Yaoyao had discovered a very important problem.
Even though both she and Noelle were improving during their sparring sessions, and she had her master's guidance besides, her own progress was falling behind Noelle's.
She remembered that in their very first spar, her spear technique had faintly outmatched Noelle's Knights of Favonius swordsmanship. But now? Now she was the one being pressed down by Noelle.
"Sister Noelle, you're amazing."
After the spar ended, as usual, the two of them went into the Serenitea Pot for a soak. Yaoyao leaned over the edge of the bath, gazing at Noelle with admiration.
Noelle smiled. "Thanks. You're amazing too."
Yaoyao's eyes lit up. "But Sister Noelle, your swordsmanship's improving so fast! Do you have some kind of secret? Can you tell me?"
"A secret, huh…"
Under that earnest gaze, Noelle grew a little embarrassed.
She wasn't the naturally gifted type. For years, she'd spent every night training diligently with training dummies at the Knights of Favonius headquarters. But even after all that, she'd never managed to become a real knight.
The only reason her swordsmanship had skyrocketed lately was thanks to [Hilt of Wind].
After transforming into a Magical Girl, Noelle not only automatically mastered wind spells up to the fourth tier and time-stopping, but also instantly became a swordmaster.
All the problems she'd ever run into with swordsmanship suddenly cleared away.
Even after she released her transformation and lost the swordmaster's bonus, the muscle memory of wielding a blade so fluently didn't just vanish.
It was precisely this higher level of insight that made her improve so quickly these days.
In other words—Noelle was playing with cheats.
She thought about it for a moment, then lowered her voice. She knew Yaoyao's relationship with Mr. Xia was closer than hers. "Yaoyao, do you know what a Magical Girl is?"
Yaoyao tilted her head, puzzled. "What's a Magical Girl?"
Noelle wasn't entirely sure how much Mr. Xia wanted revealed. But logically, if Yaoyao wanted to become one, it shouldn't be an issue. So she said, "It's a transformation ability. You need to make a Contract with Mr. Xia."
"Make a Contract with big brother?"
"That's right."
"Sister Noelle, you already made one?"
"Mhm."
"So that's why you've been improving so fast?"
"Exactly."
"Then can I be like Sister Noelle too?"
"I don't know. You'd have to ask Mr. Xia what he thinks."
"Then I'll go ask big brother later!"
"Mhm."
"Sister Noelle, tell me more about Magical Girls!"
"What do you want to know?"
"How did Sister Noelle become one?"
"Me? One night, I…"
Noelle reminisced, recounting everything that had happened to her.
Yaoyao listened with rapt attention, surprised that Noelle had gone through so many stories she'd never known.
After their bath, the two dressed in fresh clothes and were about to leave the Serenitea Pot, when suddenly everyone else came in from outside.
Turns out, they weren't going to the restaurant for breakfast today—Mr. Xia had announced he'd cook himself.
No one knew why the boss suddenly felt like cooking, but everyone was delighted to agree.
Noelle blinked, then sensibly headed straight for the kitchen to help, slipping into her maid role.
--
Cloud Retainer entered the Serenitea Pot and, as usual, sat down beside Madame Ping.
Ping gave her a long, meaningful look.
Feeling guilty under that stare, Cloud Retainer forced herself to stay calm, sipped her tea, set the cup down, and asked, "Why are you staring at me like that?"
"You know why."
"?"
"Be honest. Why didn't you show up to play games last night?"
"Didn't I tell you this morning? I was studying mechanisms."
"Studying what?"
"You wouldn't understand even if I explained."
"Heh."
"Besides, it's not like we didn't have enough players. Couldn't Xiao fill in? Or are you saying without my support, you can't beat anyone?"
"Don't flatter yourself. Your support is garbage."
"When was I ever garbage?"
"Just admit—you lost yourself last night, didn't you?"
"!? …"
Some people… everything about them was fine—except their mouth.
Cloud Retainer silently got up to leave.
"Where are you going?" Ping called.
Where else?
Cloud Retainer went to sit with Shenhe and Ganyu.
"Good morning, Master," Ganyu said, the little bell at her neck chiming softly.
Cloud Retainer's eyes drifted to the bell.
Fresh from last night's "first taste," her mind immediately conjured certain… images of Ganyu's body swaying with that bell ringing.
Way too much…
Her cheeks warmed almost imperceptibly. She quickly turned her gaze to Shenhe.
"Master, are you alright after last night?" Shenhe asked.
Cloud Retainer stiffened, lowering her voice. "You dare bring that up! That pill you gave me nearly killed me!"
She'd once tried the [Happiness Pill] with Ying'er, but that had been made with the normal version of Happiness Breath—a soft lavender color.
The one she took last night, though, had been the abnormal version—scarlet red.
"But Master seems perfectly fine now," Shenhe said.
"I'm talking about last night!"
"Oh."
"Oh?!"
Shenhe nodded solemnly. "That feeling really is like dying…"
"Stop! Don't say it!" Cloud Retainer snapped.
"Hm? But Master already experienced it, didn't you?"
"This isn't the time for that! I'm saying, you gave me that pill without telling me its Effect—I had no preparation at all…"
"What kind of preparation would Master want?"
"At least… at least some—"
Cloud Retainer cut herself off as Shenhe pulled a test tube from her Space Ring and held it to her lips.
Her breath filled the tube, glowing a luminous lavender.
Shenhe smiled. "Looks like Master's very happy right now."
"…"
Cloud Retainer rose silently and went back to sit with Madame Ping.
Ping looked at her complicated expression. "What's wrong now?"
"Quiet. I'm thinking."
"?"
"When disciples grow up, they can't be kept."
"…."
--
Not far away, Xia Ci was watching Cloud Retainer with great interest.
Xia Zhen, meanwhile, stared toward the kitchen with anticipation. "Why'd cousin suddenly get the urge to cook breakfast today? It smells amazing. If only he'd do this every day."
Xia Ci shot her a look. "Don't kid yourself. This is clearly a special case."
"What kind of special case?"
"Making up for someone."
"?"
Xia Zhen followed her gaze to Cloud Retainer, thoughtful.
"Ohhh, no wonder she didn't join us for games last night."
"She was busy playing a far more realistic and exciting game outside."
"You really do understand 'realistic.'"
"Feeling a little pressure now?"
"Not really. Didn't you say last time? A Longevity being's love…"
"That was just me talking nonsense."
"…."
Xia Ci lowered her head, mulling. "Looks like I can't keep sitting idle."
"What're you scheming now?" Xia Zhen asked.
"No scheme. Just planning to have Nahida come play with us tonight."
"That's it?"
"That's it. Enough for now."