She couldn't believe that the strength, the smiles, the seeming safety back then were rely disguises wrapped around pain.
She feared Raven's words, rejected World Serpent's claims, and prayed that the person in the operating room right now could prove it was all just a false alarm—
The door opened.
i hurried forward: "Dr. Tesla! How is Kiana?"
"..."
Tesla looked extrely grave, eyes flickering with reluctance: "After ergency treatnt, she's out of imdiate danger for now. She'll regain consciousness soon."
"But... her physical condition is still deteriorating. That damn Herrscher consciousness is constantly triggering the core's erosion."
"Kiana tried her best. These four months, she's been resisting Sirin the whole ti. But at this rate... her body will collapse first."
"...And of all tis, she absorbed enough Honkai energy to destroy an entire city..."
Tesla's voice grew faint, fainter, until barely audible.
"I've issued a Level 1 alert to headquarters. The Hyperion is rushing here at full speed. i, stay calm and listen."
"..."
"...Two months."
"...The ti left for her—for us... is less than two months."
Hearing this answer,
i's heart trembled. Sadness overwheld her completely.
The audience felt the sa.
Who could have imagined that the cheerful, happy girl from just weeks ago now had less than two months to live?
How could they bear this?
"Damn director, f*** your whole family!! You really can't act human, huh? If Kiana dies, I'll bomb your company!"
"Dog director! Everyone at Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainnt Company—rember this. If my Tuna dies, I won't let you rest easy—especially you, dog director. I'll hunt you my whole life."
"How can you tolerate this? You can tolerate this plot? Where's Kalpas? Didn't you go to the company? How could you allow the director to write this? You've betrayed us too?"
"I can't take it—I really can't. My heart aches to death. Why does our Kiana have to suffer this fate? Why does she have to endure pain?"
"Watching this show weekly really hurts my chest—makes my period cry and not co. Why can't you be kinder to my Kiana? She's so good."
"My heart truly aches for i. Finally finding Kiana—only for this outco. We can't accept it—how can she face and accept it? I really want to kill the director!!!"
The audience's rage soared to the heavens.
At the company lounge,
Elysia held Kiana close. She too felt heartache for the Kiana in the drama.
The tornt endured along the way pained her deeply.
As for Hessian,
he sat in the back watching TV as if nothing happened.
After all... having been stabbed himself, letting everyone experience it—wasn't that quite enjoyable?
The drama continued.
Tesla looked at the pale-faced i and poured her a coffee.
"Drink so coffee. You haven't rested in ages."
"Thank you." i took the paper cup, but saw a weary face reflected in it. She trembled—the reflection scattered in the rippling waves.
"I can't believe... this... it's too sudden. Three days ago in Arc City, she was perfectly healthy—nothing wrong at all..."
Tesla said: "I've notified the Hyperion—they'll rendezvous with us imdiately. Leader Welt is monitoring too. Rest assured—no one understands Herrschers better than him."
"Though... I'd love to move her to a safe place, monitoring shows Schicksal forces active near the Far East. In our current state, encountering enemies would be trouble."
"For safety, wait for reinforcents."
i took a deep breath: "Doctor, I have a request. Before the official diagnosis—please don't tell Kiana her condition..."
"She's in danger—she needs our help... but I'm afraid if she learns it, she'll... leave without saying goodbye again..."
"I know her—she's always shouldered everything alone... I can't imagine what mindset she's had wandering solitary all this ti..."
Tesla said: "I understand. I promise. Stabilizing her emotions is most important now."
"Thank you..."
i thanked her and prepared to visit Kiana in the infirmary.
Tesla stopped her, handing a towel: "Wash your face first. This is your reunion after four months—cheer up."
Before the infirmary door, i paused.
She stepped forward, reached the door—then stopped again.
An emotion tugged at her, preventing further movent.
Hesitation?
Panic?
No—she suddenly realized it was fear.
...Fear?
Afraid to face Kiana?
...How could she think that?
i took a deep breath, casting aside the indescribable turmoil, and stepped firmly.
Then—the door opened—
"i..." Kiana lay on the bed, wearing her usual smile. Months of wandering seed to leave no trace on her face—but the blood marks on her neck remained clear.
"i, long ti no see... wait, we just saw each other a few days ago."
i forced cheer: "Kiana... you're awake?"
"Mm, not long ago. Waking up in an unfamiliar place panicked a bit—but seeing i, I understood everything. Didn't expect you'd find in the end."
She lay quietly on the bed, smiling at i.
But soon, her view was overwheld by an orange blob.
"Ah, what's wrong! i, don't throw things at ! ...Eh, isn't this my lost jacket?"
i said with a tearful voice: "You idiot! How can you say that so casually... Do you know how worried everyone was... how much we missed you!?"
"Why... why hide alone in Nagazora instead of contacting us! Instead of finding us..."
"..."
"..."
Kiana only remained silent—she couldn't answer.
Not wanting the mood to chill, she changed topics: "New hairstyle... suits you. I really like it... i looks great no matter what... Sorry, I'm back."
i finally broke—tears flowing: "Kiana... you're back... welco ho!"
She rushed to the bedside, hugging the person before her tightly. The warm touch turned back ti...
It felt like those sunny mornings at St. Freya Academy—sunlight on her skin, gentle and warm.
Everything as always—unchanged.
"...Kiana, how do you feel now? Any discomfort?"
Kiana replied: "No no—just had a good sleep. I'm full of energy now!"
i felt relieved: "Your safe return is better than anything. You have so minor injuries—Dr. Tesla treated them properly. She said you're overtired and need good rest."
"Ah, you probably don't know—the Far East branch broke from Schicksal and allied with Anti-Entropy. The doctor is a high-ranking Anti-Entropy cadre."
"So much happened these four months—I'll tell you bit by bit..."
The two sat chatting. i patiently recounted the four months; Kiana listened attentively, enjoying this hard-won peace.
"With so much happening, everyone must have changed a lot. Hehe—wonder if Bronya grew any taller. I bet not."
Hearing Kiana, i smiled: "She's still the sa. The Hyperion is rushing here—you'll see them soon."
Kiana said: "Sigh, a bit nervous. I'm not ready yet. i, waiting's boring too. Before everyone arrives, I want to go out again—adjust my mood."
"Out? Now?"
i was surprised: "But you need rest..."
Kiana quickly said: "You know —I can't sit still. Moving around helps recover faster. Lying here forever—body and heart will rust."
"And—rare return to Nagazora. Before leaving, I want to see more."
i nodded: "Okay—but I'll go with you."
Kiana smiled: "Even better! I almost forgot when we last went out together. With i beside —all my illnesses are cured."
"Sigh, you... this isn't an outing." i shook her head, sighing—but her expression softened greatly.
The two bickered as they left the room. The unease and fear in the air—gone without notice.
Outside, viewing Nagazora, both recalled mories.
They t here—many things happened. i had detailed this to viewers during her search streams.
Walking and looking,
i asked: "Kiana, I've always wondered... why did you think to return to Nagazora?"
Kiana replied: "Actually—no special reason. Just wanted to see what it beca. Back then, escaping World Serpent and Schicksal conflict—mind chaos, body unwell. I just wanted a place far from people to calm down."
"Sohow, Nagazora ca to mind."
"Maybe when lost, people return to the start. Here I t you, t everyone... I wanted to recapture that feeling."
"i... ugh, never mind... nothing..."
i quickly asked: "What is it, Kiana?"
Kiana avoided i's gaze—her eyes suddenly dimd, sinking with the condensing air.
i instantly understood.
She knew what Kiana wanted to say—but didn't know how to respond.
Because that topic... that person—was their shared scar.
"...I... still rember that day." Kiana hesitated: "These four months, passing many cities, seeing many Honkai victims—I kept running, running—but couldn't escape that nightmare."
"Finally, I realized I can't just run. Compared to fleeing—there's sothing more important waiting."
"I must face crowds, face everyone... face my own fate."
"I'm not Kiana Kaslana—not Dad's real daughter... I'm specin K-423, the Herrscher of the Void's vessel."
i nearly shouted: "No...!"
She wanted to deny it all—she refused to accept. To her, Kiana was Kiana—the person she loved most.
Kiana said calmly: "It's okay, i... it's okay. Accepting this doesn't an giving up. On the contrary—it showed what I must do."
"Sealing the Herrscher of the Void is my responsibility. Moreover—I can use her power to protect the suffering, to heal the wounds Honkai inflicts on the world."
"In Arc City, I helped many—and couldn't help many... But that ti made understand sothing."
"i, perhaps my birth was just a farce—but I can make it aningful."
"Perhaps... my story isn't beautiful—but I can make this world more beautiful."
"This is... my promise to her."
"Kiana..." i hadn't expected—after four months apart—Kiana changed so much, saying such words. What pain had she endured? It broke i's heart.
Kiana continued: "Now thinking—it might be why I returned to Nagazora. Here everything began. Three years ago, I ran here, fought, advanced toward the distance—t you and everyone, vowing to fight for all the beauty in the world."
"This is my original intent—and now, I can still advance on this path I chose."
"Thinking this—I'm not so afraid anymore."
She turned back, giving i a bright smile.
In that instant, sunlight seed to break through clouds.
Three years ago, the girl shouting to save her had smiled just like this.
i said emotionally: "...You haven't changed at all, Kiana. No matter your na, your identity—you are you, the most important companion to , to everyone."
"We'll always be by your side."
Kiana said touched: "i, thank you! These four months, I imagined countless reunions—but eting you again here is truly wonderful."
"Sigh... just a pity we couldn't go to Thousand Feathers Academy. Feels like unfinished business."
i said: "When the storm passes, when everything ends—we'll return, together to Thousand Feathers Academy."
Kiana gazed at the water, sight chasing past trails to the distant shore. Finally, she turned, nodding firmly at i: "Mm—it's a promise!"
i urged: "Okay, we should head back. If we're out too long, Dr. Tesla will worry."
Kiana used her original tone: "I know~ i go ahead. I want to look at the academy a bit more—I'll follow right away!"
Once i turned,
her expression instantly grew grave.
She noticed the seawater rising again—Honkai energy seeping bit by bit from soil, from water...
"Indeed... Nagazora is strange... sothing is about to erupt..."
"..."
"No—no... I can't drag her into this...!"
Decided, Kiana turned to follow i—both heading back to the Helios.
On the way, they encountered injured Benares—finding her unusually gentle toward Kiana, no intent to attack.
Kiana decided to bring it aboard the Helios.
Aboard the Helios,
Tesla was utterly speechless at Benares: "Who does that? Stray cats and dogs are one thing—but I've never heard of soone picking up a Honkai beast on an outing?"
"First cybernetically modified person, then refugee girl—now a Judgnt-class Honkai beast... Guess next is bringing a World Serpent cadre for a party?"
After settling Kiana, i ca alone to Tesla, accepting the scolding obediently.
"Sorry... for troubling you..."
Tesla waved: "Forget it—I'm not angry, just surprised. But in a way, Kiana taming it is good—removes a tough enemy. Let it follow the Helios for now."
"Back to business—I need you. While you were out, headquarters concluded."
i grew excited: "Found a way to treat Kiana?!"
Tesla didn't answer—instead led her to the conference room, connecting to Hyperion communications.
Monts later, Einstein's face appeared on screen...
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