Hiyuki
Hailing from Ashinohara, the Miko of Flaming Sakura now remains in Lahai-Roi as the last and only member of the Special Response Force.
Attribute: 
Glacio
Weapon: 
Sword
Rarity: 5
Gender: Female
Country: Ashinohara
Affiliation: Miko of Flaming Sakura
Chinese: Li Chanfei
English: Tomatsu Haruka
Japanese: Jung Hye Won
Korean: Mei Mac
Main Damage Dealer
Powerful damage dealer
Resonance Liberation Damage
Deals higher Resonance Liberation DMG
Glacio Chafe
Utilizes Glacio Chafe for combat advantage
Hiyuki - Original Outfit
A miko's robes from a distant land, worn by Hiyuki when she inherited the Suzu beneath the Flaming Sakura. To the people of Ashinohara, such vestments must remain forever pristine, for they carry a miko's confidence and an abiding promise of victory.
Now, in Lahai-Roi, the robes bear quiet additions in the fashion of Startorch Academy, a suggestion once made by her late comrades in the Special Response Force.
Combo Tutorial
Deal substantial Resonance Liberation DMG.
When certain attacks hit the target, consume Glacio Bite on the target to inflict Frostbind.
Accumulate and consume Snowforged Blade to cast Foreclaiming: Blade Liberation. The more you consumed, the higher the DMG.
While in Present Self, casting Basic Attack - Present Self Stage 3 and Intro Skill restores Forte Gauge Dedication. When Dedication is full, Enhanced Heavy Attack Heavy Attack - Frost Splinter: Present Self and Resonance Liberation Foreclaiming: Inward Vision become available. Casting Foreclaiming: Inward Vision sends Hiyuki into Foreclaimed Self.
While in Foreclaimed Self, Hiyuki restores Forte Gauge Frostheart when Normal Attack - Foreclaimed Self hits the target or casting Resonance Skill. With sufficient Frostheart, press Dodge to enter Iai Stance after Hiyuki performs certain attacks, during which Basic Attack - Iai may be cast by pressing Normal Attack.
Every time Basic Attack - Iai is cast, gain a stack of Whiteout Bitterfrost, with 3 stacks of Whiteout Bitterfrost, Hiyuki may cast Heavy Attack - Bitterfrost: Foreclaimed Self, which grants 1 stack of Snowforged Blade. Hiyuki may choose to consume any stack of Snowforged Blade by charging to increase the DMG of Resonance Liberation Foreclaiming: Blade Liberation. Unspent Snowforged Blade points will be reserved.
Heavy Attack - Frost Splinter: Present Self: While in Present Self, when Dedication reaches 300 points, hold Normal Attack.
Foreclaiming: Inward Vision: While in Present Self, unlocks after casting Heavy Attack - Frost Splinter: Present Self. When unlocked, press Resonance Liberation.
Iai Stance: While in Foreclaimed Self, with no less than 100 points of Frostheart, press Dodge or hold down Resonance Skill after performing attacks.
Basic Attack - Iai: While in Foreclaimed Self and in Iai Stance, press Normal Attack.
Heavy Attack - Bitterfrost: Foreclaimed Self: While in Foreclaimed Self, with 3 stacks of Whiteout Bitterfrost, hold Normal Attack.
Foreclaiming: Blade Liberation: While in Foreclaimed Self, with full Resonance Energy, hold Resonance Liberation to enter a charging state, release Resonance Liberation to cast.
Details
Basic Attack - Present Self
Press Normal Attack consecutively or hold it down to perform up to 3 consecutive attacks, dealing Glacio DMG.
Basic Attack - Present Self Stage 3 applies Glacio Chafe 1 time on hit.
Heavy Attack - Frost Splinter: Present Self
When Dedication reaches 300 points, Heavy Attack - Frost Splinter: Present Self becomes available.
Hold Normal Attack to shoot out 3 arrows one by one at the cost of STA, dealing Glacio DMG, considered Resonance Liberation DMG. Hiyuki is immune to interruptions and incoming DMG in the duration.
When the last arrow is shot, 300 points of Dedication is consumed and Foreclaiming: Inward Vision becomes available. The arrow applies Glacio Chafe 1 time on hit.
Mid-air Attack - Present Self
Consume STA to perform a Plunging Attack from Mid-air, dealing Glacio DMG.
Dodge Counter - Present Self
Press Normal Attack within a certain period after a successful Dodge to attack the target, dealing Glacio DMG.
Press Normal Attack within a certain period after casting this skill to perform Basic Attack - Present Self Stage 3.
Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self
While in Foreclaimed Self, Basic Attack - Present Self is replaced by Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self.
Perform up to 5 consecutive attacks, dealing Glacio DMG, considered Resonance Liberation DMG.
Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 3, 4, and 5 each applies Glacio Chafe 1 time on hit.
Heavy Attack - Foreclaimed Self
In Foreclaimed Self, hold Normal Attack to enter Hold Breath, continuously consuming STA. When Normal Attack is released or STA is depleted, Hiyuki leaves the Hold Breath state and thrusts forward, dealing Glacio DMG, considered Resonance Liberation DMG. Press Normal Attack within a certain period after casting this skill to perform Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 2.
If Hiyuki is attacked by an enemy within a certain period during the thrust, neutralize that instance of damage, Stagnate nearby targets, and become immune to interruptions for a certain period afterward while reducing all incoming DMG by 100%. Press Normal Attack within a certain period after triggering this effect to chain into Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 4 instead.
Heavy Attack - Bitterfrost: Foreclaimed Self
When Whiteout Bitterfrost is full, Heavy Attack - Foreclaimed Self is replaced with Heavy Attack - Bitterfrost: Foreclaimed Self.
Hold Normal Attack and consume STA and 3 stacks of Whiteout Bitterfrost to gain 1 point of Snowforged Blade, dealing Glacio DMG, considered Resonance Liberation DMG.
Heavy Attack - Bitterfrost: Foreclaimed Self applies Glacio Chafe 1 time on hit.
If Hiyuki is airborne while casting this skill, she'll land on the ground first.
Mid-air Attack - Foreclaimed Self
While in Foreclaimed Self, Mid-air Attack - Present Self is replaced by Mid-air Attack - Foreclaimed Self.
Consume STA to perform up to 3 consecutive attacks in Mid-air, dealing Glacio DMG, considered Resonance Liberation DMG. Stage 3 is a Plunging Attack.
Mid-air Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 2 & 3 apply Glacio Chafe 1 time on hit.
The Mid-air Attack - Foreclaimed Self cycle will not be reset by casting skills other than Basic Attack - Iai within a short period.
Hold Normal Attack while airborne to perform a Plunging Attack at the cost of STA.
Dodge Counter - Foreclaimed Self
While in Foreclaimed Self, Dodge Counter - Present Self is replaced by Dodge Counter - Foreclaimed Self.
Press Normal Attack within a certain period after a successful Dodge to attack the target, dealing Glacio DMG, considered Resonance Liberation DMG.
Press Normal Attack within a certain period after casting this skill to perform Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 3.
Basic Attack - Present Self Stage 1 DMG
37.72%+37.72%
Basic Attack - Present Self Stage 2 DMG
90.25%
Basic Attack - Present Self Stage 3 DMG
4.92%*5+98.37%
Heavy Attack - Frost Splinter: Present Self DMG
79.31%*2+158.61%
Mid-air Attack - Present Self DMG
128.18%
Dodge Counter - Present Self DMG
173.75%
Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 1 DMG
49.27%
Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 2 DMG
40.02%+40.02%
Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 3 DMG
25.16%*4+67.08%
Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 4 DMG
29.93%+29.93%+29.93%+29.93%+29.93%
Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 5 DMG
12.17%+109.47%
Heavy Attack - Foreclaimed Self DMG
107.16%
Heavy Attack - Bitterfrost: Foreclaimed Self DMG
15.41%*8+493.05%
Mid-air Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 1 DMG
28.83%+28.83%+38.43%
Mid-air Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 2 DMG
26.09%+26.09%+26.09%+26.09%
Mid-air Plunging Attack - Foreclaimed Self DMG
111.60%
Dodge Counter - Foreclaimed Self DMG
81.77%+81.77%
Heavy Attack - Frost Splinter: Present Self STA Cost
20
Mid-air Attack - Present Self STA Cost
30
Hold Breath STA Cost per second
10
Heavy Attack - Foreclaimed Self STA Cost
20
Heavy Attack - Bitterfrost: Foreclaimed Self STA Cost
20
Mid-air Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 1 STA Cost
5
Mid-air Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 2 STA Cost
5
Mid-air Plunging Attack - Foreclaimed Self STA Cost
30
Heavy Attack - Bitterfrost: Foreclaimed Self Concerto Regen
10
Resonance Skill - Present Self
Deal Glacio DMG.
Casting this skill enhances the next Basic Attack - Present Self Stage 3, which now restores 100 points of Dedication when cast. Switching to another Resonator ends this effect.
Press or hold Normal Attack within a certain period after casting this skill to perform Basic Attack - Present Self Stage 3.
While in Foreclaimed Self, Resonance Skill - Present Self is replaced by Frostblight: Jade Cleave and Frostblight: Petalfall:
Frostblight: Jade Cleave
While on the ground, press Resonance Skill to pull in nearby targets and deal Glacio DMG, removing the targets' Frostbind.
This skill shares a Cooldown with Frostblight: Petalfall.
Frostblight: Petalfall
While in mid-air, press Resonance Skill to pull in nearby targets and deal Glacio DMG, removing the targets' Frostbind.
This skill shares a Cooldown with Frostblight: Jade Cleave.
Resonance Skill - Present Self DMG
24.50%*4+97.98%
Frostblight: Jade Cleave DMG
66.01%*4
Frostblight: Petalfall DMG
64.02%*4+64.02%
Resonance Skill - Present Self Cooldown
20
Frostblight: Jade Cleave/Petalfall Cooldown
12
Glacio Bite
- While Hiyuki is in the team, Glacio Chafe inflicted by nearby Resonators in the team is converted to Glacio Bite. Every time a new stack of Glacio Bite is inflicted on a target, an instance of Glacio Bite DMG is triggered based on that enemy's current Glacio Bite stack limit. Glacio Bite can be inflicted on frozen targets. Glacio Bite is also considered Glacio Chafe and Glacio Bite DMG is also considered Glacio Chafe DMG.
- When Foreclaiming: Inward Vision or Basic Attack - Iai hits a target, if the target has no fewer than 10 stacks of Glacio Bite, consume
- When Hiyuki joins the team, remove all stacks of Glacio Chafe from the targets. When Hiyuki leaves the team, if there is no other Resonator in the team who can convert Glacio Chafe into Glacio Bite, all enemies' Glacio Bite stacks are cleared.
Present Self
Hiyuki starts in Present Self. While in Present Self, casting certain skills restores Dedication.
Foreclaimed Self
Hiyuki enters Foreclaimed Self after casting Foreclaiming: Inward Vision. While in Foreclaimed Self, Hiyuki unlocks new moves and restores Frostheart through certain attacks.
Iai Stance
If Hiyuki has at least 100 points of Frostheart, performing any of the following actions causes her to flash backward at the cost of STA and enter Iai Stance:
- Press Dodge after casting any Normal Attacks - Foreclaimed Self other than Heavy Attack - Bitterfrost: Foreclaimed Self, Frostblight: Jade Cleave, Frostblight: Petalfall, Basic Attack - Iai, or Intro Skill - Frostedge.
- Hold Resonance Skill within a certain period after casting Frostblight: Jade Cleave or Frostblight: Petalfall.
While performing the actions above, if there is a valid target within the range and the forward input is held down, Hiyuki instead flashes behind the enemy at the cost of STA and enters Iai Stance.
Hiyuki may enter Iai Stance while airborne. Upon entering the Iai Stance, Hiyuki's mid-air Dodge charges are reset. Iai Stance ends if Hiyuki is switched out.
Basic Attack - Iai
Within a certain period after entering Iai Stance, press Normal Attack and consume 100 points of Frostheart to cast Basic Attack - Iai, dealing Glacio DMG, considered Resonance Liberation DMG.
If Frostheart remains at 100 points or above after casting this skill, press Normal Attack within a certain period to cast Basic Attack - Iai again.
If Hiyuki is attacked by an enemy within a certain period during Basic Attack - Iai, neutralize this instance of damage and become immune to interruptions for a certain duration afterwards while reducing all incoming DMG by 100%.
Each time Basic Attack - Iai is cast, if Hiyuki has Frostharden Iai, consume 1 point of Frostharden Iai to inflict 3 stacks of Glacio Chafe on hit, and gain 1 stack of Whiteout Bitterfrost.
Dedication
Hiyuki holds up to 300 points of Dedication.
While in Present Self, Dedication may be restored via the following ways:
- Casting Basic Attack - Present Self Stage 3 restores 100 points of Dedication.
- Casting Intro Skill - Frostedge restores 200 points of Dedication.
Casting Resonance Skill - Present Self enhances the next Basic Attack - Present Self Stage 3, which now additionally restores 100 points of Dedication. This effect ends when Hiyuki is switched out.
Frostheart
Hiyuki holds up to 300 points of Frostheart.
Frostheart is restored while casting Frostblight: Jade Cleave and Frostblight: Petalfall, or when Normal Attacks - Foreclaimed Self other than Heavy Attack - Bitterfrost: Foreclaimed Self hits the target.
Frostharden Iai
Frostharden Iai has a maximum of 3 points.
Casting Foreclaiming: Inward Vision grants 3 points of Frostharden Iai.
Whiteout Bitterfrost
Whiteout Bitterfrost stacks up to 3 times.
Each time Frostharden Iai is consumed through Basic Attack - Iai, gain 1 stack of Whiteout Bitterfrost.
Snowforged Blade
Snowforged Blade stacks up to 3 times.
Each time Heavy Attack - Bitterfrost: Foreclaimed Self is cast, gain 1 stack of Snowforged Blade.
Basic Attack - Iai DMG
283.82%+47.31%*4
Iai Stance STA Cost
20
Foreclaiming: Inward Vision
Foreclaiming: Inward Vision becomes available after casting Heavy Attack - Frost Splinter: Present Self.
While in Present Self, press Resonance Liberation to cast this skill, dealing Glacio DMG. Upon casting this skill, gain 3 points of Frostharden Iai, remove 300 points of Dedication and Frostheart. Then, enter Foreclaimed Self and restore 50 points of Frostheart.
Foreclaiming: Inward Vision applies 4 stacks of Glacio Chafe on hit.
Casting Foreclaiming: Inward Vision does not consume Resonance Energy.
Foreclaiming: Blade Liberation
While in Foreclaimed Self, Foreclaiming: Blade Liberation can be cast via the following ways:
- Press Resonance Liberation and release to cast Foreclaiming: Blade Liberation. If Hiyuki has 3 points of Snowforged Blade, consume all Snowforged Blade. Otherwise, this cast does not consume Snowforged Blade.
- Hold Resonance Liberation to enter a charging state. During this state, consume 1 point of Snowforged Blade periodically. Release Resonance Liberation to cast Foreclaiming: Blade Liberation. If no Snowforged Blade is consumed when Resonance Liberation is released, Hiyuki will continue to charge the attack and cast the skill automatically after certain time. Foreclaiming: Blade Liberation will also be cast automatically when Snowforged Blade depletes.
Hiyuki deals Glacio DMG. Each point of Snowforged Blade consumed increases the DMG Multiplier of this attack.
Casting the skill consumes 300 points of Dedication and Frostheart, and ends Foreclaimed Self.
Foreclaiming: Inward Vision DMG
397.62%
Foreclaiming: Blade Liberation Base DMG
198.81%+795.24%
Total Foreclaiming: Blade Liberation DMG Increase per Snowforged Blade
795.24%
Foreclaiming: Inward Vision Cooldown
25
Foreclaiming: Blade Liberation Cooldown
25
Foreclaiming: Blade Liberation Resonance Cost
125
Foreclaiming: Inward Vision Concerto Regen
20
Foreclaiming: Blade Liberation Concerto Regen
20
Deal Glacio DMG, considered Resonance Liberation DMG, and apply Glacio Chafe 1 time on hit.
In Present Self, casting this skill restores 200 points of Dedication. Press or hold Normal Attack within a certain period after casting this skill to cast Basic Attack - Present Self Stage 3.
In Foreclaimed Self, press Normal Attack within a certain period after casting this skill to cast Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 2.
Skill DMG
156.15%
Concerto Regen
10
Snowlight Blessing
Outro Skill
Glacio DMG dealt by nearby Resonators other than Hiyuki in the team is Amplified by 20% against targets affected by Glacio Chafe for 20s.
Tune Break: Sword
Tune Break
When the target's Off-Tune Level is full, Hiyuki can cast Tune Break on the target.
While in Present Self, {Cus:Ipt,Touch=tap PC=press Gamepad=press} or hold Normal Attack shortly after casting Tune Break to cast Basic Attack - Present Self Stage 3.
While in Foreclaimed Self, {Cus:Ipt,Touch=tap PC=press Gamepad=press} Normal Attack shortly after casting Tune Break to cast Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 3.
Fine Snow
Inherent Skill
When a Resonator in the team applies Glacio Chafe or Havoc Bane, Hiyuki gains 1 stack of Snow Rust. Snow Rust stacks up to 3 times. Each Resonator can trigger this effect only once in this way.
Based on Hiyuki's current stacks of Snow Rust, the following bonuses are unlocked:
1 stack of Snow Rust: When Hiyuki is the active Resonator in the team, Glacio Bite DMG is Amplified by 30% against targets within a certain range. Hiyuki's Crit. DMG is increased by 40%.
2 stacks of Snow Rust: When Hiyuki is the active Resonator in the team, each time she applies Glacio Chafe, she additionally deals an instance of Glacio Bite DMG with a fixed DMG Multiplier of 102%.
3 stacks of Snow Rust: When Hiyuki is the active Resonator in the team, Glacio Bite DMG is additionally Amplified by 30% against targets within a certain range.
This effect resets when new Resonators are added to the team.
Ephemeral Realm
Inherent Skill
Once Hiyuki leaves the combat state or recovers after being knocked out, when she stays out of combat for 4s with fewer than 1 point of Snowforged Blade, restore 1 point.
Crit. Rate+
Stat Bonus
Crit. Rate increased by 1.20%.
Crit. Rate+
Stat Bonus
Crit. Rate increased by 2.80%.
ATK+
Stat Bonus
ATK increased by 1.80%.
ATK+
Stat Bonus
ATK increased by 4.20%.
Crit. Rate+
Stat Bonus
Crit. Rate increased by 1.20%.
Crit. Rate+
Stat Bonus
Crit. Rate increased by 2.80%.
ATK+
Stat Bonus
ATK increased by 1.80%.
ATK+
Stat Bonus
ATK increased by 4.20%.
Springless
Node 1
The DMG Multipliers of Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self, Heavy Attack - Foreclaimed Self, Mid-air Attack - Foreclaimed Self, and Dodge Counter - Foreclaimed Self are increased by 120%.
Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 3 now has an increased range and pulls enemies within range toward the center. Hiyuki is immune to interruptions while casting Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 4 & 5.
Casting Foreclaiming: Inward Vision enhances the next Basic Attack - Foreclaimed Self Stage 1 & 2, which now inflict Glacio Chafe 1 time on hit.
To Burn Cold in Silence
Node 2
Basic Attack - Iai's DMG Multiplier is increased by 125%.
Inherent Skill Ephemeral Realm's effect becomes the following one:
Once Hiyuki leaves the combat state or recovers from being knocked out, after staying out of combat for 4s, restore
Once Hiyuki leaves the combat state or recovers from being knocked out, after staying out of combat for 4s, the following effects are triggered once:
- While in Foreclaimed Self, restore
- Reset the Cooldown of
- Restore an additional 50 points of Frostheart for the next
No Self, No Bound
Node 3
Inherent Skill Fine Snow gains the following effect:
2s after a Resonator joins the team or Hiyuki is revived, Hiyuki gains 1 stack of Snow Rust. Hiyuki can obtain up to 1 stack of Snow Rust in this way.
The DMG Multipliers of Heavy Attack - Frost Splinter: Present Self and Heavy Attack - Bitterfrost: Foreclaimed Self are increased by 160%.
At 2 stacks of Snow Rust, while Hiyuki is the active Resonator in the team, the DMG Multiplier of the additionally applied Glacio Bite DMG each time she inflicts Glacio Chafe is increased by 488%.
Like Reeds on Tides
Node 4
Casting Resonance Skill - Present Self, Frostblight: Jade Cleave, or Frostblight: Petalfall increases the DMG dealt by all nearby Resonators in the team by 20% for 30s.
Restore 18% of Max HP while casting Frostblight: Jade Cleave or Frostblight: Petalfall.
Vessel of Thousand Wishes
Node 5
The DMG Multipliers of Resonance Skill - Present Self, Frostblight: Jade Cleave, and Frostblight: Petalfall are increased by 80%.
Into a Night Without End
Node 6
The Crit. DMG of Foreclaiming: Inward Vision and Foreclaiming: Blade Liberation is increased by 500%.
At 2 stacks of Snow Rust, the effect "While Hiyuki is the active Resonator in the team, each time she applies Glacio Chafe, she additionally deals an instance of Glacio Bite DMG with a fixed DMG Multiplier" changes to "While Hiyuki is the active Resonator in the team, each time a Resonator in the team applies Glacio Chafe, she additionally deals an instance of Glacio Bite DMG with a fixed DMG Multiplier."
At 2 stacks of Snow Rust, Hiyuki's Crit. DMG is increased by 40%.
At 3 stacks of Snow Rust, the total Glacio Bite DMG taken by targets within a certain range of the active Resonator in the team is increased by 25%.
[Spacetrek Collective: Classified Archive]
Interview Dossier: Hiyuki
Due to multifaceted considerations, we have foregone a truly comprehensive evaluation of the representative from Ashinohara—the Miko of Flaming Sakura.
The majority of the intelligence gathered herein is based on her personal testimony. In the recorder's professional estimation, corroborated through subsequent cross-referencing, she appears to harbor no intention of concealing any information regarding her background.
"After all, information regarding the 'Miko of Eternal Flaming Sakura' can be found in just about any Ashinohara elementary school textbook..."
According to Hiyuki's own account, the source of her Forte is the "Suzu," a Legacy Talisman worn on her right wrist.
Hiyuki describes the Suzu as follows: It grants the bearer the ability to perceive and utilize "future possibilities" of oneself, though it does not allow for direct communication with these "shadows of future possibility."
The freezing power she often wields in combat also stems from the "Suzu."
"Verified via official Ashinohara reports: The Legacy Talismans are five relics left behind by the Sentinels, distributed among the internal factions of Ashinohara for safekeeping."
"Among them, the Suzu is described as granting its bearer the power to 'draw upon the future.'"
Consequently, it is determined that the fundamental source of her exceptional combat prowess remains her own inherent skill.
However, the "futures" available for her to draw upon are not infinite. Out of concern for her physiological lifespan, aggressive deployment of her abilities is strongly advised against.
"Investigation confirms that every Miko of Flaming Sakura has shared a singular cause of death: vanishing from the battlefield without a trace following excessive use of the Suzu."
The subject's Rabelle's Waveform diagram exhibits an elliptical oscillation pattern with a stable Time Domain representation. No abnormal fluctuations were observed. Examination results are determined to be within normal parameters.
Current Overclocking threshold is exceptionally high, and subject stability remains robust. There is no risk of Overclocking, and the subject has no prior history of Overclocking. However, a course of psychological intervention is recommended.
"This miko... How should I put this..."
"Ashinohara textbooks never show her face, but they're clear about one thing. She is the strongest living warrior in all of Ashinohara."
"And yet, with all that combat, her readings stay perfectly stable. Something about that just doesn't sit right..."
"I get your concern, but the data is clear. There's not a single irregularity."
"...Then what about those shadows? Like parallel-universe versions of herself from some movie?"
"Hardly. It must be the Suzu's power. Just as the Ashinohara records describe, it allows her to 'draw upon the future' to a certain extent."
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 1
The first time Hiyuki heard the truth of her own past, it spilled from Gyokuro's drunken lips. Hiyuki's mouth tightened. Without a word, she poured herself a glass of the bitter liquor.
"Hiyuki... My dear Hiyuki..."
"You can't do this. You can't be the damn Miko of Flaming Sakura... Your life was never meant to be like this!"
Hiyuki's eyes narrowed. If the people of Ashinohara saw their usually dignified and poised Miko of Flaming Sakura acting like this behind closed doors...
The second hand ticked. The minute hand followed. At last, the hour hand lurched forward. By Ashinohara time, this very moment marked Hiyuki's transition into adulthood. She sighed and downed the drink in one burning gulp.
"You managed. You think I cannot?"
The liquor scorched her throat and settled like lead in her slight frame. So this was what they called the "drink of adulthood." Its taste, she decided, was hardly worth the wait. Hiyuki stood and draped a blanket over Gyokuro's muttering form. She lingered in the corner for a long moment. At last, she stepped forward, tucked the edges tight, and closed the door softly behind her.
The next morning, Gyokuro's fury toward the steward tasked with the Legacy Talisman's succession rang out loud enough to be heard two streets away.
The Suzu's power lay in "drawing upon the future." In simple terms, it meant every use exacted a toll from the bearer's remaining lifespan. In the worst case, it meant a successor who inherited the bell today might vanish into nothingness in their very first battle against a Threnodian. Because the price was so high, successors were usually chosen early. Hiyuki had stayed at Gyokuro's side for more than a decade. Even if Gyokuro refused to name her... who else could possibly be chosen?
The steward, unable to handle Gyokuro's temper, could only offer a strained, placating smile. "Even if not Hiyuki, surely you must name someone, Lady Miko."
Gyokuro fell silent for a few breaths. She sighed, cleared her throat, and prepared to resume her tirade.
It was Hiyuki who finally opened the door, ending the farce.
"For years, I have journeyed with you through Ashinohara. I know what each duty demands."
"I have mastered every art a miko must know. The weaving of charms, the ceremonial dances—all from teachers of your own choosing."
"Only I can ensure the name of the Flaming Sakura remains untarnished, Gyokuro... No. Lady Miko."
Gyokuro's brow furrowed. She waved a hand dismissively.
"You've learned it all, have you? Then don't you realize the Suzu will be the death of you?"
"I was an orphan you took in. My family lies buried beneath the snow from that Threnodian attack. I have no attachments left."
The room fell suffocatingly quiet. The only sound was the raspy, obsessive scrape of Gyokuro's thumb as she rubbed the bell on her wrist. She tried to speak, but in the end, no words came.
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 2
The days following Hiyuki's succession were inevitably frantic. Where once she had simply walked in Gyokuro's shadow, she now found the weight of every duty resting on her own shoulders.
Ashinohara had long suffered under the Threnodian's shadow, forcing the land to weave its very survival around the mikos. As the bearer of the Suzu, Hiyuki's status was as uniquely sacred as it was heavy, and her jurisdiction covered the entirety of Ashinohara. She became a nomad of necessity, racing between different places to assist the local mikos and turn the tides of battle.
Yet a miko was as much a living symbol as a blade. Wherever people would gather, a miko must appear to remind them why they fought. The Miko of Flaming Sakura was no exception. Hiyuki carried both burdens well. Perhaps it was because she had learned each duty at Gyokuro's side since childhood, combat and ceremony alike had long since become second nature. The only thing missing was Gyokuro's specific Flaming Sakura swordsmanship. Gyokuro had stubbornly refused to pass down the forms, even going so far as to distance herself from Hiyuki.
"Fine. If you will not teach me, I will learn in secret. One day, I will master it. One day."
But that day never came.
"The Suzu allows the bearer to draw upon the future, and a successor who inherits the Suzu today might vanish into nothingness during their very first battle with a Threnodian..."
Hiyuki couldn't remember the words the steward whispered when placing the Suzu in her hands. She couldn't remember the clumsy way she tied it to her wrist, mimicking a gesture she had seen so many times. She couldn't recall the weather that day, or the face of the person who handed her the small wooden box containing Gyokuro's legacy.
By the time the world rushed back into focus, she was sitting alone in the hollowed halls of the seat of Flaming Sakura, clutching the wish slip that had been inside the box.
Blood froze in her chest. A creeping frost left her fingertips numb. Inch by inch, Hiyuki dragged herself to that familiar corner of the room and curled up. She had crumpled the wish slip earlier. Now she smoothed it flat.
"...I see."
"...I accept your wish."
"...There will never be another Miko of Flaming Sakura."
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 3
"Lady Hiyuki, you have served as the Miko of Flaming Sakura for a century now. If we are to renew the contract..."
"It is of no consequence."
"Then, as per our previous arrangement... for how many years shall we set the renewal?"
"Fill it as you wish."
"I did not expect you to be quite so like the previous Miko... Ahem. Very well. As you wish, Miko of Eternal Flaming Sakura."
The steward bowed and withdrew, closing the door with practiced reverence. Hiyuki noted that the staff accompanying him had changed three times over the decades. She shook her head, eyes narrowing as they fell upon the envelope on her desk. After a pause, she reached instead for a teacup that had long since gone cold.
"Just like the previous Miko... am I?"
How long had it actually been since she took up the title?
Long enough that "Hiyuki" was now a fixed entry in Ashinohara's history books.
Was it a long time?
Not long enough.
True to the fortune lot she had inherited that year, Hiyuki had used her own strength to prove a silent vow: There will never be another Miko of Flaming Sakura. Gradually, the voices urging her to select a successor had faded. The Office of Legacy Talismans now treated its visits to the shrine as a mere formality. Even the steward, she suspected, believed a successor unnecessary. To them, Hiyuki had become the title itself.
Yet Hiyuki often heard a voice. It wasn't the grating, persistent lure of the Fractsidus. It was a peaceful murmur stating facts plainly in her ear.
"Hiyuki, you have held on for so long. But your enemy, the Threnodian, has a far longer lifespan. It will wait until you die, until every miko, and every successor of every miko, has passed into memory."
"Does this path of resistance truly have an end?"
Cold tea is always the most bitter. The over-steeped acridity clung to her tongue, making each breath feel heavy. Hiyuki tapped a finger against the envelope on the desk. Instantly, a layer of frost raced across its surface. With one more light touch, the unopened Fractsidus seal shattered into crystalline dust.
Hiyuki rose and called out to the child who had volunteered to help clean the shrine, reminding her to stay vigilant and watch for intruders while she was away. Her lips curled into a smile as she ruffled the girl's hair and pressed a protective charm into her small palm.
"Lady Miko, where are you going to help this time?"
"Honami. I will be back soon. Keep this charm with you during this time, all right?"
Hiyuki waved goodbye to the little girl. As she turned to leave, the bell on her wrist caught the light, shining as brilliantly as ever.
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 4
The people of Ashinohara had long grown accustomed to the distortions wrought by the Threnodian. Survival was a matter of routine: seek shelter, wait for the local miko to deploy, and if the situation spiraled, wait for the recovery teams and the Miko of Flaming Sakura to arrive.
To Hiyuki, this felt like just another fight among thousands. She cut through the monsters with practiced efficiency, checking the integrity of the barrier as she always did. As the civilians emerged from the shelters, parents pointed her out to their children with reverent relief. "Look, that's Lady Miko of Flaming Sakura."
Hiyuki offered a slight nod in response. She stepped over a fallen "No Entry" sign and turned back toward the barrier to finish her sweep.
Focus. Strike. Sheathe... Hm?
The blade passed through the air as it always did. Yet something was different. Subtle, but unmistakable.
Hiyuki reexamined the entire barrier. Everything appeared intact, yet a lingering, visceral wrongness clung to her fingertips. She released her hilt. Flexed her wrist. Pressed her fingers together—
A single drop of iridescent black mire welled from her skin. It pooled in the creases of her palm before dripping to the ground, spreading silently beneath her feet.
Hiyuki drew her blade. Frost snapped into existence around her. First, contain it. Evacuate the civilians. Then find a way to—
She turned, but the cry died in her throat. There was nothing before her. It was as if the air itself vanished. For one frozen moment, Hiyuki could not breathe.
Honami was gone.
Aside from the shattered sign at her feet and a trace of mud creeping up the hem of her dress, there was nothing left.
Hiyuki reached out, but her hand recoiled on its own. She gasped for breath, but there was no oxygen. It was as if the atmosphere itself had been erased from existence. She raised her blade to strike, but found no enemy to sever. Only a faint, residual frequency remained, proof that the Threnodian had acted, for a fraction of a second, with power never before recorded.
According to Ashinohara's records, Honami had been pulled into another dimension at that moment. Even after a desperate appeal to the Spacetrek Collective for their most advanced tracking technology, not a single trace could be found.
When the others finally led Hiyuki away, she was still mindlessly rubbing the bell on her wrist, her mind trapped in that moment of shock.
Was this silent disaster her fault?
Of course it was her fault. As the Miko of Flaming Sakura, she had failed to protect Honami.
And of course, it was not her fault. Against the power of a Threnodian, a single person didn't matter—even one who could draw a million futures to safeguard the present.
Hiyuki returned to the Flaming Sakura. She took the protective charm from the child at the gate, forcing a ghost of a smile. Then she walked slowly to her room and pushed open the door. There, sitting quietly on her desk, was the envelope she had destroyed.
"Hiyuki, oh Hiyuki... Does this path truly have an end?"
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 5
Hiyuki didn't linger on the Fractsidus's many offers. No sane person would collaborate with those who viewed human lives as mere expendable fuel.
Instead, she traveled across Ashinohara, leaving behind white paper birds infused with her own frequency. She instructed the local mikos that her mind was linked to these messengers, and should any insurmountable incident occur, she would be there the moment they crushed the bird.
The path of resistance against the Threnodians... it had to have an end. It had to.
It was then that Hiyuki heard word that the Spacetrek Collective was grappling with a critical lack of safety provisions for its expeditions. She saw an opportunity and proposed a "trade." She would ensure the safety of their exploration efforts, and in exchange, the Collective would forge her a blade using the pinnacle of Solaris technology. A weapon sharp enough to cleave through a Threnodian.
Hiyuki joined the Spacetrek Collective as part of the Special Response Force. The unit had once been large, but casualties mounted as Aleph-1 grew more active. So Hiyuki submitted a request, proposing that henceforth, she alone would handle Threnodian containment and ensure the safety of those conducting surveys.
When she first arrived here, the Collective was little more than a plot of foundation in the dirt. She watched as Lahai-Roi was built, step by step, and began to grasp the true measure of human potential. The facility's construction was a miracle, perhaps the greatest engineering feat in the history of Solaris. Yet it came not from gods, nor from any single hero. It was built, brick by brick, by people across all Solaris who dared to dream.
"Lucilla."
"Hmm?"
Lucilla casually pulled a bottle of fine liquor from beneath the desk, a specialty from Ashinohara. A student hoping to pass their finals had left it at one of Hiyuki's frequent haunts, tucked under a neat note asking for the miko's blessing.
Hiyuki sighed, set out two glasses, and pushed one toward the restless Lucilla.
"The Spacetrek Collective... it was built to explore the stars beyond Solaris, was it not?"
"That's the idea."
"How fares the progress?"
"Ugh..." Lucilla drained her drink in one go. "Still a long way off. Research is hitting walls everywhere, and the higher-ups keep breathing down our necks with impossible demands."
Hiyuki rubbed the bell on her wrist, her eyes downcast.
"Have any of you ever wondered... where the end of this path is?"
Lucilla toyed with her empty glass, then gently clinked it against Hiyuki's.
"There is no end, Hiyuki. Just like what you're trying to do... No end."
"But we have to keep moving forward anyway."
"Not to reach a finish line, but to take one more step alongside the people standing next to us."
Hiyuki remained silent for a long time. Finally, she gave a soft nod and raised her glass, drinking deeply. The liquor scorched her throat and settled like lead in her slight frame.
The bell on her wrist chimed—a solitary sound, but the Miko of Flaming Sakura would take her next step regardless.
Few would guess that the white birds soaring above the skies of Lahai-Roi, the very ones under the Miko of Flaming Sakura's command, could look so endearingly adorable up close.
Hiyuki's fingers are nimble, yet they seem to fail her whenever she attempts a "professional" origami bird. She even resorted to eavesdropping on origami lessons from outside a window, but the final result was always this same, harmlessly cute shape.
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 2
A fortune lot from the Flaming Sakura. Its sakura motifs and divination text have been wholly obscured, buried beneath tiny white flowers gathered from somewhere unknown.
Hiyuki first drew this lot when she sought guidance, asking whether she would smoothly inherit the title of Miko of Flaming Sakura. Only days later, she discovered that someone had, in secret, stitched and reshaped her fortune into this form.
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 4
In her spare time, Hiyuki retreats to a secluded corner to carve.
Figurines of people, animals, miniature landscapes, or scenes from art, she attempts to render them all with her carving knife. Recently, there is a rumor that her interest has shifted from the Exoswarm to the Spacetrek Collective's various mechanical constructs. Students have even reported glimpsing her in the frostlands, attempting to carve the likeness of the Exostrider.
Perhaps one day, the carving knife in her hand will finally replace the blade sheathed at her waist.
Personality
Aleph-1 has been driven back, for now. But its shadow lingers. There are still complications in Lahai-Roi, matters unfit for researchers that require my hand. Once they are settled, I intend to return to Ashinohara to see it for myself. Though it has already been... Well, perhaps we will meet again there.
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 1
About the Fractsidus... You remember how I can draw upon my futures with the Suzu's power? Among them was one where I became a Threnodian Resonator. That possibility proved I could bear its power, and marked me as a threat in the eyes of many. That is why the Fractsidus sought me out, time and again. But you need not worry. I burned that future to ash before your eyes. The line is drawn.
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 2
Tales of your exploits abound. Folk legends across countless regions, Spacetrek Collective reports, slander from the lips of your enemies...Yet those remain merely the evaluations of others. It was not until I met you that I understood why they depict you as they do. Had our paths crossed sooner... I wonder, might mine have taken a different turn?
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 3
There is something I wish... No, something I must confess to you. Even now, after our time together, a sour sentiment lingers within me. If I were to name it, I would call it "jealousy." I find myself imagining your power as my own, wondering if I, too, could have... Forgive me. I simply needed to exhale this poison. If my words trouble you... then I will bear whatever judgment you deem fitting.
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 4
I once wielded my blade to see it shatter. Each strike was my prayer for spring, for the snow to thaw, and... for my own release. I believed solitude was a fate I could not escape. But when I looked at you, I realized that perhaps I may yet cling to something in this fate. I am not you, and I will never become you. Our paths may have crossed but briefly, yet knowing you walk the same path as well... I no longer feel alone.
I sculpt figurines in my leisure time. It is an intricate process, demanding one's complete focus. A state I find grounding. And no matter the medium or style, there is always a reference, a clear set of steps to follow. Adhere to them, and a repeatable result is assured. Such certainty is rare to find these days.
Ashinohara still occupies my thoughts... but I would not call it a burden. The past is settled. What remains is to handle what was left behind. Even if it is nowhere to be found on any map, the land still carries a legacy meant to endure.
Gyokuro tea. It is Ashinohara's specialty. When I was young, I would steal sips from the adults' cups. All I tasted then was bitterness. But by the time I learned to appreciate the sweet aftertaste, I realized I had begun to miss that bitterness instead.
Confections, I suppose... Not from any preference of palate. It is simply that sweetness, upon tasting, stirs memories of a bitter kind. The sweeter the past I once held, the more bitter the aftertaste that lingers.
My wish is... that there will never be another Miko of Flaming Sakura. That no further fate need be bound to the Threnodians. Perhaps... all we have ever sought is a world where every soul is simply granted the right to live an ordinary life.
The bell I wear on my wrist is what we call a "Legacy Talisman" in Ashinohara. For us Mikos of Flaming Sakura, it is a sacred relic passed down through generations—a vessel of Ashinohara's wishes. Through it, I gain the power to burn my futures, a power said to originate from Ashinohara's Sentinel. I know you share a close bond with the Sentinels. If you wish to see it, I can show it to you. Oh... the cord tied to the bell? Gyokuro braided it for me when I was a child. That alone is mine. The only thing that is.
If you wish to know more about my past, you will find snippets of it in the records of Ashinohara. They tell a far more vivid tale than I ever could. After all, my only memory of the past is me striking that blade, again and again and again.
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 1
She is a bright spirit. I am aware of certain secrets she carries. In a sense, we are both bound by our pasts. But she has a future she is galloping toward, one filled with light and hope she wholly deserves. That said, I still believe she should refrain from using her Forte to slip into class when she is late.
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 2
Chisa is also from Ashinohara. I have made a point to avoid meeting her. After all, in our homeland, Mikos only appeared in the darkest of times. We were never omens of good fortune—perhaps a parallel can be drawn to those detective comics popular nowadays. Besides, it may be unsettling to see a name from history standing before you in the flesh. Also, please do not speak to her of what transpired in Ashinohara. That burden is not hers to bear.
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 3
A resilient child. She surely endured unimaginable hardship to return here. When she vanished within the simulator cockpit, I was out on a field assignment. The investigation team later briefed me on her case. The detail that made me pause was her writing "saving the world" as her career aspiration... Hm, I find myself wondering... what in her upbringing instilled this level of conviction?
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 4
She bears an awful load for a child of her age. She seeks to shoulder the expectations placed upon a Solsworn far ahead her own time. I have noticed her watching the Shiratori I send forth. Perhaps I should fold one for her before I depart?
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 5
I... believe I failed her, in a way. Had I been quicker to see through the Fractsidus's plot, she might not have suffered as she did. I borrowed your strength when I delivered that strike. Only then was I able to restore a whisper of her true self back to her. I pray it caused no lasting harm. I am told that she is recovering. If we meet again, I will offer my apologies in person.
Unlocks at Intimacy Lv. 5
Though Lucilla insists our partnership is only contractual, I am well aware that without her discreet arrangements, I would have no place in the Spacetrek Collective, much less have obtained that blade. She carries herself lightly, yet the weight on her shoulders is plain to see. She often visits me, half in jest, declaring that she intends to "call it quits"—it is her way of venting. Before returning to Ashinohara, I should at least see her through the troubles presently at hand.
A joyous birthday to you. The day of one's birth signifies the commencement of all things. It is a guidepost to your origin and an anchor should you ever drift. I first thought to prepare a traditional gift. Yet upon reflection, there is no offering more fitting than this single, blank paper. Please, write your wish here. Hold nothing back. Whatever it may be, I shall make it come true.
(Effort sound)
(Effort sound)
(Effort sound)
I am Hiyuki, the last Miko of Flaming Sakura. Should you seek to slay the Threnodians, my blade and I stand at your service.
...Ephemeral are the blooms.
Entrust your wishes to me.
Mm, I am here.
Very well. As you wish.
Unlocks at Ascension 1
Hm, I feel it now. A sharper edge now rests within my grasp.
Unlocks at Ascension 2
To refine one's skill is a lifelong pursuit. Perhaps we may reach greater heights together.
Unlocks at Ascension 3
With this strength, I shall safeguard more wishes.
Unlocks at Ascension 4
The path I walk stretches into the future. The wishes laid upon me… perhaps one day, I can finally make them...
Unlocks at Ascension 5
You hear the ring of my blade, do you not? It is the sound of my conviction to see through your wishes. Any of them.
Battle
Be gone.
Dissipate.
Rest now.
Time to end this.
Too late to escape.
You should have run.
Wait for the moment.
Is that the best you can do?
Restless already?
Nuisance.
Follow my moves, if you can.
Evanescent morning dew. Vanish!
You've prepared for this, have you not?
Your days are numbered.
No chance.
Drift with snowflakes.
Swirl.
Fall in my wake.
Down you go!
Brittle snow.
Fading bloom.
Waning moon.
...Let there be snow.
A life as fleeting as the first snow.
Take your final dive, into Naraka.
May the sakura incinerate. Burn this self away.
Roam above the inferno, gazing at the snow.
For all wishes spoken, this vessel I offer.
You can trust me.
Futile.
Too slow.
Heh, it's been so long...
Worry not for me.
Be cautious. Stand back.
I cannot fall now.
Destined... to fade...
I've... seen this coming...
An ending, as it is...
Heed the summon.
Lend me your strength.
Careful. Get behind me.
An intriguing device.
There it is.
Let's get moving.
You keep it.
Anything you might need?
Our rightful claim.