Morning light spilled softly across the courtyard.
Yaoyao came out hugging her spear, ready for her usual morning practice. Under the Sacred Sakura Tree, Ei was already waiting.
Just like yesterday, the Raiden Shogun sparred with her for a while, occasionally offering pointers on her technique.
When the practice ended, Yaoyao bowed politely to thank her.
Ei nodded slightly, turned, and walked toward the kitchen.
Once Ei was gone, Yaoyao sheathed her spear, puffing out a small, playful breath.
No matter how many times she did it, sparring with a god was still nerve-wracking.
Her clothes were damp with sweat, so she went back into the Serenitea Pot to take a bath.
Sinking into the warm water, she pulled out her phone and opened the Magical Girl group chat.
[Yaoyao]: Noelle-sis, did you do your morning training today?
[Noelle]: [Smile Emoji]
[Yaoyao]: The Raiden Shogun taught me spearwork again this morning. I'm exhausted.
[Noelle]: [Heary Eyes]
[Yaoyao]: I'm soaking in the bath right now. Gonna eat breakfast after—Big Brother made it!
[Noelle]: [Drooling Face]
[Yaoyao]: Noelle-sis, why are you only sending emojis? Say something!
[Noelle]: [Crossed Swords][Waving Hand]
Yaoyao leaned on the edge of the tub, giggling quietly at the screen.
After spending time in Mondstadt, she and Noelle had gotten really close. Every time they finished sparring, they'd bathe together and joke around like this.
Then Amber suddenly chimed in.
[Amber]: Yaoyao, why do you sound so flirty lately?
[Noelle]: +1
[Fischl]: +1
Yaoyao blinked, whispering under her breath, "No way… Amber-sis is framing me for no reason…"
She was just about to type a reply when a message from Collei popped up.
[Collei]: I'm back in Gandharva Ville. I'll finally get to meet the Traveler everyone's been talking about.
Amber immediately blew up the chat with a flurry of excited messages, asking Collei to say hi to the Traveler for her.
Yaoyao paused.
She also knew that Traveler—Lumine.
Back during the turmoil surrounding the Geo Archon, Lumine had visited her master several times, even borrowing a small bell-shaped artifact.
Yaoyao had been beside her master at the time, chatting with that floating companion, Paimon, about all sorts of fun and tasty things in Mondstadt.
After thinking for a moment, Yaoyao erased what she'd just written and sent a new message.
[Yaoyao]: Collei-sis, please tell Lumine-sis and Paimon I said hi too.
[Collei]: Got it.
[Yaoyao]: Thanks, Collei-sis!
---
After a long night of traveling, Collei finally returned from Sumeru City to Gandharva Ville.
Standing outside the settlement, she looked up at the familiar treetop houses, exhaustion flickering across her face.
Moments like these really made her appreciate the convenience of Anemo travel.
She leaned against a tree to rest and idly chatted in the group for a bit.
Once she'd recovered her strength, she released her magical girl transformation and headed inside.
A few people who were up early greeted her along the path. As a local trainee ranger, everyone knew Tighnari's apprentice.
Collei smiled and nodded politely in return.
Eventually, she reached the treehouse she called home and knocked softly on the door.
A gentle male voice came from inside. "Who is it?"
"It's me, Master," she replied.
"Collei?"
There was a hint of surprise in Tighnari's tone.
Moments later, he opened the door. A faint herbal scent drifted out with him. Seeing his student at the entrance, he looked puzzled.
"Weren't you in Sumeru City?"
"Lady Nahida gave me new instructions. She told me to come back."
"The Dendro Archon…"
Tighnari hesitated, glancing around to make sure no one else was nearby.
After a pause, he lowered his voice. "I take it this has something to do with the Traveler?"
"Yes," Collei answered.
"As expected. Nothing within Sumeru escapes Lady Nahida's awareness. The Traveler is recovering in that house over there. You can visit her later."
"Understood, Master."
"She still needs time to adapt to Sumeru's environment."
"I know."
"Good. You've had a long journey. Get some rest first."
Collei looked at him quietly. "Master…"
"What is it?"
"You're not going to ask… about Lady Nahida?"
"There's no need. I'm just your guide. The path you walk is your own."
"…"
"You've grown more confident than when you first came here. That's enough for me."
He turned back to his research.
Collei returned to her room without another word.
She knew her master must have plenty of questions—like how her Eleazar had vanished so suddenly after her trip to Mondstadt.
For two years, Tighnari had searched tirelessly for a cure, but nothing worked.
All Collei could say was that she'd met a doctor from Liyue who had somehow healed her.
She didn't understand how, but she knew that explanation was flimsy.
Even the Dendro Archon couldn't cure Eleazar—so how could an ordinary physician surpass a god's power?
But Tighnari hadn't pressed her. He'd just nodded thoughtfully.
After resting for a bit, Collei took out her phone and messaged Nahida.
[Collei]: Lady Nahida, I've returned to Gandharva Ville.
[Nahida]: Good. Proceed as planned. Meet with the Traveler first. When the time's right, discuss the cooperation.
[Collei]: Understood, Lady Nahida.
She lingered in the group chat for a while before hearing faint movement next door.
Opening her door, she saw two unfamiliar guests—one tall, one small.
Smiling, she greeted them. "Good morning! You must be the Traveler and Paimon, right?"
Lumine looked a bit surprised. "That's right. And you are…?"
"I'm Tighnari's student, Collei."
Paimon floated closer, inspecting her curiously. "So you're Collei! Amber's told us all about you!"
Collei laughed softly. "I've heard about you too. Amber just asked me to say hi to you both."
Paimon gasped. "Wait, just now? But Amber's in Mondstadt!"
"She is—and so is Yaoyao," Collei said calmly.
"Yaoyao?! Isn't she living with Madame Ping on Yujing Terrace?"
"Mm-hm. We've got a special way of keeping in touch."
"Really?"
"If you want, you can say hi to them yourselves."
"Seriously?"
"Of course."
Collei sent Amber a video call invitation and handed the phone to Lumine.
Lumine hesitated as she took the small glowing rectangle.
A second later, Amber appeared on screen.
"Whoa! Lumine! Paimon! Good morning!"
"Amber!"
"It's been forever!"
"Yeah! Did you find any leads on your brother yet?"
"...Not yet."
"That's okay! Don't worry, the Knights of Favonius will keep helping you!"
"Thanks."
After chatting a bit more, Amber waved goodbye and ended the call.
Lumine glanced at the contact list, recognizing nearly every name.
"This 'Qiqi'—is that the little apprentice from Bubu Pharmacy?" she asked curiously.
Collei nodded. "Yes, but not exactly."
"Not exactly?"
"She doesn't work there anymore."
"What?"
"Qiqi's a waitress now at the Summer Shop."
"The… Summer Shop?" Lumine and Paimon exchanged looks.
"So Qiqi changed jobs, huh," Paimon murmured.
"Wanna talk to Yaoyao too?" Collei asked.
"Sure!"
Collei started another call.
Yaoyao appeared on screen, freshly bathed and wrapped in a yukata.
"Lumine-sis! Paimon! Hi!"
"Yaoyao?! Is that really you?!"
"It's me! Don't tell me you forgot me already?"
"It's just—you've grown so much! And your figure's… um…"
Lumine remembered clearly—back in Liyue, Yaoyao had only come up to her chest.
Now the girl was almost eye level with her!
Kids these days grew terrifyingly fast.
They chatted for a while before Yaoyao waved goodbye and hung up.
Paimon still looked dazed.
They had just talked face-to-face with friends halfway across Teyvat.
This kind of communication was way too convenient.
"Collei, what do you call this little box?" Paimon asked, eyes wide.
"It's called a phone."
"Where can I buy one?! I want it!"
"Sorry, not for sale yet."
"Huh?!"
"It was a gift from a friend."
"Oh… a gift…"
Lumine turned the phone in her hand, recalling the worlds she'd traveled with her brother—how some of them had devices just like this.
Different design, same purpose.
She handed it back. "Thanks."
Collei shook her head. "No need to thank me. You're Amber and Yaoyao's friends, which makes you mine too."
Lumine smiled. "Mm."
"I heard from Master about your condition," Collei said softly. "How are you feeling?"
"Better. Tighnari says I still need rest though."
"And medicine," Paimon added.
At the word "medicine," Lumine grimaced, remembering the bitter taste.
"I'll help prepare it later," Collei offered. "Oh—have you two eaten breakfast yet?"
Paimon rubbed her stomach. "Not yet! Collei, do you have anything yummy?"
"Paimon," Lumine sighed, "we're guests here. Try to be polite."
Paimon scratched her head awkwardly.
Lumine looked back at Collei. "Anything's fine, really. We're not picky."
Collei shook her head, smiling earnestly. "You're honored guests from afar. Of course I have to treat you properly. Don't worry, I'll make sure you're satisfied."
She turned to leave.
Lumine and Paimon exchanged glances.
"Traveler… we're not being a bother, are we?"
"You were the one who said you were hungry."
"I was just saying it out loud! How was I supposed to know she'd take it so seriously?"
"Whatever. Let's just help her."
"Good idea! We're great cooks anyway!"
They followed her into the kitchen.
"Collei, we'll help!" Paimon declared as soon as they stepped in.
Collei turned and smiled. "No need. You two should rest."
"It's fine! As long as I don't smell that strange aroma, I'll be okay," Lumine said.
Paimon tilted her head. "So, what are you making for breakfast? I can wash the ingredients!"
But the kitchen was empty—just a pot of boiling water on the stove.
Collei scratched her cheek awkwardly. "Um… this." She pointed at the pot.
"..."
Lumine and Paimon stared in silence.
Wait. She'd just said she was going to "treat them properly," and it turns out… to plain hot water?
After a beat, Lumine said politely, "Actually, hot water in the morning's… not bad."
"Yeah!" Paimon jumped in quickly. "We used to drink hot water all the time while camping!"
Collei's eyes softened with sympathy. "You must've had it rough—only drinking hot water in the mornings…"
Her tone carried genuine pity, as if she were remembering her own days of wandering, when she'd eaten crushed Sunsettia pits and even swallowed fireflies for the energy.
Truth was, her cooking wasn't very good.
The only reason she'd sounded so confident earlier was because she had a secret weapon—something Mr. Xia had given her.
She pulled out a few tubs of instant noodles and several canned goods from her space ring.
Lumine and Paimon blinked in confusion.
Collei opened one of the noodle cups, poured in the hot water, and soon a rich aroma filled the room.
Lumine and Paimon both swallowed instinctively.
Then she opened a can of braised beef and set it over the flame to heat.
"Please wait a bit longer."
"Mm-hm!" both guests replied eagerly.
A few minutes later, Paimon was hugging a cup of braised beef noodles, tears practically welling up in her eyes.
She looked up solemnly. "Collei."
"Yeah?"
"I'm giving you a nickname—from now on, you're the God of Cooking!"
"Huh? No way, that's too much." Collei laughed, embarrassed. "These were all made by someone else. I just heated them up."
"What?! Who made them? I need to meet this person!"
"Mr. Xia."
"Mr. Xia! Got it—I'll remember that name forever!"
----
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