One Frost Arrow Cleaved the Sea of Flames

Compared to the sea of flames, that glimmer of blue was so tiny, yet it shone like a brilliant star hanging high in the boundless night sky. Small as it was, no one could ignore it!

The blue point of light came from the heart of the inferno, growing ever more dazzling as it drew closer.

"That's..." Jean froze.

As the blue light grew larger, everyone present finally saw what it really was.

It was a crystal-clear Frost Arrow, imbued with such an immense amount of Cryo that it actually glowed.

Under countless watching eyes, the Frost Arrow burst out of the heart of the inferno, trailing surging waves of cold with unstoppable force.

Wherever it passed, the spreading chill crushed the flames. Before everyone's eyes, it forcibly carved a four-meter-wide path through the sea of fire!

"Who was that?" Jean put away her sword and looked in the direction the arrow had come from.

"Such powerful control over Cryo. Do we have an archer with a Cryo Vision that strong in Mondstadt?" Kaeya looked visibly shaken.

Even Diluc, who had been standing with his arms crossed in a deserted corner, lowered his arms, his expression solemn. Clearly, that arrow had astonished him too.

"One Frost Arrow cleaved the sea of flames. Just who was it?"

That single arrow left countless onlookers awestruck.

Now everyone's gaze was fixed on the direction the Frost Arrow had come from. They all wanted to see who would emerge along the newly opened path.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, two figures gradually appeared at the far end of the path.

The white-haired girl and the girl dressed in purple raven feathers supported each other as they walked out of the heart of the inferno, step by step. The Night Raven guarded their side, while the Ice Phoenix summoned cold winds to shield them from the flames.

"It's them! They're all right!"

The instant they recognized the two girls, joy spread across everyone's faces.

The Knights of Favonius all breathed sighs of relief.

Cyrus of the Adventurers' Guild was relieved as well.

"Ellin!!"

"Little Amy!!"

The most excited of all were the two girls' parents. The moment the girls emerged from the flames, their parents pushed past the Knights of Favonius and rushed forward to embrace their children, as though afraid they would disappear the moment they let go.

"Ellin, my daughter, thank goodness you're all right."

"If anything had happened to you, how could your mother and I go on living?"

Ellin's parents wept bitterly.

Faced with her tearful parents, Ellin could only scratch her head sheepishly. "Sorry, Mom and Dad. I made you worry, but look, I'm perfectly fine!"

"Little Amy, why did you go somewhere so dangerous?"

"We were worried sick. Thank goodness you're all right."

Fischl lacked the maturity and sensitivity of Ellin, who had lived two lives. Faced with her parents' affection, she had no idea how to respond for a moment.

But she soon came to her senses, her face flushing bright red.

"Dad, what are you talking about? Who... who's Little Amy?"

Hearing this, Fischl's parents immediately sighed in relief. Thank goodness. It seemed their daughter's mind hadn't been damaged by the fire.

Fischl sneaked a glance at Ellin. Only after assuring herself that Ellin hadn't heard her nickname, "Little Amy," did she relax a little.

What she didn't know, however, was that Ellin had heard it. She had simply known about the affectionate nickname "Little Amy" all along, which was why she hadn't reacted.

Meanwhile, Jean, Kaeya, Diluc, and the others were still intensely curious about the person who had split the inferno with a single arrow.

But when they saw Ellin holding a beautiful large bow, with a Cryo Vision hanging at her waist, Jean and the others began to form their own suspicions.

Their only remaining question was whether Ellin really was that strong.

After all, just a day ago, Ellin had been an ordinary girl training hard every day to qualify as a knight.

Only one day had passed. Even if she had obtained a Vision, surely she couldn't have improved that dramatically? Besides, Ellin had spent all these years practicing swordsmanship. They had never heard of her training in archery.

Had Ellin really fired that arrow?

Questions lingered in Jean's and the others' minds, but as they watched Fischl and Ellin embracing their parents, they understood that now wasn't the time to ask.

A short while later, both sets of parents calmed down.

The medical personnel who had already been arranged also stepped forward.

"Thanks be to Lord Barbatos for his protection. I'm so glad you're both safe. You've both suffered some injuries, so please let me treat you."

Barbara, the Rite of Partaking Priest, approached with concern. Using her Hydro Vision to channel water magic, she summoned Healing Water.

Although neither Ellin nor Fischl had suffered any serious injuries, a few burns were inevitable after coming out of that inferno.

The cool water-based healing magic not only healed Ellin's and Fischl's injuries, but also soothed their nerves.

"O maiden who commandeth the power of water, thy magic is worthy of praise." Fischl struck a theatrical pose.

Oz: What my lady means is, thank you, Miss Barbara. Your healing magic is impressive.

Ellin also voiced her thanks. "Thank you for healing us. But you're so cute, Miss Barbara, that just seeing you has already filled me with energy."

"C-cute..." Barbara looked overwhelmed by the compliment and shyly turned her face aside.

"If we're talking about being cute, Miss Ellin is a hundred times cuter than I am."

That evening, as the sun was setting.

Ellin and Fischl returned to Mondstadt accompanied by their families.

Both the Knights of Favonius and the Adventurers' Guild had approached Ellin and Fischl to ask what had caused the fire, and the girls had told them the truth.

"Immortal Lord who Heeds All Cries, Answers All Pleas, Vanquishes Demons, and Delivers from Calamity, my friend, we dwell in the mortal realm, bound by its laws, and cannot restore our power through the methods of our former lives. I possess a wondrous method to swiftly replenish our depleted divine power, and would invite thee to try it."

Just as they were about to part ways, Fischl suddenly spoke to Ellin.

Oz: My lady means that you must have expended a great deal of energy today, and she would like to invite you to her house for dinner.

Ellin: "Oz, didn't I tell you I can understand her? You don't have to translate."

"Forgive my impertinence, Miss Ellin. I have no intention of overstepping. However, although you can understand her, our esteemed readers in another dimension still need my translations."

"Oz!"

With Oz blurting out her private intentions, Fischl flushed with embarrassment. Yet she didn't dispute his interpretation. Instead, she gazed at Ellin with pleading eyes.

Fischl's parents also warmly invited Ellin over for dinner.

"Ellin, if it weren't for you today, we might never have seen Little Amy again. Please don't turn us down. Give us a chance to express our gratitude."

Seeing that there was no way to refuse-and having had no intention of refusing anyway-Ellin let her parents know, then nodded.

"Then, sorry for the trouble."