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Nagazora City was in ruins, it had been a few years since that fateful day when they first had that encounter that brought them together. Now she stood here in search of someone at the place where it all began. Eric stood before her on a platform similar to how Sirin did in mid-air as he looked at her and pointed towards Chiba Academy.

...Right, the promised time had come and he said he would aid her in finding Kiana here if she ascended. Saying it would save the girl's life from the overflowing Honkai energy in her body from the incident in Arc City. That once she does, he'll explain the truth of everything. Of Kiana's true connection to him, of his own purpose, and the truth of Honkai.

She made her way to ground zero of Third Impact, the beasts and zombies granting her safe passage as they knelt or saluted her in their own way. There were thousands upon thousands stationed around the destroyed school as a great tree had grown from its foundations and had made the school resemble dangling ornaments in an attempt mockery of a Christmas tree.

You are worthy...

A voice had spoken to her as parts of the bark of the mighty Honkai Tree peeled off and became a mighty staircase while thunder roared and rain drizzled. She began her ascension and Eric was right beside her, dutifully a few steps behind as he was silent throughout the long walk. Once they reached the canopy did he speak.

"In the Previous Era, the souls of the people who died did not go to the afterlife...they were instead reincarnated. Reborn in the new era we live in now so that way they could heed their calling without the flaws of the former humans that were cold and apathetic to each other. You were one of them, a scientist dedicated to creating the means to destroy the Honkai, mankind's true salvation." he spoke softly as he pointed towards something dangling from one of the branches.

"That fruit holds the means for your awakening young princess. Take up your crown, regain your previous life's memories, decide which path to take. Kiana's life will be decided by your choice Raiden Mei." he gestured to her as the girl bit her lip.

Reincarnation, something that wasn't scientifically proven but given how the Honkai manipulate the principals of the world like it was a toy...it was most likely plausable something like that could exist. But Mei was worried, what if she stopped being her and became the her from the Previous Era? Eric wouldn't have brought her here if she wasn't ready. She trained for this day, to repay Kiana for being the light in the darkness. Now she must be the light to save the one she cherished most from the encroaching darkness.

Come Raiden Mei, arise Empress of Thunder...

Mei took the fruit in hand and the warmth it had reminded her of peaceful times of both with her father and with her friends. The trials they've overcome together, with both joy and sorrow that reflected her entire life to this moment. She was ready to bear this burden, she finally found purpose in her blade for that one person. She was her (Kiana's) Empress just as she (Kiana) was her Queen. The Empress' blade was for one purpose, protecting the young Queen from her cruel fate.

She bit into the fruit and her mind was swallowed by a life long forgotten...

Thunder roared and struck her multiple times yet they did not harm. They were part of her just as she was part of them, the two were symbiotic and bound to one existence. Her new clothing and armaments manifested as the Herrscher of Thunder was born anew. The newborn Empress turned to see Eric wounded and exhausted as frost encased his right arm. She gazed at the man responsible for the attack while she meditated between her two lives and felt both joy and sadness at the man with the same hair and eyes of the girl.

"Good to see you...Kevin." Mei spoke as she drew her katana and seize him up.

The way she spoke and the expressions she had drew the man's attention as confusion and surprise appeared on his rather frigid face. "It has been too long, not since the Final Herrscher appeared and ended our era. Not even with the Selene's power could we have hoped to stop her." Mei continued, telling the man things that only MEI knew.

The realization of whom he was talking to made its way to his face, the look of both hope and despair etched into her memory as her blade pointed towards the man that loved her in the past.

But this is now, she had someone she cared for in this life. She was not Dr. MEI, she was Raiden Mei, senpai to Kiana, caring friend to Eric, respected sister to Bronya, diligent student subordinate of Himeko, loyal Valkyrie of Theresa, and now...Guardian of Humanity, the Herrscher of Thunder.

Two lives from the past and present have met once again, the Samsara of the Honkai spins in silence and in one motion, both warriors clashed in fire and thunder.

Eric sat up from his bed in cold sweat, the dream fading from his memory as he looked around his lit room. Bianka was sleeping in a chair next to him, her arm a few inches away from his only hand. He saw a problem and recalled something, call the maid in case of anything.

"R...Ri...ta." he rasped out quietly. As if by magic, the maid appeared out of nowhere with a polite smile.

"You called Sir Eric?" Rita inquired. Eric pointed towards his sister and said one word. "Blanket." She looked at Durandal and nodded her head in understanding. Her Lady was sleeping like that without a blanket to keep warm while she stayed by her brother's side.

It had been a few days since he moved in and Rita was already understanding several of Eric's habits; he has trauma relapses from dark rooms, has speech impairment while done in broken sentences, always concerned for his sister despite his own condition and a love of food. Well, love isn't exactly it, more like desperate for food. From the way he reacted the first night here in a dark room mean't he suffered from human cruelty and his only joy was in food during that dark time long forgotten.

The thought of a younger Eric suffering like that got to Rita, as she felt a burning anger within her rise at the thought of children suffering from that. This young man was the only warmth and light Bianca had sought her entire life and has finally found it; if he died, she would be devastated beyond recovery. Despite her tough exterior and persona she displayed on the outside, the girl was fragile and close to breaking at some points.

She prayed that Eric would continue healing the spiritual wounds her Lady is suffering.

*Dorms*

"Neh, Bella?" Kiana spoke up, getting the ELF's attention as she hovered near, "Can you explain to me how Nick behaves outside of battle?" she asked. Bella blinked at the request before smiling and nodding her head. It was good to hear the Queen wondering how her beloved protector fared in her abscence all these years.

"He's usually quiet, communing with the Great Will or looking for food; but he does try to talk to Eric when he thinks he's alone." Bella replied as Kiana blinked at the new name before looking at her in the eye. "Who's Eric?

"...The human half of Nikolai, his treasured other self he was born from." Bella answered, looking outside at the night sky with a sad smile on her rather cute face. "Eric was a brilliant mind when we were serviced to the Queen, loved her. He even gave her a flower with a compliment once and the Queen blushed!" the ELF laughed quietly in nostalgia as her eyes were slowly getting wet. "When the Queen died, Eric lost the will to live and fell in a deep sleep; Nikolai's been carrying the weight of failure in the loss of two important people in his life while trying to blend in with humanity to survive."

Kiana felt sad at that, sad that the loss of two important people in you life and was forced out to live alone in the big world like that. It reminded Kiana of herself in a small way.

"Now Nikolai is also gone..." Bella looked sad before a small smile dressed her lips. "But I sense Eric is awake again. I hope he still remembers me if we ever meet again by any chance." The hope in her voice and the light in her eyes were pretty and Kiana hugged the small entity gently in her arms and rubbed her hair affectionately.

"I'm sure you'll both get the chance one day." she assured Bella.

*Bianka's House*

Eric was staring at the calendar with some sort of hidden purpose and Bianka wasn't sure what it was. She figured he was trying to recall something important and was about to ask when she received a call from Otto that is required of her alone, entrusting Eric's care to Rita at the moment.

Once Bianka donned her Durandal persona and left the house did Eric speak. "Rita." In the blink of an eye, the maid appeared in her polite demure and a bow.

"How may I help you today Sir Eric?" she inquired of him as he pointed to a specific date with utmost focus.

"Bianka. Birthday."

The air became tense as Rita blinked in realization of the task in front of her was. In a few weeks times, Bianka's birthday-her actual birthday that her brother remembers is coming. "I understand, is there anything you need of me to fulfill this task?" she asked with a serious expression, as if a major task sent by the Archbishop himself was being assigned to her.

"Bianka...likes...liked...piano."

Ah...so besides soccer it is revealed Bianka liked the piano in her youth; that explains much actually. Rita recalled few times when Bianka was younger of how she'd look at pianos or seemed relaxed listening to one on speakers of malls and elevators. Considering how long it has been since she last played one, probably some material for refresher course so she can play it again for her brother. They both seem to like the classics and there was a perfect spot to set up the piano.

Now all she needed to do was find an ideal type of piano to set it up and compliment both the siblings and the house, which will require further research. Rita was going to get excited for this task, for it was a secret mission for the sake of Bianka and Eric and help revitalize the bond between siblings seperated by the Honkai. But first...

"Preferred cake?" she asked.

"...Secret." Eric smiled coyly.

Rita was already starting to like him.