POV: Theresa

As consciousness slowly returned to her, she vainly fought it back. She had no intention of leaving the warmth and safety of her bed. Her eyes remained shut as she attempted to fall back asleep, but it eluded her long enough for her to give up. Now that she was fully awake, her mind inevitably wandered to everything bearing down on her. As heavy as they were, she had always preferred to face her problems head on, not to run or hide from them.

There was the matter Bianka had informed her of before she fell asleep. A number of countries were considering seceding from Schicksal to join Anti-Entropy instead. With the cold war between the two organizations a thing of the past, this was less of an issue than it first seemed, but it was not in Theresa nor Schicksal's interests to lose any of the power they had. She knew this was happening only because of the perceived weakness in her leadership. She would deal with the problem when she could. She had faced worse.

Theresa checked the clock resting on the bedside table. It was the morning of the next day. She had slept for an entire night, yet she felt no more rested than she did the day before. She begrudgingly sat up and reached for her phone.

"Good morning, Dr. Einstein."

"Good morning, Overseer. What can I do for you?"

"I'd like to ask about the tests you've been running on him."

There was a brief pause. "They're going well. We've learned a great deal from them."

"That's good. What sorts of things?"

"The Soulium that forms Mr. Apocalypse's body is more advanced than any samples of Soulium we've encountered so far. Otto must have improved upon the caches he discovered. His body also holds significant reserves of Honkai energy. We're still measuring exactly how much, but he should be even stronger than he was during your battle against him and Otto."

Strength he was unwilling to use was no strength at all. Theresa rubbed her forehead before speaking again. "Good. Please continue with your tests for as long as necessary. But what I want to know most of all is how Johann himself is doing."

"I'm afraid that he hasn't spoken a word since he returned. He cooperates with us, but no more than that. I'm sorry, Overseer."

"...Would it help if I came to see him? Or any of us?"

"I'll need to advise against that for the time being. We'll let you know if anything changes. Is there anything else you need, Overseer?"

"No, thank you, Doctor."

Theresa ended the call and fell back onto her bed. She had no desire to leave it for the rest of the day, but she forced herself to rise and prepare for another tiring day. After dressing herself in the black nun habit she usually wore, she left her room and headed to the base's main cafeteria for breakfast. The smell of freshly cooked food helped calm her mood, even if slightly, as did the quiet conversation of the others already eating there.

Theresa took a tray of food from the servers and found an empty table. She stared at the food, realizing she was not that hungry after all. The food served by Anti-Entropy was always good, but Theresa found herself reminiscing on all the times she and her students had cooked their own meals for each other when St. Freya still stood. Those times were some of her happiest, and she could imagine the delicious taste of their handiwork even now. Mei was the most skilled at cooking out of them, but Bronya, Himeko, Johann, and Theresa herself had all contributed their own talents in the kitchen as well as they could, much to Kiana's delight.

We were all so happy back then. Will we ever be happy like that again?

She shook her head to clear her thoughts before pushing a spoonful of food into her mouth. It was no worse than when she had tasted it before. It gave her no reason to complain, but she still felt little desire to eat any more of it.

"You don't seem to be liking that very much," a voice said.

Theresa looked up to see Kiana standing across the table, holding a tray completely covered in so much food that it threatened to spill over. It was a miracle that none of it had already.

"Hurry up and sit down before you drop all of that," Theresa told her niece. "And I'm enjoying it just fine. The food here has always been amazing."

Kiana sat down. Instead of immediately devouring her meal as she usually did, she looked at Theresa with a worried expression. "Theresa…"

"What is it, Kiana?"

"We're all worried for you, you know. We could tell back there yesterday. You're under a lot of stress…we all are, but you're the Overseer. I couldn't imagine the things you need to deal with every day."

"Thank you, Kiana. You're right. It's not an easy job, but it's one only I can do."

"I know. I just want you to know that we're always here for you. If we can help you with anything, just ask away."

Kiana smiled. Theresa had come to love that smile. She was a beacon of hope in a world otherwise smothered by darkness. "Thank you, Kiana. For now, let's just eat." For whatever reason, Theresa started to enjoy her breakfast with the next bite. It was not long before both their trays were empty.

"That was really good, wasn't it?" Kiana said as she finished her last mouthful. "But you've been busy this last month. Mei has offered to cook for you again. She said she wanted to catch up with you and for you to remember what we used to have at St. Freya."

Theresa remembered, and she appreciated how Mei still cared for her. Most of Theresa's time for the past month had been spent on official duties, leaving little time for her to connect with her students. "I'd like that a lot." After saying that, Theresa saw that Kiana was hiding her true feelings again. "Kiana, what's wrong? You still look worried."

Kiana looked down at the table. "I am…it's…it's about him…"

The person Kiana referred to was obvious. Theresa felt the same way herself. "I know, Kiana. I'm worried for Johann, too."

"I wish I could help him…"

"You already have. He's come home because of you."

"No…I mean…it's…"

Theresa reached forward and placed her hand over Kiana's. She was trembling. Theresa looked Kiana in the eyes and spoke very softly. "Kiana, it's okay. Tell me everything you're feeling. I won't judge. I promise."

Kiana took a deep breath before slowly releasing it. "Theresa…I don't know if I've made a mistake or not by bringing him back."

Theresa held onto her hand a bit tighter. "Kiana, why would you have made any mistake?"

"He spent ten years in that world. Ten years with his family. His wife. His daughter. And I'm the one who tore him away from them. I…I feel awful. I thought I'd be so happy when he came back to me. I told myself that I would try even harder each time I failed to find him. But when he finally stepped through that portal, I saw the pain in his eyes when he looked at me. When I hugged him, I only hurt him even more. I hate myself…"

Theresa listened to Kiana as she slowly and painfully freed her feelings. Theresa could not have known their true extent. She had been told about Kiana spending countless hours in that laboratory searching through the Imaginary Tree with only the slimmest hope she might find their captain within its boundless expanse. Kiana had failed countless times over, and almost anyone else would have given up long before. But not her. Not Kiana.

"I…I was so selfish. I didn't care about Kallen, or her daughter. I only wanted him back. And he doesn't want to be back. We all saw that…I made a mistake…"

"No, Kiana."

"Theresa?"

"Never blame yourself for what others do. Johann made his choice on his own. None of us could do that for him. He chose to respond to us. He chose to bridge the divide between our worlds. He chose to step through that portal. He chose to come back to us."

"But…"

"If he regrets his decisions, let him. He has only himself to blame for them, not you. Kiana, let me repeat myself: never blame yourself for the decisions that other people make for themselves. Understand?"

Kiana nodded. "I understand. I'll do more than that. I'll do whatever I can to help him settle back into our world when he's ready to. It won't be easy, but I have faith in him."

Theresa smiled for the first time that day. "So do I, Kiana."

"I haven't forgotten about you, either. Your coronation ceremony in Kolosten is coming up soon, remember? Is there any way I could help you prepare for it?"

Theresa grumbled at the reminder and immediately hoped Kiana had not heard it, although she knew she must have. A Herrscher's senses, including hearing, were all greatly enhanced. "I'll let you know as soon as there is. I look forward to it, too. The world will know once and for all what Schicksal will be from now on." Theresa could not help but concede that Otto Apocalypse, for his many faults, had been more than a competent eader and Overseer. He was a man who could compel others to follow him and willingly. He understood the nature of power and how to manipulate it like any tool. Theresa wished she could do the same. She was a melting candle to Otto's star.

No. Stop thinking like this. Stop comparing yourself to him. You can do this. You are the Overseer now, and no one can tell you otherwise.

Theresa took Kiana's empty tray and placed it on top of hers. She stood up to return them. "Let me worry about Schicksal, Kiana. Worry about yourself and Mei first. Oh, and before I go, I want to tell you how happy I am that she's come back to you. I always knew she would."

Kiana smiled. "She's looking forward to seeing you again, too."

—-

Theresa found Amber in the shop that repaired and maintained Anti-Entropy's technology. The large room was filled with half-disassembled mechs in varying states of damage and repair, countless weapons reduced to their component parts, and various advanced devices, many of which Theresa did not know the purposes of. Amber lay on a table as a machine scanned her from head to foot and printed out a long list of diagnostics. Her body was partially mechanical, and those parts of her required regular maintenance.

Like herself, Amber was an artificial clone, but their creator had gone even farther with her. Amber served him loyally and without question for many decades until she finally reunited with Theresa in Kolosten. Amber never showed any distress or pain about the state of her body, but Theresa still worried for her. She was the closest thing in the world to a sister she would ever have.

"Hi, Amber," she said.

Amber remained on the table as she reached for the printed list. "Good afternoon, Theresa."

"Did the scan find anything to be concerned about?"

"None."

"That's good."

Amber reached for her gold visor and placed it over her blue eyes before rising from the table. Unlike Theresa, she had grown to her full height. Kallen's height. "Is there anything you need from me?"

Theresa shook her head. "I just wanted to see you. Not everything has to be about official business or work. Even an Overseer needs time with her family."

Amber smiled. "Yes. That's true. How are you doing, then?"

Theresa wished she knew how to answer the question. "I've been better," was all she said.

Amber frowned. "What would make you feel better, then?"

"If Schicksal did what it's supposed to do. If people behaved in the best interests of us all instead of fighting each other. If…if they could accept how things are and strove to make things better than they are."

Amber did not probe further, but she did nod and offer words of advice. "When Otto was still the Overseer, he faced many of the same obstacles you do now. His power and control over the world did not come from nothing. He understood how to use what power he had to gain more of it. Power leads to more power. Theresa, I wish you the best in wielding your power properly in a way that benefits us all. I know you will."

Theresa gave her a quiet thanks before Amber bid her farewell and left the shop, leaving her to her thoughts.

—-

Bianka opened the door to her room after Theresa knocked.

"Overseer. How can I be of assistance?"

"There's a few things I'd like for us to review. If you aren't busy, of course."

"Not at all. Come in."

Theresa walked into Bianka's room. Like the others in the base, it was designed for utility, efficiency, and comfort, all things she thought Bianka was deserving of after having worked with her for the past month.

Bianka offered her a seat at a table before sitting across from her. "What would you like to discuss?"

"My upcoming coronation."

"Of course. We should be focusing on this more. Here are all the documents I have on it."

Bianka retrieved a small stack of papers from her desk and handed them to Theresa. Theresa read through them in silence. When she finished, she looked up. "I'm glad these particular world leaders are attending, although I suggest inviting a few more. I'm still not sure if Kolosten is the best choice for the location, though. Shouldn't it be somewhere more recognizable?"

"Kolosten is recognizable," Bianka replied. "It's a place of significance for Schicksal. It's also where Otto was last known to have visited before his death."

"Isn't that a problem? I'm trying to distance Schicksal from Otto."

Bianka sighed. "Are you sure about the cover story we created for his death, then? For the sake of maintaining morale, we'll have him die as a martyr to be remembered, not as the man he actually was."

Theresa's hands clenched into fists. "I don't like it. But it's better this way. The world needs more unity at this critical hour, not more division."

"I'm in agreement with you."

After that, they discussed various other topics pertaining to Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, and themselves. Theresa no longer found it difficult to converse with Bianka Ataegina. She should have given her a chance years ago.

"Thank you for all your help, Bianka. I'll leave you alone now," she said once they finished. She stood up to leave.

"Come to me again if you need anything else, Overseer."

Outside Bianka's room, Theresa called the scientists again. "Is it alright for me to see him now? Even briefly."

"He's currently undergoing a critical test," came Tesla's answer.

"How about after?"

Einstein answered this time. "I'm sorry, Overseer. But my answer is still the same as before. Seeing you again is likely to only cause him further emotional harm. When he's ready, you'll know from us."

"Some of your students asked us earlier, and we gave them the same answer," said Nagamitsu. "So don't worry, Overseer. It isn't just you."

Of course it isn't just me. We all want to help him. But how can we if he won't let us help?