted to infuse your body with enough Honkai Energy in order to wake the Gem of Serenity inside your body. And in turn, the 2nd Herrscher…»

«A Herrscher, like Mei's-

«Exactly, although not quite. You see the 2nd Herrscher is in another class of it's own. With the proper host and all of her scattered pieces collected and made one with her once more, I doubt even a full battalion of S Rank Valkyries could best her. Which begs the question…»

«What?» Kiana turned to Theresa with wonder.

«What in the hell was Otto really after? Surely he didn't want to simply spread chaos to the world and that man does nothing without reason behind it. He must have found a way to control the Herrscher and probably wanted to use her…»

«Use? The 2nd Herrscher? What could he have possibly found that could control a thing like that?!»

«I don't know but, whatever it was, it worked, since you're here. However I doubt whatever it was that Himeko used on you was meant to be used anytime soon. Otto probably had somekind of safety measure that involved whatever Tesla and Himeko found in that lab of his.»

«Auntie Himeko? She did that? Whatever it was that brought me back?» Kiana stood up quickly with joy in her voice and a big smile on her face as Theresa realised where this conversation was headed…Dread filled her eyes and she had trouble voicing her thoughts.

«Yes, Himeko did save you…»

«THAT'S AWESOME! I have to find her and give her a big ol' hug. Maybe I'll even let the Old Hag in on some of my dating tips!» Kiana proudly stated with a grin as Theresa's stomach dropped even further. It took a couple of seconds for Kiana to realise that the silence was getting awkward before she stopped to look at Theresa.

«Auntie? Where is Himeko?»

«I…»

«And you still haven't told me about Mei-senpai or Bronya… D-Did something happen to them?»

«W-Well Bronya is fine. Just resting. Fighting so soon after awakening from her comatose state took a toll on her. Mei is also fine now but… she just recently had a surgery and is in need of rest…» Theresa stated calmly while looking towards the ground.

«And Himeko?»

Kiana watched as Theresa shook her head, hiding her eyes from her. This, this had to be some joke right? Himeko couldn't be… She wouldn't….

«Kiana…»

The girl looked towards her aunt once more now clearly able to see her tear stained eyes. There was no denying it now. Himeko was-

«I'm sorry Kiana.»

«SHUT UP! YOU'RE LYING! You have to be… She can't be dead… and you said that she saved me…Does that mean I…. I killed her?»

Theresa gasped once she understood the meaning behind Kiana's words and she turned to the girl with guilt ridden eyes.

«No Kiana you can't think that way! It wasn't your fault!»

«It wasn't? It WASN'T? You said you all left Schicksal to save me. Me! How many have died in order for me to be here safe and sound while their friends and family suffer in my place? Who else did we lose while she was in control?»

«Well it's…»

«If it's too hard to answer that I'll give you a simpler question.»

Theresa looked at her niece with wonder, no longer bothering to hide the tears that flowed freely.

«Do you think my life was worth it?»

Before she could muster any resolve to answer that question, Theresa watched as Kiana turned and stormed down the hall towards the Medical bay. She exhaled a breath she didn't realise she was holding as she wiped the tears from her face.

«Damn that Kaslana blood of ours…»

MOMENTS LATER

Kiana stormed through the double doors of the Medical Bay as she frantically searched for Mei's room. She had to be there somewhere. She couldn't have been discharged if she was just done with a surgery, however severe it may have been. Kiana hoped it wasn't. After a while of aimless searching, she stood before a clipboard containing patient names and their allocated rooms. She searched the board until she found what she was looking for and sure enough, she did.

Raiden Mei, Room 2-17

Kiana then rushed towards the room without sparing a second glance to anyone as she frantically evaded everyone in her path. Eventually she stood before her destination and without a second thought she opened the door.

Mei was sleeping.

«Good, that's good. She needs rest after all.» Kiana thought to herself as she tried to push back what little disappointment was left in her mind. After all, she loved hearing Mei talk. Her voice was calm and soothed Kiana's soul like nothing else in this world. She loved Mei's eyes too and how expressive they could be. One moment as timid as could be, kind and caring like Mei herself, and the next they could be fierce, as she fought on the battlefield to protect everything she cared about. However in her sleeping state, Kiana could enjoy neither of those things that brought her so much joy.

«Whatever. Mei-senpai is still Mei-senpai and all of her is perfect!» Kiana scoffed at herself as she finally came to terms with what she was about to do. And her smile dropped. She pulled out a piece of paper and a pen from the nearby cabinet and started writing. Moments passed as she contemplated how to properly express her feelings as well as her decision before she realised she was spilling tears on the note. She sighed and pulled out a new piece of paper.

After finally checking it for any errors and spelling issues (Mei was touchy about those) ,she set the note down on the cabinet beside Mei and stood up.

«I wish there was a better way for me to properly explain to you why I'm going through with this and why I must do it alone… But there isn't. I guess I'll have to trust that you can understand. You always did understand me. Better than anyone in the world…» Kiana spoke softly and she could feel more tears threatening to spill.

«God, this hurts. I love you so much it hurts Mei… and I don't know what I'll do without you by my side. It'll probably be a long time until we see each other again. But, I want you to know…»

Kiana let her hand gently roam between Mei's locks of hair as she took another moment to calm herself. Soon enough she backed away and gathered the bagpack she had prepared a few minutes before she arrived at the Medical Bay. She slowly walked towards the door of the room but before she could muster the strength needed to open it and leave, she slowly turned around and spoke softly once more.

«Ich liebe dich…»

And then she left.

As the room was filled with silence once more, the slumbering girl groaned in pain in her sleep as labored breaths of air started to take hold of her. She slowly but surely calmed down as her breathing evened out, but not before she called out for the one that caused her so much hurt.

«Kiana-chan…»