A step into a train, a story reaching its end and a well beloved tale at that. So many tears shed in its airing and its end is the mundane act of stepping into a train, something people do every day. One step and the ending curtains drops down over stories so packed full of emotions and action. Is it not coincidence that two stories that are so filled with sorrow and grief end the exact same way? By the mundane end of stepping into a train. How, lifeless for two stories that are so impactful to their audiences. Two bittersweet endings of saying goodbye to the ones they, the main characters, had loved the most.
"Clack"
Entering a train, a goodbye with no words. The white-haired Kaslana stepped into the train. Mei had tried to go after her yet, Bronya stepped in her way knowing that that would not be what Kiana would have wished and with that the train left the station and the curtain call for her story had come. It was her decision after all to say her final farewells and to turn into a Moon that always tells the warmth and brightness of the Sun. The once burning star that acted as a guiding light for her loved ones. Here she was, with nothing but the lifeless scenery of a train that seemingly had no other passengers. The curtains have fallen and the finality of Kiana's story is here. To seal the Honkai on the Moon with one last sacrifice to prevent another sacrifice from happening for her cause, "fight for all that is beautiful in this world". Her teacher's former cause that was now hers, she thanked Himeko for paving her path back to herself with her own life. Sacrifices, she hated them truly but she would sacrifirce herself like how Himeko had done to prevent any more for happening. She thought of Mei, the one who had tried saving the world so she would not have to. She felt terrible for doing this to the one who valued her more than this world itself, this sacrifice of hers would make the act of Mei leaving everything she had once loved for her in vain.
The train looked sterile, it was in pristine condition, there was not even a speck of dust anywhere and it was empty, completely, there was not a single person in sight. Most people would say this was a lucky event that had taken place but for Kiana, there was nothing distracting her from the sinking feeling that she would not see the ones she loved the most for at least years. The people who knew her as a person and not a herrscher, she would miss them truly. The train rode of into the void of space, the windows as clear as they were showed the outside world of nothing but a black abyss with burning stars splattered around. A train seemingly devoid of anyone else and a herrscher who had wanted to be seen as human. This was the ending tablo of this story.
"Clack, clack, clack"
Kiana stepped into the next cabin, her purple to blue eyes closed. She thought it would be the same scene, a train with nobody in sight. However, when she opened her eyes she locked sight with what seemed to be a child. He looked like an elementary schooler and seemed to be quite skittish. Empty black eyes met blue eyes filled with longing for people who were not there. Her eyes widened in shock, she was left stunned she had not expected the presence of someone else in this empty train. The black haired 'child' looked frightened; she would love to try to enter a friendly conversation with him but she would rather not frighten him more. She was not one to try to actively scare a child nor was she one to do something that might or will hurt a child like otto. The boy seemed to be muttering something under his breathe, she could not quite catch what he was saying though. "I am Yoo Joonghyuk" She caught what he was whispering to himself. So his name was..Yoo Joonghyuk? Why did she feel like that was not actually his name. An awkward silence took hold, the only thing said was the muttering under the 'kid's' breath. Kiana started questioning whether he was actually real or was she hallucinating again like how she hallucinated Himeko all those times after her death. Kiana stood while she was staring into the abyss as she slowly started missing everyone she had just left. Kiana sat slowly down onto the cold white train seats next to the black-haired 'child'. Staring off into the abyss was not really her thing so she tried to start the conversation albeit a little awkwardly. "So..uhm, my name is Kiana how about you?.." The awkward silence took place again for awhile. Would she even get an answer? She would rather be with Mei-senpai at this point-actually she would always rather be with her no matter what was going on. She misses Mei. She did not in fact get her answer. Finally, she attempted to try to tell tales of her story. Kids like stories right? She left out the more gruesome parts though a 'kid' does not need to hear about bloodshed or loss. The 'child' got hooked to the tales it appears he liked stories at the very least. He still looked frightened though.
Tales of victory and defeat were told, the bloodshed left out. A simple conversation took place, at least she was distracted from the loneliness she felt. This time two people who had left everything they had loved behind to sacrifice themself sat together. One shared the stories they had gone through while an other only listened, not remembering their own story or anyone they had loved. A murder's son and a saviour who would rather end themself than hurt someone else. Funnily enough both of them had attempted before and found something or someone who had stopped them from trying a next time. This is the scene of a reader and a herrscher meeting.