In the Mondstadt Library, warm lamplight washed over the shelves of old tomes.
Lisa held up the crystal cup that Su Xuan had handed her — a cup filled with thick crimson liquid that glimmered like vintage wine.
It looked like wine. It even had a faint sweetness on the air.
But both of them knew it was something else entirely — the blood of a "super-dangerous species" from beyond the known world.
"Earlier, when I watched you pour this," Lisa began, twirling the glass thoughtfully, "I had a question. According to what you said, Devil Manifestation: Essence of the Demon God grants the power to command ice. So the blood must be the core source of that power."
She tilted her head and smiled.
"So I wondered — does drinking more... make one stronger?"
Her logic was sound. If the blood was the source of power, more should equal greater strength.
But this blood wasn't natural — it was system-forged, meant to be safe and scaled.
Su Xuan shook his head lightly.
"Your reasoning works for normal magic sources. But in this case, the amount doesn't matter. Drink only what I poured. The strength depends solely on you — on your understanding and growth."
"Ahh, so it's not the blood itself, but the resonance." Lisa's eyes curved with a knowing smile.
She raised the glass.
To her, the power it granted wasn't the most precious thing.
What mattered was that he was the one giving it to her.
With a graceful tilt of her head, she downed it in a single smooth sip.
She paused—blinked—then laughed softly.
"…It's sweet?"
Then the change came — subtle, but unmistakable — like a cold breeze spreading from her core and settling into her fingertips.
She raised her hand.
A snowflake of ice bloomed in her palm — elegant, silent, beautiful.
"It really works instantly," she whispered.
Su Xuan nodded.
"And it won't alter your physical body. So no need to worry."
"Good." Lisa exhaled in relief — then added with a teasing smile,
"Because if one day I bear your child, and it doesn't look like me, I will be upset."
Su Xuan choked.
"You're a rose witch. Shouldn't your thorns be for everyone else?"
Lisa flicked him a lazy smile.
"My thorns are for outsiders. When it comes to you… even the folds of the petals smooth themselves out."
Su Xuan stared.
This woman was a weaponized vocabulary unit.
Lisa leaned closer, eyelashes lowered.
"Well then, show me. That technique you mentioned — Mahāvaipralopa. I want to see—"
A Few Minutes Later — Outside the Library
A circular barrier of telekinetic force wrapped around the library.
Lisa recognized it instantly.
"You set up a shield… to keep the inside unaffected?"
Su Xuan smiled and raised one hand.
Blue light gathered into his palm — a sphere of absolute cold.
"Let's use all of Mondstadt as the demonstration."
The sphere expanded.
In the blink of an eye…
The world turned blue.
Time — stopped.
The great clock's pendulum froze mid-swing.
Books resting mid-air didn't fall.
The breeze stopped halfway through rustling a page.
Outside the window, birds hung motionless mid-flight.
The entire city stood still — without frost, without cracking ice, without force.
Just— Stopped.
Lisa stared, breath caught in her throat.
This was not freezing.
This was the suspension of reality itself.
Su Xuan gently wrapped an arm around her waist and led her out into the still world.
They walked through the streets of Mondstadt — where laughter, conversation, movement — all remained suspended in the pose they held a moment before.
A droplet of water hung mid-air.
The fountain's splash was frozen in a perfect flower of liquid glass.
A merchant's scarf fluttered forever in a wind that no longer blew.
Lisa trembled.
"In this state… you could do anything to anyone," she whispered.
Su Xuan nodded casually.
"That's right. They cannot perceive it. They cannot resist. They only feel the effects afterward."
Lisa pressed a hand to her chest — her heart racing.
This power wasn't ice.
It was dominion.
A moment later, he released the ability.
The world resumed — effortlessly — seamlessly.
As if nothing had ever happened.
Back at Lisa's House
Jean paced anxiously.
"Lisa went to get him two hours ago — where did she take him?"
Eula crossed her legs elegantly.
"Where do you think?"
Amber blinked in innocent confusion.
"Captain Jean, the Fatui already withdrew from Mondstadt this morning. There's no danger. And sir Su Xuan doesn't seem like the type to—"
Eula coughed lightly and pulled Amber closer, whispering:
"Jean is upset because Signora treated Su Xuan far too well last night. She feels she failed as a host."
Amber froze mid-blink.
"Oh."
Just then — light flashed.
The diary projection reappeared.
And then — moments later — Su Xuan returned, with Lisa at his side, and four cups of crimson liquid.
He didn't wait for Jean to explain.
He simply set a cup in front of each woman.
Lisa, Eula, Jean — and Amber.
Yes — Amber too.
Because excluding her would wound her heart — and Su Xuan did not needlessly hurt people.
Jean stared down at the glimmering red liquid.
She had already seen the entire city freeze under Su Xuan's hand.
Her fingers trembled.
This wasn't simply power.
This was the key to stand beside him.
"Su Xuan…" Jean whispered, voice unsteady, "I… I don't know how to repay something like this."
"You can," Su Xuan replied.
He lifted his hand — and produced something.
A garment.
Black. White. Silky.
One look — and Eula and Lisa exchanged identical wicked smiles.
Amber's face went tomato-red.
Jean inhaled. Slowly.
Then took the outfit from his hands.
"So that's all? …Then I'll change."
She walked toward the bedroom.
And shut the door.
With zero hesitation.
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