Honkai: Starting to Wander with Kiana

When Sin Mal first awakened her Sin Eyes, her perception of the world underwent a massive transformation. She began to see everything as grotesque and repulsive. Over time, this distorted reality became her "normal," and the evil she perceived became the standard in her eyes.

Her adoptive relatives had taken her in only to exploit her for personal gain, and Sin Mal could clearly see the malice in their hearts. The death of her biological parents and the whispers of others deepened her isolation. She didn't know who she could trust or confide in about her visions.

Sin Mal drifted through life in a haze of confusion, her sight clouded by chaos. She lived alone, devoid of emotion, until one day, a girl named Bronya shattered her solitude. Bronya was a radiant presence—something Sin Mal had nearly forgotten—a human soul untouched by evil.

Drawn to Bronya's purity, Sin Mal smiled again, a healthy and genuine smile. At that time, Bronya was still a soldier known as the Ural Silver Wolf, an assassin for the army. While evading the police, Bronya sought refuge in Sin Mal's home. Confronted by the brutal officers pursuing her, Bronya defended Sin Mal. In turn, Sin Mal unleashed her Sin Eyes, using her powers to kill the soldiers and save Bronya.

Three years later, Sin Mal had grown into a beautiful young woman, but she never forgot Bronya.

By then, her adoptive parents had squandered their fortune. Hearing that a wealthy general had opened an orphanage in the city, they brought Sin Mal there, hoping to forge connections with this influential figure. They sought to have Sin Mal adopted by the general, Cocolia.

Initially, Sin Mal didn't care, complying like a lifeless doll. To her surprise, the assassin she had once saved—Bronya—was also living at the orphanage.

Overjoyed, Sin Mal approached Bronya, hoping to rekindle their bond. But Bronya recoiled, seeing Sin Mal as a monster, and dragged Seele away from her.

Sin Mal couldn't recall how she returned home that day. Her world had shattered completely. By the time she regained awareness, she was back in her room, her adoptive parents berating her for failing to ingratiate herself with Cocolia's daughter.

Bronya's rejection had prevented Cocolia from taking Sin Mal in. Her parents blamed her, while Sin Mal remained fixated on Bronya's horrified expression and the word monster. Her mind began to unravel.

Estranged from Cocolia, Sin Mal's adoptive parents sought other means of securing wealth. They paraded Sin Mal through extravagant parties, hoping to sell her to a rich suitor or find a wealthy patron.

Sin Mal saw the growing guilt in their hearts and recalled Bronya's terrified face. If I'm a monster, then what are they...?

Finally, her parents decided to sell her to a local noble. But Sin Mal, who had always obeyed her adoptive mother, refused. She killed the noble and her parents, setting the estate ablaze. Emerging from the fire, her teeth had transformed into shark-like fangs, her long hair now short. Reborn in the flames, she sought refuge in Cocolia's orphanage.

Cocolia took in the injured Sin Mal after hearing her story and adopted her.

Bronya, haunted by guilt over calling Sin Mal a monster and watching her break down, reflected deeply. When they met again, she sincerely apologized.

But Sin Mal neither accepted nor rejected the apology. She would never open her heart to anyone again.

Scarred by her past and the distortion of her Sin Eyes, Sin Mal became cruel and bad-tempered. At the orphanage, she exhibited odd behavior but was eager to connect with others. It was as though she were desperately trying to transform herself into someone else. Though she idolized Bronya, whom she saw as angelic, she couldn't express her feelings openly. Jealous of Bronya's constant companions, Sin Mal resorted to pranks and bullying to gain attention.

She liked Seele but envied her deeply. Unable to interact normally, Sin Mal relied on teasing and antagonizing Seele to capture her attention. Yet, it was clear Seele only had eyes for Cocolia, never understanding Sin Mal's desperate attempts at affection.

"Mommy, let Bronya go next!" Seele exclaimed, unable to tolerate Sin Mal's insults any longer.

At Cocolia's nod, Bronya swiftly transformed mercury into a beautiful Homu doll. Overjoyed, Seele hugged Bronya from behind.

"Bronya, you're the best big sister ever!"

Watching their joyful embrace, Sin Mal's expression grew increasingly twisted.

Later, as everyone dispersed, Sin Mal called out to Bronya at the staircase.

"Hey, Bronya."

"What is it?"

"You… you aren't weirdly obsessed with Seele, are you?" Sin Mal glared at Bronya, her expression darkening.

Bronya met Sin Mal's gaze and replied flatly, "I'll always be with Seele. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."

Disgusted, Sin Mal thought, Ugh, how gross. As Bronya turned to descend the stairs, Sin Mal reached out and shoved her.

Bronya, the Ural Silver Wolf, should have reacted swiftly to break her fall. But seeing Seele waiting at the landing, she froze, losing the chance to adjust her stance.

Bronya crashed heavily to the ground.

Sin Mal wasn't finished. She stepped on Bronya's calf and screamed, "No! No! You can't have her!"

Bronya buried her face, teeth clenched. She neither fought back nor made a sound, aware that Seele was just around the corner, trembling audibly.

Two years earlier, when Bronya had rescued Seele, she had vowed never to harm anyone again. She would never forget Seele's terrified cries, calling her a demon and begging her to stay away. In this, Bronya and Sin Mal shared a painful bond.

At Anti-Entropy's X10 Lab, located in the underwater research facility:

"In this test, these children exhibited the highest adaptability to Honkai energy."

"Did you detect any signs of mental corruption caused by Honkai energy?"

"No, there were no such indications."

"Then let's proceed with preparations for the next phase of experiments. It's all for Anti-Entropy's mission, for the survival of humanity."

I'm doing this solely so my children can endure in a world ravaged by Honkai, nothing more!

Cocolia gazed at the images of the children displayed on the screen. Bronya and Sin Mal's photos were prominently highlighted, while Seele's picture was marked with a question mark.