Disclaimer: This will probably be the last emotionally-centered chapter for a while since we'll be getting into some action in the next arc/chapter. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy : )
Otto Apocalypse sat behind his desk as an alert was displayed on his monitor. Smiling, he dismissed it and in turn, the door to his office opened as his guest finally arrived.
A white-haired girl timidly stepped inside as her posture straightened in anticipation.
«You wanted to see me Otto?»
«Yes, please dear, come and sit down.» the Overseer gently greeted the girl as he motioned for her to sit in a chair in front of his desk.
The girl sat down and waited for Otto to say anything. However he simply stared at her with a distant look in his eyes. She decided to speak first instead.
«Soooo, what did you want to talk about?»
Otto focused on her and smiled once more.
«We've figured it out Kiana. How to use the Gem.»
Kiana's eyes widened and her features seemingly brightened with glee.
«R-Really?! That's great! We can finally bring back Mom!»
Otto's eyes narrowed in response and Kiana stopped in her tracks.
«What's wrong?»
Otto sighed and prepared himself to explain the situation to the girl.
«You see, we were right in thinking that extraordinary amounts of Honkai Resistance would be the key to all this, but it seems to also be the cause of the issue.»
«How so?»
«Your bloodline was supposed to be the perfect candidate for controlling the Gem of Soul. All other subjects could not even come close to resisting the amount of Honkai Energy used during the experiments. But…»
Kiana waited for Otto to continue as he stood up from his chair and started pacing around the room.
«We would also need a sustainable amount of Honkai Energy to use the Gem or else it would end up failing. The problem is just how much we would need.»
«You need the clone…» Kiana said silently and Otto nodded.
«Exactly. The second Herrscher would need her Gem to be completed as well and all her missing parts returned before we could even attempt to use her power.»
«Don't you think that's a bit too risky? I mean, it is just a clone my dumbass father took, but a fully powered Herrscher is a bit much, even for me. If she resists there'll be no way for me to stop her, much less you.» Kiana exclaimed and Otto smiled in return.
«On the almost certain chance that she resists, you should leave everything to me. I have set up multiple contingencies specifically for this purpose.»
Kiana seemed to take a moment in consideration before proceeding to shrug.
«Whatever. If you're so sure you can handle it then there's nothing else for me to say. Just make sure that nothing goes wrong and I'll do the same.»
«Indeed. Now, on the matter of the Herrscher…»
«Just tell me what we need, and I'll go get it.»
Otto's face remained stoic as he stared at Kiana with sharp eyes.
«We need two things. One of them is easy enough to obtain. The other not so much. However, you will be staying here. Out of sight and out of trouble. We can't risk exposure at this stage unless it's absolutely necessary.»
Kiana's eyes widened and rage filled her being, but she dared not raise her voice. Instead she spoke softly and with intensity in her glare.
«I thought you said I'd be getting out of here soon…»
Otto, still with a stoic expression, turned to respond as he stood up.
«And I thought I was clear when I said that I would not allow any room for error in our plans. Sending you out into the open could lead to several results that in turn could lead to the operation being delayed or worse, compromised. I can't risk that. Not when we're so close.»
«So what you're saying is I'm supposed to stay locked in here like I've been doing for years. But instead of actually doing something useful like training or working on the experiment, I'd just be waiting and doing nothing!»
«This matter is not up for discussion. Your time will come soon. But now is not it. That's all there is to it. Dismissed.»
Kiana's mouth gaped but after a moment passed she stood up and turned to leave, but not before turning to glare at the Overseer one more time. Otto returned her death stare with his trademark smile and Kiana slammed the door shut on her way out. Otto sighed before pressing something on his monitor.
«Inform the troops that it's time to move in on the Gem of Desire. The Valkyrie Squad is to provide assistance. I expect the traitors will be aiding Anti-Entropy's resistance force.»
The transmission stopped and Otto sat back down on his chair, leaning back as he exhaled a breath he didn't know he was holding.
«Nothing worthwhile comes easy, right Kallen?»
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
«Kiana…we've been walking for hours… where are we even going?»
«We're almost there.»
«That's all you've told me. I mean, you're barely talking anyway…»
Kiana sighed and stopped walking to look back at Fu Hua who was now panting and wiping sweat off her brow.
«Honestly, don't you ever get tired? It's been almost half a day of nothing but this…»
«Not anymore, no. I guess we can take a break.» Kiana sighed but smiled nonetheless and Fu Hua instantly fell on her back, breathing out in relief.
«Thank god. I feel like I'm dying. If anyone told me a couple of months ago that you were in better shape than me, I would have laughed. Now I'm not so sure…»
Kiana sat besides Fu Hua and took off her bagpack, allowing her to lie down on the ground as well. The forest was vast and humid at times, but as Kiana inspected her surroundings, all she could see was it's beauty. The treeline offered plenty of shade but the stray god rays that found their way through illuminated the girls' faces and gave them a sense of peace. At least for now.
«This is nice, right?» Kiana asked, turning to look at Fu Hua who nodded in return.
«Yes. It's a rare thing these days. Being able to just rest and appreciate nature. For what it's worth, I'm glad I ran into you Kiana. If I hadn't then I'd most likely be getting settled in one of the cities right now. This is way better.»
«Well, I've never spent more than a day in the forest on my own before. Without you I'd probably be looking much worse for wear right now.»
«Wow. That's the closest thing I've gotten to a 'thanks' by you in the past week.»
The two girls laughed contently as a small gust of wind briefly rushed past them, cooling them off and scattering leaves all around them. Kiana reached out to grab one as it floated above her face and she stared at it, her thoughts drifting to old and fond memories. Fu Hua turned to look at the young Knight curiously.
«Kiana, can I ask you something?»
«Hm?»
«Why did you feel the need to set out on this quest? The larger problem right now is the Honkai Outbreak. Not the deranged delusions of Otto. Are you absolutely sure we shouldn't go back and help the girls out? Schicksal is targeting them too. If getting to Otto is your goal then chances are we'd run into him eventually…»
Kiana stayed silent as she seemed to consider the idea. A moment passed and she discarded the leaf she still held.
«Fu Hua, do you honestly think Otto would come out of hiding without having literally every possible advantage in his favour? At that moment if we were to face him… we'd lose.»
«But we wouldn't be alone. We'd be fighting with Anti-Entropy and our friends. The principal, Bronya, Mei-
Kiana suddenly flinched at the name and turned to glare at Fu Hua. The previously peaceful aura that illuminated them was darkened and the joyous chrping of the birds echoing through the trees was replaced with silence.
«I would rather die than risk any of them having to face that monster. Same goes for you. This whole journey has all been to avoid that scenario.»
«Then who's to say this won't end like last time?!»
Kiana was taken back by Fu Hua's sudden outburst and she realised exactly what she meant.
«Who's to say you won't fall right into his hands again?»
«…»
«You'll be helpless and alone, experimented on until whatever he's planning works or until you're no longer useful to him.»
«…»
«What would you do if the others were forced to come and save you again?»
«…»
«What if this time, they can't save you? Then what? Everyone's sacrifices will have been for nothing. What would you do-
«I DON'T KNOW GODDAMMIT!»
Fu Hua stood silent in understanding. «I'm sorry…» She said and once again turned to look at the sky.
«I-I don't know what I would do. I don't know…» Kiana softly spoke as tears threatened to spill from her eyes.
«Kiana, you told me that Mei thought you leaving was reckless. She thought you hadn't thought this through. Have you actually stopped and considered the fact that maybe, she was right?»
Kiana remained silent once more. She wiped the tears from her eyes and took a sharp breath.
«Fu Hua, If I allow myself to think about that, then I'm better off just handing myself over to Schicksal right now.»
«I don't understand.»
«That man is looking to control Celine. Some way he's probably found out how to do it too. Anything that can control a being like that is way too dangerous to actually consider wasting time fighting back an Outbreak insted of tracking it down and destroying it. Going back and helping everyone out is simply not an option. Plus, I'd be endangering everyone simply by being near them.»
«You've already told me this. What I don't get is you throwing yourself in front of Otto like that. What would that even do?»
«But I'm not.»
Fu Hua's expression changed to reflect the confusion in her mind. She can't have heard that right…
«What do you mean?»
«If I wanted to simply attack Otto, I would have headed straight to HQ. It's not like it's location is a secret to anyone.» Kiana answered and that only seemed to confuse Fu Hua more.
«Then where are we going? You still haven't told me.»
Kiana sighed as she stood up from the ground, offering her hand for Fu Hua to get up as well.
«Follow me.»
Fu Hua took her hand and stood up, watching Kiana put on her bagpack and heading off into the woods again. She sighed.
«I'd hardly call that a sufficient break…»
30 Minutes Later
As the girls walked through the seemingly endless forest, Kiana was filled with anticipation.
«You sure this place still has what you're looking for, girl? It's been 500 years after all…»
«No idea, Celine. But, it's our best bet.»
After a couple of miles and some complaints from Fu Hua, the horizon was at last barely visible from behind the treeline.
«We're here Fu Hua!» Kiana excitedly exclaimed and the now exhausted Class Monitor turned to look at her.
«Where's 'here'?»
Kiana grinned as she grabbed the older girl's hand and led her through the thick greenery, finally exiting the deep forest and finding themselves standing atop a tall cliff overlooking an old village.
«This is it. Yae Village!»