She couldn't believe that the strength, the smiles, the seeming safety back then were merely 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.
Mei hurried forward: "Dr. Tesla! How is Kiana?"
"..."
Tesla looked extremely grave, eyes flickering with reluctance: "After emergency treatment, she's out of immediate 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 time. But at this rate... her body will collapse first."
"...And of all times, 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. Mei, stay calm and listen."
"..."
"...Two months."
"...The time left for her—for us... is less than two months."
Hearing this answer,
Mei's heart trembled. Sadness overwhelmed her completely.
The audience felt the same.
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 Entertainment Company—remember 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 come. Why can't you be kinder to my Kiana? She's so good."
"My heart truly aches for Mei. Finally finding Kiana—only for this outcome. 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 torment 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 Mei and poured her a coffee.
"Drink some coffee. You haven't rested in ages."
"Thank you." Mei 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 immediately. 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 reinforcements."
Mei 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 time..."
Tesla said: "I understand. I promise. Stabilizing her emotions is most important now."
"Thank you..."
Mei 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, Mei paused.
She stepped forward, reached the door—then stopped again.
An emotion tugged at her, preventing further movement.
Hesitation?
Panic?
No—she suddenly realized it was fear.
...Fear?
Afraid to face Kiana?
...How could she think that?
Mei took a deep breath, casting aside the indescribable turmoil, and stepped firmly.
Then—the door opened—
"Mei..." Kiana lay on the bed, wearing her usual smile. Months of wandering seemed to leave no trace on her face—but the blood marks on her neck remained clear.
"Mei, long time no see... wait, we just saw each other a few days ago."
Mei forced cheer: "Kiana... you're awake?"
"Mm, not long ago. Waking up in an unfamiliar place panicked me a bit—but seeing Mei, I understood everything. Didn't expect you'd find me in the end."
She lay quietly on the bed, smiling at Mei.
But soon, her view was overwhelmed by an orange blob.
"Ah, what's wrong! Mei, don't throw things at me! ...Eh, isn't this my lost jacket?"
Mei 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... Mei looks great no matter what... Sorry, I'm back."
Mei finally broke—tears flowing: "Kiana... you're back... welcome home!"
She rushed to the bedside, hugging the person before her tightly. The warm touch turned back time...
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!"
Mei felt relieved: "Your safe return is better than anything. You have some 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. Mei 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, Mei smiled: "She's still the same. The Hyperion is rushing here—you'll see them soon."
Kiana said: "Sigh, a bit nervous. I'm not ready yet. Mei, waiting's boring too. Before everyone arrives, I want to go out again—adjust my mood."
"Out? Now?"
Mei was surprised: "But you need rest..."
Kiana quickly said: "You know me—I can't sit still. Moving around helps me recover faster. Lying here forever—body and heart will rust."
"And—rare return to Nagazora. Before leaving, I want to see more."
Mei nodded: "Okay—but I'll go with you."
Kiana smiled: "Even better! I almost forgot when we last went out together. With Mei beside me—all my illnesses are cured."
"Sigh, you... this isn't an outing." Mei 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 memories.
They met here—many things happened. Mei had detailed this to viewers during her search streams.
Walking and looking,
Mei 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 became. Back then, escaping World Serpent and Schicksal conflict—mind chaos, body unwell. I just wanted a place far from people to calm down."
"Somehow, Nagazora came to mind."
"Maybe when lost, people return to the start. Here I met you, met everyone... I wanted to recapture that feeling."
"Mei... ugh, never mind... nothing..."
Mei quickly asked: "What is it, Kiana?"
Kiana avoided Mei's gaze—her eyes suddenly dimmed, sinking with the condensing air.
Mei 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 remember 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 something 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 specimen K-423, the Herrscher of the Void's vessel."
Mei 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, Mei... it's okay. Accepting this doesn't mean giving up. On the contrary—it showed me 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 time made me understand something."
"Mei, perhaps my birth was just a farce—but I can make it meaningful."
"Perhaps... my story isn't beautiful—but I can make this world more beautiful."
"This is... my promise to her."
"Kiana..." Mei hadn't expected—after four months apart—Kiana changed so much, saying such words. What pain had she endured? It broke Mei'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—met 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 Mei a bright smile.
In that instant, sunlight seemed to break through clouds.
Three years ago, the girl shouting to save her had smiled just like this.
Mei said emotionally: "...You haven't changed at all, Kiana. No matter your name, your identity—you are you, the most important companion to me, to everyone."
"We'll always be by your side."
Kiana said touched: "Mei, thank you! These four months, I imagined countless reunions—but meeting you again here is truly wonderful."
"Sigh... just a pity we couldn't go to Thousand Feathers Academy. Feels like unfinished business."
Mei 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 Mei: "Mm—it's a promise!"
Mei urged: "Okay, we should head back. If we're out too long, Dr. Tesla will worry."
Kiana used her original tone: "I know~ Mei go ahead. I want to look at the academy a bit more—I'll follow right away!"
Once Mei 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... something is about to erupt..."
"..."
"No—no... I can't drag her into this...!"
Decided, Kiana turned to follow Mei—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 someone picking up a Honkai beast on an outing?"
"First cybernetically modified person, then refugee girl—now a Judgment-class Honkai beast... Guess next is bringing a World Serpent cadre for a party?"
After settling Kiana, Mei came 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."
Mei grew excited: "Found a way to treat Kiana?!"
Tesla didn't answer—instead led her to the conference room, connecting to Hyperion communications.
Moments later, Einstein's face appeared on screen...