Honkai Impact 3rd: Don't Die for Me/ Book 1: Promise

Chapter 4 Escape

<Apocalypse House Library>

Vera stood in shock as she stared out the broken window. Guards quickly rushed into the room. Butler Richard came in too.

"Vera, Vera! What happened?"

"I-I don't know."

"Did a Honkai beast attack the master now?"

"Vera what did you do?"

Some guards swarmed Vera asking for information while others quickly made their way to the window to investigate the damage.

Butler Richard quickly pulled Vera aside.

"She is in shock, please leave the questioning to me. In the meantime Sherry fetch me some water."

A maid quickly responded.

"Yes sir right away."

Richard was well liked by the people of the house. He was astute and flexible. The maids, the guards, and some of the Valkyries of the house placed him in high regard. He held more authority than any butler should in the house due to this. Authority that he never took advantage of until now.

"We'll back off sir." The situation was unheard of by the guards, who would have the gall to attack the house of Apocalypse. In truth they weren't scared of who but rather how, how had the intruder managed to slip past their guard.

Richard quickly brought Vera to an empty corner of the library. A glass of water was quickly dropped off by the maid as Richard carefully cared for Vera.

"It's alright Vera, just drink this, calm down. When you're ready, tell me what you saw."

Vera heeded his calming words and drank for the glass of water. After a few minutes she was ready to speak.

"Sir Otto, he- Kallen."

Richard quickly stopped her from speaking and gently patted Vera on back.

"Slowly, Vera deep breaths deep breaths."

Vera heeded his instructions once more and drew a few breaths. She tried to speak again but she fell unconscious. Running back and forth all day had taken its toll on her body. Combined with the emotional impact of Kallen's actions Vera's mind was in disarray.

'Why was Otto bleeding? Why did Otto call for the guards? Why did Kallen run away? Are they fighting? What's going on?'

Vera had lived happily with her surrogate family for many years. Not once had she felt that they would abandon her. She wasn't afraid for their safety either, Kallen was the Holy Maiden after all. Now it seemed that she would lose both of them. Facing the prospect of losing both of them was devastating and something she hadn't thought of before.

<Roofs of Koleston>

Kallen's shoulder felt damp. She knew had to quickly leave the city and create as much distance as she could before Shicksal deployed it's Valkyries to chase after her. Though she was their strongest Valkyrie there were many that were just a few steps behind her. Kallen could never fend off the full might of Shicksal. She had acted impulsively, her entire plan relied heavily on Otto's cooperation. But, Otto refused to comply. His refusal was the final nail in the coffin for Kallen. 'Why did he refuse my request? If he didn't care for the good of people he should at least care for me right?' Kallen thought selfishly. She looked over at Otto slumped over her shoulder. A liar, a stranger, there was no one in this world she could trust anymore. Walls of emotional ice enclosed her heart as she stopped crying. Her path became unclear, all she knew was that she needed to escape from this cursed organization. She turned to look at Otto once more and noticed for the first time the blood soaking his shirt.