Orion sat in a chair at the dining table, staring at the tabletop without speaking.
"Here, have some tea." Fischl's mother came over with black tea. Orion quickly thanked her, then picked up the steaming tea and took a sip, secretly glancing up.
Fischl's father, wearing an Adventurers Guild uniform, was glaring fiercely at him.
Upon learning that a boy the same age as Fischl had come to their house, and was also said to be the master of the twelve Night Ravens, he even skipped his commissions, returning home at the fastest speed he had ever achieved in his life.
Then, he maintained that posture, staring at Orion.
As for Orion, it wasn't that he didn't dare to glare back—oh no, he really didn't dare. Because when others glared at him, he also wanted to glare back, but when he glared at others, he easily exuded some pressure. This pressure didn't affect Lumine or Skirk, but it might not be harmless to this old guy.
You can't go to your girlfriend's house for dinner and accidentally glare her old man to death, can you? That's not a joke.
A rare character from Mihoyo with both parents alive.
Fischl changed her clothes, had Oz help her stick the small wing stickers on her back, and only came down to the living room on the second floor after confirming her outfit was perfect.
As soon as she reached the living room, she heard her father questioning Orion. Fischl was about to go stop him but was held back by her mother.
"Don't go over there. A girl should just watch from behind. Your dad had a similar experience when he first came to my house to meet your grandfather. The Q&A will be over soon."
Fischl: "???"
And at the dining table, the Battle of Wits had already begun!
Fischl's father's first move was not a household registration check, but a rapid-fire Q&A.
"My daughter's identity."
"The Prinzessin der Verurteilung, the Sovereign of Immernachtreich, the ruler of Immernachtreich."
"Her retinue."
"Oswald Hrafnavines."
"Birthday."
"May 27th."
"Favorite dish."
"Consecrated Symphony."
"How to make it."
"It's just a cold cut platter."
Beside them, Fischl's mother nodded and said to Fischl, "Alright, this kid is quite attentive. He actually remembered such a complex setting after you told him."
Fischl: "Huh? Did I say it? I must have said it then..."
She hadn't said it; this was just a little trick from a Level 100 Fischl player.
Fischl's father also had to nod and began his household registration check: "So, you're the kid named Orion?"
Orion lowered his head and replied, "Yes, my name is Orion, that's correct."
"What does your family do?"
"Uh, I do odd jobs for the Anemo Archon. Recently, I got an honorary position called Honorary Priest."
Fischl's father: "..."
What to do? It's a bit hard to refute.
"Ahem!" Fischl's father rallied and asked again, "You're also registered with the Adventurers Guild, but the commissions you've completed are pitifully few! A man must establish his career, and such powerful strength is indispensable!"
"Yes, yes, you are right."
"Why don't you usually take commissions?"
"My two travel companions are very good at quests. They usually do all the commissions, and I occasionally help out."
"Tsk, how can you improve your strength if you're so lazy? How strong are you?"
"Average, I guess. I was beaten up before, which made me a lot more honest. Now, I'm okay against Stormterror, but I can't say for sure about others."
Fischl's father: "..."
How should I respond to this? You could just say you're invincible, right? Are we not going through the motions here?
Fischl's mother also noticed her husband's embarrassment and walked over, gently patting the back of his head: "You! You're not unaware of how famous that child's reputation is in Mondstadt now! Are you asking so many questions just to humiliate yourself? Why do you keep glaring at him with that look?"
"I, I'm just testing him, aren't I? Look, I'm glaring at him, and he doesn't dare to glare back. How can such a coward protect Amy?"
"Don't call me Amy!" ← Fischl.
"Isn't that obvious? This is our home, and he's a guest. If you glare at him and he glares back, wouldn't that be like challenging us? Look how polite that child is!"
"No, that won't do. You have to show something. Come on, kid! Glare back! If you glare back, we'll consider this formality over."
Orion looked up: "Really glare? I'm afraid I can't suppress it."
Fischl's father puffed out his chest: "What's there to suppress? Just glare!"
Unable to refuse the fervent invitation, Orion had no choice but to gather his thoughts, concentrating his pressure solely on Fischl's father, and adjusting the overflowing pressure to the minimum.
Then, Orion opened his eyes. A faint blue glow appeared in them, and a minuscule pressure swept towards Fischl's father.
With a "clatter!" Fischl's father slid directly off his stool.
Note it down, he fell off the stool.
Fischl's mother, looking astonished, helped her husband up. The feeling from her palms, the way his muscles were trembling, didn't seem feigned.
Fischl's father swallowed hard, but the unbearable thought of his daughter being taken away by a yellow-haired guy quickly brought him back to his senses.
He stubbornly stood with his hands on his hips: "See? I'm perfectly fine!"
He originally had no hostility towards Orion, even feeling some gratitude, because Fischl's only friend from childhood was Oz. Recently, he heard that Fischl had made a few friends at the Adventurers Guild: an unlucky boy, a blonde female swordswoman, and a white floating creature. He and his wife were happy for several days.
Then, on the day the Demon Dragon attacked Mondstadt, his daughter brought back twelve Night Ravens, saying a new friend had entrusted them to her. Up to this point, everything was fine.
But since then, whenever his daughter spoke to him, five out of ten sentences would mention Orion, and three would mention her personal knight.
The remaining two sentences were "Father King" and "Mother Queen."
This completely overturned his vinegar jar.
Fischl's mother sighed heavily, seeing her husband in this state. She pushed him from behind, guiding him into the room.
"Go, go, I have something to tell you."
"Hey, don't push me! I need to finish talking to this kid first."
"He's here for our daughter. Let the kids play by themselves! Go, go!"
Fischl's father was thus pushed into the room by his wife.
Before entering the room, Fischl's mother smiled and leaned out, saying to Orion and Fischl, "You two have fun! Fischl, make sure to entertain your friend well~"
"Mom, you guys..."
"It's fine~" The wife slowly closed the door, leaving only one sentence: "Your dad won't have the strength to get out of bed."
The room door slammed shut with a clang, like a prison gate closing.
Inside the room, there was only an age like a hungry wolf, and a man's tired soul.
Orion and Fischl exchanged glances, both unsure what to say.
However, a Prinzessin is a Prinzessin after all. With a flash, she struck a pose: "my knight, Sir Hollis, have you come here today for an important matter to discuss?"
Orion bowed courteously, placing his left hand behind his back and extending his right hand forward: "Your esteemed Prinzessin, I have found the way home for you. Today, I invite you to ascend the throne and make the Immernachtreich great again!"
Fischl initially thought Orion had come to retrieve the twelve Night Ravens and was a bit disappointed, as having the Night Ravens accompany her had made her very happy recently.
But now, hearing Orion say this, Fischl immediately understood that Orion was here to make her happy! Although she wasn't unhappy, what girl doesn't love to be coaxed?
There's really no other way! Next, she would show off her years of acting skills and improvisational ability! And surely, with Orion's capabilities, the "secret base" he found must be a place with beautiful scenery, right? Should they bring some lunch to go with them?
Fischl immediately smiled and placed her hand on Orion's: "Excellent! You are indeed the most valued vassal of This Princess besides Oz! So today, you shall escort This Princess to return to my Elysian Realm! All my vassals! Form ranks!"
As Oz and the Night Ravens lined up, Orion also held Fischl's hand, and with his other hand, snapped his fingers.
As the snap echoed in her ears, Fischl's vision suddenly changed.
What was originally her parents' hard-earned house had now transformed into a beach, a beach on an island.
The sky was not blue, but a tranquil, deep purple. Fischl looked incredulously at the sea before her. Waves pushed against her feet, wetting her shoes; this damp sensation was absolutely real.
As if sensing something, Fischl's body trembled, and she suddenly turned back.
A purple castle lay fallen deep within the island, its scale immense, seemingly connecting several small islands; spires like broken feathered arrows pierced the starless night, and connecting bridges like threads of memory linked the girl's shattered dreams of over a decade.
At this moment, Fischl was certain: this was Immernachtreich.
A miracle, both solemn and solitary, constructed from a maiden's inner world.
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