Authors Note - The lack of superscript in the formatting options is a source of frustration for me. For the mathematicians I apologise for the way the equations are presented. They are accurate in the word document I always draft in.
It's the smell that caught my attention. I'm certain that learned scholars would describe it as putrescent. But one word doesn't suffice when walking into a town turned graveyard. Corpses lying unloved in homes. Food left to spoil. It is a smell that clings to your clothes. It is a scent that feels watery with an almost physical presence. It is a stench of the human dead that is distinctly Human.
I sighed as I strode through the town. I had hoped to resupply myself before heading further east. It seemed my goal of travelling toward Kiev would have to be placed on further hold. Sighing again, I stood in the town square and marvelled at the utter loss of life. Not a glimmer of motion or crackle of Human habitation. I checked over each of the houses, simple stone walled structures with thatched roofs. Dead families within. Even the pets had succumb. I had no desire to raid the stores of the dead. This variant of the bubonic plague posed no threat to me. But some moral part of my mind held me back.
I managed to refresh my waterskins from a reliable well and decided to head west instead. I had supplies enough to make it to the next settlement. The roads were relatively clear and I could forage on my way. I'd heard Schicksal might be on patrol. They were certainly a force I had no desire to cross paths with. Awkward questions about how I survived when others did not. My origins or destination. I knew how to recognise their presence. The same way I could the Honkai.
That last fact was what left me cautious as I walked down the packed earth road leading out of the town. I could taste the Honkai in the air. In every one of the plague victims was the stench of Honkai. Somehow it was behind this.
"…"
"…l.."
"…zelle."
"Lizelle."
The words were less entreatment and more a call to action. Lizelle sat up straighter and looked around the classroom. Nobody offered any helping looks or motions. All had their eyes fixed forward on the whiteboard. This was not a good start to Lizelle's day.
"I'll have you come up and solve the equation for me," the teacher instructed.
A brief snicker bubbled around the room before evaporating with the teacher's stern glare. The classroom was smaller than most, used by those students struggling with regular coursework. The best and brightest, at least in theory, attended the private all-girls school. A classical education supported and endorsed by Schicksal. It had the latest facilities, most qualified teachers and advanced electronic resources. Even the uniform conformed the idea of a classical education: pleated skirt, dress shirt, sweater vest or blazer, leather shoes. Simple hard styles and no makeup. Prim and proper ladies raised to be model students.
Or soldiers.
Sliding her chair back from the plastic desk, Lizelle walked up to the whiteboard and took the pen when offered. She looked over the mathematical equation presented before her. An advanced question for year 6 mathematics. Any eleven-year-old would struggle when confronted with the complex algebra.
Tapping the pen against her lip, Lizelle pondered how best to solve the difficult problem.
She could feign ignorance and endure the disciplinary response of the teacher. Scorn would be heaped upon her by the rest of the class. But that mattered little.
She could solve the problem in her head and provide the solution in one line. That would certainly raise eyebrows. It would however have the teacher back off.
She could make her way mostly through the equation before making an error at some critical point. A decent compromise.
Tapping the pen one final time, Lizelle went with option four and began to write. It was a long, draw out solution. Each line contained exactly one change from the previous. A methodical and complete explanation of how she came to her answer. Lizelle solved the equation with many steps. But solved it still was. The girl handed the pen to the teacher and stepped back to let the rest of the class look over her methodology.
"Sorry, sir," Lizelle said in a small voice. "I was up too late looking at notes for this afternoon's biology test."
The teacher could in no way fault Lizelle's work. She had taken too long to get to the answer. But that was the only flaw.
"I trust you'll pay more attention in future."
"Yes, sir."
Lizelle walked back to her desk. She wasn't a social pariah in the school. Nor was she one of the social, academic or athletic standouts. Just a very plain and very average student. That suited the girl just fine. She had other things on her mind.
The Cavalier level Honkai beast charged toward me. I dove to one side, the beast's hooves kicking up yellow grass and dirt as they dashed by where I'd been. The monster looked like a stylised horse, the body smooth grey planes and plates, the grooves and gaps a darker shade with magenta highlights. Strangest of all was the rider. They looked almost human, though their body was made of the same grey plates, their face more a caricature of a woman than an actual one.
The Cavalier reared up, the rider levelling a lance at me. I gripped the Soulium spear tightly and waited for them to come. The Cavalier charged again. This was the difficult part. I knew the angle I needed to jump into for the attack to work. The danger was being run through with the lance. I had to time it just right. Finding my confidence I leapt up and in mid-flight swung the spear with enough force to knock the Cavalier's lance carefully to one side. It just barely grazed my ribs and sent me spinning. With the beast's back to me now was the time to strike. I used the momentum of the strike to spin around and piece the rider from behind. Honkai beast and rider howled as one, their inhuman voice confirming that neither was of terrestrial origin. Landing gently in the grass, I wasted no time and charged forward. Before the rider could swing around I was alongside, jamming the spear hard into the beast's flank. The creature lost momentum and tumbled into the tall yellow grass.
My breathing was heavy, sweat staining my clothes. I found the strength to wrench the spear free. The Honkai beast lay on its side in the summery grass. It bled nothing resembling blood. I held the spear aloft and ran it through the façade of a horse's head. With a final twitch the creature stilled. Already its form was beginning to disintegrate into translucent geometric particles, ribbons of magenta light lifting into the air before fading to nothing.
Now with the time to spare I surveyed the vast savannah. I'd needed time apart from the tribe to cull the Honkai that had appeared. Now it was safe. I would return and inform them that I had chased the lions off. There were more Honkai appearing lately. I'd even heard rumours that some tribes had disappeared. If the undead appeared then I would know the truth of it. I would protect my tribe; body, heart and soul.
The steady thrum of feet on the running track, the staccato of heavy breaths, the pained look as athletes of various talent struggled to take the lead or merely keep moving. The girls had been instructed to make five complete laps. Now at the start of the fourth most were flagging. Their footfalls were uneven and ill-timed. Their PE uniforms: polo shirts, shorts, socks and running shoes, were stained with sweat and dirt where some had fallen.
Lizelle kept toward the middle of the group. She had no desire to be in first place. Instead she hovered in the mid-section, jostling casually with them to maintain pace. Physical Education was often when Lizelle felt most at peace. The shift of balance with every footfall. The smell of dirt kicked into the air. The thrum of blood as it her heart pumped in regular time. Lizelle loved the exercise and the feel of losing herself in something else. For these moments she could forget about the world and the things she often thought. The only distraction was her hair. Lizelle had forgotten her hair lackey. Again. As a substitute she had used a pencil to twirl her long blonde hair into a bun and pinned it in place with the pencil as a hair stick. It worked but felt uncomfortable against the back of her head.
The runner just ahead of Lizelle looked like she had been pushing herself too hard. Her pace was slipshod, and her legs unsteady. Toes catching on the dirt she tumbled and tripped. Lizelle didn't even think to dodge. All she could do was catch her legs in the body of the falling girl and topple over. They rolled into a heap of limbs, bruises and mild curses. The curses were all from Lizelle. The sort that would no doubt involve a teacher's discipline later. Untangling herself, Lizelle got onto her feet and did a quick pat down. Scuffed knees, a bleeding elbow and dirt everywhere. She eyed her collapsed running partner. The girl looked okay. At least until she watched her try to move her ankle.
"Wait," Lizelle ordered.
By now everyone had congregated around the novel disaster. The PE teacher was slowly jogging up from the other side of the field. Long enough for Lizelle to act. Lizelle knelt and very gently checked around the girl's ankle. Her twitch and corresponding whimper confirmed everything.
"You've twisted your ankle. We need to get you to the nurse."
"Are you sure?" the girl stammered.
"Yes."
The girl nodded her head.
"I'm going to crouch down. I need you to take all your weight off your bad leg and onto me. Then I'll slowly stand up. You push up on your good leg. But focus on your ankle and making you don't bump into anything."
The girl looked surprised. These were the sort of calm, commanding instructions that would come from a teacher or adult. Still, she obeyed the instructions and slowly pushed up with her good leg. Lizelle took the bulk of the weight without any struggle. Before the PE teacher had even arrived Lizelle was hobbling off with the girl toward the nurse's office. They carefully made their way down the concrete paths. The few students and teachers moving between classrooms gave the pair an odd look but continued on their way. Upon arrival Lizelle rapped once on the wooden door before pulling it open. The nurse was seated behind her desk and going over an inventory log. The crease in her brow spoke volumes of her opinion on being interrupted.
"You are meant to wait until I say enter," the woman said in commanding voice.
"Twisted ankle," Lizelle said as she settled the student on a bed. "Haven't had a chance to ice it."
The nurse stood up from her desk and began checking over the girl. She didn't bother looing up to Lizelle.
"You can return to class. I'll speak with your teacher later."
'No good deed goes unpunished.'
I perched on the lip the rooftop and waited. I was high enough that it was doubtful anybody would bother looking upwards. Even then I barely extended my head past the guttering. It wasn't as though I needed eyes to sense my targets. The amount of Honkai energy that radiated from the artefact glowed like a small sun to my mind.
It was impossible that they had come across such a trifle by accident. Somebody else was pulling the strings and having the archaeologists do all the heavy lifting. Egypt had only drawn more and more attention lately. I guess someone had whispered the right words into Lepsius' ears. Now several unscrupulous people were making a steady path through the dark streets of Cairo.
I ran gloved fingers over the blades secreted about my person and set into my bandoleer. I wanted to avoid firearms where possible. A few people shouting and having a scuffle was nothing unusual. The discharge of a pistol or longarm would draw quick attention. Tugging twice on the rope, I tossed it over the edge of the gutter and followed myself a second later, grip tight as I quickly descended. My gloves warmed under the rapid friction. Nothing more than an idle discomfort. The heavy end of the rope slapped onto the sandy stone floor of the street. The men looked up in surprise. They had not chance to act before I too landed amidst them.
With practiced flicks I tossed two daggers outward. Each found their mark, men falling to the ground, blades buried to the hilt in throats. One drew a pistol, the other's curved scimitars. The man with the pistol ended with a knife in his eyeball. I dashed toward and jumped over his twitching corpse as the men finally stirred to action. Two attempted to flank me, curved blades lashing out and trying to find an opening. Twisting fingers I reversed the grip on my daggers, blade pointed downward as I kept them at bay. I hooked aside a quick slash before dropping the grip on the dagger and closing the distance with my foe. A quick heel-palm strike to the nose sent the man stumbling. His partner stepped forward, only to find me using the other man as a body shield. I dropped between my shield's stumbling legs and tossed a dagger through the gap. My target let out a squeal as the dagger landed in a rather sensitive location. Back on my feet, I snapped the neck of my body shield and strode purposefully forward. The man with the dagger in a most embarrassing place didn't have a chance to beg for mercy. Another dagger through the eye.
A single man remained. He wore a light cloak with the hood up. My opinion was quickly revised when I saw the set of the legs, the slight shift in gait as they cautiously pulled back a few paces. It was a woman I faced. That changed the parameters. The read of her indicated that she was a competent fighter. Maybe Schicksal. Maybe one of the other shadowy operators. Or an independent looking to make a good trade from those power groups. All I needed to do now was deal with her and acquire the artefact. Something this group had murdered for. They had found it in a location nobody of this era should have known about. That knowledge alone was another investigation I would have to conduct once this affair was settled.
"What have they paid you, Nubian?" the woman asked. "I will double it."
I shook my head.
"Triple."
Again I shook my head.
"Stubborn child."
"My ancestors watched over this land. Egypt, Persian, Ottoman: it didn't matter. We watched. You are taking something that does not belong to you."
I'd chosen my words carefully. Implanting the idea that it had been a regional group with historical connections was vital. The concept of a generational vigil would suit their reports far more than the idea of a rogue appearing out of nowhere and disappearing just as quickly. Though it was true. I had been here back in the Ta-Seti days.
"Then you will—"
I didn't give the woman a chance to finish her monologue. I closed distance and struck twice. The woman pulled back just enough, tossing her cloak in the way and using the cover to ready herself. I took her appearance in. A coppery complexion and dark eyes dressed like much like a westerner in trousers and a shirt. Probably an Egyptian that had offered to be a translator for any arriving archaeologists. But she moved as someone else altogether. Certainly not a mere guide. The two of us chose to remain unarmed, sizing the other up and deciding what best to do.
I acted first, again with a pair of quick punches followed by a leg sweep. The woman deflected both and stepped out of the sweep. In return she lashed out with quick chops, blows aimed to break bone rather than bruise muscle. I did my best to deflect each strike. Still she moved with serpent-like grace. The pair of us danced around the other, flicking quick, probing strikes at the other. I caught a blow to the shoulder that nearly dropped me. The woman was clearly more than human. My assailant used the opening to grab my throat with both hands and try choke me out. She wanted me alive to interrogate. I grabbed her arms with my right hand and pulled them roughly to one side. With my left I used a heel-palm strike. Her nose broke under the force of the blow. The moments distraction was all I needed. I pulled her grip on my throat loose and used a forward kick to send her rolling down the street.
The woman was partway stumbling to her feet when I loomed over her. An axe kick to the head knocked her hard into the stone ground. I didn't need to waste time rifling through her pockets. The artefact was exactly where I knew it to be on her person. Grabbing the leather and rag wrapped ball I decided to run and put as much distance between the two of us as possible.
Into the hot Cairo night I ran. I didn't know how my foe had learnt of the Soulium Core's location. But their means and methodology spoke of ill intentions. My foe had also been something more than human. When I had the time there were many questions that needed to be answered. For now I would run. Obfuscation was my strength.
The afternoon sun streamed low through the windows. Sitting alone amidst the tables, Lizelle studiously took notes and carefully completed her homework. As usual she aimed for somewhere in the middle of the class' rankings. Blend in and not stand out. Those were her goals. That same goals that her predecessors had embraced.
'Though it's harder with the world shifting so quickly.'
The memories of the last one hundred years were especially important. The world had been changing so rapidly. Whilst the fighting styles and techniques, psychology, investigational methods and broad knowledge of Honkai served her well, Lizelle had far less to work with when trying to survive day to day. The most recent set of memories she had avoided outright. After seeing the last day of Aubreen's life Lizelle was yet to return to that mind. After having briefly known her it felt like a breach of privacy. Though her memories would help, Lizelle simply couldn't find the courage to step into that closest of stars within her Imaginary Space.
'There are some lines I just cannot cross.'
The quiet library was a pleasant solace. Lizelle was aware she could take in the memories of the more studious predecessors within Imaginary Space and pass the classes with minimal effort. But it felt like cheating. If she was going to learn this knowledge then she was going to earn is properly too.
Looking outside, Lizelle checked the height of the sun and wondered if there would be enough time for a quick swim. Something to wash away the dumpster fire that was her day.
The mountain was afire. Heat surrounded me and turned sweat to steam as it licked my skin. I cared not. Upward and upward I climbed, scrambled and ran. I ignored the normally tranquil and meandering cobblestone path used by travellers. It would only slow me further and time was a resource I had little to spend of. Instead I pushed through the burning underbrush. Once beautiful natural gardens and glades now glowed in the scorching heat. It was hard to believe that this was noon. The heavy pall of smoke and raining ash gave the impression of an Autumn sunset.
Burnt creepers, charcoal tree limbs and smoky underbrush obscured my way. I felt nothing but pain as I continued my desperate ascent. Where I could not climb or run I drew upon forbidden powers. Ones I could only use when confronting the Honkai. To me it mattered not. At this appointed time and place my priorities were those that had shown my home and love.
'Where in the darkest pits of Greek Hades is the Empyrean?! This is her role to undertake, not mine!'
That thought bubbled at the recesses of my mind. Still I let it not burden me. If I could not be the one to save them when who honestly would be?
A pile of scree lay at the bottom of the harsh mountain cliff. I focussed the power that lay dormant within and kicked off hard against the ground. Stone flashed rapidly past my eyes before I landed on the lip of the cliff. The Natural Stigmata was warm against my back. I snatched the Honkai crystal infused Jian from its scabbard at my hip. The blade too was warm to the touch. A different warning of a different foe. I now moved like a serpent through the underbrush, nothing impeding my way as I slunk silently forward. The temperature only increased as I approached my goal. The heat made the air nigh unbearable. It was so furious that the very light bent and warped under its touch. This distraction I pushed aside. With a final push I came stumbling out onto the cobblestone path I had earlier avoided. Looming before me was the now scorched wooden pillars that marked the entrance to my mountaintop village. One of many that loosely surrounded Mount Taixuan, like spokes that spread out from the great mountain a hundred or so miles away.
My eyes surveyed the scene. Most of the buildings were now little more than glowing embers. Those few that had survived would be nothing more than stone foundations and blasted heaths. The very stone of the central village square appeared to have melted under the intense heat. The stones glowed in the ashen gloom, the colour of burnt tangerines that gave the scene a hellish bent.
At the end of the square were huddled the last survivors. Behind them, though roughly still intact, was the burning temple. I assumed they had taken refuge within the structure before it too had succumbed. I set aside all self-preservation and sprinted across the hot stones. My feet barely touched the ground as I run. Still, it was too late for them and somehow, I knew it. The structure of the temple blasted high into the air. Roaring fire poured out from where the building had once stood. That heat turned man, woman and child to ash in a heartbeat. I girded my mind against emotions running astray and continued my sprint. Rising up from the destruction was a Honkai Beast that lit up old training memories. The creature hovering before me was vaguely humanoid, though its body was built from various diamond shapes the shades of a burning fire. Smaller diamond fragments surrounded it like a cursed halo, heat bleeding off their forms and rippling in the air.
I glared at the head shaped like a glimmering triangle chunk and readied to fight the beast. Two of the hovering limbs slammed together, Honkai energy swirling around the floating projections before sending a ball of fire like a miniature sun. I dove to one side and came up on knees and a limb. Pushing hard off the ground I continued my sprint. Just as I closed in on my foe it let out an angry roar. Heat pulsed from its body. The pressure pulse sucked inwards before flaring outwards. There was not way to dodge the pulse. Scorching wind struck and knocked me off my feet. I bounced and rolled across the ground before coming to stop on my back.
I shook of my surprise only to look up at my doom. The remains of the temple were now raining down upon the village. Barely a metre above me was a chunk of room beam. I was irritated by the futility of it all. Whoever would come next could contin—
Lizelle swore as she lurched out of bed. Her body was covered in flop-sweat. Her chest was crushed, ribs puncturing organs where they had been shattered, spinal column pulverised. Desperate hands patted all over. With a long sigh she realigned dream and reality.
'Another memory that ends in our death.'
Day and night. Week after week. Train to be an adult in Real Space. Train to be a foe of Honkai and Human alike in Imaginary Space. The lines were blurring. But Lizelle had a heavy responsibility that had been placed upon her. She had unconsciously accepted it. Otherwise the Core would have chosen someone else.
Lizelle glanced across and checked the time.
'01:04. 7 hrs in there compared to 3 here. I'm slowly improving my control.'
Lizelle didn't like her current state, clothes sticking to her, sheets damp where bare flesh had touched them. She had no choice but to tolerate it. Though her roommate could sleep through a storm, completely changing the bedding and her clothes would rouse even her. A task Lizelle would leave for later in the morning. All she could do now was leave the covers off and let the fabric dry slowly. Lying on her bed in the gloom she wondered how better to improve the efficiency of her daily routines. There was far too much to do and never enough time.
"I want to thank you so much for having me. I know I snore pretty badly and you never once complained."
Lizelle's roommate gushed, holding her hands and smiling repeatedly. It was cute, in a juvenile kind of way. It had still come as something of a shock to Lizelle. Apparently several other boarders were leaving the school as well. Parents no doubt getting cold feet at the last minute. The idea of their daughters beginning to train as Valkyrja for Schicksal was a daunting one.
The room felt surprisingly bare after the roommate had finished packing her belongings. Lizelle hadn't realised just how much the girl had moved into the room. And how little she had. The barren lack of anything personal on Lizelle's side mirrored that of the now empty bed, bookshelf and desk of the former roommate.
The two had shared the same room for the past year. Though she wouldn't say it, Lizelle was glad that the girl was going. She had a good heart, a kind personality and sweet disposition. None of those traits would serve her well in the future as a warrior. People died young and often in Schicksal. That was the nature of their life. Instilled with Artificial Stigma that would shorten their lifespan and given the responsibility of fighting against deadly monsters on a frequent basis.
Lizelle knew of the other dangers as well. Factional elements, opposing organisations, corruption within the establishment that went all the way up to the top. This wasn't a world that girl belonged in.
"I'm going to miss you," Lizelle truthfully admitted.
The girls embraced each other one final time before they left. With the departure over Lizelle was ready to start her day proper. Sighing slowly, Lizelle laid out her school clothes as necessary. Polo shirt, shorts, socks and running sneakers for beginning PE. Collared top, sweater-vest, pleated skirt, knee-high socks and leather shoes for the rest of the day. With a tsk Lizelle walked back to her bedside table. She'd forgotten the hair lackey for her long blonde hair when in PE class several times. Trying to run with it spilling everywhere was impractical and frustrating.
"I've got PE in the morning," Lizelle spoke to herself. "Do I want to go swimming in the afternoon?"
"So I would like you all to give her a warm welcome and do your best to help her during this transition."
The teacher carried on at the start of morning homeroom. Lizelle was already contemplating the days classes, how best to navigate them and what training she would be conducting that evening. She needed to learn more about the period immediately after the disappearance of the Empyrean.
"…"
If there were a way to further increase the temporal efficiency in Imaginary Space then even more time could be spent learning.
"… excuse …"
"Hmm?"
A face fell in front of Lizelle. The features were lean, with her curly black hair cut boyishly short and burnt sienna eyes that penetrated. Lizelle couldn't help but be shaken out of her train of thought. The girls stare was intense but not aggressive. There was more of a dance of energy about her.
"You really don't notice anything that doesn't immediately affect you?" the girl observed bluntly.
A titter of laughter carried around the class. Even the teacher signed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Just settle into your seat," the teacher told the student. "Everyone you have five minutes to get your books for the morning classes.
The girl sat in the empty seat next to Lizelle. Lizelle noted that this was where her roommate had once sat. It was logical for the seat to be replaced. With this little fact now in place Lizelle returned to her rumination.
A gentle poke in her sides had Lizelle squeaking. The girly sound carried around the classroom. More than a few of the girls looked over shoulders and chuckled at Lizelle's expense. Face going red, Lizelle turned to the girl and gave her a withering glare.
"Ticklish," the student said. "That's kinda cute."
"Just who do you think you are?" was Lizelle's harsh whisper in response.
"Who do you think I am? What's my name?"
…
…
…
The student beamed brightly.
"You really don't know."
Lizelle gnashed her teeth. But she had the maturity to keep her peace.
"I'm the new student, Yvette. Just transferred this morning. That's what the teacher told the entire class. By the way, what's the teacher's name?"
…
…
"How about any of the other students on the class?"
…
…
The constant questions left Lizelle exasperated. She just wanted to focus on the next class. She would review the previous night in Imaginary Space during her lunch break.
"You're an odd one alright," Yvette said.
d .
dx 5x3
Lizelle looked up at the equation on the board and began mentally calculating the answer. The teacher had put it up as a challenge to the top students. Working on such complex calculus questions was beyond most eleven-year-olds. But some in the remedial class were ready to move up to the normal class. It appeared that the teacher wanted to give them a challenge. Though it was one they would inevitably fail.
A desk bumped up against Lizelle's own. The transfer student had shifted her furniture over. Yvette gave a sunny smile and pointed to her workings.
"I'm a bit behind in my studies," the girl admitted in a low whisper. "I never studied this at my previous school."
"Nobody would have. Our maths teacher likes to give these challenges out. This is the sort of mathematics you would encounter midway through High School."
"Then why do this?"
"Some of the students are very bright. This is a chance for them to try apply themselves and show they can graduate to the middle tier class. They won't solve it. But it spurs them into thinking and trying to problem solve"
"What about the rest of the class?"
"They use the time to catch up any work or notes they missed during class."
Yvette looked across at Lizelle's workbook. Neat equations, easy to follow but rigorously annotated graphs, notes for follow up study along with reference page numbers. To the new girls' eyes Lizelle was a model student.
"So what's the answer?" Yvette asked curiously.
"To what?"
"The challenge up on the board of course."
"Don't know. Like I said. High School mathematics."
"But you recognise it."
"I went looking for some study notes online. Stumbled across some High School material."
Yvette snorted. It was a sound that implied just how little she believed the story.
"Come on. At least give me a pointer."
"As I said—"
"You expect me to believe that? Your workbook is impeccable. Your notes show that you completely grasp what's being asked of you. You don't seem stupid to me and I reckon your memory is pretty good."
Yvette's urging pressed a button that Lizelle didn't know existed. She wouldn't have called them irksome. More like a challenge being laid out to her. The transfer student leant in closer. Her warm shoulder pressed against Lizelle. A bubble of unfamiliar energy bloomed inside. Tsking, Lizelle flipped over a page and began writing the answer roughly in pencil.
"Firstly you need to determine the derivative. The power rule is nxn-1…"
Lizelle launched into a carefully worded explanation of how derivatives could give information on the graph of a function and the shape of the graph. Yvette would gently interrupt with pertinent questions. Those tangents would be quickly explained before Lizelle returned to the original problem. The pair were so lost in their animated conversation that they didn't notice the maths teacher standing before their desks tapping a finger on the furniture patiently. When finally they looked up, the two realised that the entire classes attention was on them.
"I didn't expect you to be gossiping on your first day, Ms Yvette."
"Actually, Lizelle was showing me how to solve derivative functions using the power rule," Yvette responded earnestly.
The teacher shook their head.
"I'm impressed you know something of the challenge. But you shouldn't lie about solving it."
"I don't think I can solve the equation. It's only my first time seeing it. But Lizelle probably could."
The bold claim hushed everyone in class. Yvette had more or less laid down a challenge to the teacher on Lizelle's behalf. Yvette elbowed Lizelle gently in the ribs.
"You can do this. Show them."
'I don't need to stand out. I shouldn't stand out.'
Lizelle wanted to hunch over and blend into the background. That was what she was meant to do. Not be noticed. Coast through and do what she could in the background. Yvette's hand gently encircled Lizelle's wrist. Lean, tan fingers circled her arm and squeezed, lending the girl strength. Lizelle looked up to the teacher. She was going to tell the same bluff that she had told Yvette. Then her blood began to warm. It was the look the teacher favoured her with. Someone looking contemptuously at the girl. Lizelle wondered how many times she had basked in that look without realising. A teacher, an educator, a woman that should have been encouraging her student. Instead she only saw Lizelle the girl who squeaked by with average grades. That look said it all. If the teacher wanted to lay down the gauntlet, then she would reap her own action.
Lizelle was up at the whiteboard in seconds. The equation was written in large letters in the middle. Lizelle scrubbed away the equation and wrote the already memorised details at the top of the board. Then she went to work. The equation was asking what the derivate of x3 was. Using the power rule, n = 3. She elaborated and determined that the solution was 15x2. From there Lizelle determined the derivative to be x2 + x3 = 2x + 3x2.
Returning the cap to the whiteboard marker, Lizelle placed it down and turned to greet her stunned audience. All the students stared at Lizelle. Her smile was warm, filled with confidence and containing no trace of arrogance or mockery. Striding back to her desk Lizelle sat down and looked up to the mathematics teacher where they stood stunned.
"I studied ahead," Lizelle said plainly.
"Class. Dismissed," the teacher managed.
The burble of conversation was instantaneous. Everyone was shocked at the turn of events. The normally plain Lizelle had flawed even the teacher. As they filed out most had a brief glance back at Lizelle and Yvette. The new student was clapping the sudden star on the back and talking about how amazing it all was.
Feet thudded against the running track. Heavy breaths and measured speed were the norm. As usual Lizelle kept to the middle of the pack. The pleasant trot felt great for her muscles. She wished there were more time to exercise and improve her physique. But as an average student her excuses were minimal. The best was her regular afternoon swims. Nobody would wonder at such things. No need for hand-eye coordination or demonstrations of strength and agility. Just cutting through the water. Still, the regular laps of the track helped Lizelle gage herself against the other students. All the better to keep her in the middle of the bell curve.
"Come on, slow-poke."
A side long glance revealed Yvette casually trotting beside her. The girl's face had the faintest sheen of the sweat. But her breathing and pace were one of a seasoned athlete. Lizelle could appreciate the talent and hard practice the girl demonstrated. Feigning not having the spare breath to talk, Lizelle kept her eyes forward and chose not to engage.
"Personally I love exercise," Yvette carried the one-sided conversation. "The chance to forget all that schoolwork and just think about being a Valkyrja for a little while. It's kinda fun."
'Til you die an early death.'
"I mean I know this knowledge is important and all. But I want to get better physically as well as mentally. They say not everyone survives the Artificial Stigma implantation. Everything I've read says a strong body gives you better odds."
Lizelle focussed on her rhythm. The right balance of bipedal, biphasic motion as she planted each step one after the other.
"It's a little scary knowing that you might die before you're really that old."
…
…
Trying to block out the girls incessant nattering was proving a bother.
"You really don't talk that much unless pressed."
…
…
"So about the next clas—"
"Just why are doing this?" Lizelle asked with exasperation thick in her voice.
"You seem interesting."
"That cannot honestly be it."
Yvette shrugged. Her eyes, however, had a more perceptive glint to them.
"You don't add up. I could see that the moment we started to talk. There's just something off. I can't put my finger on it."
Deciding the conversation was pointless, Lizelle turned her attention back to the slow laps of the oval.
"How about I make you a deal?"
…
…
"I swear as a would-be Valkyrja, if you beat me in a race then I'll never bother you again."
That caught Lizelle's attention. She'd already blown her normal cover once today. That was something she could ill afford.
"I won't speak to you. I won't look you in the eye. Won't even pick you up if you trip. Just beat me in the final lap around the track."
"You won't break your promise?"
"Sounds like you're not that puffed," Yvette teased. "Nope. If I give a promise, then I stick to it."
The middle of the crowd just passed the PE teacher. One final lap around the track to do.
"Done," Lizelle agreed.
No sooner had her words escaped her lips when Yvette broke away from the crowd. She streamed past the front runners with little difficulty. It looked like she would burn through her energy with that brief burst long before the halfway mark. The other girls muttered about the foolish move. Lizelle's eyes were more discerning. She saw talent. The way Yvette ran was far from reckless. In fact she could make a full lap easily at such a pace.
Swearing loudly, Lizelle broke into a proper run, leaving the rest behind to gasp as at her coarse language. Legs now pumping, Lizelle broke into a proper runners saggital motion and oozed into the right biomechanics. Her heartrate picked up, blood thumping in her ears, breathing measured and steady. The distance between the two began to close. Yvette glanced over her shoulder. Letting out a whoop of laughter she shifted gears and moved even faster.
'Damnit. She's actually good. Really, really good.'
The two girls passed the halfway mark, Yvette twenty metres ahead and still extending the gap. Nervous energy collected in Lizelle's body. Much as earlier in the day her blood warmed and something pushed at her buttons. Of all the things she could do, the girl broke into a vicious smile and pushed aside her reservations. She was going to crush this girl and return to her normal life with its uneventful days.
The change in Lizelle was like light and day. Now she was putting her heart into it. She didn't call upon the abilities she had access to. Their agreement was between a normal human and another seemingly normal human. To use such deceptive means went against the spirit of the agreement. Lizelle shifted into a proper sprint. Feet barely touching the ground, she adjusted her breathing and motions further, muscles working in perfectly synchronicity. That smile only widened as she closed in on Yvette. Her frustrating rival showed no signs of flagging even after such exertion. In fact she was meeting Lizelle's pace.
'Four hundred metres left. No more games.'
The two girls drew on their reserves and threw their all into the bet. Yvette's pace was incredible. She would have compared against national athletes twice her age. But Lizelle was on a whole different level. Strides now one that ate up metres in moments, she streamed toward and past Yvette just as they cleared the finish line. The PE teacher stared at the two surprise athletes. Shifting into a gentle jog, Lizelle turned around and made it back to where her rival stood panting. Yvette leant against her knees and sucked in air. The warmth in Lizelle's limbs was quite pleasant. Something she hadn't felt in a very long time. She knelt down to look Yvette in the eye.
"We have a deal," was Lizelle's low voice, "Please do not break it."
The teacher blew their whistle to end the lesson. The rest of the students could only stare and gossip at what had just happened. After all, the troublemaker and the new student had gone all out. Gone all out and left the top athletes of the class for dead.
"Well this is awkward."
Lizelle's dry observation carried across the silent room. Parked opposite her bed was Yvette. She had filled her side of the room with all manner of cute and not-so-cute paraphernalia. Posters of famous Valkyrja, Schicksal promotion material, athletes and anime characters. Her desk was neatly arranged with all manner of collectable stationary. The closet was open, the racks still to be filled, the rest of her fashionable and practical clothes lying on the bed.
Lizelle's hair was damp after she had washed it. Her clothes and swimsuit were bundled under one arm. With everything that had happened that day she had been in the mood to study hard before going on a very long swim.
And now her roommate had been replaced with someone far, far, far worse.
Tsking, Lizelle walked over to her spartan side of the room and began putting everything away. Yvette did as asked and spoke not a word. The two went about their business in the room in silence. Yvette finished her unpacking. Lizelle sat at her desk and completed the last of her homework. At seven the bell for dinner was rung. Through the meal the two didn't say anything. Oddly, they did sit opposite each other. The rest of the boarders in the dining hall gave quick, furtive glances in the direction of the two. Nothing was said. More than enough was unsaid.
Returning to their room, Lizelle flopped on her bed and read a book as Yvette tapped away at something on her laptop. Time ticked along slowly. Popping in a bookmark, Lizelle rolled onto her side and glared at the girl she was now stuck with, unwanted and unable to change the situation.
"So we're going to need to establish some ground rules if we are to survive the next year together."
…
…
"Neither of us wanted this. But we can be mature and make sure that neither of us causes trouble for the other."
…
…
Yvette finally looked up from her laptop. She made the motion for a zip across her lips and cheerily waved. That alone left Lizelle groaning. She pinched the bridge of her nose.
"I cannot believe this," she growled.
Yvette's response was a shrug, her mouth intentionally a very flat line, brow crinkled in mock frustration.
A snap echoed internally. For the third time today Lizelle lost her composure. She wasn't sure why, but her endurance was at an all-time low. Before she knew it, her hand grasped a pillow and it was flying across the room. Yvette was faster, hand batting aside the projectile before launching her own. The two exchanged pillows for roughly a minute. Neither managed to hit the other. With a final gasp Lizelle caught her pillow and buried her face in it. She screamed in frustration. Rolling off the bed, she stalked over to the light switch and cast the room in darkness. Stalking over to her bed the incensed girl crawled under the covers and hissed.
Lizelle never turned over. Never saw the expression on Yvette's face. Never saw the truth.
Lizelle learned to suffer through her unintentional roommate's presence. The first time the two had been instructed to work together in class had led to a stern lecture from the teacher. Yvette, as per the bet, had not spoken to Lizelle, even when addressed by the teacher to provide an answer in English class. Lizelle's face had turned red as the teacher went near apoplectic. After that the two came to an agreement that for the purposes for completing their classes they could speak with one another.
Outside of that first incident life slowly returned to normal for Lizelle. Yvette no longer provoked Lizelle. As quickly as the spotlight had appeared it began to fade. The life of normalcy and blurring into the background was a comfort. Soon the invasive presence of Yvette would too disappear.
At least that was what Lizelle told herself.
Something had sparked inside and she couldn't quite put it into words. That something came to a head three weeks after Yvette had first transferred into the class. Lizelle was returning from her quiet lunch she always ate in the gardens. She was about to round a corner of the main building when the raised voices caught her attention. Lizelle didn't want to stumble into the middle of a fight between any of her juniors or seniors. Her life had been difficult enough lately. She made to turn around. The words that carried around the corner arrested her motion.
"She's a freak."
"No, she isn't," Yvette insisted.
"You've seen those looks she makes in class. It's like she isn't even there."
"She's just distracted."
Another girl snorted and added her own opinion.
"Half the time she's barely passing tests, the rest of the time she's getting scolded by the teacher for not paying attention."
"The only thing she's good at is studying. Every afternoon she's at the Library just trying to catch up."
"So what?" Yvette asked. "If Lizelle is applying herself then that's a good thing."
'Wait. Me?'
"How did she even get into this school? She's clearly not smart enough."
"Maybe she's a good athlete," Yvette pointed out. "You saw how she ran before."
"That was even more weird. Normally she can just barely keep up with the rest of us."
"I hate that look in her eyes," a third girl added. "It's like she's looking through you. Her mind isn't in this world. I even hear her muttering to herself sometimes. Then she gives those serious orders. Treating us like idiots. She's creepy."
On and on the mocking commentary continued. It shouldn't have hurt. It made no sense that it would hurt. Lizelle had thousands of years of maturity and life experience. People who had suffered through much worse.
Her vision clouded with tears.
At that moment Lizelle was a fragile eleven-year-old girl. And a complete failure of a girl. She was meant to be normal. To be average. To be just another person in the school. She was a complete failure of a girl. Rather than being nothing she stuck out in the minds of everyone in class. If the students had noticed then surely the teachers had too. Her mission, her life-long-goal had failed before it had even begun. She had been given a great responsibility and this was the reality of her world. She was a complete failure of a girl.
The broken girl pressed her back against the stone wall of the building and slowly slid onto the ground. She cupped head with hands and let her body slowly curl on itself. The saddest part. The greatest part. That which hurt the most. Yvette. The one person she had silenced was the one that now stood up for her. The girl who'd extended a hand was fighting for her.
"… you what?"
The raised voice broke Lizelle out of her self-imposed suffering.
"It wasn't that hard. This school is pretty advanced. But they still keep paper records. I had a peek."
"Why the hell would you break into the secure records for students?!"
"Curiosity. If I'm going to be sharing a room with Lizelle I wanted to know her background."
One of the girls sounded shocked.
"Why didn't you just ask her!"
"We had a bet and I lost. I'm not allowed to talk to her."
"That's… that's bloody crazy. She's your roommate. How could she be that sick?"
"Because her family is dead."
Cold, expressionless syllables. Yvette's words lacked any trace of emotion.
"I checked. You all know the 2nd Eruption, right? Her whole family died. She's at this school on a scholarship from Schicksal."
Yvette's voice started to rise.
"You want to know why Lizelle is weird? Her home was obliterated. She watched her family die. Mother. Father. Brother. All slaughtered by Honkai Beasts. No home. No family. Nothing."
Yvette's voice was now bordering on a shout.
"She can probably hear their screams all the time. When she closes her eyes, she sees an army of Honkai beasts tearing apart everything. She's distracted because for her the past is the present. I share her room, you know. I've heard her scream and struggle in her sleep. Her nightmares never stop."
Yvette was properly shouting now.
"What the hell would any of you know? I spent one day trying to know her and learnt more than the rest have ever done. How many years have you all been here? How hard did you try? A friend doesn't give up once. I did my best and look what I managed. She briefly came out of her shell. She's all in there. She's smarter and stronger than anyone in the class. That includes the teachers. You just need to know where to look. You're not angry and asking me to stop associating with her. You're angry because you're too weak and don't like the fact that I'm—"
There was a meaty thump. Lizelle knew that sound. It was very familiar from her nightly training. Before the girl knew it she was up and around the corner. Emotions she didn't know existed propelled her forward. Three girls stood around Yvette where she lay on the ground. Her right eye was a painful looking red. In that moment Lizelle cast aside all pretence of subtlety. Swift steps crossed the distance. She strode around the girls and put herself between Yvette and them. Lizelle extended her arms wide. Something clicked inside. That warm bubbling in her blood returned. The part of her that had reacted to the provocation slid into the gears in her mind.
"The three of you are cowards. If you find fault with me, then you direct it at me and address me directly. Don't lash out at someone convenient."
"She's the one that started it," one of the girls responded quickly.
"I suspected as much and I am in her debt."
Lizelle turned and offered a hand to Yvette. She hauled the girl to her feet with no effort. Fixing her attention back on the trio, Lizelle took several steps forward and snatched up one of the girl's hands. She pressed the knuckles against her cheek.
"If you wish to strike anyone, let it be me and no other."
The trio could only stare in shock. They had no idea how to take the offering. The one with her had touching Lizelle snatched her hand back.
"I… I… I don't want to hit you."
Nodding at the explanation, Lizelle took two steps back and bowed deeply.
"I clearly have left you all aggrieved by my personality and actions. There is no excuse and I offer my sincerest apologies."
Lizelle lifted her head. The three girls were silent. Lizelle smiled. A small smile that seemed all the more appropriate when she tipped her head slightly to one side.
"Sorry. The books I read use all sorts of flowering language. Look, basically I screwed up. I'd like to have a chance to make it up with all of you. If you'll let me."
Lizelle glanced behind to Yvette. In the most inappropriate way possible Yvette gave a double thumbs up. After all they had an agreement not to talk. Unable to contain herself, Lizelle burst out laughing. She couldn't help it. The bubbling laughter carried layers of beauty and depth. It was the most emotional expression anyone had ever heard from Lizelle since she had started attending four years ago. For a good ten seconds Lizelle couldn't do much but laugh with all her heart. Finally she wiped tears from her eyes and turned to the other girls. The joy settled a touch. The expression was serious, but sincere and not swimming in her usual cold detachment.
"Yvette is right. I've been living in the past. I'd like to look toward the future. If you're willing could we reset and try do things over?"
The girls managed to regain their composure. They looked to each other. That they were considering it was all Lizelle needed to know.
"Uh. Okay. Sure. Maybe we can start over."
Lizelle bowed her head again.
"Thank you. Thank you all."
Yvette grabbed Lizelle in a rough embrace from behind. It caught the girl off guard and sent her stumbling forward a step. Yvette's head rested on Lizelle's shoulder. That close physical familiarity annoyed Lizelle. Her face formed a frown.
"So she can look angry too," one of the girls observed.
Taking a slow, deep breath, Lizelle pressed a finger against Yvette's forehead and slowly pushed it back.
"Yes. I release you from the stupid bet."
"Oh good."
Hands rested on Lizelle's sides and dug in. The rapid motion left the girl squealing and trying futilely to pull away.
"The most important thing to know is that Lizelle is super ticklish," Yvette explained to her audience. "She's promised to change. But you know people can fall into bad habits. So, if she starts being her old, distant self, just give her a good tickle. Can't keep all quiet and weird if you're lying on the ground giggling your head off."
It was hard to tell who was the weirder at that point. The three girls instead bowed their heads.
"We're so sorry," they genuinely said. "We shouldn't have hit you."
"Eh. All good. I'll tell the teacher I fell off my bed and landed on something painful."
Lizelle caught her breath and managed to push off the far too clingy Yvette.
"You and I. We're going to have a long chat about boundaries and appropriate behaviour."
"Ooo. Scary," Yvette teased.
The ground was made of a material that could not be defined nor described by the normal physics of the world. It simply felt harder than anything imaginable. In the permanent starlit night Lizelle sat and pondered. She's completed her daily training within the memory dojo. She was getting better at anticipating the movements of the zombies. The evolved zombies were something that still frustrated her. Their intelligence and inhuman vitality bequeathed by the Honkai was wholly different from the Honkai Beasts.
Lizelle could not recall a time where she did not spend her time asleep within Imaginary Space. There was so much yet left to explore. Thousands upon thousands of years of memories to interrogate and tease out the most useful elements. Her predecessors had left behind their own notes and guides. Memories and lifetimes that would be immediately useful.
One star glowed more than others. It was so close she could reach out and touch the sparkling light. She had not touched it since her first night when Zee had explained her mission. Through some twisted quirk of fate Lizelle had known Aubreen. Or put another way, Aubreen had known Lizelle. The woman couldn't have anticipated that Lizelle would be her successor.
Things had changed however. Lizelle was beginning to see the world differently. Her earlier pall of darkness was slowly lifting. Yvette was pulling her, willing or otherwise, into the light of life.
"That woman is my bane," Lizelle grizzled.
There was nothing within the Imaginary Space that could respond. But it felt appropriate to speak aloud. People constantly talked to themselves. At least Lizelle could be assured of her privacy. Looking up at that final challenge, Lizelle continued to ponder and wonder. She needed to pass this final milestone. Reaching up, she grasped the star and gently felt it. What surprised her most were the embers of something that called out to her. Some of her predecessors had left what she would call bookmarks. Places they thought would be most important. Aubreen had a singular ember.
"Why didn't I notice this before?"
Of course Lizelle already knew the answer. It had been her first night and the knowledge of this place was still being uploaded by the shadowy echo of Zee. Now with that complete knowledge she recognised the ember as it crackled brightly in her hand.
It felt like I'd wig out just staring at the mirror. The parents were out. That was cool. I could make this little speech. I just needed to chill. I mean, I know I could just think this message. But I figure it's important. Get this is in before I was an adult child. I looked fine in this mirror. If this was the first thing the next one was going to see, it wasn't gonna be my PJ's. Lace gloves and top, hip skirt and leggings. My bra looked awesome beneath the lace. I don't think I had put on too much makeup. Heh. Style could have changed when they saw this. Hope so. I'd seen that Doll House stuff from Japan. Looked really sweet. Maybe I should have tried that. Ah. Too late.
"Yo. So ahhh. I'm Aubreen. Well I've carked it if you're seeing this. Learnt that expression from an Aussie friend. Sounds weird. But bad. I like. Anyway. If you're watching this then I'm gone. I thought I'd say of couple of things."
I cleared my throat.
"First. Good luck. I know you'll be a badass. I've been doing this for a while now. My parents would freak if they knew what I do on weekends. Everyone here in our mind is awesome. Just learn all you can from them. It'll suck sometimes. It'll hurt the rest. I know that's harsh. But it's the truth."
I took a breath. I needed to phrase this right. I mean I know they could hear everything I thought. But saying it was important.
"Just keep fighting. You're strong. You're so strong you can change lives. Cities rise and fall because of you. Shit, entire nations are here because of what we did. It'll be hard and you might want to quit. I've wanted to. I'm not afraid to admit that.
What you can't do is be a ghost. That's the hardest bit. You gotta juggle life with everything else we do. The trick is being here. Like here in real life. On planet Earth. People see you and they think that's all you are. So when you have to be a badass, nobody suspects a thing. Trust me, they're watching for people like us. Schicksal are dirty fuckers. AE aren't much better. Jormungandr. Those guys do anything to stop the Honkai. They're a sneaky bunch and will sacrifice millions. Pretty twisted. Oh and plenty of small operators too."
I paused for a moment. I'd left this bookmark on purpose for whoever was next. Holding back now would be bad.
"You need to watch out for the Children of Ashur. Really secretive. But they're proper warped. Like in a way the rest can't even comprehend."
I leant forward, thinking it might look cool to kiss the mirror. Make it look like I was kissing them. Then I figured it was stupid and pulled back.
"You'll be fine. Find people that keep you healthy. You can't into get relationships and stuff though. We're in danger all the time. So they would be too. Plus some of them dirty fuckers would use family against us. So yeah, friendships will matter. They make the pain easier. I met this girl with this amazing Brit accent. She's all prim and proper. Totally cultured manners. She's going against the grain. It's like cool on a whole different level. She said she might give me some pointers.
Ooo, there's a thought. A few of us predecessors came up with some rules to live by. Our own code of conduct. I'd say do the same. It's a way to help make decisions. That way you don't regret what you do. Go kick some Honkai arse!
Oh yeah. That reminds me. Check out Zhao Jiaying's memories. You'll know em when you see em. Girl is scary wicked. You'll learn things from her that'll make a Herrscher quake."
I thought about how to end the memory. I mean my memories kept going. Whoever was watching could keep viewing after I'd finished my little speech. This memory recording thing never stopped. Follow me out the room and stuff. But I wanted something dramatic. Really cool. Then it dawned on me. They could follow me everywhere! I turned back to the mirror. Glared at it really scary.
"Just one other thing. I mean I know you'll go through everyone's memories. But there's stuff… look you know… when I've got a girl over… Okay so I like girls. It's that Brit girl I mentioned. I know I said no relationships. But getting close to people and having a little fun is different. So like, don't peak in on that. It's gonna be super hard not to think about that when we're getting…"
My composed face in the mirror was scarlet.
"If I look at the sign on my door and it says go away then you don't follow me inside okay?! That's our intimate time. And don't go back a week either! That night was…"
I let my voice trail off. Before I knew it I was laughing. Here I was, recording a message for someone when I was long dead. How could I get embarrassed? If they were super creepy, they could follow me to the bathroom. My laughter echoed throughout the room. Wiping tears from my eyes I kissed my fingers and pressed them against the mirror.
"It's gonna be hard. But it's so worth it. People are beautiful. Fight for them."
I realised just how cool that was as I left the room. That's probably what made it awesome.
A gentle hick clung in Lizelle's throat. Her throat felt so dry it burned. More hot tears streaked along her cheeks. She went to dash them only to realise her hands were pinned by her sides. She could feel fingers threaded between her own. Warm hands pressed palm to palm. Eyes gently fluttering open, the world warped by tears slowly sharpened. Yvette was seated on the edge of the bed. She clutched Lizelle's hands in her own. A look of deepest empathy radiated from every part of her body. With Lizelle now awake she withdrew, freeing up hands and hugging herself.
"You really are a bother," Yvette said in a low voice.
Lizelle carefully sat up. She didn't shift the tears from her face.
"It's okay," Lizelle replied, her voice equally low.
Yvette shook her head.
"Every night I listen to you toss and turn. Sometimes you cry out before stilling. I know you wake up from something horrific each time."
Lizelle considered what to say. The idea of a code of conduct appealed to her. Already her mind was mulling over possibilities.
"In those dreams I die."
There was honesty in Lizelle's voice. It was the truth without context. She would use such words whenever possible. The truth could be woven into a greater narrative. People would trust those words when spoken in truth. True obfuscation.
"Do you ever sleep well?"
"These tears are happy tears. A memory that gave me great joy."
"Your family?"
"An old memory. I learned something important. I think I'll sleep better now."
"Your family must have been amazing."
"They scaled mountains I can scarcely imagine. Protected everyone around them. Watched out for people and helped them when they didn't even realise. I think I spent so much trying to be them that I forget it isn't about being them. It's about learning from them."
"Sounding pretty sagacious there."
Lizelle was like a viper. Her hands reached out and tickled Yvette's side. The girl squealed and fell onto the bed.
"I'm not the only one with a weakness."
Yvette didn't get up from where she had collapsed. Instead she pulled up her legs and lay on the bed proper. Her back was to Lizelle. Looking at the lean form, Lizelle could see what Aubreen had meant. Things to protect. Things that mattered.
"You'd be an amazing Valkyrja," Yvette whispered.
"Huh?"
"I've never seen anyone like you. I mean once you stopped being an idiot it's like a switch was flipped. You're so smart it's scary sometimes. Even the teachers are shocked. I think they only keep you in the remedial class because you're so good at tutoring the rest of us. Same thing for sports. Running, softball, basketball, javelin. I could go on all day. You're just… amazing. I know you train hard every day. Now I get why."
Lizelle lay down beside Yvette. Slowly. Ever so slowly. She reached out and embraced Yvette.
"I don't where you came from, Yvette," she whispered in the girl's ear. "But I want to know. I want to know you. I want to learn everything about everyone in my class."
"You'll get to."
"But you need to know something about me. I'll never become a Valkyrja. I might be strong and smart. But that isn't enough. I need courage. The sort of courage you have. I wouldn't be here holding you if not for the courage you had to reach out to me. When I see a Honkai I just… I just… it's too hard. I think what happened before will never go away. Those memories stick to my sleep. It's like you said, I never stop having night terrors."
Yvette clutched Lizelle's hands and pulled them tightly against her.
"So you'll just give up like that?"
"I'll be right beside you. I'll support you and everyone around you. If this normal girl can kick your arse, what excuse do you Valkyrja have? I will never leave your side. If I'm part of Schicksal then I will be the buttress for all of you. I will make sure all of you can fight with all your might."
Lizelle snuggled up against Yvette. She rested her face close to Yvette's back and whispered.
"Nobody should go through what I did, Vee."
Yvette giggled.
"What's with that?" she teased.
"I thought it sounded cool."
"It didn't."
"Bite me."
Teeth grazed Lizelle's hand, eliciting a shocked gasp.
"If you call me Vee then I get to… call you Zee."