The veteran adventurers near the counter traded quiet chuckles. A wave of knowing whispers followed, spreading through the hall like ripples across still water.
There was only one person in Mondstadt who would open a conversation like this.
Fischl, Prinzessin der Verurteilung.
Her footsteps clicked lightly against the marble floor, steady and theatrical. A golden-haired girl strode inside, twin tails swaying in perfect rhythm. Her gothic black and violet dress fluttered with each movement, layered skirts casting shifting shadows. A black eyepatch concealed her left eye while her exposed right one gleamed with lofty confidence, as if the hall were her throne room rather than the Adventurers' Guild.
She lifted her hand with practiced poise, lips curving in a regal smile.
"Ahaha, my loyal subjects. Have you failed to perceive the stirring of sin at the edge of the mortal veil? Has the void-shadow clouded your sight?"
A raven launched from her shoulder in a graceful arc, dark feathers gleaming with violet luminescence. It circled once before returning to its perch.
"Princess, your words may confuse the others again," Oz said with a weary sigh. His composed tone contrasted sharply with Fischl's dramatic cadence. Turning toward Kael Arclight, the raven fluttered his wings. "She means: Kael, your expression is serious. Is something troubling you?"
The nearby adventurers exchanged looks, half amused and half resigned.
"There she goes again."
"Her entrances are always like stage plays."
"Dramatic, but her strength is real. Electro Vision wielders are no joke."
Kael blinked once, then allowed himself a faint laugh.
"Fischl, planning to banish evil again?"
He had seen her more than a few times since joining the Guild. Her theatricality was impossible to ignore, but her investigative skills were genuine and her intel sharp enough that the Guild relied on her more often than people thought.
Fischl snapped her cloak behind her with a sweeping motion.
"Of course. I have traced the path of the creeping shadow. The vortex of wickedness churns beneath the night. I shall be its end."
Oz translated with long-suffering calm. "She is offering her assistance."
Kael rubbed his forehead, fighting the smile tugging at his lips. Fischl's style was eccentric enough to give anyone pause, but her battlefield presence was undeniable. Oz alone provided reliable long-range Electro support.
He met Fischl's bright, expectant eyes.
"Sounds like a good offer."
Fischl crossed her arms with triumph. "Excellent. My loyal subject understands the magnitude of my power."
Oz sighed. "She means she will help you."
The adventurers chuckled again.
"Looks like Kael is being recruited."
"With her backing, his mission success rate just spiked."
"Her speech is strange, but her combat sense is sharp."
Fischl called a streak of violet light into her hand, the air crackling faintly.
"Then come, my subject. Let us march toward our destined trial."
Oz flapped once. "She asks where you are going next. She can accompany you."
Kael opened his mouth to respond.
The blue panel appeared in front of his vision.
It cut through the scene with sharp clarity.
[You encountered Seele of Earthfire on your way out. After seeing you, she invited you to join her in gathering supplies.]
[Your mind returned to the early days of Earthfire. You had helped them when they were newly formed. You once met a ten-year-old girl already walking the Path of the Hunt. You could not bring yourself to ask such a young girl for guidance, but you watched over her in your own way.]
[Time passed. The starving child who traded scraps for bread has grown into a capable young woman, now a key member of Earthfire. Raised in the danger and disorder of the underground, she learned to survive alone. Once a weak wanderer, she now seeks strength relentlessly, driven to uncover the secrets beneath the surface and restore dignity to her people.]
[Because she matured into a Path hunter, she spent her days patrolling and protecting the lower district. You seldom crossed paths. Even when you studied the Path of Abundance to heal the sick and support Earthfire, you never asked her for guidance. Yet she noticed everything you had done for the people. She did not approach you, fearing she would disturb you, and kept her feelings quietly hidden.]
[Now Seele stands before you. She has invited you to join her.]
[Faced with Seele's invitation, you choose...]
The panel shimmered, awaiting Kael's decision.