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The piercing scream of her alarm cut through the black fog of nightmares clouding her mind, waking up the Herrscher of Thunder with a start. Her pale hand shot out from under the covers and blindly groped for her phone. Hand grasping the device, the woman’s finger bounced ineffectively off the screen until the sleepy Herrscher finally managed to hit “dismiss”. After such an arduous task, Mei already felt exhausted, letting her arm fall over her eyes and groaning softly. The haze of exhaustion beckoned her back to sleep. Instead, she reluctantly forced herself to her feet. She did not have the energy for existing. Especially today of all days. Yet she must keep pushing forwards. Thankfully, becoming a Herrscher made getting dressed rather easy. Mei walked straight for the door, snapping her fingers and quickly glancing at herself as she passed her mirror, watching her clothes materialize on her body in a shimmer of golden light.
The hiss of the door broke the otherwise still air of the World Serpent base. The muted noise of the other inhabitants going about their business echoed down the corridors. Even with all the movement and life, the air always felt… heavy to the former Valkyrie.
“Well well! Good morning there, Miss Raiden. Looks like you’re all ready to go!”
Mei didn’t so much as flinch at the grinning voice that exploded from the wall next to her. Much too loud for ears still adjusting from the silence of night. “Raven.”
“Aww not even a Good morning? I’m hurt, Mei.” The two women fell into step as they made their way down a familiar route through the base. “And after all this time we’ve spent working together.”
“We’ve done a few missions together, true.”
Raven grinned, gesturing at the Herrscher as if to say “See?”
“But most of our recent time together has been you stalking me while I investigate the Elysian Realm.”
Raven rolled her eyes, “I am not stalking you. I have my own business there sometimes too, you know.”
Mei gave the assassin a knowing side-eye, “Trying to show off for Elysia is not business.”
Raven’s face scrunched up in irritation. It was a rather cute expression that almost brought a smile to Mei’s face. As it was, the corners of her lips twitched up just enough to be noticeable, “Fuck you, Mei.”
The two fell into an easy silence. Though Mei wouldn’t call anyone at World Serpent a friend, she had become… familiar with Raven. The woman was deadly and reliable in a fight, though Mei could do without Raven’s seemingly irresistible need to needle her at every opportunity. Kevin greatly favored pairing the two of them up and Mei couldn’t deny the results. Between her sword skills and the extreme range Raven’s Divine Key offered, there wasn’t much that could stand between the duo in a fight. In fact, she could almost say she’s come to enjoy working with Raven a bit. Not that the woman ever needed to know, of course, otherwise she’d just be even more insufferable than she already is.
The duo nodded to Kevin as they passed into the ancient stone hallway to the Elysian Realm. Mei still couldn’t get over how pretentious he looked sitting on a throne like that. Sure, he was probably the most powerful human to ever live, but that didn’t stop the flash of annoyance Mei felt whenever she laid eyes on the Kaslana.
Kaslana…
Mei frowned. Memories of long white hair separated into two braids, shining blue eyes, and the most brilliant smile the world could offer surfaced unbidden.
“Ahhhh, feels like forever since the last time I was here.”
Mei blinked against the brilliant reflections of light off the polished floor of the Elysian Realm, slightly disconcerted that her thoughts had distracted her for the rest of the walk. The space was currently empty, the sims of the Flame-chasers keeping to the realm itself for now. This early in the morning the place still smelled of faded soap and chemicals mixed with faint traces of Eden’s wine. Despite how often she was here, she still couldn’t help her expression twisting into one of distaste as the smells filled her nostrils. The girls must not have had a chance to spray their perfumes about the place yet. “Fantastic.”
Raven opened her mouth, no doubt to retort with some witty comment, when a head of pink hair jumped into view. A familiar upbeat (and flirty) voice met their ears.
“Mei! You’re back!”
The new arrival stepped in front of the Herrscher, arms wide open. When Mei was not forthcoming with a hug of her own, the woman lunged forward. Mei’s boots squeaked against the polished floor as she casually sidestepped the attempted hug, the pink-haired woman not even having the time to realize Mei had moved before her arms wrapped around empty air instead of the warm body she had been hoping for. However the girl quickly recovered, appearing completely nonplussed at Mei’s rejection of her affection.
Mei met the woman’s gaze evenly, “Hello, Elysia.”
Elysia beamed, “And you brought Raven with you!” She quickly turned back to Mei and jumped forward, hands raised playfully, “Mei are you finally going to let me touch your horns today?”
Mei stared at her for a moment. Just when it would be appropriate to finally give an answer, She turned away and, spotting Hua at the war table, quickly extricated herself from Elysia’s presence, “No.”
Elysia’s whole body drooped, as if a marionette who’s strings had been cut by Mei’s words, “Awww you’re no fun…” Only a moment later she perked back up like nothing had happened. Now that Mei was gone, Elysia could turn her attention to her second victim.
Raven fidgeted as the woman’s lovely pink eyes were turned on her, “Sorry, Elysia, I don’t have horns for you to feel. Would my claws suffice? They’re red, too.”
Elysia giggled, “I can’t imagine they’d be as sensitive as Mei’s horns probably are, but…” Elysia leaned in close, the women’s noses nearly touching. Her smile quickly faded into a suggestive grin, half lidded eyes bringing a rush of heat to Raven’s face, “But how can I say no when a cute girl asks me to touch her?”
Mei pinched the bridge of her nose, both Hua and Raven’s eyes growing comically large and faces blooming even redder as Elysia’s words graced their ears. Elysia cupped one of Raven’s cheeks with her dainty hand and the assassin looked positively dazed at the flame-chaser’s mere touch. Mei shared a knowing glance with Hua. Raven was not subtle in her reasons for always following Mei to the Elysian Realm, and now the two observers could practically see the steam shooting out of Raven’s ears.
“Alright,” Mei sighed, “I’m gonna head in while Elysia’s distracted wrapping Raven around her finger.”
Hua chuckled. It wasn’t often something flustered the experienced assassin, that she currently remembered at least, and Hua took a moment to revel in the experience. That is, until Mei’s retreating presence seemed to snap her back into focus. The Herrscher was halfway to the device housing the main simulation built against the back wall of the room when a calloused hand gently grabbed her arm.
“Um, Mei?”
Mei’s usually cold gaze quickly softened upon seeing an anxious Hua behind her, “Yes?”
“Could you stay back for a bit?”
Mei turned to face the younger woman fully, “Why?”
“Uuhhhh…” Hua’s eyes darted around, hoping to glean some kind of answer from the emptiness around her. Her cunning having failed her, she winced, “Um well, there’s something… I have to show you?”
Mei raised an eyebrow.
“Please just stay for now?” Hua looked up at the Herrscher with those uncomfortably familiar eyes of hers.
Mei nodded, “Okay, but do I get to know why it’s suddenly so important I don’t go into the realm yet?”
Hua looked about to attempt another vague answer when a new voice sounded out from the direction of the bar, “My dear Mei, that would be because we have something for you.” Mei and Hua’s attention snapped to the smooth tones of the previous era’s favorite singer. Eden was lounging on one of the sofas, twirling a goblet of wine in her hand. “My darling Elysia, do please bring Raven over here before you two get too carried away.” Eden called to the two still near the entrance.
If Mei was honest she had almost forgotten she’d left Raven at Elysia’s mercy.
The women simply watched as Elysia pulled Raven along. The assassin looked almost completely blissed out, a light-pink lip mark staining her cheek. Mei couldn’t keep the grin from her lips this time. At least someone had gotten what they wanted today. Eden was at least thoughtful enough to attempt to hide her smile behind a gloved hand. “Thank you, Elysia.”
“So, why exactly am I here?” Mei shifted back into a more serious persona almost instantly.
“Ah!” Eden clapped her hands excitedly, pushing herself to her feet. She continued talking as she made her way to the fridge behind the bar, “Well, we received a special something yesterday. I’ll be honest, I don’t quite know how hard this place is to find but knowing Kevin I assume it’s rather difficult. Nevertheless, it is a pleasant surprise and we couldn’t simply let you go without it.”
Now Mei was confused, “I’m sorry?” She tilted her head, curiously watching as Eden pulled out… a cake? Mei frowned, “I’m sorry but how…”
“How did we know it was your birthday today?” Elysia piped up, “We didn’t until yesterday, honestly.”
Mei looked between the two women, still greatly confused, “What the hell happened yesterday?”
Eden gestured with the cake in her hands, “This did. Raven brought it down, actually.”
Mei turned to the assassin, who had recovered her wits enough to playfully wink at the Herrscher, “See, Mei? I can be nice.”
Mei’s lips parted in confusion as she struggled to piece it all together, “You bought me a cake?”
Raven laughed, “Of course I didn’t. Your annoying girlfriend teleported it into my bedroom.”
“What.”
Raven nodded, playing it off as nothing unusual, “Oh yeah. She’s lucky I was dressed when she decided to open a portal in my face.”
“Kiana was here?” Mei’s voice came as a whisper. If one looked close enough one could almost see past the cold, distant Herrscher. All the way to the hopeful girl underneath all that godly power whose only desire possessed a certain head of white hair.
Raven nodded gently, “I don’t know how if she actually found the base or was able to find me specifically with her Herrscher powers but either way, she got what she wanted. Told me you were probably gonna be sulking today so she wanted to drop off a few things. I get the feeling she didn’t want to make things too hard for you, which is why she didn’t ask to see you in person. Though she did add that she hopes to see you soon.”
Mei’s gaze snapped up to the gray-haired woman, “Did you tell Kevin?”
Raven scoffed, “Of course I did, do you have any idea what a security risk it is to have a Herrscher portal into the middle of our base?”
Mei frowned. Red electricity ran along her limbs, “If he-”
“Calm down, Princess,” Raven rolled her eyes, “I showed him everything. In usual Kevin fashion he didn’t seem to care all that much. Just said to bring it down here and that he’d let it slide… this time.”
“How… unusually accommodating of him.”
“I know right?” Raven grinned, “But hey, I get some cake out of it so who cares?”
Hua appeared rather indignant at Raven’s flippantness, a bubble of laughter catching in Mei’s chest. Fifty-thousand years and in some ways Hua was still Hua.
The clink of ceramic signaled the end of Eden’s preparations. While Mei had been having her carefully constructed emotional wall smashed to pieces, the musician had been busy cutting the cake into slices. “It’s ready!” She beamed at the girl. Elysia handed Mei an envelope as she walked past. At first, her hand flinched away like the paper burned. But a moment later she stashed it in a pocket, a muttered thanks to Elysia slipping from her lips. Kiana wrote her a letter…
Mei stepped forward cautiously, gingerly taking the offered plate like she was afraid this was a dream that could shatter with any sudden movement. The bits of frosting near the narrow end of the slice immediately caught her eye. “What did it say?”
Eden’s smile grew gentle, “The cake?”
Mei nodded.
“I miss you.”