Being a Valkyrie is not easy [HI3rd FF/ selfinsert]

28. Coded Lies

~Yuki POV~

This was really bad. The situation had become really really bad. While Kosma and I were still taking care of Griseo, out of nowhere came Honkai beasts that didn't have their usual coloring. 'What am I going to do...' I struggled with myself, I knew Kosma could take care of Griseo without my help, but what would I do if I lured the monsters away? ,,Damn it...'' I mumbled. ,,Kosma, you take care of Griseo, I'll buy you time and lure the monsters away," I shouted and shot at the monsters in the way. ,,But..." Kosma started. ,,Don't worry, you should save your strength. I'm sure this is just the beginning," I interrupted him. Kosma seemed to understand my train of thought and nodded. ,,Take care of yourself, Yuki Onee-chan!'' ,,Don't worry, Griseo," I smiled. 

The Honkai beasts followed me as I ran through the streets. ,,I hope Mei and the others are well....'' I muttered out of breath. When I was sure I was far enough away, I stopped and turned. With my bow in hand, I waited for the beasts to catch up to me. In addition, I opened void portals from which lances aimed out ready to fire. ,,Come on, you little rascals," I said, ready. 

Strangely enough, the beasts were defeated very quickly. ,,That was too easy....'' I looked around suspiciously. I was still on the island, but still something was different. The atmosphere seemed more somber. On my guard, I kept walking. How could I have changed the atmosphere so quickly because of a few monsters...? No, someone must have changed something. I remembered how Bronya had hacked into the system on a mission to make it easier for us... Does that mean someone is changing the realm to get rid of the flame chasers? My train of thought was interrupted as the ground began to shake and a crack suddenly formed beneath me. I wanted to run away but something seemed to hold my body in place. Before I knew it, I fell into the darkness....

When I woke up again, I was still in darkness, but I could make out vague pillars. In addition, I was tied up and these shackles somehow blocked my Herrscher powers. Suddenly several screens appeared in front of me and on each of them the others could be seen - my eyes widened as I realized what was happening. On one screen I saw Mei and Felis, who was lying in Mei's arms. It looked like her body was flickering and dissolving. ,,No, please, not Felis...'' I cried. But no one could hear me. The screen turned off when Felis disappeared in Mei's arms.... Footsteps echoed in the darkness. Furious, I tried to look around. But I could see no one.

,,Hi~ Did you miss me?''

Shocked, I watched as a familiar yet foreign face stepped out of the shadows. ,,Who are you?" I asked. ,,How mean~ Don't you recognize your own friend anymore?" replied the person with a familiar voice. I couldn't answer, the one in front of me was definitely not Elysia. ,,Why do you look so angry, aren't you happy to see me?" Elysia smiled at me.... No, the person who looked like her. 

I didn't know how long I had been here, but this ''Elysia'' had disappeared and come back a few times, but said nothing and smirked at me. Every time I was alone, one of the screens would come on and show me one of the other flame chasers disappearing. I knew I didn't have the best connection with all the flame chasers like I did with Elysia, Eden, Felis, Su, Griseo and Kalpas, but it still hurt to see them just disappear. The one who pretended to be Elysia did not have the right to take their lives away. ,,If only I could free myself...'' ,,What then? Do you want to help people who have shown nothing but distrust towards you?" asked "Elysia". 

,,Of course I would do that! What you just said proves that you are not Elysia!'' I answered sharply. ,,Mhh~ What am I going to do, Yuki is mad at me. Ah, I got it! Why don't we see what your dear Kalpas is doing?" smiled "Elysia" sweetly in front of me and stood next to me. The screen right in front of me popped on and to my horror I really saw Kalpas.... But his body had already almost completely dissolved. It looked like he was just wandering around. ,,What have you done to him?!" I asked, worried. But as an answer I got only a giggle. And to make me suffer even more, the screen also transmitted the sound of what was happening. Besides Kalpas, Eden and Aponia were also present.

,,Wait, Eden. Don't touch, in fact... don't get close to him.'' Aponia said cautious. ,,Eh?'' ,,As expected, his memory replica is already severely damaged. He's.... on the brink of disappearing.'' Aponia continued and I could hear something breaking inside me. ,,Then, that person is... acting faster than we think. Is there still... hope for Kalpas?'' Eden asked worried. ,,...Extremely little. Poor child, I'm afraid his consciousness has already left him. He managed to come all the way here purely with the instinct of this crippled body. Only he... can do something like this.'' Aponia sighed. ,,Which means we have another sacrifice that left no clues behind.''Eden concluded. ,,That's not true. Fortunately, his instincts led him to us.'' 

I saw Aponia touching Kalpa's head and apparently diving into his consciousness with her powers. ,,Oh~ Yuki, you're crying,'' Elysia stated next to me. I had been trying to suppress it all this time, but I couldn't anymore at the sight of Kalpas. She squatted in front of me and brushed the tears from my face, a strange feeling coming from her hand. ,,Why are you doing this? What do you get out of it?" I asked broken. ,,Good question. I still have to find out for myself. Well, I have to go, but don't worry, I'll come back for you," replied "Elysia" and stood up to disappear into the darkness. But the screen was still on and Aponia seemed to have just finished.

,,Aponia? Was everything alright?'' asked Eden. ,,...Don't disturb him anymore please. He led a noisy life, but I wish to... let him go peacefully. Aponia explained, sounding like she was crying as well. Again I saw her raise her hand to Kalpas head. ,,Scram!'' Kalpas yelled. ,,...I don't need... your illusions...'' ,,Kalpas... I understand... You don't have to say more.'' Aponia began. ,,Shut up... I know I don't have the right to have... what I really want. I know I don't deserve her, either. But this time... this time... did I... Really protect something? Answer.... Answer me.'' said Kalpas weakly. My heart was aching. ,,Yes... You did. Sleep now... You... will not lose anything anymore.'' Aponia replied, crying. Unable to do anything, I had to watch Kalpas disappear as well.

After Kalpas disappeared and the screen turned off I was trapped alone crying in the dark. No matter how hard I tried to loosen the restraints, nothing happened. I felt alone again like I did in Schicksal HQ. ,,But you are not alone...'' said a familiar voice. I looked up with a jolt and in front of me stood Kasane, who looked more like a ghost. ,,Kasane...'' ,,I finally found you. After your presence disappeared from Elysia's island, I feared the worst," she said softly, while she untied me without any problems. ,,Kasane... Felis, Mobius, Kevin and Kalpas are..." I began. ,,I know, that's why it's even more important that you become the Herrscher now," she said seriously. ,,What? But we agreed that it would only happen in an emergency," I asked, shocked. ,,I know, but it is an emergency!" Kasane answered harshly. She stood up and held out her hand to me.

,,Yuki... Are you ready to become the Herrscher of imitation?" Kasane asked me with a smile. ,,I am,'' I answered firmly and took her hand. ,,Good, and never forget, no matter what happens, how proud I am of you," she added, pulling me up. ,,Why do you sound like you're gonna disappear?" I asked, confused. ,,Yuki.... There are different ways to become a Herrscher. Kiana and Sirin somewhat co-existed, with Mei, the Herrscher voluntarily withdrew, but...''

,,...Since we are both artificial Herrschers, I will disappear.''