Chapter 3: The Moon and The Void.
The next time Kiana opened her eyes again, it was well past the day's afternoon.
She looked confused, suspicious and worried the moment those blue eyes adjusted to the world around her until she saw a familiar face sitting beside her. In an instant, surprise etched her feature before relief and joy washed over her heart. Kiana almost jumped off of the bed to hug Sirin who merely watched her with a stoic face betraying her own emotions.
That was the plan until a team of doctors and nurses entered the room and began checking her up, somehow successful in ignoring a glaring Sirin altogether. By the time they finished, the sky had turned another darker shade as the sun settled over the horizon, hiding from the world as night took over.
"Miss Kaslana, I've prescribed you the medicines necessary for your recovery. They're in this small bag. Remember to take sustenance before consuming them" The same doctor who attended her earlier said with a gentle smile the white haired girl returned tenfold.
"Okay" Kiana replied enthusiastically, leaning close to the side where Sirin was. For a girl who just lost a substantial amount of blood, she looked so bright the daylight had no hope of competing.
A complete opposite to Sirin whose glare hadn't left the doctor in the slightest even when Kiana started toying with the end of her hair playfully. The latter's affectionate gaze nullified the effect of Sirin's hostile look, somewhat.
"I wish you quick recovery, Miss Kaslana" He settled to say, giving Kiana a parting nod she returned with a loud thanks, proven too busy messing with Sirin to bother looking at him back.
When the door clicked shut, Kiana let her grin blossomed even more.
"Sirin!" She all but pulled the girl to a one side embrace, nuzzling her face to Sirin's chest. Sirin, for the most part, simply sighed and shifted herself closer so Kiana wouldn't accidentally pulled her IV tube off. "You're here!"
"Yes, I am"
Kiana giggled, not letting go. "Why do you speak like a stuck up again? It's only been a few months! Don't tell me you forgot what I told you when you're around people!"
Sirin rolled her eyes and gently pushed Kiana off her embrace, smiling softly to her sister when she replied next. "Sorry, sis. But I can't relax around these people. They're... distrustful"
"What do you mean? They helped us, right? They also helped Mei-" Kiana's eyes widened when she realized Mei wasn't there after she did a panic induced search on the room. "Wait, where's Mei?!"
"Who?"
"The girl with a beautiful purple hair and beautiful purple eyes and a beautiful face!"
Sirin grabbed Kiana's flailing hands and put it back to her sides, frowning. "Seriously, you shouldn't listen to father. All women you met you called them beautiful without reason"
"B-but Mei is different! She's beautiful beautiful! Besides, dad said calling a girl beautiful is a way to woo her!"
Goddammit, Siegfried.
Suppressing the urge to massage her temple, Sirin asked again. "I need you to be more specific"
"Well, uh... She wears a black school uniform and purple skirts, black leggings and shoes and um... Oh! She has ribbons around her neck and her hair is long and fluffy!"
"That doesn't help" Truthfully, Sirin wouldn't know. All she did the moment she was reunited with Kiana was staying by her side, not even bothering to remember any faces she met aside from two. "Is there anything else?"
"Hm... Ah... I can't think anything else. What I know is that she's also crazy strong much like you with the thunders and stuff"
Sirin facepalmed, hard. "You should've said the Herrscher of Thunder!" She all but shrieked, pulling a handful of white hair in distress. The ignorance of this girl...
"Wait, she's a Herrscher like you?!"
An incredulous look took over her face. "You didn't know?"
"Uh, no? B-but, I mean it's not like it's a bad thing? You're a Herrscher and you're nice. I actually don't know what it means beside a Herrscher being super strong"
Sometimes, Sirin wonder if Kiana was actually just pretending or she's honestly that dumb. It's hard to decide because Kiana was very clever in reality, more than average people even. It was just that she could be so dense you would have to spell some things for her to understand.
In this case, she didn't know the alter ego she fought was one of the Herrschers capable of razing the Earth to the ground, a Herrscher which Sirin was sure she wouldn't win against if she was allowed to harness her power. The only reason Thunder's power appeared weaker was because she's a newly manifested Herrscher, not because she was actually weaker than Sirin. In the future, Sirin was certain the only thing that might save her was her experience.
"But it's fine, right? that means you're not alone anymore?" A smile so bright it almost blinded Sirin was sent her way. "You can be friends!"
"No!" Sirin denied quickly, shaking her head frantically as if the idea itself was the most horrifying thing out there. "No, Kiana, we can't be friends"
"But why? She's a Herrscher, you are a Herrscher. You both can be Herrscher besties"
The way Kiana tilted her head questioningly reminded Sirin of a curious puppy too much she had to look away lest she lost the upcoming battle. "It's not like that. Remember when I said I did a lot of horrible things?"
"Of course, you also told me you regret many of them"
Sirin nodded solemnly, eyes drifting down to look at her open palm. "Herrschers cannot be trusted, Kiana. We are the embodiment of Honkai, the force of destruction. I didn't tell you this because I thought we would never meet another Herrscher but... We can hear whispers"
"Whispers?"
"From the Honkai, from god. It tells us many things, manipulating our desires to achieve mankind's destruction. I'm not sure why Thunder didn't go into a killing spree here and there but if she can still hear that voice, fat chance she will become a threat"
Kiana fell quiet, fingers running circle on the white blanket covering half her body, the only sign she was affected by what Sirin said. "But you changed..."
The Herrscher nodded, more to herself than anything. "It's because of Mother"
And a certain annoying bird, was left unsaid.
"I know. I just think we perhaps can do the same to Stunning Mei"
"Stunning Mei?"
"Yeah because she goes like..." Kiana began to imitate the sound of discharging electricity and the rumble of thunder, earning a genuine giggle from Sirin with how dumb she looked. "And she's hot when she's a Herrscher"
Sirin rolled her eyes playfully and groaned into her palm. "I'm punching Siegfried for teaching you something like that"
"It's an art!" Kiana protested.
"It's embarrassing"
"Aww, has my little sister not developed romantic feelings yet?"
Sirin scoffed before summoning a small portal beside her, smirking deviously as she reached inside and pulled out a bag of potato chips. Kiana's eyes widened in realization when Sirin opened it and began eating the content with an exaggerated hum, smug blue eyes never leaving Kiana's covetous ones.
"Wait! I want some, too!"
"Nope"
"Sirin!"
"Fine, fine" With a snap of her fingers, a portal appeared on top of Kiana's head and two items fell out of it. One was a bottle of water which landed harmless on Kiana's lap and the other was a similar bag of chips Sirin had which landed less gracefully on Kiana's head with a dry crunch.
"Meanie" Kiana grumbled, glaring at her sister before turning her attention to the snack bag. Her fingers pinched around the plastic container and with a tug later it was open.
She was about to plop a potato chip into her mouth when Sirin interrupted her.
"Nuh-huh, drink some water first. You lost a lot of fluid" The Herrscher said sternly as she herself continued shoving potato chips into her mouth.
Kiana complied, albeit begrudgingly, and took a few mouthfuls of water. The cool liquid washed down her dry throat and she sighed contently, giving Sirin a challenging look as she started eating next.
Sirin didn't stop her.
Moments passed as both girls silently ate their fill, the only sounds were the rattling of Kiana's bed and the plastic bags each on their hands. After downing half of her chips, Kiana started anew. "You still haven't answered my question, you know"
Sirin hummed, swallowing before she replied. "I can feel Thunder's presence in this building so unless they removed her Core from this Raiden Mei then it's safe to say it's her"
"Ah... that's a relief"
Sirin shrugged. "What happened after I left?"
A pained look flickered on Kiana's face for the shortest of moment before she forced a smile, and suddenly Sirin lost all her appetite. "Well... How long was it?"
"Eight months" Sirin muttered, finding herself incapable of meeting Kiana's eyes so she stared at her feet instead. "I didn't know you'd go to Japan after I left you in Malaysia eight months ago. It's hard to track you down but... but I guess I deserved that"
"I'm sorry for causing you trouble" Kiana said quietly but Sirin shook her head, feeling worse because why is it she's the one apologizing?
It's because that's how Kiana was. She understood what pain actually meant, what abandonment actually was, and thus she refused to do the same to others even at the expense of her own well-being. You might hurt her but she would always forgive you if you'd just ask, loving you the way she did as if nothing wrong happened. It was a source of annoyance to Sirin during their earlier years together in the wild because Kiana would never shut up about some stupid things like-
"I wonder what dad's eating for dinner tonight" Kiana's mumbling interrupted Sirin from her silent reverie as she stared at the crackling bonfire before them, the smoldering piece of hare on her hand still wafting with burnt stench. The older sister's eyes met the younger girl's eyes before Kiana erupted into a dazzling moon with the way she grinned and spoke next. "Whatever it is, I'm sure he's enjoying it! Like, that one time we're having boar meat and it tasted super amazing since dad cooked it with the Judgment of Shamash"
"Siegfried kept teaching you ridiculous and hazardous things. We almost burned the cabin down because of it, remember?"
"Heh, worth it" Kiana said triumphantly, not slightly bothered by the near accident while Sirin merely sighed. "Mom would too"
At that, Sirin froze as her hands slowly balled into fists. "Mother would, yes. But I think it's better to think of our next food. Here, look. We're running out of meat"
Kiana immediately jumped up to her feet and rummaged through the small bag Sirin gave her, frown deepening with each passing seconds. "I think we should go to the city"
"You know I hate cities, right?" Sirin hissed in displeasure, leaning back against the tree behind her. "People stare"
"People will stare. They have eyes, Sirin"
"Not the point, Kiana"
Kiana giggled loudly, drowning the silence of the night with her sweet melody. "Come on, laugh a bit" She teased, punching Sirin's shoulder in a playful manner.
Sirin could only stare. "How can you be okay with all of this?"
The young Kaslana hummed to herself, tying up the bag containing their supply of food after counting what was inside. "Well, I still have you, don't I? As long as you're here then it's alright"
"Don't you miss them? I can't be enough of a company, truly?"
"Silly Sirin, of course you're enough. You're my sister!"
Sister...
Even the word still felt odd sometimes to Sirin. She had never had a sister before, not even Bella was that close with her yet Kiana took her as one without as much as a second thought. Sirin tried to deny the connection at first after she regained her memories, but months turning years later it came as natural as breathing. Truthfully, she enjoyed it, more than what she thought as possible.
She was sure it was because this was Kiana, had it been anyone else she wasn't certain she would feel that way. Kiana was a very loving individual she sometimes reminded her of Cecilia, her light during her darkest hour and she knew deep in her heart she would do anything to keep that light burning.
Because being left in the darkness was scary, more so when you were alone. Sirin knew of this fact intimately, for she had been there.
"Sirin, you're staring again. Did I upset you?"
The Herrscher shook her head before smiling softly. "No, it's... I shouldn't have left. When I heard about Nagazora from the United Nations, I immediately know it's not an ordinary catastrophe. I went to Japan soon after and started investigating, searching for clues. It wasn't until I got my hands on some documents that I realized you were there"
"Did you steal from the government? Again?"
"What? no! I was just looking!" When Kiana didn't look remotely convinced, Sirin continued. "Look, that time with the British Royal Navy is a one time thing!"
"That one time thing you stole a Royal Navy's experimental Railgun blueprint and sold it to the CIA" Kiana deadpanned, making the other girl slump down even further. "Did you know the British almost declare a war on the French after that?!"
"Of course I know! You always look so upset whenever we bring this subject up!"
"That's because I didn't know we're living off of stolen money!"
"Blame the CIA for giving that much as an offer" Sirin mumbled dejectedly, earning a disapproving sigh from Kiana.
"Are you sure you didn't steal anything this time?" Kiana repeated, more softly this time to coerce a definitive answer from Sirin.
"I didn't. I just looked and that's it"
"Well, if you say so"
Silence befell the girls. Kiana, being a hyperactive child she was, was the only one making any sound as her feet moved side to side idly.
"How did you hurt yourself, anyway?" Sirin queried, watching as Kiana sat upright and rolled the back of her hospital gown for Sirin to see her bare back where a roll of bandages covered the deep gash there.
"Mei got distracted because of stupid Bratnya so I tried to save her from a Honkai beast" Kiana explained, feeling Sirin's warm fingers tracing the outlines of her wound. "I don't remember much after that"
Sirin retreated back and scoffed. "Always the reckless one" She said with a shake of her head, watching those small shoulders rose up for a brief moment in a shrug.
"Thou shalt constitute thyself as the sword and shield of the weak and innocent, dad taught us that. It's our oath as a Kaslana"
But Sirin didn't see it that way, for her it was nothing but a sure way to get oneself killed. She hated that single fact about these Kaslanas, how it seemed the very same oath they're born with was the reason for their deaths. Yet she could never say that out loud, because being a Kaslana was Kiana's pride, because she believed it was her duty to help those in need even though Sirin was sure it had nothing to do with her bearing the name or the oath.
Kiana didn't even realize what made her Kiana was herself.
So instead, Sirin gave a mumbled "Yeah" in response, taking a middle ground where nobody would get hurt. If there's someone she wanted to keep from pain the most, it was her sister.
"Have you slept?" Kiana asked after a while, giving Sirin a frown when her sister suddenly fell quiet. She must have mistaken her silence as fatigue.
"No. I don't need sleep"
For once, it was Kiana's turn to roll her eyes. "Yeah yeah, being a Herrscher and all that. Did you get nightmares again?"
Sirin shook her head and leaned away, exhaling deeply. "No, it's been months since I got one" She confessed dryly before smirking to Kiana. "Perhaps, being away from you actually makes me happier"
Kiana pouted and Sirin laughed softly. "Meanie" She huffed and crossed her arms, suppressing a wince when her action pulled an injured muscle. "You know it was such a pain to go from one country to another without you, I had to fake a few documents to go abroad"
"My power is not for traveling purpose. We only did that because it's necessary"
Jumping from a country to another was easy with Sirin's power, all they had to do was find a place for them to exit. Sirin usually used a picture from the internet or television to get a grasp of the terrain on the other side before they could travel through since she needed the proper imaging instead of random jump.
At first, she could only jump from a few kilometers, and then tens and then hundreds. Now after years of mastering her power, Sirin could literally go from a continent to another without tiring herself out, her best record so far was going from Moscow to Des Moines in a single jump which was a far cry to her past self. But she wasn't worried, with how quick she recovered, soon she could harness her full potential again.
"You... um, did you find them?" Kiana had a hopeful look when she asked her next question, making Sirin grimace internally.
"We can't talk about it here. Sorry" The Herrscher responded guiltily, casting her eyes away from Kiana's expectance ones.
But Kiana merely smiled and nodded, more to herself than anyone. "I see"
Sirin was sure Kiana was actually a very clever girl to be able to see what's beneath her reply, as vague as it was, and it made her very proud of her sister. It's just that she sometimes wondered whether it was a blessing or a curse.
Minutes passed before Kiana shuffled under her blanket as she put the half empty bottle and snack to the nightstand beside her bed silently. Sirin shifted herself to allow the girl a wide berth, watching attentively as Kiana lay flat on her side facing her.
"Goodnight, Sirin" Kiana said with a small smile Sirin returned, running a hand on the lying girl's cheek. "And welcome back"
"I'm back"
Sirin kept stroking Kiana until she fell back asleep, alternating between her cheek and that beautiful white hair which reminded Sirin of Cecilia's. After she was sure her sister had returned to the land of dreams, Sirin stood up and stretched, feeling her back popped satisfyingly before she walked to the window behind her.
The moon was out tonight, so beautifully large and shiny without a cloud to hinder its bold light, just like how Sirin loved it. As the fresh outside air filled her lungs, she couldn't help the sigh following it.
"Bella?" Sirin called out inside her head, leaning on the windowsill and tapping her index finger against its wooden surface absentmindedly. It didn't take long for the reply to come from deep within her.
"My Queen? May I be of assistance?"
"No, everything is alright. I just want to check on you"
"... your generosity humbles me, my Queen. But I don't think I worth your concern for you to check me everyday"
Sirin couldn't help the scoff leaving her throat, exasperated by the same response her friend would give everytime this particular subject was brought up. "Stop this nonsense at once, Bella"
Fear flooded Sirin's heart, one she recognized that wasn't her own feeling, and she frowned as Bella stuttered next. "O-of course, m-my Queen. I... I apologize for my foolishness"
Deciding to not press the issue further, Sirin changed the subject altogether. "Have you been well?"
"As well as I can be, my Queen. I shall be ready for when you ask for my presence again"
That's right. Bella was still stuck at where the Second Eruption happened, frozen in place in the Siberian tundra. Sirin had asked her whether she wanted to be set free or stay there the first time she managed to feel her dear friend's presence again, but with Schicksal monitoring the area twenty four hours she had no choice but to let Bella be.
Drawing an attention from Schicksal was the last thing Sirin wanted especially when they were out in the wild hiding.
A part of her also didn't want to disturb Bella anymore. She had earned her rest along with her late friends. They were together now and, more importantly, in peace. Sirin just had to find her own way now before she could join them.
"My Queen?"
"Hm?"
There was a momentary pause before Bella spoke again, this time hesitancy permeated from each words she uttered. "If I were so bold... Will you be needing me soon?"
"... do you want to be free, Bella?"
"Your wish is what I desire, my Queen"
"No, that won't do. If you truly want to be free, then I will ensure it"
"I have no will but yours. I'm afraid I will impose"
"That's not true"
"Perhaps, my Queen. However, I'm content to know you are happy with your sister. It is all I can ask"
A small smile played on Sirin's lips. "Are you seeing the same moon I see now, Bella?"
"I'm afraid not, my Queen. It is yet to replace the sun"
"Haha, yeah, sorry I forgot we're half a world apart. But... it's beautiful tonight. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do"
"I most certainly will, my Queen"
Feeling content, Sirin closed the glass panel and returned to her sister's side, but not before giving her best friend a parting word.
"Good night, Bella"
"Good night to you, my Queen"
The moon was indeed beautiful tonight, it filled the endless void with the light it so longed. Even when the sun left, it stayed to accompanied the darkness, along with the little distant lights twinkling in a far away place, watching and safeguarding the very cradle of life itself.
Never again the void should be left alone.
TBC
Nothing to say here, just be safe and be happy. Don't take someone for granted, speaking from experience that's the worst thing you can do to the people around you.
Peace out, guys.