"First, use your imagination. Honkai energy isn't like ordinary physical energy. It changes according to your will, it can even alter the fundamental nature of its power."
Elysia sat cross-legged on the large bed, her long hair cascading over her shoulders and spilling across the sheets in soft pink waves. Her voice was patient, gently coaxing.
This wasn't her first time teaching someone. Back in the Previous Era, though, everyone's Honkai resistance had been abysmal. And once the MANTIS soldiers came along, her little tricks weren't really needed anymore.
But for Shiraha, living in this current era and decidedly not a MANTIS soldier, these techniques would prove invaluable.
Shiraha tentatively reached out, trying to manipulate the Honkai energy that Elysia had drawn forth.
"It's hard."
Ever since Elysia had used him as a conduit to touch the Authority of Origin just once, Honkai energy had become something he could faintly perceive.
But that was it. Still too vague. Too indistinct.
"It's actually not that hard. Your aptitude is excellent, Shiraha… From what I've observed, many people in this era have remarkably high Honkai resistance."
Unlike the Previous Era. One Honkai eruption after another had wiped out seventy percent of the human population.
Elysia pondered for a moment, then brightened. "I've got it!"
She clapped her hands together, slid off the bed, and headed toward the bathroom.
Shiraha was mildly puzzled why a quantum-state being would need to visit the washroom, but hey. He respected it.
A moment later, Elysia's bewildered face peeked out from behind the doorframe. "Come with me."
Shiraha hesitated. For a split second, he wavered between his surface-level appreciation of Elysia's looks and the promise of a bright future. The internal conflict lasted less than a second before he strode resolutely toward the bathroom.
Elysia pointed at the sink. "Manipulating Honkai energy isn't actually the hard part. The real difficulty is that for beginners, Honkai energy is incredibly hard to perceive. So if we have a medium, a carrier, the training process becomes much simpler."
"We'll start with plain water for now. Let me think… what other liquids have higher density? Mercury. We can add that to the list of options later."
She was talking more to herself now. She couldn't physically turn the faucet handle, but when she was touching Shiraha, she gained a faint anchor to reality. She could interact with the world just a little through Honkai energy.
After explaining, she took hold of Shiraha's arm, her soft, warm fingers wrapping gently but firmly around his small forearm. Honkai energy flowed into the clear water. The transparent liquid rose from her palm, shaping itself into a small bird. Its wings fluttered gently.
Lifelike.
Elysia looked at Shiraha with full confidence—
"What's with that expression?"
She tilted her head. That look on his face, a mix of shock, mild surprise, and a hint of "well, of course", what was that supposed to mean?
Shiraha sidestepped the question. "Nothing. Let's get started. After all, as your representative, Nee-chan, I can't exactly afford to be weak."
The bottom line was simple: their interests were best aligned. Clinging to a powerful thigh was absolutely the optimal early-game development strategy.
Elysia didn't press the point. She knew her own situation well enough. She wasn't in a quantum state.
Back to the lesson. Honkai manipulation was all about gradual progression. Start with something crude, a rough irregular cube of water. Then refine it into a simple rod. Then slowly carve intricate patterns along its surface.
Thud thud thud!
A knock at the door shattered his concentration. The water rod he'd just painstakingly finished engraving collapsed instantly.
"Doesn't feel that hard."
Shiraha commented flatly, then moved to answer the door. No trace of irritation toward the visitor.
Elysia didn't hold back. "You're progressing so slowly. Isn't this stuff supposed to be: one minute to pick up, one hour to get comfortable, and total mastery in a day?"
Shiraha ignored her. She was a Herrscher. She could say whatever she wanted.
Besides, he'd discovered a major weakness of Elysia's.
If he just ignored her, she'd gradually grow sulky then bored then stare off into space with empty eyes. Alternating between cold shoulder and warm attention seemed like a highly effective method for deepening their bond.
Sigh. Why does Elysia sound more and more like some modern quantum ghost-girl with attachment issues?
He opened the door.
Mei stood there, dressed in a little black dress, her long hair tied back with a ribbon of the same color. She looked like a flower bud just beginning to bloom.
"Dinner's ready, Shiraha!" she said softly. Then, unable to contain herself, she added in a conspiratorial murmur, "And Father said you'll be going to school with me starting tomorrow. We'll be classmates!"
Mei paused, then tacked on, "I just transferred to Chiba Academy, and right now I'm all alone in class."
That wasn't true. She'd made plenty of friends on her very first day.
But she wasn't about to mention that.
"Then we'll be classmates…" Shiraha's eyes lit up with a dreamy, hopeful look. "I've never actually been to school before."
That part was true, at least. Given the orphanage's circumstances, formal schooling hadn't been an option.
"We'll be able to whisper secrets to each other all day long at school."
Mei's eyes sparkled. As the young lady of the Raiden household, she felt it was her solemn duty to look after six-year-old Shiraha.
Wait. Six?!
Mei suddenly registered the problem.
"Shiraha… wait. Are you six or nine again?"
"Six."
Not giving Mei a moment to dwell on it, Shiraha naturally took her hand and started leading her downstairs.
"But I'll study really hard. I'll work my way into whatever class Mei is in. Then you won't be all alone anymore."
This wasn't a matter of effort. Mei desperately wanted to explain, You're a first-grade little bean. I'm a fourth-grade big sister. There's already a thick, insurmountable wall between us.
The thought plagued her all through dinner. She poked absently at her rice with her chopsticks, brow faintly furrowed, looking for all the world like a tiny, troubled adult.
Until....
Ryoma Raiden set down his chopsticks, his tone mild. "Shiraha, I've reviewed your academic level. Would skipping straight to middle school be manageable for you?"
Mei: ?
"I can handle it. I'll study hard."
Shiraha believed that effort could overcome anything. At least, that was the impression Ryoma had formed of his character.
"If you run into any difficulties adjusting at school, let me know right away. We can always adjust your grade placement. It's no trouble. Your Uncle Ryoma has at least that much pull."
Lord Ryoma was pleased. If anything, Shiraha's Honkai aptitude was even more impressive than his academics. Otherwise, he'd have been tempted to push the boy straight into a gifted youth program.
"I'll do my best! I won't let you down, Uncle Ryoma!"
Off to the side, Elysia asked with genuine curiosity, "Why no 'big brother' this time?"
Shiraha chewed his rice in small, measured bites. He didn't answer.
He glanced at Elysia. Then, on a sudden whim, he picked up a morsel of food with his chopsticks. While Ryoma and Mei were both distracted, he held it suspended in midair.
He stared at Elysia with wide, expectant eyes. Elysia froze for a beat.
"You don't actually think I'm going to eat that, do you?"
Being hand-fed by a child, the mere thought was mortifying! Even if Shiraha was a fake kid… If only he were a real kid.