"I've never held any resentment against you..."
"This is my own choice..."
"Kiana Kaslana... She deserves this name..."
"Live well, both of you. Now, go back..."
After a lengthy monologue, the ethereal voice echoed throughout every corner of the vast space, almost as if resonating directly within their souls.
Siegfried and Theresa, tears streaming down their faces, were momentarily stunned. Then, they felt a force pulling at the fabric of space behind them, drawing them helplessly toward it.
"KIANA!!!" × 2
In unison, their cries were swallowed by a golden light, vanishing from this realm.
"Is this...a bit too hasty?" Vera scratched her head, bewildered. Before she could ponder further, another figure descended from above.
"Behold—agh!"
Boom!
An overcharged Vajna, engulfed in immense Honkai energy and explosive flames, plummeted down with tremendous force. Caught off guard, unable to regain control, she crashed face-first onto the void floor, sliding quite a distance before finally stopping.
Her face pressed against the ground, her rear end sticking up, the flames extinguished, she shakily raised one hand.
"Ow, ow, ow... Sirin! That's not how you pull pranks!"
Swoosh—
The only response Kiana received was the slurping sound of noodle-eating, accompanied by the innocent, beady-eyed expression of a certain Herrscher of the Void, who remained anonymous while holding instant ramen.
Realizing it likely wasn't Sirin's prank, Kiana demanded, "Which bastard is messing with me? Show yourself, damnit!"
Rubbing her nose, Kiana got up and sat back down, taking in the sight of countless golden chains spanning across the vast space.
"Damn! What's going on here?"
"I don't know what it is either, but it feels pretty intense. Don't die on me—you're mine, both your life and this body. Take care of yourself; I don't want to lose my possessions—slurp!""
"Dang, you really love instant noodles, huh? Are they that good? By the way, which flavor are you eating? Is it so tasty you never get tired of it? Can you recommend one?"
"Get lost!"
With a cold retort, Sirin abruptly cut off their mental connection.
Kiana stood up, dusted herself off, glanced around, and spotted Vera's figure in the distance.
Vera was utterly stunned.
"Big... Big Sister Kiana?" Her pupils contracted as she watched Kiana fly toward her. Suddenly, she turned away, pressing a hand against her ample chest while panting heavily.
"Breathe... Inhale... Exhale..."
As Kiana approached, Vera managed to steady her breathing. She patted her cheeks, forced a smile with both hands, spun back around, and waved cheerily.
"Good afternoon, Big Sister Kiana!" Vera greeted warmly.
"You're...Vera? Little Vera? It really is you?! Long time no see!"
Overcome with joy, tears welled at the corners of Kiana's eyes as she rushed forward and embraced Vera tightly.
It had been five long years since they last saw each other.
Their previous meeting took place when both were still young, with Zeke bringing them to Schicksal Headquarters for a brief reunion.
After that day, due to the complete isolation of the Young Lady's room from the City in the Sky, even Zeke rarely managed to visit Vera. As for Kiana, she hadn't seen her at all in person ever since.
Despite Vera now resembling a blossoming young lady, Kiana instantly recognized her upon their reunion, filling her heart with overwhelming joy and longing.
"Vera! Vera! My Vera! I've missed you so much! You're always on my mind! Why don't you come out to see us more often? And Zeke never brought me to visit you again either—I've been dying to see you!"
Kiana tightly embraced Vera, her voice choked with emotion as she rambled incessantly.
Initially stiffening momentarily, Vera raised her hands but soon relaxed under Kiana's fervent hug and tearful words, gently returning the embrace.
A mix of emotions crossed Vera's face, accompanied by a soft sigh within her heart.
"Dad, I... Sigh!"
"It's been too long, Big Sister Kiana."
Once again, Vera addressed Kiana tenderly, smiling warmly while lightly patting her back in an attempt to soothe her emotional state.
After a long moment, Kiana's trembling subsided, and she released Vera. Wiping away her tears haphazardly, she managed a smile.
"Vera, how have you been these past years? You look so healthy now—thank goodness! Zeke told me that you were... So this is where Miss Kiana Kaslana resides?"
Kiana's joyful tone shifted to a murmured realization halfway through her sentence.
She abruptly turned her head, glimpsing through gaps in the golden chains a girl draped in white, sitting with crossed legs deep within the chamber.
Her eyes met a pair of emotionless golden orbs.
In terms of coldness, Kiana felt there was some resemblance between this girl and Sirin. Yet, it wasn't quite the same. Sirin's icy demeanor stemmed from rejecting the world, fueled by extreme resentment. In contrast, the Kiana Kaslana before her seemed enveloped in a sorrow that had frozen all emotions.
"No way, no way! This isn't a novel; why would I suddenly get such detailed impressions just from eye contact?" Shaking her head, Kiana tried to dismiss these peculiar thoughts.
Yet this peculiar sensation was so vivid, as if there existed some unique connection between herself and this girl—a bond even closer than her own with Sirin.
"So she's...Kiana Kaslana?"
Instinctively, Kiana took Vera's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze—perhaps seeking reassurance or confirmation of the obvious answer.
Vera chuckled softly, allowing Kiana to hold her hand. "That's right, dear. This is Big Sister Kiana, just like you. Although I usually call her 'young lady'!" She urged, "Go ahead, she's waiting for you."
"I..."
"Go on, we have plenty of time, but our young lady doesn't. Please, have a good conversation with her."
Vera released Kiana's hand and gently nudged her forward.
Taking one step ahead, Kiana looked back at Vera's encouraging smile. With another deep breath, she stepped towards the tangled chains.
This time, there was no resisting force. The chains automatically parted as Kiana approached, creating a clear path.
As if welcoming their mistress.
Kiana, who hadn't witnessed Theresa and Siegfried's encounter with this girl, didn't find anything unusual as she walked straight inside.
Navigating past countless chains that automatically moved aside for her, Kiana finally reached a pristine white bed where she faced the veiled maiden head-on.
"Uh-hi...hello..." Kiana hesitated before greeting her, forcing a friendly smile that stiffened under the gaze of those placid golden eyes.
She withdrew her hand, awkwardly scratching her face instead. "Um, my name is also Kiana Kaslana... You're probably not too happy about me using your name, right? I'm really sorry. But since I've been using it for so long already, could we maybe find another way to compensate you? Let's just consider it a coincidence; can I please keep using it?"
Feeling guilty, Kiana fidgeted with her fingers, avoiding eye contact with the identical face before her.
Despite appearing confident outside, now standing face-to-face with this person—as Zeke had once questioned—Kiana felt utterly uneasy, unable to muster any assertiveness.
The girl named Kiana Kaslana stared back at her with pure golden eyes, expression cold and mechanical.
"Um... Your gaze is making me really nervous. I know you're upset, but maybe...maybe you could yell at me? Or slap me a few times? Just don't stand there motionless—what's going through your mind... Wait, no, let's not focus on that right now. Anyway, those old farts—I mean, Uncle Siegfried and Aunt Theresa—are searching for you. They love and miss you dearly, willing to risk their lives for you. You have family; you're definitely not alone."
Kiana's words stumbled somewhat before finally turning gentle. With a warm smile, she slowly extended her hand towards Kiana Kaslana.
Zzzt—
Just as Kiana was about to touch the other girl's face, a sensation like an electric shock repelled her fingers.
Before she could cry out in pain, a disembodied voice echoed in her mind:
[Do you love him?]
Taken aback, Kiana quickly realized who "him" referred to—after all, when it came to the person she loved, there was only one answer.
"I do love Zeke," Kiana affirmed, her smile radiating tenderness.
"Yes, always love him, until eternity."
"Of course I do! Wait, why are you asking this now? No way... You haven't even met him yet! Don't tell me you too have..."
"The name Kiana Kaslana belongs to you."
"Huh?"
"Tell him not to attempt contact with the Will of Honkai; it marks the beginning of destruction. This is a message from the future. If he needs proof, give him one word: 'mobile game.'
"Wait! Hold on! That's quite a sudden change of topic. I..."
"Return now and make him happy—only you can accomplish this."
Kiana Kaslana slowly raised her hand toward Kiana, her indifferent golden eyes softening for the first time.
In the next moment, Kiana was engulfed by a golden radiance and vanished from this world.
Silence descended upon the realm once more.
Outside layers of golden chains, Vera stood gracefully, kicking idly at the ground as if bored. Then, she reached out and gently extended her hand toward the thick chains ahead.
"Boom!"
A repulsive force struck, causing Vera's fingers to throb painfully. She clenched them, pouting angrily.
Moments later, her frustration subsided.
"Young Lady, these chains keep multiplying. At this rate, I'll soon run out of places to sleep!"
"You...should have left long ago."
"What nonsense is this?! If I leave, who will keep you company?"
"It's time for you to go. My power can no longer be perfectly restrained. Staying any longer will harm you."
"I highly doubt the Young Lady would let me go!" Vera placed her hands on her hips, pouted, and protested indignantly.
Deep within layers of chains, Kiana Kaslana's lips curved slightly upward.
"Vera, it's finally time to bid farewell."
"No way! Just expand the space; I can still stay with you."
"It's futile. Expanding the space also amplifies my power, leaving nowhere safe soon enough. You must leave now."
"But if I—if I leave, what will happen to you?" Vera's eyes gradually welled up with tears.
Living here day and night, she had witnessed the once-small room continuously expanding, observed the chains surrounding the Young Lady growing thicker and more numerous. Deep down, Vera understood that separation was their inevitable fate.
Yet how could she bear to truly abandon the lonely Young Lady?
"Go, live your own life. Vera, your future does not lie here with me."
Kiana Kaslana's voice softened with warmth.
Then, golden light flashed again.
And thus, the world was truly left with only one person.
"Not yet... Must wait... Not ready..."
The golden eyes slowly closed, suppressing the stirring power back to tranquil stillness.
"Clank! Clank! Clank!"
The sound of intertwining chains echoed once more, densely enveloping the girl's surroundings until they completely buried her within their embrace.