Valkyria Saga

{Date: 10/13 - Thursday}

{Time: 1:00 PM}

I sat in Yusa's office, shaking my leg with impatience as I listened to the clicking on her keyboard and the crackling fire sounds from her fireplace. Orika sat next to me, her eyes darting between me and Yusa while Genesis rested on Genesis's shoulder, playing with a tiny bolt of lightning.

"How much longer is this going to take? I have a class to get to," I said, looking at my phone to check the time.

"And you will get there," Yusa replied, continuing to work on her computer.

Sayoko stood behind Yusa, silently examining me and Yusa, sensing a bit of tension. She remained silent, not daring to speak at this current moment.

The silence was thick in the room, save for the ambience of the fireplace and the tapping noises from Yusa's keyboard. I began to grow more inpatient, leaning forward and resting my arms upon my knees with my head placed on my arms.

"If you're wondering why I called you to my office, it's because of what transpired during the Lunch Period," Yusa began, taking off her glasses and turned in her chair to face me.

"It wasn't my fault..." I said, my voice muffled due to my head being down.

Yusa leaned forward against her desk, her gaze solely on me. "Hisumi, look at me."

I sighed softly, sitting up and leaned back in my seat, meeting my mother's gaze. I could see that look in her eyes, the look of a parent's disappointment.

"I'm not going to lecture you. I'm not going to fuss at you. I'm not mad at you," Yusa said, standing up from her seat then walked around her desk to stand in front of me. She stared into my eyes, seeing the soul of a broken being within them. "You almost killed Leilani...do you know how serious that is?"

"Mom...I—" I began, but every reason I thought of only put me in a worse position.

"If I may, Headmistress...Hisumi was provoked on a deeper level than usual. I'm not saying she's correct in her actions, I'm just saying that...Leilani said some deep things to her. Things you say to someone you really...hate," Sayoko interjected, stepping forward and looked at Yusa.

Yusa glanced at Sayoko then turned her gaze to me, her gaze softening even more. "What? What did she say to you?"

"She...she said that you're Hisumi's sole reason for climbing the ranks amongst us Valkyrias...and how Hisumi is just a user. Nasty things like that, she even brought up her time in Judgement..." Orika spoke up, fidgeting with her keychain nervously.

Yusa looked at Orika, letting out a soft sigh then closed her eyes. She opened her eyes and leaned back against her desk. "Before I take you to where we're meeting at for Liao Ru's training, Hisumi...be honest with me. What did they do to you in Judgement? In my reports, you called yourself the Black Cerebral.."

I felt my heart drop to my stomach, my body suddenly going cold at the question. Their voices, their yelling and their demands, the experiments and torture I endured, everything began to come back to me. Memories I swore to keep hidden in the blackest parts of my mind, finally began to surface again.

I broke down. Tears uncontrollably flowing down my face, my body shaking, my usual composure was no longer. I wanted to explain but only one word slipped from my lips. "Mama..."

At that very moment, Yusa couldn't contain her emotions, tears flowing down her cheeks like a neverending stream. She hurried toward me, pulling me in her warm embrace and holding me tighter than ever before.

"It's okay... I'm here. I'm sorry I asked...I'm so sorry," Yusa softly cried, rubbing my hair as I sobbed against her.

Minutes went by, the sounds of my sobs finally calming down. I took a moment to catch my breath, sniffling softly and leaning against the one person I needed the most in this moment.

Yusa continued to hold me close, gently stroking my hair and looked down at me while humming a soothing tune. The tune was very soothing, causing the tension in the room to slowly wither away. Orika, Sayoko, and I began to feel a wave of serenity wash over us.

"Y'know...I don't have the Vow of Death like you do but I do have something similar. The Blessing of Death and the Vow of Life," Yusa spoke, her soft voice breaking the gentle silence.

"What's the difference..?" I asked, my voice muffled from my face being buried against Yusa's body.

Yusa giggled softly and exhaled softly, looking up at the ceiling to think of a good example. "Well the Blessing of Death is different from a Vow. The Blessing of Death represents the beauty of Death. It's the end of a journey, but the start of a new one."

"Think of it like merciful death," Yusa said, trying her best to explain it.

I glanced up at Yusa, raising an eyebrow and huffed softly. "Where's this going...?"

Yusa looked down at me, gently caressing my head with a soft smile. "You have died before correct? By the hands of Judgement. You came back to life, you experienced a merciful death. You left your old self behind, reborn as the new Hisumi..~"

I could tell she was trying her best to cheer me up and not feel like I wasn't pressured to tell her about my time in Judgement, but just speaking about my past hurts me more. "I wish I could agree with that...but to me it just seems like...I'm the same monster, but only a different beast."

Orika looked at me with dejected eyes, hoping that Yusa's example would help me cheer up. She glanced at Genesis, hoping she knew how to cheer me up, but Genesis didn't know what to do.

"It's hard to change and be better when everyone's always judging me. 'You don't deserve this' and 'What makes you so special', like it's so infuriating. I'm walking tooth and nail, trying to learn to be a normal Valkyria, trying to fit in and..." I began, feeling like I was about to have another emotional breakdown.

Yusa gently placed her finger upon my lip, calming me down before I exploded. "I understand that it can be tough dealing with judgement from others, but to let that break your Spirit? If you go around trying to kill anyone that questions you, what are you proving?"

"If you want to prove you are worthy of being respected, prove it to them the right way. The Valkyria way...the way our three Original Valkyrias, Kyoki, Toisa, and Jimeyu, would want us to handle disputes between sistren," Yusa finished, smiling at me and removed her finger from my lips.

I nodded at her, letting out a soft exhale. "Alright, I'll try..."

"Good. For now, you don't have to talk to me about Judgement, but whenever you feel ready just know I'm here," Yusa said, letting go of me and grabbed her keycard off her desk. "Now let's head out. I know Liao Ru is tired of waiting."

I watched as Yusa and Sayoko began making their way to the door, Yusa's words echoing in my mind over and over again. My gaze shifted to the floor, my mind wondering if I could really adapt to the way of a Valkyria as I am now.

With that, I stood up from my seat, Orika following suit with me and the two of us began to follow Yusa and Sayoko out the office. The four of us began to make our way to the exit, leaving the academy and heading toward Valkyrie Express to meet up with Liao Ru.

{Date: 10/13 - Thursday}

{Time: 1:30 PM}

We made it to the location where Liao Ru wanted us to meet, the train stopping at a station of a seemingly abandoned city. The doors of the train opened, allowing us to step out and walk toward the city.

I glanced around the city, holding Orika's hand and scanning the area. The atmosphere of the city felt dreadful, tense... unnerving. I couldn't properly describe what I felt, but one thing was certain, there was definitely a source of Fallen Energy within this city.

Liao Ru waited on a roof of a tall building, leaning against the roof's railing as the soft breeze flowed through her hair. "It's about you all showed up."

Yusa chuckled softly as she walked out onto the roof, her usual gentle smile playing on her lips. "It's my fault that Hisumi's late today. We had a talk so there's no need to give her any repercussions. From this point on, I'll deal with her outbursts as her mother."

Liao Ru got off the rails and turned around, glancing at each of us with her arms crossed. "I've been alive for many years, seen many things, and personally have experienced what Leilani had. But, there's just something different between my near death, and Leilani's."

I grunted softly, gently squeezing Orika's hand and stared at Liao Ru. Orika held my hand firmly as well, glancing at me with a calming gaze. She surrounded her hand with her Spirit Energy, her icy blue aura offering a calming affect.

"What I saw out there was not a Mind of a Valkyria. What I saw was a Mind of a Beast...a Monster," Liao Ru said, looking directly at me with an intense stare.

Kikyo, Yumeji, and Saito glanced at Liao Ru then at me. Saito stepped forward, hoping she could interject in between.

"Sensei, I don't think it's fair that Hisumi is being treated so poorly. If it's because of her background then why aren't Cherry and Berry getting the same treatment?" Saito asked, crossing her arms then heard Cherry scoff.

"The reason is because our names weren't known unlike Top Agent over there. My sister and I were simply test subjects, dolls for them to use, tools for the same girl you all accepted without doing a background check! That girl is a wanted target!" Cherry exclaimed, placing her hand on her hip then scoffed at me.

"The Black Cerebral...that name makes me sick. The things you've done as the Cerebral Assassin, it makes me sick to think that you've got even a lick of redemption within you," Cherry spat, her voice oozing with venom.

"Cherry..!" Berry gasped, grabbing her arm and pulling her sister toward her.

I listened to Cherry's words, my gaze cold and ruthless. My eye twitched with annoyance as she aired everything off her chest toward me, sensing the hatred in her heart. "You—"

"I understand that it can be tough dealing with judgement from others, but to let that break your Spirit? If you go around trying to kill anyone that questions you, what are you proving?"

The words of Yusa played in my head and I grunted softly, biting back my true words then closed my eyes, letting out a soft exhale. "I know what I've done...was horrific and there's no justifying anything I've done, but I'm trying to turn a new leaf. There was a reason why I never talk or mention my past..."

Yusa noticed my calm response, smiling softly and feeling a swell of pride in her chest due to me not acting impulsively. She cleared her throat then stepped forward. "How about we all change the focus on Liao Ru's training today?"

Liao Ru nodded then turned around to look out into the empty city. "Very well, let us begin."

We all gathered near Liao Ru, looking around the city below. The streets were desolate, ruined, void of all life. Wandering the streets were hordes Fallen Valks and Fell Beasts, the Fallen Valks imitating the acts of the former human selves and the Beasts forming packs and bonds with the Fallen Valks.

"Today, we are in the abandoned city named Kourai. It was once a lively city, but now left behind due to the influx of Fallen Valks and Fell Beasts," Liao Ru began, stepping forward toward the railings. "Today's Mock Mission is about Teamwork. The B Ranks will split into two teams."

Liao Ru turned around, looking at Yumeji, Kikyo, and Saito. "Team One, Members of Orishi's Squad VI, Yumeji, Kikyo, and Saito."

"Alright!~ Let's get this going girls!" Yumeji beamed, holding a thumbs up toward Kikyo and Saito.

"Right, let's do this," Kikyo nodded, smiling at Yumeji.

Saito closed her eyes, crossing her arms with Bunny Avenger hovering behind her. "Mission Accepted: Saito will eliminate the Fallen."

Liao Ru turned toward me, Cherry, and Berry. "And team two, the Reserves for Squad VI, Cherry, Berry, and Hisumi. Team One will take on the western parts of the city. Team Two will take on the eastern parts of the city. The rest of us, The Student Council and Administration will handle the rest."

"Your mission is to eliminate all enemies on your side and report to Kourai HQ," Liao Ru finished, pointing at the skyscraper at the center of the city.

The rules and goal were set and although Yumeji, Kikyo, and Saito had amazing Team Resonance...my team, we lacked any sort of resonance. Team One had already set off to West Kourai, leaving us to figure out what we will do.

Cherry's gaze seemed to burn holes into me, her fiery energy flaring up at the sight of me. "You seem to do well in one on one combat, Honorary B Rank. Let's see how you do in a team setting without trying to dominate everyone."

I watched as Cherry walked off, vaulting over the railings and descended to the city below. Berry glanced back at me, a sympathetic expression on her face then she followed behind her sister.

"Go get 'em, Hisumi. I believe in you..~" Orika said, gently giving my hand a squeeze before letting go.

I glanced at Orika, letting go of her hand then smiled at her. I gave her a nod then ran forward, hopping upon a railing then paused. "Liao Ru...I know how I acted earlier was like a monster. It's true, my mind is the monster, but my heart as the Top Agent still holds some purity..."

Liao Ru stared at me, watching me descend below and her gaze following my retreating figure. "Let's hope your words are true, Hisumi."

{Mission START!}

{Objective: Defeat all Fallen Units in East Kourai.}

I landed upon the sidewalk, scanning around my surroundings, noticing most of the area had already been cleared. I rushed ahead toward the eastern parts of the city, summoning my katana and readying it at my side.

As I traverse the desolate roads, I noticed a group of Fallen Valks appearing in front of me, each one wielding a bow. I stopped in my tracks, unsheathing my blade and readied myself for combat. For a moment, we had a standoff, none of us moving a single muscle.

Suddenly, the first Fallen Valk aimed her bow at me, firing a blazing arrow at me. I noticed the arrow speeding toward me, evading it swiftly then rushed forward at lightning speeds and striking her down in one strike. The essence of the Fallen Valk began to creep up my arm, entering into my Vow of Death.

The second Fallen Valk aimed her bow at me, firing an ice arrow at me, but I swiftly dodged the arrow, dashing toward her at high speeds. Before I could land my attack, the lightning Fallen Valk appeared in front of me at lightning speeds, knocking me away with a kick.

"Hisumi, are you alright?" Genesis asked, hovering beside me, getting ready to defend.

I recovered quickly, noticing a volley of lightning arrows homing in on me at once. 'Hmph...This is nothing. Nothing I can't handle.'

I began deflecting each lightning arrow, the deflected arrows shooting off in every direction wildly. I let out a battle cry, splitting the last arrow in half, my body flickering and appearing behind both Fallen Valks.

I flourished my katana, slowly sheathing it. "Yukota Technique: Sudden Death."

Once my katana was fully sheathed, a delayed slash struck both Fallen Valks, their heads falling off their shoulders before their bodies hit the ground. Their essense began to flow toward my Vow of Death, the marking gleaming a dark lavender hue.

"Hmph, if there is one thing that is respected about you, it's your skill in battle. That...that is something I will never doubt," A voice said from behind me, her tone immediately recognizable.

I stood up straight, turning around to see Cherry and Berry standing behind me. I met Cherry's gaze, the tension between us like an active volcano ready to erupt. "If I were gullible, I would accept your sarcastic remark...besides if you were here, why didn't you help? This mission is about teamwork."

"Hmph! You had it covered when you one shot that Fallen Blaze Valk. I see no need in helping someone who's more than capable of handling herself. Besides, the last thing I want to do is help a known killer," Cherry ridiculed, flipping her hair and walking off into the distance.

"Cherry..! Oh..." Berry sighed, rubbing her forehead gently. She looked over at me, walking over toward me. "I'm sorry for how she's..."

"No, there's no need to apologize. She's in the right to treat me the way she does. I've hurt you all, beyond recovery," I said, looking out into the distance.

"But you're trying. It's like no one but a few of us actually sees that. I know you hurt us, but...you were only a child when you became the Black Cerebral. No one has even asked for your side," Berry said, gently placing her hand on my arm.

I glanced at Berry, meeting her sympathetic gaze. A soft smile curled on my lips, a self-deprecating chuckle escaping my lips. "I appreciate you trying to help me feel better, but...everyone's already seen my side. All I can do now is prove myself. Now, let's go before your sister leaves us both behind."

Berry watched as I walked forward, feeling a soft ache in her heart. She closed her eyes, letting out an exhale then pushed forward, following behind me and Cherry.

{Bond with Berry slightly increased...}