[Side quest in progress: Kill 20 Abyss Mages (2/20), of at least three different elements tip: Monsters summoned by Abyss Mages & Abyss Apostles *can* count toward other kill totals.]
The night wind whipped across the shattered city walls. Firelight stained the sky, and the thick smoke had yet to clear.
Traces of battle still filled every corner. Scattered cries rang out now and then, only to fall silent again.
Some people woke with a start and peered nervously through gaps in their windows. Knights hurried through the streets with torches raised, while the nuns at the church in the north of the city mobilized to treat the wounded.
Well, the wounded... perhaps there was still a chance to save them?
Without sparing even a moment to mourn the Abyss Mages, the next to arrive on the battlefield was-
"The Darknight Hero?"
"I never would've guessed." Gabrielina bent slightly, peering at Diluc, who had deliberately turned his face away. A teasing note crept into her voice. "Did you really come up with that name yourself? It feels..."
"Painfully cliché?"
Having had the words taken out of her mouth, Gabrielina blinked and said nothing. She merely nodded, the feathers beside her ears swaying gently.
The wind was strong up on the rooftop, and Diluc, who had just experienced Sky Shift for the first time, was clearly still feeling ill. His perpetually impassive face had darkened considerably, and he looked ready to throw up at any moment.
Even so, he pulled his coat tighter around himself and said coldly, "I can't imagine giving myself such a ridiculous title... it's nothing more than a foolish urban legend."
"Well then, Mr. Darknight Hero..."
"Don't call me that. It makes my skin crawl." Diluc hastily interrupted Gabrielina, undisguised distaste showing in his expression.
Hmm, he really does hate that name... it is a little corny. Doesn't hold a candle to Batman.
Gabrielina sighed softly. If only Paimon were here. At least the little one was a born talent-or a born pancake-when it came to nicknames. Gabrielina herself was hopeless at it.
"All right, all right." Gabrielina raised both hands in surrender. "...Then what were you doing just now?"
At that question, Diluc's expression visibly worsened.
He casually glanced toward the city gates. The blaze there was largely under control, with only scattered flames still smoldering on the blackened ground.
He withdrew his gaze and took a deep breath. "...The Abyss Order. I happened to run into two rats that had snuck inside."
"Really... just happened to?"
"..."
Her words made Diluc narrow his eyes slightly. "I'm rather curious myself. Why did you happen to be there, Miss Gabrielina?"
Gabrielina showed no concern at his questioning and gave a light shrug. "Well, not everyone has an interest in playing the Darknight Hero, so... it wasn't a coincidence."
"Then-"
Diluc's eyes narrowed further. "You knew they were coming?"
"Hmm... I'm not exactly acquainted with them."
In the darkness, the Angel met his eyes calmly. "I'm just like you. We both have our pasts, and we both have things we need to do, don't we? Besides... even I can't really explain my past..."
"Ah... right. You know about element sight, don't you?"
"Hmm? Yes."
At this, Diluc's tense expression eased slightly, and a hint of interest seemed to return.
"Element sight... honestly, I have no idea how you people do it. Lumine uses it as naturally as breathing. It's practically a passive skill."
"'Passive skill'?" Diluc looked puzzled, his brow furrowing slightly. "You occasionally use some very strange terms, unrelated to any language commonly spoken in Teyvat... perhaps that has something to do with this 'hazy past' of yours."
"But element sight isn't something anyone can use casually, either. At the very least, its user needs considerable elemental affinity to activate and maintain it. And you..."
"Me?" Gabrielina smiled and pointed at herself.
"You're... strong. Nothing like ordinary people who have no sensitivity to elemental power."
Even judging by her appearance-or character model-she looked nothing like them.
"Yes, yes, of course I'm strong. I figured that out ages ago~"
Gabrielina gave a couple of pleased little hums and lifted her chin like a cat being stroked, the feathers beside her ears perking up as well.
Under his puzzled gaze, she raised an arm to show off her nonexistent muscles.
"I don't have element sight, and I don't have a Vision... but I can use the elements directly. Directly, you know?" Gabrielina spread her arms as she spoke, a halo of light seeming to flow around the Scepter in her hand beneath the moonlight. "No cost, no restrictions. Just like using my own hands."
"Don't look at me like that. Even if you wanted to learn, I couldn't teach you..."
"...?"
"I don't think there's any need to hide anything." Gabrielina reached out and gently stroked the soft, white wing extending beside her, following the lay of its feathers. "Because this really isn't a secret. It's just... probably difficult for you to understand."
"I think this is where my power comes from-the elemental corridor. The foundation of every spell is built upon my wings."
"That truly is... unheard of..." He shook his head gently. "None of the texts I've read have ever recorded a being like you."
Gabrielina watched the rare shock in Diluc's eyes, her lips curling into a triumphant smile.
Heh... it'd be a miracle if you found anything. According to my lore, I'm an 'Angel,' and one who hasn't turned into a Seelie, at that.
Trying to learn about this from books was about as difficult as getting up in the morning to use the toilet, reaching for some paper, and finding an open copy of Before Sun and Moon beside you.
Heavenly Principles: Looking for toilet paper? You're looking for death!!
After a moment of thought, something seemed to occur to him. He raised his head, focusing on the pair of wings behind her. "Have you heard of alchemy?"
"A basic discipline even a paramecium could learn," Gabrielina replied breezily.
"According to alchemists' classifications, an individual like you, who has never obtained a Vision but can wield the elements to unleash power..."
He deliberately paused here, the faintest hint of an amused smile actually appearing on his face (?
"Would probably be classified outright as-an elemental lifeform."
"An elemental lifeform..." Gabrielina tilted her head in confusion. "Uh, such as?"
"A Whopperflower, or a Slime."
"???"
Son of a bitch!
What kind of examples were those???
How could I possibly share a kingdom, phylum, class, or order with those little coin-dropping things!?
Absolutely furious!
"Ahem. I don't know much about alchemy. You could visit the Knights of Favonius after daybreak. There's a gentleman named Albedo who's highly accomplished..." As Diluc spoke, he quietly moved out of the Scepter's line of fire.
"Besides, elemental life is actually a very broad category. The ones I just mentioned are the lowest forms of elemental life, lesser creatures that have yet to develop intelligence. Among elemental lifeforms, the highest known beings are... [dragons]."
"Stormterror?"
Diluc nodded slightly.
"The Dragon of the East Wind is precisely such a being, an elemental lifeform of the highest order. And not just in Mondstadt. From what I know... most other nations in Teyvat also have legends of [dragons]. A few years ago..." He suddenly stopped, then shook his head. "No, never mind."
"What is it? Did something happen a few years ago?" Gabrielina asked in confusion.
Diluc glanced at the Angel before turning to look over Mondstadt beneath the night sky. His gaze was somewhat strange, and a faint, sardonic smile touched his lips. "Just old history. Nothing worth mentioning... elemental life, on the other hand, may be worth looking into. It might have something to do with your situation."
Gabrielina was silent for a moment, her gaze gradually softening. "Thank you... but I don't think that'll help."
"Hmm?"
Seeing the slight surprise on his face, she scratched her cheek with a finger. "Well... you said [dragons] are the pinnacle of elemental life, right?"
"At least, that's what most alchemists believe."
"Hmm... so that really is the reason!" Gabrielina suddenly clapped her hands, staring at Diluc with sparkling eyes.
"But Stormterror isn't all that strong. I could handle him easily. A total piece of cake... if I'm an elemental lifeform..."
"Wouldn't that mean you'd have to give me a whole separate page in the family tree? So you must have gotten it wrong!"
"..."
At that moment, the young man once again became certain that he... probably really wasn't the sort of person who was good at arguing.
Faced with the girl, who was still busily singing her own praises, Diluc silently closed his mouth.
At dawn, in the hotel corridor.
Gabrielina drifted slowly forward with a bag of breakfast in hand and a slice of bread between her teeth, deep in thought.
After sending Diluc on his way, she had immediately asked the system about these so-called "elemental lifeforms." It sounded ridiculous, but it concerned her, after all, and might even be a matter of life and death. She had to ask.
And that thing had actually refused to tell her?
Damn it.
...A system daring to deceive its host? It deserved punishment!
The system's face flushed red, veins bulging across its forehead as it argued, "Lying to you doesn't count as lying... can anything between the two of us count as lying?" Then came a string of incomprehensible phrases, something about "cannot be spoken" and "saving the world," making everyone roar with laughter. The air inside and outside the shop was filled with merriment.)
What exactly was this thing trying to do? Could it actually be some ancient monster pretending to be a system so it could possess me?
Gabrielina's thoughts wandered, and before she knew it, she had reached the door to her room.
She activated her ability with practiced ease, but the moment she teleported into the room, she saw a figure curled up by the bed, hugging her knees.
Gabrielina froze, then landed on the floor with a thump.
Shit, this was bad!
How had she gotten up so early? Did she not need sleep either??
Setting the bag aside, Gabrielina swallowed hard a couple of times, finally managing to gulp down the awkward half-slice of bread still in her mouth.
She tiptoed over and sat beside Lumine, speaking softly. "I'm here. I just went to see whether they'd finished making breakfast. Did you sleep well last night? It's still early. Want to sleep a little longer?"
"I'll wake you up in a bit. How does that sound?"
Lumine seemed only then to notice Gabrielina beside her. Her still-drowsy eyes blinked blankly, and only after Gabrielina repeated herself did a faint smile slowly appear. "So it wasn't a dream... that was so embarrassing..."
As she spoke, she sat up and gently hugged the flustered Angel, burying her face against Gabrielina's chest and nuzzling her affectionately.
"...Good morning, Gabrielina."
Before you continue