Chapter 147: The Trace Badge and a Living Dodoco
A purple-tier reward, wow.
A flicker of genuine surprise lit up Lumine's golden eyes. The description for this new ability, "Ethereal Space," was both powerful and incredibly versatile. Whether for defense, support, or crowd control, it promised to deliver outstanding results in any situation.
More than that, she could feel it—a new, instinctual perception, a seed of power embedding itself deep within her consciousness. With a mere thought, she could already sense the nascent "Devouring" space, waiting to be fully unlocked. For someone who might soon be facing the complex battlefields of Amphoreus, this was a monumental upgrade.
Beyond the new ability, Lumine had also drawn several other useful items. Among them, a uniquely styled [Trace Badge] immediately caught her attention.
The badge was crafted in the charming shape of a four-leaf clover. When pinned to her clothes, it was said to generate a soft, dazzling trail of light as she moved. While purely cosmetic, it was a delightful little surprise.
Once the rewards were sorted, Lumine and Paimon exchanged a knowing glance. Their minds moved in perfect sync—it was time to present a thank-you gift to the day's biggest hero.
"Klee, watch closely! A bigger magic trick is coming!" Paimon zipped forward, rubbing her little hands together with theatrical flair before making a sudden grabbing motion at the empty air.
Lumine, a faint smile playing on her lips, cooperated perfectly. She mimicked Paimon's gesture, casually reaching a hand into the space beside her.
There was no surge of elemental power, no shimmer of a storage pack opening, not even the faintest glimmer of a Vision.
And yet—
An unremarkable, octagonal stone materialized in Paimon's hand.
At the same time, the four-leaf clover Trace Badge appeared in Lumine's.
"Wow!!!" Klee let out another joyful cheer, her big, crimson eyes sparkling with pure excitement. "It really appeared! Paimon and the Honorary Knight are so amazing!"
Venti, who had been observing quietly from the side, felt that deep sense of shock and confusion return, deepening in his emerald-green eyes.
This time, he had seen it clearly.
The two of them… without using any energy system or spatial equipment he recognized, had simply… plucked physical objects from the void?
This could no longer be explained by simple spatial teleportation or elemental creation. It was more akin to… directly extracting something from the world of "possibility" or "concept."
The brows of the seemingly carefree Anemo Archon furrowed slightly. A powerful, unmatched interest—a burning desire to investigate—kindled in his heart regarding Lumine and Paimon's so-called "adventure." The truth of their origins seemed far more complex, far more bizarre, than his initial guess of them being mere travelers from another world.
Lumine and Paimon, however, were oblivious to Venti's thoughtful, astonished gaze. Their attention was focused entirely on Klee, who was beaming with delight over the prospect of new gifts.
"Lumine, you go first! Show her your magic gift!" Paimon puffed out her chest and crossed her arms, her little face radiating the confidence of someone saving the best for last. "Paimon's gift is the ultimate surprise, perfect for Klee! It has to be the grand finale!"
Lumine couldn't help but chuckle at Paimon's smug demeanor and graciously accepted. She knelt down, her smile warm as she presented the four-leaf clover badge and pinned it to the front of Klee's red dress.
"This is called a Trace Badge. As long as you wear it, Klee, a beautiful and magical effect will appear behind you whenever you walk or run! Want to give it a try?"
"Really? Thank you, Sister Honorary Knight!" Klee's big eyes sparkled. After offering a polite thank you, she eagerly scampered a short distance across the workshop.
And just as promised, a splendid and familiar trail of light followed in her wake—a special effect composed of countless tiny golden and red sparks, like the instantaneous burst of a miniature Jumpy Dumpty! The visual was utterly dazzling.
"Wow—!! It's Boom Boom Sparks! It's Klee's Boom Boom Sparks!"
Klee looked back in astonishment at the "effect" she was creating and began to run around with even greater joy. She weaved between Albedo's experimental tables and bookshelves, leaving a brilliant trail of sparks that perfectly captured a child's uncontainable excitement.
The commotion, however, gave Venti a start. He subconsciously raised a hand, as if ready to summon a gentle breeze at a moment's notice to extinguish any potential flames. "Hey, hey, Lumine, this… isn't this a bit dangerous? Playing with fire in Albedo's workshop…"
Lumine gestured toward Klee, who was now carefully trying to touch the flowing light behind her. She explained to Venti with a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, Venti. It's just a visual effect. You can see it, but you can't touch it. It has no temperature or destructive power. It's purely for fun, see? Nothing's wrong."
She then glanced at the lively trail of sparks Klee was leaving behind before raising an eyebrow at the smug Paimon floating in the air. The challenge in her eyes was clear—See? My gift is pretty great, isn't it?
Paimon caught Lumine's signal loud and clear, but she simply extended her index finger and wagged it calmly, as if to say it was nothing special at all.
"Klee, come here! Come see the ultimate magic Paimon prepared for you! It's absolutely, super-duper… amazing!" she called out, her voice booming with importance.
Klee was immediately drawn in. Still trailing a constant stream of glittering sparks from the badge, she came pattering back, her small face tilted up at Paimon in pure anticipation.
Lumine and Venti also turned their curious gazes toward the floating guide. Lumine distinctly remembered March 7th and Zhongli mentioning in the chat group that they both possessed a peculiar item called a "talisman," though their specific effects differed.
So, what exactly does this Rat Talisman do?
Venti and Klee watched with equal curiosity, wondering what miracle could possibly come from such a small, plain-looking stone.
"Klee," Paimon began, her tone conspiratorial and mysterious, "bring out your favorite, big Dodoco doll! Next, it's time to witness a miracle!"
Though she didn't understand what was about to happen, Klee had absolute trust in the Honorary Knight and Paimon. She immediately ran to fetch the oversized, fluffy Dodoco doll she hugged to sleep every night.
Under the watchful eyes of the small audience, Paimon gently pressed the disposable Rat Talisman in her hand against Dodoco's soft, round belly.
The moment the talisman made contact, a soft yet vibrant light bloomed, swiftly enveloping the entire doll. The glow wasn't blinding, but it carried an indescribable sense of wonder, like the very spark of creation.
As the light faded, the Dodoco doll… moved.
Its round, fluffy body swayed gently. Then, its two large, button-like eyes actually blinked.
As if waking from a long, deep slumber, its small head turned from left to right, its gaze filled with a hint of bewilderment and curiosity. It shifted its chubby body, seemingly surveying this unfamiliar world and the familiar yet strange people before it, and let out a soft, faint sound.
"Doo…?"
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