The evening glow scattered like shards of gold, lighting up Fischl's green eyes until they shone as clear and bright as amber.
Katheryne could only rub her forehead helplessly.
As an excellent investigator for the Adventurers' Guild, Fischl's biggest problem right now was how hard she was to communicate with. The Guild was used to it by now, but outsiders might not be.
Like Mr. Ken, the man who helped save Mondstadt.
A true visitor from another world—could he really understand what Fischl was saying?
Even as an automaton, Katheryne felt embarrassed enough to curl her toes.
Just as Katheryne was cringing on Fischl's behalf, Ken smiled and spoke: "Greetings, Prinzessin der Verurteilung. I'm Ken, from Blue Star."
As he spoke, Ken observed Fischl's posture.
Worthy of the chuunibyou maiden herself—one sentence in and she exuded the aura of classic anime melodrama; even that aloof expression was executed to perfection.
"You can understand her?" Katheryne's eyes went wide.
Having dealt with Fischl for so long, she always relied on the night raven Oz to translate. Otherwise, she couldn't make heads or tails of Fischl's meaning.
Oz fluttered his black wings; curiosity flickered in his usually sharp eyes.
This was his first time seeing a stranger who didn't need him to translate.
"If I'm not mistaken, what she meant just now was: 'Hello, I'm happy to meet you.'"
Fischl's chuunibyou speech was indeed convoluted and hard to grasp.
But Ken currently had the all-seeing perspective.
Once you got used to Fischl's way of speaking, inferring her meaning became much simpler.
"As expected, you understand—worthy of one whose fate is intertwined with mine."
Fischl crossed her arms, her expression proud, but excitement and joy flashed in her green eyes.
Worthy of a man who intrigued the Prinzessin der Verurteilung; worthy of a traveler from another world—indeed different from those ordinary mortals.
Worthy of becoming good friends with her, the Prinzessin.
Fischl's lips curled slightly as she took in Ken's handsome, fair features; her heart was already racing.
"This is payment for this commission. Thank you, Miss Fischl, for completing it ahead of time. It's been a pleasure working with the Immernachtreich."
Ken pulled out Mora notes and handed them to Fischl.
Those with Visions could harness elemental power to craft special packs—light to carry but capable of holding plenty of items and Mora.
But ordinary people had no access to such packs, and even when sold, they were expensive.
So Teyvat had high-denomination Mora notes.
They could be exchanged at the bank for coins.
"Since we are both favored by destiny, Mr. Ken of Blue Star, I shall grant thee leave to address me simply as Fischl. Mayst thou make free in my garden—this is the greatest sincerity of the Prinzessin."
Fischl accepted the notes, her pink lips lifting; she was clearly very happy.
So excited… He really can understand me.
She tightened her little hand slightly, reining in the thrill in her heart. Watching Ken store the ores into his system space, she put one hand on her hip and exclaimed, "As I thought—thou bearest too the will of that otherworldly fate; thou dost also carry a dark, barren Abyss!"
"Mm… I imagine the Prinzessin's pack is quite good too?" Ken humored her with interest.
Often even he had to puzzle over her words, but that lofty chuunibyou air—that was the true soul of Fischl's character.
He'd just never heard someone liken a backpack to the Abyss before.
Fischl said proudly, "My clan's royal armaments are manifold. Even cast into this desolate world, the kingly artifacts followed the blood of royalty and the noble soul to find me—this is a causality that cannot be severed."
"Excellent. It's an essential piece of gear for roaming the continent. I wish you a smooth journey across Teyvat. It's getting late; I won't keep you. I'll be heading back." Ken gave a graceful knight's salute and turned to leave.
It truly was late. He still hoped to eat and then forge his signature weapon without losing time.
"Ah!" Watching Ken's departing back, Fischl called out on instinct: "Couldst thou speak with me a little longer? Ahem… Don't misunderstand, the Prinzessin merely wishes to draw on the boundless knowledge of that distant otherworld, to serve as foundation and kindling for the Immernachtreich…"
She didn't want to admit it.
But Fischl had to concede—it had been a long time since someone could follow her speech and converse smoothly without Oz translating.
In Fischl's eyes, that was a bond decreed by fate.
"Of course. Might I have the honor of treating the Prinzessin to dinner?" Ken asked with elegant courtesy.
Unconcealed delight flashed in Fischl's emerald eyes; her cherry lips couldn't help curving up. "Of course. I would be delighted…"
"Miss, your image," Oz reminded softly.
Fischl quickly collected herself, crossing her arms, lips quirking: "Now that this matter is concluded, it is meet to fill the Prinzessin's stomach with pure dew-drops. Friend from another world, I shall accept thy invitation."
Ken coughed to stifle his laugh.
He loved Fischl's character, but seeing such unfiltered chuunibyou in real life made him want to chuckle.
But thanks to his omniscient perspective, Ken knew she was merely chuunibyou and tsundere at the surface, yet kind at heart—a very good girl—so he had patience to spare.
The sight of the two walking away side by side left Katheryne dumbfounded.
It took her quite a while to snap back.
Mr. Ken truly was the hero who saved Mondstadt—he'd even mastered Fischl's mode of communication.
Admirable.
…
Mondstadt boasted many delicacies; the closest was the Good Hunter.
Ken called Mona along and brought Fischl to the second floor, ordering several signature dishes:
Tea Break Pancakes, Jueyun Chili Chicken, Sautéed Matsutake, and Sticky Honey Roast.
Mona's eyes narrowed to slits at the sight of the food, but before she could dig in, Fischl's voice rang out.
"Beloved Magistus, the Prinzessin has not yet lifted a hand—how darest thou move first?"
Fischl solemnly picked up knife and fork and elegantly cut the first slice of Sticky Honey Roast.
Then—
She arched a brow. "The tiny corner of my rear garden can produce dishes barely fit for consumption—though not as sweet as the dew of my homeland, they suffice. My dearest friends, let us revel ere night's full descent."
"Dig in," Ken translated succinctly.
Mona: "…"
They ate slowly. Fischl, immersed in her Prinzessin persona, dined with great elegance.
Mona, meanwhile, was repeatedly left slack-jawed.
She'd never expected her boss to converse with Fischl so fluently.
They didn't even need Oz to translate.
They even agreed that after Ken's meeting with Signora, he would take Fischl to visit Blue Star.
The seamless exchange left Mona full of sighs.
"My dearest friend, this is the most pleasant evening the Prinzessin has spent. Since departing the Immernachtreich, never have I felt so unrestrained as tonight."
"This elegant night raven is named Ozvaldo Hrafnavins. In that world, he rules three cosmic seas of stars and night, sheltering the souls of all fallen warriors beneath his wings of shadow."
"If thou misnamest him, thy tongue shall be torn out. But thou art accepted by the Prinzessin; thus mayst thou call him 'Oz' at will."
"Oz and I now take our leave, to plunge into the night and seek its dark mysteries."
After dinner, as they were about to part, Fischl rose and solemnly introduced her attendant night raven.
Ken stood as well, smiling. "I also enjoyed our meal. Have a wonderful night."
"Then I, too, bestow my heartfelt blessing upon my dearest friend. Thy slumber shall be peaceful and without dreams. For what dream would dare lay claim to one sanctified by the Immernachtreich?" Fischl's eyes shone with certainty.
With the blessing complete, she walked away with proud, graceful steps, Oz at her side, disappearing into the night.
Only after Fischl was out of sight did Mona burst into laughter.
"Hahaha—Boss, how on earth did you manage to talk with Fischl like that?"
Mona didn't dislike Fischl; she counted her as one of her few friends.
But every time she talked with Fischl, she got a headache.
Even the great astrologer Mona had things she couldn't see through.
"The key to conversing with a chuunibyou girl is to be chuunibyou with her—or even more chuunibyou than she is."
Ken said this, paid the bill, and took Mona back to the specialty shop.
His encounter with Fischl had been a lovely little interlude.
But to Ken, the most important thing now was forging his signature weapon.
"And what exactly is that night raven Oz?" Mona asked, curious.
She had once divined Fischl's fate. Apart from obtaining a Vision, Fischl's family and life history didn't seem nearly as mysterious as she claimed.
"Mm… He's formed by her mind—essentially an imaginary friend condensed by her Vision."
Ken explained.
A Vision is a god's gaze cast upon a person whose desire has reached its limit. As an external magical organ, it can channel and control elemental power.
Oz appeared alongside Fischl's Vision.
"I see…" Mona mused. "Thinking back, that's exactly what my readings suggested. As expected, the great astrologer Mona does not err."
Ken chuckled. Mona's hydromancy was indeed strong, and more importantly, she worked hard.
Most of the salary and bonuses he paid each month were poured into her astrology research.
…
Back at the specialty shop, Ken prepared to enter forging mode.
"Unless I say otherwise, don't let anyone into the backyard workshop for the next few days."
Before heading in, he reminded Mona.
"Don't worry. With the great astrologer Mona here, I will surely keep the boss safe." Mona thumped her chest, full of confidence.
Only after Ken entered the workshop did Mona realize, in hindsight, that she'd been influenced by Fischl.
Even her way of speaking had become a bit chuunibyou.
But Mona didn't dwell on it. She closed the shop door, returned to her room, and took out her quill to do some academic research on divination.
Though she was researching, if anyone tried to break into the specialty shop with ill intent, she would sense it immediately.
A long night—only astrology can relieve the tedium.
…
At that moment—
In an ordinary yet spotless Mondstadt room, Fischl stood by the window with arms crossed, replaying the events of the day.
She couldn't help but smile at the thought of Ken's easy conversation.
No one had ever chatted with her so freely.
"Miss has fallen for Mr. Ken?" Oz asked, hitting the mark as he perched on a nearby stool, gazing at the pure smile on the moonlit girl's face.
"Absolutely not!" Fischl blushed and denied it on instinct. "Though the Prinzessin and he are both favored by fate, we have only just met. I bear the great will and dream of the Immernachtreich—how could I be so frivolous?"
"Oh! So Miss wishes to observe him further before deciding!" Oz realized.
"Oz!!" Fischl cried, flustered. "To meet a traveler, like the Prinzessin, who does not belong to this world… That is fate showing a smile to my sin-laden blood. This is my destiny—the reality I cannot escape…"
"Mhm! I understand… Don't worry, Miss. I will help you observe Mr. Ken well. He shouldn't abandon you."
"!!!" Fischl flushed scarlet, wanting to refute him, but no words came out.
It was hard to deny.
This was the first time she'd encountered such a compatible soul.
He was like the moon hanging in the sky, whose pure, sacred light draped her—lost in deep night—in a gentle, white glow.
Fischl propped her chin in her hands, gazing at the bright moon, thoughts flying as she fell into fantasy again.
Oh, pounding heart—are you cheering because the Prinzessin has found a kindred spirit?
…
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