The next day. Early morning, at the break of dawn.
Still half-asleep and groggy, Ye Xi felt a stirring beside him. He opened his eyes and found that Candace had already woken.
After so many years as the guardian of Aaru Village, Candace had long grown accustomed to rising early.
Seeing that Ye Xi was awake, Candace apologized in a soft voice, "Did I startle you awake?"
Ye Xi yawned and asked, "This early?"
"Mm, I need to go make a round through the village to check on things."
That answer left Ye Xi a little puzzled. "Aren't there enough Ruin Guards in the village?"
He distinctly remembered leaving quite a few Ruin Guards for Aaru Village. With those machines around, what was there to worry about?
Besides, in recent days, the Akademiya had also sent plenty of Corps of Thirty and Matra to assist in Aaru Village. By all accounts, Candace's burden should have been eased considerably.
Candace shook her head and hurriedly explained, "At this hour I always used to go patrol the village. I've just gotten used to it."
"Oh? Then don't go today. Sleep in a little." Ye Xi smiled, and as he spoke he pressed the girl back down into the covers.
"Eh? B-but…"
"Don't worry, the village has plenty of defenses. Nothing will happen."
"And besides, don't you think today is a special day?"
Hearing Ye Xi say that, Candace finally remembered.
For a girl, this time of the month really was rather special.
Candace's face flushed faintly as she gave a small nod.
She lay beside Ye Xi, savoring a sense of security she had never felt before.
Even though she'd been told to sleep in, her deeply ingrained habits meant she felt no trace of drowsiness at all.
She simply lay there, wide awake, gazing at Ye Xi's sleeping face, quietly lost in a daze.
She truly never imagined this day would come—that she would be favored by Ye Xi.
And yet, in her heart, she had always been looking forward to this day.
Now, she had a feeling of a wish finally come true.
Just as she was thinking this, the room suddenly blazed with a great light.
Candace's eyes went wide, and she couldn't help holding her breath.
She had seen this scene before!
When she first obtained her Hydro Eye of God, this was exactly the sight before her eyes!
In an instant, her heart stirred, and she couldn't help hurriedly sitting up.
Ye Xi, too, was startled awake once again by the sudden commotion.
Seeing the strange stirring in the room, he immediately understood what was happening.
The dazzling light slowly descended, coming to rest in the palm of Candace's hand. Then, before her, a Geo Eye of God shone brilliantly.
[Ding~]
[Branch [Candace] has obtained a Geo Eye of God!]
[Reward distribution complete. Please continue to fulfill the follow-up [Scattering Leaves] quest!]
The weight of Geo represents protection. This Eye of God happened to align perfectly with Candace's inner wishes.
From now on she could wield Geo Elemental Power to better protect her companions!
Having obtained two Eyes of God, Candace was dumbstruck for a long while.
She truly could scarcely believe she had actually received a second Eye of God!
As the surge of excitement gradually settled, she noticed that Ye Xi had already woken completely.
"I woke you again… thank you, Master, for the Eye of God you gave me!"
Ye Xi let out a sigh, reached over and gave Candace a little pinch, and said in a low voice, "Thanks to you, I can't fall back asleep. You'll have to make it up to me."
"Eh!?"
Candace was slightly taken aback, but after seeing the look in Ye Xi's eyes, she instantly understood just what he meant by "make it up."
A faint sense of embarrassment rose in her heart, and she nodded. "I—I understand…"
From far beyond the horizon, the sun cast a thread of golden light.
As the sun gradually rose, little birds hopped onto the branches and began to chirp.
Dehya and the others crawled out from their covers and began their morning training for the day.
Grand Master Jean stretched lazily and gazed out the window. This long-lost sense of ease was truly something to be nostalgic about.
Last night she had soaked comfortably in the hot spring and played Genius Invokation TCG with the other girls—she hadn't had that much fun in ages.
Waking this morning, she felt refreshed and utterly invigorated.
Yet, when she saw the people training in the courtyard, a sense of guilt welled up in her heart.
Everyone was up early exercising, and here she, the Grand Master of a Knights' order, how could she be so slothful!
If things went on like this, wouldn't she bring shame upon the Knights?
She hurriedly rolled out of bed, changed into her clothes, and went downstairs to train.
In the courtyard.
"Miss Dehya, then, please pardon my rudeness."
"Kamisato Art: Kabuki!"
The instant Ayaka drew her longsword, several flashes of blade-light and sword-shadow were already shimmering through the air.
Dehya gave a start and hurriedly backpedaled several steps, unable to help exclaiming, "As expected of the Kamisato family's swordsmanship—so impressive!"
"Looks like I'll have to use my claymore."
Dehya took up a great blade for the first time in ages. She normally fought with her fists, so taking up a claymore was a sign that she was taking this seriously.
Before the words had even fallen, Ayaka's next assault came pressing in right after.
The two of them were sparring as a warm-up. Practicing alone yielded poor results—nothing beat a real fight.
When Jean hurried over, she happened to catch the two of them sparring, and it was truly an eye-opener.
She couldn't help but praise them: "As expected of the eldest young lady of the Yashiro Commission, and the desert's [Flame-Mane]—so impressive!"
Last night over drinks, she had already heard many stories from Ayaka and Dehya, and had come to understand them quite well.
Watching masters cross blades made Jean itch to give it a try as well.
Her Favonius Bladework was among the very best in Mondstadt. Even against five Ruin Guards, she could dispatch them with ease.
Even against Eula, she would not fall to the disadvantage.
So, seeing Dehya and Ayaka's battle likewise made her, a knight, want to show off her own skills.
At that moment, a voice came to her ear.
"Want to have a match?"
"Eh?"
She turned to look and saw Alusha panting and out of breath.
No doubt she had just come back from a run.
Jean didn't know Alusha very well, since Alusha was a girl of few words.
All she knew about this beauty was that she was a girl from the desert whose life Ye Xi had saved, after which she had followed along behind him.
She could tell that in any setting where Ye Xi was present, there was always a reflection of Ye Xi in Alusha's eyes. She must already be smitten to the utmost degree.
Hearing Alusha's invitation, Jean nodded. "Is that all right?"
"Don't worry. All this time I've been sparring with Candace. She didn't come today, so I'll spar with you instead."
"Candace?"
Jean was a little puzzled. "Isn't she doing morning training today?"
Alusha spread her hands. "She's doing morning training too—it's just another kind of morning training with Master Ye Xi, that's all."
"Another kind…"
Jean was a little confused, but then she suddenly recalled what Lisa had said.
In an instant, she knew exactly what this "another kind of morning training" referred to.
The thought made her face flush red, brimming with embarrassment.
____
________________________________________
If you want more chapters, please consider supporting my page on (P). with 50 advanced chapters available on (P)
👻 Join the crew by searching Leanzin on (P). You know the spot! 😉