Bella and Kiana's argument finally ended with Rita's intervention. The stubborn doll, who insisted on calling Kiana "Queen," eventually relented under her mistress's stern demands and the gentle persuasion of the nearby maid. But then she threw another dilemma their way—
"Then what should I call you from now on, Queen?" Bella asked dejectedly, her head drooping.
Kiana and Rita exchanged glances.
After a long silence, Rita seemed to have an idea.
"Hmm... Miss Bella considers herself Miss Kiana's servant, correct?"
The maid looked at Bella, who was floating in the air, looking perplexed. The doll girl nodded earnestly.
"Then... why not simply call her 'Lady Kiana'? And—perhaps you could intern with Rita for a few days?" The maid's smile grew even brighter, as if she'd come up with a brilliant plan.
"...Intern?"
Bella stared at Rita's excessively radiant smile, feeling increasingly uneasy. She looked ready to turn and run, but Kiana grabbed her arm on the spot.
"Exactly! Come learn from Rita how to be a proper maid! It'll only take three days!"
Rita's proposal might not have appealed to Bella, but it instantly captivated Kiana. The white-haired girl nodded enthusiastically in agreement.
"Then I'll leave Bella in your care, Rita. She's all yours for training these next few days! Bella, you must listen to Rita, okay?"
Kiana ruffled Bella's drooping hair, then flashed a warm smile at the gray-blue android girl, instantly filling Bella with renewed enthusiasm.
"No problem, Queen! Leave it to me!" Under Kiana's gentle gaze, Bella seemed to have been entrusted with a grand mission. She flew resolutely to Rita's side, ready to face whatever came her way.
"Hmph! Humans! I won't be afraid of you! Bring it on!"
Despite her defiant words, Bella obediently settled beside Rita, bracing herself for what promised to be three grueling days.
Seeing Bella's death-defying expression, even the corners of Rita's perfectly smiling face twitched involuntarily.
"Miss Bella, what you'll be learning is how to provide flawless service to your master as a maid—master's wardrobe coordination, time management, dietary and social arrangements, and most importantly, maintaining impeccable grooming and deportment."
"Though three days is a short time, I believe Miss Bella can learn a great deal. This way, you can help Miss Kiana share some of her workload."
Rita smiled at the doll-like girl who had flown to her side. After a moment's thought, Bella nodded firmly.
"Hmm... Since it's for the Queen, I have no choice but to accept!"
Bella clenched her fist, giving herself a pep talk, and looked at the short, ash-gold-haired woman before her.
"P-person... No, Miss Rita, please guide me!"
"Such enthusiasm!" Kiana nodded approvingly, watching Bella's sudden burst of determination.
The young girl didn't yet realize the future hardships she would face if Rita trained Bella according to Lady Bianca's lifestyle.
"Then... if Miss Kiana has no further business, I'll take Miss Bella to begin her training?"
Rita glanced at Kiana, who seemed ready to leave.
"Um... I have one last question, Rita. I hope you don't mind answering if it's not too sensitive?" Kiana asked with a curious expression.
"Please ask, Miss Kiana. I'll answer as appropriate."
"So, those... um, S-rank Valkyries must have it pretty easy, right? It seems like you only get called in for major missions, since you're like the aces, or something." Kiana's curiosity piqued.
"Not at all. According to Schicksal's records, S-rank Valkyries throughout history, excluding unavoidable circumstances, actually have a higher deployment rate than A-rank and B-rank Valkyries at the various branches. This is because the branches often request support from Headquarters."
"Moreover, Lady Bianca is particularly diligent... She frequently volunteers for missions and deploys herself." Rita shook her head, dispelling Kiana's assumption.
"In truth, the daily routines of S-rank Valkyries are quite similar to those of A-rank and B-rank Valkyries."
"Why does that sound like my sister would be perfect as a corporate slave, working those overtime hours..." Kiana muttered, pouting slightly. She waved goodbye to Rita. "Alright, I have no more questions. See you later, Rita!"
"Farewell, Miss Kiana. Safe travels."
-
With Kiana's situation resolved for the time being, a little raven on a long-distance flight finally reached its destination under the cover of night: Schicksal's New Zealand Branch.
"Green Seele... Let me find Green Seele. Ugh, what Green Seele? Where's Wendy..."
Muninn shook her little head and began searching through the dormitory rooms of the Schicksal Branch.
-
Every night, the young girl was tormented by a dream. In it, a voice whispered seductively:
—If you embrace the true power of the gem on your thigh and surrender to your deepest desires, you'll no longer be confined to a wheelchair, wasting away your life. You'll walk freely upon the earth once more, even fulfill your past dreams—to become an S-rank Valkyrie.
But the girl knew this voice all too well. It was the Honkai's corruption, a constant threat mentioned during Valkyrie training. This corruption could manifest directly as Zombie transformation or as this insidious voice that sought to deceive her.
Today, just like every other day, I will not yield to you, Honkai!
With this thought, the girl drifted into a deep sleep in her wheelchair. Meanwhile, outside the window, Muninn, who had been searching tirelessly, finally located her target.
A black raven flew into the girl's room, landing softly on the floor before transforming into a silver-haired, crimson-eyed girl clad in a feathered black robe.
"Good evening, Miss Wendy."
"I am her Second Apostle, Muninn, the Monarch of Memory. Now... may you dream sweetly, future Fourth Apostle—Poem of the Unfettered."
The beautiful silver-haired, red-eyed girl bowed slightly to the green-haired Valkyrie sleeping peacefully in her wheelchair, then placed her icy small hand on the sleeping girl's furrowed brow.
Perhaps the cool touch brought a hint of relief, as the Valkyrie's tense expression gradually relaxed.
In her dream this time, the green-haired Valkyrie heard another voice calling out—
O kings of the mortal realm... draw near—for you shall be crowned.