(What do you mean don't jinx it? A beautiful girl is capable of anything!)
After saying goodbye to that strange white-haired brother, Vya soon headed back.
Flying for a bit, running for a bit—Vya had a lot of fun on the way.
Returning to the sanatorium, just as she reached the hallway, a small voice suddenly called out to her.
"Um, Vya...?"
Vya turned and saw the little girl with green hair—Xiao Lü—rubbing her eyes as she stood in the shadows.
Vya jogged over. "Oh, it's Xiao Lü! What's up?"
"Why aren't you asleep?" Xiao Lü asked, slowly taking a few steps closer.
"Aren't you awake too?" Vya tilted her head and shot back.
"I can't sleep..." Xiao Lü hung her head, her voice tinged with dejection.
"Ah, why not?" Vya asked with concern.
"Sister Aponia says we're all sick, so she won't let us go outside..."
"How can that be?" A pang of sadness instantly struck Vya. She had just met so many new little friends, only to hear they were all sick. It felt like a knot had tightened in her heart.
"I don't know either."
The two little girls sighed in unison, then sat down together on the steps of the porch.
…
"Vya, you came from the outside. You must have seen a lot of things!"
"Actually, Vya isn't really sure either. Even though big sister always takes me out to play, there's a lot I don't know..."
"Oh well, even so, I'm still really jealous of you~"
Though envious, Xiao Lü was still very happy to have met a good friend like Vya.
Propping her chin in her hands, she gazed at the distant night sky. "I want to go see the ocean."
"Sister Aponia said the ocean is blue, as vast as the sky, with white, foamy waves..."
"It's okay! Once you're all better, we'll go out and play together! We'll go to the ocean together!"
Vya took Xiao Lü's hand and said with a smile.
"Okay~"
Beneath the moonlight, the two little girls chatted away, back and forth.
Before they knew it...
"Vya... I should go back to sleep now..."
Xiao Lü yawned, swaying slightly as she stood up.
"Alright, I should head back too."
Xiao Lü went back inside. Though a little dizzy... her physical condition was slowly starting to improve.
Her complexion was much better than before, and her eyes had regained their sparkle.
…
After accepting the four cores, Vya seemed to have undergone some sort of change.
The Honkai energy also appeared to obey her will... but Vya probably wouldn't be aware of such things.
It was only after Mei learned Vya's secret that she discovered these details...
…
Vya quietly pushed open the door to the room she shared with Elysia. Unexpectedly, Elysia wasn't asleep but was sitting by the bed, waiting for her.
"Vya's back~"
Elysia smiled and opened her arms.
"Mhm, sis!"
Vya laughed and threw herself into Elysia's embrace, her hair tickling Elysia's chin.
"You little rascal, what were you two talking about just now?"
"Xiao Lü said they're sick, but they want to go outside..."
Vya recounted their conversation, her little face etched with worry.
Elysia could probably guess the whole story.
After listening, Elysia gently kissed Vya's forehead. "Don't worry, Vya. They'll get better. Big sister will think of a way to help them."
"Okay! Vya believes in sis!"
"Good, now get some rest!"
Elysia patted the empty space beside her.
"Wait, sis! Vya wants to show you something new Vya learned!"
"Oh? What is it?" Elysia asked with keen interest.
Vya hopped off the bed. She spun around with a smile and then gradually began to float.
"My, has Vya learned to fly?"
Seeing Vya like this, Elysia couldn't help but laugh.
She wasn't surprised. After experiencing so many unbelievable things, Vya being able to fly didn't seem like much.
"Mhm, Vya can fly now~"
Vya happily showed off, her wind-wings faintly visible behind her.
"How amazing Vya is~!"
Elysia laughed and clapped her hands.
After watching Vya float around a while longer, Elysia finally said, "Alright, alright, time to come down now~"
"Okay!"
Vya nodded obediently and burrowed under the covers.
Elysia turned off the light, holding the little girl close in her arms.
It was late; time to sleep.
So, Elysia happily fell asleep holding Vya...
Meanwhile, Vya lay with her eyes open in the darkness, quietly waiting for dawn.
…
The next morning, it was time to say goodbye.
Elysia gathered all the children for a big group photo in front of the sanatorium.
Aponia stood in the center, with Elysia and Vya on either side, surrounded by beaming children.
"Bye-bye! Big sister will bring you gifts next time~"
Elysia waved to the children.
"Goodbye, Sister Elysia! Goodbye, Vya!"
"..."
The children called out.
"See you later♪~"
"See you later!੭ ᐕ)੭*⁾⁾"
…
The journey back was just as peaceful.
The moment they returned to base, Elysia immediately sent for Dystopia. The orange-haired girl arrived in a whirlwind, followed by a somewhat reluctant Kosma, who was there to help (or serve as free labor).
So, even though Dystopia and the others were Ato's squad members, Elysia certainly knew how to put them to good use, haha.
Well, after some thought, Elysia figured it was best to leave this sort of task to a meticulous girl.
Besides, although Dystopia hadn't been with MOTH for long, she had managed her relationships with everyone at the base quite well.
Elysia handed over a long list. "Alright, Dystopia, I'm entrusting you with the task of purchasing all these items~"
"I believe in you~!"
Elysia said with a smile. These were, of course, some necessities for the sanatorium.
And there were other things too.
"Understood! Mission guaranteed!"
Dystopia declared confidently.
She turned to Kosma.
"Come on, Kosma, you're with me!"
"Why do I have to come?"
Kosma didn't understand.
"Don't ask so many questions. It's a mission, got it?"
Dystopia planted her hands on her hips, full of authority.
"Fine..."
With no other choice, Kosma followed along.
Watching the two of them, Elysia smiled.
Well, those two had gotten pretty familiar with each other during this time and had developed a subtle rapport.
At least, that's how Dystopia felt.
After all, Kosma was pretty easy to order around... ahem, it was just mutual help between good friends.
"Ah, to be young~"
Elysia feigned a profound sigh, then took Vya to find Mobius. She still needed to report some things to Mobius...
…
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