Chapter 21: Kiana Seems Different

It was the third quarter of midnight in early summer, a time when the insects were chirping vigorously.

After countless twists and turns, everything finally comes to an end, like the last note of a song being carefully played.

Ye Feng got up from Kiana and, seeing her pout like a little kitten, couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? Realizing it only now?"

Kiana blinked, "Realizing what?"

"Hmm..."

This innocent confusion left Ye Feng speechless.

Kiana got up, skillfully wiped the sweat from her lower abdomen, got dressed, grabbed a chicken leg from the dining table, and sat down next to him to eat in silence.

Her movements were smooth and effortless, without the slightest hesitation.

Kiana looked out the window, feeling a bit frustrated.

"Why can't I ever beat the class president?"

"Fu Hua? But wasn't your bet with Bronya?"

"Yes, but considering all the effort I've put in, shouldn't getting first place be a given?"

"If effort and sacrifice always led to the ideal outcome, then this 'Reality Online' game wouldn't be called the worst in history."

Ye Feng walked over, and Kiana immediately looked at him warily.

"What are you planning? You said you'd only punish me once tonight."

"Of course, just like the 'knights' of House Kaslana, I keep my word."

Ye Feng sat down next to Kiana with a cup of milk tea, poking at the cup with a straw.

"However for a bug like you, losing to Fu Hua isn't unfair."

Kiana immediately pouted, "You're really annoying. I told you not to call me that—it sounds so silly."

"But it's my term of endearment."

"Well, I don't want it. Endearment? Are we really that close?"

Ye Feng looked at Kiana's abdomen and then pointed to himself. "What do you think?"

"What do I think? I want to punch your face in."

Kiana spoke bluntly, showing a certain boldness.

Ye Feng smiled; this defiance was as fragile as her earlier protests.

If Ye Feng hadn't helped her reset, Kiana would now be like a fish out of water.

Seeing Kiana's displeasure, Ye Feng said, "Fu Hua's identity isn't simple, you know."

"Identity?"

"Have you heard of the 'immortals' of Shenzhou?"

"Don't tell me, the class president is one of those legendary immortals from Shenzhou?"

"Thousands of years ago, she was known as the 'Red Kite Immortal.'"

"Eh?"

Although she hadn't heard of it before, the name alone sounded impressive.

"Wait, thousands of years? Is the class president really thousands of years old? No wonder she's so old-fashioned and stubborn."

"No..."

"Not thousands of years? You just said she was the Red Kite Immortal thousands of years ago."

"I meant she wasn't just thousands of years old, but rather a figure from fifty thousand years ago."

"Fifty... fifty thousand years..."

That's truly an antique level.

Kiana was shocked by this news, her eyes wide, filled with disbelief. She stood there in a daze, the chicken leg in her hand dropping to the ground.

It took Kiana several seconds to process this information, followed by even greater confusion.

"So, why would an immortal who's lived for tens of thousands of years come to St. Freya Academy?"

Ye Feng smiled and stared at Kiana, "Take a guess."

"If you don't want to tell me, fine, I don't really want to know anyway."

Kiana deliberately pretended not to care.

She had noticed that the more she resisted, the more excited that scoundrel became.

So, after her workout with Ye Feng earlier, Kiana acted nonchalant.

At the very least, this approach seemed to prevent him from getting overly interested.

Kiana had to admit, she had a talent for acting.

As she tidied her clothes, she suddenly remembered something—Wait. The exam week is already over, so why am I still taking his so-called guidance? And tonight's questions were clearly a level harder than before.

Damn it! I got totally ripped off!

She had learned the word "damn" from Ye Feng.

Whenever Ye Feng used that word, it was always in the form of a question.

Back then, Kiana would tilt her head, chew on her hair, and ignore him.

---

The day after the results were announced, St. Freya Academy officially started summer vacation.

Like other schools, all the students went back home to enjoy a two-month-long summer break.

Except for a few Valkyries who had no home to return to.

And... Theresa, who was buried in paperwork at a massive desk.

This was the busiest time.

Finalizing the student roster for the next semester, which required background checks for many.

Maintaining and upgrading the school's equipment, and dealing with the academy's severe funding deficit...

And, of course, maintaining stability in the Far East branch, exploring ruins, and investigating the Honkai zones, among other tasks.

"Summer vacation has started, and Aunt Theresa is still working."

Kiana said, sucking on an ice pop as she walked in.

"This is the duty of the school principal. Do you need something, Kiana?"

"Hehe, with this Valkyrie exam, I should be eligible to be promoted to an A-rank Valkyrie, right?"

Kiana bounced over to Theresa's side and looked down. On top of a stack of documents was a folder labeled "Analysis Report on the Nine Nether Ruins."

"Aunt Theresa, what's this?"

Theresa glanced at Kiana's abdomen and said, "It's said that there are natural Stigmata within the Nine Nether Ruins. If we can find them, it would significantly advance our understanding of Stigmata."

"Wow, Aunt Theresa, you care so much about me! I'm really touched."

Kiana threw her arms around Theresa, nuzzling her.

"The ice pop you're eating is melting—ah, it's dripping on my thigh!"

The melted ice pop dripped its sticky, milky-white liquid from Kiana's lips, soaking into Theresa's white stockings.

The liquid spread, forming dark, damp circles on the pure, bright white fabric.

Kiana giggled as she walked away, saying, "You don't need to worry so much about me, Aunt Theresa. Even though that guy is obnoxious and annoying, he wouldn't do anything to harm me."

"We can't be sure just yet. The 'Ye Feng' you mentioned—we've used every method we have, but we haven't been able to find even the slightest trace of him. And... exploring natural Stigmata is a matter of great significance."

Theresa then looked at Kiana seriously.

"What's the matter, Aunt Theresa?"

"I just feel like... Kiana, you've changed recently."

"Changed? How?"

"You've become a bit like your mother... though I can't quite put my finger on it."

"Really?!"

Kiana wiggled with joy, leaning forward until she was almost in Theresa's face.

"Aunt Theresa, can you tell me more about my mother?"

Beep beep beep—!!

At that moment, the encrypted communicator on Theresa's desk lit up, and Himeko's voice came through.

"Principal, the Science Department reports that a massive Honkai energy surge was just detected in Nagazora City. It seems to be a pseudo-Herrscher."

"Oh?"

Theresa glanced at Kiana and murmured, "Has it really appeared..."