"Damn it!"
Kiana's curse echoed through the room as her character died for the umpteenth time against Bronya. Despite the 'game over' on the screen, Kiana kept pushing the buttons in frustration.
"Seriously, midget! How the hell do you keep winning?!" Kiana glared at Bronya, who was sitting next to her. Despite the accusation, Bronya kept her usually calm face.
"Subject Idiotka must have spent all her functional brain cells while studying for her remedial exams." She leaned forward to take an open can of soda on the coffee table. "Not like there were many from the beginning." And took a sip.
"Hey! I'm not an idiot nor brain dead, you stupid midget!"
Bronya's eyes slightly widened, and she stopped drinking from her soda. She lowered the can from her lips and looked at Kiana in surprise.
"The Bronya is truly surprised that the Idiotka understood Bronya's words' meaning." She looked upwards, there was a glint in her eyes. "Perhaps, there is still hope for Subject Idiotka."
"Oh, you little-!"
Kiana was about to lunge at Bronya, but a yell stopped her.
"Kiana-chan! Don't fight or there won't be meat for you!" Mei chided her across the kitchen window. Kiana pointed at Bronya, who returned to drink her soda.
"B-But! The brat is being so mean to me, Mei-senpai!" The white-haired girl protested, knowing the black-haired beauty got her. Despite her words, Mei didn't relent in her glare. Kiana whimpered and lowered her head. The corners of Bronya's lips twitched up.
"And Bronya-chan, stop antagonizing Kiana-chan, or I will confiscate Homu's special treats." Hearing the threat, Bronya shuddered and nodded in submission.
Mei dropped the glare and sighed in frustration. She was very fond of the girls, but if she left them unchecked, they would act like unruly kids until they came to blows.
"I better hurry up to finish dinner. These two tend to be in a bad mood when they are hungry." She also knew they tended to take out their moodiness on each other. With these thoughts in mind, Mei quickened up her pace in cutting some vegetables.
"I'm back," Adam called from the main door as he closed it. When he reached the main room, he noticed the two sulking girls on the couch and Mei's hurried pace through the kitchen door. Having seen this before, Adam cocked a brow and asked. "Let me guess? They are bickering. Again." Without glancing at Adam, Mei nodded and kept moving her hands.
The whole place smelled delicious, a constant every day since Mei took the chef's cloak. Except for when she was too tired even to cook, or when anyone else helped her or took the role for the day.
Kiana was out of the question. She was banned from the kitchen until she learned to cook properly.
Which could translate to never.
Ahem, going back on track, Adam found it a bit surprising that Kiana and Bronya were arguing, given that early in the morning both girls weren't bickering as usual. In fact, Bronya corrected some mistakes Kiana made in some instances about what they studied last night, and without making fun of her!
"{Small miracles barely live long enough,}" it sighed.
Adam agreed with it. He found it quite strange that throughout the whole day, the two girls weren't bickering with each other until now.
"{The cosmical order is back!}" It chuckled.
The black-haired male mentally huffed at its remark as he glanced to the kitchen to see if Mei needed a hand. It took him a glimpse to know that he wasn't required. He would hinder more than help. Mei was cooking like she was a professional chef.
"Maybe, in another life, if Ryoma Raiden wasn't arrested, she would have been an excellent one."
Thinking about the founder of Massive Electric Corporation made Adam frown as he walked to his room.
One week after he and the girls were accepted in St. Freya, Adam asked Hestia to check the girl's backgrounds. He knew that asking for that was shitty, even Hestia chided him for doing it, but she also understood why. He would live with some people he barely knew and slightly bonded over a Honkai Eruption.
Under dire circumstances, people can bond so intimately that it can result in a very special bond of trust and care between the parties involved.
While Adam trusted the girls to watch his back while they traveled through Nagazora, it was different once they were out of there. He knew that he was being paranoid and unfair to the girls, but he wasn't going to lower his guard at all until he knew who he was going to live with.
He wasn't surprised at all as he read through Himeko's and Kiana's files. The former enlisted in Schicksal in her early twenties, and the latter had inconsistencies in her locations and periods in those places.
From his and Kiana's sworn-secret conversation back at Nagazora, Adam understood these missing periods in her archive were due to her chasing after Siegfried.
The bitter taste in his mouth after reading hers grew when he opened Bronya's and read where she came from.
While Adam wasn't close to Bronya, Adam felt bad for the petite girl once he read that she was born and grew up in the torn-apart Siberian region. Although he lacked evidence, the killed Honkai beasts by her on their way out of Nagazora, and her robot -Project Bunny as she called it- was used completely naturally. As if she had used it for a long time.
No normal children would have behaved like it was normal for them to fight multiple hostiles like that unless she received training at a young age.
And Mei? After reading through her information, he thought the ex-heiress was a perfect princess. And no, not with contempt, mocking, or suspicion.
Despite being raised in the life of a wealthy heiress since childhood, instead of becoming a spoiled brat or much worse, Mei formed a noble temperament with graceful elegance and maturity under the strict education of her father. Another shocking point? Her father, Ryoma Raiden, wasn't a bastard trying to control her! The man was a person with principles and strong morality. He was always severe and resourceful when dealing with the affairs of his company and never got mixed up in the web of politics. A father who showed a lot of love and protection to her daughter, without turning his affection into a cage that suffocated her.
It sounded like a fairy tale. The fair and beautiful princess, raised by the wise king -perhaps to rule in his place once the time was right?
Everything was perfect.
And then, in a single week, Mei's life went down the drain.
Ryoma Raiden was accused and arrested for the alleged falsification of financial documents, all assets were confiscated, bank accounts were frozen, ME Company was divided and sold in parts, and Ryoma's reputation was run through the mud until nothing good remained.
But the one who had dealt with the media backlash wasn't Ryoma.
Sadly, it was Mei who had to bear all of it.
And then, the Third Impact had to occur -due to a mad woman's decision- and the Herrscher at the epicenter had to be Mei Raiden.
The fair and beautiful princess, once loved by all, was scorned by the people she thought were friends and allies, degraded by being singled out as a criminal and an opportunist of the virtues of the people she surrounded herself with. A perfect prey for the entity that wanted the extinction of humanity. An ideal puppet to act in its place and burn the world to the ground.
Someone would have said it was karma, a badly made decision, or just pure bad luck.
"The world is truly unfair."
Adam may not be as close to Mei as Kiana was, but he was honest when he said it was not fair what the black-haired girl had to live through all that. And it was much less than adequate to be brought to the secret war against the Honkai!
"{Calm down,}" it said with a soothing tone feeling Adam's upset. "{There is no point to get enraged on behalf of her or her past. Now, the only thing you can do is be there for her as a friend in her life and as a fellow soldier in this war.}"
"{And who knows, play your cards right and maybe you could get the heiress as a girlfriend!}" It chuckled,"{Or, you could aim for Siegfried's little girl. The bubbly Kiana!}"
Adam resisted the urge to groan in exasperation while closing the door behind him. He dropped his bag on his desk and fell on his chair.
"While I admit that Mei is perfect girlfriend material, I don't think things will work out even if I thought of her in that way." He cracked his neck, relaxing when the stiffness on it disappeared. "Besides, Kiana is too energetic for me, and her crush on Mei would make things shitty and awkward for all of us." He flinched for a second, imagining Siegfried's fierce reaction if he thought of going out with the silver-haired girl, "And I don't want to deal with Siegfried."
It groaned in disappointment. "{What a shame, man. It would have been so fucking awesome if you went out with such amazing babes.}"
"{I concur. Mei is a girl with a noble heart, maturity, and outstanding beauty. And Kiana is a girl with a golden heart, a bit brash, but a chirpy and good girl. There is no shame in trying.}"
Adam blinked at both voices inside his head. He was surprised that they were playing matchmaker, and without jabbing at each other, too.
"What's up with you two? I never thought there would be a day you would try to get me to fall for someone. And much less with the vessel of a damn Herrscher or Siegfried's daughter."
None of the voices said a word for a long moment. Adam hoped they were done with the topic, cause it was awkward as hell until one of them broke the silence.
"{Our words weren't in jest or meant to make you feel awkward."} It clarified, "{It is in our interests that you find a source of happiness as you make your way in the world. A lover tends to be a strong source of the said feeling.}"
"{Yeah. It would have been easier if you screwed with some girl in a club and see if things lead somewhere, but it's better to go for the older sister or the most chirpy girl in the group~!}"
Adam blinked, lost at their words before he spoke.
"Okay. This is pretty weird. I will pretend that both of you didn't say a damn thing during the last minute."
Both voices protested, but Adam shunned them away putting on a pair of red headphones that were lying on his desk. He chose a song on his phone and let his mind fill with music notes. A minute passed as Adam felt his heartbeat accelerate as the notes rose and mixed with the other background instruments and the singer's voice.
Wait 'til it's safe
For you to show your face
The air
So thick
You'll have to chew and spit it out!
I'm full of hope
On a downward slope
Trying to cope with no chance of breakin' out
You were in the know
Never told a soul
You bear no weight, you bear no-
[24 ringtone]
"Fuck!" Adam yelled as the ringtone rumbled in his ears. He quit the headphones and looked at the ID number. [Unknown] it said, but with the letters in gold than the default white.
"Hestia? What does she want?" Adam swiped his finger on the screen and answered.
"Hello? Hestia?"
"Adam. Where are you right now?"
"Uh… I'm at the dorms of the academy-"
"Are you alone?!"
Adam was confused by the question.
"I think-"
"Make sure there is no one outside. Lock the door. Be quick."
Adam was concerned hearing the worry in her voice but obeyed her order. He got up from his seat, opened the door, and saw that there was no one outside his room. He closed and locked the door.
"What's going on, Hestia?" Adam asked, going back to his desk although he didn't sit again. "You sound worried." He dreaded whatever was coming if it worried Hestia of all people.
"Adam. I need you to listen carefully and don't overreact as I speak," her voice cold and clinical. It sent a shiver down his spine.
"Understood. Go ahead."
Hestia began.
"Three days ago, an outpost in Nagazora alerted Schicksal's headquarters of an alarming discovery within the quarantined area. A recon team was dispatched the following day to investigate. Within a couple of hours, the base lost contact with the team for several minutes. The mission supervisor team managed to contact one of the Valkyries. The person in question was acting out of character, mentioning that something caused the death of her teammates. Shortly after, it was found that the entire team had been massacred."
"A Honkai Emperor Class? A new type?" Adam guessed, arching an eyebrow.
"Hours later, using the information that alerted headquarters and the few surviving records of the deceased team; another more experienced and better-equipped team was dispatched. The team was ordered to capture and contain the creature so that it would be transported and studied in great detail at Schicksal headquarters. Despite their preparation and equipment, the containment team was overwhelmed by the creature, suffering only three losses and one seriously injured. The creature proved to have advanced regeneration and great resistance to the chemicals used to be captured."
"Definitely a new type of Emperor Beast. Ugh! Fucking things are a pain in the ass to deal with." Adam made a face thinking this. Then, his eyebrows went up. "Did Hestia say, 'creature'? Not beast?"
"Based on the personal experience of the surviving team and seeing that conventional methods would not work to capture and contain the creature. It was decided to send one of the most experienced Valkyries of the organization, equipped with the perfect weapon to fulfill the requested objectives. Theresa Apocalypse was dispatched to accomplish the mission."
Adam didn't know why, but he felt something cold crawling on his back. He didn't like it one bit.
"For the first half hour, Theresa moved in silence as she scanned the area. It wasn't until she contacted the base to report she found a survivor. After a brief discussion, the supervisor informed Theresa that the team before her had searched for survivors, coming to light that neither team had had contact with any. Seconds later, the communication was suddenly interrupted. Before Theresa cut communications, she reported that she had encountered the creature and that it, alarmingly, could take a human form."
"A pseudo-Herrscher? But Hestia called it a 'creature'." Adam thought, clenching his jaw in concern.
"After several minutes in the dark, Theresa contacted the mission supervisor and reported that due to its aggressive nature, she was forced to eliminate the beast. Before cutting off communications, the supervisor informed Theresa that an extraction team would catch up with her to help her get out of the quarantine zone and be brought back to the outpost to be questioned about her encounter with the creature. Unfortunately, Theresa didn't quite make it to it, as she had to be sedated in order to avoid cardiac arrest and allow the personnel to aid her.
"What?!" Adam thought in disbelief.
Theresa. Sedated? Cardiac arrest?
"{What the hell?!/ What the hell?!}" Both voices inside his head were also shocked.
"Right now, as we speak, Theresa is being transported to St. Freya as the academy has the facilities to treat her, and it's closer than Schicksal HQ," Hestia finished delivering the information, "Do you have any questions?"
It took Adam a moment to formulate his first question, despite already having it in the front of his mind.
"Hestia. What the hell?" He asked/cursed in a hiss, so no one could hear him from outside his room. "Theresa is a veteran Valkyrie. She has the skills and quite the dreadful weapon to kill all that it's in her path. Fuck. The damn loli was at the epicenter of the fucking Second Honkai War! How does someone like her have to be sedated so that she wouldn't die?!"
He heard Hestia sigh at the other side of the line.
"Adam. You should know that even the mighty can fall with enough preparations."
He almost replied dryly but bit it down.
"Hestia… What really happened in Nagazora?"
"Why are you telling me all this?"
Adam doubted that Hestia only called him -and with such a worry- to inform him about Theresa's condition. While he was grateful to the headmistress for giving him a place in St. Freya and some of her time to spar with him; he wasn't quite close to her. Like Kiana and Siegfried.
If that was the case, she should have called either of the two, mainly Siegfried. Not him.
Hestia cleared her throat. "After I intercepted the outpost's distress message to Schicksal HQ, I dispatched a drone to follow their operations, and it came to my attention that this deadly creature that gave so much trouble lacked something important that called Schicksal HQ attention, and therefore mine."
"And that is?"
"Adam. This creature that killed many Valkyries and forced the medics to sedate Theresa, this creature, it didn't give a single trace of Honkai energy."
Hestia stopped speaking. It took him a couple of seconds for her words to sink in.
"Wait… What?"
"It is what you heard, Adam. The second survey team's report noted that during the brief time, the creature was incapacitated, the Honkai scanners gave no reading that the organism possessed or emitted any Honkai energy."
"Is it some new species of Honkai creature? Or a mutant from the Honkai?" He asked.
Adam knew that Honkai evolved along with humanity's advancement. Ancient records and reports from over 300 years ago spoke of animals and humans being corrupted and mutated en masse by the Honkai, to be used as its main force.
But with technological advancement, it became common to see the typical white-purplish creatures like the Templars, Seraphs, Zombies, and others being the main forces of the Honkai. Still, the number of mutated creatures that were seen roaming in the wild was quite rare. Some of these mutants had been considered to be one of those cryptids animals: like the Chupacabra, the Yeti, or Nessie.
He frowned, remembering that one time in Northern England when he along with Siegfried run into a large fucking Honkai spectral rabid dog. Bothersome, but nothing that some traps and Omen and Shamash couldn't deal with. Later, in the pub of a small village, the duo will learn that they put down the mythical Barghest.
"Fortunately, neither of them, Adam." Hestia's voice snapped him out of his memory lane. "And we should be really glad this is not the case, given how dangerous the creature was." She cleared her throat and continued. "What alarms me the most is the data I got after removing some tissue from the creature's corpse before it melted at the end of its confrontation with Theresa. And Adam…" Her voice faltered.
It wasn't a good sign.
"Hestia?"
She took a deep breath -something she didn't need, but delivered that it was hard for her to say- and spoke:
"The creature shared DNA with you."
His eyes widened at the bombshell. He heard her words clearly, but his mind could barely process them. He didn't understand.
"W-What?"
She wasn't done with just that.
"And when I meant your DNA, it also includes your gift, Adam."
A wave of dread began to build inside him, making his whole body shiver and start to sweat coldly. He took a step back, his legs hitting the edge of his bed, making him fall sitting on his mattress.
"N-No. Wait. I-I" Adam stuttered, not finding the words to reply. "Hestia. You are pulling my leg, right?"
"You are kidding me? Right. You are just shitting me…
…right?"
Hestia exhaled deeply. "I truly wish it would be the case, Adam," for a moment, her voice turned soft, trying to convey some relief in her words. "But, I'm so sorry to tell you that it isn't the case. I ran the test multiple times and the results had a match of 95%."
An error range of 5%. It didn't mean a difference, even if the analysis was made with the technology of the Previous Era.
"How is this possible, Hestia?!" Adam raised his voice as he ran his hand through his hair in consternation. He didn't understand how it was possible, or to be more accurate, how it was achievable to infuse something else with his gift into something else.
As far as he knew, he and he alone had been the only test subject to have successfully assimilated the thing without exploding in a shower of gore or mutating into a misshapen spawn.
The fact that something from it was not only running around but also hurt severely a powerful Valkyrie such as Theresa…
It wasn't frightening, it was downright terrifying.
"I'm going to send the video from the fight to your cellphone, Adam. I think it's the best thing is that you see it with your own eyes. Be sure to delete it once you are done."
None a second later, there was a ping from his cellphone, alerting him of a new message. Adam hastily got up from his bed, abruptly grabbed the headphones off the top and his desk, and plugged them into the device.
Hestia remained silent as Adam stared at the video, which showed Principal Theresa fighting the abomination on the premises of an abandoned academy until the very last moment when she was bitten by that hideous insect and began howling in pain.
Of course, Adam had seen the intervention of that pink-haired priestess accompanied by that spectral fox. In other circumstances, he would have made various assumptions about these two new subjects, their skills, and their attitudes toward saving St. Freya's headmistress and fighting the spawn rather than running away.
But his mind was only focused on the abominable creature. The only sound inside the room was his fingers touching the screen, returning again and again to the scenes in which the creature moved and attacked its opponents with great ferocity.
After ten minutes, Adam took off his headphones and let them fall on the mattress.
For several minutes, he kept his eyes on a point on the wall in front of him. There was no sound inside the room other than his breathing. Hestia was worried about his reaction.
Hestia knew that during the months that he had traveled - alone and with Siegfried - Adam had had to deal with extremely stressful and deadly situations. (She had sent him into many of them). Although he could keep a cool mind in such situations, some things still overwhelmed him.
His powers were one of them.
The AI heard him pick up the phone. She had an idea of what would be his next words.
"Hestia. Do I have to…" he paused, preparing himself for his next words. "Do I have to kill Principal Theresa?" He hinted and held his breath for her answer.
If there were other people inside the room with him, they would have gasped in horror or reacted violently at such a suggestion, even more so when the possible target for elimination was Theresa Apocalypse.
Despite her childish image and voice, Theresa was charismatic, kind, and cared about the well-being of others, especially her students. Her office was always open to any student who wanted to chat with her, the teachers teased her from time to time, but they never forgot that behind that stubborn childlike appearance, Theresa was a veteran Valkyrie and a leader who wanted what was best for those under her charge.
Adam knew all of this, and that was why he would not hesitate to finish her if Hestia gave him the order.
The people who loved and respected Theresa didn't deserve to see her torn apart and warped into some terrible abomination because of it.
She deserved a good life and a good death.
"No." Adam exhaled heavily in relief, but he was also confused. As far as he knew, if someone had something of it in their bodies, their fates were sealed.
"At least, not yet."
"What do you mean?"
"As you may have seen in the video, the circumstances in which Theresa became a host without succumbing are more than unusual. The fusion by the subject, what I assume was a pseudo-Herrscher, with Theresa before the final confrontation with the creature was the key factor that allowed her to not only survive the first encounter but also avoid being assimilated on the spot at the end of their fight," Hestia explained.
"So there's still a chance that she could survive?" His tone carried some hopefulness.
"Nothing's certain, but there's a small chance that Theresa could make it through this. And for this to happen, your intervention in the matter is vital, Adam."
There was no guarantee everything will turn out fine, but if it meant that he didn't have to kill Siegfried's friend and Kiana's godmother, then he would take that chance.
"What do I have to do?" Adam asked with determination in his voice.
If Hestia was a person, and in front of him, she would have smiled at his words.
"In about ten minutes, the medical team will arrive at the academy and deliver Theresa. I need you to get to the infirmary before they do. In the lobby of the place, one of our agents is waiting for you. They will wear a pin of a staff entwined with a snake on their left chest. The password is BURNT HAND. They will oversee taking care of Theresa and the extraction process. They will guide and support you as the situation develops." She explained.
Adam hoped that they were excellent in guiding him through the whole process. Watching Theresa bleed to death because of his lack of medical practice or sheer stupidity was the last thing he wanted.
"I volunteered for this. I can't go back now." He thought.
"And remember, Adam, we must proceed with the utmost secrecy and caution. The last thing we want is for the item's remnants to fall into the Overseer's hands," Hestia declared.
"Got it," then he remembered that it was almost time for dinner and the girls were in the main room. They would find it odd if he suddenly left, and right before Mei served the food. A little part of him cried knowing he was going to miss such a delicious dinner.
"Hestia, can you make up something, so the girls won't suspect me?"
For the first time in the academy, Adam cursed his lack of social life. If he had someone who was on friendly terms with him aside from the girls, he would have had an easier time slipping out of the dormitory.
"I'm sorry, but I can't. Considering that your presence in the academy is necessary, I suggest that you say that you do not feel well due to your powers and that you need to go to the infirmary to get checked." Adam wanted to snort at the last part.
"The same thing that gets us in trouble is my ticket out," he chuckled darkly at the irony.
"Beggars can't be choosers, huh? Well, wish me luck-"
"AUNTIE THERESA IS WOUNDED?!"
Adam's head snapped to the door as he heard Kiana's shout.
"No way…" He hoped he heard her wrong.
"ADAM! GET OVER HERE, QUICKLY! AUNTIE HIMEKO SAYS AUNTIE THERESA IS BADLY WOUNDED!"
He rubbed his temple in frustration.
"Fucking hell…"
So much for discretion.
After running through half the academy to get to the infirmary, Kiana nearly strangled the front desk person, demanding answers. To their good luck, a medic heard the commotion and quickly defused the situation. After speaking, or rather, yelling and babbling, the doctor agreed to take the group to Theresa. Adam thought she was her contact, but not seeing the pin on her he quickly glanced around the lobby but found no one else except some passing nurses without the pin.
"What shitty luck…"
Adam knew firsthand that no plan survives first contact. Thanks to his regeneration, there were no scars or broken bones from those moments but the pain from shots, cuts, blows, and Siegfried's training was a good motivator to improve and improvise in the future.
But to be honest, this regeneration factor came in handy when it came to his well-being and sometimes Siegfried's as well. Not to mention the kind of business they both dealt in. Including the people, who sometimes both had to protect, and evacuate in emergencies, and sometimes strong-arm to make them obey. These people were just a few of the many he had to interact with.
Nothing personal, just business.
So, with all of the above, Adam found it justifiable to think that he didn't know how the hell to proceed when he saw a gloomy Kiana leaning on Theresa's bed and holding her hand. Mei and Bronya were behind her. Both gave her their support by keeping a hand on each of her shoulders. Mei gave encouraging words while Bronya moved her eyes between Theresa and the monitors connected to her body, showing her vital signs.
"Auntie!" Kiana sniffed with an anxious face. Her concern was understandable, given the principal's current state.
Theresa's breathing was rough. Sometimes a small moan of pain came out from under the oxygen mask. Her extremities contracted from time to time along with her moans. There were no traces of blood or wounds, but it was notorious that it was not healthy at all for her snow-white skin to turn bone-pale, or her face to be as red as a cherry.
Not to mention the numerous abnormal pink-purple veins that peeked out of the corner of the short sleeves and the bottom of the sweat-soaked robe.
"I knew that her state would be bad, but this up close damn, it's a miracle she is still alive."
"{At least she is lucky to be still alive. The other option would have wrecked Kiana,}" it said.
"{Momentary agony, or a fate worse than death,}" it snorted. "{Seriously, the world has a fucking sense of humor.}"
Adam agreed with them.
"{Regardless of the outcome, it's good that Kiana is at Theresa's side,}" it said with a positive tone.
The other voice didn't take the sentence the same way. "{Are you stupid or what? If you've forgotten the issue, Theresa is infected with the same shit that gives, Mr. Broody here, powers. The same shit that can turn the loli director into a fucking abomination that will destroy and devour everything in her path no matter what!}"
Adam tensed as Theresa let out a louder moan of pain than the previous ones.
"{If the worst comes to pass, at least Kiana and the other girls are here to say goodbye to Theresa,}" it rebutted with some heat.
The other laughed darkly. "{How touching. Nothing like seeing your godmother taking her last breaths before turning into an abomination. Or better yet, remember how your roommate intervened, killing your loved one in the most brutal way to prevent her from tearing you to pieces.}" It snarled, "{What a fucking farewell.}"
Its statement silenced its counterpart and gave Adam goosebumps for how true its words were.
The matter in question could have been solved discreetly, avoiding the sight of depressed Kiana and saving her the picture of a possible terrible outcome. Yet, unfortunately, one of the medical staff who was transporting Theresa was a friend of Himeko, the red-haired teacher immediately called Kiana as soon as she learned of Theresa's condition.
"What the hell do I do? If I don't act soon, the principal will be consumed and it will be an abomination to take her place in front of the girls." Adam tapped his index finger on his thigh as he thought about what action to take. "Faking a fire or emergency would be very counterproductive, that would only keep Kiana by her side, too close if the worst came to pass. Asking them to leave would only make me look suspicious."
Adam knew he could have sneaked into the principal's room later if he hadn't come with the girls, but everything happened simultaneously and Kiana practically dragged everyone to see Theresa.
The door opened and entering the room was an attractive 1.67m woman with olive skin wearing a doctor's coat, a beige blouse, blue pants, and brown sneakers. In her right hand was a silver tablet. Her ash brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, black-rimmed glasses rested on her nose, honey-colored eyes peered through the lenses, and a small horizontal scar was below her left eye. Despite the mark on her skin, her beauty was not affected.
"Okay, seriously, is it just me, or is it that the academy staff and the student body are beauties and cuties? For real, does Theresa run a modeling agency right under our noses?"
Adam's thoughts came to a halt when he saw the pin of a cane entwined with a snake on the left side of her chest.
The doctor closed the door behind her. The girls noticed her entrance but didn't move from their places.
"Mister Adam, I thought I was clear when I said you ought to have visited the infirmary hours before. The injuries you sustained yesterday had me worried." She reached out to him and took his right hand with her free one. She inspected it. "I no longer see the redness on your hand. I know your Stigma is powerful, but it doesn't mean you should rely too much on it." She released his 'injured' hand and placed hers on her hip.
"What took you so long?" She asked arching her eyebrow.
"Identity confirmed. Reason for the delay. And was the Stigmata a keyword or something she wanted to say regarding the issue with Theresa?"
Adam didn't know but he will play for now, until they could have a chance to talk in private.
He winced. "Sorry doctor. I forgot about it throughout the day, and by the time I remembered Kiana told us what had happened with the principal."
The doctor eyed him for a second before she sighed. "I see. It can't be helped then. Try to set a reminder with your cell phone the next time this happens." Adam just nodded.
The doctor smiled in a friendly way at the other occupants and approached them. "My apologies for ignoring you girls. Let me introduce myself, my name is Margot Perrin, and I'm Principal Theresa's attending physician for the time being. You can call me Margot."
"It's no problem, Margot-sensei." Mei gave a short bow as Bronya just nodded. Kiana absently nodded. Seeing her, Dr. Margot pushed her glasses up and her expression turned into a serious one.
"I will start. A few hours ago, the director was sent on a mission at the request of HQ. I don't know what happened, but the analysis done so far has shown abnormal spikes in the data stream from the stigma on Director Theresa's back. Such a volume of data flow is interfering with the physiological and mental functions of the host."
The doctor checked her tablet. In it, several pictures showed in greater detail the state of Theresa.
"I don't know what happened on the mission, but from what I see, somehow, the principal must have come into contact with a new Stigma. The strange Stigma and the current one she possesses must be trying to impose themselves on each other; causing her current condition."
"Excuse me sensei," Mei interrupted, raising her hand. "But, what's a Stigma?" The doctor looked up from her tablet with a surprised look on her face. Mei got flustered under her look.
Before Dr. Margot could explain, Bronya beat her to it.
"The official definition is lengthy, but in short, a Stigma or Stigmata for plural serves as an archive for recording vast amounts of genetic data. They are either natural or artificial which provides the eligible person with resistance against Honkai energy, which allows them to fight zombies and Honkai beasts without getting infected by the source. However, Valkyries without natural Honkai resistance since birth are forced to have artificial transplants to protect them from the Honkai, but side effects can occur."
"Excellent explanation, Miss Bronya," the doctor praised her with a smile. For her part, the girl just nodded.
"Is there a way to help my auntie?" Kiana asked, tightening her grip when Theresa moaned again.
Mei, Bronya, and Adam looked at Dr. Margot. The girls worried about the headmaster, who had given them a second place to call home and start over.
Adam was uneasy because he knew what would happen if they let the director down.
The doctor thought about it for a moment and nodded. "Based on what Miss Bronya just said, the solution must lie within the unknown Stigma. So, it will be necessary to interact with the Stigma's data space if we want to solve the problem at its root."
The doctor raised her tablet and checked something on it. After a moment, she sighed in annoyance. "Dang it! Normally we would have the equipment on hand to be able to carry out such a process, but due to some cutbacks in the past month, we only have one piece of equipment available to carry out the process. And from what I read; it's been under repairs for a few months now." She looked up from her device to meet the tense gazes of the other occupants of the room. "Do not worry. Maintenance staff usually do not update their logs on time. The most likely thing is that the equipment has already been repaired and they have left it forgotten in a corner gathering dust." Dr. Margot assured.
Despite her words and the optimism in them, they barely gave some comfort.
"I really hope she is buying us some time or has something planned, and not giving us bullshit," Adam thought.
"For now, I suggest you all retire for tonight. It's late, and the last thing I want is to keep you girls, up late," she advised. "I'll immediately inform you if there are changes with the principal. For I can see, you really care about her," she finished smiling.
Adam saw the girls hesitant to follow the doctor's suggestion. Mei pursed her lips, Kiana tightened her grip on Theresa's hand, and Bronya made no gesture, but her eyes stayed on the lying down headmistress.
"{The doctor wants the girls to back out, so you can proceed with the mission.}"
The doctor turned to Adam. "You can go, girls, except for you Mr. Adam. Now that we're talking about Stigmata, I'd like you to stay to check your physical condition. I am still concerned about how yours continues to act in ways that are harmful to your body."
The male nodded, feeling relieved to know that they would finally have a moment of privacy to discuss how to carry out the operation.
"Actually, the Bronya has a pair of devices that would help Principal Theresa," Bronya interrupted. "The Bronya and Kiana used them to surf through Schicksal's archives the other day. The Bronya can reconfigure them to link up with the Stigma's data space and find the problem."
"Really?!" Kiana turned to the short girl with a strong gaze of hope. "Bronya, can you help cure auntie Theresa?!" Bronya was surprised by the gesture, almost taking a step back. She just nodded.
"That's great, Bronya!" Mei cheered, giving a hug to both Kiana and Bronya. The former blushed a bit, and the latter's lips twitched for a moment upwards, trying to smile.
"How clever of you, Miss Bronya," Dr. Margot smiled, although Adam noted how the hand holding the tablet tightened the device. She wasn't the only one frustrated, he was biting his tongue to not curse too. "Then, how long it would take you to reconfigure them?"
Bronya pondered for a couple of seconds before answering. "The Bronya estimates around twenty minutes for the devices to be prepared. The Bronya only needs to retrieve them from the dorm."
"In that case, I suggest you go and get your devices while Mr. Adam and I discuss the issue with his Stigma in my office."
"Understood."
With that said, Bronya broke free of the hug and quickly left the room. Mei was not offended, she said a few words of encouragement, and at the same time, she continued to hug Kiana. "Let's hurry, Mr. Adam. We don't want to make the girls wait, do we?"
Adam nodded, understanding this was their only chance to speak and plan out what to do. What the doctor and Bronya said was very helpful in addressing Theresa's current situation. Although, to be honest, Adam didn't know if this would help against the other thing inside Theresa's body.
"Follow me, Mr. Adam."
Dr. Margot walked through several corridors that looked the same, taking a few turns. Adam was surprised at the vast space of the infirmary; it seemed like a large maze. Although, he had to consider he only visited the place two times since he arrived at St. Freya.
"Please close the door, Mr. Adam," she informed him as she opened a door in the middle of a corridor and entered.
The male raised a brow at her.
"Is it my imagination, or does she sound pissed?"
Adam went through the door and closed it behind him.
It was a medium-sized room, with gray-painted walls. At the back of the room were two metal cabinets with numerous medical supplies. To one side of these, there was a medical bed, ready to use, and a weight scale. To the left side of the door was a desk with nothing on it.
The doctor rummaged through her pants pockets and pulled out a worn azure pen. She pressed her thumb on the end cap and said, "How tiring". There was a slight beep from the pen. She put it on the desk.
The doctor crossed her arms and frowned at Adam.
"Now, we can talk."
Gone was the charming doctor, and in her place was an upset woman with tired eyes. She took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes.
"I've been working non-stop since last night; attending to some morons who fucked up a C-rank mission and got injured like it was an A-Rank; I have done paperwork in my break time -which keeps piling up; I have discovered and chased away some students, and nurses making out in empty rooms; and finally, when I'm about to go to rest, the big boss tells me that my other boss, who owes me my last check, is in mortal danger and that the academy is about to go to literal shit." She put her glasses back and glared at him.
"Can you tell me how the hell you screw up something as simple as coming to the infirmary?!"
"{So, the doctor has claws!}"
"{Huh?}"
"Someone from the medical team informed the teacher who lives with us about the principal's condition, and she notified my roommate, who dragged the four of us, and all just happened when I was about to come here," he clarified, frowning.
Dr. Margot clicked her tongue and muttered something about privacy clauses and morons not respecting them. Adam thought she was going to start another tirade, but she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and held it for about ten seconds. She exhaled loudly and her face turned serious.
"How much has the big boss told you?" Adam was relieved that her head was back on the main issue.
"The basics. She told me that you will guide me through the entire process and that I was vital to the procedure," he explained. Then, he asked, "How much do you know about my connection with the mission?"
"Enough to say that the director is barely hanging on the rope, and I don't like your involvement in the matter, boy, and I'd rather extract the problem like any tumor or suppress it like a failed Stigma assimilation." The doctor snorted at the annoyance shown on his face. "Don't get me wrong. The big boss told me that you are taking this problem very seriously. Me too, but I'd rather use my knowledge as a doctor to deal with the problem than follow a plan based on your semi-control over the unknown and volatile substance that's fucking up the principal's system."
Adam suppressed the annoyance at her words and inquired. "How are we going to do this then? Are we seriously going to treat the problem like any other Stigma?" He tried to not sound skeptical, but his powers weren't a Stigma that they could easily deal with.
The video and the numerous wounded and killed were clear indicators of how deadly and serious the problem was.
"Is this, or putting the principal out of her misery, boy," Dr. Margot stated firmly. "Putting the issue in simple terms, the substance inside the director's body is like a virus, a very aggressive virus with fucked up information. And from what she told me, your mind and body have the conditions to not be torn apart by the substance once you come in contact with it. Not to mention, the new Stigma inside her body is shaking everything else up as well." She sighed. "The original plan was to connect you to Theresa's Stigma, guide you through the Stigma space, and remove the foreign substance along with the new Stigma. Sounds simple, huh?"
Dr. Margot frowned and rubbed her temple as if she had a migraine.
"But everything just got complicated. And all because of a moron who didn't know how to keep their mouth shut."
She took a deep breath and chuckled darkly.
"Fuck it. We might as well be dead. Why not give it a shot?"
"{I like her.}"
Adam touched his chin, pondering. "How are we going to do this then? I don't know how Bronya's devices work, but I doubt we will have the chance to speak. They would suspect something is up if we spoke in code or if you guide me through the diving." Then he blinked, realizing something else. "And they will ask why I will have to dive into the principal's Stigma." He cursed inwardly at his lack of foresight.
Adam was sure the first to volunteer to plunge into Theresa's Stigma would be Kiana since Theresa was her godmother and the closest family she had.
"Easy, I will tell the girls that your Stigma seems to have the ability to adapt, not to mention that due to its use, you have an easier time manifesting and controlling it, giving you some protection against being assimilated by Theresa's," she explained. Adam thought about her idea for a moment and found it reasonable. It may raise some brows, but if it was backed up by the doctor, the girls will concede.
"Also, wouldn't it be better to say that you volunteered to go into the Stigma data space to help the director? I mean, she literally enrolled you in the academy despite multiple protests from the staff and some female students. Hell, the director asked everyone to give you a chance, not to mention that she swore under her charge that you would not turn to be a peeping tom or a pervert as many feared," the doctor recounted.
Adam's eyes widened in surprise. He didn't know about all that. He thought that Theresa simply enrolled him in the academy with ease and that she ignored any complaints or forced those to shut their mouths. And why did the doctor share this with him? Was it a way to easily convince the girls?
"{Or maybe she cares about Theresa too,}" it cut in. "{You know Theresa is a good person. She genuinely cares about the welfare of her students, and you are now one of them too. Plus, she hasn't put any sort of pressure on you to find out about Siegfried or what you're really doing at St. Freya. Remember she just asked you about the topic and dropped it when you drew the line.}"
Adam had no words to contradict. The headmistress had always been kind since the first day he had arrived at the academy. Hell, she sometimes didn't act her age or her position, lowering her guard in front of him, being childish like a girl, or very loving like a mother goose -although she did act that specific way when it came to Kiana.
"{No matter how you put it, in one way or another, you owe it to her. You hadn't had to pay rent in any form,}" it added its own thoughts. "{Besides, this isn't the first time you've done something dangerous and deadly to return the favor. Remember that time in Russia, when you helped defend a bar from the local gangs? Just because the old lady in charge fed you and Siegfried after you both lost your luggage to a Chariot Honkai beast?}"
Adam indeed remembered such a kind gesture from the old woman. She offered a warm meal, and in return, he and his tipsy companion beat up several thugs and put a nice hole in the local ringleader's head.
Saving Theresa's life was the least he could do for her.
"Hey! You are still with me?" Dr. Margot asked, snapping her finger in front of his face.
Adam blinked a couple of times and nodded.
"Good idea, though", he arched an eyebrow, "You said all that to make a good argument or to make me feel responsible for helping her?"
"Take it as you like," the doctor replied dryly. She cleared her throat to continue. "Going back on topic, given that we'll likely have an audience, I will tell you this: From what the big boss sent to me, the remnants have some sort of attraction to their source. It is quite possible that either you felt pulled to the remnant, or it runs to you," she scratched her head in frustration. "I would like to explain better, but the big boss gave me very limited information about the substance. Hell, I could barely understand the basics of your gift."
Hestia may not have wanted to risk spilling said information, let alone to an agent stationed in the Far Eastern Branch of Schicksal, or she simply didn't trust the doctor enough to give her the information fully. Adam wasn't sure why, but if Hestia had decided, then it was for the best.
"Are you sure this is going to work, doctor?"
"Kid, if everything goes wrong, I won't hesitate to pull you out of the dive and inject you with enough adrenaline to kill a horse to get you ready to fight."
"{A bit extreme, don't you think?}"
"{Waking up from virtual reality to fight to the death in hardcore mode? Sign me up~!}"
"Ugh!" Adam grunted. "Peachy. All you need to do is tell me you have a grenade ready to throw with me and the monster in the same room and I can say this seems like a clusterfuck of gigantic proportions ready to explode."
Dr. Margot reached into one of the pockets of her robe and pulled out a grenade.
"Damn it all…"
After waiting a few more minutes to make their alibis credible, the doctor and Adam returned to the room to find Bronya making the final adjustments to her devices to immerse in Theresa's Stigma. It should be mentioned that her gadgets were two Homu-themed helmets.
He and the doctor decided not to comment on the helmets, seeing how serious Bronya looked modifying them.
"They are ready," Bronya said, tying some cables and closing a compartment of a helmet.
"Excellent, Miss Bronya," Dr. Margot complimented the young girl. The doctor reached into the pockets of her robe and pulled out a choker-shaped device. "Now if you wouldn't mind giving them to me, I can sync one of the helmets with this immersion device so I can access Principal Theresa's Stigma."
Bronya handed them without a word and Adam had to suppress a smile. Everything seemed to be going well.
"The Bronya would like to know if Doctor Margot would be the one to dive inside Principal's Stigma?"
"I would in other circumstances, Miss Bronya, but there is a better candidate to dive," Dr. Margot pointed to Adam. "After examining him and his medical records, Mr. Adam's Stigma's resistance and frequent use make him an excellent candidate to dive with the least risk of side effects in his mind. Normally I wouldn't let a student do this procedure, but Mr. Adam's insistence and his reasons for helping the principal won me over," she winked at him and smiled playfully. "I never imagined that he would have such gentlemanly thoughts despite his tough exterior."
Adam understood this was his cue to say his part.
"W-Well, Principal Theresa has been very kind to me since I came to St. Freya. She accepted me into the academy even though I am a man. She has never called me into her office despite the bad rumors about me, offered me a nice place to live and learn, and she has never discriminated against me because of my gender," he blushed a little under the gaze of the three girls in the room. Adam caught a glimpse of Dr. Margot's smirk out of the corner of his eye. He coughed into his right hand, trying to hold back the blush on his cheeks.
"Ahem, and if there's one thing I've learned on my travels, it's that this kind of kindness has to be repaid in kind, or more."
"Well said, Mr. Adam," the doctor nodded in his direction. "I have to say, ladies, it's nice to have a man like him watching your back. Nowadays, it is difficult to find people like him."
Adam didn't know if she was saying this as a personal comment or as a way to build trust in him so there would be no question as to why he was doing this. Anyway, he was calm that everything was going well-
"I would like to help too," Mei said, looking at the doctor and him with a steady gaze.
"Oh, come on!" Adam screamed internally.
"It is not recommended to dive with two people simultaneously in the same Stigma Data Space, much less in the conditions Director Theresa finds herself in, Miss Mei. It could be very dangerous for both of you," Dr. Margot explained. Adam hoped that her words would stop the girl.
Mei's gaze wavered for a second, but after taking a deep breath, she shook her head. "I-I know this could be dangerous, Margot-sensei. But I-" she struggled, searching for the right words. "L-Like Adam-kun, I have a great debt to Principal Theresa. She offered me a home with my friends when I lost everything in Nagazora. She has always been kind and understanding to me. She never j-judged or accused me of my father's false crimes and she has offered me her support whenever I need it."
The sincerity and respect in Mei's words were palpable to everyone in the room. Kiana and Bronya understood that helping Theresa meant a lot to her friend. The Headmistress was not just a benefactor to Mei, she was one of the people who gave her a second chance to move on with her life, free from the pain and abuse she suffered in Nagazora.
Adam understood her. Seriously, he did. But he couldn't find such an expression of honest and reciprocal feelings more inconvenient. Denying the girl's help would be cruel, even callous, but considering what was brewing inside Theresa, it would be best to discourage her for her own safety.
"{Welp, any ideas on how to turn her down, without sounding like a dick?}"
"{The best thing will be to appeal to the words of Dr. Margot. Mei is exposing herself to something truly dangerous, not to mention that she is the current vessel of a Herrscher. A terrible combination if things go south.}"
Adam almost cursed loudly for forgetting about that important detail.
He did not want to imagine what would happen if the remnant sensed the presence of the Herrscher within Mei, or for all that is sacred forbid, if the fragment were to consume Theresa, the resulting spawn would pounce to devour the Herrscher at its side, and he doubted said Herrscher was going to be easy prey.
Adam dreaded the fight between the abomination and Bitch Queen.
He needed to stop her.
"Mei, I don't-"
"Are you sure, Miss Mei?" The doctor cut in. Her semblance turned deadly serious. "If you dive in with Mr. Adam, there could be some mental repercussions in your mind, even in your future performance as a Valkyrie." Adam couldn't help but snap his head towards the doctor. Why she sounded like she was considering this?!
"Doctor, I really don't think it's a good idea to let Mei dive with me," Adam said, raising his voice. He pretended to not see the hurt in Mei's eyes as he continued. "Doctor, you said there could be some repercussions in her mind, and you told me that in severe cases, the pain felt by the patient becomes synchronized with the guest, and my Stigma has given me great tolerance against it. It's for the best if I do this alone," he explained.
"{Great way to make you sound like an edgelord.}"
Adam ignored it. He'll act ridiculous, embarrassing, or even awful; he wouldn't let the odds against him grow. And much less if this put Mei in grave danger.
"I-I know I'm still new to all of this, Adam. Studying, preparing, and training against the Honkai isn't something I never imagined I would do." Mei swallowed. "I know I'm still weak but…" She bit her lower lip as she glanced at Theresa lying on the bed.
She turned her stare back to the male. "I have to, no, I must help Principal Theresa. She offered me a home and a new life. Like you, I must repay the same kindness that she gave me when I needed it the most." Small tears formed at the corner of her eyes.
Mei clenched her hands tightly. "If we go dive inside the Stigma's Space together, I'll do anything you ask, Adam. In Na-Nagazora, you kept a cool head, never led us astray, protected us, and made sure we worked as a team to get out alive. I trust you with my life, Adam, so please trust in me too." She spoke with a half-firm, half-broken tone.
For a moment the room fell into an awkward silence. The only thing that could be heard was the beeping of the machines monitoring Theresa, along with some of her groans filtering through her oxygen mask. No one dared to break the silence. Not even Kiana, who would have jumped in saying that Adam was trying to win over her beloved senpai. Nor Bronya, who would have made any comment about the pair's attitude.
Adam glimpsed the doctor for a second and then looked at Mei. She held her ground, but it was obvious that she was anxious to hear his answer.
He didn't know if this was fate or just very bad luck. Adam didn't imagine leaving such a trusting image of himself in Mei. And much less imagined that she trusted him with her life. In other circumstances, Adam would have ignored her words. Fragile thoughts of a normal girl who did not know what stalked humanity and the growing threat to it.
But Mei was not a normal girl. She was a person who lost everything and was dragged to the other side of the normal spectrum: where she had become the spokesperson for the Honkai, where she now trained alongside other girls her age to prevent the future destruction of humanity.
He didn't how to feel with such trust in him.
"Mr. Adam," it was Dr. Margot who broke the silence. "I suggest Miss Mei go with you. God only knows what's going on in there, and it is in the best interest of all of us that you have all the help at your disposal if we are to save Principal Theresa," she declared.
"I-" Adam bit his tongue. Cursing for being put on the spot, but above all, because of how things ended up developing in this way.
"{The doctor is right. It will be better to use all means to deal with the remnant. Let Mei deal with the alien Stigma and you with 'that',}" it advised.
The other guffawed. "{If the worst comes to push, well, the three-way fight between Bitch Queen, the spawn, and you will be epic}."
Adam inhaled deeply and spoke. "At the first sign that the Director's Stigma wants to assimilate us or worse, we abort," he said with finality.
"T-Thank you, Adam," Mei said, cleaning off her tears.
Doctor Margot walked over to Theresa and fastened the choker around her neck. She entered a series of commands and a few moments later the headsets made a slight buzz, signaling that they were synchronized. The doctor told the duo to lie down on some beds next to Theresa's. Once they took their places, Doctor Margot handed each of them a helmet.
"I will keep an eye close on your progress. If I detect abnormalities in your brain waves, I will extract you both immediately." They nodded.
They both laid their heads on the pillows and waited for the doctor to enter the startup sequence.
"Adam. Mei-senpai."
Both young adults shifted their heads to look at Kiana. Her lively, playful image had been replaced by one of worry and fragility. It was the first time Mei had seen her like this, unlike Adam, who hadn't seen her this vulnerable after talking about Siegfried.
"P-Please, help auntie Teri," she pleaded to them.
"Of course, Kiana-chan," Mei said resolutely.
"We will do our best," he answered seriously.
The headsets made a light buzz again.
This was it.
"Good luck, Miss Mei and, Mr. Adam," said Dr. Margot, holding a finger over the screen.
"Link start."
In a second, Mei and Adam felt their consciousness fade into the darkness.
An apology for the lack of quality in the chapter.
You have no idea how many times I have deleted, modified paragraphs or completely rewrote the chapter in these last few months.
I thought it would be better, seriously, but things, lack of motivation, and fatigue are factors that affect performance.
As you can see, in the next chapter we move fully into the Gratitude Arc. I won't give spoilers, but what will happen in the following chapters that make up this arc will change things, both in the plot and in the development of the characters.
Oh God, just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.
I almost forgot, the song -well, a fragment of it- used in the chapter is Operacion Pyrite, by HyperGryph. How I like this song, but I don't own it. (Please don't sue me.)
Anyway, thanks for reading this chapter. I hope to give you something much better next time.
See ya!