As the sun sank below the western horizon and nightfall descended…
Riveria and her group still hadn't encountered a single village along their path.
Nor had they come across any water source that could be considered clean.
So, when a flock of chirping, fluttering elf girls surrounded her, and even the occasionally charming, "mama-san" type Riveria cast a glance or two toward her, dozens of eyes glimmered in anticipation.
That was the light of expectation.
"Hehe~ hehehehe~"
Lumine sighed in resignation.
Of course, at that very moment…
"Dry batter"
Even though she was frazzled and couldn't calm herself, someone far away, Aether, ever the troublemaker, sent her an encouraging mental ping through their spiritual link.
Then, his consciousness temporarily cut off the sensory sharing.
…Cut off.
…Completely.
What was he trying to say?
Clearly!
"No matter what happens next, I (main body) won't know."
"You just handle it yourself."
"Don't worry about me. The sages of old advised: 'Look not upon impropriety.' I have that engraved in my heart."
"Hehe~"
…just messing with me, huh?
At that moment, Lumine could easily imagine a certain someone deep inside a dungeon making a mocking, sideways-eyed, utterly annoying face.
Most likely grinning like a worm.
Her fists clenched.
She so wanted to teleport over and give him a piece of her mind.
But after three days of travel, without a new teleport waypoint, the round trip would waste too much time. And the serious matters over at the Large Tree Labyrinth couldn't be delayed…
"Just you wait."
The blonde, gold-eyed girl in a white dress looked up at the sky in frustrated determination.
Then…
"Oh, right."
Her eyes lit up.
"Next time we go shopping with Issa, I'll find a perfect chance to lock him up and try him in a dress."
"Just thinking about it… mmm, my mood naturally feels so much better."
But that was for the future.
For now…
"Lumine-san, there's an open space here."
"Let's rest here for the night."
"Come on~ we can't wait any longer~"
==========
Lumine was soon being tugged along by the elf girls.
Tonight, Teyvat's Queen of Females (little sister) was about to face her biggest challenge yet.
Meanwhile, back with Teyvat's King of Drama (big brother)…
"Ah-choo~"
Originally hard at work after playing around, he suddenly sneezed loudly.
"Huh?"
Aether's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Do energy-based lifeforms catch colds?"
"Shouldn't be possible…"
It had to be said: elemental power was incredibly useful.
Although Teyvat only had seven elements, Anemo, Geo, Electro, Dendro, Hydro, Pyro, Cryo, they were essentially the same as chakra in some other worlds, or Honkai energy in another universe.
They were super energy sources capable of anything.
Using this energy, one could perform: teleportation, cloning, transformation, healing, summoning, divination… even resurrection.
So, trivial tasks like mimicking an appearance were easy. As long as the structure wasn't too intricate, even a beginner could copy it.
Lumine fully utilized her mental library of fantasies, clapped her hands, and called forth whatever she imagined.
Crystals on her body glowed gold-orange. Geo energy, combined with her magical power, solidified into a tangible construct.
"Wow~"
In no time, a dark-golden bathhouse, half the size of a basketball court, appeared.
The entrance had a clever angled passage to prevent peeping. Walls were tall.
All ventilation openings were thin slits along the ceiling.
Inside, there were storage compartments for clothes, stone stools for washing, and… a large, empty pool.
[Stars, gather here,]
Under nightfall, the Stellar Abyss mana regeneration buff filled Lumine to the brim. She summoned Barbara and Amber.
Just like the crystal bathhouse was pristine, the water element Barbara formed was the cleanest source available.
Not suitable for drinking, but perfect for bathing.
Barbara's affinity hadn't maxed out yet, so she hadn't awakened full consciousness.
Amber, however…
"Want me to help make a hot spring? Sure!"
She hooked her arm around Lumine's right hand.
"But I'm bathing too."
"If I don't stay manifested, the Pyro element will disappear."
Amber added slyly, leaning close, blocking any excuse.
…definitely a mischievous vibe.
Anyway…
Dang~
As if a bamboo garden ornament had fallen, steam rose from the bathhouse.
"Ah~"
"Haa~"
The girls leaned over the pool's edge, exposing shoulders, sighing in bliss.
Riveria also felt her travel fatigue melt away.
Back in the past, being of elf royal lineage, young girls wouldn't have dared bathe with her. Only one, Eina Zurl, had that honor.
As a child, Eina even slept beside Riveria…
cough, .
Now…
"Huh? Lumine-san?"
Anju, puzzled, looked at the stiff, statue-like blonde-gold-eyed figure.
"Why are you staring at the wall?"
"Coul~d it be…"
Amid water sounds, she crept closer.
"Eek~!"
Her slender arms landed on Lumine's shoulders from behind.
Too intimate.
Lumine froze.
"Hoho~ Lumine-san is shy?"
A playful whisper, not elf-like, carried a tiny devilish aura.
"Huh?"
This guy's hands were not behaving.
Next moment…
"Hoo-lya~"
"Waaah~"
Pure reflex.
Lumine shouldered threw Anju out of the pool.
Others were stunned.
Only Riveria glanced calmly at Anju, legs trembling on a nearby stone stool.
"Ah~ that's what you call 'reaping what you sow.'"
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