Ellin fell silent.
Fischl was lonely at heart, and what she feared most was losing other people's approval.
One could also say that deep down, Fischl felt inferior.
Especially after Ellin's words at the dinner table had struck such a chord with her, Fischl was now in a sensitive state, anxious about losing what she had gained. In other words, she was prone to overthinking.
Ellin was in a real bind. What was she supposed to say now? Tell Fischl that her soul was a boy's, so she couldn't bathe with her?
Fischl might have had her grandiose fantasies, but she wasn't stupid. Not even a dog would believe something that ridiculous, let alone Fischl.
Seeing Fischl on the verge of tears, Ellin knew that no explanation or excuse would help now.
Because as far as Fischl was concerned, she and Ellin were both girls. What was strange about girls bathing together? Wasn't that what everyone did at Mondstadt's public baths?
If Ellin kept refusing, Fischl would only think it was because Ellin disliked her.
"I'm just worried I'm too chubby and you'll laugh at me."
Not wanting to upset Fischl, Ellin finally found that excuse to back down gracefully.
"Huh? Not at all! Ellin, you're the cutest girl in the whole world. You need to have more confidence in yourself."
Fischl was so happy that she forgot to keep up her grandiose persona.
Half an hour later, Fischl and Ellin's laughter rang out again and again.
"Hehe, Ellin, your white hair is so pretty and silky. I'll squeeze out some more conditioner and take care of it for you."
"Wow... Ellin, you're white down there too, just like your hair!"
"Whoa! Ellin, what on earth have you been feeding those two Slimes of yours? They've grown so big!"
"S-stop talking!" Ellin, who hadn't dared look at Fischl the whole time, wished she could find a hole to crawl into.
"Ellin, your two Slimes are so cute. Let me wash these adorable little Cryo Slimes."
As she spoke, Fischl actually grabbed the two Cryo Slimes Ellin had raised!
"Ah!!" Ellin cried out, her head buzzing.
Wait, is this girl teasing me?
Something suddenly occurred to Ellin, and she got angry!
"You little rascal! How dare you tease me!"
Ellin gave a sharp little cry, no longer embarrassed. "Hand over those Electro Slimes of yours and let me have a look too!"
The two girls' laughter continued for a long time. By the time they finished fooling around, it was nearly midnight.
"Be grateful, my friend! The hour grows late, so I shall bestow upon thee the chance to enter Dreamland alongside this Prinzessin!" Fischl declared.
Oz: What milady means is that it's very late, and it might not be safe for you to go home alone. Why not stay here tonight and drift off to sleep with her?
Ellin immediately struck a dramatic pose. "Hmph! Since the Prinzessin der Verurteilung has extended such a gracious invitation, this immortal sovereign shall stay the night and roam the world of Dreamland alongside her!"
At those words, Fischl's eyes curved into happy crescents.
Soon, the two girls climbed under the covers together.
Fischl kept her arms wrapped around Ellin as she slept, her face filled with happiness and contentment. Every so often, she mumbled things like:
"So worth it, so worth it. I'm just so happy."
"Ellin's hair is so soft... and the Slimes she's raised are so cute."
"So worth it. Even if I had to die right now, I'd have no regrets."
"Hehehe... ehehehe..."
Meanwhile, Ellin shook her head and sighed bitterly in the darkness. "Utter nonsense. Ah, utter nonsense!"
Late that night, once both girls were fast asleep, their respective familiars began to talk.
On the windowsill.
Oz the night raven held a Windwheel Aster he had picked somewhere in his beak. Putting on a gentlemanly air, he rested his left wing against his lower abdomen and addressed Ellin's Ice Phoenix.
"Oh, Miss Feng'er, everything was so hurried today that I haven't yet had a chance to introduce myself."
"I am Miss Fischl's familiar, the night raven Ozvaldo Hrafnavins. You may call me Oz."
"From the moment we first met, I was deeply captivated by your noble, elegant bearing, your beautiful feathers, and your formidable strength."
"Here and now, I, Ozvaldo Hrafnavins, offer you my most sincere love!"
"I hope you will accept my love. I wish to build a nest with you, adventure with you, and raise offspring with you!"
Her long tail feathers trailing behind her, Feng'er opened her slender phoenix eyes, her bearing as noble as ever.
She answered, "I'm delighted to have earned your admiration, Mr. Oz, but I refuse."
"Why?!" Oz looked as though he had been struck by lightning and nearly fell off the balcony's drying rack.
"Because I'm Cryo and you're Electro. If we get together, we'll trigger Superconduct!"
Early the next morning, Ellin woke up first.
Fischl was still clinging to Ellin like an octopus, a blissful smile on her face. Who knew what lovely dream she was having?
After washing up and having breakfast at Fischl's house, Ellin finally headed out with her.
Since they hadn't turned in yesterday's commission yet, Ellin and Fischl went to the Adventurers' Guild after leaving the house to report their success and collect their rewards.
At the Adventurers' Guild reception desk.
"Ad astra..."
The receptionist, Katheryne, had only just begun her usual greeting when Ellin suddenly jolted, stepped forward, and covered her mouth.
"Miss Ellin, what are you doing?" Katheryne asked in surprise.
Coming to her senses, Ellin hurriedly apologized. "Sorry, sorry! Interrupting dialogue is etched into my DNA, and I haven't quite broken the habit yet. Please forgive me."
Katheryne rolled her eyes. But then she figured that, as Fischl's friend, Ellin probably had an equally eccentric personality. She didn't dwell on it and processed the commission.
"Thank you for completing the commission. Here is your reward."
Katheryne handed over the Mora. Ellin resisted the urge to step forward and interrupt the dialogue again, reaching out to accept the reward.
After collecting her reward, Ellin wandered around Mondstadt's shopping district with Fischl. They ate all sorts of snacks, browsed various clothing shops, and even went to the library together to read Fischl's favorite fantasy novels.
Strangely, though, Oz remained listless all day. He wouldn't even eat his favorite roasted beans. Who knew what was wrong with him?
It wasn't until evening that Ellin said goodbye to Fischl and returned home.
Just after dinner, Cyrus, the head of Mondstadt's Adventurers' Guild, and the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius came to apologize.
"We are deeply sorry, Mr. Hermann, Miss Ellin. The incorrect information supplied by our Adventurers' Guild put Miss Ellin and Miss Fischl in danger. Our guild bears undeniable responsibility for this incident, and I offer our apologies to you and Miss Ellin."
"Our knights failed to discover the Blazing Whopperflower in the Whispering Woods in time. We, too, bear undeniable responsibility for this incident. On behalf of the Knights of Favonius, I apologize to you and Miss Ellin."
Cyrus and Jean bowed to Hermann and Ellin in apology. After receiving their forgiveness, they also provided appropriate compensation and triple the commission reward.
Afterward, Cyrus and Jean headed toward Fischl's house together, presumably to offer her an apology in person as well.
Before you continue