Chrysalis To A Butterfly [Kiana Kaslana X Male OC]

Interlude: The Children Of Second Eruption

14th February 2000

Siberian Tundra

1400 Hrs

"Theo," A nine-year-old Sophia spoke hoarsely, releasing a foggy breath. Her olive fingers were tinged in pink as they rattled against the sharp Siberian wind. " We are almost there. Just a few steps more."

"You said the same thing an hour ago," Theo weakly replied; his silver-blonde hair was filled with white crystalline patches as his eyelids fought to stay open. "I am really tired, Sophia. I want to sleep."

"No," Sophia begged. Her body was screaming in pain as she took another step forward. Her breaths were getting coarse as dryness spread all over her mouth. She was thirsty. "Don't sleep now, Theo; I promise once we reach the cottage, you can sleep by the warm and cosy fireplace." She tried to reason, but every time she spoke, her jaws tingled, and her mouth constricted in pain. "Also, if you listen to your elder sister, I will cook you chicken stew when we reach the cottage."

"Really?"

"Yes," She replied almost instantly. Ignoring her thirst and pain, she continued. "Once you have eaten the stew, I will prepare a warm bath for you. And then after you have taken a bath, we can read some books, and then if there are cards, we can play too." Sophia paused, imagining other amenities that the promised cottage might possess. Collecting her thoughts, she continued, praying that it would help keep her brother awake. "Oh, who knows? The cottage might even have building blocks, but you and I can build some cool spaceship or a house together."

"Warm bath sounds nice," Theo smiled, his sunset pink eyes slowly losing focus. He blinked, trying to adjust his vision, but the light within them was slowly fading. The seemingly frost-covered long and narrow road ahead was slowly fading. Even the patches of mosses and sedges were now a blur to him. "Sophia?"

"Yes?" She replied. Her teeth grinded against each other as the sharp, icy breeze cut her cheeks. Despite wearing seven layers of clothing, the Siberian winter was unforgiving.

"I am sorry."

"What are you saying," Sophia shouted. Her voice echoed through the blizzard-infested tundra. If there were Honkai beasts around, they would have definitely heard her. But right now, it didn't matter. "There is no need for you to be sorry, Theo. You have done nothing wrong."

"If only I were a bit strong," He continued. "You wouldn't have to carry me like this."

"It's fine, you idiot," Sophia picked up her pace. She needed to reach that cottage quickly. The masked blonde man she had met almost three hours ago had told her explicitly that she would find the warm shelter if she followed this trail. "I am your older sister; it is my job to take care of you."

Theo chuckled. "Also, sis."

"What now?" She was running now. Her feet screamed in agony, and her skin bled; the dry and freezing winds didn't help either. Lumps of red and violet swelling appeared around her wrist, thighs and face.

"You are no good at lying," Theo continued as his vision completely blurred. "Though, I really wanted that stew."

"I will cook it for you, Theo!" She screamed. "It wasn't a lie. I will get the ingredients somehow. It can't be that hard to find. I am sure the cottage might even have some supplies."

"Hey?" Theo smiled. "Can you take me back to Parga? I want to bask in the sun and swim in the Mediterranean. We can also call Mom and Dad while we are there."

"We will," Sophia bit her lips. She was trying her best to fight back the tears. She couldn't break just yet. "When we are there, want to go to the Zeus Restro; you loved their Stifado."

"Yes," Theo's eyes were now closed. "I really love them. You know everything about me, Sophia."

"Of course I do," Sophia's breath was erratic now. Her lips quivered as tears emerged, threatening to spill any moment now. "I am your older sister. No one in this world knows you better than me. I know all your bad habits, as well as the good ones. I know how much of a lazy person you are, but once you dedicate yourself to something, you go to great lengths to achieve it. You are a hard worker, too, albeit a bit selective. And your unhealthy attachment to video games and comics; How can one forget that?" Sophia let out a forced laugh. "When you were six, Dad had to go to Athens to get you the portable gaming console because your favourite game was no longer available on PC." She paused, her lips quivered, as her arms, which held Theo, trembled. Her breath was erratic, and every time she opened her mouth, the foggy breath would obstruct her vision. "I also know how much you love me and Mom and Dad, even if you don't show it."

"I love you, sis," He replied. His body slowly lost all warmth as his pulse declined. "You once asked me what I would wish for if I ever met God."

"I remember," Sophia nodded. "I was being serious, but you replied you wanted unlimited money."

"Can I change my wish?"

"Sure," Sophia's voice broke. She jumped over a ravine with her eyes plastered upon the road ahead. She knew they were close. She could feel it.

"When I meet God," He started, his breath calm as his pulse. Slow and quiet. "I would ask him to make me your younger brother again. Every time I am reborn, I want it to be as your brother." There was a faint lub and dub sound; Theo's last pulse.

"Sophia, thank you. I love you." His final words came out in a whisper, yet for Sophia, it was louder than the Siberian winds that howled around her.

"Theo?" Sophia stopped. Her frostbitten finger trembled as she shook him. "Theo, this is not funny." Her tears started to trickle, but the Siberian frost wind denied her. Every droplet would freeze the moment they escaped her eye. "Say something! Theo!" Her tone was that of desperation; the fake bravery she had displayed moments ago was now a ghost of the past.

She dropped Theo on the ground and turned over; her sunset-pink eyes were slowly losing focus. Theo was smiling; his eyes were closed as he drifted away into eternal slumber. In his tiny hand, he held a teal-ombre locket, the same colour as her hair—he had always loved that colour. Sophia crouched, her face near him, praying he was fine. Though it was already late, he was no longer breathing.

In disbelief, she cupped his face, hoping to feel the warmth, but it was replaced by an insatiable cold. This one sharper than the blizzard that brewed around them.

"Theo-" She called out one last time as she cradled his head in her arms. Her tears were now frozen crystals that lay all over her younger brother's carcass. "Don't leave me alone." She cupped his cheeks, trying to shake him awake. "Theo, please don't leave your sister alone."

She hoped he would open his eyes like always and tell her it was all a prank. She would then scold him but embrace him all the same, and then everything would be fine. Things would go back to the way they were. Sophia, being the responsible one, and Theo, the bratty kid brother, would then go find their mom and dad, eat dinner, ski together, and return home.

However, there was no home or family for them to return to. Everything that Sophia had held dear was snatched away from her by the ascension of the new Herrscher Sirin. What Schiksal would later dub as the 'Second Eruption' changed the trajectory of Sophia's life.

The first-born daughter of Elias Erdős—the founder of Glamoth Industries—heir to the house Erdős and the only woman in the long history of Erdős familia to have shown exceptional Honkai resistance would choose the path of eternal carnage. Her enemy: all of Honkai, and her goal eradication of them all.

*****

A/N All I can say is enjoy the chapter, hehe. This chapter took me longer to write than I had expected. Visiting one of the most gruesome parts of Honkai Timeline, the second eruption, was something I had never planned to do so early in the story, but I am glad it turned out this way. Thanks to everyone's support and love towards this fan fiction, I have been able to not only as a writer but also as a storyteller, who, despite writing a story of a pre-existing IP, has been able to explore the limits that the main story never did. There are many things I wanted to add to this chapter, like mentioning Cecilia, Ziggy and others, but I stopped myself because one should always save the best for the end.

Anyways once again Happy Reading!