"General, this humble girl has an important discovery."
Tingyun stepped in, flanked by several sturdy Cloud Knight elites, her brows drawn tight with gravity.
She halted before Kiana's imperial desk and waved the Cloud Knights behind her forward.
One of them lifted up a small girl in a white dress, her long hair tangled and unkempt.
Bandages swathed the child's body; her eyes were shut as though trapped in some dreadful dream.
"Who is this little girl…?"
A flicker of heartache mingled with the puzzlement in Kiana's gaze.
What torment had this child endured, to look so terrified even in sleep?
"She was brought back by this Cloud Knight squad from a nearby planet. When they found her, she was at death's door."
Tenderness and pain flashed across Tingyun's alluring eyes as she stroked the girl's grimy, matted hair.
"Fortunately, Lingsha's superb skill pulled her through. She may be the key to understanding Gresiavia."
"As a native, she should know what happened here—but she's so young, her knowledge can't be much."
Kiana rose, walked over, and gently poked the child's thin cheek.
"At least we won't be groping in the dark any longer."
"True. By the way, Qingque has already calculated something."
Kiana then relayed Qingque's divination, together with her own deductions.
Tingyun's Tail swayed thoughtfully behind her while she pondered, chin in hand.
After a moment she looked gravely at Kiana.
"General, the Grand Diviner is right. We should detour and report to the Alliance, then await their decision."
"No detour for now. Warahip will hold here. I'll inform Marshal Hua once we've investigated."
Kiana rejected the suggestion.
To detour, they first had to be sure the local Swarm could not spread outward.
Tingyun sighed and shook her head, as helpless as Qingque had been.
This new General of the Xianzhou was so headstrong… yet, remembering that dazzling silver radiance, she gave a soft laugh.
Still, the woman did seem strong enough. "Then, General, I leave the child in your care. this humble girl takes her leave."
She set the girl gently on the desk, bowed, and led her Cloud Knights out of Taiyin Mansion.
Tingyun had barely left when Yushu returned.
"General, the Cloud Knights are deployed. Warahip's every defense line is tight, and a cordon surrounds the area."
"Thank you, Yushu."
"It's my duty."
Yushu smiled gently and returned to her seat to help with Kiana's paperwork.
A distinctive, cool voice suddenly sounded beside Kiana's ear.
"You really fear nothing, do you?"
Kiana blinked, then smiled faintly.
"Of course I'm afraid… it's just—"
She looked at the sleeping child and softly stroked her head.
"When I think how many children like her might still be here, I can't help myself."
"Hmph. In some ways you're exactly like that woman…"
Deep within her consciousness, the Queen's eyes grew complicated after an image of Cecilia's gentle face flashed by.
"Mother Cecilia… If only I could meet her…"
Kiana murmured wistfully.
"Hmph—no cha—well, maybe there is a chance."
"?"
"Don't you own an Valhalla?"
"Oh, right…"
Kiana's eyes brightened, then dimmed again in disappointment.
"Valhalla needs me to go in person and sign a contract. I haven't even seen Mother; I can't sign anything."
"Hmph. With all the weird things you carry, there'll be a chance."
Seeing Kiana's downcast look, the Queen snorted irritably.
"Guess so. Thanks, Sis—looks like you hate me a little less now."
Kiana scratched her head with a silly grin.
The Queen's earlobes reddened; she folded her arms, closed her eyes, and gave no reply.
Kiana didn't need to enter her inner world to know Her Majesty was shy.
She pressed the attack.
"Sis, let's make a heroic spirit contract. Then you can move around without clinging to me."
"…"
The Queen did not answer at once; silence stretched.
She had changed; the hatred for humanity in her heart had worn away.
In the past she would never have spoken so much to Kiana.
She didn't know why, but it surely had something to do with the newly changed herrscher core anchored in Kiana's soul.
"…All right."
After a long pause, she nodded.
The moment she agreed, the first Throne of Heroes quietly rose within Valhalla, anchored to Kiana's soul.
The Queen's figure slowly formed upon the throne, and basic knowledge of heroic spirits flowed into her mind.
The Valhalla was formidable: as long as its master Kiana lived, the spirits would not truly perish.
A slain heroic spirit would return to the Throne, fully restored, and set out again.
"…"
After digesting the information, the Queen dispersed into golden motes and vanished from the throne.
Golden particles appeared before Kiana and condensed into the Queen.
Everyone inside Taiyin Mansion—Shuya included—turned to stare, eyes wide in shock.
Who was this woman who looked exactly like the General?!
Had the newcomer not been virtually identical to Kiana, Shuya would already have struck her down as an assassin.
"Sis~"
Sister! The General has a sister!
Members of Kiana's fan-club among the staff instantly stopped working, ears pricked for gossip.
When Kiana pounced, the Queen coolly sidestepped, nearly sending her sprawling.
"This body isn't bad…"
The Queen lifted her proud head, eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
Though lacking multiple cores—only a single Herrscher of the Void core—it was enough.
Perhaps because she was merely an offshoot of Sirin's consciousness, Valhalla had not judged her prime form to be multi-core Sirin.
"Mean Sis—letting me hug you won't cost you anything!"
"…I'm going for a walk."
Ignoring Kiana's pitiful face, the Queen opened an Imaginary Gate and sauntered through with feline grace.
She had heard them speak of the Gresiavia star-group; she would see for herself what lay within.
If it truly was the so-called Swarm, she would not mind bringing Honkai down upon the place.
Kiana, thinking her sister meant only to stroll around Warahip, did not stop her—merely called kindly,
"Sis, don't attack the people of Warahip, and come back early…"
"I know. Don't nag."
The portal snapped shut after the cold, impatient voice faded.
Once the Queen had gone, Kiana looked at the sleeping child.
"Maybe… I sneak out and do a little recon…?"
-------------------------------
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