A/N: Please read Chapters 15, 16, and 17 before proceeding with this chapter. Thank you very much!

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Mei jolted upright, her breath hitching as she awakened in an unfamiliar and foreboding space. A sharp ache radiated from the back of her head, a phantom reminder of the blow that had rendered her unconscious. Her mind swirled as fragmented memories resurfaced—the last thing she remembered was Kiana's desperate cry, echoing just before she had been struck.

Grasping the back of her head, she winced, her fingers brushing against the source of her throbbing pain. A groan escaped her lips as she muttered, "To think the enemy was among us all along..."

What was meant to be a straightforward mission had devolved into chaos, a downward spiral she hadn't anticipated. Her first mission—a simple rescue and escort operation—had swiftly escalated into a retrieval task fraught with unexpected complications. What initially seemed manageable had spiraled into a catastrophic ordeal.

Her thoughts replayed the critical moments: discovering Wendy, guiding her to the rendezvous point, and waiting for the Hyperion. Yet, the sudden surge of chaos caused by the Gem of Desire's corruption turned their already precarious mission into a nightmare. Wendy, a once-promising Valkyrie, though crippled, had been consumed by her Herrscher form, and Mei's memories of the ensuing battle felt like a haunting blur. She could still hear the bitter exchange of words between Wendy and Lyon, their voices etched into her mind.

Gripping her head tightly now, Mei groaned again, her frustration mounting. The thought of Lyon—his defiance, his courage—pierced through her like a blade. "If only my powers had worked as they did in Nagazora," she lamented bitterly, her voice trembling. "I could have stopped Wendy. I could have saved him... saved all of us..."

Her frustration flared as the memory of the blonde woman surfaced, her calculated gaze, the mechas, and the efficient precision with which they had overpowered and abducted her. Mei's fingers tightened into a fist, her nails digging into her palms. She scanned her surroundings, her disoriented mind slowly taking in her new environment.

The room was dilapidated, its atmosphere heavy with the stale air of abandonment. Broken equipment and rusted tools lay scattered about, evoking the remnants of a forgotten science lab. The walls were reinforced with barred structures, adding to the suffocating sense of entrapment. Faint, flickering lights barely illuminated the area, casting eerie shadows along the edges of the room.

"Where have they taken me?" Mei whispered, her voice trembling as she inspected her damaged armor, its once-pristine panels now cracked and battered from the skirmish.

A familiar, monotone voice shattered the stillness, sending a chill down her spine. "We are at ME Corp's HQ, Sister Mei..."

Her heart sank as she sharply turned toward the source of the voice. Through the dim light, a silhouette emerged, and piercing red eyes locked onto her form. Those eyes—void of warmth or recognition—bored into her soul like twin daggers.

A vivid rush of fragmented memories flooded her mind. Flashes of betrayal, the cold, calculated transformation of her friend into an adversary, and the mechanical precision of Project Bunny's weapons trained on her. Bronya, the once-stalwart ally, had turned her weapons of destruction on Mei. The images of that harrowing moment replayed in her mind with cruel clarity, striking her like a thunderclap.

Mei could still recall the chilling emptiness in those red eyes—eyes once filled with friendliness and trust, now hollow under the influence of her newfound enemy. The weight of betrayal pressed on her chest like a physical burden, paralyzing her resolve. Her sword, the symbol of her strength, remained unraised, rendered useless in the face of her shattered emotions.

And now, here she was—isolated, vulnerable, and gripped by a suffocating sense of disgust as her gaze locked on the diminutive figure standing before her.

Her body quivered with a simmering fury, her shoulders shaking as emotions boiled to the surface. Without thought, her hand instinctively reached for her sword's sheath, only to clutch at emptiness. The realization stung, but it fueled her anger further. Her voice dripped with venom as she confronted the shadow of her once-ally. "Bronya... what have you done to me?"

Out of the oppressive darkness, Bronya emerged, her footsteps ringing against the metal floor with a slow, deliberate cadence. Mei flinched instinctively, recoiling as Bronya's presence drew closer. The twin-drilled girl stopped, her crimson eyes reflecting a faint sadness—a flicker of regret that Mei found repulsive in its audacity.

Bronya's voice, subdued and laden with conflict, broke the silence. "I... Bronya didn't mean to do this. It was for Matushka..."

Mei's rage erupted, her words cutting through Bronya's feeble explanation. "For your Matushka!? You attacked Kiana—you attacked me!"

The words tore from her throat, raw and unfiltered, as betrayal clawed at her insides. She stared at Bronya, who averted her gaze, her lips trembling with unspoken words. Mei's voice cracked with anguish as she demanded, "You... Why can't you look at me the way you used to? What happened to the loyalty you once showed? Was it all for that woman who ambushed us?"

Unnoticed tears cascaded down Mei's cheeks, splattering onto the frigid metal beneath her. She felt herself unraveling, her body betraying her fury with its weakness. Though every fiber of her being screamed for retaliation, her limbs remained unresponsive, weighed down by despair.

In frustration, she slammed her fist against a nearby metal block. The impact left a dent, sparks of lightning dancing across the surface. Her eyes burned with fury as she locked onto Bronya, who stood silent and still. "After everything... Did you ever think of our friendship as real? Or was it all a game to you, a trap to ensnare us? Please..."

Her voice faltered, and she clutched the sheath of her absent weapon so tightly that the material began to crack under her strength. Her plea came as a desperate whisper. "Please... tell me..."

Bronya finally met Mei's gaze, her expression steeped in sorrow. Her voice, soft and gentle, was a faint echo of the warmth she once offered back in Nagazora. "Sister Mei... Bronya didn't want this. I never wanted to hurt you. I was forced—Matushka controls me. My will... it doesn't exist. I am nothing but a pawn in her hands."

Mei's gaze softened, her anger ebbing though the remnants of her tumultuous emotions lingered. Her voice, though steadier, carried the weight of her lingering confusion and frustration as she attempted to reason with Bronya. "Control? Bronya, you lived with us—in the same dormitory, under the watchful care of Himeko and the staff at St. Freya. You were safe with us! How can you claim to be under someone else's control?"

Her questions poured out, each one cutting sharper than the last. St. Freya had always been a bastion of safety, fortified with Schicksal's security measures under Theresa's leadership. The very idea of control seemed unfathomable.

Bronya's expression tensed, her lips pressing into a thin line before she slowly raised a hand and pointed to her temple. "Bronya... has a chip implanted in her brain," she began, her voice carefully measured. "The biochip... it sustains my life, but it also takes my free will. Matushka uses it to control me."

Mei stood motionless, her mind processing the revelation as her anger gave way to a growing sense of sympathy. Each word sank deep, replacing her initial fury with a pang of sorrow. She stepped closer to Bronya, whose red eyes widened in alarm as Mei entered her personal space.

Bronya swallowed hard, speaking quickly as if desperate to explain herself before Mei's emotions overtook her again. "Please... believe me," Bronya pleaded, her usually monotone voice cracking faintly with desperation. "I tried to fight it, but the program was too strong. I... I couldn't stop myself—"

Her words were cut short as Mei enveloped her in a firm, warm embrace. Bronya's small frame tensed in surprise, her head tilting slightly upward as she registered the unexpected warmth of Mei's arms around her. It wasn't something she had anticipated, and it left her momentarily speechless.

Mei's breath was steady, though her own feelings swirled in conflict. She had doubted Bronya's truthfulness at first, but there was something raw, unguarded in her friend's voice. Though faint, the emotion beneath Bronya's typically flat tone was unmistakable. Mei couldn't deny what she felt: sincerity, desperation, and pain.

As the embrace lingered, Mei spoke softly, her tone more soothing now but laced with a need for answers. "Why didn't you tell us, Bronya? We could have helped you. St. Freya has the resources, and Theresa... she'd have done whatever it took to remove that chip. For you. For us."

Bronya stood frozen, struggling to reconcile the warmth of Mei's embrace with the guilt and fear she had carried for so long. She hadn't expected compassion, let alone forgiveness. Her lips quivered as tears welled in her crimson eyes and began to spill down her cheeks. It had been so long since she had allowed herself to cry.

Mei felt the tentative embrace of Bronya's small arms as they wrapped around her back, trembling with hesitation. Then, Bronya's voice, broken and unsteady, reached her ears. "I... I didn't want to put any of you in danger. If I tried to remove the chip... Matushka, Anti-Entropy... they would have come for St. Freya. They would have destroyed you—my friends. Please... please believe me..."

Bronya's breath hitched as a soft sob escaped her lips, her voice trembling under the weight of suppressed emotions. Her throat tightened, each word catching slightly as tears streamed freely down her face. Mei, sensing the overwhelming vulnerability in her friend, gently patted her back in a soothing rhythm, her touch firm yet tender.

With a voice low and reassuring, Mei whispered, "I'll believe you, Bronya... I trust you. Please, don't cry. Once we're out of here, we'll talk about everything. Together."

Bronya's small frame quivered as she clung to Mei with a desperation that spoke of her deep-seated fears. She buried her face against Mei, her words muffled but laden with raw emotion. "I'm scared... I'm so scared, Sister Mei."

Mei's heart clenched at the sound of Bronya's broken plea. Her own fears threatened to surface, but she buried them beneath the resolve to comfort her friend. She continued to pat Bronya's back gently, her voice steady, though tinged with an undertone of her own uncertainty. "It's okay, Bronya. I'm scared too," she admitted, her honesty meant to bridge the fragile connection between them. "But for now, we need to focus. We'll get out of here. I promise."

A voice suddenly crackled through hidden speakers, breaking the fragile silence. It was unmistakably human, yet its tone carried an unsettling weight, "A Herrscher capable of feeling compassion for humanity? Now that is unexpected..."

Mei's eyes widened in recognition, her breath catching in her throat. That voice. She knew it all too well. Across from her, Bronya froze, her entire body trembling at the familiar sound. She gulped hard, her lips parting to utter the name with a mixture of apprehension and conflicted emotion. "Matushka..."

Cocolia's voice followed, resonating with cold detachment, yet laced with a twisted undertone of maternal manipulation, "Only a few days have passed since you delivered the Third Herrscher to me, and yet this is your choice? To flee my care and seek refuge with those infected by the Honkai? Bronya, you should listen to your mother and not these corrupted influences."

Bronya disentangled herself from Mei's embrace, stepping hesitantly toward the center of the dimly lit room. Her voice, though tinged with anger, remained calm and deliberate, "Bronya does not wish to bring harm to her friends anymore. They are precious to me."

Cocolia's response, though soft and measured, carried the venomous sting of emotional manipulation. "Harm your friends? Shall we revisit the fate of Seele? Your dear friend, lost to eternity. Do you truly want your so-called friends to share her fate?"

The name struck Bronya like a thunderclap, reverberating in her mind. Memories she had buried deep surged forth, threatening to overwhelm her. Her voice wavered, trembling as if under siege from the weight of guilt. "I... No, no! That was not Bronya's intention! Bronya only wanted to—"

Cocolia's voice cut through Bronya's words, sharp as a blade, dripping with disdain. "Wanted to help? Every time you try, Bronya, another life is scarred, another soul is broken. Do you need constant reminders of your failures? Look no further than Nagazora City—your friend turned into a Herrscher, and what was her gift to her people? Death. She slaughtered nearly everyone she once loved."

Each word felt like a lash, drawing fresh wounds over Bronya's already battered psyche. Her lips trembled as she struggled to form a response, her emotions teetering on the brink of collapse.

Mei flinched violently as the memory resurfaced, a painful reminder that struck with unforgiving clarity. Her gaze darted to Bronya, who clutched the sides of her head, her fingers pressing against her temples as though trying to expel the haunting echoes of her past.

The purple-haired teen's voice rose, trembling but forceful, enough to pierce through the room and reach Cocolia. "Stop it! I know exactly what you're doing—trying to manipulate Bronya into bending to your will. Enough!"

Cocolia's response came in the form of a chilling, mocking laugh, resonating through the hidden speakers. "Hahaha! The little Herrscher wants to play savior? How quaint. But let me enlighten you—your powers can never destroy this facility." Her voice darkened, taunting, "Oh, did I mention? This very building belonged to your father, dear. The man I so conveniently framed for crimes he never committed. Ah, the sacrifices I make to keep humanity safe."

Mei's breath hitched as if the air had been sucked from her lungs. Her world tilted beneath her feet, crumbling with every word. She muttered, almost in disbelief, her voice barely a whisper, "My father... was framed? By you?"

Cocolia seemed to revel in Mei's reaction, her tone dripping with malicious amusement. "Oh, yes! It was necessary, you see. His downfall set the stage for your awakening as a Herrscher. All the malice of those who once supported you—the betrayal you endured—it all contributed to your transformation. It was a necessary sacrifice, one that brings us closer to defeating the Honkai. You, Mei, are the key to that success!"

Mei stood frozen, her mind spinning as she tried to process the weight of Cocolia's revelation. For months, she had carried the guilt of her father's supposed crimes, silently blaming herself for the possibility that she had driven him to such desperation. Perhaps she hadn't been enough, perhaps she had failed him somehow. Those doubts had become her burden.

But now, the truth was laid bare. A few cruel sentences had upended everything she thought she knew. Her father's arrest—his disappearance—was not the result of his own actions but a calculated move orchestrated by this woman. A woman who now dared to gloat about it.

Frustration boiled within her, bubbling into a seething rage. She clicked her tongue sharply, her head snapping up as her voice cut through the room like a blade. "You destroyed my life, manipulated me, turned me into a pawn in your sick experiment—all for what? To use me as your weapon? To let an entire city suffer in fear and death, just to serve your twisted ends?" Her eyes narrowed as she turned her venomous gaze toward Bronya. "You dare call yourself a mother—the mother of someone as kind as Bronya?"

Mei's voice trembled, her words laced with contempt as she turned her full fury back on Cocolia. "You're a vile human being, a disgrace to the word 'mother.'"

Yet even as she lashed out, Mei could feel the cold grip of her own memories creeping in, her mind flickering back to that conversation with her Herrscher persona—the terrible joy she had felt as she destroyed Nagazora. That dark amusement she had harbored was still there, buried deep, clashing violently with the disgust she now felt toward herself and Cocolia.

An act of sacrifice to achieve her goals, to save the one she loved most, or an act of selflessness to protect countless lives at the cost of her own—this was the agonizing choice Mei wrestled with. Her internal conflict was hidden behind a steely resolve as she turned her attention to Bronya.

The younger girl stood tall despite her small frame, her expression hardened with determination. Project Bunny materialized behind her, its towering presence a silent testament to her resolve. With a steady voice, Bronya declared, "Thank you, Sister Mei... Matushka." Her gaze shifted toward the nearby speaker, and her tone turned resolute. "Bronya will no longer serve under you."

A sharp sound echoed through the speaker—the unmistakable crash of a chair being knocked over. Cocolia's voice erupted, sharp and filled with fury. "I will not allow this! As long as the biochip remains within you, you are mine to command!"

Mei's worry flared, her eyes fixed on Bronya. But the younger girl met her gaze, her determination unwavering. Bronya spoke, her words a quiet yet powerful declaration. "Bronya has endured enough. No longer will I be controlled. I will destroy the chip and claim my freedom."

Mei grasped Bronya's shoulder, her concern spilling out in hurried words. "Bronya, that's too dangerous! The biochip is in your brain—what if something goes wrong?"

Bronya turned to Mei, a faint, reassuring smile breaking through her stoic demeanor. "Bronya will be fine," she said softly, her voice brimming with trust. "Bronya believes in you to keep me safe."

Before Mei could protest further, Bronya closed her eyes and steadied herself. A tremor coursed through her small frame, and Project Bunny extended an apparatus that latched onto the back of her head. The room was filled with an unsettling hum as Bronya initiated the process.

From the speaker, Cocolia's voice rose in a cacophony of desperation and anger, a tone Mei had never heard before. "Bronya! Stop this at once! I command you! BRONYA!"

The moments stretched, each second laden with unbearable tension. Suddenly, Bronya's eyes fluttered open briefly before her body went limp, collapsing to the floor. Mei darted forward, catching her just in time. Cradling Bronya in her arms, she gently shook her. "Bronya? Bronya, wake up!" she called, her voice laced with fear.

Bronya's eyes flickered weakly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Ooh... Bronya's head hurts, but the operation... It's a success. I'm sorry for scaring you, Sister Mei."

Relief cascaded over Mei as tears welled in her eyes once more. She stroked Bronya's forehead, her voice quivering with emotion. "It's okay, Bronya. You're safe now." Carefully, she laid Bronya on the ground and continued to comfort her. "Big sis will take care of you. We'll find a way out of here together."

Bronya's heavy eyelids began to close, her exhaustion pulling her toward unconsciousness. In her final moments of wakefulness, she murmured, "Thank you, Sister Mei... I hope Lyon and Kiana will come for us..."

And with that, Bronya slipped into a deep, restorative sleep, her body succumbing to the strain of her bravery. Mei exhaled a long, trembling sigh, her hand resting over Bronya's heart to feel its steady rhythm. Despite the chaos, the little girl's condition was stable, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Mei allowed herself a sliver of hope.

"It's an intriguing spectacle, I must admit. I didn't expect your moral compass to be so thoroughly bent."

Mei lifted her gaze to meet the figure before her—an all-too-familiar purple silhouette, the manifestation of the Herrscher within her. Calmly but warily, she addressed it, "It's you... What do you want this time?"

The Herrscher knelt gracefully before Bronya, placing a glowing, crackling hand on the young girl's forehead. Energy rippled from her touch, seeping into Bronya's skin and radiating throughout her fragile body. Her voice, though calm, carried a chilling undertone. "I am merely here to observe and to assist you. She will survive; I've healed her enough to stabilize her."

Mei let out a long, heavy sigh, one that carried the weight of countless unspoken fears and frustrations. Her tone softened as she replied, "Thank you..."

Rising to her feet, the Herrscher surveyed the dilapidated room, her sharp gaze taking in every shadow and corner. After a pause, she made an unexpected proposition. "What if I take control of your body? You can rest while I clear a path, eliminating every obstacle in our way. Together, we can take your friend home safely."

Mei froze, caught off guard by the offer. She hesitated, her eyes narrowing as her mind raced. Without realizing it, she spoke aloud, a question laced with cautious suspicion. "And why should I trust you? The last time I let you take over, we... destroyed everything."

The Herrscher tilted her head, her expression neutral yet oddly mocking, as if amused by Mei's hesitation. She replied with cool precision, "Correction—you destroyed everything with the power I lent you." She raised her hand, an almost formal gesture, and added, "I solemnly swear to fulfill only what I've promised this time."

Mei exhaled sharply, her breath shuddering. The Herrscher's words were an eerie reflection of her own inner turmoil. Slowly, reluctantly, she nodded, her voice tinged with exasperation and resignation. "You're right... Fine. Just this once, I'll allow it."

Cocolia's voice crackled over the speakers, her confusion evident. "Who are you talking to...?"

Neither Mei nor the Herrscher acknowledged her. The purple energy surrounding the Herrscher intensified, its glow illuminating the dim room. Mei closed her eyes as her body slumped forward, resting protectively over Bronya.

A moment passed. Then another.

When Mei rose again, her movements were deliberate, exuding an eerie grace. The dim light flickered erratically, and the metal door groaned open as if compelled by an unseen force. The entire facility seemed to pulse with an unnatural energy. Cocolia's voice rose in panic, sharp with disbelief. "What is happening? What have you done?"

Fully upright now, Mei opened her eyes, which gleamed with a haunting blend of crimson and violet. A faint smile curled her lips—one devoid of warmth and brimming with menace. Her voice, smooth yet dripping with contempt, carried an edge that made Cocolia's blood run cold.

"My, my," Mei drawled, her tone almost mocking. "A mere human like you should know better than to tamper with what doesn't belong to you."

Cocolia swallowed hard, the sharp, authoritative voice sending a chill down her spine. She managed to stammer out, her tone laced with confusion and unease, "Herrscher! You've been lying in wait for this moment, haven't you?"

Mei's Herrscher persona let out a melodic hum, her finger flicking casually. With a deafening crash, the walls of the room crumbled, revealing an expansive hallway lined with adjoining chambers. Panicked figures in white lab coats gaped in terror as they glimpsed the destruction.

Surveying her surroundings with predatory ease, Mei's crimson and violet eyes flickered with disdain. Her gaze sharpened, and with a mere thought, shards of jagged metal rose from the debris, crackling with electricity. The makeshift weapons hovered menacingly, trained on the stunned scientists. They instinctively raised their hands in surrender, trembling as if standing before death itself.

Her voice was calm, resonating with icy authority, loud enough to echo through the halls. "How ironic that I find myself imprisoned in the very building my father once called his own. A cruel twist, don't you think?" She gestured at the terrified onlookers, her tone dripping with contempt. "And yet here you are, cowering in your tiny boxes, playing gods with your meaningless experiments. Tell me, does it amuse you to pretend you hold any power over the Honkai's grandeur? This is why humanity is so... pitiful."

With a flick of her finger, the shards of metal shot forward like missiles. Blood splattered the pristine walls, painting them in gruesome red as the cries of agony echoed and faded into silence. Mei's lips twisted into a maniacal grin, and she erupted into laughter, her voice carrying a haunting melody.

"Ahaha~! The symphony of human screams never ceases to entertain me. Oh, Mei," she purred to herself mockingly, "how naive you were to keep this part of us locked away. But I understand—our precious Lyon would have been horrified, wouldn't he? Yes, yes, such a delicate darling."

Cocolia's panicked voice crackled through unseen speakers, breaking her reverie. "Anti-Entropy will not stand for this! What have you done to my people? They were innocent—nothing but loyal researchers striving for peace!"

The Herrscher raised a brow, surveying the blood-soaked remains, and let out a disdainful tut. "Innocent?" she sneered mockingly, cradling Bronya's unconscious form in her arms. "Oh, how amusing. Those so-called innocents were complicit in their own sins, hidden beneath their white coats. In my eyes, that makes them... disposable."

Cocolia clicked her tongue, desperation seeping into her voice. Her next words would seal her fate. "Stop this madness! Or else... or else I'll see to it that your precious friend—Lyon, was it?—suffers."

The room vibrated violently as a surge of lightning exploded from the floor, accompanied by an ominous crackle that rippled through the air. The once-muted sky outside turned an ominous mix of purples and blacks as Mei's rage erupted, her voice booming with unbridled fury.

"You dare speak his name in my presence, laced with threats and venom? You dare insult the one I hold dear?" Her voice, amplified with energy, reverberated through the entire facility. "For that insolence, I will leave no living thing in this wretched place. You will all perish."

The energy around her swirled chaotically, bolts of lightning tearing through walls and ceilings, leaving smoldering craters in their wake. Her malevolent smile widened, teeth glinting as she declared, "Unlike Mei, I am not bound by mercy. Let the hunt begin, little mouse."

That day, ME Corp's headquarters was reduced to ash and rubble, obliterated in a storm of unchecked power. The earth bore the scars of her wrath, charred and charged with perpetual lightning. And amidst the devastation, the Herrscher of Thunder's laughter rang out—a haunting melody of chaos and domination.

All the while, the woman with the Gem of Desire was kept safe, as the wind called upon the thunder for help.

---

Lyon's eyelids fluttered open, his gaze locking onto the pristine white ceiling above him. For a moment, he lay still, processing the sterile environment. His chest rose and fell rhythmically, his warm breath brushing against his face as the oxygen mask strapped to him gently hummed.

Exhaling deeply, he let his body relax against the soft mattress, his head turning slightly to survey his surroundings. The room was sleek and futuristic, the gleaming equipment reminiscent of Bronya's advanced tech—though far more polished and immaculate. He strained to glance at the array of tubes and wires attached to him, their subtle beeping and whirring keeping pace with his vitals.

He allowed himself to stay in this position for a few more minutes, letting the stillness envelop him. But the idleness soon began to gnaw at him, and he sighed in resignation. Boredom spurred him into action as he propped his torso upright, his muscles protesting slightly against the movement. Reaching up, he removed the oxygen mask, relishing the cool air that greeted his face.

As he inhaled deeply, his senses were struck by an unexpected fragrance—a delicate, rosy aroma that filled the room. It triggered a memory of Mei's perfume, the one she would always insist on buying with his black card. He took another sniff, his curiosity piqued, and nodded approvingly.

"That smells nice," he muttered to himself, his tone lighthearted. "Wonder if this hospital has a decent menu. Could go for something tasty."

Unbeknownst to him, a woman had been quietly seated beside his bed, her presence so still it blended seamlessly into the tranquil atmosphere. She held an apple in one hand and a knife in the other, effortlessly slicing the fruit into thin, precise pieces. Her voice, smooth and composed, broke the silence.

"There's no need to trouble yourself, Sir Lyon," she said with a hint of amusement. "I am here to assist you in any way you desire."

Lyon froze mid-sniff, his thoughts grinding to a halt as he registered the unfamiliar voice. 'Oh, crap,' he thought, his mind racing. 'Didn't think anyone else was here... And it's a woman. Great.'

Turning his head slowly—almost comically, as though his neck were creaking—he finally laid eyes on her. She sat elegantly in a maid's outfit, her demeanor calm yet exuding a quiet confidence. Her gaze carried a seductive sharpness, her poise radiating sophistication. Lyon cleared his throat awkwardly, a playful grin tugging at his lips as he greeted her.

"Yo! Name's Lyon, but you seem to know that already. May I have the honor of knowing the name of the beautiful lady gracing me with her presence?"

He attempted a bow, though his exaggerated mimicry of courtly manners turned the gesture into something more amusing than refined. The woman couldn't suppress a soft laugh, her hands deftly continuing to peel the apple without missing a beat.

"I didn't expect such a... familiar approach," she replied with a trace of humor in her tone. "My name is Rita Rossweisse, Schicksal's Maid."

Lyon's grin widened as he nodded cheerfully, his posture relaxing further. Stretching his arms, the motion inadvertently caused several cables and sensors attached to him to pop free, the loose ends clattering to the floor one by one. He flinched at the sound, cringing at the unintended mess he'd made.

"Ah, sorry about that, Rita," he said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Guess I just needed to stretch a bit, you know? Being stuck in one place isn't really my thing."

Rita hummed softly, her serene voice carrying a hint of amusement as she placed the neatly sliced apples onto a plate and presented it to him with an elegant flourish. "It's completely natural to want to test your range of motion after such a lengthy rest," she said, her tone as soothing as a gentle breeze. "Please, help yourself. These apples should serve as a refreshing delicacy to awaken your senses after your slumber."

Lyon didn't need a second invitation. He grabbed a slice and popped it into his mouth, savoring the sweetness before quickly reaching for another—and then another. Between bites, he mumbled through a mouthful, "So, what's a renowned Schiksal maid doing here? I doubt you'd be sent just to babysit me."

Rita chuckled lightly, the sound refined yet warm, and delicately covered her mouth with a hand. Rising gracefully from her stool, she moved to stand by his side, her presence both composed and attentive. "How perceptive of you," she replied smoothly. "I'm here under the direct orders of the Overseer, tasked with ensuring your recovery and well-being."

Lyon arched an eyebrow as he reached for the final slice, his curiosity piqued. He bit into it, his words slightly garbled by the last mouthful. "Overseer? Who's that?"

Rita tilted her head slightly, her crimson eyes studying him with mild surprise. "You don't know the Overseer?" she asked, her tone teetering between astonishment and amusement. "It seems Ms. Theresa's words about your lack of familiarity with Schiksal's hierarchy were accurate."

Lyon shrugged nonchalantly, placing the empty plate beside him on the oversized, luxurious bed. He leaned back and crossed his arms, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I don't know what that tiny principal told you," he quipped, "but I'm smarter than I look."

Rita's lips twitched, struggling to suppress a smile. His candid demeanor clearly amused her, but she maintained her composure. "Ms. Theresa spoke highly of your intellect and your unparalleled performance in physical training," she remarked, her voice carrying a playful undertone. "Though, I must admit, such excellence is expected from a man, wouldn't you agree?"

Lyon's grin widened at the compliment, but before he could reply, the quiet hum of the sliding door interrupted them. He turned his head to see a tall, blonde-haired man with piercing green eyes step into the room. Rita immediately bowed with impeccable grace, her movements fluid and measured.

Following suit, Lyon awkwardly attempted to mimic her bow. The effort sent a sharp twinge through his back, causing him to grimace in pain. The blonde man chuckled warmly at the sight, his laughter surprisingly soft and kind despite his commanding presence. "You don't need to bow to me, young man," he said, his voice calm yet resonant. "I am but a humble worker. While your role lies in the field, mine lies behind the scenes. Together, however, we strive for the same purpose—to save this world."

Lyon blinked at the unexpected humility, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly as he adjusted his position on the bed. "That's... surprisingly modest of you to say. But I didn't catch your name. Mister...?"

Rita sighed softly at Lyon's question, a faint smile gracing her lips. The blonde man, on the other hand, burst into a hearty laugh, his mirth genuine and unrestrained. "Ah, Theresa wasn't exaggerating when she called you a fascinating enigma," he said, his green eyes gleaming with amusement. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Otto Apocalypse, Overseer of Schiksal. I've come to discuss your condition and propose an offer—one I suspect you'll find difficult to refuse."

End of Chapter