Chapter 338: Interlude: Farewell
[I never resented you…]
[This was my own choice…]
[Kiana Kaslana—she deserves this name…]
[Live well. Go back now…]
After the long outpouring of their hearts, an ethereal, dreamlike voice echoed from every corner of the vast space—as if it resounded not through the air, but directly within their souls.
Siegfried and Theresa, eyes brimming with tears, froze in shock. Then, from behind, a force began to pull them away, an irresistible suction dragging them backward.
"Kiana!!!" Both cried out together.
Their shouts overlapped as a golden radiance engulfed them, swallowing them whole and erasing their presence from this world.
"…That's it? So abrupt?"
Vira scratched her head blankly, still reeling, when another figure suddenly plummeted from above.
"Durandal, get ready to—waaahhh!!"
Boom!!!
One unlucky Kiana—wreathed in burning Honkai energy and flames—came crashing down, propelled by an immense force. With no time to soften her landing, she hit the ground face-first, sliding across the void's floor for several meters.
Finally she came to a stop, face buried, butt sticking comically in the air. The flames around her sputtered out. Trembling, she raised one hand weakly.
"Ow, ow, ow— Sirin!!! This is not how you pull a prank!"
[Sssslurp—]
The only reply was the unmistakable sound of noodles being slurped, echoing through her mind. And when she peeked into that shared space, there was the Herrscher of the Void—expressionless, with deadpan bean-eyes, clutching a cup of instant ramen in silence.
"…So this isn't Sirin's prank?" Kiana muttered, realization dawning.
"Alright, who's the bastard messing with me?! Get out here!"
Rubbing her sore nose, she sat up with a groan. What met her eyes was a vast world bound in layer upon layer of colossal golden chains.
"The hell?! What is this?"
[Don't know, but it feels powerful. Just don't die. Your life belongs to me, and so does this body—so try not to wreck my stuff, alright? —Sssslurp.]
"You're seriously that obsessed with instant noodles? Are they really that good? Which flavor are you even eating? You never get tired of them? Come on, at least recommend me one—"
[Shut it.]
Sirin's curt response cut the mind-link outright.
Kiana clicked her tongue, then stood up, dusting herself off and patting her clothes. As she scanned her surroundings, she finally caught sight of someone in the distance.
Vira.
And Vira… had gone completely stiff.
"Kiana… onee-chan?"
Her emerald eyes widened, pupils shrinking in shock. When she saw Kiana flying toward her, she hastily turned away, pressing her hand over her chest as her breathing grew rapid and uneven.
Inhale… exhale… inhale… exhale…
Only once Kiana drew close did Vira calm herself, patting her cheeks lightly. Forcing her lips into a smile, she turned around and waved.
"Good afternoon, Kiana-nee!" she greeted brightly.
"…Vira? Little Vira? Is it really you? It's really you! It's been so long!!!"
Kiana launched herself forward, throwing her arms around the girl. Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes, brimming with joy.
It had been five long years since they last met.
The last time was when both of them were still young, brought together briefly at Schicksal Headquarters under Sigurd's guidance, reunited only for a single day. After that, when the young lady's chamber was completely cut off from the floating city, even Sigurd himself had few chances to see Vira. And Kiana… had never once met her again face-to-face.
And now, reunited after all this time—though Vira had grown into a blooming young lady—Kiana recognized her instantly. In an instant, joy and longing filled her heart to the brim.
"Vira! Vira! My Vira! I missed you so much! I thought of you every single day! Why didn't you ever come out to see us? Why didn't Sig bring me to find you again? I missed you to death!!"
Clutching Vira tightly, Kiana spoke through her tears, rambling on without pause.
Vira stiffened at first, her hands suspended awkwardly in the air. But as Kiana's embrace tightened and her tearful words poured forth, Vira's body finally softened. She wrapped her arms around Kiana in return, her expression growing complicated as a sigh stirred in her heart.
"It's been so long, Kiana-nee," Vira said gently, her voice carrying a soft smile as she patted Kiana's back, soothing her trembling shoulders.
At last, Kiana's sobs subsided. She pulled back, still rubbing at her face messily, but through the tears she broke into a radiant grin.
Kiana wiped her face one last time before turning to Vira.
"Vira… have you been doing well these past years? You look healthy, that's such a relief. Sig told me you were in… so that means, this place is…"
Her joyous tone faltered, softening into a murmur of realization.
"…this is where the original one resides?"
She suddenly snapped her head around. Through the gaps between countless golden chains, she caught sight of a girl seated deep within, legs drawn close, veiled in white.
And then—Kiana found herself staring straight into a pair of golden eyes.
Eyes as calm as still water, utterly devoid of ripples.
The coldness reminded Kiana of Sirin—but not quite the same. Sirin's indifference was rejection, a hatred sharpened against the entire world. But this girl's expressionless gaze… it felt like sorrow frozen solid, emotions buried and sealed away until nothing remained.
"—No, no, no! This isn't some novel. Eyes don't come with a written description inside them."
Kiana shook her head violently, trying to banish the strange imagery from her thoughts.
Yet the sensation was undeniable—that inexplicable bond. As if this girl was connected to her in a way deeper, closer, and more intimate than even Sirin could ever be.
"She… she's the real Kiana Kaslana?"
Almost without thinking, Kiana reached for Vira's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Whether to calm her own nerves or to seek an answer she already half-knew, she wasn't sure.
Vira smiled softly, not pulling away.
"That's right. She's also your Kiana-nee. The same Kiana Kaslana as you… though I usually just call her 'Young Miss.' Go on—she's waiting for you."
"I…"
"Go. We still have plenty of time, but Young Miss doesn't have that kind of luxury. Please—talk with her properly."
Vira released her hand, giving Kiana's shoulder a light push.
Kiana stumbled a step forward. She looked back—saw Vira's encouraging smile—and inhaled deeply before stepping toward the golden chains.
This time, there was no force repelling her. Wherever she stepped, the chains shifted and uncoiled on their own, parting to form a path.
As though welcoming back their rightful master.
Kiana, unaware of what Siegfried and Theresa had already experienced here, felt nothing strange and simply walked inside.
Through endless layers of chains that moved aside for her, she eventually reached a small, snow-white bed. Upon it sat the veiled girl in white.
Face-to-face at last.
"H-hi…"
Kiana's attempt at a cheerful greeting faltered, her awkward smile quickly stiffening under the unblinking golden gaze that bore into her.
She pulled back her hand, scratching her cheek nervously.
"Um… I'm also Kiana Kaslana. I've been using your name all this time. You probably don't like that, huh? I'm sorry. But I've used it for so long already, so… maybe I can make it up to you another way? If you don't mind, could we… share the name?"
Her fingers fidgeted, her eyes darting anywhere but the face identical to her own.
Outside, she could boast and act strong. But standing here before the true bearer of the name—just as Sigurd once asked her—Kiana could only feel a heavy guilt pressing down, leaving her unable to stand tall.
The original Kiana Kaslana only stared back with those golden eyes—pure, silent, as expressionless as a doll.
"Uh… this stare… you're scaring me. I know you must be upset, but… yell at me, if you want? Or slap me a few times? Just don't sit there frozen—I can't tell what you're thinking. Or—no, wait, that's not the point."
Kiana exhaled, then softened her tone.
"Anyway… Uncle Siegfried and Aunt Theresa—they've been searching for you. They love you so much. They risked their lives for you. You do have family. You're not alone."
Her rambling slowly quieted, turning into something gentle.
And with a small smile, Kiana stretched out her hand—offering it to the girl who bore her name.
"Tch—"
The instant before Kiana's fingers brushed against the girl's cheek, a surge like crackling electricity shot through her hand, repelling her touch.
Before she could even cry out, a voice—ethereal and disembodied—echoed in her mind.
[Do you… love him?]
Kiana froze, then quickly understood who the voice was asking about. After all, when it came to the one she loved—who else could it be?
"More than anything."
She answered without hesitation, a smile blossoming, warm and unshakable.
[Good. Then keep loving him—forever.]
"Of course! Wait—why bring that up all of a sudden? Don't tell me— you've never even met Sig! Could it be even you—"
[Kiana Kaslana. This name… belongs to you.]
"…Eh?"
[Tell him to never attempt to touch the Will of Honkai. That is the beginning of destruction. This is a message from the future. If he needs proof… tell him one word: mobile game.]
"Hold on, hold on! That's way too sudden, I—"
[Go back. Make him happy. That is something only you can do.]
The girl—Kiana Kaslana—slowly lifted her hand. For the first time, the golden eyes that had been so cold and lifeless softened, just a little.
And in the next moment, Kiana was swallowed by golden radiance, her figure vanishing from this world.
Silence fell.
Beyond the endless chains, Vira stood idly, kicking at the floor out of boredom. After a moment, she reached out, brushing her fingers against the massive links before her.
Bang!
A force of rejection flung her hand back, leaving her fingers throbbing with pain. She puffed her cheeks angrily.
Moments later, the frustration drained from her expression, replaced by weary resignation.
"Young Miss… these chains keep multiplying. If it keeps up like this, I won't even have a place to sleep anymore!"
[You… should have left long ago.]
"What nonsense! If I leave, who's going to keep you company?"
[You must leave. My power can no longer be perfectly contained. If you stay, you'll be hurt.]
"Hah! As if you'd ever let me get hurt!"
Vira crossed her arms, lips pursed in stubborn protest.
From deep within the layers of chains, the corners of the girl's lips lifted ever so faintly.
[Vira… the time for farewell has come.]
"I don't want to! Just expand the space—I can still stay by your side."
[It's useless. The more the space grows, the more my power swells. Soon, there will be no place left for you. You must leave.]
"If I… if I really go, what about you?"
Vira's eyes reddened.
Day after day, she had lived here. She had watched the little room stretch wider, had seen the chains surrounding her Young Miss multiply and thicken. Deep down, she had always known—separation was the only ending waiting for them.
But how could she possibly abandon her Young Miss? Leave her in true solitude?
[Go, Vira. Live your own life. Your future… it does not lie here, with me.]
The girl's voice, for the first time, carried a gentle warmth.
Then, golden light shone again.
And afterward, the world truly became a place with only one inhabitant.
[Not yet… must keep waiting… it is still not time…]
Her golden eyes slowly closed, pressing back once more against that restless, surging power—smothering it into silence.
Clang—clang—clang!
The sound of chains grinding echoed again, countless links weaving together, binding tighter and tighter around the girl's form… until she was sealed away, hidden from sight.
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