Gabrielina

"...Traveler... Traveler!"

"!"

Only when Paimon quietly tugged at her collar did Lumine snap back to her senses and instinctively take two steps back.

But the girl floating before her immediately moved closer, curiosity glimmering in her golden eyes.

A fresh, cool scent washed over her-like white roses steeped in morning dew, mingled with the scent of feathers warmed by the sun.

Lumine was at a loss. She wanted to retreat, but feared angering the girl, so she could only stand stiffly in place.

Why isn't this little brat saying anything? Is she mesmerized by her angelic big sister?

The system looked at Lumine and Paimon, who seemed to be bracing for a formidable enemy, then glanced at Gabrielina, whose face practically screamed "intelligence," and helplessly facepalmed. Have you considered the possibility that she saw you use Heaven's Strike?

...No wonder she tried to stab me right away! Why is this little blonde so↗ mean↘, huh↗?!

Lumine blinked in confusion, utterly unable to understand why the angel before her had suddenly puffed out her cheeks in a sulky pout.

With her hands on her hips, Gabrielina looked the girl up and down from above-the braid tied with golden thread beside the flowers in her hair was a little disheveled, her fair cheeks were flushed with nervousness, and her amber eyes were full of wariness.

So cute.

The angel suddenly puffed out her chest proudly. Hmph, mine are bigger than yours!

That blatant stare finally became more than Lumine could bear.

Perhaps sensing that the girl meant no harm, she ventured, "...Hello?"

"Hello, hello!!"

"???"

Gabrielina grabbed both of Lumine's hands with a smack and shook them vigorously, only reluctantly letting go once the girl was thoroughly dizzy.

Seeing that she was about to come for her next, Paimon hurriedly waved her hands in refusal, narrowly escaping the same fate.

How... how is she so strong?!

Lumine looked down at her aching wrists, then at her Dull Blade, of which only half remained, her eyes filled with doubt about her entire life.

Clang-

Goodbye, my trusty companion!

Paimon huddled behind Lumine, with only half her head peeking out. "M-my lady... are you going to... Mondstadt with us?"

Seeing this emergency food cowering like that, Gabrielina found it increasingly hard to keep her composure.

System... system? Does Paimon... have to be... my... master... too?

Of course not. Only the Traveler!

"O-only." (Grinding her back teeth to pieces.)

So this system really is a pervert! What kind of system makes its own host go, go... go find a master?!

Its voice is suspicious too... sounds like a little girl... a pervert... a perverted little girl!!

Ptooey!

Watching the girl suddenly turn gloomy, Lumine broke into a cold sweat. "...Are... are you all right?"

"Ah... sorry, I got a little distracted."

Gabrielina's heart sank as she looked at the Traveler, who was clearly wary of her.

She was perfectly willing to believe that Lumine was kind, but what if she wasn't?

If she couldn't get rid of this quest, she would technically become the girl's "property"! If Lumine was this afraid of her now... then later...

Hiss... no way!

The angel gently fluttered her wings and landed gracefully, her pure white feathers glowing softly in the sunlight.

She clasped her hands behind her back and offered what she thought was her friendliest smile.

"Just call me Gabrielina. My name is Gabrielina!" She deliberately drew out the syllables and gave a playful wink♡.

That only startled Lumine. Unless she had been mistaken, this seemingly harmless girl was the terrifying being who had just blasted an entire forest into the sky with a single explosion.

But... but!

The contrast is just too much... the girl silently grumbled.

But faced with that expectant gaze, and after another glance at the sword lying broken in two on the ground, she could only steel herself and respond, "Hello, Gabrielina... my name is Lumine."

"Hello, Lumine~"

Pretending not to know her, Gabrielina turned her head, her cross-shaped pupils fixing on Paimon with a burning gaze.

"H-hello... I'm... Paimon."

"Hello there, little Paimon~" Gabrielina looked at the adorable, pocket-sized little girl, her eyes practically shining.

...Perhaps her body had influenced her personality?

After all, Jibril herself loved collecting all sorts of strange things, to an almost pathological degree.

As emergency food, the Traveler's external magic organ, the Mouth of God, a flying dwarf lavender melon... and a whole host of other curious things, Paimon had long since become a being worthy of a Flügel's affection.

"...C-could you... stop looking at me like that..."

"Okay~"

The angel nodded, yet showed no intention whatsoever of looking away.

If she could, she even wanted to scoop Paimon into her arms and give her a thorough squishing, but doing that on their first meeting... would get her labeled a creep, wouldn't it?

Just as Paimon grew so flustered she wanted to stamp her feet, Lumine intervened.

"...Miss Gabrielina?"

"Hm? You don't need to call me miss. Just Gabrielina is fine." The angel smiled gently. "Of course, you can call me whatever you like, Lumine~"

With a face like this and such lethally tender charm, winning over this little brat should be a breeze!

Gabrielina thought, getting carried away with herself.

"Um... Gabrielina, I..." Lumine looked into her eyes, as though making up her mind about something. "There was a huge explosion just now... I think I saw someone floating in the sky."

"That was me." Gabrielina nodded, freely admitting it.

"I encountered some extremely terrifying monsters (slimes), so I had no choice but to take certain measures."

Slimes: Sorry we couldn't make you use your full strength, Lady Angel.

Powerful monsters? If it took that kind of power to destroy them, we'd better get into the city as soon as possible...

"Gabrielina, are you going to Mondstadt for something?" After some time had passed, Paimon seemed less afraid and instead looked at Gabrielina with curiosity.

After all, they could both float in the air, and both had something pointy above their heads (a halo and a crown). Perhaps there was some connection?

"Hm? Little Paimon, are you wondering about me?"

"Ah, no, no, no..."

All right, apparently she was still a little scared.

"Hahaha... you're such a scaredy-cat. It's not like I'm going to do anything to you~" The angel chuckled and tucked the hair that had fallen in front of her behind her ear.

Her cherry-pink strands swayed, seeming to flash with rainbow light for an instant beneath the sun.

"I don't have anything in particular to do. I just... felt like taking a stroll around the city~"

"Oh... I see. We're going to Mondstadt to find a way to meet the Anemo Archon."

Watching Paimon spill everything about their business in mere seconds, Lumine helplessly rubbed her forehead.

This emergency food is too much trouble... I'd better find some time to eat her soon.

"The Anemo Archon..." Gabrielina rested her chin on her hand, pretending to ponder.

"Do you know the Anemo Archon, Gabrielina?"

Know him? Oh, she knew him all right. Not only did she know him, her wallet had quite a history with him too.

"Why do you think I know the Anemo Archon, Lumine?"

"Because... you just seem really strong, Gabrielina. I-I thought you might know the Anemo Archon."

At that moment, Gabrielina felt as though two little figures were fighting inside her head.

A little devil said with a wicked grin, "This little blonde is so easy to fool. Tease her a bit-it'll be so much fun~"

The other little figure, who looked very much like her and had a halo above her head, said,

"Yes, yes, let's~"