Kiana glanced at the black-covered notebook, deciding to set it aside for now and examine the papers that clearly looked like physical examination reports first.
Unless the notebook was a diary, it definitely wouldn't contain more information than the medical reports.
And what kind of normal person writes diaries anyway!
Full of confidence, Kiana picked up the first report—wait, no, the last report. Her eyes immediately went to the final assessment.
[The Herrscher was defeated as wished, truly a happy ending for all.
The process was almost entirely under control, and he perfectly executed every nearly impossible step of the plan... Should one say, as expected of someone who rushes in to protect everyone when their mind gets heated?
It's truly fortunate that Kiana arrived near Shu in time, providing that sliver of "Hope" to cling to his last breath. Otherwise, he would have entered the fifth instance...
But it merely kept him alive. 187 out of his 206 bones showed signs of fracture and dislocation, three broken ribs pierced his lungs, one even grazed his heart, and muscles throughout his body suffered varying degrees of damage...
To survive under such severe circumstances, relying solely on that thread of "Hope", and even managing to express his emotions... One must say, truly, as expected of him...
Regarding his choices, I've never had any right to intervene, only to help him to the best of my ability, which also helps myself.
If next time...
No, there won't be a next time. One should feel fortunate for such a coincidence happening even once.]
The evaluation ended there, abruptly. Kiana turned the paper over and over, but found no continuation.
Putting down the report, Kiana remained silent.
She sat blankly on the bed for a long time, her gaze vacant as she stared at the words on her hand.
In just that short while, Kiana could already barely recall what was recorded on those reports – the various data points, the evaluations, even those glaring red numbers...
Memories faded so quickly, but one concept was now deeply etched into Kiana's mind.
"There won't be a next time..." she murmured softly, her hands gradually clenching into fists.
"No... there will be..."
She looked up, speaking aloud.
She took a long, deep breath, picked up the last report again, and scanned it meticulously several more times, her eyes fixated on one sentence, repeating it over and over.
[It's truly fortunate that Kiana arrived near Shu in time, providing that sliver of "Hope" to cling to his last breath. Otherwise, he would have entered the fifth instance...]
As long as she reached his side, she could bring him back—!
This became Kiana's second unwavering conviction!
I forgot someone very important, and as long as I reach his side, I can bring him back!!
But how to get back? How to reach his side? Where was he now?
Kiana believed she just had to follow the tracks back the way they came!
Make the train turn back?
Too slow... The train was too slow.
Kiana stood up, placed the reports back into the small hidden compartment, glanced at the unopened black-covered notebook, gritted her teeth, snatched the notebook, and stuffed it inside her clothes.
She didn't need any more information right now. All she needed to know was—someone was waiting for her to find him!
And staying here wouldn't accomplish anything!
Turning towards the door, Kiana glanced back one last time at the room that might "vanish" again at any moment, then hardened her resolve.
"I forgot someone important... I have to find him now... I forgot someone important..."
Kiana knew she was bad at remembering things; a simple history book took her ages to memorize.
She was terrified that the moment she left this room, she would forget about finding him again. So she repeated the phrase endlessly, non-stop, just to ensure she remembered this single sentence.
She only needed to remember this one sentence... just one...
The instant she stepped out of the room, Kiana's expression faltered, then a flicker of confusion crossed her face.
Strange, just now I...
"I forgot someone... now I have to find..." But the words tumbled out of her mouth automatically, instantly giving Kiana direction again.
Even though I don't know who you are...
"I forgot someone..." Kiana turned and walked down the corridor, her steps firm with purpose.
And I don't understand why you paid such a price in the past to protect us...
"Now, I have to find him..." Kiana reached her own room door and gripped the handle.
But please rest assured...
Kiana shoved the door open forcefully. This time, she didn't hold back, letting the door slam open with a loud bang.
In the vast darkness, the loud noise tore through the silence, waking everyone who was asleep.
Entering the room, Kiana made a beeline for her wardrobe, threw out all her clothes, revealing the hidden compartment within.
No matter what happened to you... and no matter if we've completely forgotten you...
She reached out and took the object from the compartment.
A blood-red gemstone glowed with an eerie crimson light within the train car, like some untouchable taboo, instinctively making people keep their distance.
This taboo inspired fear.
But Kiana gripped it tightly in her hand.
This was the thing they had gone to such lengths to conceal and bring out with them—
The Key of Evolution - Spirit Awakening!!
This was one of the only two "Divine Keys" possessed by the Fire Moth Base, one of the only two trump cards the current Fire Moth Base could wield against the Honkai!
The Spirit Awakening Key had been split into three parts, carried separately by the three of them onto this train.
Now, it was whole again in Kiana's hands.
Thin layers of armor materialized onto Kiana's body. She stood before the train car door, waiting for the Spirit Awakening Key to finish loading.
Emerald green patterns lit up across her body. Kiana took a deep breath and opened the door of the still-moving train.
The cold wind instantly gusted in, hitting Kiana full in the face, whipping her hair wildly.
Spirit Awakening Key activation successful. Power load instantly reached 0.1%.
"Kiana!" Just as Kiana was about to leap out the door during the activation, Mei's startled cry suddenly came from behind.
Kiana turned back in surprise, looking at the two astonished faces behind her. The constant muttering she'd kept up also ceased.
"Kiana, what are you doing?" Bronya asked urgently.
Why, after just a short time apart, had Kiana already activated the Spirit Awakening Key?
Kiana... what exactly had she remembered or figured out?
Looking at the two faces full of worry, Kiana stood by the door, silently observing them.
"Kiana... you..." Mei opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to ask something as well.
"Sorry, Mei." But Kiana shook her head. "Sorry, I can't explain it well... because... we'll all forget...
"But—this... I have to do this!!" Kiana looked up, her eyes filled with extreme determination.
Mei and Bronya fell silent. They looked at Kiana, poised and ready, their hearts full of confusion and questions.
But...
"...Okay... I understand." Mei closed her eyes and nodded.
Bronya also said nothing, simply looked at Kiana and nodded.
Kiana let out a long sigh of relief.
They had long ago entrusted their trust to each other... They would always unconditionally support what the others wanted to do, unless it meant harming themselves...
Kiana turned back around. The pale yellow patterns on her body instantly turned blood-red.
[Power Activation—1%]
Kiana leaped, jumping out of the train car and landing on the snow-covered ground.
She looked up, gazing back down the path they had come from.
"Wait for me! No matter who you are..." Kiana said, her voice filled with unquestionable resolve.
"I will definitely bring you back!!"