Rita meticulously prepared a sumptuous dinner, inviting Ryn and the others to dine together.
During dinner, the tired and hungry trio of Kiana, Mei, and Bronya went into full-on feasting mode.
Because they were too exhausted, they could only stare longingly at the food, unable to lift their hands.
Stupid Kiana just flopped onto the table and began inhaling like a storm. Thankfully, Ryn pulled her back, otherwise Kiana would have eaten the plate too.
Ryn fed Kiana, one bite for you, one bite for me. A smile crept onto Kika's lips as she smugly fed Mei. As for Bronya... she was pulled into Rita's lap and fed directly.
Durandal just sat there quietly, watching everyone feed each other, becoming more and more mesmerized.
OMG, the cuteness is killing me! Kiana being fed looks just like a little kitten... So cute~
Noticing that her prized cabbage was acting strange, Rita frantically shot warning glances at Durandal, but Durandal's eyes were now completely filled with Kiana-cat.
A jealous Rita started feeding Bronya faster and faster. Although Rita's movements were still elegant, Bronya's mouth was already stuffed full.
Bronya flailed, trying to signal for help, but no one present was paying attention to her.
"Right! I still have that!"
Suddenly, Durandal slammed the table and stood up, then ran into her bedroom.
After a moment of rummaging, Durandal came out with a black and yellow cat-ear accessory.
Then, under Kiana's puzzled gaze, she put it on Kiana's head.
"Durandal? What is this?!"
Kiana curiously touched the cat-ear accessory; it felt surprisingly good.
"I bought this a long time ago... but after becoming a Valkyrie, I felt it wasn't appropriate to wear, so I stopped. It suits Kiana very well now, though~
Durandal covered her slightly blushing face, her heart completely captured by Kiana-cat.
(Reference: Moonlight Cat)
"So cute. Now Kiana has really become Kiana-cat." Ryn dotingly patted Kiana's head.
"Super Headbutt!"
Kiana headbutted her way into Ryn's embrace.
"Neko, neko~" Kiana snuggled in Ryn's arms, then smiled and meowed.
"Meow~ Meow meow~"
*Sploosh—*
Blood erupted from Ryn's and Durandal's noses as they fell to the ground.
"Ah, I'm dead..." "Too cute. Goose life has no regrets."
Rita quickly pulled out a shovel from behind her back, ready to bury these two bastards on the spot.
——————————————
After dinner, Mei and Rita went to wash the dishes together, chatting about cooking tips along the way. The others sat on the sofa, chatting and watching TV.
Her belly full, Kiana lay down on Ryn's lap to rest and recuperate. Ryn gently rubbed Kiana's small stomach. Although Kiana often ate a lot, her figure showed no signs of fat or bloat; instead, she was becoming more and more slender.
Kiana was truly a 'waist-charmer'. Kiana's waist was different from Kika's willow-like slimness; it was a small, supple waist full of flexibility. Coupled with the fact that Kiana had a 'child-bearing type' figure—wide at both ends and narrow in the middle—it further highlighted her 'waist-charmer' essence.
Especially when Kiana ran or during certain moments, she would sway that small waist of hers. The way she swayed was so breathtaking that Ryn would always worry she might snap her waist... but damn, it was truly to die for.
Thinking of this, Ryn looked at Kika and sighed helplessly.
Unlike the energetic Kiana, Kika looked like a sickly person. Although Kika projected a cool, big-sister aura when she went out, as soon as she was home, she turned into a frail, lazy pig...
Kika's slender and delicate appearance made people constantly on edge around her, afraid that she might suddenly drop dead in front of them.
Kika turned her head and looked at Ryn with her listless eyes.
"What are you sighing for? It's not like you're about to die."
"Sigh..."
Ryn looked up at the ceiling, not bothering to reply to Kika. Such a good girl, why did she have to have a mouth.
After staring at the ceiling for a while, Ryn looked down, pushing away Durandal's face, which had unconsciously scooted closer.
"Durandal, that's enough. I know Kiana is cute, but you don't have to stare at her like that!"
"But Kiana is just as you said, she's really like a little kitten... I have no resistance to cute kittens."
"I never thought the fatal weakness of Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie would be cute kittens~ Why don't you get one?"
Durandal shook her head, withdrew her gaze, and said seriously:
"We are warriors, people who could die in an accident at any moment, people who will always carry the fate of the masses on our shoulders.
Getting a small animal might become a source of emotional support for me, but it's not fair to the animal. Its owner is away at war for long periods, with the constant risk of never returning. The kitten can only stay at home alone, with only loneliness for company.
What's more, Valkyries can't return to a normal life... We have been altered by the Honkai, our lives are intertwined with it. If ordinary creatures stay with us for too long, they will eventually be eroded by the Honkai energy we radiate..."
Hearing Durandal's explanation, Ryn couldn't help but remark with emotion: "One cannot form bonds, it only increases the loneliness..."
Durandal sighed with regret in the end, reaching out to stroke the cat-ear accessory on Kiana's head.
"Seeing Kiana is like seeing my younger self. When I was little, I was just as innocent, lively, and energetic as Kiana..."
"You know, Durandal, speaking of similarities, have you noticed that you and Kiana look quite alike?"
Ryn took the cat-ear accessory from Kiana's head and put it on Durandal. Then he held up his phone so Durandal could see herself.
"Look, now Durandal is a little kitty too!"
"Yes... I'm a little kitty too."
Durandal looked at the cat-eared Durandal in the mirror, gently touching the cat ears on her head, and couldn't help but smile.
But it wasn't long before Durandal took off the accessory and put it back on Kiana.
Facing Ryn's confused look, Durandal smiled and said.
"In the end, I can no longer have the ordinary life of a normal person... Ryn, do you have a reason you must become stronger?"
Before Ryn could answer, Durandal placed her right fist on her chest.
"I do... From the very first mission I undertook as a Valkyrie, a mission from which I was the sole survivor, I knew that I was different...
Special people always have special responsibilities. With great power comes great responsibility... There are some things that only I can do, so I must do them.
Whether it's the teachings of Instructor Ragna, the lessons from Senior Himeko, or the Bubble Universe within my body, they are constantly reminding me that I must become stronger.
Only if I am strong enough can I realize my own value, and not fail the expectations they have for me."