"Noelle?"
"It's me."
Fischl stepped forward and carefully helped the collapsed Noelle up from the ground.
Even though Fischl was being as gentle as possible, a flicker of pain still crossed Noelle's face.
"Ugh…"
"You look badly hurt."
"I… I'm fine…"
"Fine? Your arm is scorched like this and you call it fine?"
"I… I'll put some medicine on it when I get back…"
"You can't even stand properly right now, how will you get back? And ointment would take forever to heal wounds like that. Your arm might be unusable for a month or two—and it could even scar."
"I…"
"Don't worry. Qiqi can help you."
Noelle froze.
Qiqi?
Help me?
Fischl turned her head toward the raven perched on her shoulder.
"Oz, go fetch Qiqi."
"Understood, my lady."
The night raven spread his wings and disappeared into the sky.
Noelle raised her head, staring blankly after him.
Fischl tilted her head. "It's so late… why are you still out here? Were you busy all this time?"
Noelle blinked, coming back to herself. "N-no… I was… training…"
"Training?"
Fischl's eyes widened with understanding.
"No wonder you smell a little of sweat."
Embarrassed, Noelle lowered her head. "Sorry…"
Fischl chuckled. "No need to apologize. I actually admire you. Training every morning, then training again every night, and in between doing all your maid duties… it's amazing you've kept it up this long."
But Noelle only lowered her head further, falling silent.
Fischl wasn't sure why she looked so downcast. She assumed the injury was weighing on her, so she stayed quiet as well.
Dozens of seconds later, a streak of white sword-light flashed across the night sky.
Qiqi descended, riding her flying sword, landing silently before them.
Oz followed behind her, fluttering back down to Fischl's shoulder.
Fischl quickly spoke. "Qiqi, Noelle's hurt. Please heal her."
Qiqi glanced at Noelle, her voice flat. "Okay."
She raised her hand and cast a fourth-tier Light-element spell—[Divine Healing].
Soft white radiance washed over Noelle. She felt the pain and discomfort within her vanish rapidly. The burning in her arm faded, replaced with a faint itch.
Instinctively, she scratched lightly at it with her other hand, and a layer of charred scab flaked off.
Under the moonlight, she saw smooth, fair skin beneath—untouched by scars.
"This…!"
Noelle was stunned.
Qiqi asked softly, "How do you feel?"
Noelle pulled away from Fischl's support and stood on her own. She moved her arm experimentally, her voice filled with disbelief. "I feel… completely fine."
Qiqi nodded, then looked down at the pile of ash at Noelle's feet, frowning slightly. "Oz told me on the way here. It was just an Abyss Mage. You wield a Geo Vision—you're the best at defense. How did it wound you this badly?"
Noelle's face burned with shame. She bit her lip. "I… I underestimated it…"
She had barely fought real monsters before—her experience was limited to striking practice dummies. Only in the past two days had she sparred with Yaoyao a little.
Fischl smiled lightly. "Ha, don't worry. You did better than me. The last time I ran into monsters outside, I didn't even have the courage to fight. I just collapsed on the ground and waited for death…"
"That can't be true. You're so strong—you just took down that Abyss Mage in one shot…"
Noelle didn't believe it, thinking Fischl was just trying to comfort her with a joke. But somehow, that kind of comfort only stung worse.
Oz interjected, "My lady speaks the truth."
Noelle still wasn't convinced. Another thought struck her, and she asked, "Wait… what about you two? Why are you even here so late?"
Fischl's lips curled into a mysterious smile. "Guess."
"…"
"Hahaha, have you heard of the Darknight Hero? We're like that. Magical girls."
"Magical… girls?"
"Indeed. Magical girls. The power Qiqi just used to heal you? That's light magic."
"Light… magic…"
Noelle's gaze shifted over their outfits—one pure white, one pure black—so different from their daytime appearances.
If white symbolized light, then black must be…
Looking at Fischl, she couldn't help asking, "Then the power you used to slay the monster… was that dark magic?"
Fischl grinned. "Exactly."
Noelle felt as if she understood, but her heart only filled with more questions.
Qiqi suddenly spoke. "We can explain later. It's late. You should go home now."
Fischl nodded. "Yes. Don't let your family worry."
"…Alright."
Noelle swallowed her doubts, bent down to pick up her greatsword.
Fischl glanced at Oz. "I'll have Oz escort you back."
Noelle didn't refuse the kindness. She gave a maid's perfect curtsey. "Thank you. Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Cradling her greatsword, Noelle walked off into the night.
Fischl watched her fading silhouette, whispering, "Qiqi… did you notice something strange about her mood?"
Qiqi stroked the snowfinch perched on her shoulder, murmuring, "It's normal for emotions to fluctuate after such an accident. But… who's there?"
Sensing something, Qiqi lifted her head toward the rooftop, forming a sword seal with her hand.
A tall figure was standing quietly in the shadows.
Fischl's heart jumped. She raised her dark bow and drew it taut, calling out, "Who's there?!"
"Don't be alarmed, Miss Qiqi."
A calm, cool voice answered. The shadow vanished from the roof—then appeared before them the next moment.
"It's me."
Qiqi studied him, doubt flickering in her eyes. "You're… the Vigilant Yaksha?"
Xiao nodded. He noticed Qiqi's suspicious look and sighed faintly. "Yes. Don't doubt me. I only… grew taller after drinking Mr. Xia's soup."
Qiqi kept her sword seal ready, frowning. "But weren't you at The Chasm? Why are you in Mondstadt?"
"It's finished at The Chasm. I arrived in Mondstadt tonight. I've already met with the Dragon King. I was planning to find you tomorrow. With nothing else to do, I went for a walk. Then I sensed an evil aura here, so I came to check."
Hearing him mention the Dragon King, Qiqi was mostly convinced. She relaxed her seal. "I see."
Fischl looked between them, baffled. "What's going on?"
Qiqi told her simply, "He's one of us."
Fischl quickly lowered her bow. "Oh, okay."
Xiao glanced toward the path Noelle had taken. "That girl… her spirit's been slightly corroded."
"Corroded?!"
"The Abyss Order's temptations… they awaken a person's negative thoughts."
"What?!"
"Don't worry. It wasn't deep. At worst, she'll have nightmares for a night or two. She'll recover on her own."
Xiao had spent years exorcising demons—he knew this better than anyone.
Still, Qiqi thought for a moment, then decided she'd visit Noelle later to cast a [Dispel] on her, just in case.
---
Back home, Noelle slipped into the bathroom like a thief. She stripped off her dirty, bloodstained clothes and soaked them, then showered thoroughly.
In the mirror, she examined herself carefully. Not a single scar remained.
Remembering everything that had happened, she stared at her reflection, dazed, before sighing softly.
She washed her clothes clean and hung them outside to dry, making sure her family would never know she'd been hurt.
Back in her room, she shut the door—and nearly jumped when she saw Qiqi standing silently beside her bed.
"Miss Qiqi?!"
"I came to heal you."
"Heal me? But I'm already fine…"
"Not your body. Your spirit."
Qiqi raised her hand and cast [Dispel].
A white aura spread out from Noelle's body, dissolving into the room.
Noelle's heart felt instantly calm, like ripples smoothing out on a pond.
"All done."
"Wait!"
Qiqi turned to leave but stopped when Noelle called out.
"…Do you need something?"
Noelle hesitated, then lowered her head. "I… I just wanted to say… thank you."
Qiqi's voice was as flat as ever. "You're welcome."
But the question Noelle wanted to ask most of all never left her lips.
After Qiqi left, Noelle collapsed onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling in silence.
Magical girls…
She knew Fischl. She often helped tidy the shelves in the Favonius Library, and Fischl was always borrowing books there. They'd greeted each other many times.
She knew Fischl's abilities—just an investigator for the Adventurers' Guild, and only because Oz could aid her scouting.
There was no way Fischl could possess such overwhelming strength.
And yet she did. Noelle had seen it with her own eyes.
That dark arrow didn't just destroy a monster—it shattered Noelle's own perseverance.
Why…
Why do I train so hard every single day, yet in the end I'm still weaker than Fischl, who never seems to train at all?
Why did Fischl suddenly become a magical girl…?
If only…
If only I could become one too…
With that thought, Noelle drifted into uneasy sleep.
----
On a rooftop, Fischl gazed over the quiet city.
Oz spoke softly. "My lady, Noelle seems troubled…"
"I know. The Vigilant Yaksha said she'd been tainted by a little spiritual corruption."
"I believe that's not the only reason."
"Oh?"
"On the way home, I heard her whispering the words 'magical girl' to herself."
"…So Noelle wants to become one too?"
"Most likely."
"But she's a devout follower of the Anemo Archon. Unless she changes her faith, even if she were given a transformation item, she couldn't charge it with energy."
"Yes, that is a problem…"
"But if I could bring Mr. Xia another follower…"
Fischl fell into thoughtful silence.
---
The next morning.
Noelle was once again out on the church grounds, training with her claymore and sparring against Yaoyao. She looked no different, as if the previous night's events had never happened.
Later, when everyone gathered for breakfast, they ran into the Dragon King, Venti, and the others in the plaza.
"That's… the Vigilant Yaksha?"
"Mm…"
"Whoa, he's taller!"
"Yes…"
Everyone was surprised by Xiao's second growth spurt.
Hu Tao had changed too after drinking the soup, but she was still mortal—Xiao was an adeptus, so it felt much more striking.
Xia Zhi chuckled. "How went your mission?"
Xiao nodded. "With your help, it was smooth."
"And Miss Yelan, Miss Yanfei?"
"They're safe as well."
"Good."
The Dragon King rubbed his hands, grinning. "Mr. Xia, since Xiao's here, maybe we should hold a feast…"
Venti nodded eagerly. "Yes! And to celebrate Xia Ci's dance victory yesterday, too!"
Xia Zhi laughed. "Ha, you just want free food, don't you? Fine. I was already planning to invite a guest today. We'll make it a gathering."
Curious, Venti asked, "A guest? Who?"
"You'll see."
"Fine, keep your secrets. When?"
"This noon. I'll go buy ingredients in a bit."
"Perfect!"
Then Xia Zhi turned to Noelle. "Miss Noelle, will you be free at noon?"
She had refused his dinner invitation once before, and he'd sent Amber with a meal box instead. That small kindness had warmed her heart.
This time, Noelle pressed her lips together, then nodded softly. "I'll come. Thank you for inviting me."
Xia Zhi smiled. "Wonderful. More people make it livelier."
Since Dragon King and the others hadn't eaten yet either, they all went to a restaurant together. With such a large group, they booked two private rooms—conveniently separating Venti from Diona.
When it came time to pay, Xia Zhi realized Venti and the Dragon King had ordered wine for breakfast.
"You two…"
"Best friends!" the Dragon King declared, slinging an arm around Venti.
Xia Zhi sighed. "Fine, fine… I did promise to treat."
Watching the two cling to each other, he shook his head.
But really—if you're this close with another dragon, won't Dvalin be jealous?