After breakfast, Rosalyn guided Noah and the girls toward the Adventurers' Guild. Rostam had planned to join them, but a knight was already waiting outside the Goth Grand Hotel, picking him up as it was time for his duty shift. With a resigned sigh, he headed off to the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
As they stepped into the awakening city, an awe followed their steps. The streets of Mondstadt buzzed to life, and despite being newcomers, the people greeted them with warm smiles, their hospitality unshaken by unfamiliar faces.
"As expected from the Nation of Freedom, they really know how to make people feel welcome," Noah said, a hint of wonder in his voice.
"Yeah… it's like we're not just guests, they treat us like we belong here," Elysia added with a soft smile.
Children ran past them, laughing as they waved excitedly at Kiana. Lumine glanced around, watching the townspeople greet them with open smiles and warm gestures. Something about it tugged at her. She remembered another place, another nation, where the people smiled at her just the same. But that nation... was now gone.
Miss Lumine, for you! A flicker of memory surfaced. A child had once given her a crown made of flowers. And she... she watched as that same child...transforms into a monster. The people who once welcomed her with kind smiles… all shared the same fate. Black cubes surged like a flood. The once proud city was swallowed by flames and ash. Towering machines crumbled as they received the punishments by the heavens itself. The abyss spreading and devouring everything. Moving toward them. Toward her. The warmth she felt in Mondstadt was replaced by a rush of emotions: guilt, despair, helplessness. Smothering the fragile peace she'd found with Noah and the others. And then—
"....mine.."
A voice...? Someone... is calling me...? Lumine struggled to focus. Please... whoever you are... help me—
"Lumine!"
The sharp call snapped her out of the spiral. She blinked, disoriented, and looked up to see Noah at her side.
She instinctively lifted her hand toward him, needing to be sure, needing to know he was truly there.
"Lumine, are you okay? You just stopped all of a sudden." He reached out and gently caught her hand.
The warmth of his touch grounded her. She drew his hand close to her cheek, clinging to the sense of reality his presence gave her.
"....warm." She muttered. Without looking up, she stepped forward until she bumped into Noah's chest, holding on to him, wrapping herself in the comfort of his presence.
Noah was confused for a moment but didn't pull away. He let her stay there.
"....Noah, you are real, right? You're not just some illusion?" Lumine's voice trembled slightly.
".....Yes, Lumine. I'm real. I'm here with you." He wrapped his arms around her and spoke softly, "Not just me. Kiana and Elysia, we're all real. And no matter what, we'll stay by your side."
They stood there for a while, unmoving. Noah quietly cast a 'Notice-me-not' spell to keep them undisturbed. He then exchanged a nod with Elysia, who understood and followed Kiana and Rosalyn onward.
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Guided by Rosalyn, the group soon arrived at the Adventurers' Guild, a tidy structure nestled near Mondstadt's main gate. The emblem of a winged compass stood proudly above the entrance, glinting in the morning sun.
Inside, the guild hall was alive with chatter and movement. Adventurers filled the space, submitting mission reports, trading stories, and scanning the board for new requests.
"Hmm? Where's Mr. Noah and Miss Lumine?" Rosalyn asked, pausing as she glanced around.
Kiana blinked, realizing the two were no longer beside them.
"Ah~ don't worry! Noah and Lumi saw something that caught their eye. They'll catch up with us in a bit," Elysia replied smoothly, offering a reassuring smile.
Rosalyn tilted her head, puzzled but not overly concerned. "Okay…?"
Kiana, however, narrowed her eyes at Elysia's overly cheerful tone. Something about it screamed cover-up.
"Come on, let's go register! It's our moment to shine as adventurers~!" Elysia said, grabbing Rosalyn's hand and pulling her toward the reception area.
"Ahh! Wait for me, Miss Elysia!" Rosalyn called, hurriedly catching up.
Kiana let out a soft snort and followed after them, her curiosity still lingering.
The three approached one of the open counters, where a young receptionist with an auburn ponytail looked up from her desk. "Ad astra abyssosque!" She greeted them with a bright smile. "Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild!"
They returned the greeting with smiles of their own.
"Hi Ellyn! I hope things haven't been too rough?" Rosalyn asked.
"Rosie!" Ellyn perked up, setting down her quill with a dramatic sigh. "It's been a mess! Monster activity's spiked lately—we're so shorthanded we're even considering the cats as freelancers."
Rosalyn laughed nervously. "That bad, huh?"
Ellyn's eyes shifted to Elysia, and recognition lit up her face.
"Oh! Are you the pink-haired goddess everyone's whispering about? The one said to bless couples with happy endings?"
Elysia froze, turning red as she hid her face behind her hands. "Please no…"
Kiana blinked in surprise. "Ellie, you became a goddess overnight?"
"...I should've just stayed at the hotel," Elysia mumbled from behind her hands, clearly mortified.
"Ahem... Ellyn, please don't get the wrong idea. Miss Elysia just did me and Rostam a favor. It's not like what the rumors say," Rosalyn explained, hoping to clear up the misunderstanding.
"Ehh?" Ellyn blinked, then looked at Elysia, who was now curled up like a ball while Kiana gently patted her back. "Oh... sorry about that."
Rosalyn gave a light smile and moved the conversation forward. "Actually, I brought them here to register as adventurers."
Ellyn's face lit up. "That's great! We seriously need the help—those Abyssal monsters just keep popping up lately!"
"Abyssal Monsters? What's that? Sounds strong." Kiana perked up, curiosity gleaming in her eyes as she gently patted Elysia's back, who was still curled up like a sulking kitten.
"It started about a year ago," Ellyn explained, her tone serious. "Monsters from beyond Teyvat suddenly appeared and attacked all across the land. What makes them terrifying is their corruptive nature. They taint everything they touch. People, trees, even lakes and the elemental creatures. Even Vision holders must be cautious when facing them."
Kiana's expression shifted, her smile fading. Elysia, who heard her explanation, immediately rose from her slouch. The idea of a force that corrupts indiscriminately, land, life, and even powers, struck a disturbing familiar to both of them.
It sounded all too much like the Honkai.
"There were even reports that the Human Nation of Khaenri'ah was completely corrupted and ultimately destroyed by the Abyss," Rosalyn added, her expression clouded with concern. "It was so dire that the heavens had to call upon Lord Barbatos and the other Archons to put a stop to it."
"...These Abyssal Creatures, do they have white bodies with glowing pink highlights?" Kiana suddenly asked, her tone shifting from casual to sharp.
Ellyn and Rosalyn both froze, taken aback by the abrupt change in demeanor from Kiana and Elysia. The tension in their faces was unmistakable as they exchanged a quick glance.
"No, the Abyssal Creatures are usually covered with a dark and purple aura," Ellyn clarified.
Kiana and Elysia visibly relaxed, both letting out a small breath before exchanging a brief, knowing look.
"Miss Ellyn, we'd like to register as adventurers," Kiana said, her tone unexpectedly serious. The shift was so stark that Rosalyn blinked—this wasn't the same cheerful girl she had come to know.
"And we'd appreciate it if you could provide us with all the available information about the 'Abyss' and these 'Abyssal Creatures'," Elysia added, her voice steady and clear.
Ellyn paused for a moment, taken aback by the gravity in their voices. "Alright... I'll get everything we have. Give me a moment."
I wonder, what made them so serious all of a sudden?, Rosalyn thought as she glanced at Kiana and Elysia,
While Ellyn finished processing their registration, Noah and Lumine finally caught up to complete theirs. As they stepped in, Noah noticed the change in Kiana and Elysia's expressions. Their usual cheerfulness was gone, replaced by an alert expression. He chose not to question it then, sensing there was more behind their change in mood.
After the formalities, the group had a quiet lunch with Rosalyn. Conversation was light, but the unease lingered beneath the surface. Once they parted ways and returned to the hotel, Kiana and Elysia gathered the others and immediately began sharing everything they had learned.
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