"Two Meis… even though one looks a bit older and more mature and cool, they have the same name. How should we address them separately?" Theresa rested her chin on her hand, her baby-faced, pink and adorable features scrunched up in thought.
Sitting in the living room, Xia Qi held a cup of fragrant tea. Looking at the people around her, although her expression was still somewhat aloof, she was completely, thoroughly relaxed.
"I know! I know!"
Kiana instantly sprang up.
She was sitting to Xia Qi's right and Mei's left, her face beaming with blissful excitement. "The future Mei can be called Big Wife! The present Mei can be called Little Wif—"
Thump!
Himeko, standing behind her, didn't hesitate to deliver a chop to the back of her head.
"…"
Xia Qi suddenly felt that Kiana might not have been just trying to lighten the mood earlier—she was probably dead serious about those words.
"How about this," Xia Qi said, setting down her teacup and looking at them with a hint of softness in her eyes. "From now on, you can call me Raiden Ei."
"Huh?"
"Raiden… Ei?"
Everyone looked at Xia Qi, their expressions suddenly filled with confusion and puzzlement.
"Why… 'Ei'?" Raiden Mei also felt a twinge of anxiety. She didn't want Xia Qi to feel out of place or unable to fit in with them here.
"Because this isn't the era," Xia Qi explained, looking at them. "I'm merely a lingering shadow of a bygone era. And for convenience's sake, you can call me Raiden Ei from now on."
A faint, gentle smile touched her lips.
Unfortunately, the difference between her and the present-day Raiden Mei was like night and day. It wasn't just height and apparent age; their auras were strikingly distinct.
Xia Qi's bearing was that of a solitary queen who had long occupied a lofty throne, intimidating enough to send chills down one's spine. Even with a gentle smile, it made those unfamiliar with her tense up, unable to relax. Mei, on the other hand, radiated a maternal softness and gentle grace, making people instinctively warm to her and want to draw near.
"To the outside world, you can say I'm your older sister," Xia Qi said softly to Raiden Mei, her gaze gentle. "That gives me a plausible identity to move around the academy."
"Okay…" Raiden Mei agreed, though somewhat reluctantly. There really wasn't a better solution at the moment.
"The name 'Ei'…" Theresa mused for a moment, then spoke to Xia Qi with serious earnestness. "We won't treat you as just Mei's shadow, you know."
"That wasn't my meaning either. I just think the name… suits rather well." Xia Qi nodded.
"Oh, right." At this point, she turned to Raiden Mei, a look of apology in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Mei. Before… I was too stubborn."
Previously, she had wanted to push through with her own plan. But when Himeko and the others entered the mental space, seeing their firm, concerned gazes and hearing their words Xia Qi… couldn't harden her heart to continue as before.
"I hurt you back then. I'm sorry…"
"It's alright." Mei's expression was also soft. She gently took Xia Qi's hand, her eyes filled with tenderness. "No matter what happens from now on, we'll face it together. That burden doesn't need to be carried by you alone."
"Mm."
Xia Qi gave a slight nod, a quiet sense of relief washing over her once more. But then, she became serious again.
"Right. The training… I'll continue it with you. But it will still be in the dream space. Because only there can you grow faster."
"I understand." Raiden Mei nodded. But then, Kiana couldn't hold back any longer.
"Me too! I want in too!"
She threw her arms around the hands of both Xia Qi and Mei, hugging them to her chest and rubbing her face against them while whining playfully.
"…"
Feeling Kiana's actions, both Xia Qi and Raiden Mei's cheeks flushed slightly pink.
"Idiot Kiana, let go of Mei and Ei right now! You're making them uncomfortable!"
"No I'm not! Short-stack Bronya! They're obviously enjoying it!"
"Idiot Kiana. Your chest is as flat as a 20mm steel plate. You'll only hurt Mei's and Ei's hands!" Instantly, the two of them started bickering.
This warm, chaotic scene made Xia Qi's heart soften even further. Thinking about Kiana's request, she finally nodded, agreeing to let her join the training.
But then, Theresa, Himeko, Bronya, and Fu Hua all expressed their desire to participate as well.
Xia Qi suddenly felt a wave of helplessness.
She felt like she'd become a boss in Memorial Arena, about to get swarmed. But she agreed to let them all join.
After that, an extra bed was added to Mei and Himeko's room.
The following night, Xia Qi pulled everyone into the dream space. Her mastery over the dream realm might not be on the level of the Herrscher of Flamescion or Fu Hua, but it was by no means weak.
"Alright. Do you want to get used to fighting a Herrscher first, or do you want to face endless waves of Honkai beasts and zombies?"
Xia Qi looked at the group standing before her—who had already been told they couldn't truly die here—and asked with a serious expression.
"Hehe, that goes without saying! Let's have a good, proper fight against you first!" Theresa gripped her Oath of Judah, her expression brimming with fervor.
Everyone held their familiar weapons, which Xia Qi had simulated for them.
"Mm, Mei… Ei, remember to go easy on us, okay?" Himeko said, holding her Greatsword, a fighting spirit shining in her smile.
Raiden Mei remained silent. The Herrscher of Thunder was not manifesting at the moment.
"Then let's have a match." Looking at everyone, Xia Qi nodded. The ground beneath their feet rapidly expanded, transforming into a vast, barren plain devoid of any cover. Dark clouds gathered in the sky, blocking out the light, casting a deeply oppressive, uncomfortable feeling over everything.
"Then I won't hold back!" Theresa took the initiative. As her words fell, golden chains shot out from Judah one after another, like beams of dawn light trying to pierce the darkness, racing toward Xia Qi.
Raiden Mei and Himeko also charged without hesitation. Bronya provided fire support from the rear. Kiana and Fu Hua split off to the sides, looking for an opening in Xia Qi's defenses.
Xia Qi watched their movements, her gaze gradually growing tranquil.
This was only about a month after Kiana and the others had enrolled. They were all growing rapidly. Although their strength still had significant room for improvement, for their first coordinated combat, their teamwork was already exceptional—a true testament to their innate talent.
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