23. How Could I Be... a Herrscher? / 24. A Deep Conversation with Elysia (About Her Authority)

Kiana hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Sister Xia Ling... do you want to save Sirin?"

"That's right, but this dream is actually nearing its end." Xia Ling looked at Kiana's eyes, which remained azure even after she Herrscher transformation, and said, "But Kiana, since you already knew... why didn't you tell me?"

"At first I was a little confused... but it was Sister Xia Ling's decision, and I believe Sister Xia Ling must have her reasons. So all I have to do is cooperate."

Kiana shook her head. "It's the same now. If Sister Xia Ling feels that it's not convenient for me to know about this, it's perfectly fine not to explain."

"No, how could that be? This was something that happened to you anyway; it's just that we knew about it sooner..."

Xia Ling paused for a moment, then continued:

"This dream was indeed about saving Sirin, but... it involves some information that I can't tell you directly. Some things you'll have to figure out for yourself, and the rest..."

Xia Ling told Kiana the whole process of setting up her dream, including the plan and script.

"In this way, by giving Sirin a completely new experience, she can try to overcome the hatred inherited from her core through emotions she experiences firsthand..."

"Even if we can't change the final outcome, at least we won't let her be as extreme as she was during the previous Schicksal War."

"Of course, the result is still unknown. We will have to wait until the dream ends to know the effect."

"In short... if we put aside the fact that she is the Second Herrscher, she should indeed have been a good child."

"You know, Kiana, because of my past, I value the people around me far more than the 'world.' So, you could say I'm doing this out of sympathy for that child from the Second Honkai Outbreak, or you could say I'm extending my affection to her because of her. But I really want to give her another chance."

Xia Ling's eyes were also somewhat confused. After all, this was an operation that completely deviated from the main storyline of the original work, and she was not sure if it would succeed.

However, she chose to believe Sirin.

"By the way, Kiana... if Sirin really does turn back into her original self after she leaves the dream, do you... think you would forgive her?"

"Sister Xia Ling, I've thought about this issue a long time ago."

Kiana responded to Xia Ling with an expression that said, "I knew it."

"From the very beginning, when you took me to experience Sirin's past, I could tell that Sister Xia Ling had the intention of saving her..."

"However, my answer is the same as before."

"Whether or not I forgive her is not a question I can decide... but rather a question for the victim and for her own sake."

"If it were just me who was suffering, I could easily say it didn't matter, but I can't forgive Sirin on your behalf, on behalf of Teacher Himeko, or on behalf of anyone else."

"Moreover... some of these people don't even have the chance to forgive Sirin."

"Therefore, I think the one who should answer this question is Sirin herself."

"Can she truly forgive herself? Or what kind of responsibility is she willing to bear for her past?"

"I've been through this kind of problem, and so has Mei. I think we should both give our own answers."

"Kiana, you... you've really grown a lot..."

As Xia Ling gazed at Kiana's figure, she seemed to vaguely recall the feeling she had when she first saw Xin Yan in her past life.

This young girl had already begun her own transformation.

However, in front of Xia Ling, Kiana always seems to act like that silly Kiana from back in the academy, her coolness only lasting three seconds.

"Hmph, right? I've been thinking about these words for a long time. I thought it would be really cool to say them when Sister Xia Ling asks me about them."

Kiana's smug expression made Xia Ling burst out laughing.

"What are you laughing at... Never mind, Sister Xia Ling, I'm more concerned about something else."

Kiana suddenly leaned closer and asked in a somewhat mysterious tone.

"Um, your relationship with Sister Elysia... is it the same as the headmistress's... cough cough, is it?"

"Cough cough cough cough!" Xia Ling was startled by Kiana's bold question and quickly covered up her embarrassment with a cough.

"Really..."

"Ahem, what do you mean 'as expected'? Um, they are all my wings!"

Xia Ling immediately puffed out her ample bosom, indicating that she was in complete control.

"I get the feeling that Sister Xia Ling doesn't seem very confident no matter which side she faces..." Kiana shifted her gaze and muttered softly, "Sister Xia Ling doesn't end up being attacked from both sides..."

Of course, whether the girl had any other thoughts in her mind while she was criticizing Xia Ling remains unknown...

Chapter Twenty-Three: How could I be... Herrscher?

Sirin's return caused a huge uproar at the academy, Schicksal immediately sprang into action, actively preparing for the next appearance of the Herrscher of the Void.

[But strangely, the Herrscher of the Void doesn't seem to have reappeared. Since she and Xia Ling were trapped in the Imaginary Space that day, there has been no trace of her.]

However, this is not something Sirin should worry about right now, because...

The day after she returned, Elysia also disappeared.

No one knew where she went, except for Sirin, who received a farewell letter.

In the letter, she thanked Sirin for bringing back the pendant and told Sirin that she couldn't accept this ending, couldn't accept a life without Xia Ling.

Therefore, she is going to search for Xia Ling in the Imaginary Space.

The letter only briefly explains her departure in a few lines; the majority of it focuses on meticulously inquiring about Sirin's life afterward.

Perhaps, once she left, she never intended to come back.

[Sirin clutched the still-fragrant letter tightly, then collapsed weakly to her knees beside the table.]

Am I a jinx? Am I... truly unworthy of happiness?

She didn't know, but she didn't want to know anymore.

The previous medication severely damaged her body; she probably doesn't have much longer to live. So, let's just leave it at that...

[The heartbroken Sirin didn't realize that although she had given up on herself, she wasn't uncared for.]

[To save Sirin, after much inquiry, Bei Ling-meng (IX Lin Wu Yi San?) ba weeping I San}la found the origin of this potion.]

[This potion with such properties was indeed not produced by Schicksal, but by an organization called World Serpent...]

"Alright, alright, have you satisfied your curiosity now? Now you know why Elysia left the stage, so hurry back to training with me."

Seeing that the plot had developed to this point, Xia Ling quickly used the excuse of training to take Kiana back to the Imaginary Space.

Otherwise, watching any further would be considered a spoiler.

"Huh? What's this? Why are you leaving me in suspense...?"

"This is for your own good, you idiot. The dream is about to end, why don't you take this time to familiarize yourself with the complete abilities of the Herrscher of the Void?"

"If you really want to know what happened next... I'll tell you when we get back to reality, tomorrow, or the day after at the latest, how about that?"

Xia Ling's eyes darted around, and she grinned mischievously.

"Really?" Kiana's eyes lit up. "Yay! I knew Sister Xia Ling spoiled me the most!"

"Don't worry, I'll definitely give you a surprise that will leave a deep impression on you."

Xia Ling gave a thumbs up, clearly extremely confident in this surprise.

"By the way, Sister Xia Ling..." Kiana didn't dwell on the subsequent plot, but instead asked another question.

"Did you write this plot?"

"Yes."

"That Love Aya's Dream Weeping (Part Two) ~Shan ? A Fiery Temper!? [This is the part about Sister Li's suicide...]"

"Cough cough cough, this part is not it." Xia Ling turned her head away. "I originally planned to have Elysia send Sirin another knife, but Elysia said that was not in line with her style. She would never give up looking for me if I had a chance to live."

"So fin Ershan forest private nine mixed feed" ] so she changed it to this.

"Oh~"

Kiana's teasing tone made Xia Ling both embarrassed and annoyed. She retorted angrily, "What the hell are you talking about? Don't let your imagination run wild. Go train now!"

"Instead of worrying about my gossip, you should think about how you're going to face a heartbroken Mei when you wake up. You really hurt her this time..."

"Ugh..." The cold reality slapped down on the girl's face, instantly turning Kiana Cat's expression from giggling to something else entirely.

"Sister Xia Ling, do you have any way to comfort Mei...?"

"My dear Kiana, if you think I have a way to appease Mei, why don't I use it on Theresa?"

"Sigh..." ×2

Both of them fell silent.

While Xia Ling was keeping Kiana occupied in the Imaginary Space, on the other side, Sirin's dream was also coming to an end.

"Bella... I won't... let you go..."

On the rooftop, Sirin used scissors to prop herself up on the ground, swaying as she tried to stand up.

However, the increasing erosion of Honkai Energy plunged her body into an extremely bad state, and she ultimately failed to stop Bella.

Watching Bella's departing figure, Sirin finally succumbed to the emptiness and powerlessness coursing through her body, collapsed to her knees, and fell into a coma.

But this time, when she opened her eyes again, she found that the scene around her was not the familiar St. Freya Academy infirmary, but a vast white void.

Did I die because I didn't survive the Honkai Energy's erosion?

That's good... at least I can reunite with them. It's just a pity I couldn't apologize to Bella...

However, the moment she thought of Bella, the subconscious response in her mind was not that of the gray-haired girl, but... a colossal white and blue dragon that blotted out the sky.

Then, Sirin discovered the problem.

There seems to be another memory in her mind.

In this memory... she seems to be the Herrscher of the Void.

"??!"

Sirin covered her head.

Two fragmented memories swirled in her mind: one was her recent experience, and the other was the inheritance at its core.

If that were all, Sirin might not hesitate to suspect it was a trap set by the Second Herrscher, but...

Between the two sets of memories lies her own.

She clearly remembered every moment when she fought for her body with {Liuqiu Erer/𫔌Si Xia@Shi Ling Meng Qiyana, as well as the scenes at Tianming Headquarters.

And... Kiana's struggle in the Imaginary Space, and the... Himeko and Xia Ling she killed.

"No... this isn't real... how could this be..."

Sirin's eyes were filled with panic. She almost trembled as she reviewed her memories, trying to find evidence that this was a hoax.

However...

The more she recalled it, the more horrifying it became.

At the same time, the memories within her core kept reminding her that she should carry out her revenge and completely destroy this world.

"VIII ⊙wine Mingqi VIII skirt chat can't be done, can't be..."

Sirin covered her mouth, trying to suppress the nausea, and shook her head frantically, tears streaming down her face.

"How could I be... the Second Herrscher...?"

Chapter Twenty-Four: In-Depth Communication with Elysia (Referring to Power)

Inside the core, Sirin was in a state of chaos.

On one side are the memories of hatred she inherited from the core, and on the other side are the unforgettable emotions she has just experienced.

She realized that she might have just experienced a dream, a long dream.

After all, some of her experiences in the dream matched almost perfectly with certain scenes in her memory, except that her position had changed from victim to perpetrator.

The thought of how she had personally caused Kiana's teacher to die in front of Kiana and triggered the Honkai at Schicksal Headquarters made Sirin feel waves of nausea well up from the bottom of her heart.

She could even sense that with a single thought, she could worsen Kiana's condition outside, pushing her already severely eroded body even closer to the brink of collapse.

These memories and feelings clearly reminded her that it really was just a beautiful dream.