Now with the help of Raven, I can get closer to finding Kiana and Patrick. This was a temporary truce so I want to make sure that I can prevent her from killing Kiana.

Mei: ...

Raven: ...

Raven: This silence irks me. Say something, girl. I know we're not friends, but I don't mind talking.

I did not reply.

Raven: ...Fine. I'm tracking the Herrscher of the Void and the other one. When I comeback here I found something left by the one called Patrick. He left some burn marks on a wall with writing saying that he is guarding the Herrscher of the Void with his master from the Honkai. That was all the writing said. ... Hmm... I just found a few suitable targets.

Raven's cape fluttered and she was gone in an instant... Honkai chariots appeared. I slashed at them with my sword. Then Honkai archangels appeared after I defeated the chariots. I slashed with my sword and used electric attacks with my sword. After I defeated the archangels, Honkai knights appeared. They tried ramming at me but I dodged them and slashed at them till they were dead. However a Honkai chariot appeared but Raven came in and slashed it.

Honkai Beast: ...!!

A dark shadow flew past. Raven landed on the beast and sank her talons into its carapace. A crimson hue quickly spread across the pale white shell until the beast was wholly covered in darkness.

Raven: The pain will be gone, child.

The beast's dying roars soon stopped. It then collapsed lifelessly to the ground.

Mei: What did you do to it?

Raven: An intimate "exchange", you might say.

Raven: These common beasts aren't sentient, but will still respond to Honkai signals like they're some form of pheromones. Disrupting these signals allows us to change their behaviors. Controlling one beast will let us command the others. That's how I've kept the beasts and zombies away from the safe zone.

Mei: (...So that's how the safe zone works.)

Raven: This "exchange" lets me send messages. I can receive messages from them as well.

Raven and I continued forward killing more Honkai beasts. She's mapped out some spots in the west city on a map to find Kiana and Patrick. She needs more samples to find their exact location. I have hope that I'll find them. Raven intends to keep her job a secret from Sora and the children. She also told me that the children were born with stigmata and can't live without stigmata. I had asked her why she wanted to kill Kiana and she told me her answer. She wouldn't take any risks with her.

Mei: It wasn't her fault. It was Otto Apocalypse's fault. That's what Patrick-kun would say. He wants to kill him because he was the one who caused the 4th impact. Not Kiana-chan.

Raven: That makes no difference. The Herrscher was the one who caused the eruption.

Mei: After the Overseer awakened her. It was his fault not her's.

Raven: Look. I'm not going to argue with you any further. I believe in facts and evidence. Sadly, neither you nor Anti-Entropy has any.

She casually tossed away the last Honkai beast and leaped away.

Raven: I'm a villain, but I'm not a demon. You must know that real demons actually roam this world. People will hate her, use her, covet her powers, and seek to control her. Her life is hell and will never get better. You can't even stop me. Do you think you can stop those people?

We returned back to the Roost. Sora hid behind a window and secretly glanced at us. Raven gave her a small package to share with the other children.

Raven: Almost forgot about this. Take it and share with the others.

Sora: ...

Raven: I didn't make this. It's candied rice crisps I've brought from Shenzhou.

Sora: Oh... thank you, Sensei!

The little girl disappeared with the bag of dessert.

Raven: ... Give me a moment to triangulate the Herrscher's location. ...And before I forget, I still owe you one.

Raven entered a dilapidated shed and emerged with a prisoner tied up with plenty of rope.

Mei: Dr. Tesla?!

Raven: I ran into her before I found you and Sora. There was some misunderstanding. She started it.

Mei: Why did you...?!

Raven: I only wanted to restrain her, but her language was... unhealthy for the children. Gagging her was the only option. Take care of her and meet me at the wall. Remember, I promised Sora I'd take you. Alone.

Raven: And be prepared. The Honkai dragon won't make it easy for us. However, Patrick and his dragon will make things less harder for us. I sensed something strange while fighting it. It felt like... human sorrow, pain, and guilt. Instinct drives Honkai beasts to gather around Herrschers. But this one wants to protect her. I didn't expect Honkai beasts to have such feelings. It reminds me a lot of you.

Mei: (I felt something in my mind when I fought this... Benares... It felt strange... yet oddly familiar...)

Raven: Do your best, Miss Raiden, but I doubt you can change anything.

I carried Tesla back to the Helios. While I did, I defeated some Honkai monsters along there way till we finally got back to the Helios. Then I un-gaged her. When the scientist woke, I told her about my meeting with Raven.

Tesla: What? Really? Are you sure you want to find Kiana and Patrick with her help?

Mei: She intends to kill her. I must be there to stop her. And so must Patrick-kun.

Tesla: This is getting out of hand. We need to call for support. That woman is dangerous.

Mei: I know, but her hatred for Kiana-chan seems personal and not part of the World Serpent's plans. But not as bad as Patrick's hatred for the Overseer. She'll kill Kiana-chan for certain, and she'll show no mercy to anyone in her way.

Mei: But despite all that, I need her help to find my friends...

I held Kiana's jacket.

Mei: ...There were so many times where They were right there before me. The Battle of Schicksal, Patrick-kun raging out, the fight against Rita... and when Patrick-kun fought Durandal and escaped with Kiana-chan from Durandal... But she took them anyway... I could only watch on hopelessly as Patrick-kun flew away with Kiana-chan... too weak to even do anything.

Tesla: It wasn't your fault...

Mei: Thank you, Dr. Tesla. You've always comforted me... But... I can't go on like this... not anymore... I can't keep lying to myself... Kiana's presence helped me forget about the painful past, the loneliness, and the confusion... But when she was gone, I suddenly realised that nothing had changed at all. I... I haven't changed at all... I'm still a timid girl cowering in my corner, and I failed to notice that everyone was gone until it was too late. My inability to change led to our separation... it's what has led to what we're facing today... She has always protected me, but I... I failed to do anything for her... Patrick-kun protected her for the past few months after the Battle of Schicksal but I didn't.

I looked at Patrick's jacket hanging.

Mei: When missing Patrick-kun, I felt my heart beat faster. Like some feelings were developing inside of me. Kiana-chan never wanted any boys touching me. Getting to know Patrick-kun for a long time meant that I was able to understand boys and men much better. When I saw him transform. I felt the rage and hatred inside of him. He was suffering just like Kiana-chan. ... I hate myself... I can't go on like this. I must accept the fact that I lack the power to protect her.

My face changed into a look of determination.

Mei: Accepting this doesn't mean that I'm giving up. No, it will make me see things more clearly... I have to... make sacrifices to bring her home. I'll face anything. I don't care if I'm walking directly into a trap or set up against a deadly enemy... ...Because I know this is the only way Patrick-kun and I can protect Kiana-chan.

Tesla: ... Just be safe, Mei...

(Meanwhile somewhere else)

Underneath a pile of rubble was Patrick looking outward. He could feel my presence and Raven's presence. 

Patrick: Hurry Mei. 

Then he goes back into the rubble.