After spending a few minutes explaining how she had "enthusiastically interacted" with the Order, Gabrielina gave Lumine a detailed rundown of the Abyss Mages' abilities and appearances as she remembered them, along with the little strategy guide she had put together.
That included where to find certain "secret farming spots" in Mondstadt, how to break the curse(?) after being attacked by an Abyss Mage, and encouraging the girl to use Anemo to make their shields react with each other.
The Traveler looked troubled after hearing all that, but Venti perked up instead, eagerly raising his hand. "I've been poisoned too~!"
Gabrielina narrowed her eyes, her scrutinizing gaze sweeping over the boy again and again until his expression grew increasingly bashful.
As if desperate to prove that he really had been corrupted by the Abyss, he paused, then hurriedly added, "It happened when I tried to communicate with Dvalin earlier. Someone interrupted me! That blasted Abyss tricked me, ambushed me! Picking on an old poet like me... all of eighteen years old."
"..."
"Uh... so, um... could that have been us...?"
"Exactly." Venti folded his arms and looked at the girl, nodding with an air of solemnity.
At his words, Lumine's eyes widened blankly, and she leaned back slightly, looking utterly adorably clueless.
"Um... Venti, I'm sorry..." Lumine lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes as her voice grew quieter.
"So-"
Venti's voice abruptly cut off. His gaze darted back and forth between Gabrielina's slightly upturned lips and the Apple Cider she held high, the sound of her fingertips tapping the bottle echoing in his mind.
"So?"
"So..." Venti instantly put on an earnest expression and pressed his palms together. "I sincerely ask the two heroes of Mondstadt to do me a small favor. A very small favor~"
"I'd like you two to go to Favonius Cathedral and help me get a harp... called [Skyward]."
Gabrielina lowered the bottle and raised an eyebrow.
This "get" you're talking about... is it legal?
Venti: Surely you can't call an Anemo Archon's business "stealing"!
Lumine nodded almost without hesitation. "If that's all, I'll definitely help."
"Then there's no time to waste. Let's head to Favonius Cathedral now!" Venti said happily.
The green-clad poet dashed off as though the wind were at his heels, deftly swiping his cider back under the girl's disdainful gaze.
Outside Favonius Cathedral.
"So this [Skyward] you mentioned, what exactly is it...?" Paimon finally could not resist asking.
Lumine was wondering the same thing. She really could not understand how a harp... a musical instrument? Could help them save Dvalin.
"...Lumine, you're thinking too simply." Gabrielina gently shook her head at the bewildered girl. "Something kept in a cathedral obviously couldn't be an ordinary instrument. It's-"
"-Mondstadt's greatest treasure, the harp once played by the Anemo Archon, Barbatos. With the Skyward Harp, I can awaken Dvalin's true self from his nightmare~"
Venti spoke with a smile, while Paimon's expression gradually crumbled.
"H-how are you going to get something that precious out of there!?"
Lumine did not question Venti, however, and merely asked in some confusion, "...Will that really stop Dvalin from destroying things?"
"Ha! Of course. After all, I'm the best Bard in the whole world. Past, present, or future, there isn't a song I don't know~" Venti leaned a little closer, his eyes practically sparkling. "Well? Well? Don't you think... I'm very trustworthy?"
Lumine nodded, but her legs honestly carried her a few steps backward, and she hooked her arm around Gabrielina's.
"Anyway, I'll go check things out first. You can come along and watch if you're interested."
With a strange little "ehe," Venti strode into Favonius Cathedral.
Lumine and Gabrielina exchanged a glance and immediately followed.
As they passed through the white stone archway, light filtered through the glass and draped over them like a curtain, like gentle water flowing over the feathers on an angel's back, while dust danced within the shafts of light.
"Hey, gorgeous, do you know where confessing your feelings to a girl has the highest success rate?" The system's voice sounded in her mind.
Gabrielina tilted her head, looking past Paimon toward Lumine at the front.
The girl seemed in no hurry, walking slowly through patch after patch of light. The golden ends of her hair bounced with every step, looking very cute, as though melting into the equally warm sunshine.
"An aquarium, or... a Ferris wheel?"
"Just look at you! Hehe... you never even held a girl's hand in your past life, did you~?" The system's voice grew smug.
Gabrielina's mouth twitched. She no longer felt like offering any rebuttal to defend her reputation.
"Then what brilliant insight do you have, Commander?"
"A church, of course. Ideally, you'd happen to catch a wedding, too. The newlyweds at the altar would make their vows with their god as witness, while you and the girl you love sat below..."
Gabrielina's ear feathers quivered, her thoughts drifting as that scene seemed to take shape in her mind.
Two girls interlaced their fingers to the sound of the pipe organ. Amid their heartbeats gradually falling into sync, their palms pressed tightly together, the words "I do" rang out alongside the bells.
"...And then you'd win Lumine over! What girl could resist that? Your traditional methods aren't going to work!"
...This system wasn't even pretending anymore.
Besides, compared with an aquarium or a Ferris wheel... surely a church was the more traditional option, no matter how you looked at it!
Meanwhile, Venti had already struck up a conversation with a nun.
"Hello, Sister~"
"May the Anemo Archon bless you, young poet. Is there something you need?" The nun turned around and spoke in a gentle voice.
Venti quietly edged a little closer and lowered his voice. "Actually, I know a secret that could resolve the crisis Mondstadt is facing."
"Oh? Then the Anemo Archon truly watches over us." The nun folded her hands over her chest and offered an awkward yet polite smile. "But you should report that to the Knights of Favonius. How could an uninvolved nun like me help you?"
"Ehe, of course there's something you can help with, Sister~"
Oh, the Anemo Archon had just given someone a massive promotion in seniority.
"For example, the Skyward Harp. With its power, I could make Stormterror..."
"Please leave!" Before Venti could finish, the nun firmly refused him.
"Huh!?"
At Venti's shocked expression, Lumine covered her face. The angel was already shaking with suppressed laughter, pointing a finger at his rather hapless figure as she trembled.
"That dragon is indeed vicious, but if the Acting Grand Master sets her mind to it, there is absolutely no reason it cannot be defeated."
"So..."
Seeing that the nun was about to send him away, Venti hurriedly spoke up. "That won't do! Wouldn't Stormterror die that way?"
"That foolish beast betrayed the Eastern Wind. Even if the Anemo Archon himself descended, I would not forgive it so easily," the nun declared righteously.
"Mm..." Venti suddenly pressed his palms together, fluttering his lashes as his voice turned syrupy. "...Big sister~~"
"No means no, little poet." The nun's tense expression relaxed, and her voice softened a little.
She still refused, but she seemed pleased to have been called big sister.
Praise the Lord.
Venti: I finally act cute for once, and you make me lose... this completely!
His tone changed, and his entire bearing sharpened. "It seems I can no longer deal with you as a mere mortal."
"My devout follower! Rejoice! Standing before you is none other than the Anemo Archon, Barbatos himself!"
"Shocked, aren't you? So shocked you want to cry? You've finally met the god you serve. Well? Deeply moved, aren't you?"
The nun said nothing. She simply kept smiling.
After a few seconds that felt both brief and interminable, Lord Barbatos slowly lowered his raised hand.
"Lumine, why aren't you laughing?"
Lumine opened her mouth, then finally forced out a smile.
"If you have no other business, I'll return to handling the cathedral's paperwork."
The nun gave Venti a warning glare, lifted her skirt, and turned to leave.
Before you continue