Visiting Kiana

October 2007—

Durandal supported herself against the bed, moving her feet step by step. Sweat slid down her cheeks and fell to the floor. Though her movements were still somewhat uncoordinated, she did not ask for help. She needed to become familiar with the process. With no one there to assist her, she relied entirely on her own efforts. Such strength of character was deeply moving.

It was hard to imagine that she was only a nine-year-old girl. But that was enough to prove just how astonishing Durandal's physical constitution was. Before long, she would likely be able to walk as swiftly as the wind. There was no need to doubt her ability to adapt.

"Hmm, her Sword Heart is crystal clear, without a trace of impurity. She's an excellent candidate for learning Tai Xu Sword Qi!" Hua said in surprise after observing Durandal.

The best time to temper one's Sword Heart was during childhood. Durandal had never undergone any systematic cultivation, yet her Sword Heart was remarkably pure. Perhaps it also had something to do with her having forgotten her past. Durandal had no memories from before, leaving her with a heart as pure as that of a newborn child.

Perhaps Durandal could swiftly master Tai Xu Sword Qi and reach a very high level.

"Tai Xu Sword Qi doesn't require physical conditioning first, does it? If it does, there's no need to rush. We can wait half a year or a year until she's recovered."

Zhang Wei and Mobius stood outside the door without entering. Durandal might get shy if she saw so many people at once.

"Tempering the Sword Heart doesn't require body training for now, either, so we can take it slowly!" Hua naturally understood Durandal's condition. Although her injuries had healed, her body was still very weak.

"I've got nothing to teach her. She can't learn what I know, so I can only leave her to you," Zhang Wei said helplessly. Though he could use the Valkyries' powers, his own abilities were the innate kind.

"Got it. All you can do is scrub decks and do splits. We weren't planning on having you teach her anyway!" Mobius said disdainfully.

Over the past year, she had learned quite a bit about Zhang Wei. For instance, he could use their powers, but not Kevin's or the others'. So she had given up on studying Zhang Wei—one careless move, and she might get herself screwed.

Zhang Wei glared at Mobius. She always had to tease him about that. What was wrong with scrubbing decks? It was a sacred and inviolable duty—the Captain's faith.

Mobius glared back without mercy. Hua silently stepped away. Standing between those two made her feel a tingling numbness, as though she had been shocked.

"Captain, this is the bento you asked me to make. It won't get cold even after half a day." Mei took out a large insulated lunch box and handed it to Zhang Wei, who was wearing a white down jacket.

"Captain, are you delivering it to someone?" Mei asked curiously.

Zhang Wei smiled and put away the bento. "It's for a little one. She's still growing, so naturally she needs to eat more nutritious food."

"Oh!" Mei nodded and did not ask further. The food Durandal ate came from these bentos, and she had not made anything too strongly flavored. She had used very little chili, too.

On the frigid Siberian snowfields stood a quiet village...

Heavy snow drifted through the air, giving the place an otherworldly feel. It was empty and desolate; if not for the wisps of smoke rising from chimneys, one might have thought no one lived here.

Knock!

"Dad, is that—"

Zhang Wei placed the bento in front of a wooden cabin and knocked on the door with a small stone. A cute white-haired ball of fluff poked her head out, her face full of excitement. But when she saw no one, her lips immediately puffed up in disappointment.

"What's this?"

The white-haired ball of fluff spotted the bento and picked it up curiously. A letter was clipped to it. Only an innocent child would do that—an adult would probably think it was a bomb. After all, the local customs here were rather simple. Wasn't giving someone a bomb as a gift perfectly normal?

"I can't read it. I'll wait for stinky Dad to come back!" The white-haired ball of fluff could not read yet, so the writing on it might as well have been a heavenly script.

"I'm off, Kiana. See you next time!"

Once Zhang Wei saw Kiana close the cabin door, he turned and left, gradually vanishing into the wind and snow. There was no need to meet her just yet.

"I'm back!"

Seigfried returned to the cabin bearing a few injuries. As a member of the Kaslana family, he fulfilled his duty by fighting the Honkai. As usual, he had been outside clearing out Honkai Beasts.

"Dad, what did you bring back?" Seeing Seigfried return, the white-haired ball of fluff ran over excitedly.

"A wild boar. We'll roast it with potatoes tonight." Seigfried looked at the white-haired ball of fluff with complicated emotions. Over the past few months, he had not known how to face her.

"Dad, you're amazing! I picked this up by the door, but I can't read what it says!"

The white-haired ball of fluff took out the bento box. As a battle-hardened warrior, Seigfried's expression instantly grew solemn. This was not something that could exist in this little village. Had Otto found them already?

Otto: Hehe, Mr. Seigfried, when did you start thinking I had never found you?

[Mr. Seigfried, you must be quite surprised when you see this, right? Did you think Otto had discovered you?]

Seigfried's mouth twitched. Seeing that flippant tone, he had to admit the sender had guessed right. Still, he let out a slight sigh of relief.

[It's just a bento box. There's nothing dangerous inside—only hot food. A grown man like you may not care much about such things, but children need nutritious food if they're to grow up healthy...

...As a father, take up a father's responsibilities...]

As he continued reading, Seigfried's hand tightened around the letter. Looking at the expectant white-haired ball of fluff, he realized that he truly was an idiot.

What did the things Otto had done have to do with her? She was innocent. Seigfried sighed softly. To be awakened by a stranger like this—what a failure of a man he was.

Though he had been clearing out Honkai Beasts, he had kept his attention on the village. Anyone able to enter unnoticed was strong enough not to be inferior to him. If they had any ulterior motive, they would have acted long ago instead of telling him all this.

The crash involving the real Kiana had hit him so hard that he had never been able to properly face this daughter. If Cecilia were still alive, she would probably have berated him harshly, then made him kneel on a washboard!

Seigfried had finally figured it out. From now on, he would treat her as his own daughter instead of merely going through the motions.

[...I've said rather a lot. I don't know when Mr. Seigfried intends to give the little girl a name, but I hope you won't take too long. Children's hearts are fragile, after all. I'll bring bentos every day from now on, and don't bother trying to meet me. Ehehe...

Left by a deck cleaner who can do aerial splits]