chapter 7

"Kallen..."

Otto found Kallen in the study of the Kaslana residence.

She was holding the mask Shakespeare had given her, lost in thought. Her expression was so serious that Otto couldn't help but find her utterly adorable.

It wasn't until he walked closer that Kallen snapped out of her thoughts. She stood up suddenly, flashing him a bright smile.

"Otto! I've got a great idea! Let's steal the gold coins from that stingy old man!"

"Old man?" Otto raised a brow, intrigued.

"You know, Victor! That guy must've embezzled tons of gold through indulgences. I'm going to steal it all and give it back to the people! Let him know that justice still exists in this world!" Kallen clenched her fist, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Help me, Otto... Let me become an amazing Phantom Thief!"

It was a reckless, silly idea.

But it was Kallen's idea. Otto smiled warmly and nodded without hesitation.

"Alright. Let's start with the costumes."

His only thought was to cherish this moment with her—to accompany his beloved and indulge in her whims, even if he knew it wouldn't solve the deeper issues.

Otto rummaged around, finding different clothes for her to try on.

"Is this really how a Phantom Thief should dress?" Kallen questioned, adjusting her hat. "Will this hat really stay on and not fall off?"

They went through one set after another, none quite right.

"Otto… why do all these clothes fit me perfectly?" Kallen turned around, tilting her head in confusion.

Otto smiled, his expression calm. "It's pure coincidence. These clothes just happen to belong to… other family members."

Kallen blinked and nodded, satisfied with the answer. "Oh! That's good. They don't mind if I borrow them, do they?"

Otto shook his head. "Not at all. In fact, they'd be delighted to know their clothes are being used."

"That's great to hear!" Kallen grinned and continued trying on more outfits.

Otto, full of enthusiasm, helped her pick out pieces and adjust them to perfection.

"Monocle… doesn't hide your face at all," Otto muttered, trying another accessory.

"This one seems hard to move in..." Kallen said, testing a heavy cloak.

"This one doesn't work either," Otto concluded, discarding yet another set.

After much deliberation, Kallen finally selected a purple and black dress. The elegant long skirt matched the color of her mask perfectly.

"Let's go with this!"

She spun around in front of the mirror, admiring the outfit. The mask covered her eyes just enough to hide her identity, while the dress fit her like a glove.

Otto couldn't take his eyes off her, his heart swelling with warmth.

Kallen turned to him, striking a playful pose. "What do you think? Phantom Thief Kallen is ready for action!"

Otto stood behind her, his gaze softening as he admired her.

"You look perfect, Kallen."

Kallen grinned confidently. "Alright then! Let's make Victor regret his dirty deeds! The great Phantom Thief Kallen is on the move!"

Otto chuckled quietly. "Of course… I'll be right by your side."

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Inside a vast, open space that resembled a grand church, Otto stood quietly, lost in thought. His golden eyes softened as he reminisced about the past—memories that had grown hazy yet remained painfully vivid in his heart.

A faint smile tugged at his lips as he recalled those days.

Then, with a low chuckle, he laughed at himself. "I was truly ridiculous back then. I always believed that the kind and gentle words of well-meaning people could solve all problems... how naive."

He paused for a moment, his voice dropping into a reflective whisper.

"But… I suppose, in a way, those things do matter."

From the depths of the Void Archives, a voice echoed in response. "If you want to blame something, blame yourself from that time. You never understood her heroic complex."

Otto nodded slowly, his expression turning wistful. "Yes... You're right. She wasn't joking when she said she would save the world. Kallen always meant every word. And nothing—not hardship, not suffering—could ever shake that belief."

Kallen was always like that—unyielding, stubborn, and yet irresistibly radiant.

It was that unwavering determination that drew Otto to her like a moth to the flame.

But fate had been cruel.

"Unfortunately," Otto said with a faint, bitter smile, "the Otto of that time... could never truly understand her."

His voice lingered in the air, heavy with regret and longing.

[Beep, Beep, Beep]

The sudden beeping snapped Otto out of his thoughts, dragging him back to reality.

Reaching into his coat, Otto pulled out a small communication device and pressed it to answer.

Amber's calm yet urgent voice came through the line.

"Bishop Otto, Durandal and Kiana are on the move. They're heading directly toward your location..."

Otto closed his eyes for a brief moment. His calm breath steadied the storm within him. When he opened them again, they were sharp—filled with unwavering resolve.

"Good work, Amber." His voice was steady, carrying neither hesitation nor doubt.

There was a brief pause on the other end. Amber didn't respond, but Otto could sense the weight of unspoken words.

Then, with a faint click, the call ended.

Otto slipped the device back into his coat pocket and exhaled. His footsteps echoed across the empty hall, each one firmer than the last.

"It's time," he whispered to himself, a bittersweet smile curling at the corner of his lips. "Let's bring everything to its rightful conclusion..."

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"Otto, what is this?" Kallen asked curiously, her eyes fixed on the vial of glowing serum in Otto's hand.

Otto glanced at the vial before offering a reassuring smile. "This? It's the medicine I've been researching. The Black Death may mutate again, so we need to strengthen its effectiveness. Only in this way can we save more lives."

Kallen's eyes widened with surprise. "Wait... is this the same drug that saved Eleanor?"

Otto nodded calmly. "Yes. But Eleanor's physique is quite unique, which is why she didn't suffer from the severe side effects that would affect an ordinary person. Otherwise, my mother wouldn't have let her inherit the name of Schariac."

Kallen clapped her hands, her face lighting up with admiration. "No matter what, you're still the same as when you were a kid—always inventing amazing things!"

Otto chuckled softly, a touch of nostalgia crossing his face. "Ah, thank you... but I'm only trying to catch up with someone." His voice softened before he quickly changed the subject. "Enough about that for now. Are you planning to act tonight as well?"

"Of course! Don't worry about me!" Kallen said with confidence, giving him a thumbs-up. "I've got everything under control. I'm already pretty experienced at this point!"

But Otto's smile faded slightly, his worry betraying his calm demeanor. "Even so, we must be more cautious. After all, we're doing this right under the noses of those old men in the council. One misstep, and..." He paused, his eyes filled with concern.

"I understand," Kallen said with a determined look. "I'll act within the scope of my ability and avoid unnecessary trouble. After all… if we want to inspire everyone to resist the social systems those old men have set in place, it's still too early for that."

Otto nodded thoughtfully, but his eyes remained serious. "But Kallen, the way society operates isn't something that can be changed by a single person's suggestion, right?"

"True," Kallen agreed, her voice unwavering. "Which is why we can only do what we can and wait for the right opportunity. If we don't push forward on the path we believe in, how can we convince others to follow us in the future?"

Her words were resolute, almost radiant with conviction.

To Otto, Kallen was like a beam of light—a torch illuminating the way forward in the midst of darkness and uncertainty.

"Indeed," Otto said with a rare, genuine smile. "What you said makes perfect sense. It seems that we both need to work hard... not just for ourselves, but for each other."

Kallen nodded confidently. "Exactly! Together, we'll make a difference."

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"I really don't understand," Void Archives sneered. "How could you have been so awkward back then? Wouldn't it have been better to just tell her everything? The whole course of history might have changed because of it!"

Otto smiled bitterly. "And what exactly did you want me to say to her at the time? Should I have confessed that I was experimenting on humans to create new drugs? Or should I have quoted political economic theories from hundreds of years in the future, trying to explain that robbing the rich and giving to the poor can never solve the root problem?"

Void Archives remained unimpressed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Yes. Why not? It would've saved you both a lot of trouble."

Otto's voice grew sharper, his usual calm unraveling. "Tell her the truth? To what end? Do you think that would've changed anything? Would she have changed herself because of it—or would I have changed myself because of it?"

The air fell heavy with silence for a moment.

Void Archives was the first to break it, his tone cold and cutting. "But in the end, neither of you changed the other."

Otto didn't deny it. His tone softened, colored with melancholy. "Of course not. At the time, I thought foolishly that I had enough ways to protect her in secret."

Void Archives scoffed in disdain. "Protect her? She was the most powerful Valkyrie in Destiny. And you—a frail, sickly child—thought you could protect her with your meager strength?"

Otto chuckled quietly, though there was no joy in it. "I believed... that our abilities complemented each other. I always tried to make up for her weaknesses in my own way, secretly filling in the gaps where she might fall short."

"Strange," Void Archives mocked. "How did someone like you—weak and overambitious—think so highly of yourself? History proved otherwise. You failed her. You didn't protect her; you only accelerated her break with the world she once knew. And the price for your arrogance... was her life."

Otto didn't argue. He had no strength left for denial.

His voice dropped, barely more than a whisper. "Yes... that day, she finally saw Destiny's true darkness. From that moment, the trajectory of our lives spun completely out of control."

The weight of his words hung in the air. Otto sighed deeply, his heart heavy with a regret that would never leave him.

Who was he truly mourning?

Was it Kallen?

Or was it himself?

"The story that followed was nothing but a tragedy cloaked in absurdity."

Otto's voice cracked slightly, his resolve shaken at last. "I made the worst decision of my life that day... and I've regretted it every second since....."

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Kallen sat on the futon, staring blankly out the window. The soft light of dawn crept into the room, but the warmth of morning brought her no comfort. Her bloodshot eyes and tired expression told the story of a restless night—haunted by endless nightmares.

"Is this... my fault?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The words hung in the air, heavy with doubt and guilt.

Every time she closed her eyes, fragments of Otto's past unfolded before her—the choices he made, the people who suffered. And yet, deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that it all somehow led back to her.

The burden pressed on her heart like a weight she couldn't escape.

With a sigh, Kallen rose to her feet and folded the futon, placing it neatly to the side of the room. Her steps were slow, almost hesitant, as she walked toward the mirror.

Kallen stared at her reflection for a long moment. Her face looked pale, her eyes dark with exhaustion. Then, without warning, she slapped both her cheeks, the sharp sting leaving her skin red.

"Yosh!" she declared, forcing a smile.

But behind that smile was sadness—a sorrow buried deep within her heart.

Kallen straightened her back and clenched her fists. She trying made up her mind to push the terrible memories to the back of her mind, at least for now...

(A/n: it all Mihoyo fault T-T anw new cover)