Passing through the Honkai superluminal webway, the rippling glow produced by entering the veil of reality gradually faded. Cecilia withdrew her gaze and turned her attention to the world before her.
A star system both unfamiliar and familiar.
Unfamiliar, because it had completely changed.
Upheaved beyond recognition—so transformed that she could no longer recognize it at all.
The clouds and oceans that had once been more natural than man-made had lost their splendor to dazzling and prosperous artificial creations. Artificial satellites, automated weapons platforms, spaceports, orbital defense fortresses, space elevators, incomparably massive floating island structures, magnificent sculptures, and orderly urban clusters spreading across vast stretches of the surface like bands of light...
Only the familiar and conspicuous insignia visible everywhere within sight—the 'Schicksal Gear Wings' administrative emblem nestled beneath the radiant golden double-headed eagle—proclaimed that this was Cecilia's home planet, the birthplace of her life.
Now, the home world of the Valkyrie forces and one of the main pillars of the auxiliary army—the Schicksal Legion—Schicksal Star System Planet III (Honkai Impact 3rd). From the cosmos, it looked like a brilliantly radiant gem.
Its colors shifted unpredictably. The kaleidoscopic charm of the surface pierced through low orbit, scattering outward from the planet into interstellar space.
The docking bridges of the orbital spaceports rose like spires thrusting into the dark void, endlessly receiving and dispatching millions upon millions of shuttles, transport ships, patrol craft, naval warships, and government vessels—coming and going in ceaseless waves.
The entire star system, along with its surrounding planets, had been thoroughly developed. Even the orbital space within the solar ring shone more resplendently beneath the glow of countless lights.
As the private aircraft drew closer, the priority identification signal granted by rank and authority allowed the returning party to bypass all queues and enter planetary orbit directly. Several patrol craft activated synchronized identification and escorted the aircraft straight toward the Mediterranean floating city where the Governor's Mansion of the administrative district was located.
Once the headquarters of Schicksal, now the Governor's Mansion.
After multiple expansions, the magnificent outline of the colossal floating island city cluster—comprising nine major islands and countless smaller ones—came clearly into view amidst a world of azure blue and emerald green.
"It's truly beautiful."
Standing before the landing window and extending a delicate hand to touch her home planet through the glass, Cecilia's emotions were complicated. A faint daze crossed her face. Unable to help herself, stirred by the sight, she thought of her own end—
"Schicksal... everyone from Snow Wolf... a world like this must be what we once hoped for."
The snow had melted. The frozen land drowned in blood and fire. The battlefield of the Second Honkai Eruption in Siberia—her subordinates, her comrades, her closest friends.
"Cheng Lixue, Patricia, Salome, Shub, Shigure Kira..." Cecilia's eyes were filled with loneliness as she gazed at the newly reborn world before her, a flourishing realm free from even the slightest trace of Honkai disaster. Her expression dimmed. "If only everyone were still here."
"The members of Snow Wolf Squad who fell during the Second Honkai Eruption..."
Holding a cup of black tea, Durandal walked over and handed it to her, speaking sincerely and straightforwardly, "Don't worry, Mother. Leave it to me. Since there are only five of them, and this is their first resurrection, they would merely be A-rank mortals. For imperial military and administrative officers at our level, the cost is not high..."
Before she could finish, "That's enough." Cecilia gathered her lonely emotions and took the tea from her daughter. "Your mother's comrades do not need their children to pay the price."
Looking at Durandal's serious and earnest face—so sincere that one might describe her as single-minded—Cecilia smiled gently. Mischief suddenly rising within her, she reached out as if to pinch her daughter's upright nose.
"Your mother is young and healthy, not some helpless invalid who's lost the ability to care for herself. To be underestimated by my own daughter—how hurtful..."
Durandal instinctively leaned back to avoid it. "Mother, please don't. It would put me in a difficult position." As she spoke, her gaze flicked toward Rita and the Immortal Blades Valkyrie officers who were watching the scene with intense interest.
"You child—far too serious, too stubborn, too single-minded." Cecilia gave a soft sigh and pretended to wipe away tears. "You should learn from your sister. Calling me 'Mother' so formally—so distant. It truly makes Mommy sad."
Durandal was mortified.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. I wonder who you inherited that personality from... Siegfried is clearly quite the smooth talker..."
After spending this time together, Cecilia had realized something. Compared to Kiana—who appeared serious on the surface yet retained a streak of airheaded mischief—her biological daughter was consistent inside and out. Straightforward truly meant straightforward. Perhaps too restrained.
"Mother..."
"Hm?"
"M-Mom..."
"That's more like it."
The warm scene caused Rita to narrow her wine-red eyes slightly, resting her chin on her hand with a gentle smile. "Lady Durandal is much cuter like this."
Just then—
Buzz—
While Cecilia and Durandal were sharing their moment, the private aircraft landed at Midgard Central Airport in the floating city.
"Mom, Big Sis Durandal... we're here. Look, Auntie and the others have come to welcome us."
Scratching the back of her head and grinning foolishly, Kiana enlarged the holographic screen in her hand. In the magnified image, countless hovering vehicles flashed their lights while forming holographic blockade lines.
Over a hundred silent civil officials in luxurious attire and officers in immaculate military dress uniforms stood in orderly ranks along both sides of the red carpet, solemn and dignified.
At the front stood a short white-haired young girl wearing a custom bishop's robe bearing the Apocalypse family's 'Eye of Wisdom' crest. With arms folded and her small face stiff, she seemed to be trying to project authority—unfortunately, with little success.
Her shifting feet, the way her hands clenched and unclenched, and the creased sleeves she kept tugging at all betrayed her nervousness.
Beside her stood a tall middle-aged man with somewhat unkempt stubble along his chin. His white bangs covered his brows, his head slightly lowered, lending him an air of melancholy—almost decadence.
"Theresa... Siegfried..."
Softly calling their names, Cecilia's face lit up with joy. Taking Kiana and Durandal by the hand, she hurried toward the shuttle's hatch preparation area.
"Old-timer, stop staring. They're having a family reunion. As for us... you'd better think about who you plan to resurrect first." After Cecilia and the others disappeared down the corridor, Senti stepped out from the lounge compartment and withdrew her gaze. "You're not seriously planning to use your hard-earned merits to revive those unworthy disciples, are you?"
"Even if you and I remain indifferent, once Sushang learns of the regulations, do you think she'll just stand by and watch?" Fu Hua countered.
"Qin Suyi—hmph! Unworthy disciples! All unworthy disciples! They're fools, and you're an idiot too!" At the thought of the so-called Seven Swords of Taixu, Senti snorted repeatedly.
Whether she truly cared about them—or was simply still angry that she had once lost to her own disciples—was impossible to say.
"Why are you so agitated? I was the one who lost, not you. Besides, although I have many questions to ask them, what I want even more..." Fu Hua extended her hand.
Buzz!
A flash of cyan light shimmered. A long azure blade appeared in her grasp, its hilt inlaid with the Two Forms and Eight Trigrams, its broad blade etched with ancient bronze patterns.
"Water's Edge..."
Senti narrowed her eyes. "Cheng Lixue." The image surfaced in her mind of that quiet girl with a gentle temperament like flowing water, who liked to follow behind the old-timer and who so closely resembled Fu Hua in her youth.
Two sides of the same coin. Inheriting all of Fu Hua's experiences, even Senti—more carefree and unrestrained by nature—had to admit it.
In her memories, that disciple who had been adopted by Fu Hua, raised by her, followed her into Schicksal, become an A-rank Valkyrie, and ultimately died alone in battle against the Second Herrscher Sirin to protect an exhausted Fu Hua... she could not bring herself to hate her, nor could she bring herself to speak harshly of her.
"Compared to the seven things you took in, old fossil, leave Cheng Lixue to me."
"Then what about Captain Himeko?"
"Leave her to me as well. You can deal with those seven unlucky wretches yourself."
Fu Hua only smiled faintly and shook her head. "We're getting ahead of ourselves. The highest priority right now is that Griseo may still be alive. Let's go bring her back."
"What do you mean getting ahead of ourselves? Don't change the subject. What exactly are you planning to do about those seven unlucky wretches? Hey—don't just walk away, old fossil! Answer me first..."
...
"...You..."
An excited heart. Trembling hands.
After receiving the news and being dragged here by Theresa, Siegfried Kaslana already knew that his two daughters, Durandal and Kiana, would be returning home soon with a surprise for him. He had been looking forward to it.
But he had never imagined that the so-called surprise would be her.
A graceful figure slowly descended the boarding stairs. The familiar brows and eyes that haunted his dreams, the white hair swaying in the wind like moonlight... everything left him spellbound. "Cecilia..."
"It's me, Siegfried."
When that silver-bell voice he could never forget echoed once more at such close range, when those bright eyes drew near—clear and gentle like a tranquil lake—quietly gazing at him and stirring the lifeless world within his heart, Siegfried realized that his eyes were already wet.
For a moment, countless emotions surged through him.
Excitement. Elation. Regret. Self-reproach...
"I'm sorry, Cecilia... I didn't protect you. I didn't protect our daughter. I'm sorry..."
"You're a grown man—why are you saying such depressing things? Honestly! Ever since you were rescued from the World Serpent base after the Honkai disaster ended, you've had this attitude of 'my daughter's accomplished, so I'll just slack off.' I've grown sick of it over the years!"
No sooner said than done—the young bishop sprinted forward and launched into a flying kick, striking Siegfried squarely in the chest while he was still babbling apologies. The blow sent him stumbling. In the next instant, Theresa dove like a missile straight into Cecilia's arms.
"Cecilia, wuu... I missed you so much."
"..."
Long accustomed to the personality of the nominal mascot Governor of the Schicksal Star System, the imperial officials who had come to receive them kept their eyes forward as if they had seen nothing at all. Only when the true figures of importance—the returning Governor Kiana and General Durandal—approached did they finally bow in salute.
"Has the Principal really risen to the top? What about Archbishop Otto?" Himeko asked quietly beside Rita, having taken everything in.
"As for Archbishop Otto... he was one of the heaviest losses in that 'Honkai' war of conquest," Rita replied tactfully.
"Alright, I understand."
Himeko grasped the implication instantly.
"Let the past stay in the past."
Lifting her head, Himeko gazed at the clear, radiant sky with a relaxed expression. "The world as it is now is pretty good. Whatever shadows and darkness lie beneath the glittering surface... that's not something a jobless ordinary person who's just returned needs to worry about."
"Let's go. I should check on Saint Freya... I wonder whether Theresa and the little ones saved any of the fine wine I stashed away. Those were rare bottles I bought with a lot of my salary..."
...
"Old man, ol—"
"Kiana~"
"Uh... Mom."
The moment the word "old" reached her ears, Cecilia narrowed her eyes. Beneath her gentle smile lurked a faint chill.
Kiana's eye twitched. This is bad. She was so used to calling him Old Man... Age was every woman's enemy. Even Mom wasn't exempt? Then again, Mom had been only in her twenties when she sacrificed herself—she'd given birth to Big Sis not long before that... Though whether Imperial Sister cared about such things was another matter entirely.
Lost in her wandering thoughts, Kiana lowered her head slightly in apology.
"Kiana, were you just thinking something impolite?"
"No, no, absolutely not! Oh, right—I still have something to take care of. Old man, Mom, enjoy your reunion. Class Monitor Fu Hua's comrade from the Project ARK is suspected to still be alive and waiting for rescue. So... that's it. I'll be back within a week. If not, just head straight to the Imperial Capital."
As she spoke, Kiana turned around, stuck out her tongue mischievously, gave Durandal a push, then nodded toward Fu Hua and Raiden Mei who were waiting by the hatch. "Finding her is more important. If I miss the Imperial Capital celebration, old Mr. Sebas will skin me alive."
"Departure. Destination—the original spacetime coordinates of the Schicksal Star System."
...
"Miss, what are you looking at?"
"A family's reunion."
"A reunion? Oh, Kiana and the others. Forgive this old servant's impertinence, but should we invite your blood relatives to His Highness Ferdinand's engagement banquet? I believe the madam and the master would be pleased. The speculation within and beyond the Empire..."
"Impertinent. Since when have you become so meddlesome, Sebas? Let them speculate. Distance creates beauty. This haziness is just fine. Not everything must be made crystal clear. That is their family. I—no, I also have my own family. You are all my family."
"This is this old servant's honor."
"Between you and me, what need is there to speak of honor? Come. We should indulge ourselves in a proper rest as well."
"But the state affairs..."
"No need to worry. I left behind a divided spirit for you. Consider it an experiment—an experiment simulating the continued stable operation of the Empire's internal administrative system after temporarily losing its interactive node. Elder Neoth of the Secretariat—(the Emperor)—will be a diligent and tireless cog..."
"Neoth... did he request something?"
"Mm. He asked me for someone."
"Who?"
"Malcador."
"Did you grant it?"
"Not yet. Therefore, he must become a tireless cog working for me in exchange for that cog which once belonged to him—and which he wore out with his own hands."
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