Most of the members of the Obsidian Concord were ordinary people rescued by Kiana during the Great Eruption. Their main responsibilities were intelligence work and logistical support.
Even if there were members specialized for combat like Kalpas, they were only a small number of armed forces.
This was the introduction written in the organization's charter. Precisely because of this, even though she had only been in contact with two members for so long, Mei had not doubted the member composition of the Obsidian Concord.
After all, exposing one's organizational identity was too dangerous for ordinary members. She could completely understand this.
So when the forum mentioned Obsidian Concord members, she became curious about the target she was about to contact.
However, Himeko's appearance completely subverted Mei's expectations. Himeko falling into the Imaginary Space and not returning for a long time almost declared her death.
Kiana had fainted at the time and didn't know the outcome, but Mei clearly knew from Schicksal that her teacher had been killed in battle. She never expected that there would be a day when she would see Himeko again here.
More importantly, why was Himeko-sensei a member of the Obsidian Concord?
"Himeko-sensei, is that you?" Mei's voice trembled. The tough style she had adopted as the Herrscher of Thunder softened in an instant.
The disaster in Nagazora City was still vivid in her mind. Mei, who had destroyed the entire city at that time, had long been homeless. If Himeko hadn't taken Kiana, Bronya, and herself back to St. Freya, they would have had to wander in the devastated city.
And the time at the academy was also the most peaceful days for Mei. Although she was not as dependent on Himeko as Kiana was, as a student, she couldn't let go of this teacher-student relationship.
"Mei? Why are you here?"
Himeko's expression was also full of shock. As Ren's main puppet, Himeko was almost responsible for most of Ren's plans and arrangements. After Ren disappeared in ARC City, Himeko began to take over part of the Obsidian Concord's work.
She knew very well that the Obsidian Concord organization was just a false existence fabricated by Ren. It was just that with later developments, it slowly became a real organization.
But how could such an organization completely controlled by Ren have a leader out of thin air, let alone that leader being her dear student.
If Himeko wasn't clear that Ren's goal, whether in plans or emotions, had always been on Kiana, she would have suspected that Ren was trying to harm her other student.
"It's really you!"
The girl who threw herself into her arms interrupted Himeko's surprise. She stopped thinking about Ren's purpose, and just tightly hugged her student whom she had been separated from for a long time.
The girl's soft sobbing came from her arms. Himeko gently rubbed Mei's head and comforted softly, "Don't worry, I'm fine."
Mei, who had never shed tears again after becoming the Herrscher of Thunder, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, her voice choked up uncontrollably.
"Himeko-sensei, Kiana and I have been looking for you. I thought…"
"Don't cry, aren't I still alive and well?" Himeko comforted her gently, "I remember you weren't such a crybaby."
"Yeah."
After a long time, Mei's excited mood finally calmed down. Himeko found a clean place, and the two sat side by side, facing the golden sunset in the distance.
"Mei, after I fell into the Imaginary Space, what happened to St. Freya later?"
"After the Great Eruption, principal took us and completely defected from Schicksal. Kiana went missing at the time, and Bronya and I could only temporarily seek refuge in Anti-Entropy, while evading Schicksal's pursuit and searching for Kiana's whereabouts.
While we were looking for Kiana, Schicksal was also tracking her traces. It wasn't until later that we learned about Kiana's information in ARC City that we met her again.
But that time, she didn't leave with us, but chose to continue staying in ARC City."
Himeko, who had personally participated in the ARC City incident, naturally knew that Kiana had stayed for Ren. It seemed that during the time she fell into the Imaginary Space, not much had happened apart from the Great Eruption.
"Later, Bronya went to Sea of Quanta in order to stop Schicksal from getting the Gem of Desire, while I stayed behind. It was also at that time that I completely separated from them." Mei recounted her experiences in detail, and Himeko, based on what she knew, slowly filled in the specific details of what happened.
"I met some special people in ARC City. After the World Serpent disaster, I took Kiana and hid all the way, and accidentally came into contact with the organization they belonged to."
The two looked at each other and said the same name.
"Obsidian Concord."
"So you had contact with the Obsidian Concord so early." Feeling a bit emotional in her heart, Himeko didn't expect that Mei's joining was already in Ren's plan.
She stared blankly at Mei. The other girl's temperament had grown a lot compared to her student days, shedding her weak childishness and becoming independent and strong.
And all of this seemed to be inseparable from Ren's shadow.
"Compared to this child, perhaps I, this teacher, am the unqualified one." Himeko laughed self-deprecatingly, and no longer delved into why Mei was the leader of the Obsidian Concord.
Next, Mei continued to tell her experiences, all the way to the present when the two met.
"Himeko-sensei…" Mei opened her mouth slightly, a little hesitant, "Kiana, she has been looking for you."
"Phew." Looking at Mei's hesitant appearance, Himeko couldn't help but smile. She knew that Mei was worried that she would be unwilling to face Kiana, but how could Himeko blame her own student.
"Actually, I've already met her."
"Is that so? That's good." Mei was obviously relieved, paused for two seconds, and then asked, "Then is she doing well now?"
Facing Mei's question, Himeko restrained the smile on her face. She pondered her words and said, "Her changes are even more obvious than yours, and she has grown a lot, a lot. Now she has become a powerful Valkyrie. Not only in strength, but also in her own beliefs and will, and also… she has met a new companion."
Himeko carefully observed the changes in Mei's expression, but didn't see a troubled expression, only a faint relief.
"Then I can rest assured."
"Aren't you curious about her companion?"
"It's that boy named Ren, right?"
"Hmm? You know him?" Himeko was really curious this time. According to her memory, Mei should be very concerned about Kiana, and Ren shouldn't have had any contact with Mei.
"He is the former leader of the Obsidian Concord, and also the person who initially founded this organization. During the time Kiana was wandering in ARC City, he should have been the one who had been helping Kiana all along.
It was also people from the Obsidian Concord who had been protecting ordinary people when World Serpent used ARC City for experiments. Until Schicksal's troops began to encircle and suppress Kiana, it was also thanks to him that we were able to escape."
"I see." What Himeko wanted to ask was not actually these, but Mei's views on Ren and Kiana. But Mei just stated it very calmly, without any extra meaning.
It was not until this moment that Himeko finally realized that the girl in front of her had really grown into an independent young woman, no longer the little girl who followed behind Kiana back then.
On the contrary, it was herself, with her complicated thoughts, who seemed not so mature.
"Then do you want to see Kiana? She should still be on Coral Island right now."
"No, I have my own things to do. When things are done, I'll invite Sensei and Bronya and the others to get together again. By then, I hope Sensei won't refuse."
"Of course not. I've been wanting to taste your cooking again for a long time now."
Although St. Freya, along with the sinking of the Japan, had been mostly submerged by seawater, as long as everyone was still around, there would always be a day to reunite again.
In the sunset, the two chatted for a long time, until dusk fell, and then ended this short reunion.
Mei said goodbye to Himeko and found Raven, who had been waiting for a long time.
More and more Schicksal Valkyries were coming. Continuing to stay would very likely lead to conflict.
"Kiana."
Looking at the empty sky, Mei softly called out this name, and then, as if making some kind of determination, the softness in her eyes completely dissipated, replaced by the Herrscher of Thunder's firm expression.
"Let's go."
A thunderclap exploded in the clear sky. Along with the sound of dragon wings stirring up a storm, the figures of Raiden Mei and Raven disappeared from Coral Island.