Chapter 6: Where to Go When to Come
"A soldier must be ready for anything"
From the moment she joined Schicksal's Valkyrie Training Program for budding and talented young girls roughly a decade ago it was the first lesson her teachers had been teaching her and her fellows. Day one, two and the months after, in fact.
Be ready, be vigilant and be smart. No shortage of happenstances could be too little or few to kill them in their line of work. A slight mishap could be all it take and that could begin with a split second hesitation. Those who see first had the highest chance to survive because no strategy was better than a sudden and swift surprise.
Mei taught her students what she was taught. It kept her alive in a job where many died young. She wasn't Bronya who had the most experience in warfare for the Silver Wolf of Ursals herself was born and lived in war. No, Mei was just a normal girl when she was forced to understand the blade at age where many thought of trivial daily life like hanging out with their friends or dumb romance.
War was not always about kill or be killed. Sometimes you had to save lives, sometimes you had to wait in a dark trench. But when the battle started, there was nobody who could truly help you besides yourself. War was as predictable as death itself, meaning it could come to you when you're less prepared.
Mei did not teach her students only to kill. She taught them how to survive which was more important than the act of taking life itself. There was only so much places and times in the variable but the individual was always one, always the same. She taught them so that even if the time and place were wrong, they could always be the right man.
Humans were domesticated but they never forgot how to kill. What they forgot was how to survive without the luxuries of the standards.
And standards were subjective to the person in question.
The Underworld was of standard of its own. The people living there lived a life of struggle from the moment they were born. Jam packed in a single point underneath the earth with no clearway for air or sunlight, everyone here lived with the thought of surviving just another day. It was truly a wonder nobody turned to their basic instinct of savagery so far.
She had read about the Underworld last night and the more she did the more horrified she became. The first Supreme Guardian, Alisa Rand, built Belobog ontop a massive Geomarrow reserve centuries ago to combat the threat of Eternal Freeze. The reserve was enough to fuel the city for millennia to come with its sheer abundance in the hollow earth and from the look of it, it was true.
The original purpose of the Underworld was to be a mining city but throughout the years it had become a second city on itself. Belobog now was divided by two cities, each relying on the other to survive. That, however, changed when Cocolia imposed an order to seal the Underworld to secure Overworld's backdoor from Fragmentum threats spilling in the underground and recalled all her Silvermane Guard detachments to protect the Overworld instead.
Now, the trade between the two worlds was done out of necessity. The Overworld could not survive without the Geomarrow and the Underworld would starve to death without a steady food supply from the Overworld, no matter how scarce it was due to yet another limitations. It seemed Cocolia focused only on her precious Belobog she could see, barely caring for the one beneath her feet.
So, it was only natural for the people here to be so mistrustful towards foreigners like Mei.
Mei could feel eyes following her every movement and it was not the kind one, moreso towards Bronya still in her arm. Men and women either glared or leered at the unconscious Silvermane with spite and Mei did her best to not glare back in warning. She could see the way they twitched with suppressed hatred and for a moment she wondered if bringing Bronya was a mistake she too precariously took without much thought. Fragile as it was, things could collapse around Bronya and Mei would be the one responsible for it all.
She grimaced then, tightening her arm around Bronya protectively. Try as they might, she would make sure nobody touched Bronya the wrong way. Mei should probably message Bronya, her Bronya, to be careful when she joined her later or sooner.
That still threw her in a loop. Their first stop and she already met another version of her best friend. The journey ahead would be interesting.
She absently wondered if she would meet another version of herself, or Kiana's for that matter.
Sampo was oddly quiet during their trip but the same easy smile on his face never faded, thought Mei noticed it wasn't a genuine one as he had showed her earlier. It was his typical smirk, that came out friendly and placating for the most part. Some of the people would also glare at him but it was not hatred or disdain that filled their eyes but rather contempt, mostly contempt. For what she couldn't be sure.
He led her deep into the heart of Belobog's Underworld and as they walked in further, Mei noticed the stares became less jagged until they diminished into normal, not hostile, curiosity. Mei mentally wrote it down to unpack later.
Steps made of yellowing metal creaked and groaned under their combined weights. Mei glanced down and frowned at the rust covering the metal steel. While it was regularly maintained, as proven by the less fortunate buildings and fences of the Underworld, the damp air of the underground was not kind to steel constructs. Most of the buildings were built with reused materials, a far cry to the shiny Overworld with their pristine glory and all that.
But Mei kept the opinion to herself, instead focusing on Sampo as he pushed the doors open for them to enter with his foot. Before her sight could take the new surroundings, a sudden gust of air hit her with an all too familiar medicine stench, making Mei wrinkle her nose. She spent enough time in hospitals and medical wards to know one and this was obviously it.
The building interior, for the most part, was well kept. The paint was faded, telling a silent story of its age, but everything was in good condition, all things considered. Pushing through the double doors before they could close again, Mei carefully maneuvered through the narrow passageway with the two women on each arm so to not run them into the wall.
She scanned the room, cold and calculating amethyst eyes taking in everything within their line of sight. Beds here, IV stands there, tables in the mix and some patients of varying problems in various positions and circumstances. It's a clinic or some sort. Mei had no doubt about it.
"You can put them down there" Sampo said, catching Mei's attention. She glanced at him who was still wearing his usual smile and his outstretched hand that was pointing at a row of beds lining the wall. "I'll get the doc"
Mei hummed, watching him left behind a door. Glancing around once more, she was yet met with curious stares from the patients and visitors she ignored in favor of putting both March and Bronya down on the respective beds. After making sure they were comfortable, Mei sat down on the furthest chair in the corner so she could see the entire room without a risk of having her back exposed to attack.
She didn't trust Sampo and rightfully so. After being thrown around like a puppy in a box, Mei was not taking another risk of possible backstabbing.
Thunder was quiet but Mei could feel her restlessness inside her. If she focused and peered inside her heart, she could picture her other self pacing about the domain of her Core with flashes of silent lightning illuminating the red moon above her. She was probably pissed because Mei ignored her earlier but Mei herself was not really in the mood to entertain her and her ruthlessness to problems.
With not much to do, Mei pulled her phone and began typing a report for the Astral Express crew to read, not missing a detail of what they had gone through since they set foot on the planet yesterday. She waited for precisely seven seconds before the first reply came and unsurprisingly it was from Welt.
Welt: That's troubling.
Welt: People are susceptible to their predisposed counterparts' actions. This Cocolia definitely has some traits our Cocolia has and from the look of it she's also manipulative to Bronya like she did back home.
Mei: I thought the same, too, which is why I bring Bronya with me.
Welt: That is probably for the best.
Mei: Speaking of Bronya... Have Kiana and Bronya returned? I checked on them last night and Kiana said they were almost done.
Welt: They have. They encountered a little problem so their work was delayed. They'll be with you soon.
Himeko: Are the kids okay, Mei?
Mei stared at the string of words for a second, a small smile tugging at her lips. People and predispositions, huh...
Mei: They are fine. I'm looking after them.
Himeko: That's good. If you need help, don't hesitate to ask.
Mei: I won't. Thank you.
"Um, is anyone there?" A meek voice called from behind the curtain to her left and Mei blinked. She looked around, a little unsure, and found nobody else besides herself.
"Sorry, are you talking to me?" She implored gently, pocketing her phone back after typing a quick goodbye to the crew. The voice was feminine and youthful and it immediately raised her maternal instinct through the roof.
"Yes, miss. It's okay. I, um, need help"
Mei straightened up on her seat. "Anything I can do"
The girl giggled at her readiness and the sound was so sweet Mei couldn't help but to smile wider. Living an arduous life, she had learned to appreciate the innocence while she could. There was only so much one could take for granted and they learned it the hard way. It was one of the reasons why she became a teacher; the spirits of the youthful were beautiful and worth protecting with her life.
"Thank you so much" She said grateful and Mei could hear the sound of fabric rustling along with the silhouette of the girl as she sat up on the bed. "There's a cabinet on your right and on it should be an orange pill bottle? Can you bring it to me?"
Mei glanced to where the girl told her and spotted the medicine immediately. Humming an affirmation for the girl to hear, she stood up and grabbed it. "Do you need water with this?"
"I can swallow it dry but that would be lovely"
Mei chuckled. "You're very polite"
"You think so? I learned it from the books I read"
"You read? That's good. Education is important. Not many kids like to read books from where I'm from, all they talk about is saving the world and fighting bad guys" Mei found a bottle with clear liquid inside it in the cabinet. After making sure it was water and not some obscure medicine, she walked back to where the girl was.
"Well, everyone wants to be the hero" The girl laughed and Mei joined her. "But not everyone can afford that"
A little confused, Mei pulled the curtain aside and immediately froze. The smile on her face disappearing as her eyes widened in shock, both medicine and water bottles almost slipping from her hands at the sight before her.
On the bed was the girl, sitting up with a smile still on her face. But that wasn't what caught Mei's attention. No, it was her left arm and foot which were nothing but stumps of severed limbs and the webs of burned skin that consumed half her body and face, covered in bandages. The girl saw her falter and her smile turned apologetic.
"Sorry you have to see me"
Mei's heart clenched and she immediately shook her head. The way the girl spoke, soft and reproachful to herself, made Mei mentally double over. Recovering as quick as she could, she handed the pill bottle and uncapped the water bottle, also giving it to the girl once she put the medicine into her mouth.
"I was just surprised..." Mei reassured softly to the girl, trying and failing to keep her gaze away from her imperfections. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare"
The girl laughed as a response and it sent something deep and painful into her seizing heart. Despite her predicaments, she seemed so jovial which was why Mei didn't expect the sight before her.
She couldn't be older than fifteen...
"Don't worry about it! My name is Lysetia" The girl introduced herself while extending her remaining hand for Mei to shake. "I don't think I've seen you around, miss...?"
"Mei. My name is Raiden Mei. You can call me Mei" Releasing a shuddering breath, Mei dragged her chair down beside Lysetia's bed and sat down. "And yes, I'm not from around here"
"Oh, you mean you're not from the Underworld? Then, you must know how the Overworld looks like, right?"
"Well... We didn't have much time exploring Belobog but we saw a few things up there"
"Really? What does it look like? Is it true that the ceiling is so bright and vast like they said?"
"Who's they?"
"The grown-ups! And these!" Lysetia reached out under her bed and pulled up a bunch of books, resting them on her lap. "They all told stories about the endless blue over their head, how it carries a gentle caress to your hair and how fulfilling a lungful of air was! And then the stars at night..."
There was only so much people could take for granted. The phrase had been haunting her and everyone around her for life since they lost everything to disaster and fate. Once again Mei was reminded of it, that you wouldn't know what you have until you lost it to the sea of misfortunes.
For the people above and everyone else who lived the life, the sky was nothing but a normalcy. Something one rarely appreciated despite it being there up over their heads. People would either ask you what about it or simply stare at you as if you were insane if you ever brought the subject up to them.
But for the people down here who never truly saw the beauty it had, the sight was as fascinating as the sea for people who lived far inland. People took everything for granted, that was the norm of it.
"I'm not from Belobog, either..." Mei began, fishing her phone out of her pocket and scrolled through it. March had a dedicated picture gallery for the Astral Express in their group chat and the content was very fascinating. She was mesmerized by the collections Mei spent the better part of her time back on the Express looking through them in the terminal in her shared quarters while Kiana was asleep. "I'm with the Astral Express"
"The Astral Express? What is that?"
"Do you know about the Aeon Akivili?"
Lysetia tilted her head in thought and Mei patiently waited for her reply, finally finding the pictures March took. "Akivili... Oh, the Aeon of Trailblazing who travels the stars in a journey! Yep, I read about them a bit"
Smile widening, Mei showed the girl some of the pictures in her phone. She watched fondly as emotions flashed in the girl's eyes, from surprise to awe and wonder. "Yes, I'm traveling in a train between the stars"
"Then, does that mean you're in an adventure?! Like those heroes in the story books?!"
"You can say that" She replied with a chuckle before her expression turned solemn. "But I'm no hero. Heroes are people who fight for justice and the innocent. I fought for my selfish desire to protect my friends and beloved"
"I don't understand that either" Lysetia sighed and Mei frowned inquisitively. "The heroes I read in the books are all strong and brave. They face evil countless times and win again and again while saving many people. Everyone is calling me hero but I don't feel like one. I guess we're very similar, huh?"
She laughed again but Mei didn't join her. She straightened up and spoke as gently as she could. "What happened? If you don't mind me asking, that is"
The girl followed her gaze and her expression softened. "Well, I'm not sure how familiar you are with life in the Underworld so I'll start from the beginning, is that okay?"
"Take your time, Lysetia"
"Okay, so, my family is a generations old miner family. My parents spoke of how their great grandparents started their business down here a few centuries ago so it's only natural for me to continue the legacy"
"Your parents let you work in the mine? But you're too young for that, aren't you?"
"My dad always told me that life in the Underworld is a harsh one. If you have an early start than the rest, you'll survive. I didn't really work like the adults do but I tried to help my parents any way I could, that by either replacing the dead batteries or pushing mining carts for them to load with Geomarrow and other minerals. Anything to help us survive, you know?"
"Well, anyway, It's mostly safe because you can't really remove dangers from work no matter what and I was kept from high risk areas where the other kids usually were. Down here, children play in the mines all the time so it was pretty normal. That was until one of the miners accidentally opened a crack on the ground that lead to Fragmentum monster nest"
"Fragmentum monsters? Here?"
"Yup! The Supreme Guardian closed the way up because she couldn't afford to fight in two fronts so they had us sealed down here"
The leather of her gloves creaked dangerously as her fists clenched and Mei had to actively fight the growl threatening to spill out of her throat. She had gotten into they why's but reading cold words and listening first account testimony was two entirely different things. She also didn't think the threat would be so close to the heart of the Underworld, which should've emphasized the seriousness of the threat to Cocolia.
"Did it even cross her mind that if they lost the Underworld, they would also lose their only supply source of Geomarrow?" Thunder asked incredulous for the first time since her silence and Mei was inclined to agree. Either it was an oversight, or Cocolia had something hiding under her sleeves. Knowing the woman it's probably the latter, though.
Lysetia was talking still and Mei tried her best to listen to her story. But between the bubbling anger in her chest and the frustration towards Cocolia's one stupidity, there was not much she could gleam from the girl.
"— tried to stave off the rush but the adults were ill equipped for a fight against monsters. We've had a few groups of Wildfire members in the mine keeping eyes all the time but they're so few of them they're not enough"
"Wildfire?"
"Right" Lysetia muttered sheepishly and Mei smiled at her action. She kind of reminded her of a certain someone, minus the diligence towards books. "They're like the Underworld's version of Silvermane Guards? Is that a good example?"
"Well, I think?"
Saying that we're technically criminals in their eyes won't help...
"Okay. So, when the Guards retreated we knew we couldn't let everyone in a state of disarray so good people like the doctor lady volunteered to become its member. Their job is to keep everyone safe, basically"
"So this clinic is a Wildfire's clinic?"
"No, I think? It's the doctor's. I mean it has her name..." She trailed off thoughtfully before she shook her head and continued. "She's very kind especially towards children. Never asking for payments, which is why my parents always brought me here ever since I was a kid. Rumour has it she once had an orphanage in the Rivet Town before it was overran by the monsters a while ago"
"That's terrible" Mei responded with genuine pity. "She sounds like a good person"
"She is" Lysetia said almost immediately before she paused. "Wait, we're getting sidetracked!"
Mei laughed softly. "I'm sorry. I'm not familiar with all this. Please continue"
"Right... So, where was I..."
"The Wildfire members" Mei supplied helpfully and Lysetia smiled gratefully back.
"Oh, yes. There was only like, ten of them at the time it happened so they couldn't do much. The men sent all the women back to protect the kids while they tried to hold off the monsters. I knew if someone didn't do something soon, everyone would've died"
"... So you did?"
"Yeah..."
The girl's eyes grew distant as she stared unseeing past the walls and into an invisible target far off somewhere. Mei had seen that gaze before. A thousand yards stare as soldiers called it or more commonly known as PTSD in civilian world.
The burned patch of skin on the left side of her face ran down all the way into the fabric of her collar, obscuring Mei from really seeing the extent of her wound even if it wasn't bandaged. But the bits she did see told enough story for her to understand.
Grabbing Lysetia's hand gently to pull her back to reality, Mei squeezed the digits and smiled sadly when she received a weak squeeze in return. Psychological wound was an ugly thing. Sometimes it was harder to heal the soul than the body and with Lysetia's damage, she was constantly reminded of it every time she looked down to her self.
All of this worried Mei. From her cheerful attitude to her seemingly calm demeanor. People often sought for a coping mechanism when their mind met a barrier to comprehension and Lysetia could have been yet to understand her wound even if it was there for her to see. It was a pattern that led to darkness. The girl before her was spiralling into the void, she just didn't know it yet.
"I volunteered. To be a runner to warn everyone back home" She continued after a while, clarity returning to her eyes. Mei watched her swallow thickly through glossy eyes. "On my way, one of them got me. It was a corrupted automaton with a terrifying flaming sword"
She choked on her words and Mei had to fight back tears of her own. Taking a deep shuddering breath to compose herself, Mei spoke tenderly. "You don't have to continue..."
"No, I promised to tell you. I don't go back on my words" The girl replied resolutely but Mei could still hear a hint of fear in her tone. "Though I really don't have much else to say from here. I remember running and running from it, and then the heat close to my cheek, then nothing. When I woke up the next day, I was here"
"So you don't know how you ended up being here?"
"No, not really. People told me Babochka rescued me before I passed out. I think I heard a flutter of butterflies before I fainted so I think they're telling me the truth"
"Babochka?"
"Oh! She's probably the strongest Wildfire member around with strange power that can turn her invisible! It was super cool to see her in action because she can beat five adults in a blink of eye! But I think people misunderstood her most of the time because she always looks angry. Truth is, she's actually very kind and the kids like her"
"What does it have to do with butterflies though?"
"It's like a premonition" Lysetia went quiet and made a face. "Is that the right word? What does premonition mean?"
"A feeling that something's going to happen"
"Oh, yeah! Then that's the word. When criminals hear the flutter of butterflies, they instantly know they're about to meet their ends in the blade of her scythe. They said it's inevitable, like the chime of bell for funeral" Lysetia sighed heavily. "People avoid her for that. They call her ruthless, cold-blooded or even sadistic but she doesn't seem to care. She never cares what people think of her. But the children know of her kindness. Whenever she was not on duty, she would hang around to watch over us. Sometimes even joining us to play"
"I think I know someone just like that from my world..."
"You do? They must be a good person, too"
Mei hummed. Was the other Seele a good person? Absolutely. She loved Bronya as much as she loved Seele and from her experience, even the most destructive of being had a soft spot for certain someone that made them human.
"I'm not like her" Thunder growled and Mei huffed in amusement, earning a curious look from Lysetia. Shaking her head and telling the girl not to worry about her reaction, she spoke again.
"You did something brave. That made you a hero"
"But it wasn't enough" Lysetia mumbled dejectedly, little shoulders sagging. Mei's maternal instinct kicked in before the girl could speak further into self-pity by grabbing her hand comfortingly once again.
"No, Lysetia. We don't talk about whether it was enough or not. You did something when others couldn't or wouldn't and that was enough. You are braver than most and that makes you a hero" Mei paused for a moment to watch the girl's expression, noting every single shift of facial muscles. There were flickers of doubt, disbelief and hurt but the most prominent one above all was anxiety. Mei understood. With each word, each letter she uttered a piece of Lysetia's mask was coming undone and revealing the little girl she was. "You must never hide your pain just because people call you that"
The damn broke and the mask shattered. The first roll of tears and sob rocked her body so violently the bed rattle loudly under her. Mei quickly stood up and allowed the girl to lean against her, feeling hot tears wetting the fabric of her dress as she carefully wrapped her arms around Lysetia to return the one sided hug the girl was giving her.
"I d—don't know what to do!" Lysetia wailed, drawing eyes from around them. Mei used her power to magnetically pull the curtains closed by their hangers, protecting them from unwanted spectators. "I can't help my parents like this. I'll be a burden for them to feed and waste money on for the rest of my life" She laughed then. A short and bitter laugh that didn't fit her youthful tone. "A crippled, useless daughter. You know, sometimes I couldn't help but to hate Babochka for rescuing me. It would've been better if I just died, right?"
"Hey, hey look at me" Mei kneeled down so she was in eye level with the distraught girl. Cupping her by the chin, Mei shook her head frantically as she helped wiping the girl's tears. "You can't say that. You don't mean that"
"Wh—what if I do?"
"No, you don't. Death is a scary thing. Do you know what people think when they're dying? Oh, I should've done that, oh it would've been better if I did that" Mei wiped the tears further until she was rewarded with a pair of shiny rubies, staring at her with a mixture of despair and expectation. Expectation for a speck of hope they had lost.
Smiling sadly, Mei continued. "Death is full of regrets but I can see you don't regret helping those people come home safely, right?"
Lysetia shook her head, sniffling. "No. It's, uh, kind of nice, actually. The kids visited me regularly and they would bring fruits they bought with their allowances for me. Their parents also came to my parents to express their gratitude"
"You saved people's lives. You should be proud of yourself" Hesitating for a second, Mei furrowed her eyebrows and grounded her teeth together. "Listen... I have a friend who can heal you but only if you want to"
Little hand grabbed the front of her shirt tightly as its owner stared at her with wide, wet eyes. Mei circled her thumbs around the girl's cheeks gently. "Really?"
There was the hope she had lost, ignited once more by a simple promise of respite from this fate that befell her. To give people hope. That was what she and her friends had been doing for the better part of their lives and the fact they could do it here in a different world was comforting. Hope was important. Hope kept people alive.
"Yes. But..." Mei trailed off, smiling reassuringly when a hint of fear filled those shining red orbs. Red, the color of courage and steadfastness. Truly a fitting color for a girl who embodied both. "I will have to ask for your parent's permissions"
"They're in the mine" Lysetia whispered, still in an apparent disbelief as she stared back. "Their shifts won't end until another eight hours. They'll come to visit so you can wait here if you want"
"That sounds good. I'll be keeping you company, then?"
"Of course" Hesitating for a moment, Lysetia grabbed Mei's hand with her trembling own. "Mei... You're not lying, right? You can fix me, right?"
"My friend... Is very strong. She can make impossible into possible". Sitting down a little closer, Mei sighed. "But it will all be up to you. From there, the struggle ahead will be yours and only yours. There might be pain until your body relearn how to function normally again"
"But it's only been a few days..." Lysetia muttered and Mei shook her head.
"The extent of your injury is not superficial. Every nerve endings will be mended back. Your brain will have to readjust again" Pausing and with all the seriousness, Mei straightened up. "It'll be better than... this. But you'll have to suffer again. Are you ready for that?"
Lysetia thought for precisely three seconds before she nodded resolutely, the glint of her red eyes showing her determination. Mei couldn't help but smile.
"Yes. Anything to make me useful to others. I don't want to be helped when I can help others instead. I want my mom and dad to have a good life when they become old"
"You are a good kid" Mei said affectionately, brushing Lysetia's long raven hair. "And a brave one, too. You are braver than I was when I was your age. I could only run from my problems, causing a lot of pain to those around me..."
"I'm sure you were not that bad" Lysetia said jokingly and Mei laughed.
"Oh, but I was. I was that bad. You should never hide your pain from those around you. Talk to them, share your burden to those willing. You must not shoulder everything alone" Lysetia nodded and Mei smiled genuinely. "Take it from an idiot who did that once to another idiot who also did just that"
Still smiling, Mei patted the perplexed Lysetia on the shoulder before standing up. "I'm going to look for fresh air" Pulling the curtains open, Mei glanced back. "Can you do me a favor? If the doctor looks for me, please tell her that I'm outside"
"Of course"
"Thank you, Lysetia"
Closing the curtains behind her, Mei took a step after another towards the exit, not even registering the stares she received this time. The double doors creaked open silently and out of them Mei strode before they closed again. A lungful of stale underground air filled her throat and she choked on the heavy atmosphere, managing to walk further and slid down against the building's front rusty support beam to her bottom on the equally rusty metal steps before the first burst of tears broke.
Mei cried silently on her folded arms over her tucked knees, face buried on the muscular flesh. It never got easier, seeing children suffer never failed to make her cry her bleeding heart out. At least she had learned to keep it until she was alone, not wanting to let them see her breakdown like this.
Being a teacher was not an easy job, moreso when the school taught children to go to war and possibly their deaths. Being a teacher meant they had to get attached and being attached meant it was personal. Each time she saw a kid she knew fell in the line of duty, Mei felt a small piece of her soul got buried along with them. A piece she knew would never recover.
But it was a life she chose because not many wanted it, which was justified seeing the risk and impact to oneself. If she had to bury them, Mei wanted to make sure she at least taught them enough to survive so she would have a bit peace of mind that she had done her duty. She was allowed to be a little selfish in a world where she had given so much to the greater cause.
Wiping the remaining tears off her face, she reached for her phone and unlocked it with a trembling hand. Some passerbys saw her and gave concerned look on their way but Mei ignored them, instead focusing on her contact info for that one person who could help her.
Finding what she searched for, Mei pressed dial. It didn't take more than five rings until she was answered.
"Yeah, Mei?"
"Hey, Bronya, are you back yet?"
"We're on the Express already. Kiana and I are about to go now" A pause and Mei instantly knew what crossed over Bronya's mind. "Mei, have you been crying?"
There was no hiding something from Bronya. Mei had spent too much time talking to her in the phone when she was upset about something Bronya could immediately pick up the slightest hint of distress in her tone.
"There's... someone I want to ask a favor for"
"Quit it with the favor things. We're family, you ask and I'll deliver. Just say it"
"Right. I think it's better if we talk in person, though, so you can see what I mean directly. When are you coming?"
"Soon. I'm waiting for Kiana to finish showering. She kept complaining she smelled like burnt steak after yesterday"
"Wait, what happened in the Sea of Quanta?"
"This and that. The Idiotka shot a Quantum monster with Shamash at point blank range, got showered in burning energy innards which contributed to her abhorrent smell"
Mei blinked owlishly before she giggled at the picture forming in her head. "Oh, that... must have been terrible"
"You tell her" Bronya said with a snort. "I'll go check on her now. It's been twenty minutes and she hasn't come out. A little warning; if I catch her singing in the shower again I'm blasting your quarters open and dragging her out myself"
"I think it'll be better if you told Himeko that..." Mei trailed off as a sudden shift in the air caught her attention. Eyes widening, she said the first thing that came to mind when a golden portal opened before her.
"Oh..."
"What does that mean? What does 'oh' mean?"
"Well, um... It appears that Kiana is here..."
A flash of white shot out from the formed portal. Mei had a split second time to open her arms and catch a flying Kiana into her embrace, careful to protect her from hitting her head open on the metal beam she's leaning against.
"MEIII!!!! DON'T BE SAD I'M HERE!!!"
Amidst the screaming Kiana, Mei could hear Bronya muttering profanities in her native tongue through the phone.
"Cyka blyat"
Bronya was mad, Kiana was indifferent and Mei was honestly tired. After letting Bronya berated Kiana through her phone for leaving her on the Express, she set foot back into the clinic with Kiana in tow. A hot minute of name-calling with Kiana later, Bronya relented and told her she would met Mei in the Underground in a few hours, refusing Kiana's offer for a fetch.
Bronya's exact word was"Idiocy is free for all but just because you can doesn't mean you should hoard it all for yourself" To Kiana before she hung up. Kiana stuck her tongue out at the screen as if the Bronya could see her before she handed Mei's phone back with a pout.
Mei giggled at that and Kiana sighed a relieved sigh as she put her arms around Mei, pulling her into an embrace. They knew the reason why Bronya refused Kiana's offer was so she could stay with Mei to offer her support even if it meant Bronya would have to sneak through the frozen plains. Mei didn't feel bad because if she did Bronya would be upset at her for feeling that way.
It was just how they communicated. Subtle along the lines, caring without saying it out loud. The familial bonds between the three were so deep they just knew what the other wanted and thought.
It was especially strong between Mei and Kiana. The power of Origin and Finality connected the two like day and night, sharing their hearts to one another. When a feeling was particularly strong, the other would feel it in their blood and flesh no matter the distance between the two. They promised to not hide each other's pain long time ago and their souls were bound to that promise by the seams.
When Kiana saw Lysetia, she didn't say anything about her condition. Instead, she smiled a knowing smile back to Mei before she introduced herself to the bedridden girl. Lysetia greeted her like she did Mei, cheerful and bright like the sunshine itself. Her character allowed her to form a rather quick connection with Kiana and the two engaged in a conversation rather quickly.
Leaving the two after squeezing Kiana's shoulder in a silent thank you, Mei was rewarded with an equal gesture to her hand. She went to check on her phone again, sending Bronya's the recollection of paths she remembered she took to get to the Underground, before going to where this Bronya and the trio at.
Mei waited and waited, sitting on the edge of Stelle's bed as her eyes roamed about the room. The doctor hadn't returned so she decided to ask one of the passing nurses.
"She's in the operation room doing emergency surgery. Do you need something?"
"No, thank you. I just have a few questions for her. How long do you think until she's done?"
"Uncertain but she's been at it for seven hours now. Patients have been coming from the mine in steady flow, more than usual at least"
"Did something happen?" Mei asked worriedly, glancing at Lysetia and Kiana. The former was grinning at Kiana as the latter formed what appeared to be a miniature version of her Void lances and had them flew around above them in circles.
"I'm sorry, miss, but I can't tell you the details. The doctor asked me to keep it a secret for now"
The strained tone the nurse had did not help to appease Mei's concern but she nodded in understanding anyway. There was no use to bother the nurse further after that so she said her thanks and sat back down, back waiting and waiting.
At one point, Dan Heng woke up followed by March a short few moments later. He glanced around, a little wary and confused, until Mei stepped forth to explain their situation to him and March. They took it all silently and Kiana took the chance to check on them, too.
"How're you guys, doing?" Kiana began merrily with a grin, hands on her hips. "What a way to start your morning, huh?"
Dan Heng huff an air of amusement while March chuckled, the latter replying. "You can say that again. How are you here, Kiana?"
"Eh, y'know. Not important. Mei needed my help so I'm here"
"Bronya is not with you?"
At the mention of her best friend Kiana's eyes inadvertently drifted towards the person bearing the name and face on the bed behind her, a frown on her face before she shrugged noncommittally. "She'll be here"
Both Dan Heng and March shared a glance, the pinkette humming to herself as she hopped down her bed. "Well, new place new spots to explore. Dan Heng, want to come with me?"
Dan Heng looked at Mei, waiting for an express permission in which she gave with a nod. "Just be careful. This place is not entirely welcoming to strangers. I'll be here for a bit so don't be shy to message me when you get in trouble"
"When?" March asked incredulously.
"Yes, March, when. I know it's inevitable"
The girl pouted cutely and Mei giggled at the display, shaking her head she gestured for them to go, muttering to Dan Heng to look after March when he walked past her. He didn't give her a verbal response but he did nod slightly.
They left and Mei slumped down on the now empty bed, sighing. She did that a lot for just one day but really, who could blame her? She had a feeling it wouldn't stop soon, too.
Kiana joined her by her side, leaning her head on Mei's shoulder. They didn't say anything, simply sitting there enjoying each other's company for they had learned to never take any moment together for granted anymore. Hand sneaking into Mei's grip, the warmth was welcomed by the taller woman as she hummed contentedly.
Kiana almost purred in delight, happy she could take some burden off Mei's and Mei was grateful for it.
"She's such a good kid..." Kiana muttered only for her to hear. Glancing at where Kiana was looking, Mei hummed again but this time it was of agreement. "What happened to her?"
The now sleeping Lysetia was oblivious to the two woman looking at her from between the curtains. From the gap, they could see the pained grimace on the sleeping girl's face that tugged on their hearts further. Mei hadn't told Kiana yet but being a perceptive person she was Kiana deduced the cause of her distress pretty quickly on her own.
"Freak incident happened" Mei said back in a similar low tone. "She went to ask for help when monsters attacked the mine and got intercepted in her way" Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Mei exhaled. "She couldn't be older than fifteen..."
"Yeah..."
Kiana's hand tightened when Mei's began to tremble in her grip. "For a decade I've been a teacher. I've buried countless students of my own but it never gets easier seeing kids like her suffer" She sniffled, the tears welling up again. "I wish it would be... One day"
"Hey, that's not you" Kiana began gently. "That is not the compassionate, gentle and beautiful Raiden Mei I love. I fear the day when Mei looks at children in distress and doesn't feel a thing from it. I fear the day when Mei looks at other's suffering and be indifferent about it" She punctuated each sentence with a kiss from Mei's jaw, to her cheek and then the corner of Mei's lips. "The Mei I know will turn the world around if it means helping someone in needs"
A chaste kiss on the lips and Mei sighed into it. Kiana smiled and nuzzled her head into the crook of Mei's neck. "You are right. This is the life I chose, the life we chose. I'm sorry for being vulnerable"
"You don't have to. Through thick and thin, remember?" Kiana grinned and Mei chuckled. "When you fall, I'll catch you"
"And when you do, I will too"
"Mhm. That's the deal we made. For life"
Silence reigned between the two, each simply enjoying the heat of the other. Mei pulled Kiana closer and the white haired woman was more than happy to comply, practically preening when Mei inhaled on the top of her head to take in her comforting scent. She was glad she bathed earlier because she smelled like an overcooked deer.
Bronya could go fuck herself.
The moment, however, was shattered when footsteps approached them. Mei glanced back first and gasped and a confused Kiana followed shortly after to see why. The answer was quite obvious, though.
Walking between the rows of beds was a woman they both knew back in their world. One Mei knew quite intimately, in fact.
"Raven?" Kiana blurted out, standing up along with Mei. The woman stopped, her piercing red eyes set on them inquisitively.
"I'm sorry?"
Her voice was softer, different than the one Mei was accustomed to hearing and her gaze was also a lot gentler if not tired. She was wearing a bloodied surgical apron and gloves and in her hands was a tray full of surgical tools covered in yet more crimson liquid. Mei also noticed her hair was a lot longer.
Clearing her throat to get rid of her surprise and confusion, Mei smiled a bit. "Sorry, we thought you were someone else"
The woman smiled and nodded, continuing on her path towards nearby sink. For the next ten minutes, she spent stripping and cleaning her tools off the blood and all they could do was watch her back.
"She's the doctor..." Mei mumbled and Kiana blinked inquisitively.
"What?"
"The clinic... It belongs to her and she's the doctor for these people"
Realization dawned on Kiana's head and her mouth dropped open into an O shape. True to Mei's deduction, Raven began to check on the patients in the room and administered medicines to them.
"Oh. Oh... Well, it's gonna be interesting"
Mei sucked in a breath.
Yeah, it is.
TBC
So, a few things I would like to address; this won't be a 1:1 story with the game because I'll have to alter a few things to make it more convenient for reading. Some interactions will be changed or skipped entirely for later or never at all depending on the importance to the plot or the point of view. BUT I will try to not change major events in a way that will make them less impactful, in fact I'll try my best to make them better with the addition of the OG trio to the equation.
I don't want to make "Woah you can do that?!" moment as the staple, but rather "I'm glad you're here to help" as I explained to someone who asked me via PM before. Either way, things will proceed differently.
Also I'd like to say that the POVs will probably be from the OG trio's most of the time because, well, it's a story set in Star Rail world setting so if I go with SR character's POV as the majority it'll be boring as heck. You know what they think from the game so I'll just expand them instead.
Thanks for the reviews, guys, I was a little excited in the previous chapter I forgot to say this. Don't be shy to message me directly if you have questions, though I might not be able to reply immediately because of life and stuff. But I'll try to.
See y'all later.