Chapter 370: Awakening
Snoreee~~
A soft, dark-gray bed, delicate blossoms in pairs, a beauty sleeping like spring incarnate, her fair arms like polished jade, skin smooth as silk, her breath warm and sweet—
—or at least, it should have been that way.
Unfortunately, the current scene was somewhat less poetic.
Kiana lay sprawled out on the bed, her limbs bound in a spread-eagle position by glowing blue energy chains. Despite that, she slept soundly, a faint trail of drool glimmering at the corner of her lips, a tiny bubble of snot puffing and deflating with each breath, and her soft snores filling the room.
"Mnnh… Sig, stop it… enough already… mmph!!"
Smack!
The snot bubble popped as Kiana's eyes fluttered open.
"Is it morning already…" she murmured sleepily, half-conscious, trying to rub her eyes—only to realize that her wrists and ankles were pulled taut by chains connected to the wall.
"Huh? What the heck?"
The ahoge on her head sprang upright. Instantly, she was wide awake.
Then, she heard the soft rhythm of breathing beside her. Turning her head, she saw a small, gray-haired girl curled up and fast asleep next to her, her hair spread out like silk across the pillow.
Kiana: "…"
Alright, that explained it. When she used to sleep beside Sigurd, even though he always complained about her terrible sleeping posture, he'd just silently endure it. But Bronya was a different story. Her physical constitution was a whole dimension weaker—Kiana was a Kaslana and a Herrscher, after all. Not everyone could withstand her unconscious strength, so… a bit of restraint was necessary.
Once Kiana understood the reason, she didn't really mind. She simply gathered her Honkai energy and shattered the chains around her wrists and ankles. Then she sat up and stretched with a long, satisfied yawn.
"Ahhh~~ what a great sleep!"
"Speaking of which—where's Sig? Icarus, where did Sig go?"
Rubbing her eyes, Kiana looked around. There was no sign of him, and she couldn't sense his presence anywhere in the base. So, she called out softly to Icarus.
At once, a holographic projection appeared at the bedside, showing Sigurd's image.
He was… wearing a frilly pink floral apron, the kind that screamed girly domestic vibes, and was in the middle of adding seasoning to a steaming pot.
Slurp—
Kiana swallowed audibly, half from seeing this rare and precious display of Sigurd's domestic side—an urge rising in her to leap on him right then and there—ahem, and the other half from the sight of the food.
"I want meat!" she declared boldly, wiping her mouth, absolutely certain he was cooking for her and Bronya.
But Sigurd gave her a sidelong look, as if seeing through the screen and noticing she wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing. His voice was calm and flat:
"It's not for you. And I'm not at the base. You can't eat it."
"Wha—? If not for me, then who? Which little vixen are you cooking for, huh? I don't care, I want it too! Tell me where you are!"
"I'm at Vira's place."
"…"
Kiana froze.
After a long pause, she looked down and muttered weakly, "Alright then… guess I'll find my own food."
Over the past six months, Vira had been staying in Yordle City. Kiana knew that, and she'd quietly been keeping an eye on her from afar.
Her own detention for trespassing into Schicksal wasn't exactly a secret, nor was Anti-Entropy's headquarters location. And yet, during all this time, Vira had never come to visit her—not even once.
Kiana understood what that meant. Vira didn't want to see her.
The Yordle City disaster had been her doing—unintentional, but her fault nonetheless. The damage was done, and all she could feel was a heavy, helpless guilt. So if Vira didn't want to see her, she didn't dare take a single step into Yordle City.
Sigurd, having finished adding the seasonings, closed the pot's lid and faced the screen squarely.
"She doesn't hate you."
"Really?"
"She doesn't hate you," he said quietly, "but she hasn't let go either. Give her time. She needs it."
Kiana nodded vigorously. "Mhm! Of course, I will… Is she doing okay? Come to think of it, I don't even know what kind of food she likes anymore…"
Her voice trailed off, excitement fading into quiet sadness as she lowered her head.
Sigurd stroked his chin thoughtfully and replied,
"She's doing quite well. Her health's good, she found a job operating construction mechs, occasionally helps take down some stray Honkai beasts—doing her part for her hometown. She's even made a few friends, living a full and steady life. She doesn't have any particular likes or dislikes when it comes to food—just your average girl with a bit of a sweet tooth. Not like you, this hopeless carnivore who gags at vegetables. She's not picky, and she's diligent, smart, and kind—a model young lady through and through."
As he spoke, Sigurd suddenly frowned. His eyes lingered on Kiana, who was staring eagerly at the screen, and he muttered to himself,
"Wait… does this mean my teaching ability is worse than that girl?"
"Huh?"
Kiana blinked in confusion, completely lost.
Then Sigurd turned his gaze toward Bronya, still curled up under the sheets. His expression relaxed again.
"No, that's not it. It's just a matter of… student quality. My teaching ability is perfectly fine."
He nodded to himself as if confirming a reassuring truth.
Kiana tilted her head, frowning, her fingers fidgeting.
"...Are you implying that I'm an idiot?"
"Yes."
"Just you wait! You'll pay for that when you get back!"
"Sure. I'll make preparations for the inevitable rebellion. Now, since you're awake—wash up, drink some hot water, and have dinner with the others. I'll head back after I finish eating here."
Sigurd's tone turned half-scolding, half-affectionate as he rambled on. But his eyes… were fixed quite intently on the pristine, snow-white scenery before him—Kiana's rather uncovered upper half. The corners of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.
Only when Kiana noticed his gaze, blushed furiously, and yanked up the blanket to cover herself, did he finally end the call.
"Whew…"
Kiana let out a breath, lowering the blanket, her cheeks puffed in embarrassment and frustration.
"What the heck! It's not like it's the first time he's seen me—what's he staring for anyway? Hmph, but still… going to see Vira so soon, he must've wanted to help us patch things up. He's worried about me… Sig's such a tsundere!"
She mumbled under her breath, then suddenly covered her face with both hands, giggling behind them like a lovesick fool.
"Staaare—"
A sharp, piercing gaze cut through her laughter.
Kiana froze and looked down, meeting Bronya's blank, emotionless eyes.
"You're awake?"
"Bronya hasn't yet reached the level of dullness where she can sleep soundly while someone makes weird noises right next to her."
"Oh, sorry for the noise. But hey, I took one more hit than you did during that fight—how come you're still groggy while I'm already up?"
"…"
Bronya was silent for a moment. She knew Kiana wasn't bragging—she just lacked the mental circuitry to process tact.
Rolling her eyes, Bronya replied in her usual soft, childlike monotone,
"Idiots tend to have stronger constitutions… and sleep better. Unfortunately, Bronya is not an idiot."
"Stop calling me an idiot! I'm super clever, okay!?"
"In that case, Bronya recommends you retake the course on 'Self-Awareness'—starting from lesson one."
"You're asking for it!"
Kiana roared in mock fury, lunging forward and wrapping her arms around Bronya's small body, launching a merciless tickle assault.
"Pfft—Kiana—useless thunnini—stop wasting your effort! Bronya will never—pfft-hahaha—!"
Their limbs tangled as they rolled around, laughter and shouts echoing through the room. Kiana cackled triumphantly, Bronya retaliated indignantly—and the once quiet quarters were soon filled with life and noise once more.
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