The group continued following Tesla through the flooded streets of Nagazora. With every step, the path toward the city center became more difficult to navigate. What had once been busy roads and elevated overpasses were now submerged beneath seawater, leaving only the rooftops of buildings and scattered elevated structures to guide their way.
Tesla: "We're very close to the next scanning location."
Mei: "It's getting harder to reach downtown… every overpass and street is underwater."
Mei glanced around at the seemingly endless expanse of water. With the streets completely submerged, it was becoming increasingly difficult to tell where they were or which direction they needed to go.
Mei: "I don't know where we're going. It feels like we're running around in circles."
Tesla: "…Sigh, if only we had a map that works."
Tesla rubbed her forehead in frustration before gesturing for the others to keep moving.
Tesla: "Forget it. Let's focus on the road."
The group pressed onward, carefully navigating the partially submerged ruins. As they passed the remains of an abandoned building, something on the ground caught their attention.
A small robot lay motionless among the debris.
Tesla stopped and leaned forward to examine it, her expression shifting to one of surprise.
Tesla: "…Huh? Why is there an Anti-Entropy assistant robot?"
Mei glanced down at the machine. Its small frame was covered in grime, and it appeared to have been left behind in the ruined city.
Mei: "Looks broken. Maybe left here 3 years ago?"
Tesla crouched beside it and inspected its exterior. After a moment, she shook her head.
Tesla: "Nah, looks pretty new to me."
She stood up, deciding not to waste any more time investigating the mysterious robot.
Tesla: "Alright, let's get to work."
The group found a suitable spot nearby and began setting up the Honkai detector. Tesla adjusted the equipment while Mei and Sakura watched the readings appear on the display.
Unfortunately, the results were no different from their previous attempts.
A single red dot appeared on the screen.
Mei stared at it in disappointment. Once again, the only detectable trace of Herrscher energy came from her.
Mei: "Ah, no luck at all…"
Tesla: "…Wait!"
Tesla suddenly reached for the controls. Rather than shutting down the detector, she disabled the filter that isolated Herrscher energy signatures.
The display changed immediately.
A cluster of red dots appeared across the screen, scattered throughout the surrounding area. Some were faint and small, while others were noticeably larger.
Tesla leaned closer, studying the readings with a puzzled expression.
Tesla: "That's strange… it doesn't look like a zombie or beast… it looks… human."
Mei's eyes widened as she looked at the display.
Mei: "Human? There are still people in Nagazora?"
The possibility was difficult to believe. Nagazora had been devastated by the Third Honkai Eruption three years ago, and the city had since been swallowed by seawater and left to decay. Finding signs of human life here was the last thing they had expected.
Tesla quickly packed up the detector, keeping her attention fixed on the cluster of signals.
Tesla: "Let's go take a look."
Following the readings, the group made their way through the flooded ruins. They moved cautiously, keeping an eye on their surroundings as they approached the source of the signals.
They hadn't gone far before several Honkai beasts emerged from the wreckage, their monstrous forms blocking the group's path.
Swoosh!
Mei and Sakura immediately drew their katanas.
Neither needed to say a word.
The two swordswomen rushed forward, their blades flashing through the air. Mei cut down the first beast with a swift, precise strike, while Sakura moved past another and dispatched it with a clean slash.
The remaining creatures barely had time to react before the pair overwhelmed them.
Slash! Slash!
Within moments, the Honkai beasts lay motionless among the debris.
Mei and Sakura lowered their weapons, checking the surroundings to ensure no more enemies were approaching. Nearby, Tesla stepped forward, but something on the ground caught her eye.
She stopped.
Tesla: "Wait, something funny's on the ground."
Tesla approached the object and crouched to get a better look. Her expression gradually changed as she realized what she was seeing.
Tesla: "This is…"
Lying among the rubble was a small figure.
At first glance, it looked like a child, its tiny body resting motionlessly on the ground amid the ruins of Nagazora.
Mei approached slowly, her gaze fixed on the little figure. The sight left her stunned.
Mei: "Is this… a child?"
Helios — A Few Minutes Later
Sakura had returned to her room with Kallen and Higokumaru, leaving Mei and Tesla to look after the child they had rescued.
Mei stood outside the sick bay, peering through the small window in the door.
The little girl was awake now.
Inside, Tesla sat beside her, speaking in a calm, reassuring voice. The child looked nervous, occasionally glancing around the unfamiliar room, but she seemed to be listening to Tesla's questions.
Mei watched quietly, waiting until their conversation came to an end.
Several minutes later, the door opened.
PSSSHHZ…
Mei stepped aside as Tesla emerged from the sick bay.
Mei: "So who's the girl, Dr. Tesla?"
Tesla folded her arms, wearing a thoughtful expression.
Tesla: "Exactly as we suspected…"
Tesla: "…She's a refugee, a local of Nagazora."
Mei frowned. She had expected to find traces of survivors in the city, but learning that a child had been living there for three years was still difficult to accept.
Tesla: "Her name is Sora. She fled to the east city after the Honkai Eruption, and has lived there ever since."
Tesla: "There are over a dozen kids like her, all under 16. They've lived in the ruined city for three years."
Mei: "How did this happen…"
Mei: "Schicksal mobilised three branches for disaster relief and evac, but some were left behind…"
Tesla sighed and shook her head.
Tesla: "I asked her about the past but her memories are sketchy. She couldn't remember anything about the Honkai."
Tesla: "These kids now live in a place called the "Roost". Ever heard of it?"
Mei: "The Roost? I don't remember a place like that in Nagazora."
Tesla: "And uhm… they have this woman who manages things. Sora calls her "Sensei"."
Tesla: "That woman is usually away from Nagazora and only visits every 1 or 2 months with supplies and food."
Tesla paused, her expression growing more suspicious.
Tesla: "And that's the weird part. If she can come and go as she pleases, why doesn't she get these kids out of here?"
Tesla: "Ah… it's already a big mess, and this Sensei complicates things even further. It's even messier than Mophead's bedroom now."
Mei gave her a brief, bemused look at the comparison, but Tesla was already moving on.
Tesla: "I'll try to make sense of this. You should go and talk to her."
Mei nodded and opened the door.
Inside, Sora sat on the bed, her small hands resting nervously in her lap. She looked up as Mei entered.
Mei: "Hi, I'm Mei Raiden. You can call me Mei."
Sora: "Uhm… greetings, Miss Mei."
Mei: "Please, just call me Mei."
Mei approached the bed and gave the child a gentle smile.
Mei: "Dr. Tesla told me about you. You're Sora, right?"
Sora: "Yes… Sora. People also call me Sora-chan."
Sora: "Thank you for saving me…"
Mei: "Don't worry, Sora. You're very healthy. Your injuries will heal quickly."
Mei: "We'll take you home once you get better. Are you hungry? I'll make something for you."
Sora: "Hmm…"
Sora blinked shyly. She seemed to want to say something, but the words wouldn't come.
Mei noticed the little girl's gaze drifting toward the window. She followed it for a moment before understanding.
Mei: "Did you lose something?"
Sora: "…Yes. I lost a tiny robot… it's round and blue…"
Sora: "It's my friend, Mark II. Sensei gave it to me but it wasn't next to me when I woke up…"
Mei: 'A robot assistant? I might have seen it somewhere.'
A memory suddenly came back to her.
The small robot lying among the debris in Nagazora—the one she, Tesla, and Sakura had discovered while searching the ruined city.
It had looked relatively new, even though it had been left in such a desolate place.
Sora: "Mark II stores a lot of memories. I can't do anything without its help…"
Mei looked back at Sora. The girl seemed genuinely distressed at the thought of losing her little companion.
Mei: "I'll find it for you."
Sora: "…Thank you so much, Mei."
With that promise made, Mei left the Helios and returned to the place where they had found the robot.
Mei carefully retraced their steps through the flooded ruins, scanning the debris and abandoned structures.
Mei: "I remember it's around here somewhere."
She searched the surrounding area, checking the spots where the group had fought the Honkai beasts and the rubble scattered across the ground.
After a little while, she finally spotted the familiar blue shape.
Mei: "…Ah, found it!"
Mei crouched and picked up the small robot. It remained unresponsive, but its exterior appeared mostly intact.
Mei: "Let's bring it back. Sora would be glad."
She returned to the Helios with Mark II in her hands.
Helios — Sick Bay
Sora's expression brightened as Mei entered the room.
Mei: "Here's your good friend."
Sora: "Ah… Mark II, you're back!"
Sora eagerly took the little robot into her arms, cuddling it as though it were a priceless treasure.
For a moment, she looked relieved. Then her expression gradually turned uncertain.
Sora: "My memory doesn't work too well. I can't remember much about the past."
Sora: "Mark II is like my backup brain. It reminds me of things when I forget."
She held the robot in front of her and looked directly at its face.
Sora: "I'll just ask "Mark II, Mark II, who am I?" and it will say…"
Sora: "…"
Sora waited.
Nothing happened.
She tilted Mark II slightly, then tried again, but the robot remained silent.
Sora: "…Why is it ignoring me?"
Her eyes began to well up with tears.
Sora: "Mark II isn't responding to me… is it dead? HIK HIK"
Sora began sobbing, hugging the unresponsive robot tightly against her chest.
Mei hurried to comfort her, gently patting her back.
Mei: "Oh dear… it's alright, Sora. Robots don't die. It's probably just broken."
Mei: "Dr. Tesla should be able to fix it."
Helios — Workshop
Clang… Clang…
The sound of tools striking metal echoed through the workshop.
Tesla had taken Mark II apart to examine its internal components. Small pieces of its casing and circuitry lay scattered across the workbench as she worked to identify the fault.
After a while, she finally set down her tools and reassembled the robot.
Tesla: "Done. Here you go!"
Tesla placed Mark II on the workbench.
Mark II: "Bee… beeeeep…"
The little robot's head twitched.
Mark II: "…"
A moment passed before its lights flickered back on.
Mark II: "Good… morning."
Helios — Sick Bay
Sora's eyes widened.
Sora: "Whoah, Mark II is alive again!"
She hurried over to retrieve her beloved robot, hugging it close while it continued to beep softly.
Nearby, Mei turned toward Tesla.
Mei: "Dr. Tesla, I asked Sora where the Roost was, and it seems to be very close to the last probing location."
Mei: "Since she's back on her feet, we can drop her off at the Roost and talk to the refugees."
Mei: "Since they've been living in Nagazora all this time, one of them might have seen Kiana."
Tesla nodded in agreement.
Tesla: "Agreed. Let's do this."
The two went to fetch Sakura, but she decided to remain aboard the Helios with Kallen and Higokumaru to guard the ship.
With that settled, Mei and Tesla prepared to accompany Sora back to her home.
Sora led the way through the ruined city, with Mark II accompanying her.
Mei and Tesla followed close behind, keeping watch for any signs of danger. The route was far from straightforward, with flooded streets and collapsed buildings making navigation difficult.
Sora paused at an intersection, looking around at the unfamiliar-looking ruins.
Sora: "It's strange here. Let's get to the main road first."
She continued forward, apparently recognizing certain landmarks despite the devastation.
Sora: "Oh, I know this place. Should be…"
Sora stopped again.
Sora: "…Where to go now?"
Mark II's head turned toward the left.
Mark II: "Left."
Sora: "Ah! It's left…"
Tesla stared at the little robot, then at the girl following its directions.
Tesla: "I'm losing my faith…"
Despite the confusing route, Sora continued leading them through the ruins.
Sora: "Almost there! Gotta get through here…"
The group eventually reached a tunnel and passed through it, emerging on the other side to find a settlement built amid the remnants of the city.
Sora turned toward her companions and proudly gestured ahead.
Sora: "This is our home."
Sora: "Welcome to the Roost!"
She hurried into the settlement, eager to return to the other children.
Mei and Tesla followed more slowly, taking in the sight before them.
The Roost
The settlement was unlike anything Mei had expected to find in Nagazora.
Simple prefab shelters made from plywood had been constructed atop high-rise buildings, raised above the floodwaters. Makeshift walkways connected the structures, allowing the residents to move between their shelters.
Though crude, the settlement showed clear signs of organization. These weren't merely abandoned buildings where survivors had taken refuge. Someone had deliberately built a place for these children to live.
Mei studied the shelters, her expression turning somber.
Mei: "This is their home…"
Mei: "Dr. Tesla, these simple prefab plywood shelters were built on high rise buildings to stay above the flood."
Mei: "I'm sure that Nagazora had nothing like this before… at least not before the Honkai."
Tesla examined the settlement with a more analytical eye.
Tesla: "The shelters were built after the disaster. The refugees must have had outside help. Their "Sensei" must be the one…"
Mei: "Hmm. We have to ask about this Sensei."
A moment later, Sora returned to them.
Sora: "Thanks for taking me home."
Sora: "I told everyone that you saved me. The Roost welcomes you."
Mei smiled gently at the girl before getting to the point.
Mei: "Sora, can you tell us more about your Sensei?"
Sora: "Of course. Sensei owns the Roost and she saved everyone here. She's also very beautiful."
Sora: "She built this place 3 years ago. She's not here often, but always returns with food and strange presents."
Sora: "When she's gone, we go into the city and scavenge for things that we can add to the emergency stockpile."
Mei glanced at the surrounding ruins.
Mei: "The city? Wouldn't that be dangerous?"
Sora: "Sensei created a "safe zone" where we can safely venture. Some didn't like to scavenge, but we got used to it."
Sora: "Sensei didn't set any scavenging requirements. Everyone gets the same monthly supply no matter how much we collect."
Sora: "There's only one rule: Do your best and live well."
Sora spoke with a quiet certainty, as though those words had been repeated to the children many times.
Sora: "Everyone here's experienced terrible things. Sensei taught us to help each other."
Mei's expression softened. Whoever this Sensei was, she had clearly done more than simply provide supplies. She had given these children a place to belong—and a reason to keep going.
Still, several questions remained unanswered.
Mei: "Do you know when she'll be back? We want to ask her a few questions."
Sora's smile faded slightly.
Sora: "Uhm… Sensei should have been back yesterday, and it's making me worried as well."
Sora: "I tried looking for her but accidentally left the safe zone. The beasts chased me and I fell off a building…"
She lowered her gaze, clutching Mark II a little more tightly.
Sora: "Something's wrong in this city… is Sensei alright? Can I ask you about the questions you have for our Sensei?"
Mei exchanged a brief glance with Tesla before answering.
Mei: "Actually, Dr. Tesla and I came here to look for a lost friend. It's a long story…"
Mei considered explaining everything, but decided against mentioning the details surrounding Herrschers and Kiana's powers. Sora was already dealing with enough uncertainty, and Mei didn't want to frighten her unnecessarily.
Instead, she explained their search in simpler terms.
Mei: "…And that's how it is. Since you've been here all this time, have you seen my friend Kiana?"
Sora thought for a moment before shaking her head.
Sora: "No… Sensei should be able to help, but she's not here. Maybe… you can ask the others first?"
Mei nodded and began asking the residents of the Roost.
Unfortunately, the first few responses offered little help.
Resident: "…Doesn't ring a bell."
Resident: "I've locked myself in for 3 weeks."
Resident: "Girl with silver hair?"
Resident: "…A zombie?"
Resident: "…"
One resident didn't respond at all. Mei could tell that someone was inside, but whoever it was remained silent.
Then, a quiet thought came from behind the door.
Resident: "That's a good looking girl…"
Resident: "I like Sensei better."
Mei blinked.
Somewhere nearby, she heard a few indistinct murmurs, but couldn't make out what was being said.
At last, another resident offered a more promising response.
Resident: "Girl with silver hair and blue eyes… is she wearing a white bodysuit?"
Mei immediately perked up.
Mei: "Ah… that must be her!"
Resident: "I saw her heading towards the west city."
Mei's expression turned serious as she considered the direction.
Mei: "West city… that's the opposite side of town. That must be why most children didn't see her."
Mei: "Thank you."
She was about to leave when the resident called out again.
Resident: "Wait…"
Mei turned back.
Resident: "I heard… you can fight the Honkai beasts?"
Resident: "Can you help me find something? It's a ruby pendant with a silver chain."
Resident: "Shortly after I saw the girl, a giant purple Honkai beast attacked me and I lost the pendant in a panic."
Resident: "I remember it was at the east city square… the area is filled with beasts. I can't even get close…"
Mei paused to consider the request.
Mei: 'The pendant must be important to her. The square isn't too far, I'll go take a look.'
Mei: "I'll bring it back to you."
Resident: "…Thank you."
Mei: "The east city square… I think we were there before."
Mei made her way toward the square, retracing the route the group had taken earlier.
The ruined streets were eerily quiet. Water lapped against the remains of buildings, and abandoned vehicles lay partially submerged beneath the murky surface.
When she reached the square, Mei began searching the ground for anything resembling the missing pendant.
Among the scattered debris, she discovered a smooth stone with beautiful colors.
She picked it up, examined it briefly, then put it aside.
A little farther away, she found a rare souvenir coin. She kept it for the moment, but neither item was what she had come to find.
Mei continued searching.
Before long, several Honkai beasts emerged from the ruins and moved to intercept her.
Mei drew her katana.
Swoosh!
She moved swiftly through the square, cutting down the beasts before they could surround her. Her blade flashed through the air, and the last creature collapsed with a heavy thud.
With the area quiet once more, Mei resumed her search.
Something glinted among the debris near the edge of the square.
She approached and picked it up.
A silver pendant.
Mei turned it over in her hand. The pendant had a small ruby switch, which she carefully pressed.
The ruby casing opened, revealing a photograph inside.
It showed a family of three.
Mei stared at the picture for a moment, understanding why the resident had been so desperate to recover it.
Mei: "That's it!"
She carefully closed the pendant and made her way back to the Roost.
The Roost — Returning the Pendant
Upon returning to the settlement, Mei approached the resident's shelter.
Mei: "Is this your pendant?"
She passed the pendant through the hole in the window.
For a moment, there was no response.
Then the resident opened it.
Resident: "Ah… Mum… Dad…"
Mei stood quietly, allowing the resident a moment with the photograph.
Mei: "That pendant must be very important. Please take good care of it and don't lose it again."
Resident: "Thank you."
Mei was about to leave when the resident spoke again.
Resident: "That girl… her name is Kiana, right?"
Mei immediately turned back.
Mei: "Do you know something else?"
Resident: "She looked very sad when I saw her."
Resident: "But I couldn't tell for sure. We were far away."
Mei lowered her gaze.
Kiana had been here.
Mei's hands tightened slightly at her sides.
Mei: "Kiana…"