In Mondstadt
Lisa and Bonanus made their way toward the city gate. After all, there were no teleport waypoints like in the game. Most places still had to be reached on foot.
"The weather is just awful, isn't it, cutie?" Lisa squinted. This kind of weather was terrible for the skin. It was making her feel a little irritated.
"Would you like some skincare products, Sister Lisa?" Bonanus looked up at the taller Lisa with concern.
"Forget it. We have more important things to do. Don't worry about it, cutie. Big sister was just complaining."
Lisa chuckled. The way this one kept calling her "sister" was adorable, completely different from those naughty kids who called her "auntie."
"Speaking of which, I heard you're a merchant, cutie. What kind of things do you sell?" Lisa asked casually. It was a long walk, so they might as well chat.
Hearing the question, Bonanus couldn't help but cover her face. That reminded her of a bad memory. She recalled Noelle asking the same question before.
Back then, her brain had short-circuited, and she had blurted out something that wouldn't pass censorship. Even now, she wanted to dig a hole and hide.
"Hmm... what kind of things do you like, Sister Lisa? Like decorations, maybe?" Bonanus clumsily changed the subject. She really didn't want to answer that question.
Lisa narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. It seemed her cute little friend didn't want to answer. Fair enough. Everyone had things they preferred not to talk about. She wouldn't press further.
"Decorations aren't really my thing. I prefer souvenirs with research or collectible value." Lisa rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
"Like damaged scrolls?"
Bonanus asked curiously. She remembered from the game that when the Traveler went on a date with Lisa, Lisa mentioned liking damaged scrolls.
"Smart girl." Lisa gave her an approving look, like a big sister praising her younger sibling.
Seeing that expression, Bonanus felt a little awkward inside. She was thousands of years old, so being looked at like that felt strange.
"Still, I think you'd be interested in some decorations, Sister Lisa. Like rose-shaped hairpins or gems?" Bonanus recalled.
In her memory, Lisa's favorite flower was the rose. Even the decorations on her clothes and hat featured roses.
"Hairpins? Those things you Liyue people use to tie up your hair?"
"You really do understand me, cutie. How about this? Why don't you quit being a merchant and come stay with big sister at the Knights' library? There are plenty of books to read, and you can chat with me too."
Lisa covered her mouth and laughed. A person who understood her so well, she really wanted to keep her around.
"I'll pass. The elders and my siblings back home wouldn't agree." Bonanus shrugged helplessly. She still had a contract to fulfill in Liyue.
"What a pity. But big sister hopes you'll change your mind someday." Lisa touched her cheek, looking a little regretful.
Bonanus shook her head with a smile. If only she were the Traveler. The Traveler didn't have so many restrictions.
The two women walked and chatted like they had found kindred spirits, with endless things to talk about.
...
Heading toward the Temple of the Lion of the South
Walking along the flat road, Lisa occasionally glanced around, observing the environment.
The scenery was still the same. Nothing had changed, except the weeds had grown taller, and the fruit on the trees had all fallen off due to the strong winds.
But that wasn't the most important thing. What puzzled Lisa were the monsters. As a mage, her perception of the surroundings was very sharp.
Along the way, they had encountered many monsters. But the moment those monsters saw them, they fled like they'd seen a ghost, not even looking back.
Some monsters would watch them from hiding spots for a while before leaving, showing no intention of attacking.
This was very strange.
The Hilichurls were running away out of fear. But who were they afraid of?
Lisa rubbed her chin in thought. Soon, the clever Lisa figured it out.
She remembered. The person walking right next to her was someone who made Hilichurls scared.
Over the past three days, someone had been hunting monsters around Mondstadt. That news had spread to quite a few people.
That reminded Lisa of the green bard. After all, Fashui was close to that person.
Finding a new topic, Lisa asked Bonanus, "Cutie, how long have you known that green bard? Are you related?"
"Sister Lisa, could you call me by my name? You've been calling me 'cutie' this whole time." Bonanus rubbed her head helplessly. Being called that made her feel like a child.
"You don't like it? Oh, that breaks my heart." Lisa touched her cheek and put on a hurt expression.
Seeing Lisa's pitiful look, Bonanus didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Don't do this, Sister Lisa. You're making me look like a heartbreaker.
"No, no, not at all. That's not true." Bonanus quickly waved her hands in denial. She rolled her eyes and returned to the previous topic.
"That green guy is a friend I made recently. He's a very capable person." Bonanus licked her lips.
"Oh? I think so too. He's very mysterious. Even though I always see him passed out drunk on the street on my way home..."
Lisa rubbed her chin as she recalled. For such a young, lively guy, he acted like a drunkard all the time. It was baffling.
"Do you think he's impressive too, Sister Lisa?" Bonanus asked curiously. After all, in the eyes of Mondstadt's people, the city's best bard was just a lazy drunkard.
"A woman's intuition. Sometimes when I run into that bard, I wonder if he has another identity." Lisa said casually.
Hearing that, Bonanus couldn't help but give Lisa a mental thumbs up. As expected of Lisa, the once-in-a-century prodigy of the Akademiya. Her intuition was spot on.
Big sister's instincts were right. That person wasn't just a bard—he was the Anemo Archon they all believed in.
Of course, she could only think that. She couldn't expose Venti's identity. If she did, his grand slacking plan would become much harder.
"Who knows? All I know is he can really hold his liquor." Bonanus shook her head. Just thinking about drinking made her expression darken.
These past few days, she had been the one dragging Venti home every time he got drunk. The funny thing was, he always waited until they got back to the inn before throwing up. And it was always on the bed.
Once, he even threw up on her hand. Just thinking about it made her want to slap him.
"Haha, that's true. When I'm bored, I sometimes hear Kaeya talk about that bard's drinking habits." Lisa covered her mouth and laughed.
"Every time he gets drunk, I get so annoyed. But I can't just leave him out there alone." Bonanus sighed helplessly. What a god who had lost all dignity.
"That must be tough on you." Lisa continued laughing. It seemed chatting about this was pretty entertaining.
...
Some time later...
Near the Temple of the Lion of the South
Lisa shielded her eyes from the wind with her hand and squinted at the temple in the distance.
"We're almost there."