A clear day, without a hint of rain.
Amidst the ruins, Elysia stood, her gaze fixed on the girl before her.
Her long spear rested casually at her side, and even her beautiful eyes couldn't hide a flicker of surprise.
Elysia had just witnessed this little sister crawl out from the corpse of the Honkai beast. Yet, that only made her pause for half a second. Nothing more.
The reason was simple: the little girl before her was incredibly cute.
But looking closer, scattered all around were large patches of pink crystals, refracting dreamlike colors under the sunlight.
Beside them lay the massive pink behemoth, bearing cracks from Elysia's spear.
Even if it was a bit suspicious...
"Big sister..."
The girl lifted her small face, staring dazedly at the radiant Elysia before her.
It couldn't be helped... After all, that person radiating such dazzling, unique, pink light... that had to be her big sister...!
"Hmm? Big sister? Are you calling me~?"
Elysia said with a smile. Being called 'big sister' naturally pleased her, especially by such a pretty little sister looking at her with those dewy eyes.
"Mhm! Mhm!"
The girl nodded vigorously, her white hair tinged with pink swaying slightly.
Elysia gently moved her spear behind her back, crouching down to meet the girl's eye level, beginning to study her carefully.
The girl looked about nine or ten years old, maybe a bit older.
She had a delicate, porcelain-doll-like face, and this hair... The girl had white hair—a pure white like the first snow, yet the tips were dyed a hint of pink.
Her slender frame was wrapped in a small white dress, the hem torn in several places, looking as if it had been worn for a long time.
Her eyes were a light purple...
So familiar...
Elysia began searching her memories, from now back to the past, through every person she had ever met. In a hazy moment...
"Big sister?"
Just as this timid call sounded once more, Elysia remembered.
For a moment... memories and reality intertwined.
The little girl before her and that tiny figure from her recollections.
What was it? Perhaps Elysia's memories from the very beginning...
"I know...!"
It suddenly clicked for Elysia.
"You're little Vya! Right, right~!"
Elysia said excitedly, her eyes seeming to sparkle.
"Wow ˶╹ꇴ╹˶! Sister Elysia still remembers me? That's great~!"
The girl called Vya cried out happily, a blush coloring her pale little face.
"Ah~ It really is you~! Vya~"
Overjoyed, Elysia cast aside all other concerns. Her spear clattered to the ground as she spread her arms, and the little girl instantly buried herself in Elysia's embrace...
Elysia, of course, remembered clearly. After all, she and Seria had helped choose the girl's name.
The girl was Vya. In the past, she was also a child from the settlement of Vladivostok 51. Back when Elysia had left that place, this child had just learned to talk—she could call her 'sister' and call Seria 'mama,' and that was about it.
Elysia had found her. On a spring morning, while out gathering flowers for the townsfolk, she discovered the child on a hillside covered in wild mountain blossoms.
Back then, Vya didn't cry or fuss, only giggling in her arms.
And... not long after she was found, the people from MOTH arrived...
"Vya, what are you doing here? It's very dangerous. Does Mama Seria know?"
Elysia gently created a little distance, cradling Vya's small face in her hands, her tone full of worry. She knew how far this place was from their home—not just miles, but thousands of miles apart.
She had no idea how the child had managed to get here.
"I... I sneaked out by myself."
Vya lowered her head, stammering her words.
"Sneaked out? Mama Seria will definitely be worried. Don't you know..."
"I know... But, I really missed you, big sister..."
Seeing tears almost welling up in the little girl's eyes, Elysia didn't press further.
"Alright, alright~ As long as Vya is safe, that's what matters. Vya is a good girl."
Elysia gently patted the child's back, soothing her.
After all, what's done was done.
They held each other for a while longer...
"You just now... came out from inside this?"
Elysia pointed at the nearby Honkai beast, keeping her voice as gentle as possible.
She was only remembering to ask now...
"Mhm, yes... Vya... accidentally fell asleep, and then she became like that..."
"And then, Vya didn't know anything. When she woke up, she saw you, big sister..."
Vya's tone carried a hint of self-reproach. Becoming like that wasn't her own wish. She cautiously stole a glance at Elysia's reaction.
"I see..."
The fight with that big creature hadn't been easy. In Elysia's words, 'Even an all-powerful, beautiful girl like me had to put in some effort to handle it~'
Elysia thought it over carefully, a complex light flashing in her eyes.
So, Vya... was actually a Honkai beast? But why did she take on a human form? Could it be... because of me?
Recalling the battle earlier, if not for the strange, wonderful power she felt aiding her, the fight would never have been so effortless.
But the fact that Vya was a Honkai beast... could potentially lead to complications. She needed to think of a solution.
"Big sister, what's wrong?"
Vya stared at Elysia curiously, her gaze seemingly glued to her. She reached out a small hand, carefully touching a strand of Elysia's hair.
"It's nothing. Your big sister is just too happy. After all, our Vya is so adorable~"
As she spoke, Elysia gave Vya's little cheek a gentle pinch.
"Mhm, thank you, big sister. Vya is really happy too!"
Watching the smile blossoming on the little girl's face, Elysia quietly formulated a plan in her heart.
Well, it looks like I'll have to go see her, then~ Dr. Mobius~ For my sake, and for such a cute little Vya, she's sure to help us, right~
No matter what, I have to protect my little sister.
"Alrighty then! Vya~ Let's go. I'll take you to change your clothes and have a nice bath~"
"Mhm, okay."
Vya nodded obediently, placing her small hand into Elysia's palm.
Elysia's mission this time could be considered complete. As for the aftermath, including dealing with the Honkai beast corpse, that wasn't her concern anymore.
Her mission report would only mention battling that Honkai beast, with nothing written about Vya.
Hand in hand, she led Vya away from the ruins. The girl's tattered dress fluttered in the breeze, like a butterfly that had finally found its way home.
As for where this little girl came from? Can we say I ran into my long-lost little sister? Mhm, that should work. Sisters reuniting—what a touching scene that is...
…
I have completed the author to TL pipeline, 2 chapters per day. Advanced chapters available on patreon.
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Give power stones please I survive solely off of number go up.