A.N. Please leave comments!!! If you leave a good suggestion I have a high chance of implementing it! If you want to join a discord, join spygler discord https://discord.gg/gRS9s8aqHh
Himeko grimaced as she sat down in her office seat aboard the Hyperion.
She had been running around in the Scarlet Fusion prototype armor, configured for heavy combat.
The Nexus System prototype was designed to connect to an extremely powerful Honkai energy source, such as the Hyperion's main reactor. She had donned the heavy configuration expecting to fight the newly born Herrscher, what Schicksal HQ was calling the Herrscher of Thunder.
However, the Herrscher had ended up being a no-show, and she was sent to confront Siegfried instead.
The prototype's heavy configuration hadn't been designed for prolonged use. Its "small" built-in power source, still much larger than that of a standard battlesuit, was intended only for movement, not combat.
As a result, she was ill-prepared for the confrontation, and Siegfried escaped.
Fighting in heavy armor without an external power source had left every muscle in her body sore, even without activating the Nexus System.
After that, she had returned to the Hyperion and ditched the heavy armor, just keeping the lite battlesuit that was much less powerful, but also didn't require the external power source.
Theresa hadn't been happy about the order to kill Siegfried. They had fought together during the Second Eruption, and she had sided with him during the incident involving Kiana.
At the moment, she was yelling at Otto Apocalypse, Overseer of Schicksal, and her grandfather.
Theresa was the only person who could get away with that. Otto clearly spoiled her, and St. Freya itself was proof of it.
The Far Eastern Branch of St. Freya was far more independent than other Schicksal branches. After the American branch defected to form Anti-Entropy, HQ had tightened control over all divisions and never let them become too independent again, but the Far Eastern Branch remained a notable exception.
With Schicksal HQ and the branch still arguing over what to do next, Himeko found herself with some free time.
She decided to interview the survivors of the Third Eruption and eventually invite them to join St. Freya.
Apparently, they had been left in a supply closet upon arrival; the Hyperion wasn't prepared to house survivors. They hadn't even undergone medical examinations until Himeko asked about them.
However, one of them, the one who according to their file was called Lee, refused the medical examination and asked to be interviewed immediately.
She was only 16, the same age as the other survivors, according to their file they had recently enrolled at the same academy as the others, Chiba Academy.
Besides medical vaccination records, there were almost no historical records at all.
So, here she was, in front of her, sitting in the metal chair bolted to the deck across the table from her.
"So, you wanted to be interviewed as soon as possible?" Himeko stated.
The girl in front of her was slightly above average height for her age, she was wearing somewhat torn up athletic clothing, which was somehow still perfectly clean despite being somewhat ruined.
She had long blonde hair tied with a band and draped over her left shoulder. Her green eyes showed no hint of shock, in fact, she seemed almost blasé about being one of only four identified survivors of an event that had wiped out an entire city.
She simply nodded.
She likely had questions, impatient ones. Questions like: What just happened? Why did I survive when everyone else died or became infected by the Honkai? Though she hadn't had a medical examination yet, the girl likely was a natural Stigmata awakener, explaining her survival in an area with such a high concentration of Honkai energy.
According to her second in command, the girl had been found with an Alloy Dominator, which had apparently been given to her by Siegfried.
Speaking of Siegfried, one of the survivors was Kiana Kaslana, apparently they had been separated from Siegfried at some point or another and was picked up by the patrol ship with the other survivors.
Probably a good thing, Himeko was ambiguous about Siegfried. While Theresa said he was trustworthy, he was also one of Schicksal's most wanted, and a traitor. In addition, Himeko had heard some rather strange rumors about Siegfried from his time as one of Schicksal's top knights, none of them were particularly flattering.
"Mei is the Herrscher." The girl said calmly.
"?" Himeko blinked in confusion.
"Mei was the Herrscher," Lee clarified. "Her transformation was undone. She's fully human again."
Himeko, well to be honest, had expected a lot of potential topics this conversation could be about, however, this was certainly not one of them. She didn't really know how to react.
"Little guy, do you know what a Herrscher is?" Himeko asked, sounding unintentionally condescending.
She hadn't meant it that way, the claim was just so unexpected.
Lee narrowed her eyes. "If you don't believe me, fine. But if you ask Mei, she won't deny it." She paused. "If you want proof of her humanity, talk to Kiana."
That was… startling. Himeko had been bracing for a long investigation into the Nagazora incident and the missing Herrscher's whereabouts, only to find out the Herrscher had been on the Hyperion the whole time!
She no longer knew how to steer the conversation. She had come prepared to comfort and debrief a traumatized survivor, yet it was the survivor who was informing her of the truth.
"You seem to know a lot about the Honkai," Himeko said.
Lee seemingly thought quietly to herself for a little while, before she said, "I don't actually know that much, what I know I got from the others."
That made sense. Kiana was Siegfried's daughter, and as a survivor of the Second Eruption, he would've told her about Herrschers.
"Anything else you want to tell me?" Himeko asked.
Lee considered, then shook her head. "Not particularly."
"Anything you want to ask?"
"Got a database or a book on this stuff?" Lee asked.
That was a much better idea than answering every question individually. As it happened, Himeko, being a teacher, had a few relevant textbooks in her computer even on the Hyperion.
She took out a tablet from the drawer in her desk, navigating to the library database, she tagged a book called Basics of Honkai, then paused before also tagging Schicksal, a Brief History.
Inviting them to St. Freya could wait. First, she needed to verify Lee's claim about Mei.
After handing over the tablet, Himeko pressed a button on her desk, summoning a staffer.
"She can be taken to the medical bay for now," Himeko said. "Make sure she isn't injured or showing residual Honkai exposure."
"I'm not injured, and I don't need a medical examination," Lee replied flatly.
"Well, it's still a good idea, just in case," Himeko countered.
The staffer added, "The other survivors are also refusing exams, Mei and Bronya. Only one agreed so far."
"Well, I agree with them." Lee said simply.
Mei, Himeko thought. It made sense that she'd refuse under the circumstances. But why were Lee and Bronya also refusing?
Looking at Lee, who seemed firmly set on her decision, Himeko sighed. "Fine. You can skip it for now, but you'll need a full exam once we're back at St. Freya. It's standard procedure."
It seemed like the girl did not fully trust them yet, hopefully the books she had tagged would help with that.
She gestured toward the staffer. "Go ahead and take her to where her friends are staying. And bring Mei to me next."
"Yes, ma'am!" the staffer said, saluting before exiting the room, Lee following close behind.
Himeko waited in her office until the staffer returned with Mei.
Mei wore a school uniform; her hair was long and dark. Her file noted her father had been arrested six days earlier for financial fraud. It also recorded that she was heiress to ME-Corp, noted as being one of Anti-Entropy's front companies, Himeko found it odd Anti-Entropy hadn't been more involved beyond Siegfried.
She lifted her chin when Mei entered. "So you're the Herrscher, aren't you?" Himeko asked, fingers closing on a hidden weapon beneath her desk.
"Yes." Mei's answer was quiet. Himeko's grip tightened.
Mei hesitated, then added, "You can do whatever you want with me now."
"Even kill you? Fine by me." Himeko's voice was flat. "Killing a Herrscher here would free the world from that prophecy of annihilation."
"Then do it. If my life truly threatens so many, killing me would be for the best."
Himeko slapped her. "I am not in the mood for jokes. We're warriors who fight the Honkai! We don't murder little girls."
"If you want to give up your life so easily, then at least give it to me," Himeko said, voice hardening. "I'll forge you into a warrior who can control that terrible force inside you."
Mei began to cry. "What if I lose control again? I almost killed Kiana. If I go berserk, I could kill even more people, Lee really was right about that…"
"Then we'll implant a micro-explosive fail-safe near your heart," Himeko said bluntly. "If you ever lose control, I can activate it and end you."
Mei swallowed. Himeko softened, only slightly. "Hopefully that eases your mind. Live well, and try to stay alive."
"Thank you…" Mei whispered. "I think… I really want to live."
She thought of Kiana, someone she hadn't known for long, yet who had already left an impression. Kiana was silly, impulsive, and strange… but there was something magnetic about her. Even if she was a little perverted, a light that made the world feel less heavy. Just like Lee and Bronya, who, in their own ways, carried themselves with quiet strength and certainty.
Everyone else seemed to understand the situation better than she did, what had happened, what it meant, and what would come next. She still felt like an outsider, swept up in a storm that had already been raging long before she arrived.
Lee, in particular, had been an enigma. At first, she had spoken coldly, practical, almost ruthless, advocating for Mei's execution as if it were a necessary measure, not cruelty. Yet after Bronya arrived, Lee never mentioned it again. Mei couldn't tell if that was out of guilt, respect, or something else entirely.
She remembered that moment, the flash of light, the strange warmth that had cut through the suffocating void inside her mind. That ability Lee had used to awaken her from the Herrscher's control, it had been effortless, instantaneous, almost divine.
But Lee had never used it again. Not once, even when danger loomed. Was it something that couldn't be repeated? Or had it taken too much from her the first time? Mei didn't know.
Still, it gave her comfort. If she ever lost herself again, if that darkness came back… maybe Lee could reach her. Maybe she wouldn't have to die after all.
The thought lingered, fragile but steady.
Himeko studied her carefully, her expression softening just enough to reveal the exhaustion beneath. She could see the guilt, the fear, and the faint spark of determination in the girl's eyes, so much like her own once had been.
After a moment of silence, Himeko exhaled through her nose and said quietly, "You've got more fight in you than you think, kid." She hesitated, then turned slightly away, the steel returning to her voice. "I need to talk to my friend about this. I'll have that bomb prepared as soon as possible. For now, I'm assigning Valkyries to monitor you. That's non-negotiable, understood?"
Mei nodded wordlessly, tears drying on her cheeks.
Himeko stood, pushing her chair back. "Good. Then we'll start finding a way for you to live with that power, without it consuming you."
Himeko stood and pressed a button on her desk. "Control room, please send two Valkyries to my office."
Moments later, two armored Valkyries wearing battlesuits entered, saluting crisply. "Captain Himeko."
"Escort Miss Raiden Mei to the medical bay," Himeko ordered. "Full examination, make sure she complies… tell the doctors not to share the results with anyone besides me." Her tone carried a subtle edge that dared anyone to object.
The Valkyries nodded. One gently motioned for Mei to follow.
Mei hesitated at the doorway, glancing back at Himeko. "Thank you," she murmured again, so softly it was almost lost beneath the hum of the ship. Then she stepped out, the door sliding shut behind her.
The office fell silent.
Himeko leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. "God, what a mess…" she muttered under her breath.
She sat in her chair and tried to calm down. After a while, she opened a call to Theresa.