Honkai Diary: Start With Picking Up A White-Haired Treasure

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These events unfolded during Zeke's visit to Otto.

The autumn breeze rustled through Mondstadt, the long-lost small town.

It had been over half a year since the Honkai Beast attack.

Many lives were lost, and numerous buildings destroyed. The already fragile economy of this small town, after enduring such devastation, was utterly rendered uninhabitable for humans.

With their livelihoods at stake, regardless of means or resources, everyone chose to leave once the town's economy collapsed completely.

Thus, this secluded haven nestled amidst layers of snow-capped mountains ultimately became a ghost town, devoid of any human presence. Apart from the remnants of ruined structures, there remained no trace indicating that people once lived here.

In the mournful chill of the wind, suddenly, a girl dressed in white nightgown appeared on the desolate and disordered streets like a winter fairy.

Her delicate, bare feet touched the ground, yet the dust could not mar their pristine whiteness even slightly. Golden eyes slowly scanned the bleak landscape, creating a scene surreal as if from a dream.

She began walking, passing by the candy shop where sweets were once sold, the collapsed cottage where Kiana and Zeke had repaired the roof together, and also the gang hideout that Zeke had torched.

Finally, she reached the edge of a collapsed bridge.

Once upon a time, beneath that bridge lay a small, filthy alcove, barely sheltered from the wind—so much so that snowflakes drifted effortlessly inside.

But this was where it all began.

The girl extended her hand, and as if reversing the flow of time, rubble floated upward, coalescing to recreate the little bridge along with its modest alcove.

Next, she set up a makeshift shelter within the alcove and kindled a bonfire.

Basking in the warmth of the flames, she sat down, hugging her knees.

As the fire continued to burn, she gazed unblinkingly. Sunrise followed sunset; darkness gave way to dawn. If not for occasional gusts stirring her silvery hair and white garments, one might mistake the girl for a stationary stone sculpture.

After an indeterminate number of days, her golden eyes flickered slightly. She reached out, and a small black pouch appeared in her hand.

She undid the cord at the top and peered inside.

Whatever treasure she beheld seemed to bring her relief, prompting a gentle smile, as if capable of making a hundred flowers bloom.

Then, just like that, the girl vanished, along with the shelter and the bonfire. The tiny bridge collapsed once more, seemingly in the blink of an eye.

It felt as though everything had been but a fleeting illusion.

At Anti-Entropy's headquarters, in Siegfried's sleeping quarters.

The girl appeared once more—silver-haired with golden eyes, clad in spotless white nightgown and barefoot as before.

She gazed silently at Siegfried's sleeping face for a long moment. Then she reached out and placed her hand on his forehead.

"Because she received care, losing her Anchor Point allowed me to naturally break through my suggestion... What a headache-inducing old man," the girl murmured. Her voice, which should have been soft and girlish, instead carried a tone of melancholy and chilliness.

"Well, might as well sleep some more."

"Don't push yourself too hard; things will get better."

With these whispered words, she kept her hand on Siegfried's forehead and closed her eyes.

After another brief interval, she vanished from the room.

In the Far East, at Saint Freya Academy, it was the quiet of late night.

Once again, the familiar girl silently slipped through the door to approach a sleeping young woman who appeared barely older than a child.

She sat down by the bedside and gently brushed aside strands of Theresa's hair that had fallen across her forehead as she slept.

"There's time anyway... Might as well reinforce things here. Saint Freya is more important; ignore what's happening over there—it's not your concern... Auntie."

The girl placed her snow-white hand on the forehead of the slumbering figure.

Instantly, the sleeping person scrunched up her brows in anguish, clutched tightly onto her Homu pillow, and muttered,

"No... Don't... Don't..."

"Resisting me?"

The girl lifted her hand, surprise flickering across her gentle expression.

Ignoring Theresa's struggles, she continued with her task undeterred.

After a long while, Theresa's expression softened, her brows relaxing as she returned to peaceful slumber. She even smacked her lips and muttered like a genuine child:

"Mm... Homu...Homu... I am...a Magic Girl T-T-T-T...Tiriii..."

The young woman gently stroked Theresa's hair, letting out a deep sigh.

Then, she looked up at the bright moon outside the window.

"It should be about time now. Time to return..."

"No...no!" As if sensing something, Theresa abruptly opened her eyes from her dream state.

Blinking groggily, all she saw was her familiar, empty bedroom.

"Huh? Was it just my imagination?" Theresa sat up, reaching aimlessly into the air as if trying to grasp something, but the room remained devoid of anything tangible.

Pressing a hand against her chest, feeling a sense of loss, she swayed before collapsing back onto her bed. Overwhelmed by drowsiness, she drifted off into sleep once more.

Zeke finally embarked on his journey.

After bidding farewell to Amber, young maid Rita, and the steadfast Durandal one by one, Zeke departed from the Sky Base amidst Vera's teary gaze of reluctance.

Otto did not come to see him off.

This was Zeke's first—and likely last—time leaving the Sky Base so peacefully as he had arrived.

Nor did Otto attempt any hindrance.

On one hand, Zeke's theoretical research was progressing smoothly; at this crucial moment, Otto would never impede his progress.

On the other hand, after observing the new worker bees through various means, Otto realized that his base was indeed besieged from all directions. Although Zeke himself remained here, along with Vera who could keep him in check, Otto had no intention of risking the entire Sky Base—it simply wasn't worth it or necessary.

"Go forth, my dear friend, and bring me even more surprises."

Seated high up in the garden, Otto watched the departing Schicksal aircraft, raising his teacup towards Zeke across the vast distance.

As the plane receded, Zeke gazed out the window, looking back at the majestic Sky City. As if sensing something, he raised his own teacup in a toast towards the cityscape.

After watching the plane disappear, Otto sighed softly.

"Ah, Zeke..."

It wasn't that he hadn't considered using methods like Phantom-Imitation with Fenghuang Down to influence Zeke's consciousness, making him diligently complete his theoretical work.

However, firstly, Otto respected Zeke as a friend, and secondly—while science is rigorous, cutting-edge research often involves significant subjective elements.

Apart from concerns about potential harm to Zeke's brain and consciousness, not to mention any countermeasures Zeke might have prepared, Otto was entirely uncertain how altering Zeke's subconscious would affect his fluid bursts of inspiration. Any slowdown or halt in Zeke's research progress due to such interference would drive Otto insane.

With hope now within reach, Otto could not allow for any unforeseen complications. He preferred witnessing Zeke grow into a formidable adversary rather than risk even the slightest disruption to his scientific endeavors.

All for Kallen!

Otto raised his cup once more, not in toast to Zeke but to the pure white light five hundred years ago, forever etched in his memory.