Afterward, the Traveler continued dealing with the meteorites, unaware that the Fatui were also investigating the fallen stars—even worse, one of the Harbingers was nearby, though fortunately not present at the moment.
After temporarily driving off the Fatui, Fischl and the Traveler discussed their next steps.
Neither of them was skilled in dispelling "curses," and their progress in handling the meteorites was too slow. Thus, Fischl suggested seeking a professional.
Following Katheryne's recommendation, they brought in Mona.
That's right—this was when Mona first met Fischl, which was why Fischl had dragged Mona along to Wolvendom for an "adventure" last time.
[Fischl: "I am Fischl, Prinzessin der Verurteilung, sovereign of Immernachtreich. You are granted the honor of accompanying me."]
It must be said, Fischl's name was just as extravagant as Mona's full name.
[Mona: "Prinzessin der Verurteilung? Are you a princess from some country?"]
[Fischl: "Immernachtreich—an ancient, long-fallen realm... That is my homeland."]
[Mona: "Immer... what?"]
[Fischl: "Sigh, it seems mortals know little of Immernachtreich."]
The moment Fischl called her a "mortal," Mona couldn't take it. How dare you question my expertise?!
In an instant, her pride flared up, and she immediately retorted.
[Mona: "M-Mortal?! Who are you calling a mortal?! I'm an exceptional astrologist!"]
[Mona: "Whatever 'Immer-something-reich' is, I can easily divine your origins. Just you wait—"]
Mona was about to perform a reading on Fischl's fate when Oz intervened.
[Oz: "Lady Mona! I implore you not to dwell on this matter. Mentioning her fallen homeland always dampens milady's spirits."]
[Oz: "A great mage such as yourself would surely understand the sorrow of a fallen princess, would you not?"]
Now, that's what you call high emotional intelligence.
Had Mona proceeded with the divination, she would've discovered that Fischl was just an ordinary girl with no connection to any "Immernachtreich."
But after Oz's words, Mona naturally refrained—at least outwardly.
In truth, Mona later secretly peeked at Fischl's fate and was so shocked she trembled all over.
Then she couldn't help but laugh—no, wait, Mona tried very hard to hold it in. She really did.
From then on, Fischl stopped calling Mona a "mortal" and instead referred to her as the "Great Astrologist."
However, after reading this segment, the audience became even more convinced that this girl named Fischl was no "Prinzessin der Verurteilung" with some extraordinary background.
She didn't even dare to let "Mona the Authenticator" properly appraise her—clearly a fraud at first glance.
Fischl wasn't truly the "Prinzessin der Verurteilung." She was merely living in her own dream, enjoying the world as she saw it.
But if she treated reality as a dream, then why couldn't her dream be real? Thus, she was the "Prinzessin der Verurteilung."
Previously, children like Yangu and Little Lucian had relied on people like Tartaglia and Yoimiya to help them live in their dreams.
But Fischl was different. She didn't need others to "protect" her dream, nor did she need them to "weave" it for her.
She alone could guard her dream, refusing to let anyone shatter it—because in her heart, her dream was greater than this world!
If the world cannot contain my dream, then the world is the one too small!
Perhaps Fischl, like Yoimiya, could still see the Aranara.
Furina somewhat understood Fischl. Though Furina wasn't chuunibyou herself, she, too, was "playing a role" to blend into reality.
However, the two were opposites in a way. Furina hoped people would accept the "false her" while also affirming her true self.
Fischl, on the other hand, wanted people to recognize her true self while also affirming the "false her."
Both were sealing away their real selves—one actively, the other passively.
Returning to the story, Mona led the group outside Mondstadt and performed hydromancy.
Watching the "hydromancy disk" manifest before Mona and her fingers dancing across it, Paimon couldn't help but marvel.
[Paimon: "Paimon has no idea what's happening, but it looks super impressive!"]
In other words: I don't understand, but I'm awed.
[Mona, slightly startled: "How fascinating... This is the first time I've seen this. According to the divination, these meteorites seem to be someone's Constellation."]
[Mona: "The 'stars' of a Constellation are real celestial bodies deep in the sky, not just conceptual constructs."]
Now, the readers were just like Paimon—I don't get it, but I'm amazed! So Constellations were real? They thought it was just astrologist mumbo-jumbo.
Wait, the one saying this was an astrologist... No, no—the author of this book was a prophet... Wait, no, didn't prophets also rely on astrology?
Never mind. At any rate, why was Mona in this story so serious and professional? She was nothing like the humorous character from earlier tales!
In reality, Mona tilted her head up with a bright smile. Lucian hadn't lied to her—she'd misunderstood him.
He had written about her again, and he'd even restored her image.
As expected, I, Astrologist Mona Megistus, cannot be deceived!
Coincidentally, Mona in the book also said to the Traveler and the others:
[Mona: "Feel free to praise me~."]
Whether in the story or reality, she had that same proud little streak.
Mona's assistance clearly sped up the group's meteorite-clearing efforts, as she could use hydromancy to calculate their landing sites.
Though it's unclear if her calculations adhered to physics—if they did, Mona would also qualify as a great physicist.
After the Traveler's group finished handling the meteorites, Mona wanted to continue investigating the identity of the Constellation's owner. After all, falling stars were something she'd never encountered before, and it piqued her interest.
Those who touched the meteorites would fall into slumber, and the dreams they saw in their sleep were likely glimpses of the Constellation owner's life.
An unknown, towering mountain—a snow-covered land. But it couldn't be Dragonspine.
Because Dragonspine hadn't been introduced yet.
No, it was because many had seen Dragonspine, and someone would've recognized it. Since no one did, it had to be an undiscovered snowy peak.
Mona stayed behind in a secluded area to continue her divinations, leaving the Traveler's group to investigate.
While inquiring in Qingce Village, they encountered a patient who had just woken up.
[Old Man Gao: "It was a tall, freezing-cold mountain. In the dream, it was like being possessed—all I could think about was climbing, reaching the highest peak."]
Like the previous person who'd awoken, he, too, had dreamed of climbing a snow-capped mountain.
Making everyone share the same dream—years ahead of the Akademiya's technology.
With this new lead, Mona performed another divination and deduced the name of the Constellation's owner—Leonard.
Just then, the prototype Raiden Shogun the Traveler had encountered earlier waved as she approached.
[The Inazuman wanderer waved gently, her voice warm and bright: "Hey~, chatting? Mind if I join?"]
===✧✦✧===
Character Voiceline · Mona: About Unreconciled Stars
"I told you the great Mona wouldn't be fooled. Hmph, you may shower me with praises for my wisdom!"