"It seems we'll be sleeping in a village of the dead tonight... Oh well, it's not that scary. It's not like we haven't slept on battlefields littered with corpses."
The nun casually tossed aside the rusty, broken half of a one-handed sword. "At least it's quieter here than there. There's nothing interesting to see here. Let's check the barn. Maybe we can find more evidence."
With a slight push, the heavy iron lock on the barn door fell off. The barn was pitch-black, not a single ray of light penetrating the darkness. The nun used the Void Archives to create a lantern, holding it in her hand. Its yellow glow illuminated the way as she stepped inside.
The moment she set foot on the somewhat dried-out straw, the crackling sounds made her companion instinctively raise her guard. The Black Abyss White Flower in her hand involuntarily pointed forward.
Guided by the lantern's light, the nun raised it slightly. The glow revealed that the barn was still filled with a large amount of grain. It seemed the villagers had left in a hurry.
"Crack... crunch..."
The strange sounds grew louder as they approached. The nun subtly reached out her hand, signaling her companion to retract her gun tip. The light from the lantern flickered across a small patch of darkness ahead.
Then, the nun saw the source of the sound.
It was a small, white-haired girl. She was gnawing forcefully on a hard, unpalatable piece of black bread. Her clothes were covered in dust, and the upper part of her clothing had many holes.
Her tender teeth clearly couldn't bite through the hard bread. The nun bent down slightly and gently set the lantern down. The sudden light and warmth made the girl turn her head.
The nun slowly placed her hand on the girl's pure white hair, her voice soft, reminiscent of the gentle tone of a saintess from the past.
"Little girl, did you get separated from your mom and dad?"
The girl tried to speak, but her stomach betrayed her with a loud gurgle. She blushed and covered her empty belly, nodding very slightly.
"Then, would you like to come with me? You must be hungry. Let me take you out to get something to eat."
The girl hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. The nun gently pulled two pieces of cream biscuits from her pocket and offered them to the girl. The girl cautiously took the unfamiliar food and took a small bite. The sweet, milky taste filled her mouth.
She quickly ate the second biscuit, her eyes now full of longing and anticipation as she looked at the nun.
The nun smiled gently, appearing like an angel in the girl's eyes.
Gently, the nun held the girl in her arms, her left hand stroking the girl's soft back. Her sapphire eyes met her companion's, who let out a relieved sigh.
"Eleanor, prepare an extra portion for dinner tonight. This child must be starving."
"From now on, she'll stay by my side."
=======
When the sound of the bugle call for formation outside the window woke the girl from her sleep, she rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up in bed, still drowsy. Only then did she realize that the gentle, beautiful nun sister who had slept with her yesterday had already gotten up.
The quilt still held the faint, pleasant scent she had left behind, along with a lingering warmth that made the girl feel nostalgic.
The silver-haired girl looked at the empty space in the bed, feeling a bit lost. Snowflakes gently fell on the windowsill.
She gently extended her fingertip, pressing it against the cold glass, and lightly wiped away a layer of frost. Through the clear patch, she gazed at the scenery outside the window.
Among those Valkyries, her face was nowhere to be seen.
Where did she go...?
Was something wrong?
The girl leaned on the windowsill, her eyes darting back and forth, watching the Valkyries outside. She didn't want to miss any sign of her return.
Last night, she had felt a long-lost warmth.
The kind of warmth that only a mother could emanate.
Her memories returned to that day. Monsters she had never seen before had stormed into the village. The villagers had fought desperately, but only mangled corpses were left behind.
Her mother had hurriedly placed her in the tunnel of the granary, telling her not to come out no matter what. After that, she didn't know anything, as the cellar door had been closed.
It wasn't until the food in the cellar had run out and she could no longer bear the hunger that she opened the cellar door. After finding the black bread, she met the black-clad nun sister.
When would she come back...?
The sound of the door opening made the little girl snap out of her thoughts. She turned her head, seeing Kallen holding a bowl of hot porridge, her smile warm and kind as she walked to the bedside.
"Did you sleep well last night, child?"
"Yes, I slept very well, thank you, big sister."
Kallen gently stirred the still-hot wheat porridge with a spoon and sat on the edge of the bed. "I just went to prepare breakfast. Things are a bit difficult right now, so we only have wheat porridge to eat. I hope that's alright."
The girl gently shook her head from side to side. "No, it's just..."
Kallen placed the bowl in her hand on the bedside table, her tone carrying a hint of concern. "What is it? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No... it's not that... I... I want big sister... to feed me..."
The girl shyly lowered her head and gently pinched her fingertips. "Because... because my mom used to feed me, and I think big sister is very gentle, like my... my real mom."
Kallen smiled softly, understanding the girl's unspoken emotions. "I see, that's no problem, good girl. You can rely on me more."
She extended her slender, pale hand and affectionately stroked the girl's hair. The girl's eyes, still blushing faintly, reflected Kallen. For a moment, she seemed to see her mother.
After the sound of the cellar door closing, she had heard a muffled noise.
Then, she had never seen her mother again.
A trace of moisture formed in the corner of the girl's eye, and Kallen gently wiped it away with a fingertip as jade-like as her own. The teardrop slowly traced down the girl's cheek, and in the girl's eyes, Kallen's sapphire gaze was filled with nothing but loving tenderness.
She was as warm as the sun, and the girl couldn't resist leaning into her embrace.
"Let's eat first."
Supporting the bottom of the bowl with her fingers, Kallen gently raised the porcelain bowl. She scooped up a spoonful of wheat porridge with a delicate ceramic spoon. The girl obediently opened her red lips. The warm wheat porridge flowed into her throat with the slowly extended spoon. The small bits of meat and saltiness mixed in with it, making the girl's taste buds, which had only ever known black bread, bloom into a beautiful dance.
She gently swallowed, the aroma of the porridge lingering on her lips and tongue.
Kallen was very patient. She made sure to let the porridge cool for a few seconds before feeding it to the girl, allowing her to swallow each bite. The girl ate slowly, as if savoring the time spent with Kallen.
When the last spoonful of wheat porridge was fed into the girl's mouth, the Imperial Guard Valkyries, who had finished their training, had already dispersed to their posts and patrols under Eleanor's orders.
"How is it? Are you full? Do you want some more?"
Kallen carefully placed a clean, white handkerchief, slightly dampened with water, on the girl's lips, wiping away the traces of porridge.
The girl nodded. "It was very delicious. Thank you, big sister. It's the most delicious thing I've ever eaten."
"Is that so? Then that's the best thing."
Kallen revealed a beautiful smile. The slightly upturned corners of her lips, along with her lively, clear sapphire pupils, made the girl feel a deep yearning to see more.
Kallen gently fastened the last button on the girl's clothes, bent down slightly, and stroked the girl's cheek. "Child, what's your name? I didn't have time to ask you yesterday."
"I... my name... my name is Vera..."
The girl answered softly, her voice carrying a hint of sadness and nostalgia.
"Vera..."
Murmuring the Romanian name, Kallen repeated it several times.
"Vera... would you like to live with me from now on?"
Vera looked into Kallen's eyes. The sincerity in her gaze was unmistakable, with not a hint of joking.
To be with her...
In this world, Vera had no relatives left.
Her mother was gone.
"...Big sister... I... I'm willing..."
After hesitating for a long time, Vera finally spoke her wish, her voice soft but clear.
"Then, please take care of me, Vera. My name is Kallen, Kallen... Apocalypse."
Kallen gently hugged the girl's waist, her arms tender as she stroked Vera's silver-white hair. She then softly asked her question.
"Vera... can I add the prefix Otto to your name?"
"He's a very good friend of mine... no, he's my love."
"But, we can't see each other now."
Her fingertips, which had been gently gliding through Vera's hair, fell weakly. Along with that, Kallen's sapphire eyes became dim.
Yes, he had once said he hoped we would have a daughter someday.
"Yes, you can, Kallen sister."
The smile Kallen showed was a bit forced, carrying a hint of reminiscence.
"Thank you, Vera."
Kallen let Vera lean into her embrace. In the warmth of her arms, the girl rested against her, sharing a rare moment of tenderness.
"Vera, I have very important things to do right now. You stay here first, and I'll be back soon."
Kallen brushed away the strands of hair that had fallen in front of Vera's eyes, her tone soft and reassuring.
Vera nodded, her voice carrying a hint of childish innocence. "Okay, Vera will wait here for Kallen sister to come back."
"Yes, I'll be back soon."
The door to the room was gently pushed open. Eleanor, carrying the Black Abyss White Flower, carefully walked behind Kallen and bowed slightly to the Overseer's back.
"Overseer, the scouts have found the tracks of the Emperor-class Honkai beast. It is currently being besieged by the Crusaders, but... the casualties among the Crusaders and the Valkyries on the front lines are high, and they still haven't been able to take it down."
Kallen nodded slowly. "It's finally come out... It seems that the Honkai beast horde has been pushed to its limits."
Kallen gently let go of Vera, and as sunlight streamed through the wooden house, golden light emanated from her body. In front of Vera, the white-haired, blue-eyed nun raised her right hand, her posture commanding, like the master of ten thousand soldiers. The swirling light took the shape of a cross.
She entrusted the Divine Key, which symbolized judgment and divine authority, to the true god.
"Then, let this place be the Emperor's burial ground."
In Vera's vision, the echo of Kallen's voice still resonated as she pushed open the door of the wooden house. After Kallen and Eleanor left, Vera whispered softly.
"True god..."