Amber, a beautiful and transparent biological fossil, was once soft and fragile tree resin, but later became a hard gemstone. It represents growth and transformation, as well as beauty.
...
It was many years ago, on a day where the weather was unimportant.
Amber opened her eyes for the first time inside a human cultivation chamber, seeing the laboratory ceiling and, for the first time, the colorful world.
She didn't have Lady Theresa's natural combat talent, nor her intelligence and kindness. At that time, Amber was merely an artificial body, of no value—plain and worthless, even on the verge of death due to genetic defects.
However, this lowly existence gave birth to an even more disgraceful emotion—fear. Fear of the body's weakness and the sense of impending death.
At that moment, Amber had no understanding of common sense, no knowledge of words, and couldn't even speak. So, upon seeing the world for the first time, Amber made weak, meaningless murmurs, instinctively reaching out toward the blond man standing in front of the chamber, looking down at her.
That noble man simply stood there quietly, watching her futile gestures as she tried to grasp something, seeing the fear and tears in her eyes.
Then, at a certain moment, a change appeared on his face.
To this day, Amber still couldn't fully comprehend what that change meant or the emotions behind it, but she would never forget the image.
Later, Otto took her out of the cultivation chamber and placed her on the experimental table. He began injecting various liquids into her body. Amber felt her heartbeat strengthen intermittently, only to quickly lose that sense of vitality again. Clearly, one precious drug after another, priceless in the outside world, was ineffective on her defective artificial body. This result seemed to anger Otto, his face growing visibly darker.
"Five hundred years have passed, and I refuse to believe I still can't change anything!"
He began switching methods—from bizarre scientific equipment to tools carrying Honkai energy, even various instruments materializing from golden ripples. Otto tried many things, most of which had little effect, though some slightly extended Amber's life.
But in the end, it was only a small extension.
His flawlessly groomed golden hair began to fray, dirt smudged his face as he worked the instruments, and his once-pristine clothes became disheveled, his tie loosely hanging. From the picture-perfect, noble figure he had been, he transformed into a desperate and haggard man.
Amber had no idea how much time had passed. All she knew was that, at that moment, she gradually forgot her fear, focusing solely on watching Otto. In his frantic movements and his disheveled state, it was as if she could see the entire world.
"Why isn't this working... Genetic defects are causing organ dysfunction... the body... internal organs..."
"Wait! If the body's mechanisms can't function, then let's just replace them with something more efficient, like machines. The most important thing is survival!"
"I can do it! I will do it!"
Otto covered his face with one hand, letting out a crazed laugh.
In that instant, his emotions were unhinged, like a gambler who had lost everything but was suddenly given a tiny bit of money again, desperately trying to win it all back.
Otto began operating on Amber's body.
Perhaps out of a sudden surge of conscience, he injected what seemed to be an anesthetic, allowing Amber to feel no pain. She merely watched as her body was cut open, organs removed one by one.
Then, cold machines began filling her body.
"Heart… replace it."
"The alveoli and left liver are useless too."
"Hands… let's replace them as well; the mechanical structure will be more stable."
"Wait, if the cells continue aging, these devices will eventually be unusable. Since the genes are defective, let's just destroy the aging mechanism entirely!"
"To replace life force… Honkai energy, Honkai energy is omnipotent!"
Blood stained the delicate robes of the archbishop and Otto's face. Coupled with his nearly crazed smile, it would've terrified most people. But Amber merely lay on the table, her blank, mechanical eyes unmoving, watching Otto. A sense of security and indescribable satisfaction appeared in the puppet's heart.
Her life began this way.
...
"Mmm—"
A soft, alluring murmur escaped Amber's pale pink lips as she awoke in the morning light. Her ice-blue eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. Her face remained emotionless, though she seemed lost in thought.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Amber seems to have had a dream."
"Oh? Did you dream about me?"
"If Amber were to dream about anyone, it would certainly be Otto... or Lady Hera."
Amber sat up, her snow-white skin peeking through her nightgown, a breathtakingly soft wave of beauty that was hard to ignore.
She turned to the stunning woman sitting on the edge of her bed, just inches away, and asked, "Lady Hera, have you come so early with a task for me?"
"Not quite. I found a very pretty flower this morning, so I brought it for you."
In Hera's hand appeared a snow-white lily, as pure as snow and delicate as a drop of dew. Amber's lips parted slightly in surprise as she realized the significance of the date.
Ah, it was her birthday again—a day that came only once a year.
Among the countless people Otto had met in his five hundred years, only a very few had their birthdays remembered by him.
Theresa was one, Amber was another, and now Sigurd seemed to be another one. Of course, the most important was Kallen; there was never anything about her that Otto forgot.
Every year, on Amber's birthday, Otto gave her a gift.
It wasn't always something valuable. Sometimes it was a modified mechanical arm, sometimes a box of snacks bought from a street vendor, sometimes a playful gadget or a useful weapon. This time, it was simply a flower Otto had casually picked by the roadside.
Regardless of the kind or worth, Otto gave Amber a gift on this day every year, without fail.
"Thank you, Lady Hera."
"You're welcome. You are mine, after all. Just like you promised, always watching me, serving me forever."
Hera gently lifted Amber's chin, tilting her head up as she gazed at her with an affectionate smile, her eyes shining like brilliant emeralds.
Looking into those jewel-like eyes, Amber's lips formed a rare, soft smile. She whispered, "It is my honor."
Amber knew her life was worthless, that even if she disappeared, Otto wouldn't be inconvenienced in any way. And that was perfect. Because she had no great value, she could give everything to Otto whenever he needed, without worrying that he'd be saddened or that it would disrupt his plans. For Amber, this was her perfect self.
"Haha, I'll be going now. See you later."
Hera stood up and left the room.
The sweet scent she left behind lingered in the air.
Amber took a deep breath.
Whether Otto or Hera, Otto's presence was always something that people would endlessly admire. Yet, Amber had no feelings about appearances. It was simply Otto's lingering aura that gave her a special sense of peace.
That delicate face, now almost identical to Kiana's, blossomed into a beautiful smile, more radiant than any flower.
Amber spent the next half hour turning the lily into a permanent crystal specimen. Then she carefully placed it in a secret box under her bed, alongside many other small items.
"Flowers... aren't bad."
"I wonder what next year's gift will be..."
As she crouched by the secret box, her fingers gently stroking the various trinkets, Amber murmured softly, feeling that today's sunlight was far more comforting than yesterday's.
<+>
Tn: If you want to see more chapter of this story, please go to my Patreon[1], just for $5 each month, you can read till the latest chapter.
Latest Chapter in Patreon: Chapter 284: The Herrscher… is Me!?[2]
Link to the latest chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/honkai-strijder-127448089[3]
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/Strijder[4]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/c/Strijder
[2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/honkai-strijder-127448089
[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/honkai-strijder-127448089
[4] https://www.patreon.com/c/Strijder