Honkai Impact 3rd: Don't Die For Me/ Book 3 Paradise

Chapter 87 The Queen's Valkyrie

<Medical Barracks>

Moonlight trickled from her eyes. The little wisps that illuminated the inky foyer dimmed till one could say with certainty that the moon had vanished. Whiffs of bloody iron and weak medicine evaporated with every step. One step, a half step, did she even raise her leg? A chilly blizzard, a path of snow, it was gentle, and there she stood.

"Kallen." Ava's words were soft. Her body gave out from a combination of exhaust and relief.

Kallen caught her friends without a word. Tender ice eased their wounds, their blood slowed, and their bleeding stagnated. Winter had come early for Vienna. Invisible bodies created prints on powdered snow. Silent, united, and controlled not to melt the snow they trod on.

"Cloak them and head to the fourth underground warehouse by Ethest Street."

Sakura nodded instinctively. Kallen couldn't see her but her words would be relayed. Flashes of medicinal green spread like spores throughout the Barracks. In moments Kallen was alone and surrounded by those sent to kill her Valkyries, her friends.

She took a horizontal slashing stance. Her hands were two shoulder lengths apart. Ice hissed from the tips of her fingers. The two clouds converged and crackled to form a glaive of ice. If her presence didn't alert the assassins of her position the climate of the barracks did. The air was almost solid, shards of ice seemingly turned it frigid, and the field was deadly to roam through. As the concave air collapsed on itself, the moon shone a spotlight upon snow-white hair, revealing an isolating crown of ice.

"Holy Maiden. I am the Vice Captain of Vienna. I fight for the people of Vienna." One Valkyrie proud and not hiding her face stepped forward.

It was a heavy step, she was standing before a Holy incarnation. Only Kallen could carry the sin of wrath and remain sinless. The Vice Captain of Vienna's Valkyries held her ground, knowing she was sinful but unable to pray or confess.

"Will you perpetrate this lie? A lie against the Holy Son?"

Kallen stayed her hand but her stance never softened. The snow continued to solidify into hostile ice. A few assassins danced as if they stood on a bed of nails. Still, Kallen let the Vice Captain speak.

"Have you read the Revelation? Have you heard of his sacrifice? His death, your uncle has been abusing this narrative in a mad attempt to cease power. To enforce punishment that goes beyond justice. He's no better than Nikolas before him. Would you let your lover's name go tarnished by your uncle's insanity? The dead can't defend themselves but you can defend his name."

"He's not dead." Kallen interrupted with a snarl. "It seems to me that you're the ones stirring trouble. You're the ones going against what Otto intended. I've never read the Revelation but I know half the world believes his lies. I look for peace and whichever story brings peace to the people should be championed."

"Even if it's a lie? Do you want the church to hide behind a lie to keep the people complacent? To take advantage of their vulnerabilities?"

"Who is taking advantage of the people? Me and my Valkyries or the Black Rose that seeks to insinuate war. If anyone has the power to manipulate the letters ferried between my uncle and the Queen it must be at least someone of your position. Instead of actively resolving this conflict with peace and words you aim for war."

"Then what about your uncle's actions? He's killed thousands in Paris. Who knows how many more are in Spain? Are his actions just? Can we not fight to defend our families? Our homes?"

"He, my uncle's actions," Kallen pondered that question momentarily. "He was wrong. But he was also pushed by those who threatened Paris's peace. My friend died because of them, if I wasn't here tonight your knives would've reached their throats."