Chapter 145: When Can We Go Fish Blasting Again?
"There are a few things I'm rather curious about," Venti began, his tone light as the breeze he commanded. "I've heard you've had many strange encounters recently. That you even… helped Xiao clear away thousands of years of accumulated karma? And that you helped Azhdaha regain his sanity, freeing him from the agony of erosion?"
As a bard who wandered the streets of Mondstadt, Venti listened to the stories carried on the wind from every corner of Teyvat. His sources were naturally impeccable, especially when the news concerned such monumental changes to his old friends.
Upon hearing this, Paimon immediately perked up. She puffed out her little chest, her pride practically radiating from her. "Hmph, hmph! That's right! Your news travels fast, Tone-Deaf Bard! And it was all thanks to me, Paimon! Aren't I amazing!"
Her tiny face was all but screaming, 'Praise me! Praise me now!'
Venti, ever the performer, cooperated perfectly. He adopted an expression of wide-eyed astonishment, his voice laced with exaggerated awe. "Wow~! Really? Our little Paimon has become so incredible! You're practically the most amazing guide and helper in all of Teyvat!"
The flattery sent Paimon soaring. She planted her hands on her hips and continued to show off. "Of course! And that's not all! I can even stop time now!"
She was referring to her unique, if unrefined, ability to briefly halt the flow of time—a power she hadn't quite mastered.
Lumine, standing beside her, didn't deny it. She simply crossed her arms, watching Paimon's antics with a helpless yet indulgent smile.
This, however, genuinely surprised Venti.
Clearing karma, while unbelievable, could perhaps be explained away by some unknown, powerful form of purification. But resolving erosion and stopping time?
One involved the fundamental logic of the world itself, while the other touched upon a high-level universal rule, something far beyond the scope of ordinary power. Venti's curiosity sharpened, his playful demeanor giving way to genuine intrigue.
"Dear Traveler, and our all-powerful Paimon… as your best poet friend, I simply cannot contain this heart of mine, which overflows with questions." Venti's tone grew a touch more serious. "Could you possibly satisfy the curiosity of a poor, humble bard? Tell me, how exactly did you come by these… hmm, these miraculous abilities? This sounds like the stuff of the most fantastical epic poems."
It was only then that Paimon belatedly realized she had said far too much.
This bard had been talking in circles the whole time, trying to trick her into spilling the beans! And here she thought all that praise was genuine.
Little Paimon's cheeks puffed out in a flash of annoyance, and she instantly regretted her big mouth.
"Hmph!" She huffed, floating a little farther away from Venti. "So that's what you were after! I'm not telling you! After we find Klee… we'll see what kind of mood I'm in!" she declared, deliberately leaving him hanging.
Venti immediately put on a pitiful expression and turned his gaze to Lumine, silently pleading for help.
Lumine glanced from Venti's feigned grievance to Paimon's indignant pout and couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle. She gave a small shrug, mimicking Paimon's earlier gesture as if to say, 'I have to listen to Paimon.'
"Sigh…" Venti heaved an exaggerated sigh, as if he'd suffered a terrible injustice. "Alright, alright. Who am I to argue when I'm the one in need of your help? In any case, it's not far to Albedo's alchemy workshop, so I suppose I can wait a little longer."
He had no intention of just waiting, however. A bright smile instantly replaced his pout, and he began to circle Paimon, poetry flowing effortlessly from his lips.
"Ah, great Paimon, you are a star of wisdom, an avatar of luck! A miraculous light that shatters all convention! Your tiny cape is the softest cloud in the night sky, your food reviews the most moving verses in the world…"
He began to lavishly shower her with every complimentary word he could muster, attempting to coax the easily pleased little guide back into a good mood.
Paimon grew a little dizzy from the relentless barrage of flattery. She tried her best to maintain her 'I'm still angry' expression, but the corners of her mouth had already begun to betray her, curling irrepressibly upward.
Listening to Venti's tireless coaxing and Paimon's feigned, dignified hums from behind, Lumine smiled helplessly. She shook her head and continued on toward the alchemy workshop.
Soon, the trio arrived at Albedo's domain.
The workshop was filled with the faint scent of herbs mingling with the sharper tang of various alchemical potions. All around them, delicate and peculiar instruments operated with quiet, rhythmic clicks and bubbles.
At a workbench tucked away in a corner, a small figure in red was standing on her tiptoes, completely absorbed in fiddling with a round, ominously familiar-looking bomb.
She was so engrossed that she didn't even notice their arrival, murmuring softly to herself, "Hmm… if I add a little sparkly powder right here… will it look prettier when it explodes?"
It was Venti who finally broke her concentration, calling out with a smile, "Klee, look who's here to see you!"
"Ah? Are they guests?" Klee was startled out of her 'great creation.' She lifted her head, and her bright ruby eyes instantly widened in surprise and delight. "It's Honorary Knight Lumine! And Little Paimon! This is great!"
She immediately set down her tools, hopped off the stool, and launched herself like a little cannonball toward Lumine, burying her head in a joyful hug.
Lumine smiled and bent down, steadily catching the little sun that rushed into her arms. She ruffled Klee's soft, blonde hair. "Klee, are you working hard on improving your Jumpy Dumpties again?"
"That's right!" Klee nodded vigorously, making no attempt to hide her grand ambition. She then looked up, her small face alight with anticipation. "Honorary Knight Lumine, when are you and Klee going to go fish blasting at Starfell Lake again? Klee promises to use the new and improved, quieter Jumpy Dumpty!"
Venti, standing nearby, let out an amused chuckle. Lumine could practically feel his teasing gaze on her.
A faint blush crept onto Lumine's cheeks, and she could only respond vaguely, "Next time, I'll definitely take you fish blasting next time." She quickly tried to steer the conversation back to the matter at hand.
To prevent Klee from immediately asking 'when is next time,' Lumine got straight to the point.
She crouched down, meeting Klee's gaze, and said seriously, "Klee, we came to find you this time because there's something very important we need your help with."
"Help? Klee can help?" The little knight's eyes brightened even more. Being needed by the reliable Honorary Knight Lumine made her feel incredibly proud.
"Yes! It's something only the Spark Knight Klee can do," Lumine affirmed with a nod. "There are some big brothers and sisters in another world who have run into some very powerful bad guys, and they're in a tough battle. Paimon and I might need to go support them later."
She continued, her voice gentle but earnest. "So, we urgently need a blessing from the luckiest Spark Knight in the world! A blessing for Paimon and me to gain some powerful new abilities and increase our strength, so we can better help our friends who are in trouble. Can you do that, Klee?"
Although Klee didn't fully understand what 'another world' or 'abilities' meant, she clearly heard the words 'helping friends' and 'need blessing.'
Without a moment's hesitation, Klee answered with a resounding, "Of course I can!"
She immediately stretched out her small hands, taking one of Lumine's and one of Paimon's. Her expression was incredibly serious and devout as she blessed them in the most vibrant voice she could manage. "Spark Knight Klee blesses Honorary Knight Lumine and Little Paimon! I bless you to draw the most—most—most powerful abilities!"
"Defeat all the bad guys! Kaeya said that luck is a part of strength, too! Klee will share all her luck with you!"
Though it was night outside, as they looked at Klee's pure, enthusiastic, and believing smile, Lumine and Paimon felt as if they were truly seeing a small sun dispelling the darkness. Their hearts grew warm, filled with a renewed sense of strength.
"Thank you, Klee!" Paimon flew forward emotionally and wrapped Klee in a tight hug.
"You've really helped us a lot," Lumine added, smiling as she ruffled Klee's hair again.
After thanking her, Lumine took out the gift she had prepared—a thick, beautifully bound picture book. "This is a gift for Klee."
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