Chapter 13: Unexpected Reunion
Kyuushou had told me the story about what happened to my original family and how they died. I figured it would've at least given me a clue or a vision about my past but it doesn't seem like it does anything other than being useful information.
My head still throbs whenever I try to remember about my past. It feels like something is lodged in there, something is mentally blocking my ability to remember my real identity as Houraiji Shinki. I've tried using sentience and did a self suggestion on myself, nothing happened. Trying to remember it through sleep? Yeah I'd rather not get nightmares about that twisted hell I spent my whole childhood in.
I sigh as I look at my phone to kill some time as I wait for my cousin. I waited for Kyuushou in the hallway of her apartment floor while scrolling through some of my old messages.
Mei commented on how I don't have anyone else in my contact apart from my family. She's not wrong that I don't have any friends but it is mostly my own choice.
I'd rather not drag a normal human into my personal life. It includes Mei herself but that Heiress kept trying to get close to me so there's not much that I could do about it. It is kind of ironic to say that to me when she herself has no real friends around her except for that one girl called Yeonsheo.
As for Shin Yeonsheo herself, something felt off about her. My gut feeling tells me that she isn't normal.
There's a lingering scent of Honkai radiating off of her, there's also the other factor as well such as her knowing who Alice Redfield is. That S rank Valkyrie didn't have a public face like Elysia did so it is definitely worth the suspicion that something is up with her. All I know is that she isn't a threat yet, at least I don't have to eliminate her and cause trouble.
"Shinki!" Kyuushou waved her hand at me. We're both wearing some casual clothes as she offered me to hang out with her this weekend. I've gotten used to being called by that name now.
"Just in time. So you can be a punctual person huh. Good thing I decided to wait here." I put my phone away and waited for her to get closer before we started to walk by each other's side.
"I was usually late because there are other things that I have to do! Hmph your cousin here is a busy person." Kyuushou put her hands on her hip. "Also, are you seriously wearing a coat when It's not even winter?"
Kyuushou's outfit is definitely much more breathable compared to mine. The others would say that it is more convenient in this summer weather. A simple sleeveless shirt and a pair of leggings with a medium length skirt on top of it.
While I wore a plain shirt with a pair of jeans and of course a very dark blue coat. People would give me weird looks but they missed the point on why I wore these clothes.
"It is practical. Easy to move around and there's pockets unlike that skirt that you wear that could barely fit your phone inside its pockets." I point that out.
I never understood why women's clothes have smaller pockets than men. Did they not know how practical these pockets are?
"Okay but aren't you hot? That's too many layers, Shinki. "
"I don't know what you're talking about. " This weather isn't even that hot if I have to say so myself. I looked at my cousin with one of my eyebrows raised.
Kyuushou let out a sigh. "Guess your sisters were right about your weird senses especially for temperature."
"That's a human problem then. So you ready?"
"Yep." Kyuushou pats her sling bag, confident that she had already prepared everything she needed.
"Relax a little Shinki. Gosh you're too tense, this isn't life or death you know. Enjoy the little things in life. Trust me it'll help a lot more than you think. " Kyuushou takes my hand. She firmly grips it as if I were some kid who easily gets lost in a crowd.
I have to say for a normal civilian her grip strength isn't that bad. Wonder if having a stigma also enhances one's strength.
"Then you don't have to rush. You said to enjoy the little things didn't you?"
"Hehe. Sorry I'm just a little bit excited, I don't understand it myself either but being around you feels like I'm around a friend that I've known for a long time. Don't you agree, partner?" Kyuushou smiles at me while we wait for the elevator to pick us up.
I scoffed a little, well I suppose we have known each other for a long time if we count our reincarnations. "Whatever you say, cousin. Whatever you say."
Back in America, The former Kaslana Knight stares at his phone. Looking back at the past memories stored within these pictures he took. It has been a couple of weeks since he last saw them. The man himself is getting anxious and worried over what his daughters are doing.
They are his pride and joy. His bright little stars have all now grown up and have moved forward with their lives. He too should move forward along with them.
"I wonder what they're doing." Siegfried dialed Sakuya's phone number. He wanted to ask the eldest one for some news before talking with his other daughters though it seems she wouldn't be picking up her phone any time soon. "This is new. Sirin is probably playing a game since this is the weekend so let's try Kiana."
As much as he wanted to visit them or call them everyday. Siegfried couldn't as he had a target on his back. Einstein said that the World Serpent wanted to collect their sire's weapons back as they are most likely preparing to bring him back into this world soon.
If he did what he wanted, the world serpent agent would've had an easier time tracking him down to get their hands on the weapon. While he could just hide the weapon away somewhere. The world serpent would still eventually find it and who knows what would happen if their sire gets his weapon back.
And so Siegfried decided to keep it with him at all times. Schicksal would also be interested in getting that divine key back but they don't seem to be that motivated at finding where it is at the moment. He's worried that Otto might've planned something else, Siegfried could only hope that he hasn't caught onto the fact that the Herrscher of the void is in Nagazora right now.
"Hello? Dad? Are you there?" Soon enough Kiana's voice was heard on his phone's speaker.
"Hey, Babydoll. Hehe guess I couldn't call you that anymore can I?"
"Mhm~. I'm almost a legal adult now!" Siegfried could hear his daughter huffing from behind the phone. "But dad can you really not visit us? It's only been weeks but I already missed your company and Natalia though she does frequently call us unlike you dad."
"If I could I would've Kiana." A sad smile was carved on the man's face. It hurts him that he couldn't call his daughter more often. Sometimes he wonders if he's being a bad father to them. "So tell me Kiana, how was your experience in Nagazora?"
"Oh it was great! Lots of things happened and it is fun being here. The local foods are great and Leon did a good job at making them and can't you believe it dad!? The caretaker is Eden Ragvindr! She only came back very late at night but it is so cool to live with her! Though she does drink a lot of alcohol usually red wines."
"Then you should thank Tesla for being lazy. Anyway don't drink that until you're legal in that country alright?"
"I knooow~. Oh and Saku-nee found the person she was looking for and it turns out she was her cousin all along! Saku-nee didn't remember any memories of her past unfortunately but she got along quickly with her cousin. She's hanging out with her right now. Oh! Her name is Houraiji Kyuushou by the way and apparently Saku-nee's real name is Houraiji Shinki but she didn't want us to call her that yet before she remembered everything. That's why we still stick with calling her Saku-nee."
"So Sakuya finally got herself a friend, huh? Is that why she didn't pick up the phone when I called her? Guess she does have a rebellious phase." Siegfried let out a hearty laugh. But this is definitely an improvement, the girl always likes to keep everyone at a distance and she didn't seem to view her family as family; it was more like an important possession than a family member.
But Siegfried couldn't blame her. It wasn't her fault to begin with that she viewed this world the way she did. It was good that she is starting to heal from that wound albeit very slowly. "That's good. How's your sister Sirin?"
"Sirin is playing games like usual. She's playing it with a friend, it is an online game so Bronya isn't here. We kind of met her at the arcade and ever since then she's been Sirin's number one gaming buddy. Her name is Bronya Zaychik, she's Russian. Pretty short girl and she looks as stoic as Saku-nee. Also her way of speaking are really weird, it sounded like she's a robot or something."
Kiana shrugs her shoulders. She wanted to know more but she didn't want to be rude to the Russian girl who is pretty nice despite her straight forward answer to everything and snarky remarks towards Sirin. "They might not seem close but they definitely are."
"Sirin too?" It was a surprise but it is a pleasant one to hear that Sirin could actually get along with someone else and not just her family. "Seems like Nagazora has been treating you well. I was worried that it wasn't but I guess I was being too anxious for no reason. Then has Leon changed too?"
"Leon? Umm well he still liked to huddle up in his room doing his personal project. He's also gotten popular in school because of his appearance and Intelligence. Many girls have even asked him out already!" Kiana sounded a little angry at that fact. A little too angry in fact.
"Kiana…Are you jealous?"
"What!? No! Why would I? It's just…How do I put it?... Ugh I don't know I just don't like it when a crowd forms around him. He doesn't even know how to deal with it sometimes."
Siegfried took a deep breath. "Listen young lady, we'll have a conversation about that when I get back okay?" Perhaps he needs to be extra cautious from now on. His daughters are already at that age after all.
"Why? Umm dad are you angry? Did I say anything wrong?"
"No you didn't…And I'm not angry alright? So anyway tomorrow I would have to go out on a mission again. If things go exceptionally well I might be able to convince Einstein to let me visit okay?"
"Really!? What kind of mission did you get dad?" Kiana immediately became excited. There's a bunch of things she wanted to show her father, especially their new training room.
"Don't know yet. She will inform me about that soon."
Beep.
Looks like his time is up. "Time's up. Sorry Kiana let's talk again later okay?"
"O-Okay. You better come here soon or we won't make you pizza rolls!"
Siegfried chuckles a little "I can't promise that but I'll try sweetheart. I'll try." The man soon hangs up his call. It was refreshing to hear his daughter's voice again. Maybe he could make a bet with Einstein to let him visit them.
Swoosh.
The sliding door to his room slides open revealing a blue haired scientist at the other side.
"I suppose you had a good talk with your daughter? Mr Siegfried." Einstein said as she walked inside the man's room uninvited. Though it is likely his fault for not answering her calls.
"Yeah. Couldn't you at least make it last longer than this? I could barely say what I wanted to her."
"I understand your frustration. But given the circumstances this is the best that we could do as of right now." Einstein grabbed a chair and sat across from him.
The man let out a dissatisfied sigh. "Fine. Now what's the mission? If I could choose a reward could I visit my daughters?"
"Hmm, I'll have a word with Tesla later. For your mission, you're going back to Siberia. Specifically the tower of Babylon."
Siegfried arch his body forward. He is intrigued, why does he have to go back there of all places? The place should've been abandoned.
"If you want to ask for a reason it is simple. A new Herrscher signal was found in that area recently."
"Herrscher? But how?"
"We don't know yet. There might be some zombies there that survived but it is definitely not because of the 6 gems that the Herrscher of the void used as all the gems are still in its locations." Einstein gave Siegfried the tablet in which each gem is located.
"Wait. Then how could this have happened?"
"As I stated before we have no information regarding that fact but be prepared Siegfried. It could be a fake signal to lure us or a real Herrscher has really emerged in that place. I've sent a squad of mechs that will help you out in case you need immediate back up."
Siegfried is still confused about this. How could a zombie become a Herrscher anyway? Unfortunately he didn't have time to ask this sort of question yet. Einstein might answer it but he has a feeling it would be a long answer. It is best if that's saved for another time.
The tower of Babylon, The epicenter of the 2nd Honkai eruption and the place where humanity of this current era had to face off its greatest adversary, The Herrscher of the void.
"This place brings bad memories." Siegfried muttered, this was the place where he had lost his wife Cecilia Schariac. Before arriving at the ruins of the tower he spotted a giant crater which was supposedly left by the nuke that Otto launched during the end of the war.
He wanted to check it out but he has a mission to do. "Remember Mr Siegfried if you find any zombie with a stigma, kill it." Einstein said on the radio.
"I know I know. I remember the details but are you sure it is here? The place is barren." Signs of their previous battle are still prevalent even after a decade old though it is mostly only Honkai residue at this point. He's surprised that Schicksal didn't decide to scrap this ruin of a facility.
Even if the Honkai radiation charts are through the roof they could've sent in drones or other robots to scrap some parts of the building and yet they didn't, Why?
"Einstein. Is there somewhere I could safely enter this place? I don't want it collapsing on me when I enter the building." Siegfried said as he gave a gentle knock towards one of the broken outer walls of the facility.
The ex schicksal knight felt something was off. He could only hear static from his ear piece. Was the signal jammed? Or is this because of the high Honkai concentration of the place?
"Einstein!..." Only more static answered him. He felt his skin crawl as he tried to find an elevated location to maybe get a better signal from. He climbed one of the trees and nothing happened. He's tempted to climb to the top of the building but with how old and rusty it is he doubted the building's structural integrity to be able to hold someone like him.
The last thing he wants is to get trapped under some rubble while danger is lurking nearby.
"Hmm." His sensors aren't picking any signs of zombies in the area. Maybe AE just got a faulty reading. It tends to happen if a large pack of Honkai beasts were gathered in a single location but the weird part is there's no sign of any Honkai beast in the area.
"Is the dragon benares alive? But it shouldn't create a Herrscher level signal. I wonder if it will listen to Sirin. She is the Herrscher of the void, just not the one Benares knew." Siegfried muttered as he brought his guns out.
…
…
"Where is it?" This area is too quiet.
"!" Once he heard someone stepping onto the pretty thick layer of snow, he immediately turned his body around and aimed both of his guns to the person standing behind him.
What he saw blew his mind away. He wanted to know if this is some sort of illusion. Did a Herrscher of sentience erupt in this place? Then how is the dead roaming in the land of the living?
"Ce-Cecilia?" Siegfried is in shock to see someone who looks a lot like his wife standing a couple meters across from him but he also knows that she is dead. Unless this is one of those sick experiments that Otto created, he knew Cecilia could never be by his side anymore.
Though she does look slightly different from Cecilia especially with her purple underlight that's on her hair and her lighter blue color eyes.
"Hmm your guess is close, Siegfried Kaslana." Even her voice is just like the Cecilia he knew. The woman in front of him kept her friendly smile as she stood still on her spot.
"I was once part of the woman that you knew. No, I'm not her clone that Otto created if that is what you're thinking but he may or may not have attempted to create such a clone before. As for what I really am." The woman put her hand on her chest. He felt no ill intent coming from her but he couldn't be sure that she is trustworthy just yet.
"I am something of a half human half stigma hybrid. Though I was once Cecilia Schariac's will of stigma that gained physical form due to an accident. If I was still that very same person you might have a harder time being near my presence although your Half awakened Kaslana stigma would keep you safe from immediate death." It didn't seem to convince Siegfried much as he still aimed his guns at her.
"Who are you? What's your goal and why did you still use her face and body?" Siegfried is ready to shoot his wife look-alike if he deems her as dangerous. From what he could tell she is definitely not the same as Cecilia. Though that fact alone wouldn't make his predicaments any better.
"My name is Misteln Schariac but my comrades always call me by the name Hare, yes i am a World Serpent agent. Call me whichever you like Mr. Siegfried and as for my goal." Hare reached her hand out as a black box appeared on her palm.
"That's." Siegfried could instantly tell what it is from the amount of Honkai energy it is leaking out. It is supposed to be the previous era Herrscher of corruption sealed inside of there but should the energy leaking from the box be that low? It felt more like Pseudo-Herrscher than a full fledged one.
"It is exactly what you thought about. It is the black box that sealed off a Herrscher from the previous era. Due to the 2nd eruption this box was suddenly thrown into the sea of quanta from the Herrscher of void's spatial distortion abilities. For 10 years it was trapped there. Drifting endlessly until it found itself back into the real world because of the very same reason that it got itself trapped. Although I don't know why it is outputting less Honkai energy than it used to. Perhaps it is because of the sea of quanta or other factors that are unknown to us."
"…" Siegfried decided to lower his weapons for now. "Fine, so world serpent agent mind explaining why you jammed my radio coms?"
"Why of course. It is for me to speak with you privately. I may not be Cecilia but I do have my own dignity and it is my choice to respect her wishes." Hare smiles as she makes the cube disappear from her hand.
"The mechs and the Valkyrie that came here are safe, you don't have to worry about me hurting your allies to talk to you."
'So there were indeed Valkyries that were dispatched too huh.' That would make sense as to why he felt this place is oddly quiet. "Alright Misteln what do you want to talk about? My boss would be suspicious if I didn't answer her calls."
"I'm aware. I suppose I want to satisfy some of my or rather Cecilia's curiosity. If you're wondering yes I do have her memories. I've seen how good of a father and how good of a husband you're all through Cecilia's perspective, me personally I don't have any feelings towards those events it's just that I'm curious about one thing. Siegfried do you think she was a good mother to your little Kiana?"
"Why do you want to know?" That question surprises Siegfried. 'Cecilia, did you thought about that in your final moments?'
"Like I said it is her curiosity. I know Kiana Kaslana is still alive and well somewhere."
The man closes his eyes. He's very reluctant to give this woman the answer that she wanted. "Yes. Yes she was." He replied with a somber voice as he remembered raising his little kid with the love of his life. 3 years just felt too short.
"I see thanks for the answer and Siegfried would you mind if you give us the Judgement of Shamash? I'm sorry for asking this abruptly though I am merely speaking what the grey serpent wanted and unfortunately we are running out of time."
"… Is this all a lie then to get my guard down?" Now the man felt angry. How dare she toy with his emotions like that by using his wife's face of all things.
Hare shakes her head. "No it is not. I was very genuine about the short talk we had but unfortunately the both of us are on different sides. If we could, I would like to talk with you a bit longer so that I would have known you personally instead of knowing you from Cecilia's memories."
Hare looks at the man with a sad smile on her face as she summons her weapon which is a spear with a banner attached to it. Her attire also changed slightly as she now wore a crown-like object on her head.
"I want to continue to respect Cecilia's wishes but due to circumstances we are forced to have this encounter. But I will promise you that I will not harm Kiana in any way though the same cannot be said about my colleagues. So are we going to do this the easy way or the hard way?"
"If you know me you would've already known the answer to that." Siegfried takes a deep breath as he prepares himself for the upcoming battle. "And Misteln thank you but I'm sorry I can't let you do whatever you please and I need you to hand over that black box to me too."
The woman giggles "Let's see if you have become rusty or not."
BANG!
Clang!
The battle starts as soon as Siegfried fires the first bullet and Hare blocks it just as easily.
Flames erupt over the frozen tundra and the once icy cold tundra have now been all scorched to the ground. Ashes and charred dirt are the only thing left as all the snow in the vicinity of where their fight took place melted.
The tower became more destroyed than ever before. The two combatants stared at each other and the victor had already been decided.
In the battle of attrition, Misteln won the match. Siegfried could just barely stood up as he held onto his greatsword for support. The might of an-Utu and all its glory is still not good enough to defeat this world serpent agent.
Though there's one question that is still on Siegfried's head. Why hasn't he turned into a charred corpse yet despite using his divine key 0th power for much longer than he intended.
"Did you like my gift?" Hare smiled. Aside from the burn marks on her face and a couple 3rd degree burn wounds on her limbs she seemed fine, even most of her battlesuit seems okay compared to Siegfried who's only wearing his sweater and burnt jeans that covered his legs until his ankles.
"I knew something was off. Didn't think you'd help me in the middle of a fight." The man grunts as Hare slowly walks closer to him.
"I never said I want to kill you. You put up a good fight but I knew you would do this so I had to take precaution and fully awaken your stigma. Safe to say it was a gamble but I'm glad that it worked out in the end." The last thing Seigfried saw was Misteln hand covering his face before the man finally lost consciousness.
Misteln caught the man midway before he fell onto the ground. "Sleep well Siegfried. If things went according to plan you and your daughter will be able to live in a world where Honkai are no longer a threat."
She splits the divine key back into its original gun form as she carries the ex knight on her shoulder. The WS agent wonders why she felt such fondness from him, perhaps some of Cecilia's feelings still persist through her even though she is just a distant memory now.
Misteln put her left hand over her ear. "Hare here. I got the Herrscher and sire's weapon as well as Siegfried Kaslana." The agent spoke.
"Took a bit longer than I was expecting. Did you have your fun with that Valkyrie's husband?" The voice wasn't human rather it was a robotic voice. Grey serpent, the agent that made up the bulk of the WS organization due to the fact that there are a lot of them. Though each grey serpent is their own independent android, each of them have their own different preferences and personality.
Misteln groaned. "We just had a talk and a fight. He's quite stubborn."
"I believe I don't need to tell you to hurry up? Rendezvous point is in your map."
"Can't you just pick me up here?"
"Take this as a punishment for doing things in secret, Hare. We have eyes and ears everywhere and your action could have potentially ruined the mission."
"Fine, fine. I'll get going, besides I know the world serpent could take down AE if it wanted to. Why didn't you do it? They're a threat to us, no?"
"The sire doesn't want unnecessary casualties, we aren't the same as that blond overseer."
Misteln sighs as she looks at the ruins of Babylon for one last time before she runs with all her might to the rendezvous point. Sometimes she just wants to punch her grey serpent partner in the face for being so annoying but that wouldn't solve anything as another version of him would just take his place.
"I hope our deal still stands."
"Yes, the Zaychik girl and Kiana Kaslana would be protected. You have my word, we would not cause them any harm either and will leave them alone but if they decide to fight us then we are no longer obligated to follow that deal."
"At least you remember. Now pick me up, I'm already here."
It didn't take long until a helicopter arrived and Hare successfully made her escape despite all of that attention her fight with Siegfried brings to her the ruins of Babylon.
"Now what do you need this thing for?" Hare asks as she brings out the black box. She could understand why they would want the sire's signature weapon back but why are they interested in this black box? It is practically useless to project stigma.
"Nagazora. Raven will plant that box there when the time comes." Grey serpent takes the black box away from her hand as his cold mechanical eye stared at the box. The Herrscher of corruption could easily end his existence if it ever got out from that box.
Though the robot had no feelings what mortals call fear. Besides, the box has been surprisingly docile ever since they got their hands on it. No one really knows why that's the case.
But perhaps it is just because it has gotten weaker or it is just no longer angry.
"We don't need a sealed off Herrscher. The sire wanted a live one and we can't always rely on external help to get what we want can't we?" Grey serpent moved his head up as his eyes made contact with Hare's gaze.
"At least find out if Kiana or Bronya is in Nagazora or not and I want you to bring them out of that city if they're there when you decide to create a new Herrscher." Hare let out a reluctant sigh.
"That shall be done. If they didn't resist, that is."
Right Hare almost forgot the most important part. Bronya could easily be swayed if her matushka give her an order but what about Kiana? Would she even trust someone from the world serpent?
"Fine. You can do whatever that's necessary to extract them out of there so long as they're not dead or permanently injured."
"Now. You're being more reasonable. Though I wouldn't worry much about the Kaslana safety if I were you. She would definitely survive the eruption and its after effects so long as you give proper support and fire power. She is from the proud Kaslana lineage after all."
Inside a secret Schicksal base hidden away from the rest of the world lies a test tube filled to the brim with an unknown liquid.
Otto himself smiled as he saw the tube for himself. It is quite fortunate that it took less trials this time around to create the next ubermensch. Another Herrscher killer would soon be born.
"Lord Otto! I have some bad news." A Scientist said. The man turned around and listened to what he had to say.
"The Valkyrie team we dispatched to Babylon has been knocked out and it seems that AE was there too but they also failed."
"So the Herrscher escaped."
"More accurately stolen by the world serpent sir." The scientist showed him pictures of the world serpent involvement as well as a satellite feed of the fight that took place there. "It seems Siegfried Kaslana was also there but we neither found his body nor the divine key so it is safe to assume the world serpent took him and the divine key away."
"Hmm. Continue to monitor their movement. It is not our priority to fight them, a new Herrscher will soon spawn. We don't have time to think or engage in a fight with the World Serpent or AE at the moment. In the meantime we should prepare our forces when that inevitable day come." Otto ordered. Though dealing with another Honkai eruption or the world serpent aren't his biggest priority right now.
The World Serpent is too slippery and secretive, it would take too much of Schicksal's time and budget just to deal with that underground cult-like organization.
He has yet to find a way to bring his Kallen back but he might be able to get rid of the thorn on his side that has been bugging him ever since the Herrscher of reason refuses to cooperate.
Just like what happened with Schicksal once AE is now divided between 2 factions. Otto knows sooner or later those frictions inside of Schicksal's rival would significantly weaken them so that they wouldn't pose a big threat when he eventually does something drastic.
As the scientist leaves, Otto looks back at the tube and touches the glass casing. "Just be patient, Cocolia soon enough you will be able to meet your daughter again." He chuckles.
"I suppose one of your daughters again would be the more correct one here." Otto has high expectations for this new Ubermensch of his. It is a big gamble but this might kill 2 birds with one stone if his plans were to succeed.
Otto wonders what his first Ubermensch reaction would be when he eventually meets his little sister. It should be a fun reunion he could look forward to.
So I'm experimenting a bit here with writing in 1st person perspective again. It will only apply to Sakuya/Shinki for everyone else I'd still use the regular 3rd person POV.
Anyway thanks for reading the chapter.