In the year 2000, on the Siberian snowfields this already desolate life-forbidden zone became even more uninhabited after being ravaged by the Second Honkai. She ran across the empty expanse of snow, where she didn't have to worry about hurting anyone.
Because she was born from Cecilia's final swan song the Schariac holy blood liberation that purified the Honkai energy across the entire Siberian region. But everything has two sides. From the moment of her birth, she was a walking natural disaster upon the world. She was an innate [Archetype]. No living being whether human or Honkai beast could withstand the Honkai energy that leaked unconsciously from her.
After unintentionally causing countless deaths, she had thought of suicide many times. Yet every time she died, she would revive in the Stigmata space and return to this world, bringing more meaningless slaughter.
"Why live? Why die?" These were the questions she pondered for a very long time while wandering the uninhabited snowfields. To minimize the killing, she could only try her best to stay far away from humans.
The kind heart inherited from Schariac and Cecilia drove her to do this until she met the first human who didn't die even after coming into close proximity with her body.
Alexandra Zaychik. The reason she wasn't killed by her was because, after coming into contact with Honkai energy, she awakened a Stigmata.
As the first life she had ever come into contact with, her next task was to take good care of her.
Her running steps came to a stop in front of a wooden cabin. If Shun were here right now, he might notice that this cabin was identical to the one Misteln currently lived in. Misteln slowed her pace and walked toward the cabin, as if afraid of disturbing whoever was resting inside.
Entering the cabin, she took a deep breath and slowly spoke toward the kindly woman lying in bed: "I'm back. I left the flowers where they were."
The woman, who had been lying in bed lost in thought, turned her head to look at her. "...You've worked hard. Come here quickly I have something prepared to show you." The woman, with her prominently swollen belly, beckoned to her.
"Something prepared?" She asked in confusion, not expecting this heavily pregnant woman with limited mobility to have prepared anything.
The answer was soon revealed on the thick quilt, near the bend of Alexandra's legs, there was a small mound of movement. Nearby, several different plant specimens were piled somewhat messily together.
"Just think of it as helping me one more time. Pick the one you like best," Alexandra said.
"Is this... some kind of ritual?" For a moment, she didn't know what the other party was up to.
Alexandra gave her a sly smile while looking at her bewildered expression. "Hehe, I'll tell you after you pick one."
"Sigh." This wasn't the first time something like this had happened. The so-called "thinking of something on a whim" personality was fully embodied in Alexandra. She casually reached out and, among the hard-to-identify specimens, chose the most unremarkable one. Withered, messy, bearing pitiful fruit just like her own evaluation of her life.
"Oh, it's this one. Let me think..."
"Hm... umm..." Alexandra's beautiful brows furrowed, as if she were pondering some difficult problem.
"Ah, let's go with [Misteln]. Do you like this name?"
"A name? What are you talking about?" Even now, she still didn't understand what Alexandra was scheming.
"The one you just chose is [mistletoe]. I thought about its pronunciation in different languages, and [Misteln] sounds the best. In some myths, it represents [life]; in others, it's closely tied to [death]. It seems very fitting for you." Seeing her puzzled look, Alexandra explained.
"Huh? You mean... you just had me choose one so you could pick a name for me?" A name? How novel that concept was to her. As a Schariac Archetype, she had never considered something like a name.
"Of course. If you don't want to tell me, that's fine too. But if you really don't have one, how can that be? If someone wants to recall the time they spent with you, wouldn't it be better to silently say [Misteln] than 'that mysterious Schariac who talks so strangely and hard to understand'?" Alexandra said matter-of-factly.
(Ah, so that's the impression I leave on others...) she thought to herself, then continued to Alexandra. "Still, a [name] really doesn't mean anything to me."
"Don't overthink it. Anyway, I've already given it to you. Whether you accept it or not is up to you." On that bright, sunny morning, Alexandra forcefully bestowed the name Misteln upon her in a tone that brooked no refusal.
After that, some unpleasant things happened. Misteln didn't continue dwelling on them. But in the final moment she spent with her, she witnessed the greatness of a mother that was all.
"This name is the first gift I received in my life, so I'm very happy that you call me Misteln." Though a long time had passed since that event, those few days spent with Alexandra remained her most precious memory.
"So, as repayment, I'll train you with the utmost seriousness." Misteln's tone suddenly shifted from spring-like warmth to icy coldness, like the biting wind of midwinter, making one shiver involuntarily.
Correspondingly, the garden that had been filled with the breath of spring and life transformed into an arena. A solemn and steady atmosphere permeated the air, as if announcing that a brutal contest was about to begin.
Misteln's appearance also underwent a dramatic change. Silver-pink armor covered her graceful, spring-mountain-like curves, and she gripped her sharp dart tightly in her palm.
At some point, the long spear from the previous battle had reappeared in Shun's hands. The art style had shifted so abruptly, but Shun quickly calmed down, holding the spear in both hands and watching Misteln warily in case she struck suddenly.
"Here I come." Misteln still gave Shun a fair warning probably to prevent him from being skewered by her spear before he could react.
Misteln charged toward Shun like a cheetah, dart in hand. Shun didn't dare be careless and sidestepped to dodge the strike. However, Misteln's attacks came like a rain of blows, leaving Shun overwhelmed. He kept retreating, searching for an opportunity to counter. Suddenly, he spotted an opening in Misteln's stance and thrust his spear forward.
But it was as if everything was within her expectations. Misteln easily evaded Shun's attack and gave a slight smile, revealing a confident expression. Shun's heart jolted he hadn't expected Misteln to be this fast. Clearly, she had been fighting with the same physical stats as him earlier.
At that moment, Shun had a sudden idea. He feinted an attack to draw Misteln's attention, then immediately turned and ran.
Misteln didn't pursue. She stood in place, watching Shun's retreating figure with a faint smile on her face.
She calmly observed the fleeing Shun. Then, unhurriedly, she combined the two darts in her hands with practiced, elegant movements, as if crafting a work of art. With a powerful throw, she hurled the combined dart like lightning toward Shun its speed astonishing. The dart traced a graceful arc through the air, carrying ferocious momentum and a sharp whistle as it chased after him.
"Reincarnation begins, without announcement, without end." This strike arrived far faster than the sound. By the time Shun heard Misteln's voice like a judge pronouncing sentence the dart had already pinned him to the ground.
At the same time, the dart embedded in him and the long spear in his hands vanished like foam and cherry blossoms. The grim arena disappeared, as if it had never existed from the beginning. Shun and Misteln were back in the previous garden.
This first live-combat training session initiated by Misteln ended in just two short minutes. Shun lay on the ground, looking up at Misteln's big eyes blinking at him, and thought helplessly:
"The road to becoming stronger is still very long!!!"