A Conversation Across Time (part 2)
there was silence between them.
"Hehe, I can't forget that moment, Otto," Kallen chuckled, "Even after 500 years have passed."
Otto just mumbled a small "Emm..." in response.
Kallen didn't seem to mind his lack of enthusiasm.
She continued, "After that, things went downhill fast. I raised the flag of rebellion against the old Schicksal. At same time i searched everywhere for you, but it was like you vanished into thin air. Everything about you just... disappeared."
Otto who heard that started to use his Soulium brain to think hard and connect the dots.
Kallen in this world... Otto in that world... Could it be...?
"Everyone! Otto, Nobody even remembers you, even little Octavia or Eleanor" Kallen exclaimed, her voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and sadness. "I was so confused back then... I didn't know what to think."
She stepped closer to Otto, reaching out to take his hand. But her fingers passed right through him.
"I even started to wonder if you were real," she admitted, her voice softening. "If it was all just a dream, a memory that faded away…"
A small smile touched her lips. "But you're real here."
"Emm and back then, while I was busy leading the rebellion, we finally managed to take over Schicksal from those old geezers."
"Long story short," Kallen said, "I became the Overseer of Schicksal because, well, you guys - the Apocalypse family - were a mess. Incompetent, corrupt, and the people were furious."
She shook her head, a touch of frustration in her voice. "I was so confused back then. What do you mean a seasonal fighter like me suddenly becomes the overseer? It's all so... political, and I hate politics!"
Kallen turned away, but couldn't resist peeking back at Otto over her shoulder. "Even though there's someone who could have actually fixed things," she whispered, sticking her tongue out playfully, "but he wasn't there when we needed him."
Otto, who had heard her, felt a mix of emotions. He wanted to laugh at her silly behavior, but he was also a little embarrassed by her words.
"Hehe, sorry, Kallen," he mumbled.
"Umph," Kallen grunted, turning around and starting to walk. Otto followed close behind.
"After that..." she trailed off, her voice softening. "Sakura... I don't really want to talk about it."
She took a deep breath and continued, "I went to China for some business and met the Red Kite Immortal. We made a deal back then."
She paused, as if lost in thought. "After that, nothing much happened for hundreds of years. It all started when the first Great Honkai Eruption happ-"
"Wait a minute, Kallen…" Otto interrupted, a chuckle escaping his lips. "Haha you time skipped really far there, I have a question on my mind right now. How did you manage to live that long?" He hesitated.
"Ah, if you don't want to talk about it, it's okay," he added quickly, trying to lighten the mood. "No pressure."
Otto himself uses the Black Abyss White Flower to extend his life for one moment.
But From the Moment he Understood the Weakness of his Flesh... he changed to Soulium avatar.
Hearing Otto's hesitant voice, Kallen fell silent for a moment.
Then, she spoke softly, "If you're asking why I don't age... well, it's an accident with the Divine Key, the Black Abyss White Flower. As for why I wanted to live for 500 years... Would you believe me if I said it was because of you?"
"Kallen, I believe it." He even happy about it.
She continued, "It's more like... I kept going because of a promise we made when we were kids. They say a person dies three times: when they take their last breath, when they're buried, and when nobody remembers them anymore. Only I can remember you, and remember our promise. Remember? We promised to save the world together."
Kallen's eyes glistened, a flicker of determination in them. "And that's what I'm going to do."
…
Kallen briefly summarized the first and second Honkai Eruptions, comparing them to the events in Otto's world.
They turned back towards their starting point, and Kallen, catching sight of Theresa, remembered something.
"Oh, speaking of Theresa, she's from your Apocalypse clan... the last one. I raised her as my granddaughter because of some unfounded rumors going around."
"umm…"
"Otto?"
"Kallen, have you ever noticed how Theresa looks like you?" Otto asked, comparing them in his mind.
"You think so just from looking?" Kallen chuckled. "I think so too. Theresa reminds me of myself when I was young. She's so kind, so innocent, so... idealistic. It makes me feel nostalgic. Oh yeah, she's the one who proposed building St. Freya Academy. Blah, blah, blah..."
Otto listened intently, letting Kallen ramble on. Initially,
he had meant to say that Kallen (in her younger years) and Theresa were similar in appearance, not personality. He even wondered if someone had done a cloning experiment using Kallen's DNA in that world. (Kaslana gene is so powerful, ask where MEI intellect go for that)
But then, he shook his head.
Why bother with wild theories?
He'd let Kallen have her moment.
Let her talk.
…
Kallen continued her timeline, offering a brief overview of the third Honkai Eruption. She spoke of the arrival of the Outsiders, the Luo Mo, and how his presence sparked a chain of events. She talked about his games, the Flame Chasers, and everything that followed.
Kallen talked a lot, jumping from one memory to the next in this moment. It felt a bit jumbled, but she was clearly pouring her heart out.
He listened very carefully, very attentively.
He nodded from time to time, frowned occasionally, and even questioned her about certain details. Kallen, meanwhile, simply recounted her past, one piece at a time.
"Sirin, she lived to this day, and Kiana... what a perfect world."
Otto couldn't help but sigh, interrupting her story.
Because he sensitively sensed that the time limit was approaching, he was about to leave, but he was a little reluctant.
He hadn't heard enough of her stories, hadn't seen enough of that warm smile that lit up her face.
He took a deep breath, trying to collect his thoughts.
"Whew—, with these kind people by your side, Kallen, I'm truly happy. I believe you'll create a miracle that's no less than mine, in a different way."
"The spirit of the Saint will unite them, not my endless scheming."
"As for Theresa, you should supervise her and make her eat more vegetables and fruits... that magic of love in cooking has already failed, maybe this world doesn't have that kind of magic..."
"Durandal... she'll be an outstanding Valkyrie; and that Cecilia, I just hope she's well... after all, I'm not a good person either."
Otto chuckled self-deprecatingly.
Kallen was silent, as if anticipating the approaching evening bell, the short reunion would be ruthlessly broken up again.
"I will... Otto, but about the Stigmata, can you survive?"
She looked at him hopefully, she wanted him to live, no matter the reason.
"Maybe..."
Otto glanced at Kallen's back, but he had no intention of acting. He simply looked at her gently, standing in the red desert.
"Why..."
Kallen couldn't help but exclaim, she was about to take a step forward.
"But Kallen... time isn't something that can be fooled. It has already predetermined the price from the very beginning. Kallen, to have this moment, to see your smile again... I'm already so happy."
Otto said softly, he already had a premonition.
If he chose to enter the Stigmata, the world before him would shatter, everything would become mere talk.
That power that was about to change destiny would vanish, under the hand of the cage called time.
This meeting was a coincidental accident, but it was definitely not a carefully prepared dessert.
The rules of spacetime wouldn't be rewritten, and the Imaginary Tree could have stopped it, but it chose to let it be. It certainly wasn't out of kindness.
...But he was still grateful to it.
In the last brilliant moment of his life, he witnessed the great work he had created with his own hands.
For a man who pursued his path, he was content.
"...Is that so, I'm sorry, Otto."
"Kallen... you don't need to apologize," Otto said gently. "Go, save that world. I believe in you. You'll still have like-minded companions and comrades. This time, you'll be able to step over the stepping stones to victory more easily."
He smiled, a hint of warmth in his eyes. "I'll bless you, Kallen. In that distant future, I hope by some miracle we meet again."
"Goodbye, my dear Kallen."
"Goodbye, my great inventor," Kallen whispered, a tear tracing a path down her cheek.
Then, everything seemed to glow with a blinding light...
…
…
…
...
...
...
Then they saw each other again.
???
"Ooiiii!"
"you guys! hug kiss or do whatever hurry! ahh, my Krystal... hurry! this won't last long!"
there was a familiar voice behind Kallen, Kallen looked up to see Luo Mo. running towards her in full speed.
Not having time to think, Luo Mo immediately pushed Kallen forward to...
Bruck