Early summer, the sky a clear, deep blue.
A gentle sea breeze blew across the glittering golden surface of the ocean, drifting into the office of St. Freya's Principal. The pure white gauze curtains swayed in the golden afternoon sun.
It was the perfect time for a rest.
"Grand-Auntie!"
Kiana burst through the door.
Theresa, who was at the most exciting part of her manga, jumped in fright and hid the limited-edition copy of The Adventures of Homu under her butt. This volume was far too precious to risk damaging.
"Kiana, how many times have I told you? Knock before entering. Also, call me Principal."
A tuft of white hair peeked over the massive desk, and then Theresa's petite body wriggled out from behind it. She wore her standard-issue Schicksal nun habit and sat properly in the leather swivel chair, her white-stockinged calves dangling in the air.
"Grand-Auntie, listen to me! I had a really weird dream."
Kiana rushed to the desk like a whirlwind and launched into a rambling explanation that made Theresa's head ache.
"Alright, alright, Kiana, hold on." Theresa turned her gaze to Bronya and Mei. "Do you two know what's going on?"
After the two of them explained, Theresa finally understood.
Kiana stood to the side, arms crossed and cheeks puffed out in discontent, a clear "What the heck, you're making me look like an idiot" expression on her face.
At that moment, Theresa narrowed her eyes, resting her chin on her fingers as she thought, like a modern-day Holmes.
"Gaining information about reality from a dream, and a strange pattern appearing on her abdomen…"
Theresa's expression grew serious. "Have you told anyone else about this matter?"
"Ah, no. As soon as I woke up, the teacher called me to the office, and then I came straight here."
"Good. Remember, you absolutely must not mention this to anyone else."
"Eh? Wh-why? Grand-Auntie, you look so serious, it's making me a little scared."
Theresa opened her mouth, but hesitated.
A great threat lay dormant within Kiana's body—the Herrscher of the Void.
In 2010, the Herrscher of the Void's consciousness sleeping inside Kiana had awakened. Although they managed to suppress it in the end, Himeko's "Valkyrie Assault Squad" was nearly wiped out in the mission to subjugate the Herrscher. Only Himeko, who was luckily absent, survived. Kiana's father was also forced to leave her side because of it.
However, Kiana had no memory of this.
Theresa had placed Kiana in St. Freya High School, one, to protect her, and two, to monitor the Herrscher for signs of reawakening.
After all these years, was the Herrscher of the Void stirring again?
Theresa believed that Kiana's dream was most likely a ploy by the Herrscher. But she couldn't tell Kiana this directly; otherwise, she would have told her everything when she first enrolled.
Theresa's little head spun rapidly, her bright cyan eyes showing an unusual wisdom.
She thought of a compromise. "Do you know about Stigma Spaces?"
"Mmm, the Bronya has read about it in books. It is a consciousness space, similar to a 'virtual dive'," Bronya stated.
"As expected of Bronya. That's second-year material. That's what I wanted to talk about. Kiana most likely fell into a Stigma Space. This is extremely dangerous. It will constantly try to stimulate you in various ways, shake your will, and lure you into depravity."
Theresa straightened her back, resting her elbows on the desk and clasping her hands under her chin.
The sheer gravity of it…
Kiana looked at Theresa and subconsciously swallowed.
"Grand-Auntie, I…"
"But there's no need to worry too much, Kiana. Everything in a consciousness space is an illusion, just phantoms meant to confuse you. So as long as you hold firm to your own will, there won't be a problem."
Kiana glanced at the plain, ordinary Bronya beside her and couldn't help but agree with her Grand-Auntie. There was no way she could connect the Bronya before her with the tall, curvaceous, silver-haired older sister from her dream.
Da Yaya felt offended by Kiana's gaze, but she had no proof. So she silently pouted. (ᗜ ‸ ᗜ)
"Alright, Kiana. From the very beginning, tell me everything you encountered in the 'dream,' in detail."
"I have to tell you everything?"
"Every last detail!" Theresa said sternly.
"Okay. At the time, as soon as I opened my eyes, I saw you, Grand-Auntie, dancing on the classroom desks in a weird outfit."
"Huh?"
...
On the way back to the Valkyrie dorms, Mei's mind was heavy with worry.
From the moment the Principal hesitated, Mei had sensed that the incident with Kiana might not be as simple as she had made it out to be.
A space of consciousness, illusions…
She couldn't help but think of the whispers that had haunted her ears back at Senba High.
Annihilate all of humanity. Utterly destroy this world.
And speaking of Stigmas, Teacher Himeko had said that she possessed one as well… although it was because of the "gem," was that also what caused her to become a Herrscher?
If Kiana also…
At this thought, Mei's heart grew even heavier.
"What's wrong, Mei? Hehe, are you worried about me? It's fine! No matter what kind of monster or demon it is, they won't be able to hurt this young lady."
"Kiana, I think you still need to take this seriously. The Principal is right. If you enter that 'world' again, you must tell me… us… immediately after you come back."
"It's just some illusion in a Stigma Space. There's nothing to be afraid of."
Kiana was as confident as ever.
Mei stared blankly at Kiana under the setting sun. Just like that day on the rooftop of Senba High, she was once again infected by Kiana's smile.
Mei gave a soft "Mmm."
---o---
The night was silent, serene, and hazy.
Kiana felt as if she had just fallen asleep when she opened her eyes again.
The feeling was very strange.
It wasn't like sleeping, but more like blinking.
It was just a matter of closing her eyes and opening them again.
The world had shifted, as if heaven and earth had been inverted.
"Hmm? You're here, Kiana? This is really not a good time. No, perhaps it's the perfect time?"
Amidst her confusion, a voice came from above her.
"Here… this is…"
Ah, am I back in the Stigma Space again?
My body feels so heavy this time.
Kiana struggled to wake herself up. Her vision gradually came into focus, and her consciousness slowly cleared.
Kiana finally saw Ye Feng's despicable face.
It was so incredibly close.
She could even feel his breath and the heat of his skin.
"Eh?"
The Tuna froze.
"Ye-Ye Feng? What are you doing?"
"Exactly what it looks like."
As Kiana made out his form and felt the strange sensation in her body, she began to struggle.
"Damn it, this is so uncomfortable! What did you put under my blanket!"
"Hehe."
"Get out! You're disgusting!"
"The one who should get out is you, isn't it?"
Ye Feng righteously declared his sovereignty. "This is my world, Kiana."
---o---