Raiden Mei stood in front of the tightly shut door, wearing a worried expression, her heart burning with anxiety.
Logically speaking, reuniting with Kiana should have been something joyful. However, when this moment truly arrived, Raiden Mei's heart was filled with nothing but endless fear.
Through the window, the girl's pained and struggling appearance made her feel deep heartache.
She couldn't believe that the girl who was still smiling at her just two days ago was now unconscious, entangled in blood-covered markings.
Even more so, she was unwilling to believe everything that Raven had said, that the girl's so-called strength and smiles were just a mask wrapped in pain.
At this moment, Raiden Mei could only look up and pray, pray that the girl could return to how she was before, and that all this was just a false alarm.
However, things did not go as one wished.
When Tesla said that Kiana's body could at most hold on for another two months, Raiden Mei's brain went completely blank.
She truly couldn't understand how things had turned out like this. But now that things had come to this point, Raiden Mei could only choose to look forward.
———
[In the Real World.]
[Bug bug ah, my bug bug!]
[This is too tragic, is Kiana's condition really this serious?]
[This level of erosion even makes me think of how Van looked when he wore the Crimson Knight armor back then]
[Could Mihoyo's scriptwriters be planning to throw in a tribute here?]
———
Even though she knew the contents of the video might be fictional, Raiden Mei still felt great heartache.
As if sensing Raiden Mei's emotions, Kiana at her side suddenly grabbed Raiden Mei's hand and placed it against her own face.
"Aiya, Mei, all this is fake, it's fake! Look at me, aren't I alive and well, right in front of you?"
Seeing Kiana's cheerful and energetic smile, Raiden Mei's mood also improved quite a bit.
———
[Back to the Video.]
In front of Kiana's hospital room door, Raiden Mei paused, her hand frozen in midair, neither pushing forward nor pulling back.
Because she didn't know how to face Kiana. Didn't know how to lie to that girl who always smiled at her.
After taking a deep breath, Raiden Mei shook all the chaotic thoughts from her mind and forced herself to take a step forward.
Opening the door to the hospital room, Raiden Mei saw that the unconscious Kiana had already woken up. She lay on the bed, looking at her, face pale but wearing a familiar smile.
"Mei, long time no see... no wait, we just saw each other a few days ago..." Kiana's voice was a bit weak, but her tone remained light and cheerful.
Raiden Mei held back her tears, walked to the bedside, and gently tossed the coat Kiana had previously thrown away onto her head.
"You idiot, do you know how worried everyone was about you? Why would you rather hide here all alone than contact us?"
Kiana took the coat off her head and awkwardly changed the topic, "Mei, your new hairstyle looks really good, I really like it! Although you'd look good no matter what... Sorry, I'm back."
Taking advantage of the moment when Kiana lowered her head to tidy the coat, Raiden Mei quickly lifted her hand and gently wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions.
"Kiana, welcome home." After speaking, the warm and gentle sensation seemed to rewind time itself.
Vaguely, she felt like she had returned to those bright mornings at St. Freya Academy, the sunlight softly and warmly shining upon her.
After a brief moment of warmth, the two began chatting in the hospital room.
Raiden Mei hid Tesla's diagnosis result and only lightly said that Kiana had suffered a minor injury and would be fine after some rest.
She also told Kiana that other companions would arrive soon.
After hearing that, Kiana nodded with a smile, but quickly suggested, "Mei, let's go out for a walk. Staying in the hospital room all the time is too stuffy."
Raiden Mei hesitated a little, "Your body hasn't recovered yet, you should rest more."
"It's fine, I've already rested plenty!" Kiana insisted. "Besides, going out for a walk will help me feel better."
In the end, Raiden Mei couldn't refuse her, so she agreed.
The two walked out of the Hyperion. As they walked, they eventually arrived at the ruins of the former Senba Academy.
This place had long been abandoned, but the familiar scenery still stirred up their memories.
"Remember? We first met right here." Kiana pointed at the teaching building in the distance and said with a smile.
Recalling the bits and pieces of the past spent with Kiana, Raiden Mei also revealed a smile on her face.
"Yeah, I still remember how you fainted by the roadside back then because of hunger."
"Well, that's just because I hadn't eaten in ages~" Kiana scratched her head in embarrassment.
Then, as if recalling something, Raiden Mei said with emotion, "Speaking of which, when the Great Eruption came, the four of us escaped Changkong City together, you, me, Bronya, and…"
At this point, Raiden Mei suddenly paused. As if realizing she had spoken out of turn, Raiden Mei said guiltily, "Kiana, I'm sorry... I shouldn't have..."
Kiana shook her head and said with a smile, "It's okay, Mei. I've already let it go. But I will never forget him, and I won't forget the promise I made to him."
Raiden Mei looked at Kiana, feeling somewhat conflicted. She always felt like Kiana's smile was hiding something, but she couldn't bear to ask.
The two continued chatting about their life at the academy.
Suddenly, Kiana said, "Mei, actually, back when you were bullied by classmates, it wasn't just me who helped you, Van also helped a lot…"
Hearing this, Raiden Mei froze.
'Van? He helped me? Why don't I have any memory of that at all…'
Kiana didn't notice her confusion and continued talking on her own, "Come to think of it, when I had just transferred, I was even a bit jealous. Because you and Van were especially close, always sticking together. But later, after I became friends with him too, I realized he was a really gentle person."
The more Raiden Mei listened, the more confused she became.
Because she realized that in that painful memory of the past, there didn't seem to be any trace of Van, let alone him helping her.
Just as she was about to ask more, Kiana suddenly stopped walking.
"Mei, listen, what's that sound?" Kiana pointed into the distance, her expression a bit serious.
Following the direction she pointed in, Raiden Mei looked and saw Benares, previously driven off by her and Raven, now curled up not far away, letting out low, mournful whimpers.
"Ah, Benares… Kiana, don't go near it!" Raiden Mei said vigilantly.
However, Kiana shook her head, "Wait a second, Mei…"
She carefully walked toward Benares. Raiden Mei wanted to stop her, but when she saw the determined look in Kiana's eyes, she ultimately followed.
On the other side, seemingly sensing Kiana's approach, Benares let out a faint low growl.
"It... seems like it's calling out to me?" Kiana turned to Raiden Mei and said. "I always felt it's different from other Honkai beasts."
Kiana reached out her hand and gently caressed Benares's wounds. The dim markings on her body once again lit up with a faint glow.
"Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you."
Wherever Kiana's hand touched, the cracked wounds began to slowly heal. And Benares didn't resist either, letting Kiana gently stroke its body.
After Kiana's healing, Benares quickly recovered.
It struggled to stand up, then lowered its massive head and gently leaned it toward the two of them, showing not the slightest hostility.
"It... seems like it wants to come with us," Kiana turned to Raiden Mei and said.
Raiden Mei was somewhat helpless, but could only accept this reality.
The two discussed for a bit and finally decided to bring Benares back to the Hyperion.
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