Chapter 6: Does the past have a will?

"Who would have imagined someone was capable of seeing me other than the host?" Seele remarked with a hint of amusement in her voice.

"But forgive me, Sister Delta~ I harbor no desire more harm upon Sin Mal than necessary. I merely came to give a small lesson~" Seele added.

"And so I am; I have been keeping an eye on you since then. Originally, you seemed harmless, but now I have witnessed your true capabilities. You've injured one of the children in our home, the orphanage, and there's no telling whether you might pose a threat to any of us in the near future," I stated, lowering my weapon. It seemed she had no intention of starting a fight with me.

"You're speaking differently than your usual self, and just now you materialized a weapon in your hand. Just what in the world are you?" Seele asked, a forced smile engraved across her face. For some reason, she seemed anxious. Did I misunderstand her? Judging by her expression, she appeared different from her usual self, an ever-grinning shadow that usually followed Seele.

"I'm just your proud sister, Seele~" I playfully responded, a mischievous grin on my face. Ahhh! I wanna run away! After witnessing those expressions, I can't see a trace of a lie. Perhaps, I should simply ask and spend the remaining time getting to know the other Seele~

"Then, dear sister, may we take our leave tonight?" Seele asked, and my response to her was a silent answer.

"Lies don't just slip past me, just so you know. Who are you? What exactly are you?" I asked, and it seemed like this single question took a heavy load for her.

"Alright, if you can't reveal it for some reason, let's change the question," I propose, and I could see a feeling of relief adorned her face, easing the weight of that pressing question I asked her. 

"Are you an enemy?" I ask a straightforward question, a question easily answered by lies. Yet, their faces reveal the truth behind their words, making deception useless.

"Nyet," she replied, and as her eyes transformed back to the blue hue, resembling an oceanic reflection, I could feel ease in her answer that matched her expressions.

"Lovely answer, and welcome back, Seele," I spoke, giving her my gentlest smile.

"Ah, thank goodness," Seele sighed, a feeling of relief passing over her after my sudden appearance. At that moment, her gaze was drawn to something on the floor—a piece of paper.

"Hmm? Sin was reading this when I saw her," Seele stated, picking up the paper and reading its contents. Shortly after, she rashly ran without a single word.

"Seele! Where are you going?" I shouted, running to catch up with her. As I was about to run, I caught a glimpse at the content of the paper; it was the X-10 experiment we participated in.

"I see, but Seele, I'm sorry, but you must stop!" I yelled, throwing my materialized blade to the ground before her. The moment the blade pierced the floor, the world underwent a quick change. Seele now stood atop a bus roof, surrounded by an endless sea that seemed to have no end beneath. The sky was empty, devoid of sun, clouds, or any defining features. It was a world of emptiness, where only various vehicles floated and paused in mid-air, scattered throughout the endless world.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Seele's voice echoed in confusion, yet it wasn't the Seele whose body spoke but the other, and the source was not the physical body but the shadow beside Seele. I couldn't let her to destroy our chances of surviving the honkai.

"You found out about the X-10 experiment, don't you? I'm sorry, Seele, but I can't allow you to interfere," I responded, materializing a dual sword in my palm.

"B-but something terrible might happen," Seele replied, standing before the faint blue sword I had thrown, then turning to glance back at me. Her worried expression hit me with guilt, remembering Bronya's expressions before.

"Oh, I see, so that's what concerns you; it's about Bronya, right? Don't worry; I won't let her partake in the experiment. I plan to go first; if it fails, the experiment ends. Even if I succeed, I'll ensure Bronya doesn't until the guarantee is 100%," I reassured her.

"It's not just about Sis Bronya! Everyone in the orphanage matters to me, including you, Sister Delta. Please, let me take this burden; I might have a better chance of surviving with this," Seele pleaded, revealing her stigmata once more engraved into her chest. Her words about worrying about me took me by surprise. Honestly, it brought a smile to my face, but I couldn't allow this emotion to take over. I had learned a lesson from my assassin back in the Serbian army. Emotions could hinder what you aim to achieve. They had the control to make you underestimate or overestimate, and they could also cloud your judgment. I shouldn't forget that in front of me was a girl, engraved with a stigma.

"You're saying that I, the eldest remaining among us childrens in the orphanage, will let someone younger than me to take such a risk? I'm sorry, but it's not in my way to let a family member take a risk," I shouted back. "Look around, Seele. Tell me, who here has a higher chance of survival? I've held this power for so long," I added.

"Do you possess a high honkai adaptability?" the other Seele asked. Her sudden question caught me off-guard; it was something I had been avoiding. If I were to answer truthfully, it would be, I don't know. I might have this power from some lost memories of mine, but the honkai adaptability ensuring my survival is not what I'm sure of.

"Why the hesitation in answering, dear sister?" the other Seele noted. "I'm uncertain how someone could have such power without being a herrscher itself; was it something? Are you an artificial? experiment? A new evolution of the human race? I don't know, but I know for sure you don't possess a high honkai adaptability; no one has completely achieved a complete one even among the old era," the other Seele added.

"Please, Sister Delta, let me take the experiment. I am confident I can handle it," Seele insisted, showing her confidence. It was a side of her I hadn't seen before.

I remained silent, gazing up at the seemingly empty sky—though it was not entirely empty. Instead, my eyes were fixed upon a sky filled with different scattered vehicles, a small island, a tree without of its land, a destroyed part of a building, and more. These were parts I had mixed into this world when it used to be called Gentle but Empty. Oh my, I had again lost in thought, and now I couldn't hear Seele's voice but the ringing in my ears.

Now that I think about it, questions bombard my mind. What would happen if I died? Would Bronya be alright? Would the twins feel lonely? Could they lead happy lives in this dangerous world? Honestly, I was doubting their current abilities. But I must sacrifice; after all, I am the eldest among us. I had the responsibility to protect them and keep them safe from danger. And I think I need to be more confident in my abilities. I know I would survive this, but if I don't, I still believe they could lead a happy life with Matushka guiding them.

"But will they truly feel you as what you feel towards them?" A voice suddenly echoed in my mind—a familiar voice, resembling mine but more with mischievous tones.

"Who are you?" I questioned, leaving Seele confused by my random question.

"Me? Hahahaha, I won't tell you that. Yet, without me, you wouldn't wield the power you currently possess," the voice chuckled. "I'm aware of your past and everything about you, Delta~ Or would you prefer I address you by ******?" The name in her last sentence sent a wave of unbearable pain through my head. What... what was that? The pain strengthened.

"Argghh..." I groaned in torment in my head. I could see thousands of cracked visions in my head; they look like memories, but I can't process or remember a single detail about them for some reason.

"It hurts, doesn't it? But it's even more unbearable to walk the same path as before when you're not yet identified as Delta," she stated.

"Same... Arghhh... Path?" I questioned, still groaning in pain, now on my knees with my head in my hands.

"You risk losing everything if the seven tragedies of your past repeat in this new life of yours," she warned. I realized that the more we delved into my past, the more my head throbbed with pain. She needed to stop this now!

"Sister Delta? Are you okay?" Seele was worried.

"Stop... Arghhh," I pleaded, desperate for the pain to stop. I felt on the verge of passing out, with my vision gradually fading into darkness.

"Sister Delta! Are you alright?" Seele attempted to approach the part of the building where I fell, but the gap between the vehicle and the damaged building prevented her from reaching me.

<<3rd POV>>

"Seele! Watch out!" the other Seele shouted, taking control once more to dodge the incoming attack. Seele quickly manifested her scythe and avenged, but her attack was quickly blocked by the attacker.

The attacker wore an attire identical to Delta's, adorned with two horns and a tail. However, her distinguishing feature was her faint blue hair, its different from Delta's pink hair. Wearing a more mischievous and cunning vibe, she greeted Seele with a smile. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Seele~"