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Do you remember? Do you remember her, little captain?
...
The clouds floated above them, forming shapes that lasted for mere moments before changing into another.
They lay beside each other in the open field, watching as the birds flew by overhead and pointing out the clouds whose shapes they recognized. Some of them were discernible as recognizable objects while others carried no meaning.
He pointed at the largest cloud that blotted out the sunlight and said that it looked like her father's old sword. She laughed and disagreed. She thought that it looked much more like the quill pen he was always using to write down his observations.
Before they could decide who was correct, another flying object entered the atmosphere and flew straight at him before striking him in the face -
Johann Stern's eyes snapped open as he woke from his dream.
It was not a dream that he experienced often, but nor was this the first time he had dreamt it. It was consistently the same dream, always the same dark, winged object striking him in the face and awakening him.
Damn that thing, whatever it is. Now I can't even fall back asleep.
He slowly forced himself to sit up. To his slight disappointment, he remembered that he had been sleeping alone this particular night.
The girls he loved and who loved him back knew that none of them could monopolize him, and they had decided that whoever wanted to spend a night with him could be decided naturally. And so it was decided that each of them was content to sleep by themselves tonight, which was perfectly fine with him. As their captain, he always respected their decisions.
He blinked several times, trying to clear his head, before his thoughts drifted to where he was and why he was there.
It was him. It was always because of him.
That man dictated everything they did. And now, he had decided for them that they would come to him. He even had the audacity to claim that he was being generous because of it. All of this was after he had disappeared after the awakening of the Herrscher of Sentience, hopefully for good. Evidently, he had returned.
Johann closed his eyes and remembered the man's bright blond hair and vibrant green eyes that seemed to stare directly at him through the camera. He had worn the same white robes he always wore, and his long hair somehow managed to be elegant in its own way. The blue sky behind Schicksal's floating headquarters had been the backdrop to his address to the entire world.
"Greetings to our friends around the globe. I am the Overseer of Schicksal, Otto Apocalypse."
Johann had shuddered as he heard the smooth and strangely mellifluous voice he had hoped to never hear again.
Otto had gone on to describe his organization and its efforts against the world-ending phenomenon known as the Honkai; standard information that the world already knew and what no one needed to hear again. The general public had a basic understanding of Honkai, but the specific details were known to only those in the business of fighting against it, namely the organizations Schicksal and Anti-Entropy. It was only the end of his announcement that had carried any significance, and indeed, it was the reason why the Hyperion was currently flying through the atmosphere.
"The time when humanity will turn the tide and drive the Honkai from the Earth will soon be here. Honkai has already become less powerful, and a new generation of heroes has emerged. In light of these developments, Schicksal must make some much-needed changes. In conclusion, I, Otto Apocalypse, hereby step down from my position as Schicksal Overseer and resign from the organization effective immediately. I have entrusted the position to my successor, Far East branch commander Theresa Apocalypse, who will take over as Overseer and will have full authority over the entirety of Schicksal. I have absolute confidence that under her leadership, Schicksal as well as our entire world will be led into a brighter future."
The worldwide broadcast ended, leaving everyone who viewed it in silence. Shortly afterward, Otto had privately contacted Theresa and invited her to Schicksal's former headquarters, which was located in a small town named Kolosten, near Vienna, Austria. There, a ceremony would be held to signify her becoming the new Overseer. As if bribing them further, they had even been offered the core of the Herrscher of Domination, which had previously gone missing after the Herrscher's defeat at the hands of Kiana, Johann, Fu Hua, and Bronya.
Theresa, Johann, and all of their allies recognized the obvious bait for what it was, but they had little choice but to agree. They had already been flying for the past few days and would arrive after another. It was not often that they voluntarily flew straight into a trap, but their circumstances were far from normal. In any case, he vowed that he would keep Theresa safe from whatever her grandfather planned in store for her. Otto seemed to dote on his granddaughter, but even she would be tossed aside without another thought if it would further his plans, whatever they may be.
Otto…he has us all in the palm of his hand that we've willingly climbed into, and he can crush us at any moment. So why hasn't he? It's impossible to understand anything that bastard does…
To think that he had once admired the Overseer and almost even viewed him as his friend. All of that had changed over the course of a single terrible day. Now, no words could truly describe how much he loathed that man.
He stood up from his bed. He looked at his desk. On it was a red rose encased in acrylic.
Rita…
It was the rose she had sent him after that horrible day. The day he had lost everything. He could still hear the Overseer's deranged ranting echoing throughout the throne room as he had uselessly struggled to break free from the chains that bound him, screaming in helpless terror and begging Rita to save him.
"I must admit, I truly envy you. Even though you'll never see Rita again, at least not as you currently are, you'll still be able to live a happy life without her. If only I could do the same. Every day that I live without seeing my beloved Kallen is one nearly too painful to bear. I have lived for over five hundred years after losing her. I have grieved for that long, and I am still no closer to seeing her again than the day she died. You truly are blessed to receive the gift of the Divine Key, captain. So accept my gift, and shed tears no more! GLORY TO SCHICKSAL!"
"RITA! RITA, PLEASE STOP HIM! DON'T LET HIM DO THIS!"
There was one major difference between then and now. He was no longer just a powerless bystander. He had gained the strength to fight back. Now, he wanted nothing more than to drive a subspace lance through Otto's smug face again and again. Given the number of reserve Soulium bodies he controlled, doing so would be a necessity if Johann wanted to ensure that Otto stayed dead.
He didn't want to look at the rose anymore. He wanted to be anywhere else. He picked up the chair from behind his desk. He created a portal, which he and the chair vanished into. They exited outside onto the Hyperion's deck.
The night sky was dark with few stars. Clouds obscured what little moonlight that reached him, and the wind blew past him.
It was normally dangerous to stand outside the Hyperion while it was in flight - a stray gust of wind could easily knock a careless crew member overboard and send them hurtling to the ground far below, although its force fields could prevent this when activated - but Johann was a Herrscher now, and he had far greater worries than falling. After all, any half-decent Herrscher could fly.
He sat down in the chair, enjoying the peaceful night surrounding him. He closed his eyes as his thoughts returned to the woman he did not know.
Rita…you feel like someone from another lifetime. All of my memories of you don't feel real, but…I have the rose you left me to find as proof that you were. And then I gave it to Himeko…
He remembered the moments he had shared with the maid that had given him so much happiness. That happiness now felt like a dream. He also remembered the way she had ruthlessly turned Tesla's drones into instruments of mass murder. He remembered the pain that had pierced through him as he said that he would never forgive her for what she had done.
He remembered how he had at first reluctantly accepted his new rank as captain of the Hyperion and then how he had angrily rejected it before Otto had forced him to accept it by toying with his memories.
That same role had allowed him to meet the women he would willingly die for.
I never wanted to become a captain. But because I was forced to become one, I met them. I met the women who are my world now, and I will not give them up for anything. What Otto did to me was unforgivable, but because of him, I met…
Bronya…
She had accepted him from the start and had always been by his side and always would be.
Kiana…
She was hot headed and arrogant and was difficult to order around. But she had since become someone he vowed he would always protect.
Theresa…
The diminutive nun carried so much responsibility on her small shoulders, and he would always ensure that he would help her carry it.
Himeko…
The woman who had loved him and could never show it until it had been too late. He would remember her forever.
Mei…
Mei…what are you to me, Mei?
Raiden Mei was gone. He had not seen her for so long. This meant that she meant all the more to him.
He closed his eyes and remembered the fragrance of the perfume she always wore. The beauty of her violet hair and eyes that had always captivated him. Her kind and gentle soul. How she cooked the best food in the world just for him. How she had been so cold and distant to him at first before gradually warming and opening up to him.
How during the last time they had seen each other, he had been wishing her luck as she departed to Arc City in search of Kiana. How she had then become the Herrscher of Thunder and thrashed Kiana before abandoning her, leaving instead for the mysterious organization known as World Serpent.
Johann still hadn't come to terms with Mei's actions. He knew that Mei believed that whatever she had done was for Kiana's sake, but he would likely never fully understand until he heard it from Mei herself. And whenever that would be, he had no way of knowing.
He sat in his chair and attempted to fall back asleep in it. Being surrounded by a dark, peaceful night made it easier for him.
He was beginning to drift away when the sky was illuminated by a flash of red lightning.
His eyes immediately snapped open again, alert. Nothing could have prepared him for what he saw.
In front of him was a woman with dark violet hair, cold, calculating eyes, and two red horns emerging from her head. A luminescent violet halo glowed behind her. A sheathed katana was strapped to her waist, a weapon befitting the Herrscher of Thunder.
...
"Roar, Kurikara!"
The red dragon roared as its jaws fired a stream of lightning and obliterated its master's foes, the twin horns on her head glinting in the light. The incinerated enemies crumbled to dust before she stepped into a portal that returned her to the lobby of the Elysian Realm. It was a spacious chamber with a second floor and many rooms, each serving a different purpose. Its atmosphere was somber and solemn, reflecting the pasts of those who dwelt in it.
It had been weeks since Mei had first arrived and was introduced to its strange and interesting inhabitants. Kevin Kaslana, the leader of World Serpent, the organization she had joined, was as cryptic as always when he had sent her to the vast and confusing space after she had demanded answers from him. So far, she had found none.
This was not to say that she had found nothing of note. The Elysian Realm would be nothing without the people who lived in it, and although Mei had yet to meet all of them, the ones she had encountered so far all served to add more questions to the ones she already had.
One of them had been waiting for her to return. Mei heard the sound of clapping and a cheerful, high-pitched voice welcoming her back.
"You were amazing, Mei! I never get tired of your elegance as you fight."
Mei turned her head to the speaker and saw a pink-haired woman with pointed ears walking toward her. Mei had long become used to seeing her welcoming her back every time she finished a run in the Realm.
"Thank you, Elysia," was her standard reply.
Elysia smiled. Unlike most people, her default facial expression seemed to always be in a smile, making it difficult for Mei to know whether her smiles were genuine or not. Her behaviour made it obvious that this one was.
She seemed to be the de facto owner of the Elysian Realm, or at least the face of it given how ubiquitous she was in it. Everyone knew her, and she seemed to know everything that happened in it. She had been the first Flame Chaser to greet Mei as she arrived, and she had never left Mei alone since.
"You still haven't told me where your dragon came from, Mei! I've wanted to pet her ever since I saw her. Her name is Kurikara, isn't it?"
"It…it was my friend's dragon." Mei didn't want to talk about this. She didn't want to talk about anything with anyone.
"Your friend must be so nice to give their dragon to you instead. You're such a lucky girl, Mei."
"Yes…lucky…"
Mei started to walk away. Then Elysia spoke again, this time much more quietly.
"Wait, Mei. I'm sorry if I upset you."
"You haven't. I'm feeling the same as I always do."
"I can tell that how you always feel is terrible."
Mei stopped. She turned around.
"What about me made you think that, Elysia?"
Elysia seemed uncharacteristically lost in thought.
"Well…you try to hide it, but I can tell when people try to do that. You're always so sullen and lost in thought. You're working so hard for your goals as if you're trying to ignore everything else that's bothering you, like the friends you want to see again."
Mei wasn't here for a psychiatric analysis. "Thank you, Elysia."
But before she could leave, she heard the one name she was still unprepared to hear again.
"The friend who Kurikara belonged to…it was Kiana, wasn't it?"
Mei forced a laugh. "Nothing gets past you, does it, Elysia? You're right. It was a Honkai beast that served Kiana, or rather the Herrscher in her body. But it doesn't matter now."
Elysia sat down on a couch in the lounge area. It was one of the many couches in the chamber for those who needed to relax. Mei was one of them, although she remained standing.
"I think it does, Mei. It's one of the only things you have left of her. You told me about your friends, remember?"
"Yes, I did. Because…I don't know why I told you about them, but I did."
"It was because you needed someone to talk to. It's alright, Mei. I'm always here, and you can talk to me anytime. Right now, it's what you want, isn't it?"
Mei was starting to get annoyed at how easily Elysia saw through her, but she walked over and sat down next to her.
"Fine, Elysia. I have a little time to talk with you."
"That's great, Mei! I promise that you'll feel better after we do."
They were quiet for a few minutes. Mei noticed some of the other Flame Chaser simulations walking around the lobby. Eden, the singer, caught her eye and smiled.
Finally, Mei spoke again. "I miss them. The last time I saw them, I promised that I would come back to them as soon as I could. But so much has happened, and now I have no choice but to stay here. I want to see them again more than anything, but I can't."
Elysia nodded. "From what you've told me, they definitely miss you just as much."
"I told myself that as soon as I learned the truth about this place, I would go back and see them. But…"
Elysia looked at her with friendly eyes and waited for her to continue speaking.
"But…this place is larger than I ever expected, and I have no idea how long it'll take for me to find the answers I'm looking for. Kevin…he never gives straight answers, does he?"
Elysia nodded. "That's the kind of man he is. In a way, I'm glad to hear that he hasn't changed. The Kevin in here is the same, but I like that about him."
"Anyways," Mei continued, "I guess I'll just stay here in the Realm until I have what I need. Then…then I can leave."
Elysia smiled, then placed her hand over Mei's. Mei was about to pull away, then relented.
"You know, Mei, that the Elysian Realm isn't a prison or a trap. You can just leave and go back outside anytime you want."
"But…"
"But? But what? No one's forcing you to stay here. Kevin - he's calling himself Kaslana now, isn't he? Such a handsome name - sent you here to help you, but he hasn't ordered you to do anything. You can go back outside and see your friends again if you feel like you need a break from all of us here."
"Elysia…"
"Mei…it isn't us or Kevin or the Realm that's holding you back. It's you."
"..."
Mei closed her violet eyes.
"Let me think…the friends who you want to see again are Kiana, Bronya, Theresa, Fu Hua, and Johann, aren't they?"
Mei's heartbeat quickened ever so slightly at the mention of that last name. Elysia felt it through Mei's hand.
"Yes. What about them?" Mei said.
"They must be missing you so much. They've waited so long to see you again. You can fly back and reunite with them anytime you want, but you haven't. Why is that? Could it be because…you're too nervous to face them again?"
Mei's body stiffened, but she forced herself to reply.
"...It's not just that I'm nervous. I…I'm ashamed at what I did…what I did to Kiana, and…"
"They understand, Mei. They don't blame you for anything, or at least after you explain yourself to them. After all you've been through with them, it'll take a lot more than just this for them to get mad at you."
"...Elysia, you don't know them. You've never met them. Except for Fu Hua, I suppose. How can you be so sure?"
She laughed. "Because the Raiden Mei I know wouldn't make friends with anyone who doesn't believe in her wholeheartedly. And…well…you're right about me knowing Hua. We talk almost every day. But…I also know one more of them."
Mei didn't understand. "One more? What do you mean?"
Elysia removed her hand from over Mei's. She stood up, her eyes closed.
"Follow me, Mei. I have something to show you." She began walking.
Mei could never predict what the pink-haired elf was planning. She stood up and began following her.
Along the way, she encountered some of the other Flame Chasers living in the Elysian Realm. Sakura, once an assassin, grasped her katana with her sword hand as she nodded at Mei. Hua stared at her, as if she knew where Elysia was leading her. Kalpas, an aggressive and half-mad warrior, sulked on a table and ignored them both as he sat in an uncomfortable-looking position. Eden drank wine from an ornate cup.
Elysia led her upstairs to the second floor of the Elysian Realm's lobby. They stopped at a door. Elysia knocked.
"Hi! It's me! Are you busy?"
After a few seconds of silence, a voice from behind the door replied. "Come in, Elysia."
Mei could not believe what she heard. Even when muffled by a door, that voice was unmistakable.
No…it can't be…is he…?
Elysia turned to her. For once, her face was serious.
"Mei…I hope that the person I'm introducing you to can help you. I'm not sure if I should even be doing this, but I want to help in any way I can. I hope you understand."
Mei stared at her. "Who are you showing me? Who's behind the door?"
Elysia turned around and opened the door. She led Mei into a small bedroom filled with bookshelves. A man sat behind a desk with his back to them, writing something down.
Mei gasped.
The man's hair was bright red.
...
Johann couldn't believe his eyes. Was it her? Was it really her?
He found himself standing up without thinking. He couldn't look at anything except those cold, hardened eyes, yet he could still see a familiar warmth in them.
She seemed just as affected. Neither of them could move. A cool gust of wind drifted across them.
Somehow, after what seemed like hours, he finally found the courage to muster a few words out of the countless more he had to say.
"Mei? Is it really you?"
She slowly nodded, still unable to speak.
Hours more passed. He made one step forward, then stopped.
"Mei…I missed you so much."
Finally, she answered. "I missed you too, capt - no, I don't have the right to call you my captain anymore..."
Her voice was deeper than he remembered. It was filled with uncertainty and remorse.
He managed another step. "I'll always be your captain, Mei. And you'll always be my valkyrie. Don't say things like this. And I'm not the only one who missed you. Everyone else does, too. They've waited so long to see you again. Did you come back to see all of us again?"
To his dismay, she shook her head. "I…I want to, but I can't right now. I can't stay for too long."
"What do you mean?"
She stepped closer to him. "I mean that I came back to see you."
He didn't understand. "Me?"
She didn't answer. The night surrounded them. Suddenly, Johann didn't want to be outside anymore.
"Mei, do you want to go indoors? It's been so long since you've been onboard the Hyperion."
She seemed to like the sound of that idea. She still said nothing, but she seemed to be waiting for him to lead her back inside.
He took the hint and picked up his chair. He wasn't sure if he was ready to display his new abilities in front of her. He walked back into the interior of the battleship as she followed him. It was just like old times.
He wasn't sure exactly where he wanted to lead her. The lounge? It was a good choice except that it was possible that others were already there. The kitchen was another option, but Kiana sometimes snuck food from there in the middle of the night. In the end, he decided on his private cabin. No one would bother them there.
He opened the door to let her in first, then he walked in and locked it behind them. He sat down at his desk as Mei sat down on his much softer bed.
He tried to gather his thoughts and was about to speak again when she took out a small, black container.
"Before we start, I want you to have this."
"Mei? This is…"
He accepted the box, which looked extremely familiar. He opened it and was greeted by an even more familiar and welcoming sight.
"Mei…you made this bento for me?"
She nodded. "I thought that you also missed my cooking, so…"
He smiled as he beheld his favourite meals Mei had always made for him. Sushi, tonkatsu, onigiri…and even a rice cracker in the shape of the Hyperion.
"I did. Thank you so much, Mei."
"You can thank me after you finish."
He glanced at her before gratefully eating her gift in silence. It was even more incredible than he remembered; her cooking, it seemed, grew even better with absence.
After he finished, he rinsed his mouth and placed the bento box aside on his desk. He turned his chair to face her again.
"They were even more amazing than I remembered, Mei. Especially the rice cracker you once pushed into my mouth. Thank you."
For the first time since her arrival, she smiled. But she said nothing. Johann was beginning to feel uncomfortable again.
"I can tell that something is bothering you," he said, worried for her. "Are you feeling alright?"
"...Johann, do you remember the last time we saw each other?" she finally said.
He did.
They stood on the top of a ruined building, one of the last few still standing at St. Freya Academy. The evening sky glowed with a gentle light about them, and heavy dark clouds drifted overhead.
Mei had cried. Her home had been destroyed by the one she cherished so much, and she had gone missing.
"Why? Why did all of this happen? What did we do to deserve this?"
After a while, he also started to cry. He attempted to comfort her by placing a hand on her shoulder, but she did not respond.
She shed tears until she had no more to shed.
"We did nothing, Mei. This was all Otto's doing. The man I thought I admired. I…we need to punish him. But first…"
Mei turned around. Her red-rimmed eyes were no longer filled with despair. It had been replaced by indomitable determination.
"First we need to find Kiana. I know she's still out there somewhere in need of help, and I will find her." Her normally gentle voice sounded like steel.
Johann had never seen anything as beautiful as Mei's determined face illuminated by the evening sunset behind her. He knew he needed to keep the sight forever.
"We will, Mei. Could you stand still like that?" he asked as he removed his phone from his pocket and activated the camera.
"What are you doing?"
"Making sure that we never forget this moment."
He took several photographs of Mei. She wore a blue and white battlesuit, Striker Fulminata, which was her strongest. Her violet hair had been tied back.
The first few photographs captured her determined and angry countenance. But she soon transitioned into a warm, gentle smile for the camera. She wanted to remember this moment not with anger, but with passion.
"How do I look, Johann?"
He showed her. She was perfect and powerful in the photos. Nothing like she felt herself.
The phone printed out one of the photographs. He handed it to her.
"This is yours, Mei. Be sure to remember this moment whenever you need to find the strength to carry on."
She gazed at her own smiling face, not knowing what words she could say to him to describe the emotions she felt within her heart.
"Thank you, captain. I will."
The wind picked up. The photograph nearly flew out of her hands. She managed to keep it safe. Then she walked away.
That was the last time he saw her.
"Do you still have the photo I took of you?"
She nodded. She pulled it out. It was old, worn, and creased, but still as striking as it was the day it was taken.
"It helped me more times than I can count."
He stared at it. Then he glanced back at Mei.
"Mei…you've changed so much since we last met. I…I want to say that I'm happy for you."
She had been a timid and quiet girl, but that girl was gone. The Raiden Mei in front of him was the Herrscher of Thunder. She had come to terms with herself and had become one of the most powerful beings on the planet.
She was dressed in white, black, and red, with high heels that could easily pierce the floor and probably anything else. He recalled how she had used to threaten his toes with her heels whenever he had said something that annoyed her. She wielded a katana, currently sheathed in a white scabbard. Her violet hair was undone and flowed freely behind her. Her eyes seemed to be lined with dark eyeshadow, contributing to her intimidating yet beautiful appearance. Most strikingly of all, two razor-sharp red horns emerged from her head.
He wasn't sure what to make of all this, but he was glad that the Mei he knew was still somewhere in there.
When she spoke again, she was clearly being evasive.
"How is everyone doing?"
He knew that she was trying to avoid the subject of herself, but he answered her question.
"Kiana is doing fine, Mei. She isn't angry at you for what she did. None of us are. She's the strongest she's ever been since she got to meet with Himeko one last time. Bronya is a Herrscher now, and she's getting stronger by the day. Theresa…well, you've probably heard the news. She'll become the Overseer of Schicksal in a few days. That's why we're flying. You'll be delighted to learn that your father was freed from prison ages ago. I met him working at Anti-Entropy, and he told me how much he misses his daughter. And Fu Hua…she's changed a lot from the person I knew, but she's still Fu Hua. Just like you, Mei. You've changed so much, too, but you're still the Mei I know. So how come you aren't willing to see any of them?"
She visibly stiffened, uncomfortable at what he had said. He hated making her react this way, but he had to know. For her own sake.
"Captain…" she hesitantly said, and he noted how she had reverted to his title instead of his name, "...just because you aren't angry at what I did doesn't mean that I am not. I haven't forgiven myself for how much I hurt her…I became a sinner for her sake, and during all this time, I wasn't sure if she would ever forgive me for it…and…"
He stayed silent, waiting for her to continue, not wanting to interrupt her.
"...and I wasn't sure if I could ever see any of you again. I gained so much power as a Herrscher, but inside, I'm still the weak little girl who can't do anything at all…"
"But you did come back, Mei. You came back to me. You're right here with me right now. You were brave enough to overcome your guilt and fly all the way here. Why did you? Why did you come back to me, instead of Kiana? Isn't she the most important person in your life?"
"..."
When she remained silent, he stood up from his seat and walked over. He sat down on the bed next to her. She tried to edge away from him, but decided against it.
He gently placed his hand over hers. She had nearly forgotten the warmth of his touch.
"Mei…can I ask you one thing?"
She nodded.
"Do you regret your decision? Was it worth it?"
"...I regret the way it happened, but I don't regret my decision. I did it to save Kiana's life. She was dying, and there was nothing that could stop me from preventing that from happening. Even if she was the one stopping me, and even if I had to fight and hurt her for her own sake. The choice was easy to make. The consequences…not so much. But Kiana is still alive, and even better than she ever was. Everything I did…was absolutely worth it."
After she said those words, she felt an invisible weight lifted from her shoulders. She had wanted to say them for so long, but there was no one to say them to. She was glad that her captain was there to listen and understand.
He smiled. Those were the words he had needed to hear from her.
"Exactly, Mei. Life doesn't always give us easy choices to make, and making them can be the most difficult things we ever do. But look at where we are now. We're all stronger because of our choices, and you're here with me again. I'm happy, Mei. I'm happy to see you again."
She allowed herself to smile back. Her mood wouldn't be fully restored until she saw everyone again, especially Kiana, but she was happy that he was the first one she reunited with.
"Johann…as for why I came to you first…" she began saying.
He listened intently.
"…You're right about Kiana being the most important person in my life, but…you are, too."
His gaze never left her. She blushed slightly.
"I came back to you…because I saw you."
He was heartened that she admitted this to him. He hadn't been aware that he meant so much to her. But he was confused by the last thing she said.
"You saw me, Mei? I don't understand…"
She shut her eyes, trying to find the words to best explain what she had seen.
"At World Serpent, I was introduced to something called the Elysian Realm…"
...
The red-haired man ignored them as he continued writing. His writing utensil made soft scratching sounds as he etched the ink on the paper.
Mei glanced at Elysia, not knowing what to do or think. Elysia gazed back but said nothing. It seemed that she wanted Mei to handle the situation on her own.
Finally, Mei stepped forward.
"Who…who are you?"
He stopped writing. He turned around. He wore a dark military uniform emblazoned with a burning moth. He had the exact same familiar face she hadn't seen for so long.
"...Johann…"
He nodded. "That is my name, yes. But I'm afraid that I'm not the same Johann you know."
"Then…"
Mei glanced at Elysia. Then she closed her eyes.
The Elysian Realm, from what she had gathered, was an information space populated by the thirteen Flame Chasers, who were the strongest soldiers of Fire MOTH, the Previous Era's anti-Honkai organization. Most of the thirteen had died, but each had had their minds and memories scanned in order to create a simulation of themselves, each an exact copy of their personalities and memories up to that point, that would be stored in the Realm and would live on after the deaths of their progenitors. For documentation purposes, Mei had assumed.
But there was another strange phenomenon that originated in the Previous Era. In the current day, there were certain individuals who happened to share the same physical appearance and name as someone from the Previous Era. Mei had been speechless when she had learned that she herself seemed to be the reincarnation of Dr. MEI, Fire MOTH's leading scientist. No one had yet managed to explain why this was so, and Mei had decided to treat her doppelganger the same way as she would any historical figure.
All of this meant only one thing. The man she saw in front of her was the original form of her captain, or rather, his simulation.
Elysia carefully watched her, as if hoping that she would come to this conclusion on her own. Mei opened her eyes and stared directly into his, which were the colour of amber.
"You must be one of Fire MOTH's Flame Chasers," she said. "But I've been here for weeks, and no one has ever mentioned you. I've also read plenty of histories documenting the Previous Era, and none of them did, either. They only said that there were only ever thirteen of them, not fourteen."
Johann shook his head. "I was with Fire MOTH, yes. But you're mistaken when you say that I was a Flame Chaser. I was not. I was Fire MOTH's highest-ranking general."
Elysia finally spoke again. "That's right, Mei. Meet Commander Johann Stern, one of our leaders. He agreed to have his mind scanned so his simulation could join us in the Elysian Realm. And as for why you hadn't heard of him until I introduced you…well…we agreed to keep him a secret after you told me about your captain. We decided that it would be best that you don't meet him unless necessary. And now it is!"
"...I see, Elysia."
Johann nodded. "I apologize to you, Raiden Mei. Given your mental state at the time, it was best for you to focus on your task at hand."
Mei glanced between the two of them. "Why didn't you keep Hua a secret from me, then?"
"Why would we? She's a signet holder, one you could learn so much from. Johann's good at what he does, but sadly, he isn't a fighter. For now, why don't you and Johann have a little chat? I'll wait for you outside, Mei. Take care of her for me, Jo-Jo!"
Elysia walked out of the room and shut the door.
Mei noticed that Johann shifted uncomfortably at the mention of Hua's name. She stared at him.
"Why did Elysia bring me to see you? How would meeting you help me?" she finally asked.
"Maybe it wasn't meant to help you in the way that you think. Maybe it was to remind you of who you fight for."
She said nothing.
"From what I've heard of my…successor, he is a man worth fighting for. I've never met him. I will never meet him. But if he's anything like myself, then he would likely be someone who misses the ones he cares for dearly."
She looked away. She changed the subject. "Then tell me about yourself. Who are you? What did you do at Fire MOTH?"
"I was the highest-ranked commander in some long-dead nation that no longer exists. I was invited to join Fire MOTH early on, and to my knowledge, I never left. I was responsible for building the organization's chain of command and then leading it. I devised many strategies and tactics against the Honkai, against both beasts and Herrschers."
Mei absorbed all of this, not missing out on a single word.
"It was the Tragedy of Binding that was the turning point for the organization. And for myself…one of the Flame Chasers, Hua, saved my life during that tragedy."
While he said nothing more of Hua, Mei noted his previous reaction to the mention of her name again.
"My memory ends there. I uploaded my mind to the Elysian Realm shortly after that along with the surviving Flame Chasers. How I died in the real world, I can't say, nor do I want to know. Judging from how you said that histories don't mention me, only survivors of the apocalypse such as Kevin Kaslana would know the answer."
"It must be because you…he…joined Schicksal, and they didn't want him knowing about you…" she muttered.
"Perhaps. In any case, my purpose is finished along with the rest of Fire MOTH. We are now only relics of the past, and the future is now the responsibility of your world and its people, such as yourself, Miss Raiden. All I can do now is remember. I advise you to do the same."
"I will," she replied.
Johann nodded. He turned around and resumed whatever he was writing.
"What are you writing down?" she asked, stepping forward.
"Every interaction I've ever had with every person I've ever met. What are we but the sum of our memories? Without them, what do we become? You can call it a diary or journal of sorts. I call it my life. You may read the other entries if you wish."
She walked over to a bookshelf and withdrew a book. It was one of his diaries. She opened it to a page at random and read a few of the entries before returning it to its proper place.
She walked back over to his desk and looked down and watched as he finished writing his latest sentence using an ink quill. His handwriting was like she remembered.
"A quill? Didn't the Previous Era have advanced technology? You could at least use a pen or pencil," she commented.
"I could, but memories are flexible, just like a quill."
She stepped away. She turned to leave.
"Goodbye, then. I…I appreciated our time together," she said.
"Farewell, Miss Raiden. I hope you find the answers you're looking for. And if you ever see Hua again…tell her that I miss her."
...
She stepped out of the commander's room. Like she said, Elysia was waiting for her.
"How did it go, Mei? Was he anything like you expected?"
"...It was fine, even though I still have more questions than answers."
"Perhaps I could answer some of them," said a voice behind them. They turned around. A woman in a blue combat suit stood behind them.
"Hua?" Mei asked.
"Hua! I was wondering if you'd show," said Elysia.
It had been disconcerting to meet a simulation of her class monitor at first, but Mei became accustomed to her presence. The Fu Hua she knew may had been thousands of years older, but she hadn't changed too much.
"So, you met him. I want to apologize for keeping his existence a secret from you, Mei. I thought that it was the best for you," said Hua.
"It's alright. I'm not sure how I would have reacted if I had met him earlier."
Hua nodded. "I hope that whatever he told you was of use to you."
"It was. He also told me that he misses you."
Hua raised an eyebrow. "I just met with him yesterday. I'm not sure why he would. I'm glad that he does, though."
Mei started to gain an inkling of his words' true meaning. She carefully chose her next words.
"Hua…may I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"...Are you and Johann…together?"
Elysia and Hua both seemed surprised that she realized this from one conversation.
"How did you know?" Hua asked.
"Well…he made it obvious." Mei was starting to regret broaching the topic.
Hua nodded, then smiled. "I'm not surprised. Now if only Elysia would stop flirting with him when I'm away…"
Elysia laughed. "I don't flirt with anyone! It's just how I show people how much they mean to me. Isn't that right, Mei?"
Mei smiled. "If you say so, Elysia. I'm going back downstairs."
She had finally come to a decision, one that she knew she had to make. She just needed to find the right way to say goodbye to Elysia without making it awkward. When she reached the ground floor, she found herself confronted by someone else.
His blue eyes were colder than ice. His silver hair evoked the image of a snowy blizzard.
"Hello, Kevin," Mei said.
"You've met the commander."
"Yes, I have."
"There are no secrets in the Elysian Realm. At least, none that stay hidden forever."
"Right."
When he said nothing more, she began walking past him to the exit. But then the question that had been nagging at her mind grew too large to ignore.
"Kevin, I have a question."
"Very well."
"Kevin, the commander was writing his experiences with others down in a diary. In one of the entries, he wrote that you had confronted him and demanded that he stop treating Hua the way he had been treating her. Why is that? What did you mean by his treatment of Hua?"
Kevin stared at her. "I never told him such a thing."
"Then why -"
"In the Elysian Realm. That particular incident happened before our simulations were uploaded here. It happened in the real world."
Mei waited for him to continue speaking.
"Hua was emotionally devastated by the loss of her captain, Himeko, who became the Herrscher of Fire. She never fully recovered from her death or the death of her father. When she rescued Commander Stern from the Herrscher of Binding, she started becoming attached to him. He had also lost someone he loved to the Honkai, and it was also Captain Himeko. Hua and Stern grew closer over time, but I could tell that he was only pitying her feelings and stringing her along. He did not love her the way he ought to have. He had taken advantage of her moment of vulnerability and was using her as his own emotional crutch. I confronted him, but I could not stop them. It wasn't my place to."
Mei didn't know what to think of Kevin's reveal.
What he says seems plausible, but…in the entry he was writing, he was writing about how happy he was being with Hua and how much he cared about and trusted her…and then…the last thing he asked me to do…
She shook her head. All of this was in the past. It only mattered to the dead now. Mei had her own issues to resolve.
"I see, Kevin. Thank you for telling me. I'll be leaving now."
He nodded. He walked away.
Mei took one last look at the Elysian Realm that had become her home for the past several weeks. Elysia and Hua walked down and joined her again.
"You're leaving, Mei? You don't know how much I'll miss seeing your pretty face and your dragon! You have to promise to let me pet her next time! And maybe, just maybe, I can rub your horns, too?" Elysia teased. "But before you go, I have some gifts for you. Don't open them until later!"
She handed Mei a small, gift-wrapped package. Mei couldn't guess what was inside it, but she thanked her anyway. "Thank you, Elysia. When I come back, maybe I can even let Kurikara take you for a ride."
Hua nodded. "Farewell, Mei. Take care."
Eden, the former singer, walked over. She had dark red hair and wore an elegant dress. "It was an pleasure to meet you, Miss Raiden. I hope to see you again."
Mei smiled. "I'll be coming back after I find what I'm looking for. You won't wait for too long."
Kalpas was still sulking on the table, but he seemed to be listening in on their conversation.
Sakura, the fox-eared woman, nodded at her once again.
Mei turned around and exited the Elysian Realm.
...
A dark, empty tunnel awaited her outside. Her footsteps echoed off the stone walls as she walked closer and closer to the real world. She finally emerged into the World Serpent's throne room, which he was sitting upon.
His eyes were somehow even colder than his doppelganger's. A blazing sword rested against the throne, providing further illumination to the darkened chamber.
Mei walked in front of the throne. She looked him in the eye, which was no easy feat. The man stared back.
"Kevin, I'm leaving."
"For how long?" came the cold reply.
"A few days at most."
"Very well."
"You aren't going to ask where I'm going or why?"
"What you do is none of my business as long as you return."
Mei didn't answer, although she wasn't surprised, either.
"You're leaving already?"
Mei turned her head to the other voice. A woman walked into the throne room. She wore a grey and black suit of armour, a black hood, and a red cloak in the shape of a bird's wings. On her right hand were three razor-sharp talons.
Her name, which could be guessed from her attire, was Raven.
"I am, Raven."
"That's a shame. I got used to having you around."
"It'll only be for a few days."
"Hah. That's more than enough time to get things over with him."
"...Who?"
"It was easy to guess how you felt for your captain. Johann, was it? I've actually met him - well, the old him - in the Realm a few times. He's a loyal person from the sounds of it."
"..."
"He used to patronize my other bar in Soukai City, the Crowbar. He always brought a redheaded woman with him, and they were some of the best customers I had. The last time he went, he was looking for a rose he'd somehow lost there. I was tempted to capture him and keep him as a hostage, but I decided that it'd be more useful to have him be in my debt after giving him his precious rose back."
"I…see. I'm glad that you didn't abduct him," Mei said.
"Well, I guess I can wait a few days. See you then, Mei."
Natasha Cioara disappeared back into the darkness. Mei had only one more thing to say to World Serpent. She turned back around to its Sire.
"Kevin, I have one question."
"Very well."
"How did Commander Stern die?"
The silver-haired man, for once, seemed slightly uncomfortable at the question. He was quiet before finally answering.
"He was a victim of the Twelfth Honkai Eruption. Ironically, he died before the Herrscher even emerged. A group of mutinous soldiers shot him in the head when he attempted to stop them from breaking into Yae Rin's containment cell. The rest you already know, but what you don't know is that his corpse was then possessed by the Herrscher of Corruption. Hua, who was in a relationship with him, was forced to kill him for a second time. It seems that fate was kinder to her for a change now that they've been reunited in another era."
That's a horrible fate, Mei thought. She hoped that history would never repeat itself. She was also unsurprised to learn that World Serpent had spies that kept them up to date on its enemies' status. What she did not expect to learn was that her class monitor was now in a relationship with her captain. How she was meant to feel about this, she didn't know.
She turned around.
"Thank you for telling me this, Kevin."
She transformed into a bolt of red lightning and flew away.
Kevin watched her leave. He closed his eyes.
Come back safe, Mei.
