1100 Hours. Bridge. The Hyperion.
The bridge of the Hyperion was unusually calm.
Consoles hummed quietly as researchers monitored countless streams of data.
Einstein stood before the central display, studying the latest calculations.
Einstein: "Good news."
She turned toward the others.
Einstein: "Results showed that the Sea of Quanta will stabilise in 20 hours. That'll be our chance."
Her expression quickly returned to one of concentration.
Einstein: "I must locate the Gem of Desire today."
Bronya stepped forward immediately.
Bronya: "The Bronya can provide assistance."
Einstein glanced at her and gave a small nod.
Einstein: "You are gifted, Bronya, but I'm afraid you need to learn about the Cauchy-Goursat theorem."
Bronya remained completely serious.
Bronya: "The Bronya shall initiate learning of said theorem."
Einstein paused.
Then she sighed.
Einstein: "I actually need you to help with something else."
She leaned closer to Bronya and lowered her voice.
Einstein: "whisper Can you take these girls away and leave me in peace?"
Before Bronya could respond—
Rozaliya: "HEYA! GEWWWD morning, Doc! What are we doing today?!"
Rozaliya suddenly appeared beside them with her usual explosive energy.
Einstein flinched.
Liliya slowly followed behind her sister, looking considerably less enthusiastic.
Liliya: "It's almost time for lunch, Roza."
Rozaliya froze.
Einstein leaned toward Theresa and whispered.
Einstein: "whisper Why are they here?"
Theresa crossed her arms.
Theresa: "Cocolia ordered them to work with us. I think she wants someone to babysit them."
Einstein's expression immediately suggested that she had suspected as much.
Theresa turned toward Bronya.
Theresa: "There's something I need to attend to, Bronya. Can you take the twins outside?"
Bronya looked at the twins.
Bronya: "Roza, Lili, go play outside. The grown-ups are working."
Rozaliya immediately grabbed Bronya's arm.
Rozaliya: "We want you to play with us, Bronya!"
Her eyes sparkled mischievously.
Rozaliya: "How about hide and seek? There are 3 of us this time."
Liliya nodded lazily.
Liliya: "I like hide and seek. You don't have to move as much."
Bronya narrowed her eyes.
Bronya: "Nyet. The Bronya shall play something else."
Rozaliya immediately brightened.
Rozaliya: "Oh, yeah, we can do that!"
She suddenly threw her arms wide as if she were standing before a massive audience.
Rozaliya: "Now that we have an audience, we can perform our skit."
Bronya blinked.
Bronya: "Skit?"
Rozaliya proudly placed her hands on her hips.
Rozaliya: "While you were away doing sneaky spy stuff, Lili and I came up with something awesome."
She pointed dramatically toward herself and Liliya.
Rozaliya: "Yeah! We're the Vodka Girls, the best performing starlets of Siberia…"
Liliya calmly corrected her.
Liliya: "…Of the Cocolia Orphanage, actually."
Rozaliya continued as though she had not heard her.
Rozaliya: "Back-to-back performances around the year."
Liliya: "…Once a year, and that's more than enough."
Rozaliya: "Full house for every show."
Liliya: "…Our friends at the orphanage, to be honest."
Rozaliya raised a finger.
Rozaliya: "Many people had to stand because of limited seating."
Liliya gave her sister a completely expressionless stare.
Liliya: "…Indeed. We only have 3 chairs."
Rozaliya slowly turned toward her.
Rozaliya: "CAN YOU SHUT UP, LILI?"
Bronya immediately made her decision.
Bronya: "The Bronya is now extremely enthusiastic about hide and seek."
Rozaliya grinned.
The twins exchanged a quick glance.
And then—
They disappeared.
Bronya stared at the empty corridor.
Roza and Lili had disappeared.
Where could they be hiding? Try to look for clues.
Bronya began searching the surrounding area.
Nothing unusual. Continue the search.
She moved deeper into the strange environment surrounding The Deep.
The inside of The Deep is an ideal hiding place.
But they won't go there without Matushka's orders.
Bronya continued onward.
The pond is calm. No traces along the banks.
They're probably not here.
Her gaze fell upon several puddles scattered across the floor.
Puddles of water on the floor. Something happened.
Nearby, Bronya spotted something else.
A broken branch of coral. The break is fresh.
She crouched down and examined it.
A child attempted to hide here but fell off.
She should be covered in water.
Bronya's eyes narrowed.
Then she noticed the suspiciously obvious trail.
…They've laid a trap.
Bronya straightened.
Bronya: "The Bronya is no longer interested in hide and seek."
Immediately—
Rozaliya: "KYAA! THE BRONYA FOUND US!"
Rozaliya jumped out from her hiding place.
Liliya emerged beside her with considerably less enthusiasm.
Liliya: "Kyaa, we got found."
Bronya stared at them.
Bronya: "Why are you two hiding together?"
Liliya answered honestly.
Liliya: "I'm tired of looking for a place to hide. I'll just go where Roza is."
Rozaliya sighed dramatically.
Rozaliya: "We lost. As promised, we shall perform "Vodka Does Not Believe in Tears" to the winner."
Bronya stared at her.
Bronya: "The Bronya does not remember this promise."
Liliya pulled out the script.
Liliya: "Roza wrote the script. She has bad handwriting, but I think it's a good story."
Bronya looked at the title.
Bronya: "Vodka Does Not Believe in Tears sounds like a joke. The 1980 movie is a masterpiece…"
She suddenly stopped.
A long silence followed.
Bronya: "…"
Bronya slowly lowered her gaze.
Bronya: "Whatever… the Bronya is disgusted with this disrespect of cinema history."
Rozaliya immediately struck a dramatic pose.
Rozaliya: "Act 1."
She pointed toward Liliya.
Rozaliya: "A long time ago, the Boris Orphanage of snowy Siberia welcomed a new resident…"
Liliya stepped forward.
Liliya: "I'm Alexander Alexeyevich Dostoyevsky…"
She continued without hesitation.
Liliya: "The fourth child of Alexey Grigoriyevich Dostoyevsky…"
Bronya immediately turned around.
Bronya: "The Bronya wants to continue the fun and engaging game of hide and seek."
Rozaliya stared at her in disbelief.
Rozaliya: "What? Is it because of Alex… Ale… Dosto… vsky?"
Bronya turned back.
Bronya: "Long mundane names will lose the audience. Stick with shorter names, like… the Bronya…"
Liliya looked mildly offended.
Liliya: "But everyone really likes our story, Bronya."
Bronya raised an eyebrow.
Bronya: "Define "everyone" in specific terms."
Liliya thought for a moment.
Liliya: "Kitty, puppy, birdie, and… stoney?"
Rozaliya raised her hand.
Rozaliya: "Oh, and Honkai beastie!"
Bronya froze.
Bronya: "…"
Rozaliya slowly turned toward Liliya.
Rozaliya: "…"
Liliya stared back.
Liliya: "…"
For several seconds, the three girls simply looked at one another.
Then the silence shattered.
Laughter erupted.
The girls laughed until their stomachs hurt, their voices echoing through the quiet surroundings. For a brief moment, the darkness, danger, and uncertainty surrounding their journey seemed impossibly distant.
The air was filled with the sounds of joy.
Rozaliya's laugh, however, quickly faded.
Her expression slowly changed.
Rozaliya: "…"
She looked toward the distance.
Rozaliya: "I haven't felt this great in ages…"
Her voice became quieter.
Rozaliya: "It felt like the old orphanage days with everyone around…"
Her smile faded further.
Rozaliya: "Bronya, Zofia, Isabella, Seele…"
Liliya lowered her eyes.
Liliya: "…"
Bronya remained silent.
Bronya: "…"
After a moment, she finally spoke.
Bronya: "What happened to the rest of the children in the orphanage?"
Rozaliya's expression darkened.
Rozaliya: "Something happened. Matushka only brought the older girls along."
Liliya quietly continued.
Liliya: "The younger ones were left behind. Sin Mal is taking care of them now."
Bronya blinked.
Bronya: "The Bronya was unaware that Sin Mal could take care of people."
Rozaliya suddenly looked at Bronya.
Rozaliya: "Do you have time, Bronya?"
Bronya waited.
Rozaliya continued.
Rozaliya: "There's a place I want to show you."
The twins led Bronya away from their previous location.
As they travelled deeper into the strange landscape surrounding The Deep, Bronya watched the scenery change around them.
Bronya: "What is this place?"
Liliya looked around quietly.
Liliya: "We found this accidentally. It probably peeled off from The Deep."
She gazed toward the distant landscape.
Liliya: "It's beautiful here, like a fairytale wonderland…"
Rozaliya walked beside Bronya.
Rozaliya: "We've been running away from Schicksal for 4 months and saw only ruins and desolate wastelands…"
Her expression softened.
Rozaliya: "I thought we were dreaming when we first saw this place."
She looked toward the peaceful scenery.
Rozaliya: "Never knew such a nice place existed before… it felt like heaven."
Bronya suddenly slowed.
Bronya: "…?"
Rozaliya turned toward her.
Rozaliya: "All roaming Honkai beasts have been destroyed. Follow me."
The twins continued ahead.
Bronya followed.
After several moments, she stopped.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Bronya: "What is this?"
There was a pile of neatly stacked stones in the coral.
Bronya knew what it was.
Her expression slowly changed.
Bronya: "The girls… did they all make it here?"
Liliya fell silent.
Liliya: "…"
She didn't answer.
Instead, Liliya slowly walked forward and knelt beside one of the stone markers.
Her hand gently touched the shells decorating it.
Liliya: "Isabella, Bronya's here with us. We're here to see you."
Rozaliya lowered her head.
Rozaliya: "Sorry, Bronya. We should have told you about this."
She looked toward the tombstones.
Rozaliya: "You were away the whole time. Now you're finally back, and I want you to say hello to them."
Bronya stood silently.
Bronya: "…"
She took a slow breath.
Bronya: "Understood. Don't feel sorry, Roza."
Bronya approached one of the stone markers.
A neat stack of stones of various sizes.
Shells decorate this pile of stones… they couldn't get flowers here.
Bronya's voice became quieter.
Bronya: "Explain. How did this happen?"
Rozaliya clenched her fists.
Rozaliya: "The Honkai Eruption destroyed much of the world… many didn't make it."
She looked toward the rows of stone graves.
Rozaliya: "We were always running away from Schicksal… we tried to bring them along with us."
Liliya continued softly.
Liliya: "Matushka helped us build these stone tombs."
She looked toward the peaceful landscape surrounding them.
Liliya: "We told her about this pretty island, and she likes it here too."
Liliya: "Matushka felt that this was a happier place compared to the Siberian tundra."
Her voice became even softer.
Liliya: "They never got to see such a nice place before, but now they can sleep tight here forever."
Rozaliya stared at the graves.
Rozaliya: "I really hope they like this place."
Bronya said nothing.
Bronya: "…"
The children knelt before the burial mounds decorated with colorful shells.
The 2nd Honkai Eruption destroyed their homes and childhood. The reawakening of the Herrscher of the Void at the Battle of Schicksal took away their friends.
The melodies of the sea echoed in the background as Bronya looked at the tombstones in silence.
Memories welled up within her mind.
The snow on the roof.
The old broom.
The bland borscht…
…And the blue-haired girl who stayed by her side.
Many things happened.
Too many things, in fact.
Bronya suddenly realised that the familiar orphanage was no more.
It may have ended when Seele left… or when Cocolia betrayed her…
Those fond memories were only ephemeral, drowned out by an emotionless void.
She thought time could heal those wounds.
But this sight was like a nameless pain that seized her by her throat.
She remembered the burning brain chip and the Gray Serpent's taunting…
These memories were like cold, iron chains, dragging her into a bottomless abyss.
She could hear that person's voice echoing at the very bottom of that pit…
Cocolia: "…Bronya?"
Bronya's eyes widened.
Bronya: "…!"
Cocolia: "Bronya?"
Bronya slowly turned around.
Cocolia stood behind her.
The Matushka recovered quickly from her surprise.
Bronya stared at her.
Bronya: "…?"
Rozaliya's eyes widened as well.
Rozaliya: "…!"
Bronya looked toward Rozaliya.
The elder twin immediately shook her head.
She had no idea that Cocolia was coming.
Bronya's expression hardened.
Bronya: "The Bronya shall head back."
Cocolia stepped forward.
Cocolia: "Why don't you stay a little longer, Bronya?"
She reached out and attempted to stop Bronya from leaving.
SMACK.
Cocolia froze.
Cocolia: "…?"
Bronya had knocked her hand away.
Her voice was cold.
Bronya: "The Bronya is not here to reconcile with Matushka."
Cocolia's expression changed.
Cocolia: "Bronya…"
Bronya turned toward her.
Bronya: "Matushka used the chip to manipulate the Bronya into hurting Wendy and Mei."
Her mechanical tone did nothing to hide the anger beneath it.
Bronya: "The Bronya does not forgive these crimes."
Cocolia clenched her fists.
Cocolia: "I was desperate. We needed every Herrscher we could capture."
She tried to continue.
Cocolia: "If the Herrscher research was successful…"
Bronya immediately interrupted her.
Bronya: "The Bronya does not care."
Cocolia's eyes widened.
Cocolia: "…!"
Bronya stepped closer.
Bronya: "The Bronya is disgusted that Matushka is still looking for excuses for her evil deeds…"
She looked directly into Cocolia's eyes.
Bronya: "…And thinks that everything can go on as usual."
A heavy silence followed.
Bronya: "…"
Then Bronya spoke again.
Her voice was quieter this time.
Bronya: "Matushka lied to the Bronya."
Cocolia looked away.
Cocolia: "…"
After a long moment, she finally spoke.
Cocolia: "You're entitled to your opinions. Leave us, Bronya."
Bronya turned away.
She left without another word.
She wanted Cocolia to keep arguing, but her Matushka silenced their conversation.
Bronya continued walking.
Bronya: "…"
Her voice was almost a whisper.
Bronya: "The Bronya… used to trust Matushka most…"
She left after saying that.
Behind her, Liliya exchanged a worried glance with Rozaliya.
Liliya: "Oh no…"
Rozaliya quickly reacted.
Rozaliya: "We gotta get her back!"
She ran after Bronya.
Rozaliya: "Wait for us, Bronya!"
Liliya followed.
Liliya: "Bronya, are you alright?"
Rozaliya quickly tried to explain.
Rozaliya: "We didn't plan this. We didn't expect Matushka to show up."
Bronya stopped.
She looked toward them.
Bronya: "The Bronya does not blame the twins."
Her expression softened slightly.
Bronya: "The Bronya has some problems with Matushka… it does not concern you."
She looked toward the darkening sky.
Bronya: "Night is approaching. It's time to return."
Rozaliya nodded.
Rozaliya: "Let's go…"
Then she suddenly stepped forward.
Rozaliya: "Lili and I will help you get the Gem of Desire."
Liliya remained quiet.
Liliya: "…"
Rozaliya looked toward her sister.
Rozaliya: "Hah. Lili, are you alright?"
Liliya's eyes slowly closed.
Liliya: "Good night, Roza."
And without another warning—
Liliya collapsed directly into Rozaliya's arms.
Rozaliya caught her.
Bronya stared.
Bronya: "What happened?"
Rozaliya adjusted her grip on her sleeping sister.
Rozaliya: "Liliya falls asleep at about 1900 hours. She never grows up."
Bronya examined the situation.
Bronya: "Little Roza appears to be more responsible at the moment."
Rozaliya immediately frowned.
Rozaliya: "Hey, is that an insult? I'll hurt you if it is."
Bronya looked toward the unconscious Liliya.
Bronya: "Please explain this."
Rozaliya fell silent.
Rozaliya: "…"
Her expression slowly became serious.
Rozaliya: "I'll tell you what happened, Bronya."
She adjusted Liliya in her arms.
Rozaliya: "I was carrying her like this at the beach. She was sick."
Her voice became quieter.
Rozaliya: "We ran into a swarm of Honkai beasts."
Bronya immediately looked at her.
Bronya: "What?"
Rozaliya looked down.
Rozaliya: "We were wounded. I can still remember the expression on Matushka's face when she found us."
She paused.
Rozaliya: "It was fear… I never knew Matushka could feel fear…"
Bronya watched her carefully.
Bronya: "What happened, Roza?"
Rozaliya tightened her grip around Liliya.
Rozaliya: "We… we almost failed to make it, Bronya."
The elder twin forced herself to continue.
Rozaliya: "Matushka saved us. She found a great doctor who treated our wounds."
She glanced at Liliya.
Rozaliya: "We grew horns and tails… but we also became faster and could beat zombies and beasts easily!"
A faint smile appeared on her face.
Rozaliya: "Lili became a big sleepyhead, but everything else is good."
Then the smile faded.
Rozaliya: "…"
Rozaliya looked directly at Bronya.
Rozaliya: "Both of us knew that Matushka did bad experiments on Bronya…"
She hesitated.
Rozaliya: "…But those experiments are the reasons why we're still alive."
Bronya remained silent for several moments.
Then she nodded slightly.
Bronya: "The Bronya understands…"
Rozaliya looked toward the distant horizon.
Rozaliya: "After you and Seele left, Matushka would often shut herself in her room."
Her voice was quiet.
Rozaliya: "She pretended she was alright, but everyone knew she was sad."
Rozaliya looked back at Bronya.
Rozaliya: "I think Matushka did not like what she did. She really loves you and Seele."
Bronya lowered her eyes.
Bronya: "…"
Rozaliya quickly continued.
Rozaliya: "I know that might mean little to you…"
She looked down at her sleeping sister.
Rozaliya: "But Matushka needs us. That's why Lili and I stayed."
Her grip around Liliya tightened.
Rozaliya: "I want to help her, save everyone in the orphanage, and cure Lili's sleeping problem."
Rozaliya's expression hardened with determination.
Rozaliya: "I will help Matushka so that she doesn't have to do those experiments again."
She looked toward Bronya.
Rozaliya: "You and Matushka protected us, Bronya. But Lili and I have learned to fight as well."
Bronya stared at her for a moment.
Then, finally, she gave a small nod.
Bronya: "Spasibo, Roza."