Chapter 6: Once Lost but Now is Found

Sirin was not entirely honest to her sister.

Or rather, Sirin had been keeping something from Kiana all this time they stayed in St. Freya.

It had been a day since they settled, a day spent mostly in peace between the five occupants. Himeko was a busy woman, it seemed, so they rarely met each other besides breakfast and dinner. Mei and Bronya were mostly content in the house, with the former doing the chores to keep herself busy whilst the latter spent her time playing video games.

It was Kiana and Sirin who suffered the most in that lazy day, more so in Kiana's case. It was everyone's secret that Sirin's sister was a hyperactive bundle of snow white haired girl, and ever since Sirin's reborn in her current body she also felt uncharacteristically jittery when she sat for too long doing nothing. She remembered she wasn't like that in her past life so it must be from within Siegfried and Cecilia's genes, though she's willing to bet her right arm it was more to Siegfried's than Cecilia's considering Siegfried Kaslana.

Kiana was dying to get out and burn her excessive energy, in an almost literal sense of dying judging from the way she breathed heavily when Sirin found her in the living room. It was funny to watch Kiana groaning on the floor face first with Thunder staring at her curiously as if to decide whether she should shock her awake or just drag her back onto the couch beside her. Sirin did chuckle.

"Something's wrong with her" Thunder told her back then as she skimmed through the TV channels, a knuckle under her chin and legs folded over one another as she leant against the armrest, ever since then she had begun to appear more often even if all she did was sat in search for her own entertainment. "She didn't respond to physical stimulation"

Of course Kiana didn't. She wouldn't. Not in that state, anyway. Sirin would've watched Kiana a bit longer but she knew her sister couldn't take it any more than what she's already suffering.

"Hey, wanna go check the school?" Sirin asked Kiana as she squatted down near her head, her index finger poking Kiana's white hair just to make sure she had not too far gone from the Earth. The effect was instantaneous with Kiana jumping up to her feet with a bright smile on her face.

"Sounds cool! let's go!"

And that was pretty much how Sirin found herself walking around the place with Kiana, silently obliterating any CCTV cameras and surveillance systems she found along the way. Her Herrscher ability allowed her to feel the world around her to the smallest of space so she was very thorough in her wordless crusade against the Overseer.

Because you won't get to see me or my sister. Was her thought as she sent a random drone into the void where she then crushed it with the power of immense gravitational force.

Maybe Theresa would be mad at her later when she found out most of the security cameras on her campus had been reduced to atoms but really, Sirin couldn't care less.

Kiana couldn't know, though.

Sirin knew, however, whatever she did to stop the Overseer he would still find a way to meet his ends. She had not doubt he was alerted with her presence already. Frankly and bluntly, it should be a matter of why and when, not how.

Why hadn't he sent troops to apprehend her and her sister, and when would he make his move, to be precise.

Otto was a wild guess, in those close calls Sirin and Kiana had to getting captured it was proven he's willing to go through unconventional means. He didn't care the cost, all he sought was succession which had eluded him for years now. One time he used a Divine Key to unleash hell on a small town in the United Kingdom Sirin had to use a great amount of her power to send back the spawning Honkai entities to their own universe. Thankfully, Schicksal had a weak constitution on the West so they had to withdraw when Anti-Entropy arrived on scene along with the United Nations.

No matter how powerful Schicksal might be, Otto wouldn't risk a confrontation with such major organizations directly, especially with how close Anti-Entropy was working with the UN.

The sisters used the chaos and confusion to slip away from the scene, where they then tended their wounds in cold silence. There was never a pat on the back, or a word of praise for them. Not after the first few times they learned through the hard way it was better to not have attachments because Otto would exploit it the worst way imaginable.

Sirin's hatred to the Overseer was, in a lack of better term, inexplicable. Everything wrong with her began with the Overseer. She might forgive those who injured her physically, but the way he mocked her dear mother and friends with his twisted image and desire was something she would never forgive. He gave her false hope, not in the same way that stupid bird did, and manipulated her for his own gains. Sirin, a girl who yearned for nothing but a mother's love, was used to fulfill a man's cruel curiosity to meet God.

Not a day went by without Sirin wishing she had more courage to ignore Kiana and just discard everything but revenge, yet with each passing time she kept repeating in her head one more day it can wait until the idea was gone from the forefront of her mind. She could, but she wouldn't. Because for the first time then, Sirin felt the fear of venturing into the void and never returning to the one who loved her so unconditionally.

Give it to Kiana to change from an annoying good for nothing brat to the most irreplaceable person in Sirin's life.

But I suppose... Sirin thought as she watched Kiana skipped on her step a few meters ahead, a happy grin plastered on her face for the world to see. The young Kaslana noticed Sirin's stare and waved back questioningly.

I suppose I should just let go.

Now, all that mattered was for the gaping void to surround the moon and bask in its soft glow, to let itself be shone upon because no matter how much it took the moon would never run out of light to reflect from the sun.

It was a well proven fact that Kiana's curiosity often led them to the most interesting places, from a green hill with an overbearing view to the sea, to the speckles laden tundra of a Northern country. It was her who carried them along, to where fate brought them, away from a bustling city and close to a peaceful village or the other way around didn't matter. Sirin was just tagging along because she trusted Kiana to show her the smallest of things she failed to appreciate when she looked down to the endless blue and green of the planet they lived on from space before.

Now, it was no different either. As Sirin clasped her hands behind her back and followed her sister into the campus, it was Kiana's curiosity that led them here. Kiana was a strange girl by default, supposedly being a Kaslana and Schariac did that to her but even so it still couldn't explain her inexplicable fascination towards the world around her. She would find something new to interest her, a new angle to see of the things surrounding her. What someone would explain as bland or plain she would find a way to explain why it was not that simple, a way to describe the beauty of the world which was something Sirin incapable of doing.

Sirin saw things as they were, Kiana didn't. A forest was a boring field of trees and bushes for the Herrscher but to Kiana they're a mix of colors of different shades that complimented each others, like a puzzle or a transparent vase full of lilies. Or even rocks in shallow water.

Honestly, Sirin couldn't comprehend Kiana's thought process so she just nodded along most of the time.

"Ah! that reminds me. I forgot to tell Aunt Himeko we need another pair of slippers" Was what Kiana said as she looked onto an announcement board full of graduating Valkyrie candidates. This was one of those times so Sirin didn't even bother to try to understand how the two were related so she didn't question it.

Sirin shrugged halfheartedly. "I don't need them. I like the feeling of floor on my bare feet"

"Can't do. Winter is coming it'll be cold, Sirin"

Sirin rolled her eyes but didn't argue, silently following Kiana again deeper into the campus. They were close to the classrooms now judging from the neat signs above them.

"So, what do you think?" Kiana began after a pregnant pause, peering into a school laboratory through a half open window in the hallway. "Seems pretty rigorous, huh?"

"You meant prestigious" Sirin deadpanned and Kiana shrugged. "Does it matter what I think?"

"Duh, first impression always matters. First step to enter a school is for you to decide whether the environment is suitable or not to your preferences, otherwise you'll cause yourself unnecessary stress"

"And you know this how?"

Kiana gave Sirin a smug grin that had the Herrscher wanting to strangle her own sister. "I went to school"

"You went to school for a few months so you know everything about mainstream education?"

"Sirin, Sirin my sister" Kiana looped a hand around Sirin's shoulders and brought a hand up to their front, gesturing wildly to the hallways around them. "These things you see? you cannot fully understand them until you experience it firsthand. I, on the other hand, have. That's why I know"

Sirin grumbled and yanked Kiana's arm off of her and crossed her own, looking at Kiana exasperatedly. "So, you also have all the right to boast about it to my face? No, don't answer that, it's a rhetorical question. I don't care about education and all that, I can survive in society without participating in it, thank you very much"

"But not going to school will make you dumb!"

"Are you implying I'm stupid?! I'm a lot smarter than you ever wish to be!"

"You're not a lot smarter than me! There's only a bit difference and that's not much considering me!"

"That's a self destruct move, Kiana"

"Well, then you admitted it you're not that smarter"

"Wha- I didn't!"

"Yes you did!"

"I did not!"

"What the hell are you girls doing on my hallway?!"

Himeko bursted out of the classroom beside the arguing sisters, hands shooting out and grabbing their ears. Kiana shrieked in a mixture of surprise and pain and Himeko pinched her fingers while Sirin yelped.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Aunty, that's my ear!"

"You stupid human! Let go of me this instant or I will-"

"You both are stupid, period! If you can't even keep your voice down during school time you definitely don't have a shred of intelligence!"

"How the hell was I supposed to know it's school hour!" Sirin half yelled in frustration before it changed to a pained hiss as Himeko twisted her ear further before letting go completely. The redhead stared at them both with clear disapproval that had the sisters avoiding her golden eyes in shame.

"Goodness, it's only been a day and you both can't keep it to yourself, huh?" Himeko said with a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose exasperatedly. "What are you both doing?"

"Getting to know our school" Kiana mumbled, fiddling with her thumbs. "I'm sorry for causing ruckus"

Himeko's eyes softened considerably, patting Kiana's head in a reassuring manner. This girl would be the death of her, Himeko swore. "You better be" She said with a sigh, giving the sisters a once over. Kiana looked genuinely sorry and Sirin... Sirin appeared to be nonplussed and she still refused to meet the older woman's gaze. "But enough of that, how about you meet your future classmates now? I happen to be teaching them at the moment"

"Is it okay?"

"I don't see why that's a problem"

So they agreed, with Sirin shrugging indifferently when Kiana gave her a questioning look. The Herrscher was a lot passive about such a matter since she needed neither interpersonal relationships nor benefits from befriending others with the only people she trusted were her family. Truly, Sirin saw no gain from knowing other humans beside them.

Kiana, however, was a natural.

As they entered the classroom, the first thing both sisters noticed was how diverse the other kids were. They looked just as confused as Kiana and Sirin did, with speculative whispers being thrown in the air.

"Girls, meet your future classmates" Himeko announced as they stepped into the front most of the room, right before the blackboard she apparently had been using. Himeko never told them what lesson she's teaching but the answer was rather obvious now as Kiana and Sirin glanced to her scribbling on the board.

The Second Eruption and The Aftermath It Brought

It felt like a cruel joke to Sirin. The first time she stepped into this life and the first thing that came up was her most hated topic. Already she felt like leaving.

"Don't stress over it" Kiana muttered to her, only then Sirin noticed she had been glaring to the word Eruption with clear disdain. "Your eyes"

The Herrscher blinked and Kiana smiled, a small indication they had returned to their original color.

"Why don't you guys introduce yourself?" Himeko urged, oblivious to Sirin's inner turmoil. The Herrscher sighed and nudged her sister.

"I'll leave the talking to you"

Kiana rolled her eyes but didn't protest, fully anticipating Sirin's reaction. She schooled her shirt, a contrast to the student uniforms those around her were wearing, and gave a friendly smile.

"Well, my name is Kiana" She began rather lamely, nervousness bubbling inside her chest. Despite her experience, talking to a large amount of people at once was still somewhat unnerving. "And this is my sister Sirin. I'm fourteen year old, and my birthday is on December the seventh, in case you guys want to know"

That earned her a few chuckles and amused smiles. Kiana felt more relaxed after that and her passive smile grew more natural as she continued. "To be honest... We're nothing special. Like every girls, I also dream of becoming a Valkyrie and protect those I hold dearly. I'm sure you guys have your own stories, everyone does, and I'd love to know you more so... I hope we can be friends"

A hand shot up from the sea of students not long after Kiana finished, a question following shortly from its owner. "Um, are you both twins? You both look similar"

"Kiana and I are sisters, we are biological twins" Sirin answered flatly when Kiana hesitated, eyes boring to the latter's back. Even after those years Kiana still unsure of the answer even though Sirin said she was fine being called her twin. They were twins, but not really, not in a traditional sense of way. Though, nobody needed to know of the full story unless necessary. "There might be differences, but we're the same"

Himeko cleared her throat to gain her students' attention. "Kiana and Sirin are a member of the Kaslana and Schariac households, respectively. Their father is Siegfried Kaslana and their mother was none other than Schicksal's former best Valkyrie Cecilia Schariac. These two families are known as The Knight and The Holy Maiden in Schicksal's structure, with the Apocalypse family bearing the Overseer title. Schicksal was built by these three families"

There was a collective gasps, and then the room erupted in yet another speculative whispers. Kiana, unsure how to react herself, simply laughed and rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.

"As I said, we're nothing special" Kiana repeated humorously, hoping her light and friendly tone would keep unwanted hearsays about them spreading, no matter how futile it sounded. "We have our circumstances and this is the first time we receive an actual education. Well, my sister's first time"

"Have you fought the Honkai before?" Another one shouted out, silencing the room. Kiana mulled over the question for a moment before she shrugged lightheartedly.

"We have" She settled to say, being entirely honest. "Our first encounter with Honkai beast was... When was it again?"

"2009" Sirin supplied helpfully. "Poland"

"Ah, right. Poland. You see, due to our circumstances my sister and I were wanderers. We were nine when our parents had to leave us, barely old enough to fend for ourselves but we had no choice" From the corner of her eye, Sirin saw Himeko leaning against her table with her arms crossed as Kiana went on with her story, clearly interested also.

"It was Winter, the ground was covered in inches thick snow and it was so cold we couldn't continue our journey without freezing to death so we took a shelter. I think it was an abandoned bunker from World War Two, not sure whose though. Probably the Polish" Kiana tried to smile again but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Instead, a hint of pain and discomfort filled her blue orbs. Sirin wouldn't blame her, not when Sirin herself hated that day.

The day they almost lost their lives for the first time against the Honkai.

The swirling golden vortex of volatile Honkai energy was the only sign of their arrival, the sheer radiation casting an orange hue to the long dead bunker for a brief moment before it disappeared almost as quick as it emerged.

Two girls stood in silence, their tattered rag of a cloak connecting their bodies together in a desperate attempt to keep them warm. Well, one of them warm for the other would never lose body heat until she died.

Kiana swept the snow building atop her head, letting it fall to the concrete floor below with a soft thud. She rubbed her hands together before she shoved a hand to the bag slung over her shoulder and took out a flashlight, turning the illumination device to light their surroundings.

"Phew" Kiana heaved a breath, grinning from ear to ear. "That's awesome, Sirin!"

The other girl barely reacted, the only indication she heard what Kiana said was the small shift of her still covered shoulders in which could be interpreted as a shrug. But it was alright, it was normal for Sirin to not respond verbally. Kiana knew her sister the most.

"Look there! Seemed like we're going to have a bed to sleep on tonight!" Kiana drew her flashlight to a certain direction, pointedly ignoring the remnants of a human a few meters from it. "I call dibs near the wall!"

"Ah, wait...!" Sirin called Kiana warningly, a bit late for Kiana to react in anyway. She couldn't help but to flinch when Kiana slipped on the icy floor and fell face first onto the hard surface.

"Owie!"

Sirin sighed.

"Could you not run around like a headless chicken?" She scolded as she made her way to the fallen girl, summoning steps along her way that melted the slippery thin crust of ice with its sheer heat. "Are you hurt?"

Kiana sniffled. It was, in fact, hurt. Especially her nose and forehead. But she wouldn't admit it to her little sister, even though the tears welling on her eyes pretty much gave it away. "No. I'm fine. Let's... let's go lay down our belongings"

Sirin helped Kiana to her feet after she obtained her flashlight which clattered on the floor during her fall, this time being on the lead. She summoned more of her power, acting as a walking heater to create a path for them both until they reached the single, acceptably, comfortable enough bed.

It looked worse up close.

"Well, I don't think it's worth it" Kiana commented with a little laugh, a vain attempt to hide her disappoinment. "We're definitely not the first one currently residing on it"

"More like in it" Sirin agreed. It's definitely infested with things better be left to imagination. "Let's just sleep on the floor"

Kiana agreed, despite begrudgingly, and they began putting down everything on them. A bag full of food, necessities and basically all their savings was put carefully near them as another full of their clothes was put rather haphazardly on the floor. Sirin summoned another portal and from it a lantern slipped out to her small hands, shaking it to ensure they had enough fuel before giving it to Kiana to lit up. They couldn't rely on the flashlight all night and making a campfire was definitely not a good idea considering their enclosed environment.

The little Kaslana fumbled with a lighter while Sirin looked around the bunker, golden eyes scanning their surroundings for any potential threat. Her power allowed her to see in the dark just fine, something she learned when she went to the space in her previous life.

Eventually, Kiana succeeded in lighting up the lantern, the gradually brightening bunker and her excited exclamation were the indications. She didn't waste another second to lay down their sleeping mat on the cold floor and sat down, urging her sister to do the same.

"Come here, Sirin" She said with a toothy grin and Sirin paused. Until this day she couldn't comprehend how Kiana could still smile like that despite their less than fortunate endeavors. "It's nice here"

It wasn't. None of it was but what could they do? What could Sirin do? Her power was still recovering it's a struggle to jump from a building to another and all she could store was small items. It was a miserable life through and through, something Sirin would never imagine she would live before.

"Sirin?"

And then there was her stupid brat of a sister. A brat who couldn't comprehend the sorts of mess they were in. A brat who thought being called an 'older sister' was better than to have a fulfilling meal even though Sirin kept telling her she didn't need food to live. Kiana didn't understand, Sirin didn't understand just why Kiana wouldn't understand.

"Sir-"

"I heard you" Sirin growled, regardless she intended to do so or not. "I heard you the first time"

Kiana was giving her that look again. A look of confused innocent befitting girls her age when she's encountered with something she didn't understand. She often gave her that look whenever Sirin was having an irrational outburst, randomly snapping at her even when she did nothing wrong.

She hated that look.

It made Sirin sick, because why wouldn't she be mad back? To yell and be angry to Sirin? Kiana didn't even seem irritated by it, only confused. It's confusing.

"Come sit and eat dinner" Kiana continued, patting the spot beside her. "Look, we still have yesterday's salmon"

"I don't need it"

"Don't worry, we have enough for two"

They never did. It was always barely enough or not enough at all. Yet, Kiana would keep pestering Sirin to eat more than herself, sometimes to the point all she had to eat was a fistful of bread. Stale and hard bread.

"Didn't I tell you I don't need food to survive?" The Herrscher started with a hiss, eyes glowing further with the emotions running rampant in her heart. She felt her fists clenched on the sides of her body as Kiana tilted her head questioningly.

"Daddy said we need to eat to grow up. And since you're my little sister you need to eat more to be big like me"

Something broke inside Sirin and she closed her eyes. The way Kiana said it almost like it was her responsibility to see Sirin grew up. It wasn't, never was. They were not even real sisters with Sirin being nothing but a unholy creation to mimic the girl before her, a mockery to what Kiana was.

"I won't eat" Sirin declared through gritted teeth, fearing her voice crack if she was to let her jaw loose.

"Well, if you won't want to eat then I won't either"

"Why is that?!" Sirin snapped, looking down to Kiana with disbelief. "Just eat the damn food"

"But what if you're hungry later? What are you going to eat then?"

"I don't feel hunger, nor I need sustenance. Just quit feeding me, there's no point in doing so except wasting precious food"

Kiana fell silent but her wide blue eyes never left Sirin, and then after almost a whole minute she said something that made Sirin's thought came to a halt.

"Why are you sad?"

"... what?"

"You are sad" Kiana repeated, though this time it was a statement rather. There was a mixture of curiosity and somber wonderment in her innocent gaze that had Sirin reeled back in surprise. "Was it the food?"

"What are you talking about?!" Sirin demanded harshly. "I'm not sad!"

"Then, why are you crying?"

The Herrscher blinked, once and then twice when she saw her vision became blurry. When did she cry? Sirin didn't even feel the wetness trailing down her cheeks. She doubted she would unless Kiana pointed it out to her.

"I'm sorry"

Sirin wanted to scream.

Just why would Kiana be apologizing to her? She did nothing wrong, if anything it was Sirin who was being unreasonable. She couldn't comprehend this, it seemed like this was her punishment for the misdeeds she committed in her previous life.

"Maybe we can catch something bigger next time. Like, a hare or even a deer. Daddy taught me how to skin and drain animal blood, but I don't like doing it because it's stinky. But just imagine having deer meat and-"

"Stop it" Sirin interrupted, voice muffled by her palms pressing against her face. "Please, just stop it, Kiana"

"I'm sorry"

Sirin sniffled and wiped the dried tears off her cheeks, giving Kiana a look that went unnoticed by the other girl since she had her head hung facing her lap. Sirin took a deep breath and sat down beside Kiana, a hand held before the little Kaslana.

"Where's that salmon?"

Almost immediately Kiana perked up and started rummaging through one of the bags. It didn't take her long to find what she's looking for. It was a clumsily wrapped bag of paper with three pieces of smoked salmon inside.

Kiana handed her two.

Sirin didn't say anything.

They ate in silence, a loaf of bread and a bottle of water were shared between the two. Sirin took a peek to their food supply, frowning when she found out there was only two apples and another loaf of bread left.

They were running low. If they didn't get out from this nasty blizzard happening outside then they're in a real trouble. Maybe Sirin should start hunting for something when Kiana was asleep tonight, she did manage to summon another subspace lance yesterday so maybe she could start using her power for it.

Something on the back of her mind told her she should get a deer. Kiana sounded like she wanted deer meat.

She got a hare.

Sirin was used to have things not going exactly as she wished or planned but, admittedly, this one was her own mistake. She should've known no animals would be out enduring the blizzard let alone in the middle of the night where visibility was practically zero.

It was a wonder she managed to spot the hare nesting between elevated grounds even with her enhanced vision it was hard to see through the ocean of snow. Nevertheless, at least the howling wind and the flakes provided her the cover to sneak close and impale the poor thing with a pen size subspace lance, killing it instantly.

Her hunt secured, Sirin put it into a plastic bag and filled it with snow in order to preserve it.

They would need to gut the hare later when they found a flowing water source, or at least until day break. Sirin didn't want to risk herself getting lost in the dark, even if it wouldn't kill her it would separate her from Kiana long enough to make her sister worry sick. Sirin didn't want to cause Kiana unnecessary concern.

"I hope she is still sleeping..." The Herrscher muttered to herself as her little legs ambled through the snowy ground, mindful to where she was heading. Sirin imagined how she looked right now, glowing golden eyes under a brown cloak with bloodied fingertips. She must looked like a demon or Northern urban legend, a story of a little girl's lost soul wandering the snowy plain aimlessly with eyes full of hatred for those who wronged her, ready to drag those unfortunate enough to accompany her endless journey.

She chuckled. It sounded stupid but Kiana would love it, the girl had an unusual imagination.

The trek back was a tedious one, as Sirin had to go through deep snow again. It was difficult enough to make out that one tree with overlapping branches and that particular rock with a chipped tip vaguely resembling the shape of a horse shoe but Sirin managed to find her way again to the abandoned bunker, not even bothering to hide her relief at the sight of the crumbled entrance. It was a pure, dumb luck they found the bunker in the first place when all they did was head East with no due regards whatsoever. All they knew was that there's a village somewhere in the direction where outside influence was a bare minimum, something they needed exactly to hide.

Sirin hated everything about this situation but it was necessary. They couldn't let Schicksal know of their whereabouts. Not when the stake was a Herrscher and a Kaslana-Schariac descendant.

Ironically, none of the families were an option for the sisters since they're a loyal servants of Schicksal. Even if it's mere publicity. Siegfried specifically told them to not get involved with the families, which was something Sirin agreed on, for once.

Taking a deep breath, Sirin wordlessly summoned a portal large enough to fit her small body, only feeling her legs buckled for a brief moment as she stepped into it. It was suck she could only make five large portals in a day now, compared to her old self where she could swallow a whole army if she desired so.

Sirin didn't miss her then life, though. If anything, she's grateful it's over now. Not everyone got a second chance like she did.

Usually, Sirin would keep one portal for emergency. But today she had used all her attempts. One was when they woke up that morning and had to pack up, second was to enter the bunker and third was for her to exit. The fourth attempt was used to summon subspace lances during her hunt and the fifth was for her re-entry. She could make two more but that would be pushing her boundaries.

Her thought at that time was, It's not like something urgent would happen.

But as she stepped back into the bunker, Sirin knew just how wrong she was.

"Kiana?"

The lantern was still lit but there's no sign of Kiana anywhere near it. All Sirin found was an empty sleeping mat and their bags. Quickly, Sirin made her way to the crumpled site when Kiana didn't answer right away, finding a spare cloak in it but not the flashlight.

"Oh, no..."

Panic began to swell in Sirin's chest as she frantically looked around the area, in her frenzy her hand accidentally knocked the lantern off causing fuel to spill everywhere. Sirin cursed under her breath and hastily put it upright as the smell of kerosene started to fill the air.

"Kiana, where are you?!" Sirin yelled, her voice bouncing around the walls. She strained her ears but all she heard was the howling of the wind outside. "Damnit!"

Kiana couldn't have gone far. The only entrance was blocked by rubble so there's no way for her to go outside. The only possibility was Kiana had gone deeper into the bunker.

"I've got your weapon, you stupid girl" The Herrscher muttered to nobody in particular, picking herself up and heading to the direction she was sure Kiana went to. Which, got more likely when she spotted small footprints on the thin layer of frost below. "Why are you even doing this? I can take care of myself"

Sirin continued to curse her dunce of a sister, an effort to mask the anxiousness bubbling in her heart. With each steps she took, the dormant fear inside her awaken until she but jogged through the fortified hallways.

"Kiana! Where are you?!" She yelled amidst heavy breathing. Remembering Kiana liked to play games with her Sirin quickly added. "Come on, it's not funny! L-look, I'm sorry for going out without telling you but I caught a hare! You hear me?! A hare! We can make stew out of it!"

Her feet slipped on something wet and Sirin skidded on the floor before coming to a stop on a T-section, front first. She groaned in pain, rubbing her sore chest where her weight was slammed.

Whatever it was, it was something disgusting and sticky. It was also red, too...

Time seemed to slow down as realization settled in. Sirin's pulse quickened until her heart almost hammered its way out of her chest as her wide eyes slowly followed the same crimson fluid on the ground. From her hands, to her chest and feet and then the red concrete until her eyes adjusted to the small figure slumped against a destroyed crate, its splintered wood prickling tender flesh and drawing more blood.

It was always red that stood out the most on white. From the plain snow to that beautiful white hair similar to Sirin's own, but now smeared in scarlet to the roots.

And the eyes...

Kiana's unseeing blue eyes... staring into Sirin's golden ones, vacant of life.

Sirin screamed.

The red blood sunset signalled the end of the day, a dying light cascading the Earth for the last time until another sunrise tomorrow. Birds sang their last song, a farewell to the world they bade and a warning for the incoming quiet night, ready to fall and take over.

Behind her office window Theresa sat facing the sinking sun as golden rays filtered through the thick glass, a steaming cup of tea resting on her small hands. Though her eyes reflected the distant burning orb like a sunset on the blue sea, she was anything but focused on the steadily disappearing sun.

Her mind was off far, almost surely rivalling the hundreds of thousands of kilometers where the sun at yet not at the same time. It was actually quite simple and trivial, all things considered, but for Theresa it was the most important thing to ever happened these days.

Days on where genuine happiness was a distant prospect, but with Kiana around had become a reality.

Theresa still couldn't figure out how someone's presence could bring so much happiness and joy. She didn't know it was possible until she met Cecilia. An ambitious and loving woman who Theresa still held dearly as the first actual friend she ever made in her life. By then it was pretty vague, she was thankful to Cecilia for giving her happiness and thus wanted to do the same in return, vowing she would do everything she could to keep her dear friend's smile exist. It was all there was, no fancy reason or beneficial exchange, just a simple desire to be mutually happy.

But with Kiana things were not the same. Theresa barely knew the girl aside from those short months but the urgent feeling to hold her close and shield her innocence was so overwhelming it was almost scary. She knew she couldn't keep Kiana under her protection but the dormant feeling stayed regardless whatever rational thoughts Theresa had. The girl decided to be a Valkyrie and although Theresa supported her decision it didn't excuse the way her fingers flex in dread when she heard Kiana's declaration, or the seconds too long she spent staring at Kiana's enrollment document in brief hesitation.

Kiana would make an excellent Valkyrie, Theresa knew, but it was what she feared. There was too many instances where great Valkyries lost their lives, oftentimes alone in a high risk mission where an A rank or lower had no chance of entering. Part of the job, but it wasn't a job Theresa would leave to young girls.

But alas, this is a job only young girls can take.

Perhaps, in another universe those girls wouldn't have to sacrifice their lives fighting for survival. Living a normal life a normal girl would live, but as long as Honkai exist they had no choice but to send their daughters to war where death was not just a possibility but a definite certainty.

After all in this world, what doesn't kill you will slowly do.

There was a series of knocking on her door and Theresa blinked her thoughts. She wasn't expecting someone and if it's her secretary she would simply make her way inside and drop whatever workload she had to do next without as much as a word.

Raising her eyebrows in wonder, Theresa took one large swig of her tea and downed it in a single gulp before putting the empty cup on her table. Her small hands made a quick work in tidying the sprawled documents into a single neat stack. Theresa didn't even think much when she told whoever on the other side to enter.

She did, however, jumped in surprise when the CCTV camera on the corner suddenly exploded in a swirling mass of energy at the same time the door swung open. Theresa almost went for the gun hidden in her drawer when her brain registered who it was.

"Girls? What's going on?"

Kiana and Sirin didn't answer verbally but Sirin did gesture to somewhere down Theresa's table with her finger.

A moment later, a snapping sound could be heard from inside the table.

"Alright, we're good" Sirin declared with a nod towards Kiana who visibly relaxed immediately. The Herrscher then proceeded to close the door and leaned against it with her arms crossed, eyes scanning the room before her golden eyes settled on Theresa.

"What's going on?" Theresa repeated, this time with more edge in her tone. Kiana quickly raised her hands in a placating manner.

"Sorry, Aunty Theresa, we can't take any risk"

"Risk? For what?"

Theresa couldn't even begin to be mad Sirin had just destroyed her camera and possibly her table because of how strange Kiana was being. The girl looked nervous about something and it was more worrying than her damaged properties.

"I still think this is a bad idea" Sirin chimed in warningly, still not letting her gaze off Theresa.

"What if she told the Overseer? We know where her allegiance resides"

"Sirin, we talked about this and we agreed"

"You pulled your big sister card on me, you chopstick"

"Was that a new insult?"

"Yeah. And I think I like it"

Kiana rolled her eyes before turning towards a still stupefied Theresa. It was true she was worried but it was mostly for Theresa. "Aunty, what I'm about to tell you is a secret we've been keeping since we were six, since Sirin and I were old enough to comprehend it"

"Mostly you" Sirin chirped in but Kiana ignored her.

"What I'm about to tell you is an indisputable truth"

"What's going on?" The Principal whispered, suddenly growing anxious. She saw the edges of Kiana's mouth tugged up in a vain attempt to smile but it failed and crumbled pitifully.

"Aunty..." Kiana began with a deep breath, her mouth uttering something that made Theresa's world spun around her. It couldn't be, countless nights she wished for it but knew it did nothing but to hurt her. Now, Kiana said it herself so convincingly like it was an obvious thing.

"Can you repeat that?" Theresa said with a voice so small it was almost inaudible even for herself. But Kiana did hear, and so she repeated what she just said.

"Aunty, Mom is alive"

Mom

Kiana's mother.

"Cecilia"

My dearest friend Cecilia.

TBC

Hah! Finally something good is happening amirite? Well, everyone aboard the feel train! Destination; family reunion!

Also for those asking; Kiana is Kiana, Sirin is Sirin. They're definitely the same but they're their own person. What future do they have? That's a secret for now, sorry my dudes.

See you guys on the next chapter.

Cipher032, out!