Honkai: Withered White Camellia

Gently closing the diary on the table, the azure-haired young man looked up, his gaze fixed on the shadows cast by the desk lamp. Night had fallen deep, and the only light in the silent room came from the somewhat glaring incandescent bulb.

Perhaps due to the approaching late autumn, the white light felt strangely cold.

Schicksal HQ wouldn't have any annoying insects buzzing around outside the window. Under the 1 AM light, the night seemed even colder.

A soft sigh escaped his lips. The young man rose from his chair, his hand instinctively grasping the silver cross necklace hanging from his neck. He slowly walked to the bedroom door, gripping the handle, but hesitated to turn it.

As the clock ticked away the seconds, Joyce slowly pressed down the handle and pushed the door open a crack. Dazzling white light spilled out, illuminating the corridor, leaving no trace of darkness.

Stepping out quietly, he closed the door behind him and began walking down the empty hallway.

The echoes of his footsteps resonated through the long corridor. Schicksal HQ was exceptionally quiet at this hour, and the silence made every sound seem louder.

He stopped in front of a familiar door. For a long moment, Joyce just stood there, staring at the identification lock.

His hand hovered uncertainly, unable to touch it.

Is she still awake?

It's so late already...

Having lived with her for ten years, Joyce had gradually come to understand her habits.

The Schicksal Overseer, always dressed in her nun's habit, stayed up very late. Every night, she was alone.

Finally, Joyce wasn't sure how he made the decision, but his finger moved to the fingerprint lock.

A soft click echoed in the hallway.

Then, he heard her voice—familiar and comforting, yet one he could only keep buried deep within his heart.

"Enter."

Welt took a deep breath. He pressed the handle and stepped into the Overseer's office.

His gaze immediately found her.

She hasn't changed at all.

Since he first met her at the age of twelve, she had always been like this—calm, composed, and resolute.

The Overseer sat in her hovering chair, surrounded by displays connected by countless intricate wires. Her sapphire-blue eyes were fixed on the glowing screens, focused and unwavering.

"Teacher."

Welt bowed slightly.

Hearing her only student's voice, she raised a hand. The hovering chair descended gracefully, and the surrounding displays retracted upwards, vanishing from Welt's sight.

"Joyce? It's so late. Shouldn't you be resting? Is there something you need?"

Her voice carried its usual icy tone. But Joyce knew—this was as warm as she could be.

She is the Overseer of Schicksal, and my teacher.

Joyce recited these words in his heart before speaking softly.

"Nothing in particular. It's just... I'll be leaving you tomorrow, and I wanted to… say goodbye."

She pressed a finger gently to her temple, her voice still cold. "Is that all? That doesn't seem like you—coming all the way to the office just to say goodbye."

Joyce hesitated for a moment before replying. "I just feel that this parting will be significant. I'm leaving your side."

The Overseer gave a rare smile, her gaze softening as she clasped her hands lightly in front of her chest.

"This should be a joyous occasion for you, Joyce. You're about to graduate. Perhaps after your internship at Lab 42 is complete, I'll have nothing left to teach you."

Joyce's fingers instinctively tightened around the necklace she had given him.

He looked into her sapphire-blue eyes and sighed silently in his heart.

No, Teacher. I hope I will always be your student.

"You will eventually graduate. As my student, you shouldn't feel sad."

Her voice was calm, steady.

"When you complete your final trial, you will become the Second Overseer. That position allows for no hesitation, no sadness."

"Yes, Teacher."

She nodded and closed her beautiful eyes for a brief moment. When she opened them again, her long eyelashes glistened faintly with moisture.

It gave her the appearance of a holy and benevolent nun.

But Joyce knew the truth. Since that day five hundred years ago, she had become a [God] walking among humans.

"By the way, how is your recovery?" she asked, her tone lightening slightly. "The Honkai energy should be suppressed by now."

Joyce nodded, appreciating her concern. "I've recovered quite well. I think I'll be fully healed soon."

"That's good to hear." She paused, her gaze thoughtful. "The Berlin Eruption was just a precursor. Your survival was a miracle. Even I didn't expect you to make it."

But when I first opened my eyes, it was you I saw.

The words remained unspoken, hanging heavily in Joyce's mind.

Being with her always felt… contradictory.

He yearned to hear her voice, to stay by her side. Yet the words he had to bury deep within himself created an unrelenting tension.

It was a constant weight—a need to speak yet being unable to utter a single word.

She seemed to sense Welt's momentary distraction.

Gently, she held her left elbow with her right hand and tilted her head slightly. Her tone carried a hint of something Welt wasn't sure could be called concern.

"What's wrong, Welt? You seem distracted around me lately. Did those experiments leave some lingering effect on you?"

"N-No, Teacher." He quickly shook his head. "Please, continue. I was just… distracted by tomorrow's itinerary."

She nodded slightly, but her gaze lingered on him, sharp and unyielding. It made Welt feel as though she had seen straight through him.

Instinctively, he took a step back, releasing his grip on the cross necklace.

"Lab 42 is unaware of your true identity as my apprentice and candidate for the Second Overseer," she continued. Her voice returned to its usual calm, but there was a weight behind her words.

"They are conducting research on the Previous Era's human civilization. However, it seems they have… reservations about my methods."

She paused before adding, "Frederica Nikola Tesla and Lieserl Albert Einstein. They were both originally Planck's students from the North American branch. As you know, dissatisfaction with HQ has been brewing there for some time—especially after the Berlin Eruption."

Welt pressed a hand gently to his forehead, mimicking her habitual thinking pose.

"Are you worried that the North American branch might break away from Schicksal HQ?"

"Not worried. It's entirely possible," she said, her voice calm yet firm.

"Schicksal's large-scale deployment of conventional troops against the Honkai is seen by Nancy as a violation of humanitarian principles. They seem overly obsessed with freedom and independence, even objecting to the Honkai monitoring system I implemented."

She paused, her tone growing colder.

"But most importantly, Planck and Nancy have been keeping secrets from me regarding the Previous Era's technology."

Golden light radiated from her hand, coalescing into the form of a simulated Divine Key.

She lightly toyed with the Judgment of Shamash, spinning the grip in her palm.

"Therefore, I'm sending you to assist Lab 42's research. This will be your final assignment."

Her gaze fixed on him, unwavering.

"Put the statecraft you've learned into practice."

Her voice was low, decisive. Welt could feel the weight behind her words. He knew her mind was made up—nothing could change the Overseer's decision.

He bowed slightly. "Yes, Teacher."

Yet, as he straightened, a sudden impulse surged within him.

A vague premonition crept into his mind. After this departure, they might never meet again.

And so, he wanted to hold onto this moment—just for one more night.

"Teacher… may I spend the night in the office? Like when I first became your apprentice."

She raised her head, looking at him with mild surprise.

"Very well," she said after a pause. "However, I may not sleep at all tonight. I have a lot of work to do. You may not get a good rest."

"It's fine. I'm used to it."

To me, the thought of never seeing you again is far worse than a sleepless night.

He settled on the sofa, lying down as the soft hum of her chair returning to its hovering position filled the room.

She had already turned her attention back to the documents projected before her.

Welt watched her for a moment longer. Then, just as his eyes began to close, he mouthed two silent words.

Good night.