Chapter 16: Lessons of a Day

He was walking in the halls of a facility. The cold metal walls hummed with scant neon light from the power running through them as he proceeded along them, behind him the howling air of a closing launch bay. His body felt heavy and exhausted, the dull throbbing of healing wounds still present. Another of these memories… Soleil could only groan to himself at yet again finding his sleep pervaded by memories of the old world. But it did lead him to wonder just what it was he'd learn this time… if anything at all really.

"Soma!" A different name? I heard mine last time… was that just my head filling spaces in or something? As his gaze turned, yet again he was met with someone who's face was garbled. A young man by the looks of it, with long grey hair and in a less combat oriented looking outfit of browns and whites. "You look like one hell of a mess. Was it rough out there today?"

"Sometimes you have to actually praise how damn persistent those beasts are." Soma sighed, stopping to lean back against the wall. "Not like it isn't anything I can't handle. We Flame Chasers have our positions for a reason."

"Yet even after our group was formed you continued to be the odd one out." The young man said, Soma clicking his tongue. "She keeps drilling our ears about how hard you are to handle y'know?"

"She can complain all she wants. I get results, and that's all I need to do. Besides, her idea of complaining is probably full of her crappy metaphors and that damned smile she always has."

"I really can't tell if you're making a joke or genuinely annoyed."

"A bit of both."

Who are they talking about? Soleil wondered. The Flame Chasers? That seems familiar for some reason… but I can't pin it down. As he tried to ruminate on it, the memory suddenly glitched out, and when it finally settled, Soma and the other young man were in a debriefing room. Across from Soma was another man in black attire and white hair, but still his face was garbled.

"It feels like every day things continue to worsen." The new man said, his voice bearing a weight to it. "Is that really what you saw, Soma?"

"Things have been getting worse since the 3rd Impact years ago. They certainly aren't going to be getting better." Soma gave a bitter chuckle as he leaned on his knees. "Even that one seems to understand we're too far into this war to salvage it ourselves."

"That one?" The white-haired man asked. "The entity you told us about? The one that helped you in Nagazora and gave you those powers?"

"Glad you actually remembered that and didn't just write me off as crazy." Soma bitterly chuckled again.

"Have a bit more faith in us, will you?" The gray-haired man said. "The three of us have been friends for ages. We wouldn't write you off as crazy, especially not when the proof of that claim is so evident. It's a shame not even *** can properly study those abilities."

"Not for lack of trying." Soma added. "The problem is everything we've researched was all based on Honkai… this one's new, unknown."

"As long as it helps us against the Honkai." The white-haired man said. "That's all we need. Though some wonder the nature of it since you only seem to get stronger, especially with that Divine Key of yours."

"I think calling it a Divine Key is at best a hold over." Soma pulled out the key, rolling it through his fingers. Soleil felt surprised to notice it was the same habit he had with it. "Yet with each of the Keys we create… somehow this thing is able to mimic their forms and powers… no wonder ****** decided to call me Paradox when it came to our fancy new codenames."

"Let's hope that Paradox will helps us out then."

As the white-haired man chuckled, Soleil felt something akin to being pulled away. Out of his very self until he was standing again amid that wash of formless blue light and atop the shifting plane of cubic structures. But this time, standing before him was Soma, back turned to him.

"As usual this is getting weird." Soleil muttered, looking down at himself and his surroundings. "These old memories are becoming a bit bothersome."

"But learning from them would be useful to you." Soleil flinched when Soma spoke, the exhausted young man turning to face him. "Corrupted as they are from the wear of time, this is a past you especially, Scion of Flame, should learn from."

"Are people just going to keep tagging names onto me? Heiland, Lynchpin, now 'Scion of Flame'? Do I even get a say in any of this crap?"

"It was you who decided this to begin with." Soma strode forward, Soleil slowly drawing a hand to his head as that suddenly made his mind flash. "Don't you remember? Before the 3rd Impact, what you dreamt of that night?"

"I was… fighting somebody. Flames were everywhere. I was losing… I barely stood a chance against him…" Soleil groaned as the images of that dream, that memory, flashed through his mind again. "I couldn't stand it though… what it came down to… I wanted it to change. To fight against fate itself… and rip apart its weave…"

"As our clan says, rewrite the story, and create a world where things can be beautiful again." Soma strode past Soleil, stopping and placing a hand on his shoulder. "You will realize soon enough why this world has changed. But you must carry on. Remember more, learn from my battles, and grow in might. Unleash the power that even I couldn't despite the heights I achieved. If you want to overcome him this time, you must surpass us both."

Soleil looked back as waves of blue light started to wash around him again, giving Soma an annoyed look as he was swept away, Soma vanishing in that wash of azure. "That's a tall order old man."

"Become a Flame, Soleil. Become a Flame that can erase the tragic possibilities awaiting you. Burn as brightly as the sun, so that you can create the brighter future you desire."A final echo of Soma's voice followed him up. And amid the wash of blue, he caught the sad smile on the "memory's" face. "Burn brighter than even us Flame Chasers were able to."

Soleil was starting to get tired of suddenly waking up as soon as these "dreams" of his ended. At least this time he had the time to rise himself rather than suddenly jolting like he had when he met Seele. But he could feel Soma's final words still echoing a bit in his head. Become a Flame… why do my ancestors keep asking me to do things? Soleil groaned as he scratched the back of his head. Even if it's only been twice… still weird.

"Oh my, and here I was thinking I would have to wake you up myself. Perhaps you're not as much of a delinquent as Lady Theresa says you are."

"She needs to cut that out." As Soleil groaned, he now realized whoever spoke was not familiar to him. The tone had been a young woman's, and the curtains flying open blinded him for a second before he could get a good view. Once his eyes cleared, he was faced with if all things, a maid.

The young woman had honey blonde hair, kept short but with the bangs hiding her left eye, the visible right one being a reddish pink shade. Soleil also certainly wouldn't call her maid attire typical. It certainly fit the image but also had intricate details on the gloves, rose decorations across it, and a horned headband to match.

"Wat." Was all Soleil could get out as he tried to process just what was going on. "Why… who are you?! What the hell is with the maid outfit?!" And finally doing so, he reeled back in surprise, the maid softly giggling at him.

"I do apologize for startling you so early. Though it seems your reaction was also quite delayed." The maid said, throwing open the curtains to let the sunlight in. "Did your dream really occupy you so much you couldn't tell I was new?"

"Tell me who you are before you start rambling!" Soleil snapped, defensively pulling his covers up when the maid looked him over.

"Of course, how rude of me." The maid turned, taking a curtsy as she lowered her head. "My name is Rita Rossweisse, a pleasure to meet you, Master Soleil. You father is spoken of quite often as one of Schicksal's greatest Knights, so it is my pleasure to be… lending you help over these next few days."

"On someone's orders no doubt." Soleil grumbled.

"I assure you there is no ill will behind my presence here." Rita said, striding over to the bed with smooth steps. Were he not feeling so wary, Soleil would perhaps feel more inclined to listen to that part of his brain noting how attractive Rita was. But he had years of learning to be cautious going for him. Dad often said it's the pretty faces you need to watch out for. "Also, you may want to awaken Miss Kaslana. She snuck in here some time ago."

"Eh?!" Soleil lifted the covers, his brow cricking when he saw Kiana happily snoozing with her arms wrapped around his waist. "Again with this routine… Miss Rossweisse, mind covering your ears for a second?"

"Of course." Rita giggled as she put her hands to her ears and shut her eyes.

"KIANAAAAAA!" Soleil shouted at the top of his lungs as he shot out of the bed, whipping the covers up, Kiana responding with a wild yell as she shot upright. "I let you off the hook for a few days since you actually did well on the make up tests… but how many times do you gotta keep sneaking in heeere?!"

"So loud!" Kiana whined as she covered her ears. "Are you trying to break my ears by yelling like that, Soleil-senpai?"

"If it was possible, maybe." Soleil bit, poking Kiana on the forehead. "You really like being lectured by Cecilia don't you?"

"C'mon, by this point it's fine isn't it?" Kiana said, Soleil groaning as he rolled his eyes. Then Kiana noticed Rita watching from the said. "EHHH?! What the heck is Durandal's lackey doing here?!"

"Good morning, Miss Kiana, I see you slept quite well." Rita clearly blew off being called a lackey as she bowed her head. "If it helps Sir Soleil, I will escort Miss Kiana out so you can prepare. I do believe your friend, Miss Raiden, is preparing breakfast. I will assist her afterwards."

"… whatever I guess."

As Rita bowed again and left the room, with Kiana clinging to Soleil like a possessive cat the whole time, the young man brought a hand to his face and let out a sigh. I don't wanna know what this is going to be like for the rest of the day…

The day that followed was one Soleil could perhaps mark as a weirder one in his short life. Perhaps not the weirdest, he still wasn't sure what actually qualified for that so far, but definitely up there. Because he wasn't sure how to quantify spending the day being watched by a girl in a maid outfit at never every darn moment of it.

After breakfast it was the classrooms, then physical training, even lunch. By the time the day was beginning to wind down and Soleil had retreated to the library with his newfound trio of guy friends, he was quite clearly not in a decent mood as they went over notes… or in the case of Alex hiding his phone behind a book to watch videos. And still Soleil could just spot Rita keeping an eye on him from the bookcases even as she was going over the volumes on the shelves.

"What the freaking hell is going on with today." Soleil grumbled through his sleeves, his head firmly planted on his arms on the table.

"I mean could be worse." Alex said. "You could be getting spied on by someone who's not hot."

"You do remember who you're taking about right?" Rani quipped, tapping his pen on his current page. "I'm also positive she can hear everything we're saying."

"Looks like yet again I find myself out of the loop on what the hell people are talking about." Soleil groaned, leaning his head up. "Aight, lay it on me. Who the heck is the maid really? Kiana called her Durandal's lackey or something this morning…"

"That would be because Rosseweisse is a member of the Immortal Blades." Takeru said, Soleil tilting his head in deeper confusion. "The strongest Valkyrie Squadron in Schicksal… do you really not know about them?"

"I've been out of the loop on a lot of things involving Schicksal my entire life."

"Fair enough."

"They're led by the strongest S Rank Valkyrie, Durandal." Rani said. "Well, that's just her nickname. Her actual name is Bianka Ataegina. She was trained by the headmistress since she was taken in by Schicksal, alongside her daughter of course… I think she's a bit younger. Well, nobody actually knows how old she is."

"What's the assumed age?" Soleil dared ask.

"Hmm… about the same as Zaychik?" Rani mumbled, Soleil's face faulting as one could almost see a question mark appear over his head. "Again it's just an assumption since nobody really knows. She's likely closer to our age. But anyway. She's gotta be the strongest Valkyrie in our generation, period. She can handle things singlehandedly that not even a team of veteran A Ranks can manage."

"Okay sooo… how does this factor into the maid?" Soleil muttered. "So she's part of a high rank Valkyrie squad… and?"

"Well… Rosseweisse is also S Ranked." Takeru added, Soleil flinching in surprise. "But whenever she's around you almost can't tell… except when she gives you a look. She's got one of those gazes that lets you just know she's already sized you up in every way."

"And not in the fun style." Alex muttered.

"And like Durandal she's also around your age." The boys all flinched when they heard Hisashi, finding the captain chuckling over them. "Only a bit older in fact. So, I'd suggest taking those two as examples and not fall behind as Knights, you hear me?"

"Y-Yes sir." All four nervously answered. Having already been subjected to the attempted murder training the man was known for beforehand, they were no longer keen on riling Hisashi up with any antics if they could avoid it.

"So then why the hell would the Overseer send her here to keep tabs on me huh?" Soleil grumbled, looking back over his shoulder towards Rita, who glanced back with that ever present smile of hers. Soleil shuddered a bit. "I can't be that important."

"Well normally Rosseweisse shows up so the Overseer can know what Theresa and the Headmistress are up to." Hisashi said. That sounds worrisome. Soleil thought. "It's usually no big deal. We have our methods. And besides, I'm sure the Overseer has plenty reason to want to know what it's like with you here and all that, wouldn't you figure?"

"Is that it huh? Fantastic." Soleil groaned and put his head into his arms again. He didn't hear it when the other three boys began shuffling, only the tapping on his arm. "Oh what now?" Soleil near immediately regretted the annoyance in his voice when he looked up and saw Fu Hua looking at him. "Ah… sup Class Rep?"

"I do apologize if I startled you." Fu Hua adjusted her glasses, herself glancing back at Rita. "Though perhaps it wasn't me who's done so."

"I've been trying to ignore her." Soleil admitted. "So, whaddya need?"

"Now that Kaslana's remedials are done, I was hoping to make good on your deal to spar with me." Ah crap I almost forgot about that after all the crap that happened. Soleil definitely knew Fu Hua could tell he was thinking that. Of course then there was the other three giving him wide eyed looks. Hisashi for his part looked intrigued by the idea. "I do hope you actually are free to do so."

"No, no, I am." Soleil shot to his feet. "Just had my mind of some things as of late anyway. So uh… yeah that kind of slipped my mind a bit. But I'm good to go. Just uh… take it easy on me will ya, Miss Number One?"

"Considering what the Captain told me, I'm not sure you need be so modest." Fu Hua chuckled. "Besides, where would either of us get if one was holding back? I'll meet you at the dojo. If anyone wants to watch, they're free to do so."

As Fu Hua turned and left, no sooner had she vanished beyond the bookcases then Soleil was near slammed down onto the table by Alex. Not this again…

"What is it with you and women?!" The other Knight snapped. "You're like a flower for bees! Is there some secret Empyrean blood trait that does it or what?"

"Ah come on, it was just an invitation to spar! That's the furthest thing from weird there is!" Soleil retorted. Then he spotted Rani counting. "What are you tallying up?!"

"How close this is to some kind of anime plot considering your squad make up." Rani said. "Ah, right, Captain, isn't Fu Hua also a member of Squad Five?"

"When she's not being assigned to solo assignments, yeah." Hisashi said. Soleil was quiet for a moment. Then that light bulb pinged in his head again. "Yes, Soleil, she's part of our team. You're gonna have to get used to it."

"It's the curse of us Knights." Takeru mumbled. "There's so few of us there's usually only one to a team."

"Some would say perhaps a blessing." Alex chuckled.

"Can we stop being weird about things?" Soleil muttered. Besides, I'm actually more interesting in the sparring. Something about Fu Hua picks at a weird spot in my head… is this another thing about that other timeline or something? Or is it something else… because it feels like I've seen her before. Somewhere else than here.

"This is a… somewhat larger crowd than I expected."

"I don't mind that much."

Soleil had to question Fu Hua's willingness to let this slide. It wasn't massive, as if the school would suddenly implode on hearing the number one Valkyrie was going to spar with one of the two numbers threes, but it was… more than what Soleil would find alright to watch two people spar. He at least expected Kiana to show up. But when he added in Mei, Bronya, Alex, Rani, Takeru, and then Hisashi, Himeko, and unsurprisingly Rita on top of it… he thought it was just a bit much.

"So, how will you choose to fight?" Fu Hua finished adjusting the padded gloves she had been fitting on. "I know from records the Empyreans are quite skilled in all manner of weaponry. So, will you take up arms, or fight me hand-to-hand?"

"I'll stick hand-to-hand for this." Soleil tapped a fist to his palm, setting his own padded gloves into place. "Hey Captain, you wanna give the signal?'

"Don't mind if I do." Hisashi stood to the center of the side, looking between Soleil and Fu Hua as they shifted into respective stances. Raising his hand high, Hisashi took note as the two were clearly intent on taking it seriously. "Have a good match! Begin!"

No sooner did Hisashi throw his hand down than the first move was made by Soleil. Closing the gap with his first step, the left hook he threw was smoothly deflecting by Fu Hua, his right elbow wheeling around so as not to lose momentum. Fu Hua blocked the follow up with her forearm, sweeping one of Soleil's legs out from under him. A move he quickly followed into using to spin and try to sweep Fu Hua himself, the girl jumping away and over his leg. They both retook their stances again, and the bated breath from the crowd finally let itself go.

"Holy crap that was fast." Alex muttered.

"They were just sizing each other up." Himeko said. "This is when it really starts."

Fu Hua took the first move in the reengagement. Her first blow was a palm strike aimed for Soleil's chest, which he blocked with his arms, taking the blow inward. He held that stance, something akin to boxing, as he retaliated with a series of quick jabs. Fu Hua dodged or parried her way through the strikes, and the slam of Soleil's leg flying up to meet her responding block resounded through the dojo. Fu Hua was quick to grab Soleil's leg and start a swing, clearly looking to get him into a pin. Soleil slammed into the mat, but as Fu Hua pulled his leg around to pin him, he swept his free leg up and caught her into a leg hold, rolling himself free and getting back to his feet.

"Yeah, get her Soleil-senpai!" Kiana cheered. "Show the Rep what you've got!"

"Kiana-chan, not so loud." Mei scolded.

"The Bronya calculates that Soleil-niisama's chances of winning are about fifty percent." Bronya noted. "He will need to be lucky."

"No way it's that low!" Kiana objected.

"The Bronya made this assumption based on Fu Hua's known data." Bronya added. "Do recall that she's the number one Valkyrie in our class… but, Soleil-niisama has his own experience to lean on."

"Which makes sense why they're about even." Takeru noted.

Neither combatant waited for the other to strike this time. If they had still been sizing each other up, that was done as Soleil and Fu Hua went into a full-on flurry of punches and kicks. Striking, blocking, parrying, all without wasting a move as they looked to create an opening in the other's defenses. Damn, no wonder she's at the top of our class. Soleil grit his teeth as he began to feel his arms ache from the force behind Fu Hua's strikes. Is this girl seriously just an A Rank? There's no way…

Parrying a strike, Soleil moved in to try and pass Fu Hua's guard, but for it he got a shoulder shoved into his front as a counter. As he was moving back, trying to move with the blow, the very slight opening that left was enough. Fu Hua moved in as Soleil tried to bring his arms in for a guard, an open palm rushing past his arms and slamming into his gut, sending him skidding across the mat as he lurched. And before he could full recover, the air rushed as Fu Hua closed in, her first stopping just before his face as he shot up.

"Enough!" Hisashi called. Kiana let out a disappointed groan while the rest of the onlookers clapped.

"I'm impressed." Fu Hua said, lowering her arm. "You certainly do deserve you place on the board. Seems your life spent traveling the world has been good for your skills."

"And I can see why you're the best in our year." Soleil replied, scratching the back of his head. "I'm gonna be feeling those punches for a couple days for sure. You're damn strong. You sure you're only an A Rank?"

"Hmhm, quite so yes. Just one of the more relied upon ones is all." Fu Hua extended a hand. "And seeing as from now on once operations begin we'll be working together, I'm glad to know my new teammates have such skilled fighters. If you wish to spar again, I'm free any time. We could learn a few things from each other."

"Heh, fine by me." Soleil took Fu Hua's hand and gave it a firm shake. The two then bowed to each other and Fu Hua turned away. As she was leaving the dojo, Soleil caught her give a look to Rita, who nodded towards the class representative.

"How did she get you?!" Kiana shot up to Soleil, grabbing him as she whined. "You almost had her didn't you? Come on, tell me it was just bad luck!"

"No." Soleil firmly planted a hand on Kiana's head. "Fu Hua beat me fair and square. She was just a bit better than me, and that's all it was."

"It was an excellent match either way." Mei stated, putting her hands on Kiana's shoulders as the girl pouted. "It also seems you really impressed her, didn't you?"

"I guess so." Soleil hummed. I still can't shake that weird feeling I've got about her… just what is it that feels off? Soleil put a hand to his chin, trying to piece it together. But whatever the answer was, he just couldn't get it down.

"It looks like your team's gonna be a good one, Himeko." Hisashi tapped Himeko with his elbow, the red-headed woman chuckling as she flicked her bangs.

"The brats still have a long ways to go, but it's looking up. Oi, Kiana, if you're going to whine then why don't I…" but whatever Himeko was planning to do, it was interrupted by her and Hisashi's phones going off. Both saw it was Theresa phoning them in. "Ah never mind. Seems Hisashi and I are needed elsewhere for now. Later then I suppose."

"Don't just cut it off before even saying what you were planning to do." Kiana grumbled.

"Probably drag you into sparring with her to knock some sense into your head." Soleil tapped Kiana's head with a fist, then letting out a chuckle. "Though I can just do that in her place if you want. Besides, you could do with the practice."

"Hah, try me then!" Kiana snickered, smirking up at Soleil.

"They'll be fine." Hisashi chuckled, he and Himeko taking their leave as the kids were left to do whatever on their own.

The news that Himeko and Hisashi had been called to discuss wasn't sitting well once they arrived at Cecilia's office. Since it had been the epicenter of the recent Impact, the scientists from all across Schicksal had been keeping tabs on the energy readings around the city to see what could arise out of the ruins. And what they'd come in with now wasn't pretty.

"Herrscher level readings… you're kidding me." Hisashi clicked his tongue as Cecilia finished giving the news.

"That shouldn't be right should it?" Himeko asked. "We have the Herrscher here with us right now! Why would another one be appearing?"

"It's likely a Pseudo-Herrscher." Theresa said. "Sunny mentioned they he fought one with Kiana and Mei while they were moving through the city. And who knows what else those four missed during the month they were on their own there?"

"Our scientists believe this Pseudo-Herrscher could have formed because of the absence of the proper one." Cecilia stated. "The residuly Honkai Energy could be trying to coalesce into a new Source in order to create a new Herrscher Core. But, there isn't enough to go around, so even if it could, it would take far too long. However, if left on its own the Pseudo could become a threat all on its own."

"Well then send us in with a cleanup crew to take care of it." Himeko said. "It'll be quick and easy."

"Not a chance." Hisashi said, smacking Himeko on the shoulders. "You're still recovering from overloading the Nexus System, and not to mention Hyperion is still undergoing repairs no thanks to that hole that got blasted through it."

"Leave it to me then." Theresa said. "I can handle it, solo."

"Are you sure Theresa?" Cecilia asked. "You'll be going in blind. All we know is there might be a Pseudo. Whatever it can do is totally unknown if there is one."

"Relax Cecilia, I have Judah with me." Said the not-young woman, walking over to the large cross and patting it affectionately. "I'll be back in a couple of days, max. I can handle a Pseudo no problem."

"Alright. Then you have my permission to head to Nagazora." Cecilia said. "Major, Captain, you're dismissed. Do enjoy your evenings." As the three departed, Theresa toting Judah on her back, Cecilia pulled up a closed letter that had been on her desk but just out of sight. "Ziggy, Sigurd… just what did you find at Babel that would cause you to send me this?"

Opening the letter, as she pulled out the contents, a data chip fell out alongside the letter. Picking it up, she held it between her fingers as she flipped the letter open. Slowly taking its contents in, Cecilia let out a sigh as she set it down. This thing we've known about for years… Otto and his damned experiments with the Cores recovered from during the Second Impact. But the Void Core… the fact we don't know where it is was always troublesome. Until… then. Cecilia let out another sigh, holding the data chip up. Kiana… I can only hope whatever your father found will help you. That it can help us stop whatever it is Otto has planned.

"I hope Soleil being around her will help us out there." Cecilia said aloud. "The powers of an Empyrean… they may just be what we need."

A/N
Ah man it took forever to actually get back to this. Thankfully I have most of this next arc planned out but WHOOBOY what I had to go over took a bit to figure out... blending the comics AND game content will always be a time but HERE WE GO!

EDIT: And I completely forgot to bring it up sooner but Chapters 1-4, 7, and 8 got some editing. Not much, just some changes to things to smooth them out.