Happy New Year folks! Hopefully things will start picking up this time around with the madness happening here and there. And get the hype up folks, Honkai Impact 3rd is getting a collaboration with Neon Genesis Evangelion in the future! Playable Asuka, new stylish costumes for our girls, and most importantly...Get in the robot Mei!


Otto Apocalypse sighed as he watched the recording and reading the reports.

It was done, the Praetorian of the Void was finally defeated and was in crital condition. Durandal had him captured alive and he was restrained and injected with Anti-Honkai Serums by the shift. A vat containing the man's Honkai arm floated within lifelessly as scans indicated that there was indeed a brain within it.

Whatever happened in the void-space, it caused the arm to fall off and cause a massive eruption of Honkai energy. Fortunately Anti-Entropy's ace weapon was still functionable and they were able to fire a blast that minimize the casualties from the Honkai's corruption. But the name of this major thorn in both factions sides caught the Overseer's attention.

Eric Ataegina, Durandal's older brother; the strongest warrior that even defeated the S-ranked Valkyrie herself and the sole survivor on the Honkai's side during Second Eruption...the one who is aware of the truth behind Siegfried Kaslana and the missile attack. There was no telling what truths he'll expose and needed his memories wiped, but then he'd lose the knowledge of where it is. The Gem of Serenity, core of the Herrscher of Death and key component to reviving Kallen Kaslana.

He had given the guards explicted orders, he was the first to talk with the Honkai Warrior before anyone else.

[This is Sigma Guard, subject is stirring.]

Perfect timing.

For Rita, this sight she beheld was something not normal to her routine. Durandal-no, Bianka was on the couch in a state of agony. Not the physical kind mind you, but rather that of emotional agony. During that last battle Bianka had revealed the truth of Nikolai's identity as her missing older brother. Having no memory of his sister had emotionally hurt the girl until realization that the arm was a parasite of some sort controlling him. Ripping the corrupted appendage from the shoulder caused a backlash to the human host and was rendered comatose, an act that haunted her.

She was repeatedly apologizing to his unconscious form for the remainder of the trip home as many surviving Valkyries felt sad for the living legend. To fight your own kin under the sway of Honkai was one of the worst experiences a Valkyrie could ever live with. But compared to those, she was lucky she was able to save her brother from his dark fate but at the cost of most likely being seen as a living pariah; he would live with the sins that Nikolai had committed in his body.

Now he was locked and contained in a special hospital wing, no one except Overseer Otto and select Valkyrie guards were permitted to the perimeter. There was little to no hope of getting a visit to him until the Overseer himself permits it and that would be unlikely to happen. Yet Rita suspects that Eric holds something Lord Otto is seeking, since he too has an interest in the young man and has been in thought whenever the Praetorian appeared in the world.

Officially the Praetorian of the Void is dead, his human identity was never revealed and was to remain that way no matter what. Even other Valkyries involved in the operation were ordered to remain silent on the man's identity-a gag order to be precise. Now she pondered what was it the Overseer was looking for and that Eric had. Because whatever happens next, her Lady might be grieving over her brother's death for real this time around.

/****\

When he awoke there was something akin to waking from a deep sleep, a sense of lost time and emptiness that could not be filled. His mind was blank, fractured and distorted while slowly blinking his eyes to adjust to his current situation. He wondered who he was, and where is he while trying to move his body. Then he noticed two things: one; he was restrained to his bed and two, his body was in a form of paralysis and not even his fingers are responding.

"I see you're awake." a voice spoke; with only his eyes moving he saw a man standing a few feet away, slowly walking towards him with a friendly smile. A smile filled with teeth.

"I do apologize for the rather rough treatment, but it is best to remain safe then sorry." he told him. Eric merely blinked at him as Otto slowly raised an arm up as a golden feather floated in his hand. "Now, I believe you have something of mine. I do hope you would mind telling me where you hid it?" he asked as the feather began working its magic.


/An Hour Later.../

Bianka ran through the halls, not sparing a second glance at the surprised employees as she passed on through at speeds that picked up wind with her movement. Otto had granted permission for visitors as he waited outside the door to Eric's room. She paused in front of him as the Archbishop cleared his throat.

"He has no memories..." he told her, "I checked for anything that could be a key to finding answers but there was nothing. It was as if killing the Praetorian killed whatever secrets he had with him..." he drawled out as he gave the S-ranked Valkyrie a pointed look. After all, she was the one that dealt the 'Killing Blow' so to speak.

That was the look he gave her on the rare failures she would get in her younger years when they're not tied to Nikolai, usually when it also involved destruction of property on a massive scale and considering how she fights, its a given. It was as if the world itself was playing a joke on Otto everytime he tried getting closer to the truth he was seeking.

"He's your responsibility now; I've taken samples of his DNA to investigate the effects the Honkai did to him over the years. Hopefully it'll prove a hidden boon." the man declared before walking off, leaving her alone in the hallway as she stood at the entrance. She looked at the door with hints of anxiety as she grabbed the handle and twisted the knob.

/Rekindled Hearth\

As she slowly entered, she saw him sitting upright in his bed that had been aligned that way when their eyes met. His blue eyes where blank, not even a spark of life in them as they stared back into her own. Gently walking towards him, the soft clicks of her steps on the floor echoed throughout the silent room till she drew close to him. She sat by him and both joy and sorrow were the only things dancing in her eyes as she looked at her crippled brother.

"...It's been a long time big brother." Bianka spoke up, her voice soft and quiet, like a gentle night in the fields of fireflies and glowing flowers. "I had lost my memories as well, no clue to my past...until I found a personal journal in my belongings. A gift to me from you..." she began telling him, as if trying to ease him of his loss of memory.

"That journal you had given me was filled with a past I did not recall, all mainly focusing on the both of us as siblings and how much we cared for each other...even having a few photos of us together enjoying things like any family would." she recounted with fondness, unaware of Eric's left hand, mainly his index finger slowly wiggling.

"The last writing in it was when you were visiting grandmother, and then Second Impact happened...nothing was written after..." she trailed off, trying to find the words to describe what she went through when she discovered her brother was the most dangerous servant of the Honkai.

She was so deep in thought she was caught off guard when she felt a hand caressing her cheek softly and then realized that her brother was comforting her. His blank eyes having a small fire in them, "B...Bi..." came from his lips as he was attempting to say something. "Bi...annnn...ka..." he called to her in a raspy and dry voice.

It was there, Bianka "Durandal" Ataegina hugged her brother and for the first time in years cried while Eric awkwardly gave his sister an overdue hug with his only arm.

During times of misery and loss, there is always that flicker of hope that changes everything in dark times.

\\

After safely confirming he was safe to leave, Bianka carefully pushed her brother's wheelchair on the sidewalk whislt Eric himself looked at everything from his seat with interest. To the simple sunlight itself, to the birds in the trees, to the people themselves who were taking in this unusual sight.

"Lady Durandal...?"

"Who is that she's pushing?"

"A relative?"

"She seems happy, best not bother her now."

Bianka had grown used to such gossip from the common folk gawking at her and she noticed her brother eying an ice cream stand. Rita might not like it but Bianka thinks it might be alright to partially spoil one's dinner just this once. With a new task in hand, she lead her brother to the ice cream stand.

"Hello! Welcome to-Lady Durandal?!" the stand owner exclaimed in shock as people nearby overheard and then realized the legendary S-ranked Valkyrie was right there with someone they didn't know.

"Two vanilla cones please." Bianka politely ordered as the shop owner dumbly nodded his head and proceeded with her order. But curiosity got to him and he'd love to share anything with his friends about his encounter with Durandal.

"There you are! And may I ask whom this fellow you're escorting is?" he asked politely gesturing to Eric.

"My missing older brother, Eric. I finally rescued him when I defeated The Praetorian." she replied while gently ruffing her brother's hair as said boy looked in bliss when she did it. "He lost his memories and I'm currently trying to help make new ones with him."

Now that made the stand owner look apologetic before smiling himself, "Well that is something. Not many people can reunite with loved ones due to the Honkai like you did and that in itself a miracle to behold. You know what? The ice cream is free, to celebrate both The Praetorian's defeat and reuniting with your long-lost brother. Just enjoy making these new memories, who knows what tomorrow holds 'ya know?" the man spoke up, insisting on the offer.

The two siblings strolled through the city towards home at a slow pace, slowly enjoying their ice cream while every once in a while cleaning Eric's face for eating his messily before making it home. But the sight Bianka beheld was something unexpected, for her home had been expanded with a new additional room none the less.

"Wha-"

"Ah, Lady Durandal." spoke Rita up and gave Eric a small smile and a polite bow. "-and Sir Eric." she added as she gestured to the new addition to the Valkyrie's home. "I had taken into account that Sir Eric would be staying close so I requested that an additional room be added to the house; his own personal room already outfitted with basic furniture and clothing. When he is able to, he will be able to add his own personal touches at the later date." the maid explained delicately as Bianka had an awkward smile on her face. Leave it to Rita to take care of things without anyone else aware of it until the last minute.

The minute they entered the home and saw the opening to Eric's room did he freeze in his wheelchair. The reaction alarmed the two Valkyries as his expression, significantly his eyes as they were dilatated and he was breathing heavily and cold sweat was dripping down his body. "Eric, what's wrong?!" Bianka asked worringly just as he began hyperventilating.

"D-Dark...cold...pain...death..." the words escaped his lips while beginning to tremble violently as Rita was quick to turn the room's lights on, banishing the darkness as Eric began to slowly calm down while Bianka hugged and assured her brother that everything was alright.

He may have lost his memories, but certain stimuli had apparently brought back certain things...unpleasant things that only drew more fear and concern for her brother if seeing a dark room was able to turn him into a wreck. Post-Trauma Stress Disorder or PSTD was a common thing amongst many young Valkyrie when dealing with the Honkai when one sees the horrors they've done. But whatever happened to Eric began to raise suspicion since Honkai exterminate things on sight, not torture their prey.

But it was starting to bring hints of something else connected to Second Impact, namely the rise of the Honkai Queen whom turned Eric into Nikolai, Praetorian of the Void. The location where she appeared was a medical outpost, a clue that confirmed through records her brother ended up there by chance. There was something wrong with that picture though; namely, Eric's reaction to a dark room and the vagueness of his words.

Only one possible clue was left, one she dared not confirm happened to her brother: human experimentation.


And that about wraps it up for this chapter. Right now this arc is mainly focusing on Eric and our favorite Dodo bird Durandal. A family arc so to speak. Then, and finally then will it move on to Kiana, Mei and Bronya meeting a familiar face yet different person Eric.

The reason why I'm focusing on a family thing for an arc is partially my fault. I just learned I'm going to be an uncle in the future because my eldest sister is pregnant. I'm excited for it and I'm reflecting on the bonds of siblings in this arc by how supportive they are for each other.

This will cause some changes in Durandal herself in later chapters. There are two things I would like to ask of you viewers:

1) Do not ask me to hurry up and update my works, Patience and Time is required for inspiration for my works. Asking me to hurry is retaliation by NOT updating. I go my own pace, not yours so please be considerate of that.

2) If you are reviewing, thank you very much and I'd like advice every now and then because I'd get writer's block on occasion. Helping with some ideas might inspire something but don't get your hopes up.

Thank you for reading-Fan of Fanfics21