Outside the ruins, the blizzard raged on—fierce, relentless, and unforgiving. Yet for reasons unknown, the storm seemed to skirt around the small, crumbling shelter nestled in the wilderness, as if some unseen force protected it.
Inside, in a room barely intact, a black-haired girl sat against the wall, her arms wrapped around another girl, both asleep beside a flickering bonfire.
Kiana lay nestled in the Captain's embrace, her body relaxed, her heart at peace. She didn't feel confined—on the contrary, she wished the Captain would hold her tighter, so her face could press closer to that warm, safe haven.
The Captain's breath brushed gently against her forehead, rhythmic and soft. Kiana's eyes flickered open, mischief already stirring.
She peeked up at the Captain's sleeping face. Her lips were curled ever so slightly—clearly, she was dreaming. A sweet dream, no doubt.
Since arriving in this world, the Captain had never truly rested. She had carried Kiana through the snowstorms, seeking shelter, safety, warmth. And now, finally, she could sleep peacefully—with Kiana in her arms.
Kiana's lips curled into a grin. It was the kind of smile one might expect from a scheming old man, not a child.
The Captain, blissfully unaware, remained asleep—completely vulnerable to Kiana's whims.
Hehehe...
Kiana sighed. Her youthful appearance was a bit of a nuisance at times. But it didn't matter. The Captain would be hers eventually. Future details could wait.
She was the first Valkyrie to meet the Captain. Naturally, their bond was the strongest.
And if their bond was the strongest, then the Captain would most likely end up with her.
And if the Captain was hers, then calling her "wife" a little early was perfectly reasonable.
And if she was her wife, then being a little intimate was only natural.
Having thoroughly convinced herself, Kiana leaned forward, her small lips puckered, aiming for the Captain's cheek.
Just one kiss...
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion shattered the silence.
The Captain jolted awake, eyes wide and unfocused.
"Ah? What's wrong? What happened?!"
Still groggy from her dream, she instinctively tightened her grip around Kiana, shielding her.
Kiana, meanwhile, was fuming.
One centimeter! I was one centimeter away! Who dares ruin the moment of bliss?!
She was about to unleash honkai energy to identify the culprit when the Captain's warmth pressed against her cheek.
Suddenly, the anger melted away.
Well... maybe forgiveness isn't so hard. A little magnanimity suits a goddess, right? Definitely not because the Captain's embrace is too heavenly...
The Captain, now fully alert, carried Kiana to the window and peered out.
In the distance, artillery fire lit up the snowfield.
She had known about the nearby military base. During a brief lull in the storm, she had climbed the ruins to scout the area. The base was sprawling, well-armed, and potentially dangerous.
She had hoped the blizzard would keep them hidden. And it had—until now.
But something had changed. The base was in chaos. Explosions echoed across the tundra.
The Captain's gaze shifted to Kiana, still nestled in her arms, her expression serene.
She made her decision.
"Kiana, get ready. We're leaving. Now."
She gently released Kiana and began packing their supplies.
"Huh? Now? Hmm... okay, let's go. It'll be safer."
Kiana pouted, reluctant to leave the warmth of the Captain's arms. But seeing the artillery fire, she understood.
To her, the base posed no threat. She could erase it with a thought, banish it to the void.
But she had been so enchanted by the Captain's presence that she'd ignored it.
Now, seeing the Captain's concern, she realized something important:
The Captain didn't know she had full control over the Herrscher of the Void's authority.
And Kiana wasn't ready to tell her.
If the Captain knew, would she pull away? Treat her differently? Stop holding her like a fragile little girl?
If my wife stops hugging me... who's responsible? Those soldiers? Absolutely not.
So Kiana said nothing. If her wife felt unsafe, then she would run with her. That was her duty.
The blizzard was no threat. If not for the excuse to stay close to the Captain, Kiana would've stopped it days ago.
The Captain slung her backpack over her shoulder, wrapped a coat around herself, and turned to the door.
Just as Kiana reached for the handle, she was scooped up.
"Kiana, hold on tight. The wind's strong—you might get blown away."
"...Mm! I'll hold onto the Captain tightly!"
Her cheeks flushed, her heart fluttered.
Even as a girl, the Captain was still so reliable.
Hehehe... my wife is amazing.
Far away, in a snow-covered forest, Bronya crouched beneath a bush, her body slowly buried by falling snow.
She watched the distant military base erupt in chaos, her eyes sharp and wary.
She didn't know how she'd ended up in this forest. But she knew one thing: she had to leave.
The base was likely in the midst of a power struggle. No one was pursuing her—yet.
But once a new leader emerged, she would become a target.
She waited. Watched. Calculated.
Then, confirming no one was chasing her, she crawled out of the snowdrift.
She scanned the horizon, picked a direction, and began walking.
The wind howled. The snow stung her skin.
But the path ahead... felt strangely familiar.