The feeling in his body would slowly return to Alex as he twitched his fingers for a bit before slowly standing up.

He look around to see that he was in an empty dark void that seemed endless which confused him.

'Is this the afterlife? Not quite as welcoming as I would've imagined.' Thought the boy.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of fire crackling not too far ahead of him as he looked in that direction.

Once facing where the sound was coming from, he noticed a faint light source up ahead as trailing from it were burnt, broken off pieces of wood which were clear signs of a campfire.

He walked towards the source and upon reaching it, he noticed two logs for sitting on the left and right of the campfire.

Upon sitting down on the left log, he heard a voice next to him.

"About time you showed up. I was starting to feel a little lonely." Said a female voice.

Alex looked off to the right as his eyes widened a bit upon seeing who it was.

BGM:

It was her.

It was Himeko.

Alex remained silent for a moment as Himeko chuckled a bit.

"Cat got your tongue kid? By the way, nice hole ya got there." Said the redhead as Alex looked down and saw the wound where the debris had stabbed through him.

"Huh. Didn't know that was still there." He said with an awkward chuckle.

"I assume you have some things you'd like to ask me right? Go ahead. I'm all ears. We've got plenty of time." Said Himeko as Alex nodded.

He began to think on what he wanted to ask until he came up with something.

"I wanna know your tale. Your story. What led you to this moment?" He asked.

Himeko remained quiet for a bit before signing to herself.

"Geez. Where do I begin? I'll spare you the boring details and get into the important stuff." She said as Alex nodded.

"Alright." He said.

"Truth be told, I didn't wanna become a Valkyrie. At least, not in my early years. From elementary to college I was just an ordinary girl who attended to her studies. I always had a fascination with exploring the stars. So much so that I attended the California Institute of Technology's AeroSpace and Engineering Program. While there, I was taught by two people you currently know. Sovereign of Anti-Entropy Welt Yang, and Dr. Einstein." Explained Himeko.

"Those two were your teachers in college? Huh. Quite funny how things seem to circle back to one another." Said Alex.

"I was always on my own since my father was busy working for Schicksal and my mother passed away at an early age. Despite my isolation, I always looked up to and loved my father. Mr. Yang and Dr. Einstein were wonderful teachers as well. Those college years were some of the best times of my life." Said the redhead in a somber tone.

"What happened?"

"I still don't quite get it, but unseen forces beyond my comprehension would target me due to a conflict between Mr. Yang and my father which left me unconscious. Once I came too, I had received a farewell letter from my father. Shortly after that, Dr. Einstein informed me that my father had passed away and that Mr. Yang had mysteriously dissappeared."

"Huh. That's, odd................."

"I felt the same. That's when I made a decision. I'd finish my PhD a year later and after that, I officially enlisted to join Schicksal as a Valkyrie. Since my father had worked there, I figured I'd be able to get some answers. Unfortunately, my chances were slim since my Honkai Adaptability was significantly lower than most Valkyries my age. Despite that, I would always get praise from an A-Rank Valkyrie named Ragna. Her constant enthusiasm allowed me to get through the grueling training and officially be accepted into the Assault Squad where Captain Ragna was the leader."

"That was nice of her. I'm sure she was a good leader."

"She was. She was the best. Despite being accepted, my low Honkai a
Adaptability was still a concern. To combat that, I was given an artificial stigmata. The downside was that my lifespan would be reduced."

Alex went completely silent upon hearing that as he was in complete shock that she went through something like that.

"How much did finding out the truth behind your father's death mean to you?" He asked.

"At that time, more than anything. I didn't necessarily care about my teammates or the future. I was just so focused on reaching the truth. During those times, Captain Ragna would always go on and on about how rewarding and fulfilling it was for her to be looking after kids and raising the next generation of Valkyries. I didn't necessarily see eye to eye with her on that. Then one day, the Assault Squad was sent on a mission. A mission where the entire team, including Captain Ragna was wiped out. I was the only survivor."

Alex remained quiet, unsure on how to respond to Himeko's entire team being slained with her being the sole survivor.

"I must admit, I felt lost after that. The survivor's guilt hit me hard. Trying to find the truth about my father was leading me no where, so I had no clue on what to do. That was until I decided to follow up on Ragna's words to me. Her words motivated me and led me to becoming a teacher at St. Freya. I'm sure you know the rest of the story from here. Four years of teaching pass and I end up in charge of the girls. Kiana, Mei, and Bronya. Add onto that us four living with Theresa and Fu Hua in the same dorm. Those early school days were quite a hassle."

"I could imagine."

"Mhm. And then one day off of a recommendation from Fu Hua, me and Theresa decided to hire a certain mercenary to help the girls in retrieving a rogue airship." Said Himeko with a smirk as Alex chuckled.

"I wonder who that merc could be. I'd like to meet them one day." Said the boy with a hint of sarcasm as the two had a small laugh over it.

"Those definitely were the days. The girls were all family to me. Even when you were brought into the fold, you didn't stick out like a sore thumb at all. You fit right in perfectly. I truly miss those times."

"Yeah. With all that's happened since then, the days at St. Freya all feel like they happened an eternity ago."

The two went silent until Alex decided that now was the time to ask the question that he felt had to be answered.

"Why'd you do it? That vial definitely could've saved you, right? Why pick Kiana over yourself?" He asked.

Himeko remained quiet for a bit longer until she chuckled slightly.

"The answer to that is quite simple really."

"What is it then?"

"Wanna know the last words that Captain Ragna ever told me before she died? She told me that I would be able to shape this wretched world into what I want it to be alongside the kids who'd pioneer and lead the future. She saw me as the key in the fight for everything that's beautiful in this world. I simply imparted Captain Ragna's words from myself and passed them onto Kiana. She's the one who will safeguard the future. She'll change this wretched world into what she wants. Kiana is the one who'll fight for everything that's beautiful in this world." Proudly proclaimed Himeko as Alex nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I agree. It can be no one else but her."

"Obviously, she needed some help along the way. I'm truly proud of the people those girls have become. Kiana, Mei, and Bronya have all become exceptional Herrschers. Fu Hua's become a splendid mentor, and that shorty Theresa has done great looking after them in my place. Last but not least, there's you kid. You may not buy it, but I can tell that you've matured a ton. There isn't anything that you wouldn't do if it meant protecting them. You've grown tremendously just like them. From the bottom of my heart, I'm proud of you. Thank you for sticking by their side till the very end."

Alex was rendered speechless at hearing Himeko's touching words as he looked away to sneakily wipe away a few tears as the redhead noticed this.

"Aww. Did that get you all emotional~?" She teasingly asked.

"S-Shut up......." He said, annoyed but also super thankful.

He'd look back at the campfire and sigh.

"As the Wild Card, it was my obligation to change any outcome into a positive one. That Herrscher didn't plan for my intrusion, and I helped turned the tide against it. Just enough to let Kiana finish the job and continue her story. As for me, it seems like my story ends here. It's a shame honestly. I promised a young kid that I'd hand him my sword once my journey was done. Guess that'll never happen now." He somberly said.

Himeko didn't respond for a moment until she asked him a question.

"Hey kid. How old are you?"

"Fourteen. Would've turned Fifteen in a couple of weeks. To die so close to my birthday as well..........."

"Who's to say your story is finished? In fact, I'd say it's quite the opposite."

Alex was confused by Himeko's words until he felt something warm on his abdomen.

He'd look down and saw a small flame had formed where his wound was as the flame was seemingly healing it.

"W-What the hell?" Asked the boy in complete shock.

Himeko simply stood with a smile as she looked up.

"That girl truly doesn't know when to quit, does she?" She asked.

Alex was a little confused as to who Himeko was alluding too but it didn't take long until he figured it out, eyes widening in shock as he gasped.

"K-Kiana..........? She's cauterizing my wound?"

As Alex was trying to process this, Himeko would snap her fingers as the two logs and campfire suddenly went away as now it was just her and him in the empty void.

"Your story isn't ending just yet. You've been given a new lease on life, all thanks to her. Where ever this journey takes you and the girls, just know that I'll always be supporting you all. That's what a true leader does."

Himeko would walk towards Alex, stopping before him as he grabbed his shoulders and turned him to face her.

She then brought him in for a hug as at that moment Alex felt completely numb, his consciousness slipping away once more as he faintly heard Himeko's last words to him.

"Goodbye, Alex........"

Alex would slowly open his eyes once more, having to re-adjust them again to the colors around him as he stared up at the sky that belonged to the Legion Herrscher's Domain.

He'd slowly sit up and inspected the floor which was the same as it was before he passed out.

'I'm.........still in the underground arena. I'm still in the Theater......' He thought before feeling slight pain in his abdomen as he looked and sure enough, the wound had been completely cauterized to prevent any further bleeding and infection.

Alex then heard sobs beside him as he looked to the side and saw her.

It was Kiana in a completely new form.

One he had never seen before.

Her long white hair was now tied in a ponytail with two large streaks of red flowing through.

Her eyes were now a brighter shade of blue as she wore red earrings, a black crown-like crown accessory on her hair, a flowing cape reminiscent of flames, and white knight-like armor accented with black and orange.

The girl had tears flowing down her face, completely sobbing as she held her hands up to her face in shock.

Before Alex could even say anything, the girl immediately embraced him in a tight and warm hug.

The boy could tell that Kiana refused to let go as she was crying a waterfall of tears.

"H-Hey stop crying. Everything's okay. I'm, alive............" He said, still in disbelief at that last part.

Alex would gently pull the girl off of him and wiped her tears away as Kiana sobbed a bit.

"Y-You don't know..........how much I w-worried about you after N-Nagazora.........." She said between sobs.

"Yeah, sorry. Things happened that were just out of my control." He said as Kiana wiped the last of her tears and finally cracked a smile.

"I-It's okay. Nothing that happened back then was yours nor Mei's fault. After all, It led to this moment right here." She said as Alex nodded.

The girl would help him stand up as Alex looked around.

"Where's everyone? What happened while I was out?" He asked.

"I took care of the Herrscher with the help of Bronya, Fu Hua, .....................and Himeko..." She said with a somber smile before continuing on. "I defeafed the final puppet. Bronya and Fu Hua were sent back out of the domain so, it's just me and you."

Alex nodded as suddenly, the ground beneath them began to shake, a crack appearing in the middle of the floor as the two stumbled a bit but held onto each other's hands.

BGM Ends Here

"C-Come on! Let's head back! We're all waiting for you!" Shouted Kiana as the rumbling was extremely loud.

Alex was about to step across onto the other side until he remembered something, gaining a somber smile before looking Kiana in the eyes.

"Kiana! Remember that promise I made to you back in Arc City!?" He asked as Kiana nodded.

"You said you'd always stay and be by my side!" She said.

"I'm sorry, but our time apart is gonna have to last a bit longer, don't worry though! I promise that one day, we WILL see each other again! That'll be the day I'll uphold my promise to you! I'll come back, I promise!" Shouted Alex as the rumbling got louder.

Kiana was a little heartbroken but simply responded with a heartfelt smile, knowing that she had no reason to doubt Alex.

"I know you will!" She shouted back, reciprocating Alex's promise as at that moment the ground finally split into two as Alex and Kiana let go of one another's hands as the pieces they stood on drifted off in opposite directions.

As the ground they stood on drifted further and further away, Kiana saw Alex simply give her a smile and thumbs up before he finally dissappeared in the distance.

The girl simply had a soft smile, clutching at her chest as she had a light blush, having one last thought before she too finally exited the Theater.

'The next time we see each other, I'll tell him about these feelings that I've finally figured out.'

--------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 39: Complete

Ending Theme: New Moon, New Life from Persona 3 Reload by Azumi Takahashi and Lotus Juice

Author's Notice:

And with that, A Serpent's Tale has come to a conclusion.

Holy hell did this book have insane amounts of traction throughout it's runtime.

I truly am super thankful and greateful to all who read and kept up through this chapter of the story.

Funnily enough, I had always wanted to make a trilogy of stories but was never able to until today.

Guess that's another thing I have to thank the Honkai overlords for.

Obviously though with where I'm at in the Honkai storyline, this ISN'T the end as there's still plenty of story to go over.

Well, that'll be for me to concern myself with later on.

For now, I'll just take it easy and finish up those seggs chapters that I promised y'all.

Either way, thank you everyone for reading this story and as always, I'll eagerly anticipate y'all in the next installment of this battle for everything that's beautiful in this world.

Sincerely, Alyx/FlameHaze.

The Serpent's Tale: Completed.