Ice Cold Heart | A 'Honkai: Star Rail' Fanfiction

Chapter 19 - City of Fear

[Mere moments after the attack, Luofu]

Endless panic and chaos ensued in the spaces where the Luofu's officials and government workers ran the province. People over phones giving out panicked commands, some shuffling through papers trying to understand the news rapidly coming in, others running around just to try and help.

A situation so sudden and dire that it even has Jing Yuan panicked and unsure on what to do.

"It's worse than we thought. W-we've never seen an elixir dispersed so fast. People are dying, General."

Silence. Unheard panic. Inability to act. Deer in headlights.

"Lady Fu, what's your suggestion? What's our best course of action?"

All that could be ordered so far has been given out already. Evacuation wherever possible of the immediate affected areas and surrounding ones, apprehension or medication of those affected and extracted, but nothing can be done for those already struck.

"Citizens are dying. We can't send anyone in that zone, they're all struck with mara in seconds. We've done all we can, unless you'd want to evacuate what's left of the Luofu to the other provinces."

A defeated sigh left Jing Yuan's mouth while he ran his fingers across his temple. This situation was a headache, a nightmare, but one nobody could wake up from. Cut your losses and protect what can still be protected, that's what he's thinking of now.

"I'll arrange an emergency consult with the other generals. A national emergency like this will force them to cooperate, so I need you to start the evacuation order for the whole province."

His orders were immediately obeyed and Fu Xuan had started delegating to the other Cloud Knights to start rounding up as much of the population as they could before the Sanctus Medicus struck again.

They were warned.

But even they couldn't predict such an outcome.

.

.

.

[30 Minutes Before the Attack, Caves]

On the other side of the Luofu, Jingliu and Y/N had ample time to get reacquainted with each other and to ease tensions between Jingliu and Kafka. Of course, distrust still lingered in the air between the two women, but they had bigger problems at stake.

Jingliu, sated for the moment and recomposing herself after the battle turned to face Kafka, irritated at the lady's smug and nonchalant attitude while Y/N and herself gave it their all against a squad of the disciple's men. Not to mention the already rocky history between the two women.

But this was not the time for petty drama. Jingliu rose from the rocks she sat on and used two fingers to trace her sword. The sound of crackling frost, quiet yet noticeable, accompanied by a faint glimmer of blue enveloped the blade until it disappeared into nothingness.

Y/N, recognizing the lack of threats of the moment, did the same to his Shard Sword, opting to take a neutral sword stance before it turned into a red mist that seeped into his wounds. Not as caring or formal as Jingliu's sword play, but nevertheless respectful to the Xianzhou swordplay art roots.

Kafka's sword was never out, but a small smile curved on her lips as she witnessed the two masters at play. Slightly humored and wanting to show off her own skills, she drew her blade from a spark of lightning in the air, only to wave it once into nothingness again.

"..."

Painful silence filled the room as the two Xianzhou natives turned to face Kafka. The awkwardness was only broken by the sound of rocks shifting beneath Jingliu's feet as she trekked further into the cave. "The Sanctus have a tight hold around this area. Perhaps they're hiding something important."