Once Durandal and her companions had finished their water, Aponia turned her attention to the matter at hand.
She sat across from the three women in a posture that was perfectly poised—perhaps even a bit too stiff—and spoke.
"Just a moment ago... Miss Durandal, you mentioned that among the supplies you brought, there are medicines capable of treating the conditions of the children here in the sanatorium. Is that truly the case?"
Durandal didn't offer a direct answer.
Instead, she said, "Call one of the children in... or better yet, just look out the window at them. You'll be able to tell if I'm telling the truth. After all, you have that certain 'ability' of yours, don't you?"
Aponia showed no surprise at the fact that Durandal knew her secret. She rose and walked to the window, her gaze lingering on the children outside.
Through those frail, sickly frames, she glimpsed a future where their ailments were mended. She saw the vast majority of them restored to health; even the few who weren't fully cured found their suffering eased and their lives greatly extended.
For the first time, Aponia witnessed destiny itself shifting—and not just for one person, but for every single soul in the sanatorium.
Those futures, which had remained fixed no matter how she struggled or intervened, were actually loosening.
Because of these three—or more accurately, because of Durandal—the threads of fate were weaving into something better. In that instant, every seed of doubt Aponia had felt vanished.
It hadn't been an illusion. This woman was truly different; not only was her own fate hidden from sight, but she possessed the power to influence the destinies of everyone around her.
Aponia couldn't quite name the storm of emotions swirling within her. Once she confirmed the truth of Durandal's claims, she found she could no longer sit still and simply talk.
She turned back, giving the three of them a slight, graceful bow. "Guests, may I go and administer the medicine to the children first?"
"Of course," Durandal nodded. "We'll help."
The three followed Aponia out of the office. While Aponia began gathering the children, Durandal's group located the crates from the earlier airdrop containing the Anti-Honkai medicine.
They pried them open, retrieving the cold-stored vials and a fresh supply of syringes.
Once Aponia had assembled everyone who was mobile, she and the trio began the work of vaccinating the children.
Mobius's lab had specifically formulated this batch of Anti-Honkai medicine to release slowly. By extending the duration of the effect, the treatment remained consistent while minimizing the intense pain usually associated with reversing Honkai erosion.
Consequently, the children didn't show any signs of distress after their injections.
After the main group was treated, they carried the remaining supplies to the inpatient ward to care for the children who were too weak to leave their beds.
"This medicine will steadily improve their constitution and flush out the Honkai erosion over the next two weeks," Durandal explained to Aponia as they worked.
"During this time, they'll need more nutrients than usual and might be sleepier than normal. Once the fifteen days are up, they'll be fine. Even these children who are currently bedridden should be able to walk again, even if the effects of the erosion aren't entirely gone."
After several hours of continuous work, the task was finally complete. Aponia's face softened with a faint, genuine glimmer of joy.
"Miss Durandal, Miss Elysia, and Miss Eden... shall we return to the office to finish our conversation?"
Aponia knew all too well that there was no such thing as a free lunch. People who brought such miracles surely wanted something in return.
Fortunately, she didn't mind. She was willing to pay any price.
Back in the office, Aponia was about to speak when Elysia cut in with a smile. "Aponia, just call us by our names! We're calling you by yours, aren't we?"
Aponia's mouth hung open for a second; she had indeed been about to address them formally again. Seeing Elysia's insistence, she gracefully yielded.
"Then, Durandal... as the leader of Schicksal, why have you come to this humble sanatorium in the middle of Sundown Alley? You've treated these children and brought us supplies—what is it you hope to gain from this place?"
Aponia didn't mince words.
"I need you to join Schicksal."
Seeing Aponia about to protest, Durandal continued, "I won't ask you to leave this place immediately. In fact, I need you to stay here for a while and wait for someone—a man wearing a mask."
"Besides, here is the dossier on Schicksal and the true cause of the illness these children are suffering from. Read it before you make your decision."
Durandal handed over a prepared file. For a while, the only sound in the room was the crisp rustle of paper as Aponia turned the pages.
Half an hour later, Aponia finally finished. The veil of the world had been pulled back just enough for her to see the tip of the iceberg.
The Honkai. The source of all calamity.
Even someone as gentle as Aponia couldn't help but feel a surge of revulsion and anger at the word and the horror it represented.
She also learned that humanity had already endured three Honkai Eruptions. The first two had been devastating, but the third had seen minimal losses—all thanks to Durandal and Schicksal.
Aponia wasn't worried that this was some elaborate lie crafted to recruit her. She didn't think herself important enough to warrant such a grand deception, nor did she see the point in a lie that could be so easily debunked.
"I... I will join Schicksal. However, I don't see what use I could be to your organization. If you know of my ability, Durandal, then you must also know that I have always been utterly powerless in the face of fate."
Aponia assumed the only reason Durandal valued her was her sight.
Perhaps before today, she might have harbored some small sense of being "special," but after meeting someone who could actually change a predetermined future, she realized the vast distance between them.
"Perhaps," Durandal replied candidly. "But I don't want you falling into someone else's hands and becoming a pawn to be used against Schicksal."
--+--
T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL