Chapter 2.5: Interlude

"Shirou."

The two children left behind by a third stood in the middle of nowhere, a fresh grave in front of them. Using Sirin's new powers, the source of which the boy still didn't fully understand yet, only that 'God' had gifted them to her as its messenger and herald, they had warped out here to a place that would be mostly undisturbed for a long time, far away from the tower of Babylon Labs, to give their friend a peaceful resting place.

"Something has been bothering me, about what that evil slime said about you, what he called you twice. Why exactly were you called 'Subject HM-03-1204'?"

Shirou turned to glance at the purple haired girl, who was still staring at the inscription on the stone slab she had found somewhere and carved with her void lance herself. It read: 'Here lies Bella. A beloved daughter, a missed sister, a cherished friend.'

"You swore yourself to my service when I ascended at the choosing of my God, Shirou. As my Knight, your Queen would like an answer."

The boy sighed. "Sirin, I swore to protect you because Bella would have wanted me to do so, as well as the information that you plan to kill the Overseer. She didn't want you to be alone, and as Bella's friend and fellow chef, I want to honor her final wish, and I also have personal reasons to deal with the Overseer as well. He, as well as the answer to your question, are related to my 'creation'… just give me some time to collect my thoughts, please."

"Hmph. Bella… was not just my best friend… she was the sister I never had, but always wanted. Very well, I shall grant your request."

They stood in silence for awhile longer, each reflecting on their pasts, as well as things they had never told the third of their former number, and now would never be able to again. The cold didn't seem to bother Sirin anymore. Finally, the boy opened his mouth.

"Subject HM-03-1204… is my past, before I came to meet you both. I never told you this before, but I am apparently created by the Schicksal Overseer himself as an experiment. I… am a genetically engineered clone of someone, made by that man for a purpose still unknown to me. My first clear memory… is the Overseer staring at me as I was floating in a large clear tank of liquid, before he then did something that felt extremely painful to me but I think aged me to my current appearance. After that… he released me from the tank, only to put me through a series of combat tests, each becoming more difficult than the last."

Despite having requested Shirou to tell her this, Sirin's eyes bugged out in utter surprise at the information in contrast to her new queenly persona, having not expected such a thing about her companion's past. Thankfully, this went unseen by the boy himself, who continued speaking.

"In those combat tests I was in, that man sent many enemies of differing types against me. First were ranged mechs, then close ranged units, then both together at once, then Honkai beasts." Stlll unseen by Shirou, Sirin tensed at his last words. "But for my final test, I found out… that I wasn't the only one. I discovered I was only part of a experimental clone series that stood out due to my strong combat ability… and that I had to fight another clone of a similar 'model' as me… or die by the other's hands. Obviously, I survived, and I spared the other clone, but as a punishment or maybe boredom of me, the Overseer left me here." Shirou scratched the side of his head.

"Actually, I didn't even want to fight at first, but I also didn't want to be blown up in the very first combat test, so I guess I defeated the enemies in front of me… and never stopped until the final combat test with the other clone, who was a girl unlike me, for some reason. To confess, I also have another secret. Beginning with my first battle, I was able to somehow have vague dream memories that contained fighting battle experience, among other things. To this day, I still can't explain them. In fact, it was because of a clearer dream memory that I asked if I had seen or met you before when we first met… and you called me a creep, which I accepted."

Sirin started to feel uncomfortable at all the information Shirou was telling her, but the boy bulldozed on. "I also, somehow, have another ability. I can see the memories and experiences of bladed objects and their users and/or wielders. I first discovered it when the Overseer dropped a training sword used by Valkyrie recruits until they graduate onto the training room I fought in. Speaking of which, I think that training room is still hidden in Babylon Labs itself according to what the Overseer told me. With the memories of the sword, I was able to win against 12 Honkai beasts and the other clone."

"That is the full story, Sirin, of my experiences before I met you both. Compared to that, the memories of these past few months spent cooking with Bella for you as well as the other kids… were so much better… and I only wish I could have told Bella my thoughts in time, to tell her I agreed with her, and now it's too late."

"We were too weak to save her. I was too weak to save her. Things will be different from now on. I will become strong, strong enough to take revenge, against that Overseer Otto Apocalypse. Justice will be done… for her death. I swear this on my new divine title as my God's Void Queen."

Her words triggered another dream memory for Shirou, one of a starlit porch, of a man, sitting on it staring at the full moon, whose voice he could hear clearly, but whose face he could only see a blur.

"Sirin… justice is a long road to walk, and if taken too far you can lose not only yourself to the endless pursuit of it, but others may not be able to accompany you. Bella told me to take care of you, so I won't let that stop me from being at your side. But I still must give you a word of caution: Instead of pursuing endless Justice, become a Protector of others, so that what happened to us will never happen to another child again. That is why I choose to fight against Otto Apocalypse."

"I see… I will keep your words in mind, my retainer. Perhaps I may even search for that training room you were kept in should I have time. For now, I need my Knight to prepare to face the forces that our enemy will send against us. Go back and rest, I still have things to think about here." With those words, a rift in space-time opened behind Shirou. Recognising his dismissal, the boy reluctantly walked through, leaving Sirin alone.

"As if… A protector of what? Who cares about those other weak children… they couldn't stop those evil scientists like my past self either." From a short distance away, a tiny Honkai cherub approached the Void Queen, who continued to muse to herself. "Sorry, Shirou…"

"I have nothing to protect in this world anymore after Bella died in my arms."