Oceania, Schicksal Branch, Valkyrie Medical Bay.
Mei sat beside the hospital bed, her hand gently holding Kiana's pale hand. Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating Kiana's face. The bright light danced across her features, making her look as pure as a moon goddess in slumber, inspiring a sense of awe.
"Kiana..."
Mei's voice was a little hoarse. The doctors in Oceania couldn't detect the cause of Kiana's coma at all. The cookie had been taken away by the branch's researchers, who said they wanted to study it carefully. Perhaps they could crack its secrets and wake Kiana from her coma.
That thing that looked like a cookie was simply too potent. From the afternoon until night, Kiana showed no signs of waking up, and the physical examinations couldn't find anything wrong...
Mei had already sought help from St. Freya Academy, hoping that once the Principal knew about this, she would be able to wake Kiana up...
Bronya had already pulled the surveillance footage and contacted the Oceania Branch, learning the identity of that "Wende"... Calculating the time, she should be arriving at "Wende" and Wendy's home right about now, right?
It was truly unexpected that this Wende turned out to be a rehabilitation therapist... and his credentials and identity were all complete. But that cookie—how did he get it? And why did it put people into a coma?
All of this would have to wait for Bronya to uncover herself...
---o---
"Wendy, don't be nervous. Take a deep breath."
Feeling the tense muscles all over the body of the person before him, Wende gently comforted Wendy.
"M... Mr. Wende, I'm really scared..."
Wendy's tone carried a hint of tearfulness. She didn't know if it was from excitement or fear of the unknown possibilities.
"Don't be afraid. Have you forgotten what I promised you? Right now, you just need to work hard and be strong. Come on, try to take the first step."
Wende cheered Wendy on, his expression focused and earnest.
"Yes... okay, Mr. Wende."
Encouraged by Wende, Wendy took a deep breath. Her cyan-green eyes gradually became firm. She... she could do this! She could do it!
With Wende supporting her, Wendy bravely controlled her legs, which had only just regained sensation. She closed her eyes and slowly took a tiny, tiny step forward...
This step was very light, so light it was as if she hadn't lifted her foot at all. It was also very small, so small it looked like she hadn't moved forward. From Wende's perspective, it just looked like Wendy, supported by his hands, had slowly extended her long leg a bit... but...
"M... Mr. Wende?"
Wendy's voice trembled. Just now, it felt like she hadn't felt anything.
"Yes, Wendy. You did it. You did it!"
Wende whispered softly in Wendy's ear, his words filled with indescribable excitement and pride.
He was excited because Wendy had finally taken that step through her own effort; he was proud because, as a rehabilitation therapist, he had cured his patient. Wasn't that something to be proud of?
Moreover... this was the tragic girl, Wendy... If his efforts could change her, perhaps even change her destiny of death... that would fulfill one of Wende's great wishes...
Back in the day, he had really looked forward to Wendy joining the captain's ship, rather than going next door to be a bard...
"R... really?!"
Hearing Wende's excited words, Wendy opened her eyes in disbelief. She lowered her head, her cyan eyes gazing at the tips of her toes...
Yes, her leg had moved! Even though she hadn't even taken half a step, she had done it!
She... had finally taken the first step in three years! Her legs could move! And it had only been seven days! Wende had told her that in just forty days, she would regain the ability to walk! She could run on the ground again, just like a normal person!
In an instant, tears welled up in her eyes. All the grievances she had suffered over the past three years poured out like a flood through a broken dam.
From being the seed most hopeful to become an S-rank Valkyrie, she had turned into a prisoner of research; from a normal person, she had become a cripple who couldn't walk; from being the center of attention, she had become someone everyone cast aside...
Ever since that gem was injected into her body, she felt like she had turned into a monster lost within herself... A voice constantly whispered, scolded, and tempted her in her ear...
Whispering her sorrow; scolding the injustice of the world; tempting her... to use absolute power to transform into a messenger of "God"...
Countless times she had almost failed to withstand the temptation, but she was always suppressed by her own heart. She didn't want... to become the thing she feared most, because... Wendy had always been a kind child.
"Wende... thank you..."
She buried herself in Wende's broad, warm chest. Wendy sobbed, like a young beast that had suffered endless grievances, was caught by a cunning hunter, and was finally saved by its kin...
In the three years before Wende appeared, her life had been so gray... She had fantasized countless times that someone would come to save her, but when this moment finally arrived, she felt overwhelmed.
"It's all in the past, Wendy. It's all in the past... I will make you well again. As long as you and I keep persisting, I will let you run in the wind again. I promise..."
Wende half-crouched in front of Wendy, his purple eyes looking at her seriously and solemnly, like a knight declaring his sacred vow.
"Mm, I promise."
Wendy closed her eyes and gently rested her forehead against Wende's...
This was the agreement... the covenant between the two of them.
[Ding... Connection Value with the Honkai World has reached 75%.]
The system's notification rang in Wende's mind.
But he paid it no heed.
After a long while, Wende began to prepare dinner. To commemorate Wendy's rebirth, this dinner had to be even more sumptuous!
Wendy sat barefoot on the sofa, her calves swinging gently, looking to be in a very good mood.
Of course she was; today was a day worth remembering!
"By the way, Wende, I played a game today, and there's a character in it named Wende too! And he looks exactly like you!"
Wendy excitedly held up her phone to Wende, who had just walked over with the dinner plates, as if showing off a novel discovery!
"This..."
Wende was just about to use his smooth-talking skills to bluff Wendy—for example, saying it was a game he invested in—but before the words could leave his mouth, a knock came from the door.
Knock, knock, knock...