Mei felt ethereal, as though floating among the clouds. Her hand reached towards the warm sunlight cascading down, feeling its gentle embrace. She clenched her fist, capturing a shard of light.

"Would this have been my reality if everything had remained normal?" she mused, reminiscing about her days of respect and admiration in school, cherished by the city's residents.

As she lay back, hand on heart, feeling its steady rhythm, memories of destruction and death that she had wrought invaded her peace. Despite the calm, dissatisfaction gnawed at her, all stemming from one decision.

"I empowered you, and yet you are filled with regret? How pitiful," the voice came, jolting Mei from her reverie.

She rose to face the entity that had bestowed her with such ruinous power, her expression hardening. "I never envisioned such devastation. My home, my history, you've obliterated all ties to my past."

The entity tilted its head, a smirk playing on its lips. "Yet, it was you who sought me out, who embraced the power I offered willingly."

Mei's voice rose with indignation. "I sought power to protect Lyon, not to destroy everything!"

As her anger swelled, the sky above darkened ominously, clouds swirling into a threatening black, poised to unleash a storm in response to her tumultuous emotions.

Undeterred, the Herrscher, now mirroring Mei's appearance with uncanny precision, unfurled wings of shattered light, dispelling the surrounding clouds with a mere flap.

"You are mistaken," it countered, stepping closer, the air around it crackling with unspoken power.

Mei recoiled slightly, her eyes locked on the doppelganger. "Your gifts led me astray, fueled by rage rather than reason."

The entity's smirk widened into a malevolent grin as it sensed Mei's inner turmoil. "Oh, but isn't that precisely what you desired? Beyond protection—a way to make those responsible pay?"

Silence hung heavy as Mei clenched her fists tighter, struggling with the truth of the Herrscher's words.

"You and I, we're not so different. Our desires align more closely than you care to admit," the Herrscher continued, its voice a whisper of temptation.

Mei turned away, her voice a soft murmur laden with conflict. "A common goal? You're not me. How could you possibly understand what I truly want?"

The Herrscher's smile was disturbingly sincere, a chilling expression on a being conceived for annihilation.

With a playful wag of her finger and a teasing click of her tongue, she corrected Mei. "It's not merely a 'want', dear Mei. It's a 'need'—a need for him, correct? That's why you accepted my power."

Mei had taken this power to clear their path and, ultimately, to bring Lyon back. It had worked, but now she faced uncharted moral territory.

With a heavy sigh, Mei admitted to herself, "You're right... The thrill of power was intoxicating, but at such a great cost."

The Herrscher hummed thoughtfully, gazing towards the sun, now nearly obscured by dark clouds. "Why dwell on consequences when your goal has been achieved? Focus on what you believe is essential. The masses? Merely inconveniences to your grand plan."

Mei began to protest, "But they are innocent lives—"

"Innocent yet they stood by, doing nothing to help us, and allowed HIM to be killed. You know this, Mei," the Herrscher interjected sharply.

"But still," Mei insisted, "there might be someone out there with answers, answers that could help us solve so many problems..."

The Herrscher scoffed dismissively. "Answers? If you truly wanted to find solutions through peace, why didn't you choose that path from the start?"

Mei was silent. She knew the answer, yet admitting it felt like embracing a dark part of herself she wasn't ready to face.

"You and I, we're not so different," the Herrscher continued, placing a hand gently on Mei's chin, forcing her to meet her gaze. "The pain inflicted upon us, we returned it tenfold to those who wronged us. The debts they owed, we collected with their lives."

As the Herrscher spoke, Mei felt a cold sweat trickle down her temple. Yet, she found herself continuing the thought, "And the power they used against us, we wielded with even greater authority."

"Exactly!" the Herrscher exclaimed, pleased. "It's only fair. They provoked us, and in return, we took everything. We did it all for the ones we love. Do you not agree?"

Torn between her morality and the seductive logic of the Herrscher, Mei felt her convictions wavering. "Yes... they were mere obstacles that prevented us from achieving our happiness."

In that moment, Mei felt a strange sense of relief, as if she had resolved a deep internal conflict.

Releasing Mei's chin, the Herrscher prepared to depart, adding, "Very well, then. I shall take my leave."

Mei reached out, but the sky above shattered, and she felt herself falling, catching one last glimpse of the Herrscher.

"We will meet again soon. And next time..." Mei's vision faded to black, the Herrscher's final words echoing in her mind, "We will make them bow, for we rule the skies with our lightning."

---

Mei blinked as reality seeped back in, replacing the vivid realms of her subconscious. The harsh glare of hospital lights greeted her, stark against the sterile white ceiling above.

She drew a deep, labored breath, feeling the unusual resistance of a mask strapped over her nose and mouth. Glancing down, Mei discovered a tangle of tubes and wires sprawled across her, reminiscent of Bronya's Project Bunny apparatus.

Resigning herself to the pillow, a sense of relief washed over her—the raw affirmation of life, ineffable yet profoundly comforting.

"You must be really out of it not to notice me here," came a teasing male voice, breaking the sterile silence.

Mei's head whipped to the side, her eyes locking onto the familiar figure. Lyon was casually draped over a chair, one leg crossed over the other, waving nonchalantly.

"L-Lyon!" Her voice was muffled by the mask, her eyes wide with a mix of joy and disbelief.

Lyon flashed a grin from behind his sunglasses, "Good to see you awake, Mei."

As Mei struggled to sit up, Lyon rose from his seat to gently press her back down.

"Easy there, Mei. I'm not going anywhere—I'm your caretaker, after all!" He reassured her with a chuckle.

A comforting reassurance, yet a flicker of concern crossed Mei's face. "...What if you get hurt?"

Lyon scoffed playfully, arms crossed as he struck a pose she found both endearing and exasperating.

"Nah, that's not happening again. Plus, I'm a patient here too."

He tapped the bandage wrapped around his forehead, drawing her attention to it. The sight triggered a flash of painful memories—the gunshot, the chaos, the fear.

Seeing her distress, visible in the frantic beeping of the monitors, Lyon quickly moved to soothe her. "Hey, hey, it's okay. The women here did a fantastic job patching me up."

Mei's irritation flickered as he mentioned the caretakers. "...Women? They treated you?"

Before the conversation could spiral, the door swung open, admitting a group of people into the room, diverting their attention.

Lyon and Mei were met with welcoming glances as the group entered the room. Lyon, ever the showman, waved broadly.

"Hey everyone! Mei, remember Kiana? She's that friend I've told you about who's a lot like me."

Kiana, rubbing her nose sheepishly, chimed in cheerfully, "Hey Lyon! Good to see you up and about."

She then turned to Mei, her demeanor a mix of nervousness and resolve, recalling their last near-fatal encounter.

"Hi Mei! I'm Lyon's friend... so, I guess that makes us friends by association, right? Is that how it goes?"

Himeko and Bronya exchanged weary looks at Kiana's awkward introduction.

Mei, managing to sit up with Lyon's assistance, responded with a gentle nod. "Hello, Kiana. It's nice to finally meet you properly."

She thought back to their tumultuous first interaction and offered an olive branch. "I apologize for my actions before; I wasn't myself."

Himeko muttered under her breath, "That's putting it mildly..."

Bronya concurred with a simple, "Da."

Kiana, brushing off her initial fear with a laugh, replied, "Oh gosh, now I feel bad for thinking you were scary. So, we're friends now, right? Like Bratnya here—"

"Don't call me that," Bronya interjected flatly.

"—And we're all peers... except for our teacher here," Kiana continued, gesturing toward Himeko.

Himeko chuckled at the label. "Teacher, huh? I like the sound of that. Seems I've left quite the impression."

Kiana beamed, crossing her arms with pride. "Absolutely! I saw how strong you were in battle. You held off Mei and protected me till you were totally spent like a wet noodle."

Lyon stifled a laugh, his cheeks bulging as he fought to keep it in, while Himeko playfully smacked Kiana on the head, eliciting giggles from the group.

"Cheeky brat! If I'm your teacher, I guess it's time I start acting like one," Himeko teased, prompting a theatrical groan from Kiana.

"Nooooo!" Kiana dramatically fell to her knees.

Watching the playful banter, Mei couldn't help but smile, relieved and grateful for the lighthearted atmosphere and Kiana's gracious acceptance of her apology.

"Hahaha~"

Mei's laughter brought warmth to Lyon's heart—it had been a long time since he'd seen her genuinely smile at anyone else. As the room filled with the chatter of the girls, Lyon found himself lost in thought, experimenting quietly with his newfound abilities.

He flexed his hands, watching them intently. Sunglasses shaded his eyes, a necessary barrier against the overwhelming details of his enhanced vision. It was a sensory overload—was this the world as spiritualists saw it? Seeing the minute particles dancing in the air, invisible to others?

"Let's try something..." he murmured, recalling how he had manipulated the energies around him.

Focusing intently, Lyon attempted to manipulate smaller elements this time. As he concentrated, he observed the dust particles in the air coalescing around his hand, drawn by an invisible force. Tiny specks of energy, similar to what he had seen during the chaos in Nagazora, began to gather.

His hand emitted a soft blue glow as he clenched his fist.

"Hold on there, kiddo. Maybe too soon for show and tell. You're setting off alarms here," Himeko intervened, noticing the disruption his experiment caused.

Lyon ceased his manipulation, realizing he had inadvertently affected the surrounding equipment. The machinery tethered to Mei, previously levitating, clattered back into place.

Kiana and Bronya looked on in awe, while Himeko wore an expression of mixed pride and concern.

"I was just curious," Lyon explained with a casual shrug.

"Curiosity is healthy, but be mindful of the consequences," Himeko cautioned.

With a flick of his wrist, Lyon effortlessly summoned a pen from a nearby table into his hand, demonstrating his control. "Curiosity led me here, and so far, it's all under control."

Himeko massaged her temples. "I can't tell if you're fearless or just a natural."

Lyon remained thoughtful, silently acknowledging his unique sight that allowed him to manipulate unseen forces.

He then turned to Mei, noticing her uneasy gaze.

"Mei...?" he probed gently.

Mei looked away, troubled. "I did this to you..."

Lyon frowned, puzzled by her distress.

"What do you mean? You haven't done anything wrong to me."

Mei shook her head, her voice laden with guilt. "But I did—I healed you, thinking it was the best way. I never considered the changes it might cause."

Lyon played with the pen, watching it glow faintly blue as it hovered. "Like this?"

Mei hesitated, torn between concern and acceptance of his newfound abilities. His positive outlook helped alleviate some of her guilt.

"...Dummy," she muttered affectionately.

Lyon feigned shock, adjusting his sunglasses. "Now, hold on. You're gonna need to explain a bit more than that."

"Don't want to."

Lyon's exasperated expression softened into a grin, appreciating Mei's familiar stubbornness.

"Alright then, keep your secrets—for now."

The room's atmosphere shifted with the entry of a new figure, causing everyone's attention to turn towards the doorway.

Lyon craned his neck downward to get a better look at the small newcomer, and before he could comment, Kiana blurted out, "What's a midget doing here?"

Suppressing a chuckle at Kiana's blunt inquiry, Lyon watched as the newcomer's expression soured.

"A brat like you shouldn't be making such remarks. Honestly, you remind me too much of your father," the newcomer retorted.

Kiana's interest peaked instantly; she crouched to meet the newcomer's gaze. "You know my dad? Tell me, how is he? No, better yet, where is he?"

Her enthusiasm turned physical as she reached out to the newcomer, but suddenly, golden chains manifested, pinning her against the wall.

Lyon instinctively extended an arm in front of Mei for protection, while Bronya defensively pointed at the diminutive figure clad in a nun's attire.

Himeko, exasperated by the chaos, addressed her, "Really, Theresa, isn't this a bit much? She just wanted to know about her dad."

Theresa crossed her arms and huffed, "She should learn to address her superiors with more respect."

Lyon, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, began, "Well, it's hard to command respect when you're a literal—"

Before he could finish, chains shot towards him, prompting a quick correction. "I mean, a young lady of smaller stature, yes, that's it."

Theresa's demeanor softened slightly, "Ah, someone who understands. Thank you, Lyon."

Lyon raised an eyebrow. "You know who I am?"

Nodding, Theresa produced a tablet. "Indeed, I have access to everyone's profiles and histories. It helps to skip formalities, though we avoid prying too deep for... reasons."

"Understood..." Lyon replied.

Clearing her throat, Theresa made an announcement. "Given your involvement in the events at Nagazora City, I'd like to invite you all to enroll at St. Freya High."

Kiana, still pinned, scrunched her face. "St. Freya High? What's that?"

Theresa glanced at Himeko with a puzzled look. "You didn't explain?"

Himeko shrugged. "Didn't exactly have the chance with all the comforting going on."

Theresa sighed, then addressed the group, "St. Freya High is a school designed to train individuals like yourselves to protect the world from the Honkai—entities like what Mei had become."

Pointing at Mei, she added, "You're a special case, Mei. You've got friends here, and we ensure a discrimination-free environment."

Lyon exhaled in relief and gave Mei's hand a reassuring squeeze, which she returned with a grateful smile.

Kiana, finally released from the chains, raised her hand eagerly. Theresa nodded, "Go ahead, Kiana. What's your question?"

Kiana's energy was palpable as she clenched her fist excitedly. "So, I can really search for my dad if I get stronger?"

Theresa, taken aback by the fervor, nodded slowly. "Yes, that's possible, but only if you also maintain good behavior."

Kiana thrust her fist in the air triumphantly. "Yes!"

Bronya, inspired by Kiana's commitment, also voiced her agreement. "The Bronya is agreeable to joining the academy."

Curious, Theresa asked, "May I know your reason for joining? I ask everyone; it helps to understand what drives our students."

Bronya cast a thoughtful glance at Lyon and Mei before returning her gaze to Theresa. "I wish to grow alongside my friends."

Nodding approvingly, Theresa then turned to Lyon and Mei. "And what about you two? Given your history, I assume you might have a joint decision?"

Lyon exchanged a look with Mei, giving her a moment to voice her thoughts.

Mei touched her chest thoughtfully before addressing Theresa. "I believe attending the school will help me atone for past actions and challenge me to grow in positive ways."

"That's a commendable perspective," Theresa responded with a smile. "Self-improvement is a critical step toward growth. And you, Lyon?"

Lyon paused, considering his options. Catching Mei's hopeful expression, he felt a familiar tug at his heartstrings. Her silent plea made his decision easier.

"That look should be illegal," he muttered under his breath before addressing Theresa. 

"I'm in."

Upon hearing everyone's agreement, Theresa clapped her hands enthusiastically. "Excellent! You're all now Valkyries in training. Orientation begins in two weeks, and you'll be sharing a dorm with Himeko."

As the room filled with applause, Lyon's curiosity piqued. "Hold on, Valkyries? Isn't that a title typically for women, like in Norse mythology?"

Theresa paused mid-clap, her expression shifting awkwardly. "Oh, right... you're a guy."

Lyon's initial amusement faded to concern. "Please tell me the school is co-ed..."

Theresa's response did little to reassure him. "Well, you'll probably blend in just fine as the only male student. Teehee~"

Mei couldn't help but giggle, trying to offer some comfort. "Don't worry, Lyon. You'll surely make a positive impact at the school with your usual flair."

Kiana added her thoughts with a grin. "Yeah, and you're great in a fight! I bet you'll show those Valkyries who's boss!"

Lyon's anxiety was palpable as he felt an involuntary finger twitch.

Bronya, ever the analyst, offered her prognosis. "The Bronya forecasts significant disruptions caused by Subject Lyon. High likelihood of getting a girlfri—"

Catching Mei's stern look, Bronya swiftly amended her prediction. "—High likelihood of engaging interactions with fellow students."

As the intensity in Mei's gaze softened, Bronya exhaled a silent sigh of relief.

Taking a deep breath, Lyon surveyed Theresa and Himeko, both sporting sheepish grins.

"What have I gotten myself into..."

End of Chapter

---

A/N: Happy New Year, everyone! Now, everyone has entered St. Freya, and Lyon is going to be quite confused with the timeskip in the next chapter. That's all; have a nice day and year.