A Mentor's Legacy
Summary:
Lost and left astray, Kiana Kaslana realized she was truly alone. With a lost sense of hope, she gave up on her pursuit of finding her missing father. But then she me teacher who guided her, a beacon of hope that brought her into the light. He helped nurture and train her to control her powers better, becoming her reason to become the strongest Valkyrie. When he left, she was determined to see him again, not just as a Valkyrie, but also as a woman who could stand by his side as equals.
CHAPTER 3:
Misteln Schariac
"Mama... I love you."
"I wish I could stay by your side forever, just the two of us, in a world where death doesn't exist,
where nothing could ever take us apart."
Often, when she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep, unknown scenes would start playing in her head. These were memories that often made her feel envious, as she saw a girl—so identical to her—having fun with her family.
It was a happy family.
In that dream, she felt the love of the unknown girl's parents.
It was a wonderful dream, one she often wished could be her reality. But in the end, they were just dreams, and she eventually woke from her slumber with the last words she heard being:
"Ich liebe dich."
The young Kaslana woke up with a gasp, her breath ragged as she felt her right-hand tremble in pain. From head to toe, she was covered in bruises. Her clothes were dirty, stained with dirt and snow, her hair a mess, and her clothes drenched in sweat.
The young girl struggled to get back on her feet, but when the pain struck, her eyes almost popped out as she held her mouth to stifle her scream of pain.
And she did, though only momentarily.
Her vision seemed to distort as she saw stars above her head, her mind swirling in fatigue as she slowly succumbed to sleep.
This time, however, she tried her best to remain conscious.
"Take it easy, Kiana-chan," a soft feminine voice said, gently tapping the young girl's soft skin. Just like magic, Kiana felt her strength returning and the pain disappeared, though slowly. Misteln offered a smile, one that warmed the girl's heart as she grabbed the hand extended toward her, helping the girl stand back on her feet.
Misteln had been watching from nearby, curious about what the girl was doing. For the past two days, she had observed Kiana going out after breakfast, venturing around the sanctuary before practicing her fighting style for a few hours, trying out a few things like mixing her technique with his.
At first, Misteln found it cute, but as the days progressed, she could see that the young Kaslana was using her memory to try out a new technique—one that was almost the opposite of what she was currently using.
If she recalled correctly, the Kaslana fighting style was unpredictable and focused more on power output, mixing both techniques to show determination and fighting spirit, delivering blows with destructive force to their enemies and the use of weaponries in their fight.
Naruto, however, called his style a mixture of arts… it has no name, no past… just random fighting techniques he combined, whether it be hand-to-hand combat or using weapons. His was the most unpredictable fighting style in existence, yet each strike had deadly precision.
Honestly, the only similarity between the two was their unpredictability.
And to be truthful, she had never seen him go all out against his enemies.
Does such a foe even exist for him to unleash his true power?
Misteln watched as Kiana tried to walk, taking one step forward, then two, then three, before she found herself slowly tumbling to the ground until a pair of hands caught her just in time.
"Why do you train so hard?" the silverette asked, crouching down and peering deeply into the young girl's blue eyes. A gentle smile appeared on her face as she continued, "A kid your age should be enjoying playtime and wasting their days until sunset… there's no need for such rigorous training, especially for someone your age."
Kiana's lips pursed, and the young girl waved her left hand.
As if she understood the motion, Misteln leaned forward, allowing the young Kaslana to use her as support to slowly walk around her until she reached the older woman's back and then leaped onto it.
Kiana giggled as she answered Misteln's question.
"I want to be there alongside Mister Hero!" she said gleefully. The day he rescued her was still as fresh in her mind as yesterday. That's why she hoped for the day when she could catch up to him, fighting alongside him not as a burden, but as a Kaslana!
"Now, now, that doesn't mean you need to train so carelessly," Misteln pointed out as she changed direction from the house to the edge of the barrier where the blizzard was relentless and cruel to the mortal world.
Misteln then asked,
"What do you see out there?" she started, staring at the girl from the corner of her eye. "Try giving an answer…I want you to think carefully before answering, okay, Kiana-chan?"
"U-um…" the young girl pursed her lips, a frown appearing before she smiled. "A snowstorm!" she shouted as the blizzard swept through the environment, leaving behind nothing but darkness in her young vision.
Misteln smiled.
"Yes, but tell me, what else do you see aside from the storm?"
Kiana tilted her head.
Before she could ask the meaning behind the question, the older woman continued,
"Take your time and think of an answer," Misteln repeated once again.
This time Kiana understood the message.
"Okay, big sister!"
And so, she did just that.
This time, the young girl took her time, carefully pondering an answer while her eyes continued to observe the scenery before her.
The blizzard was relentless, howling through the air with a fury that seemed almost sentient. It tore through the landscape, ripping away any trace of warmth or life and leaving behind a barren, desolate wasteland. The wind shrieked as it drove the icy shards of snow against anything in its path, each gust like a knife slicing through the frigid air. The ground, once visible, was now buried beneath a thick, ever-growing blanket of snow, each layer compacting the one beneath it until the earth itself seemed to disappear under the weight of the storm.
The sky above was a churning mass of grey and white, with no break in the cloud cover to suggest that the sun still existed behind it. The light that managed to filter through was dim and cold, casting long, eerie shadows that danced and twisted as the snow swirled around them. The trees, once towering and proud, were now bent and broken under the relentless onslaught, their branches heavy with snow and ice, some snapping under the strain and crashing to the ground with muffled thuds.
There were no signs of life, not even the tracks of animals that might have once roamed these lands. The blizzard had erased all evidence of their existence, covering the landscape in a thick, white shroud. Any movement that might have disturbed the surface was quickly filled in by the ceaseless snowfall, leaving behind only a smooth, unbroken canvas of snow. The world seemed frozen in time, a stark, monochromatic void where the only sound was the wailing of the wind and the soft hiss of snowflakes as they met the ground; as if time itself had stopped, leaving behind only the cold, harsh, and deadly tundra that stretched endlessly in every direction.
Her mind raced as she tried her best to come up with an answer.
Kiana glanced at Misteln, then pursed her lips.
What if she got the answer wrong?
Would Misteln be disappointed in her, just like her so-called father—Sigfried—was once disappointed in her?
Kiana shook her head, trying not to think of Misteln in that way.
It had been a few days since Naruto had left her here in this sanctuary.
Mister Hero told her he had a job to do, and like the fan she was, she did everything she could to make him bring her with him. It was a futile attempt, of course, and like her father, he promised he would return.
But he wouldn't abandon her like what her old man did, right?
Right…?
Noticing something was off, Misteln peeked over her shoulder, seeing the troubled expression on the young girl's face.
"Kiana-chan?"
Kiana sobbed, tears trickling down her eyes.
"I-I want to become strong! I want to become a dependable person so that one day I might be able to use my own power to save the people I cherish," Kiana cried out, burying her face against Misteln's back. Her warm tears caused the silver-haired woman's heart to twist in pain.
Like a mother who understands her daughter's pain, she too felt a tremendous connection.
How bizarre.
She had pointed that out to Naruto, but he merely dismissed it, saying it had something to do with her own origin.
And not to delve too much into it.
But she understands what he meant by that.
The origin she once tried to erase…the time she wished she could forget, but such a thing is impossible.
For someone who understands almost nothing about humanity, her existence is now being challenged by the presence of this young Kiana Kaslana.
Who would have thought that taking care of a child could be such a hassle?
But she did promise him.
I will watch over her until you return.
Kiana rubbed her eyes, wiping the tears away and whispered softly,
"I see nothing… nothing but darkness, big sister."
Misteln smiled.
"Then do you wish to see the path ahead filled with light?"
Kiana tilted her head, her brows furrowing in confusion at Misteln's words.
Yet, even with her uncertainty, the young girl instinctively nodded, trusting in the older woman's guidance. Without a word, Misteln extended her hand, her fingers gracefully cutting through the icy air. The barrier responded immediately to her command, its shimmering surface rippling with energy. A brilliant beam of light shot forth from her outstretched hand, piercing through the swirling chaos of the blizzard.
The light spread across the frozen tundra like a wave, banishing the darkness that had swallowed the landscape. Where there had been nothing but a violent storm and shadow, the beam revealed a world transformed. The once impenetrable wall of snowflakes slowed, each one catching the light and glinting like a diamond in the air. The ground, previously hidden beneath the storm's fury, was now visible—a vast, undulating sea of white, every detail stark and crisp under the sudden illumination.
The blizzard, though still fierce, seemed less menacing in the light. The wind howled, but it no longer carried the same bone-chilling dread. The snow-covered trees, which had appeared as ghostly silhouettes moments before, now stood out in sharp relief, their branches heavy with snow but resilient against the storm. The mountains in the distance, once obscured by the raging tempest, emerged from the gloom, their majestic peaks catching the light and gleaming like beacons of hope.
Kiana's eyes widened as she took in the scene before her.
The harshness of the blizzard was undeniable, yet within this fierce environment, she could now see a path, faint but discernible, winding its way through the snow. It was as if the light had carved out a trail just for her, showing her that even in the most relentless storm, there was a way forward.
And in that moment, she understood what Misteln was trying to imply:
In the darkest of times, there is always a way.
You just need to find the light to guide you, to help you forge a path through the storm. Don't walk blindly; let me help you navigate this treacherous journey.
Together, we can overcome anything.
So, trust in me, just like how you put your trust in him.
"Do you need my help, my cute little sister?" Misteln asked, her voice filled with love and sincerity, a melodic tune that seemed to calm the young girl's turmoil.
Kiana nodded and pulled Misteln into a tight embrace.
"Please teach me, big sister!"
"It won't be easy, you know?" Misteln pointed out, raising her index finger as if giving a warning to the young Kaslana.
The path ahead will be filled with thorns; it won't always be sunshine and rainbows. You'll have to get back on your feet again and again.
But unlike before, this time…
This time, she's not alone.
"I will never go back on my word!" Kiana proclaimed with a huge smile on her face. "I promised!"
Misteln giggled and nodded, carrying the girl back toward their small house, one that she would always keep warm, no matter how long it took for him to return home.
"Welcome home,"
She would always greet him with a smile, her eyes filled with affection, love, sincerity, and kindness, treating him as a wife would treat her husband. Her heart always yearned for his love, but he never returned the gesture.
"I can't stay here; I need to return home. My family needs me."
Those words prevented him from getting comfortable around others, unable to focus on the present since his thoughts always remained in the past.
A home in the far distance,
Unknown to many, and perhaps now cold…
Devoid of love by those he still considers family…
And yet…
And yet, he always yearns to return to the past, to his home world, forgetting the fact that he also has a home here, with people who love him and yearn for his love.
AUTHOR NOTES:
It's been a while; six months has passed…I think. But did you know? I was supposed to drop this chapter after the God of Shinobi reached chapter 10, regardless I'm here to drop the third chapter of "A Mentor's Legacy", in all honesty, I'm not really sure if anyone going to like this fic, but it seems I was wrong. I'm glad everyone took a liking, so please keep it up, give me more feedback so I can drop chapters much faster. If you have some questions, feel free to ask me in the review or you can send me a PM.
Ahhh also, I started a treat me page on buy x me a coffee x Yam117 (erase the x), if you love my works and feels like you want to treat me to a cup of coffee, feel free to drop by and support me (I hope you do since I need all the help to get a new laptop!). But, if you feel burdened and think I'm forcing you to help me, you can just ignore the message but if you decided to help, I would be glad to receive your kindness hehe. Now with that out of the way, I'm going to start addressing to the questions:
BrianGeller01: Thank you, yes, I will continue with updating this story. Keep up with the feedback, and I hope to see you in future chapters as well.
God of War: Glad you're enjoying this, keep it up with reviews. Anyway, I would like to address one fact, I never play GZZ and I know little about the lore, maybe you can give me some insight about this so called Houraji character? Since the lore of both game is different I kinda hesitate on mixing both worlds together, if I did though…the battle will be crazy since I saw some video about how powerful the Honkai version of the GGZ world compared to the HI3 one.
zenchi a zen'n no kami: I can feel your confusion and I understood exactly how you feel, the existence of Misteln Schariac can be shown in the later chapter in HI3, it's during the battle against Kevin (If I remember it right). Feel free to ask some questions, I'll be happy to answer them regarding "Misteln", but as you can see her interaction with Kiana will continue to progress as the story goes onwards.
Flarewolf (Guest): Now.
Randomguy0110100100110: Himeko? I have some plans for her. We will see.
Rick12: I won't implore on Misteln past for awhile until the end of the Training Arc. But yes, I can give you an idea of how it goes, remember when Misteln first materialize and how much death she causes? Well, Naruto will help her control that. Which is why her loyalty lies for Naruto.
Qrious writ3r: You were wrong with all that lol. You will see her making an appearance soon (I think). Don't you worry about the harem, like God of Shinobi, the harem won't intervened with the story, and yeah, I gotta agree with that one, too much harem can destroy a good series.
Braxtorn: No, they do not, he doesn't care about the state of the world, or anything along the line, he lives in seclusion most of his life in the HI3 world. But, he will developed Kiana character (Sirin), he will be there for her and unlike in the game, I do wish both personality to mix with each other (Just like how Naruto accepted his darkness, Sirin will accept her counterpart, and instead of disappearing she will mix with Kiana personality). There will be a moment where he became Sirin light. I hope this satisfied with your question?
(Guest): No promises.
Shirou Emiya1: I honestly can't guarantee any of that, but they will have interactions…however for Theresa, I think I will not. I'm not fond with character that has loli body (even if she's an old woman). I will ponder on this for a while, but I'm going to add Theresa, she will be in her adult form…
Dragonkeeper10: I think you will be a bit disappointed in that lol. But don't worry, they will have more bonding time.