Honkai, why do you only play high-end games?

Jie'er took a step back and changed the subject.

“It’s beautiful, lively, energetic, and exciting. I love it.”

Anna carefully prepared her words, and then said a little embarrassedly,

"I've been at headquarters since I was a child, never allowed to go out. After coming here, I've always been busy on various battlefields. I've never been able to appreciate the world as freely, without worries, and without pressure as I do today."

At this point, Anna puffed out her chest a little, and said with a hint of pride,

"Seeing those ordinary people working, living and laughing peacefully, I feel that all our efforts and sacrifices are worth it!"

Jie Er looked at her high-spirited appearance, nodded gently, and sighed in agreement.

"Yeah...it's all worth it..."

Then he turned around and looked at the neat row of photos again, silent.

"team leader?"

Anna was a little confused. Did she say something wrong?

"Anna, you know what? This is what makes us different. All you see is beautiful hope and yearning for the future... This is also what I envy you for."

Jier said softly,

"And every time I walk through this bustling city, I can't help but wonder - if the collapse befell this city, how many people living here would die? How many would become monsters? And how many would be lucky enough to escape alive?"

Anna felt a chill run down her spine. She had never imagined that the captain's serious world was such a completely different hell!

"It's ridiculous, pessimistic, and depressing, isn't it?"

Jie Er smiled, raised his hand and took a look, then said,

"Is it possible for someone as pessimistic about the future as me to become a Valkyrie? I'm afraid that would be a disgrace to fate, right?"

"No, no, Captain..."

Anna was a little incoherent and she didn't know why.

"This is the difference between us... She, I, and them should have died long ago."

Jie Er picked up a photo frame and caressed the girl with a bright smile inside.

"We are all lucky people who lost everything in the Honkai—it's strange to say that, right? Because compared to those poor people who died, I am really very lucky—lucky to have some Honkai resistance, lucky to be rescued by the Valkyrie, lucky to come to an orphanage, lucky to meet new friends;"

"And then I was fortunately chosen to become a Valkyrie, able to fight, to sacrifice, to rescue more 'lucky ones' like me..."

Jie Er touched each of these photos and said softly,

"Then, calmly wait for the delayed death to come again..."

"But...but..."

No, Valkyrie shouldn't be like this!

Anna was screaming in her heart, but she became powerless and retreated before she could express it in words.

"Our world has long been dead. The past is too heavy, weighing us down, leaving us without the strength to step into a future filled with hope..."

Jie Er suddenly laughed softly and said in a self-deprecating tone,

"I used to think that this was the nature of the world—humanity constantly losing cities and territories, constantly dying in the face of the Honkai Impact; and we, the Valkyries, were constantly running around from one ruin of death to another ruin of death or impending death."

"No...that's not the case..."

Anna murmured, she finally said this sentence, but it was full of hesitation and confusion.

If the Valkyrie's inner world is like this, then is there really any point in fighting desperately?

"Yes, Anna, you are right. I was wrong. It's not like that."

Jie Er smiled and patted her shoulder to show his approval.

"The appearance of Lord Youlan Dale made me realize that there is such a way for a Valkyrie to live!"

She raised her head slightly, her eyes full of longing, just like when she was a child looking up at a mural, and said with emotion,

"That god-like figure, that all-encompassing power, suddenly made me realize—it turns out humans can truly rely on themselves to fight the apocalypse. Just like the heroes in mythical epics, proudly charging towards the heavens, on par with the so-called 'gods'... It's truly enticing..."

"Captain Yulandel... She's not a god. She's a Valkyrie just like us. Just like you, Captain, she grew up step by step from an orphanage!"

Anna wanted to try to convince her captain.

"I know. Every Valkyrie in the Fate community can probably recite Lord Yulan Dale's information and background by heart, right?"

Jie Er smiled.

"But this is how the world is. Some people are strong, while others retreat... Unfortunately, your captain is such a weak fellow."

"Can……"

Just as Anna was about to speak, Captain Jier put a finger in front of her lips and said with a smile,

"Some people can carry the past on their shoulders and move forward stronger into the future; others, like me, are held back by their past, unable to step into a future whose arrival is uncertain! All I can do is help others move forward better."

"That's all I can do! But Anna, you're different. You don't have a past like ours. You're like a vibrant seed. My end is just your beginning..."

"say no more……"

Anna burst into tears. The girl in front of her seemed to be covered with cracks all over her body, barely pieced together, struggling to stand in this world.

"Anna, didn't you ask me why I was so calm and indifferent to the Valkyrie who died in human experiments? I remember saying, 'As a Valkyrie, sacrifice and death are inevitable and should be.'... Am I remembering correctly?"

"...Yes. At that time...I thought this was the reason and was angry with you."

Anna said aggrievedly.

"Really? I'm so sorry..."

Jie Er smiled and walked to the empty seat reserved for herself. She also lit a candle there and held it in front of her, admiring the dancing candle flame.

"Destiny saved us, so it only makes sense that we fight for it, sacrifice for it, and finally give our lives back to it. Right?"

Anna shook her head desperately and burst into tears.

"No... No, that's not right..."

"We are destined to die, so we are not afraid of death!"

Jier gently placed the candle in front of the empty space, and the candlelight flickered with the other candles, in unison, as if agreeing with her words and raising the fighting spirit of these Valkyries.

"Vice-Captain Ander's sacrifice was to save more Valkyries from having to sacrifice themselves, to allow more people who were destined to die to live! She did it, and so do I. This is the answer for us Valkyries, the reason we fight and sacrifice!"

Jier gently comforted the crying Anna and said softly,

"Don't be sad for us. We are just fighting for the same mission in different directions, right?"

"But...but..."

Anna choked.

"It's okay if you don't understand, Anna. You're different from us. Your future shouldn't stop here. Your future should be like Lady Cecilia and Lady Orlandel, becoming a Valkyrie as powerful as them; high-spirited and determined, leading humanity forward."

Jie Er sends his blessings gently,

"So, as captain, I command you: no matter what happens, at any time, you must live, keep moving forward, keep fighting, stay strong, and keep being proud. Never give up."

"Then, in place of those who have already sacrificed, we who have not yet sacrificed will march forward together towards the future that everyone desires..."

"Team member Anna, do you understand?"

“Uh… yes!”

Interlude: Anna's Letter (optional)

Lin Wei:

Gui'an.

Are you not used to this somewhat formal way of greeting? After all, when I think back to the first time we met, I left a terrible impression on you, so I hope to use this way to slightly redeem my image in your heart. Hehe, a little bit of willfulness, I hope you don't mind.

Oops, why do I sound a bit formal again? I'm so sorry... Although we haven't known each other for long, I still hope to have a relatively relaxed way of getting along with you. I believe you would too, right?

During this short time apart from you, I always think of the words you said to me.

You said that people's eyes and ears can deceive people, and what they see and hear is not necessarily the truth; you also said that the world is not as good as I think, nor as bad as I see, and there are many other things.

They kept ringing in my ears, and I was trying to understand what you wanted to convey to me. But maybe I was too stupid, I never really understood; but now, I seem to understand a little.

Before this, my captain and I had some misunderstandings, which led to some conflicts. Because of certain things, I once thought she was cold and cruel, indifferent to her companions and her responsibilities... Now that I think about it, I was so wrong. You're right, I was too superficial, always stubbornly believing that what I saw, heard, and believed was the truth of the world, and I always did some ridiculous things.

Haha, just like a child. No wonder you like to touch my head, do you think I'm a child too?

I have sincerely apologized to her, and the captain has forgiven me—or rather, she has never blamed me. Thank her very much.

I also want to thank you, Lin Wei. Without your help, I might not have been able to recognize my shortcomings so quickly; nor would I have been able to understand so quickly what the captain insisted on and what it actually represented.

Therefore, I think I have some understanding of what you meant when you said that to me.

This world is indeed not as beautiful as I had previously understood in the ivory tower; but it is also not as bad as what I saw and experienced after I officially became a Valkyrie and stepped onto the battlefield.

Now I know that this world is indeed cruel and terrible. Its background is not so bright and colorful, but full of frustration and sadness. But there are always some people who use their own way to make it less bad. There are many of them who use their brilliant will to carefully cultivate and protect one beautiful flower after another in this windy and rainy and turbulent flower bed.

But is this flower bed that can give birth to so many beautiful flowers and this world that can give birth to such brilliant wills really as bad and depressing as it seems on the surface?

So I think I have the answer now:

Let humanity be protected from collapse, let flowers no longer be destroyed by wind and rain, let these brilliant wills shine forever, and make this depressing and sad world a little better.

This is the path I, the Valkyrie Anna Shaniat, should take.

I believe that you, who can say these words to me, must think so too, right?

Thank you, Lin Wei, now I believe that our paths will definitely cross again in the future!

Just wait and see! When we meet again, the silly girl you used to be will definitely make you look at her with new eyes!

Hehehe, just thinking about it makes me look forward to it!

Oops, I've written so much without realizing it, but I obviously still have a lot to say...

I wish you peace and all the best.

————Anna Shaniat"

After writing, check it and click send.

Anna was shy and didn't feel comfortable leaving these things on paper and pen.

Seeing the notification that the message was sent successfully, Anna couldn't help blushing. It was really embarrassing to express one's feelings to someone in the form of a letter.

It has been sent successfully, it’s too late to regret it now - although, actually, I don’t regret it.

What will he think of me? Anna thought shyly but happily.

After a pause, Anna began to write a letter.

………………

"Yuno:

Gui'an.

I wonder how your health and strength are now? I hope that Ms. Changguang's help can help you return to normal life soon.

I'm sorry that I haven't contacted you for so long. I hope you don't blame me, because what I really want is that I don't want you to see me in such a bad state and worry about me.

After leaving the Tianming headquarters, I joined the Snow Lotus Squad and have been stationed in Manila, Philippines. Life here is like two completely different worlds compared to my previous life at the headquarters.

The climate here is humid and rainy, which was really unbearable at first; but now I have gradually begun to adapt to life here, and now I will no longer make you worry.

However, as a good friend, I still want to apologize to you, not for now, but for the time we spent at the headquarters.

My impulsiveness at that time must have caused you a lot of trouble, didn't it? I'm really sorry...

There is one more thing. I hesitated for a long time, but I still feel that I need to apologize to you even more.

At first, I always deliberately avoided mentioning your past in front of you, fearing that the pain from the past would hurt you. But now I think about it, those deliberate avoidances were the real harm to you.

Because, I believe, what you want is the friendship and understanding of your friends; not some kind of pity or sympathy, right?

Although I didn't mean to do this, as a good friend, I still feel I need to apologize to you.

Now that I have experienced some things, met some people, and understood some things, I gradually realized what a strong and respectable girl you are. You are far better than I am now!

So, I'm sorry, Yuno.