Koji and the others tidied up the little seaside hut, put out the fire pit, and then set out toward Mondstadt.
Living in the wild had its charms—the scenery was nice, and you could catch whatever you wanted to eat—but they couldn't always stay outdoors. Life in the city was also indispensable.
They weren't savages, after all. It was ti to return to the city.
Paimon didn't know the human form of the Anemo Archon, but she did recognize these slis. Hearing that Koji had managed to ta them left her completely dumbfounded.
Monsters in Teyvat usually attacked humans on sight—unless you stayed far away. Step into their detection range, and you'd imdiately be treated as a threat. Their territorial instincts were incredibly strong.
But Koji's seven slis could actually be touched. They were as obedient as household pets.
Paimon just couldn't figure it out.
"Koji, having a group of slis following us like this feels a little weird," Lumine said helplessly.
They were cute, sure, but at the end of the day, slis were still monsters. She worried they wouldn't even be allowed into Mondstadt.
"Can't be helped. For now, this is the way it has to be," Koji shrugged. Once they got to Liyue, he had to learn how to craft a Serenitea Pot from Mada Ping—or better yet, just get one directly. Then he could keep the slis safely inside… and even invite girls in for a visit.
As for getting the slis into Mondstadt, they'd have to negotiate with the Knights of Favonius. For now, he'd stash them outside the city walls—otherwise, if adventurers ran into them, they'd be killed for sli condensate on the spot.
"Paimon, since you said you'd be our guide, you should know the way next, right?" Lumine asked.
"Of course I do! We're heading to a Statue of The Seven," Paimon said confidently.
"The Statues are monunts to the gods, symbols of the Seven's guardianship over this world. You can touch them and see if the gods respond."
Koji rubbed his chin. How did Paimon know that people from beyond this world could resonate with the Statues? She wasn't as simple as she looked.
Lumine didn't think that far; she was just curious. With her power sealed away, she felt unsafe—danger could strike at any mont. She was desperate to grow stronger.
The group set out, snacking on Sunsetias along the way. Eventually, they reached Starfell Lake, where one of Barbatos's statues stood.
The real lake was much bigger than the one in the ga—an ordinary person couldn't just jump across.
Paimon flew over easily and waved. "Lumine, Koji, hurry up!"
Lumine twitched at the corner of her eye. Flying really was convenient. With no other choice, she dove in and swam across, breaststroke style. Swimming was a must-have skill for a traveler.
"Phew…" Lumine hauled herself out of the water, panting hard. Swimming that far had drained her stamina.
Then she noticed Koji. He was walking calmly across the lake's surface, each step rippling the water beneath him.
"Hey, hey, hey! That's not sothing a normal person can do!" she shouted.
The comparison was infuriating. She was soaked to the bone, dripping wet, while Koji just strolled over gracefully. So unfair!
"Oh, this? It's the Lake's Blessing. Lets walk on water," Koji explained casually.
"What even is a blessing?" Lumine asked, glancing at Paimon. She wasn't sure if this was Koji's original ability or sothing he'd gained in this world.
"I don't know either. Teyvat doesn't really have anything like that," Paimon admitted after thinking a mont. "This is the first ti I've ever heard of a Lake's Blessing."
No elents, no vision—just walking on water? Yeah, that didn't exist in Teyvat.
"Lumine, try touching the Statue," Paimon urged, pointing.
Lumine nodded and reached out. As soon as her hand touched the golden crest, the statue burst into teal light. The orb cradled in the Anemo statue's hands glowed brightly.
The wind stirred. A sphere of green elental energy entered Lumine's body.
The diamond-shaped ornant on her chest glowed, and a current of wind swirled around her. She could feel power surging inside.
"So I just… gained Anemo power like that?"
"This is ridiculous," Lumine muttered. Touching a statue to get this kind of strength? It seed way too easy.
"Lumine! Watch your words. Calling it ridiculous is disrespectful to the gods. You're special. People here can't get power this easily," Paimon scolded, arms crossed.
For the people of Teyvat, there were only a few ways to wield elental power: being chosen by a god to receive a Vision, using a dangerous Delusion, or through rare elental weapons. Visions were already insanely difficult to obtain.
Koji smirked. Paimon was lecturing about respecting gods, yet she'd happily nickna Barbatos "the bard."
"Ha!" Lumine experinted with her new Anemo power. In her palm, chaotic winds swirled into a miniature vortex, which then burst into a wider gale.
"It feels like my strength is slowly returning. Not much, but enough for now."
Her powers weren't back to what they had been, but it was a start. If she could collect all seven elents, maybe she'd reach her peak again—beco the Complete Lumine.
Koji nearly laughed. Wasn't that Zhongli's line?
(Zhongli: "Ahem, please pay royalties.")
"Koji, your turn," Paimon said, turning to him. Since he was from another world too, maybe he could resonate with the statue.
Koji touched it briefly and then pulled his hand away. Instantly, wind shaped itself in his palm like clay, forming into a sli, then a hilichurl, then a Whopperflower.
Lumine's eyes went wide. She tried herself, focusing intently. The Anemo energy barely condensed before it burst apart in her hand.
"Wait… that's the power you gained?" she asked, stunned. Both outsiders, and yet his control was leagues beyond hers.
Wind in Koji's hand behaved like a docile pet.
She tried again and again, but the energy always exploded apart.
"Wow… you can shape elents like that? Koji, did you really just get that power?" Paimon gasped.
"Anemo's Blessing lets perfectly control wind." Koji grinned. "Rejoice, for before you stands the one and only Koji the Invincible."
"Blessing again?" Lumine frowned. "So walking on water was the Lake's Blessing too?"
She was starting to notice a pattern. Koji had too many blessings. This was basically cheating.
"Yeah. I never said I only had one," Koji shrugged.
"Then how many do you actually have?"
Suspicion dawned in Lumine's eyes. Koji wasn't what he seed—he was definitely hiding his true strength.
(End of Chapter)
[Check out my Patreon to read 20 chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]
User Comments
0 comments from readers