Extra: Floating Sun Mute

March 1995, Far East.

Outside a room decorated in a very trendy style, a banner reading "Trainee Idol Recruitment" stood out conspicuously.

"Shigure Kira, you want to become an idol, right? This is the starting point—you can't even lack the courage to take this step." Outside the room, Shigure Kira steadied her breath and walked in as confidently as she could.

To her surprise, there weren't many people inside. At the counter, a figure with a perfect physique quickly caught her attention—she wore a blue beret and a blue coat, her every word and movement exuding elegance.

As if sensing Shigure Kira's arrival, she turned around. The moment Shigure Kira saw her face, it felt like she'd been struck by lightning.

"You... you're Salome Jokanaan... senpai?" Shigure Kira couldn't understand why this genius dancer, who clearly didn't look like a judge, would be at a trainee idol audition.

"You know me? What's your name?" Salome said calmly.

"Shigure... Kira..." Staring at Salome's face, she felt like her heart was about to leap out of her chest.

"Shigure... Kira..." Salome revealed a faint smile.

"There's a test coming up that requires two people. I wonder if I might have the honor of inviting Miss Kira to join me?"

"Ah... me... doing the test with you? Is that for real?" Shigure Kira pointed her right index finger at herself, her eyes full of shock.

"Does Miss Kira have any difficulties?"

"No... not at all. Please guide me well, senpai." Shigure Kira lifted her head confidently, ready to face the challenge.

For a fifteen-year-old newcomer with no experience like Shigure Kira, it was undoubtedly quite difficult. But watching Salome's graceful dance steps, Shigure Kira's pride wouldn't allow her to back down. She followed Salome's lead, gritting her teeth and persevering to the very end.

"Mm, good coordination, strong lower body, and that determination to face difficulties head-on along with persistent willpower—you're definitely a promising talent. Though that singing voice... it's quite distinctive. I really couldn't tell what school it belongs to."

A tall woman watching from the side called the two to stop.

"That's enough. Shigure Kira, you've passed Schicksal's trial. Congratulations on becoming a Valkyrie of Schicksal. I'm Yamamoto Yuka, instructor of the Far East Branch Schicksal Training Camp."

Yamamoto Yuka smiled and patted Shigure Kira on the shoulder, but Shigure Kira felt like her brain was about to crash.

"Wasn't I here for the trainee idol selection? How did I become a Schicksal... Valkyrie?"

Salome had been professionally trained not to laugh no matter how funny something was—unless she couldn't help it.

Seeing Shigure Kira's utterly bewildered expression, she couldn't help but lightly cover her mouth:

"The trainee idol event ended yesterday. Starting today, this place is Schicksal's recruitment office. They just haven't taken down the banner yet."

And so, Shigure Kira became a Schicksal Valkyrie without quite understanding how.

December 1995. As a B-rank Valkyrie, Shigure Kira had successfully completed several missions and was gradually becoming a rising star.

That day, as usual, after finishing Schicksal's training, she snuck back to the practice room to rehearse her dancing. To her surprise, Salome was already waiting for her there.

"Don't make such a surprised face. If you want to practice dancing, starting today, I'll be your instructor." Salome winked at her playfully.

"Huh!"

"What, am I not qualified? Besides fighting, I'm also a professional dancer."

"No, no, I..."

"Alright, I'll stop teasing you. But I'm serious about teaching if you want to learn. Being an idol and being a good Valkyrie have a lot in common in many ways."

"What do you mean?"

Salome stroked her chin: "Kira, as an idol, what do you think it takes to hold a successful concert?"

"Um... not being nervous in front of an audience, a confident attitude? Graceful, fluid dance moves? A suitable stage? Cheering fans? The hard work of the behind-the-scenes staff?"

Salome nodded: "Everything you said is right. A perfect performance is inevitably the result of coordination on many fronts."

"As a Valkyrie, to defeat powerful Honkai Beasts, isn't a confident, unflinching attitude, professional combat ability, adapting methods to the situation, and cooperating with teammates all very important? Eliminating Honkai Beasts means protecting more people's lives. Seeing more people living happy lives free from Honkai's influence because of us—isn't that the best support we could get?"

Hearing this, Shigure Kira's face lit up with sudden understanding.

Seeing that Shigure Kira was teachable, Salome continued:

"Also, the inspirational effect a powerful Valkyrie has on other Valkyries is essentially the same as an idol's effect on their fans."

Hearing this, Shigure Kira perked right up: "Ah, you mean the only S-rank Valkyrie in all of Schicksal, Lady Cecilia? Becoming an A-rank Valkyrie at thirteen and an S-rank Valkyrie at sixteen—that record probably won't be broken for decades, if ever."

"So, Kira, there's no need to see being an idol and being a good Valkyrie as two separate things. There's no need to sneak around to practice dancing. I hope that as a Valkyrie, you can also become an idol, not just a fan."

"But... I..." Shigure Kira's expression fell at the end.

"I'm not asking you to reach the top in one leap and become someone like Lady Cecilia. Someone like her—you and I can only look up to her. Kira, remember when you joined Schicksal? As an idol, you planned to start as a trainee and gradually improve your skills and fan count. As a Valkyrie, you started from B-rank and gradually became a role model for more and more Valkyries. If you can't be S-rank, you can try first to be like me and become an A-rank."

"Thank you, Salome senpai. I think today's practice will need your guidance as well." Shigure Kira bowed to Salome.

March 1996. One year after joining Schicksal, Shigure Kira became the sixth A-rank Valkyrie in Schicksal.

She wasn't from one of the three great families, nor was she a Stigmata Awakener, yet she became an A-rank Valkyrie at sixteen. Thus, she became an object of admiration and study for countless Valkyries, already a well-known idol within Schicksal.

"Since I'm an idol, I need to live up to my fans' expectations—just like as a Valkyrie, I need to eliminate enemies and protect ordinary people."