Honkai: Starting to Wander with Kiana

Berga Lake, Underwater Laboratory X10

Bronya inserted the tube, preparing herself inside the experimental tank.

"This child's leg fractures haven't healed yet," one researcher reported. "Approximately 310 seconds after the experiment begins, her wounds will be infected with Honkai energy. If we don't stop the experiment in time, the damage could be irreparable... even life-threatening."

Cocolia sighed, watching Bronya, who moved like a lifeless puppet.

"Did you hear that, Bronya? You have less than five minutes. After that, I'll terminate the experiment... but, Bronya, you must come back alive."

"I understand, Mom." Bronya nodded mechanically, avoiding Cocolia's gaze.

"Inject Honkai energy into the experimental tank!"

"The experiment begins now."

Bronya closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she saw a tearful Seele standing nearby, sobbing uncontrollably. Staggering forward, Bronya embraced her tightly.

"Bronya-jiě..."

"Seele... finally... I've found you!" Bronya clung to Seele, tears streaming down her face. But Seele, though emotional, regained her composure.

"Why are you here, Bronya-jiě? Did you... Did you join the experiment too?! No! You must go back! If you stay, you'll disappear just like me!"

"The experiment... disappearing... none of it matters now. I've found you, Seele. That's enough."

"Alert! Time's up!" The laboratory's alarms blared.

"The subject's leg structure is severely damaged!"

"Terminate the experiment immediately!"

Cocolia's voice cut through the chaos. "Shut it down now!"

"Termination in progress... Unable to disconnect!" a researcher cried out. "The subject's brain activity shows a strong rejection of termination! She's resisting!"

"Her brain tissue is deteriorating rapidly. If this continues, the damage will be irreversible!"

Cocolia's heart sank as she watched Bronya lying unresponsive in the tank.

"So, this is what you planned from the start..." The moment you chose to come here, you decided you wouldn't return.

"This time, I won't leave you again. Bronya will stay with you, Seele, forever."

Seele once read about a mystical plant from a distant Eastern land. It bloomed for a thousand years and rested for another thousand—its flowers and leaves destined never to meet. Perhaps, Seele thought, this was their fate, hers and Bronya's.

At Bronya's declaration, Seele cried tears of joy. But she knew this wasn't right.

"Bronya-jiě, please go back. If you stay, you'll vanish too!"

"No! I'm not leaving!" Bronya clung to Seele's hand. "The terror of waking from a dream and realizing you're gone—I'll never endure that pain again. Never!"

"Bronya-jiě... Before you came to the orphanage, I waited in this empty, lonely world for what felt like forever. Even so, I always believed that if it were you, you'd find me.

"No matter what dangers I faced or who tried to hurt me, Bronya-jiě, you always came to save me. You risked everything for me."

Seele's emotions swelled as she gazed into Bronya's eyes. "You are my hope, Bronya-jiě. But now you've abandoned hope. You're running away. I don't want to see you like this!"

Am I running away? Yes... but I'm Seele's big sister. I can't give in...

"You're right, Seele," Bronya said, intertwining their pinkies like they had so many times before. "I promise, no matter how slim the hope, I'll find a way to save you."

"Until then, I'll never give up. After all, I'm your big sister—your hope." Tears streamed down Bronya's face as she smiled faintly.

"Brain damage detected: 8%. The subject's amygdala is severely impaired! Emotional circuits destroyed!"

Bronya froze, then collapsed. Seele caught her before she hit the ground.

"Seele... I don't feel sad anymore..."

Seeing the creeping marks of Honkai energy corrosion on Bronya's face, Seele knew there was no time left.

"It's time, Bronya-jiě. You have to go."

Seele extended her hand, a shimmering shield materializing in her palm.

"This is something I found in a treasure chest—a power to rebuild." She pressed the shield into Bronya's chest. "Let this power protect you in the real world."

"A strength given by the heavens... Yet you smile at me."

Seele lifted Bronya's face, planting a gentle kiss on her lips. Then, smiling softly, she said, "This is our first kiss. When we meet again, you'd better give it back."

"For this, I will endure all trials... Prepared to face every calamity."

Bronya gazed at Seele's smile as she dissolved into the light.

I promise, Seele. I'll keep our promise.

Bronya opened her eyes to find Seele gone. Before her stood a stunned Cocolia and panicked researchers.

The reason for their alarm stood behind Bronya: a massive mecha, Heavy Armored Bunny 19C. Its right arm transformed into a colossal cannon aimed at the crowd, while its left shielded Bronya protectively.

Heavy Armored Bunny 19C was a versatile, self-piloted mecha, a creation of Seele's Reconstruction power. It responded to Bronya's emotional fluctuations, existing as pure energy until powered by Honkai energy.

Summer 2013 Experiment

In this experiment, Bronya lost much.

Her thighs were destroyed by Honkai energy, leaving her reliant on an exoskeleton to move.

Part of her brain was irreparably damaged, robbing her of the ability to feel joy or smile.

And most importantly, she lost Seele.

Desperate to find her, Bronya tried every method but failed. In the end, she and Cocolia pinned their last hope on another being—a natural Stigma user who awakened at the age of eight but had their powers sealed by their father.

Her name: Raiden Mei.