Chapter 94

As for Eula, she just needed to train her physical fitness; she wasn't quite ready to withstand the side effects of the Teigu: Demon's Extract.

Upon learning the news, Luo Li nodded, then looked at Mona.

Seeing the master of the house, the young girl quickly stood up to greet him, intending to reveal the purpose of her visit.

Who knew Luo Li would wave his hand to stop her, saying with a smile: "I know your background and purpose; there's no need to repeat it."

Mona: "???"

"The reason you came here is because I used a few small tricks."

"..."

"Don't look at me like that; didn't this lighten your burden? You just need to wait here with peace of mind, and there are delicious snacks to fill your stomach."

This was true, but Mona always felt something was wrong.

However, one thing had to be said: the snacks made by this Sister Makoto really tasted good.

And she could confirm one thing: Klee really didn't know astrology. Her initial guess was wrong; there was someone else behind it.

She wanted to say something, but after thinking it over, Mona realized she hadn't lost anything, and she had even filled her stomach in the meantime—it was a huge profit.

Thinking this way, her heart immediately balanced out.

Erasing that feeling of awkwardness, Mona took a deep breath and turned her gaze toward Klee.

"Since Aunt Alice's daughter doesn't know astrology, then let's fulfill the promise from fifty years ago and hand over the item the old hag wants back."

Missing out on the sparring process disappointed her quite a bit; after all, an astrologist must constantly improve, and mutual verification with others is naturally the fastest way.

However... her gaze swept over Luo Li intentionally or unintentionally.

This person's attainments in astrology were unfathomable; if there was a chance, she really wanted to ask for advice.

Because Mona now realized that it wasn't her strength that allowed her to glimpse this manor through fate, but that the other party had intentionally left a flaw so that she would come.

Klee tilted her head and thought: the item from the promise fifty years ago?

Mona suddenly felt a sense of foreboding—could it be that this little girl had forgotten where she put it?!

Fortunately, Klee remembered quickly, turned around to take off her small backpack, and reached inside to rummage for something.

Seeing this, Mona's heart, which should have been at ease, tightened again as the item was pulled out.

"Hmm, not this one, that's a Jumpty Dumpty, this one is specially made for blowing up Starsnatch Cliff, and also..."

Hearing this, Mona was full of question marks—what on earth are you people letting a little girl carry around all day? Aren't you afraid of an accident?

Conversely, Luo Li and Raiden Makoto were quite calm.

With luck on her side, even if a bomb were to suddenly explode, Klee would avoid the damage in some very unscientific way.

Soon, the little girl's tone rose instantly.

"Found it! It's this one!"

Taking a thick book out of her backpack, Klee handed it to Mona, feeling a bit embarrassed during the process.

"I used the treasure chest that held the book to store my treasures. Sister, you won't be angry, right?"

"It's fine, it's fine."

Mona appeared quite generous; after all, it wasn't her item anyway.

After getting the item, she muttered to herself that the old hag had said that under no circumstances should she look at the contents, or she would be torn to pieces.

Although this scared Mona, it also aroused an unparalleled curiosity in her.

What exactly was it that made the old hag give such solemn instructions? The young girl's heart was itching like a cat scratching it.

"I'll just take one look, just one look!"

Holding this thought, Mona opened the mysterious book, and immediately froze.

"This... isn't this a diary?"

Reading ten lines at a glance, the young girl was struck by lightning.

No wonder she wasn't allowed to look—it turned out these diaries were all the old hag's dark history from her youth!

She had thought the old hag was just trying to scare her; she never expected it to be true.

This is bad. She spent all her Mora to come to Mondstadt, didn't gain any knowledge, and was played around by others.

Now that she had seen the dark history, she couldn't go back either; this was a total loss.

As for wanting to pretend she hadn't seen it, that was impossible; astrology could see through all lies, and even if Mona lied, it wouldn't work.

Unless one day her attainments in astrology surpassed the old hag's.

Thinking of this, Mona couldn't help but look at Luo Li.

This mysterious guy should be able to do it, right?

Pretending not to see, Luo Li asked: "Now that you have the item, what do you plan to do next?"

"I..."

Mona was momentarily speechless.

Since she couldn't go back and had no money on her, she really didn't know what to do.

The young girl fell into a daze.

At this moment, Luo Li offered a suggestion: "It's too hasty to leave just after arriving in Mondstadt. Why not stay here for a while and get to know the culture and scenery of Mondstadt?"

Mona's eyes lit up, and she confirmed as if grabbing a straw: "Is that okay?"

"Of course. Since you have such a relationship with Klee, you are naturally my guest as well."

Hearing this, Mona immediately started calculating.

Going back was impossible, and she could take this time to build a good relationship with the homeowner and find a job to make money.

That way, she could talk about paying rent to stay later, and ask him about questions regarding astrology.

It was killing two birds with one stone!

Her little abacus clicked away, and a smile bloomed again on Mona's originally distressed face.

"Then I am deeply grateful!"

Putting the book away, Mona bowed to thank him.

Luo Li waved his hand and, under Raiden Makoto's amused gaze, grabbed her hand and began to knead it gently.

He wasn't worried about jealousy; Makoto couldn't possibly feel resentment toward these young girls.

Her Excellency the Raiden Shogun was by no means a vassal; she enjoyed the intimacy and affection with Luo Li, but that wasn't all there was to it.

Just as things were harmonious, Lumine walked in with Paimon, looking dejected.

"What's wrong?" Raiden Makoto asked with some concern.

After spending several days together, she quite liked this blonde girl, though she was relatively reticent in personality.

Luo Li knew the reason as soon as he saw her.

Lumine had previously accepted the Adventurers' Guild's quest regarding the missing Statue of the Seven, and had encountered Dainsleif to explore the truth together.

Most likely, she had seen Aether during the quest.

That prince who had been made crown prince by the King of Khaenri'ah and had raised the banner of rebellion.

Lumine shook her head, her gaze fixed on Luo Li: "I saw my brother. He is called 'Prince' by the people of the Abyss Order, and I also remembered a part of what happened."

Perhaps stimulated, Lumine recalled the great fire five hundred years ago, the destroyed cities and ancient kingdoms, and the sky covered by a pitch-black space.

For some reason, her brother was unwilling to acknowledge her, instead telling her to travel alone on this continent and find her own answer.

Lumine could never understand, and hoped to get a hint from Luo Li.

Luo Li chuckled: "Since your brother said so, just follow his lead. The only advice I can give you is that the Rite of Descension will be held in Liyue next month; perhaps you can go and see it for yourself."

"Rite of Descension..."

Lumine chewed on the words. She had heard him mention it before, but at that time she was exhausted by quests and other matters, and had no energy to consider it.

Now that she knew her brother was still alive and safe, she finally put one worry to rest.

However, she still had to find her brother and ask him some things face-to-face.

At the same time, she also hoped to find the god who had separated the siblings back then.

Luo Li suggested: "Do you want to go with us next month?"

Lumine shook her head: "Probably not. Miss Katheryne from the Adventurers' Guild has entrusted me with quite a few quests, so I can't leave for now."

"In that case, you can head there yourself when the time comes. Remember not to miss the date."

— Author's Notes —

·· ·Seeking flowers··· ··