Klee held Lydia's hand, skipping and hopping as she ran toward Dragonspine.
Her little red dress flickered like a vibrant, dancing flame in the night, while the Weather Doll bell hanging from her backpack jingled incessantly.
It was a gift Lydia had handmade for her during last year's Windblume Festival. The orange-and-white fabric was even embroidered with a tiny four-leaf clover.
Klee had treasured it ever since, hanging it by her bedside at night and never taking it off during the day.
Her small hand was soft and warm, yet her grip on Lydia's was surprisingly firm, as if she feared that letting go for even a moment would cause the person beside her to be swept away by the evening wind.
Pulled along by Klee, Lydia's long, snow-white hair streamed behind her. The crisp ringing of the bell and Klee's cheerful chatter filled the air.
The tension that had gripped her moments earlier—the worry over whether the Holy Lyre der Himmel could be repaired—had unknowingly melted away.
After about an hour of walking, a flicker of firelight suddenly appeared through the trees ahead—a Hilichurl camp.
The wooden barricade was propped up with numerous weapons snatched from passing adventurers.
This was the very same camp of the Hilichurls who had chased Lydia all the way to the Whispering Woods, only to be left fuming in impotent rage when they couldn't catch her.
Lydia's steps came to an abrupt halt. She unconsciously tightened her grip on Klee's hand as the memory of that humiliating ordeal flashed through her mind.
"Big Sis Lydia, why did we stop walking?" Klee tilted her head, curiously following Lydia's gaze toward the camp. "Is something wrong with the Hilichurls?"
Lydia looked at Klee's sparkling eyes, and a mischievous idea suddenly popped into her head.
Noelle isn't here, she thought, but I have Mondstadt's most powerful "Munitions Boss" right beside me!
With Klee's Jumpy Dumpties, taking care of these Hilichurls would be a piece of cake.
She deliberately rubbed her arm, furrowed her brow, and put on a pitiful expression. "Klee, the last time I passed through here, these Hilichurls chased me for hours. They even threw rocks at me and stole all my Sunsettias..."
"What?!" Klee's hair practically stood on end. Her little face flushed with anger, even the tips of her ears turning red. "How dare they bully Big Sis Lydia! Klee's going to blow their camp to smithereens!"
She started to charge toward the camp, nearly dropping the Jumpy Dumpties from her backpack.
"Wait, don't rush!" Lydia quickly pulled her back, suppressing a laugh as she leaned close to Klee's ear and whispered her plan. "Let's lure the Hilichurls into that open area first. Then you can wipe them all out with your bombs. That way, we get our revenge, don't waste any bombs, and Big Brother Kaeya won't find out. How does that sound?"
Klee's eyes lit up, and she nodded her little head furiously, like a bobblehead. "Okay! I'll do whatever Big Sis Lydia says!"
She pulled Lydia to a nearby open area and pointed at a huge rock. "Klee will hide here! You lure them over, and I'll throw the bombs!"
Lydia nodded, took a deep breath, and rolled up her sleeves.
If I'm getting revenge, she thought, I might as well include all the nearby Hilichurls!
She had deliberately memorized the locations of every Hilichurl tribe in the area, just for the day she would finally get her payback.
Now, it was time for these Hilichurls to face the wrath of a "god"!
She tiptoed to the first camp and kicked a dozing Hilichurl squarely in the rear. Before it could react, she turned and bolted.
Next, she charged into the second small camp and, with all her might, slapped a sleeping Mitachurl across the face.
"Wuaaah—!"
The Hilichurls were utterly enraged.
A dark mass of them, brandishing wooden clubs and shouldering axes, surged after her.
When they recognized the white-haired girl running ahead as Lydia, their fury doubled.
This brat had provoked them before, and now she dared to kick their rears and slap their faces
This was a blatant insult!
They roared and accelerated, vowing to hack this girl into mincemeat.
Lydia glanced back as she ran. Seeing the entire horde of Hilichurls hot on her heels, she yelled toward the rock, "Klee! Everything's ready!"
Klee was already crouching behind the rock, cradling a pile of Jumpy Dumpties and struggling to decide which one to use.
The small ones were the "Fireworks Model," specially designed for fish blasting.
The medium ones were the "Enhanced Power Model," which Klee usually used against monsters.
And then there was the largest one, the "Skyrocket Model," her latest invention developed during her most recent stint in the confinement room.
Hearing Lydia's call, she peeked out.
Her eyes widened instantly at the sight of the dark mass of Hilichurls chasing Lydia.
Klee decisively grabbed the largest Jumpy Dumpty. She focused Pyro power at her fingertips, the fiery glow illuminating her serious little face.
"Big Sis Lydia, watch out!"
Before Klee could finish her sentence, the bomb sailed over Lydia's head and landed squarely on a Hilichurl's head.
Before Lydia could even react—
BOOM—!
A deafening explosion erupted, and a crimson light engulfed the entire clearing.
The massive shockwave, like an invisible hand, flung Lydia through the air.
She flipped in mid-air and landed hard on her butt right in front of Klee. A dull ache shot through her rear, her head buzzed, her ears roared, and her vision swam.
A small mushroom cloud rose from the blast site, leaving a shallow crater in the ground.
The Hilichurls had vanished, leaving only scattered ashes and charred wooden clubs.
"Big Sis, look! Klee's amazing, right?" Klee trotted over to Lydia, her mouth curved into a wide V-shape. She planted her hands on her hips, proudly seeking praise, her little face beaming with triumph. "This is Klee's newest Jumpy Dumpty! It blew up all the bad guys in one go!"
Lydia rubbed her aching butt, wincing and sucking in a sharp breath.
Looking at Klee's radiant smile, she finally understood the true weight behind the title "Mondstadt's Munitions Boss."
This power... Lydia thought. Give Klee enough time, and I'd believe she could blow Mondstadt City to rubble!
Enduring the ringing in her ears, Lydia reached out and patted Klee's head, her voice still trembling slightly. "Klee's the best! But we need to hurry and go. Otherwise, if Big Brother Kaeya hears the commotion and finds us, he'll definitely drag you back for a spanking."
At the mention of "Kaeya" and "spanking," Klee instantly wilted.
All her earlier enthusiasm for blowing up more monsters vanished. She quickly grabbed Lydia's hand.
"Then let's go find Big Brother Albedo! Don't let Big Brother Kaeya find us!"
Hand in hand, they ran deeper into Dragonspine. The sound of bells rang out again, this time with a hurried, frantic rhythm.
-
Meanwhile, in a camp deep within Dragonspine...
Albedo stood before his easel, his paintbrush just finishing the outline of the mountain's peak when he sensed the explosive shockwave from nearby.
That familiar Pyro power and destructive force could only belong to Klee.
He set down his brush, a helpless yet gentle smile touching his lips. He tucked the easel into his backpack. "It seems my 'little guest' has arrived."
Albedo didn't notice that on a high ridge not far from his camp...
A figure in a gray cloak was staring intently at his back.
"Possessing the body of someone long dead... your methods disgust me."
"However... if you can help me replace Albedo and become Gold's true creation, I will help you eliminate that girl."
A hoarse voice, like sandpaper scraping against wood, emerged from the shadows: "A wise choice... When you fulfill your promise, the Abyss will naturally lend you its strength."
The cloaked figure curled his lips into a cold sneer, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes.
He had lurked in Dragonspine for so long, all for the sake of replacing Albedo.
Now, with the help of these "things," success was certain!
He looked up toward the direction Lydia and Klee were coming from, a faint black glow flickering around the crystal at his fingertips.