The cold corridors of World Serpent’s base made your skin crawl as you were dragged along the ice-cold floor with a bag over your head and your arms chained behind you with Honkai-suppressing properties. It was a rather medieval experience but certainly not of the ones you were keen on experiencing.

“Now, now. Let’s all take a moment to calm down and-” 

“Oh, shut up already!” One of Jackal’s subordinates smacked you across your face to shut you up, which it did - for a few seconds.

“Come now, friends. Can’t we at least take off the hood? I’m starting to fall asleep here! At least, let me look around!”

“God, they’re so annoying.” The person on your left muttered.

“Relax, we’re almost at the Sire’s throne room.” The person to your right calmed down their friend. “We can leave them there and Lady Jackal will take over from there.”

“I know, I know... Hey, do you think the Sire does anything besides sit on his throne-”

“Both of you, silence.” A woman’s voice shut them both up and made you perk up upon hearing the newcomer approach you while two sets of footsteps went in the other direction. Her heels clicked on the floor and circled around you as you could feel her sizing you up until she stopped behind you. “Get up.” You could feel her warm breath on your ear and shivered slightly but obliged to her command.

“You must be Jackal. Your helpers were lovely company, though I have more reason to believe you’ll be far more charming!” You smile despite the grim situation you found yourself in, finding everything happening around you far too amusing to not enjoy the moment.

Jackal doesn’t say anything to you; she merely pushes you up the stairs and into a large throne room where the temperature had dropped immensely. However, the more important factor was the even more immense power radiating from the person sitting in the throne in the center that was enough to attract your attention.

“Sire. I’ve brought the individual responsible for the stagnation of our operations.”

“Hey, don’t forget your two friends! They did most of the heavy lifting-”

Smack!

“Do not mention those incompetent buffoons.”

“Sorry...”

“...Understood.” The person called “Sire” said and you could tell it was a male’s. “Do they have a name?”

“Of course, Sire. Their name is...” You could hear Jackal calmly shuffling through papers, the calmness of her movements turning agitated as she couldn’t for the life of her find your name.

“Are you sure you’re not the incompetent one?” You inquire in a mock innocent tone, tilting your head at the woman who was seconds away from smacking you again.

“How dare you-”

“Jackal.” The man merely said. “Leave us. You’ve done enough.”

“Y-Yes, Sire...” You heard the disappointment in Jackal’s voice and felt a bit bad for her but your attention went over to the leader of his organization.

“Are you done playing your games, Herrscher?”

You smile and stood up, breaking the chains binding you as if they were made of glass. “Yeah, maybe a little. I’ll save it for Madame Jackal. I also heard that there was a pretty little bird wandering here as well.” Pulling the hood of your head, you were prepared to face an icy stare of a monster but were instead met with a slightly wide eyed stare from a white-haired man who was, for whatever reason, surprised to see your face. “So, you’re this ‘Sire’ that I’ve been hearing a lot about? Hm... That doesn’t sound cool enough. How about ‘Ice Cube?’ Does that sound good?”

“...(Your/Name)?“ You heard him whisper, still taken aback by your appearances, and you raised an eyebrow.

“Huh? You know my name? Who are you, Ice Cube?”

“...” The king of ice shook his head and regained his composure, although, you could see the tiniest crack in his mask. “It is not your business, Herrscher. What matters now,” He stood up from his throne, summoning a mighty greatsword of flames from nowhere and heating up the room. “is what you plan on doing now.”

“Heh, I’m quite confident in my fighting capabilities, Ice Cube.” You smiled and ready yourself for battle. “But, how about this? If I win, I get to walk free and you won’t bother me ever. If you win, then I’ll help you with whatever cult-y things you’re doing.”

The man didn’t say anything and you took his silence as his agreement to the terms. Stretching your body, you prepared to fight-

===

A Few Weeks Later...

===

You totally lost won the fight.

......

Ahem, Kevin didn’t exactly beat you into the dirt like some may have thought but it was more comparable to an older brother scolding their mischievous younger sibling.

Silver lining: you were able to force out of him a terrifying transformation that no one in this era had ever seen before and destroyed around 80% of the main World Serpent base, earning you the animosity of Jackal who had to clean up after you two.

After you woke up, you found the man waiting patiently for you and he introduced himself to you as Kevin Kaslana. That name... It made you feel an odd sense of nostalgia but you couldn’t put your finger on it and he didn’t seem to want to say anything when you pestered him about this. You decided to honor your side of the agreement since you were seeking answers from Kevin.

“Are you focusing on the mission?” Your elder in the World Serpent hierarchy, a woman with short, light gray hair and crimson orbs, shook you out of your reminiscing with her question, mistaking your silence for... window shopping.

“Of course I am, Songbird! It’s just... *sighs* I’m bored.”

“So, you aren’t focusing...”

“C’mon, Songbird. All of this waiting around and spying is booooooring! Let’s go grab something to eat, just me and you, and then we can go back to base together!”

“Pass.” Raven bluntly replied and kept looking through the scope of her sniper rifle, surveying the dull buildings and dark alleyways.

“Why are you so fixated in this Kiana girl anyways? Got a grudge or something?”

“...Something like that.”

You raise an eyebrow but before you could comment on it, you received a transmission to return to base.

“Oh, got to go, Songbird. Ice Cube’s calling me back. You fine with staying in Arc City while only having Jackal for company?”

“Is anyone ever fine with that?” Raven remarks as you both chuckle before bidding farewell to each other.

After a long ride back with nothing to do to pass the time, you found yourself outside of the throne room and were (not) surprised to find Kevin waiting for you in his usual stance: arms crossed and eyes closed.

“Yo, Ice Cube!” You shouted, waving a hand at the man when he opened his eyes. There was a tiny inkling of relief in his blue eyes before he snuffed it out as quickly as it had surfaced. “Why’d you call me back?”

“(Your/Name), I think it’s time for you to learn the truth of the Honkai and visit the Elysian Realm.”

“Already?” You raise an eyebrow, having heard of this place from “Songbird” and admitted that you were a tad bit curious about this mysterious location. Though, you weren’t expecting to be sent there this early, considering that Raven had only gone recently after many years of serving World Serpent. “Don’tcha think  you should wait until springing something this important upon me, Ice Cube?”

“You’re... a special case.” You saw the odd look in Kevin’s eyes return and decided to not comment on it as he continued to stare off into space.

“...Soooo, where do I go exactly?”

Kevin snapped out of his sorrowful reminiscing and pointed toward the ominous, dark hallway at the end of the corridor.

“Ah, of course. I should have known that it would be in the creepiest place here... Later, Ice Cube.” You shake your head and waved goodbye. You headed off in the direction that Kevin had indicated, noticing that the only footsteps echoing throughout the hallway was yours. But, when you looked back, he was gone. “How does he keep doing that...?” You thought to yourself and merely shrugged it off for now - there were more pressing matters to attend to. 

Each step you took forward toward the Elysian Realm seemed to make each subsequent step feel even heavier than the previous. You felt a bud of unease growing in your chest the closer you got to those ominously inviting doors.

Placing a hand on the doors, you readied yourself to find what was inside, taking a deep breath and closing your eyes, and then kicking the door open with a bright smile.

“Greetings for I, Y/N - the one and only Herrscher of World Serpent, have arrived! No need for applause or cheers!” You waited...and waited for a response but were only met with a dead silence. Anyone could have dropped a needle and you would have heard it.

When you opened your eyes, you found...an empty room.

“Really? No one to greet little ol’ me? Ice Cube’s gonna get a scolding from me...” With an annoyed pout, you venture deeper into this odd place, left with a sour taste in your mouth after this initial disappointment that was soon washed away with the spectacle that was this location.

On your left was a wall stacked with memorials and trinkets from the Previous Era, a minibar, and a small lounge area. Meanwhile, on your right was a set of peculiar tubes with seemingly no significant purpose and a large table with various screens pulled up on the back wall, showing... Well, you didn’t pay much attention to the details in the real world so why would you now?

What really caught your attention was the floating device in the back-center, radiating a strange pink light.

“Hm... I probably shouldn't touch that...”

...

"Oh, who am I kidding?" You press some buttons and, after a bright flash of light, found yourself on a strange platform that looked nothing like the lobby area. However, before you could question your surroundings, Honkai beasts began to emerge from the ground.

With a smirk, you summon your weapon and twirl it.

Back in the lobby, a single Flame-chaser logged in and let out a yawn.

“Hi~! Sorry for being a little late, I wanted to make sure I looked my best for you, newcomer~!” The extroverted woman with pointy ears looked around to see that no one was here. She was a little disappointed but also didn’t mind at the same time.

“Oh, they must be running late as well. I’ll just wait here then~!“ Elysia excitedly sat down on one of the couches and waited patiently...for a couple of minutes...

“Any minute now~!”

A few more minutes pass...

“Any minute now...”

Those few minutes of waiting eventually turn into hours...

“...D-Did I get the day wrong? Kevin wouldn’t lie to me, would he? No, he’s too nice to do that.” Elysia was now curled up into a ball, a rather adorable pout on her face as she struggled to hold back dramatic tears. “Nonono, I made sure to not mess up the date. So, where are they?” 

Elysia sniffed twice before she heard the sound of the portal to the deeper parts of the Elysian Realm open and realized what happened. She quickly wiped her face and returned to her normal, chirpy self in no time.

“Hiii~!” Elysia turned her head to greet the ‘newcomer‘ with her usual bright smile. “Welcome to-” Her eyes widened and her smile faltered when she saw your face and the blood trickling down your face as many emotions and memories overwhelmed her.

“Oh, hey. Do you know where I am?” You casually ask, smiling happily while fixing your clothes that were in tatters after your little “Elysian Realm Test Run.” Your good mood was quickly replaced with confusion when you looked back up to see the elf-eared woman staring straight at you with a shocked expression and tears welling up in her eyes.

“(Y-Your/Name)?” Elysia’s voice cracked when she said your name. She knew that another Y/N would be born in the Current Era and that the one she knew was long gone, but that didn’t make it hurt any less when you said:  

“Do I know you?”

With a forced smile, Elysia shook her head and muttered a soft “No, of course not...”

“Hey, I might not know who you are...” You close the distance between you and her, and cupped her face, wiping her tears away. “But, that doesn’t mean I won’t be concerned when you start to cry after seeing me.”

Elysia smiled at you and grabbed your hands, noting how delicate and smooth they felt. Just then, a strange sensation shot through her and your body, and her eyes widened in shock.

“Y-You’re...”

“Oh, right. I should probably introduce myself anyways even though you already know my name...” Taking a few steps back and pulling your hands away from a frozen-in-place Elysia, you simply bowed. “I am [Your/Name] [Last/Name], this era’s Herrscher of Binding.”

“Oh...” Elysia cupped your face, her eyes sparkling with tears and her smile replaced with a frown - a sight that had never been seen before. “How cruel can fate be? To make you shoulder the burdens of a Herrscher once more...”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

Elysia did not answer and simply shook her head before turning away, disabling herself for the time being as she disappeared in a flash of light.

Even if you had no idea what was going on, you still felt a pang of guilt in your chest, followed by a soul-crushing feeling when you remembered Elysia’s face.

You questioned if you should have even came here and decided that perhaps it would be best to leave as things had gone way off course to what you imagined and the mood was ruined.

However, before you stepped back through the door to the real world, you heard the sound of footsteps behind you and turned your head to see Kevin.

“Oh, Ice Cube... When did you get here and why did you even send me here? I don’t mind the extra training from that device back there but I feel like I could get the same results in... What?”

“...” Kevin didn’t say anything and continued to stare at you in a mixture of utter confusion and shock.

You were confused by the surprise on Kevin’s face, wondering why he was making the same expression he had done when you first met him. Then, you felt the power exuding from him.

“Ice Cube, when did you... How did you get this strong in such a short time frame!? You’ve been holding back against me?“

“...No, I believe you’re misunderstanding the situation. Do you not know where you are?” A tilt of the head from you was all he needed to know that, yes, you had no idea where you were. “...(sighs) Follow me.” Kevin merely said and led you over to the lounge area where he would explain the purpose of the Elysian Realm to you.

===

...Timeskip...

===

“I see...” You nodded and gazed at the table in front of you, sitting on the opposite side of the lounge from Kevin. “So, this is where you make your noodles.”

“...Were you even paying attention?”

“Yeah, yeah. This is the place where the memories of the Previous Era’s greatest warriors are stored in the form of simulations - which is what you are - and where I can learn more about them. But, do you have any idea how famous your noodles are in the outside world?“

“Focus, Y/N.” PE Kevin tried to grab your attention but you were well off in your own world.

“I mean, some people at World Serpent worship them more than you-”

“Do you not wish to learn more of what your connection to the Previous Era is? To learn of why the other me and I reacted the way we did?” You didn’t respond but the silence in the lounge spoke louder than words. “Then, I would suggest you explore more and seek out answers.” Kevin recommended to you before making a swift exit.

You stared down at the unopened instant noodles in your hand before sighing to yourself and placing it on the table. “Guess you were always supposed to be good at convincing me then, Ice Cube.” You left the lounge and approached the floating device once more, Kevin’s advice echoing in your mind, followed by a series of questions.

Who was I to these people?

What happened to the PE version of me?

Why did Ice Cube send me here?

Taking a deep breath, you pressed the button and closed your eyes as you felt yourself being teleported deeper inside this mysterious place. When you opened your eyes, you found yourself back on the platform with Honkai beast simulations appearing around you and readied yourself to fight your way through this strange world for the answers to the questions plaguing your mind.

The beasts were no match for you and they were annihilated within seconds thanks to your Herrscher powers.

However, now, you found yourself facing three floating mechanisms all with different symbols in the center which wasn’t present the first time. You looked around for a guide, but found none, unaware that the person that was supposed to be your guide through the Elysian Realm had left you in tears and disabled herself for the time being.

However, even without Elysia here, you could tell that the realm was waiting for you to make a choice and your eyes flickered between the gateways before you finally made your choice...

Aponia [III] - Discipline

"You're... No, I know you're not them... And, yet..."

Aponia's special connection to the Elysian Realm allowed her to sense the presence of a Herrscher. However, that didn't mean she knew it was you until you stepped in front of her with the same smile as your predecessor, the same pair of (Eye/Color) orbs gleaming with life, your (Hair/Length) (Hair/Color) hair — everything was the same.

Aponia is normally quiet and her emotions are still like the seas on a windless day, but when you speak with her, you can see straight through her without trouble. Whenever she is around you, she is reminded of the endearing child she once looked after and tries both metaphorically and literally get closer to you, and is heartbroken when you back away.

Eventually, Aponia accepts that you're your own person and stops trying to relive the past through you. However, that doesn't stop the occasion pats on the head that you accept and lingering sorrowful gazes she unknowingly sends your way when you speak with the other Flame-chasers. To humanity, they defeated a Herrscher that day, but to her, she lost her child.

"'Why do I keep following you?' I...am unsure of how to answer that. I know you are your own person. And, yet, I cannot help but make sure you are safe at all times. Perhaps, I wish to take responsibility for that fateful day..."

Eden [IV] - Gold

"Either the Elysian Realm is malfunctioning, or someone installed an update that allows us to hallucinate..." The empty chuckle escaping Eden echoed across the lounge and left a wave of discomfort to wash over you.

Contrary to what Raven and Owl told you beforehand, Eden is far from the elegant idol you were led to believe and more akin to a rambling drunk, but something told you that was in part thanks to you.

Whenever you entered her domain, you always happened upon Eden taking a sip of her wine as she stared off into the distance with a foggy look in her eyes. You weren't sure how a simulation could get tipsy, but that didn't make the sight of her drunk sobs and intoxicated murmurs any less comfortable to sit through.

Eden's unhealthy addiction eases over time and she apologizes for her "unprofessional" showings. She starts to show more of that side that your co-workers mentioned and you begin to see glimpses of the revered, gentle, beloved songstress of the Previous Era. However, no matter how much she tries to hide it, you can still see lingering fragments of sorrow behind her gaze whenever you locked eyes with her.

"I know it is unfair of me to ask this, but... May I ask of you to sing a song with me? It's... the only regret I refused to leave in the Previous Era... You will? Oh, thank you for indulging in this troublesome relic's request."

Vill-V [V] - Helix

"Behold! The brand-new and perfected Kevin Killer Mk. 2000! You should feel honored, Herrscher of the Current Era! For this technology and level of ingenuity has never... never... Y-You... Why are you here?"

The whispers surrounding the holder of the Helix signet told you volumes of her flamboyancy and her domain certainly lived up to your expectations. Vill-V, on the other hand, did not.

From the other Flame-chasers, you've learned about her multiple personalities and the drastic differences between them. Yet, whenever you tried to strike up a conversation with her, you are only met with sadness and a reluctance to converse.

It takes a lot of effort on your end, but eventually the talk you share with her last longer than a few words. They turn to 5 words, 6, words, 7 words, 8 words, then a sentence, several sentences, and before long, you could finally hold a entire conversation with her. After that, it didn't take long for her to show her true self (or selves, in this case) and you two quickly became quick friends, much to both Kevin's annoyance (and slight relief).

"Attention everyone! The greatest magician of all time is here with her new assistant! Prepare to be awed by our spectacular performance!"

Kalpas [VI] - Decimation

"...Are you a trick of the Honkai? Or, are you here just to anger me with your face?"

Kalpas isn't like the others. He knows that the PE (Your/Name) is long dead and the one in front of him now is someone else entirely. However, despite knowing this, the anger burning in his chest whenever his gaze lands on you, forcing him to remember that day, eats away at him without mercy.

Kalpas tries to avoid you whenever possible and you do the same to him, leaving him feeling an odd mixture of both contentedness and annoyance. While you are preoccupied with the trials of the other Flame-chasers, he watches you from afar, along with Sakura.

Even when every data of his simulation fully recognizes you as a Herrscher of the Current Era, it doesn't stop him from falling into the same trap the others were ensnared in: He still saw shadows of the previous (Your/Name) in you.

"...Your technique is too flashy. If I hadn't stepped in, you would have been injured. Go in for the kill next time... Huh? You think I've been watching you this entire time? Don't be absurd. Why would I do that? You trying to pick a fight?!"

And, that was the events that led up to Kalpas being placed in the "naughty boys and girls corner" by Kevin, Elysia, Aponia, and Sakura.

Su [VII] - Bodhi

"...Hm? You... I see... Have you been trapped in this samsara of tragedy, (Your/Name)?"

Su is difficult to read, whether it was intentional on his end or not. A part of you believes that he feels a little melancholic when he "sees" you while the other half wonders if he shared the same relationship to your previous self like his fellow MANTIS.

Su spends much of his time meditating, making it difficult to approach him. He is usually the one who initiates the conversation, which usually ends with you having to sit down to listen to his 3-hour-long spiels.

It is only through Elysia's tutorage, you slowly learn how to read the enlightened individual and realize he does care. It is also through Elysia that you tragically learn Su was the doctor who extensively tried everything he could to save your predecessor, only to end up being the only one there to hold their hand as they passed away.

"...(Your/Name)? Is there something you need- Oh." Su was taken aback when you hugged him out of the blue and didn't quite understand until you whispered a soft, "Thank you for trying until the very end." "...Thank you."

Sakura [VIII] - Setsuna

"A Herrscher? Wait, no. You're..."

After your predecessor's death, the real Sakura never synced with her simulation, leaving the latter blissfully unaware of the tragic fate that befell the PE (Your/Name). When she learns the truth, Sakura is distraught and in shambles. Thankfully, your presence and words are a tremendous help in her recovery, and it doesn't take long for her to bounce back and pick up the pieces on the ground.

Sakura is a gentle, loving soul and frequently goes out of her way to make your stay at the Elysian Realm is the best it can be, which meant she will usually butt heads with Kalpas to a certain extent and Mobius.

Much like Kalpas, Sakura watches over you from afar as you effortlessly cleave through the hordes of Honkai beasts standing in your way. And, also like with Kalpas, there's a small iota of older sibling's pride blooming in her chest when she sees your strength.

"Even though you're not the (your/Name) I knew, I can't help but feel content with knowing you've grown into a capable warrior... I... I only wish Rin was here to see you too."

Kosma [IX] and Griseo [XI] - Daybreak and Stars

"(Y-Your/Name)?" Kosma muttered, his harmonica falling to the floor as so did Griseo's brush.

By now, you believed you were more than accustomed to the reactions of the Flame-chasers upon seeing your face. Soon, you were proven wrong when you felt Griseo's little arms try to wrap around your waist as she bawled loudly while Kosma held back, instead choosing to gawk at you from afar.

Every moment you spent in the Elysian Realm from that point onward was with Griseo and Kosma trailing behind you like two baby ducklings following their mother, which you didn't mind. Of course, everyone knew they were thousands of years older than you, but that didn't stop the giggles and laughs from the onlookers.

The painting world Griseo frequented was vibrant and humming with life whenever you visited and the tunes coming from Kosma's harmonica sounded more cheerful as he listened to you paint together.

"...Stay safe."

"Come over again tomorrow...please."

Mobius [X] - Infinity

"Hmph. When I saw Elysia disable herself for an entire day, I knew something was wrong."

Much like Kalpas, Mobius knows you're not the PE (Your/Name) and isn't so welcoming like the other Flame-chasers, so expect to be met with hostility and venom as she lives up to the Honkai beast she infused herself with.

The portals leading to her domain are extremely rare to come across, which, to her annoyance, meant you would take it every time to visit her laboratory. Her dislike for you is crystal clear but your curiosity for how she felt about your predecessor spurred you on to remain by her side.

Mobius does a well enough job to hide her feelings and it takes you a longer time to decipher her true feelings. It is only thanks to the pieces of information you gathered from conversations with the other Flame-chasers and Klein do you finally can say you can began to understand Mobius with confidence.

"Hm? Oh, it's you... 'Do I miss the previous (Your/Name)?' How foolish. What makes you think... Oh, I see now. Klein and others fed you this foolish notion that I missed them, haven't they? If you wish to pass my trials, then you'd best learn to filter out the false lies from the riffraff." Mobius tells you with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes, where you can see the tiniest fragments of sadness locked behind the vault of her simulation programming.

Hua [XII] - Vicissitude

"The Honkai... It has already taken so much from me, including the person who shares the same face as you. Tell me, or you an enemy or a friend?"

Hua tries to put up a tough exterior, but the cracks of her mask make themselves known before she could even finish her question as you slowly bring her into a small hug like you did with Su.

There were some moments that Hua chose to forget via Fenghuang Down but the moments she spent with the PE (Your/Name), from the first meeting to their death, remained with her all these years. Therefore, it is imperative to let her take her time in getting used to seeing your face again.

Back in the Previous Era, besides the other Flame-chasers, Hua wasn't too experienced with making friends and that made your friendship all the more special to her. Hua follows you around the Elysian Realm like with Kosma and Griseo, but unlike them, knows when to give you space, specifically when you underwent a trial.

Hua is ashamed to admit that she is jealous of the real her once she learns that she is alive thanks to you. She wishes to fly high and experience the fresh air of the Current Era, but doesn't mind listening to your stores and seeing it through your lenses.

"This necklace... It... It belonged to the previous you. I know it is unfair of me to ask this, but... Can I ask you to take care of it for me?"

Pardofelis [XIII] - Reverie

"...Huh? Huh? Huh?! (Your/Name), is that you?! Oh, I knew all these years of throwing coins in the fountain would pay off!"

It takes a lot of effort to get out of the bear hug she ensnared you in but eventually, you manage to sit her down and explain who you were, earning a soft "...Oh."

Surprisingly, she doesn't dwell too long on her mistake and bounces back to her usual happy-go-lucky self. She treats you no different than she would if you were the Previous (Your/Name) while also acknowledging you were your own person which was a nice change of pace.

Purchasing items from her shop still costs you money—don't get it twisted. But, at least they were all between 50% to 100% off, so there's nothing complain about...right?

Pardofelis and, by extension, Can always greet you with a cheerful smile and hug you tightly. It sorta reminded you when you were younger and had look after two of your neighbor's cats. Heck, they even purr when you scratch them under the chin.