With one final sweep of Lumine’s blade, the last Hilichurl in the camp crashed to the ground.
Leaning against her sword, Lumine sat slumped on the ground.
“Phew…
It’s finally over,” Lumine sighed with emotion.
Eve transformed back from her bracelet form, leaping down right beside Lumine.
“Mmhmm, it’s over,” Eve agreed.
Faced with the recent danger, she had chosen the method that consumed the least amount of divine power.
A mere handful of Hilichurls simply wasn’t worth her getting her hands dirty.
At that moment, Paimon darted over at top speed.
“Lumine!
That scared the absolute daylights out of me!
It was so terrifying—thank goodness you managed to pull off the win!”
Paimon launched herself straight into Lumine’s arms, her voice trembling on the verge of tears.
“There, there, don’t worry, it’s fine.” Lumine released the sword hilt and gently stroked Paimon’s white hair.
Amber clutched her arm with her opposite hand, staggering toward them with unsteady steps.
“Thanks to you, it seems I underestimated you before—outlander traveler,” Amber said with evident emotion.
And she wasn’t wrong.
If she hadn’t happened to cross paths with the Traveler while out on this commission, her remains would have already been buried in this very Hilichurl camp.
“What’s going on with these Hilichurls?
I felt this terrible, suffocating aura radiating off them,” Lumine asked, turning back to look at Amber with a solemn expression.
“It seems you noticed it too,” Amber replied, her expression matching Lumine’s gravity.
“I have no idea what caused it, but I’ll be reporting the situation directly to Acting Grand Master Jean,” Amber continued.
“Right,” Lumine nodded faintly.
“Also, that little slime of yours is quite extraordinary!” Amber said, her gaze shifting toward Eve.
Faced with such a sharp, analytical look, Eve immediately put on an innocent expression that practically screamed, *I have nothing to do with this.*
Yet inwardly, Eve’s nerves instantly spiked.
*Did I exert myself too much just now and blow my cover?*
“Not only does this slime understand elemental reaction theory, but it can even attach itself to someone and grant them the power of the Dendro element.
Truly extraordinary!”
“Miss Lisa and the alchemists over at the Akademiya would probably find this fascinating…” Amber leaned in closer to Eve, her eyes gleaming with an unsettling curiosity. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Without a second thought, Eve leaped straight into Lumine’s arms, accidentally shoving Paimon aside in the process.
“Eve!
What are you doing?!” Paimon, suddenly booted out of the way, stamped her little feet in protest.
“Lumine, I’m scared…” Eve completely ignored Paimon, her big eyes welling up with simulated tears as she instantly put on a pitiful act for Lumine.
“Amber, you’re scaring Eve,” Lumine quickly said, stepping in to shield her.
A smug look flashed across Eve’s face as her plan succeeded.
*Hah, that’ll teach you to harbor weird ideas about this goddess.*
Paimon was the only one who caught that fleeting expression.
Crossing her arms and pouting, she let out an indignant huff.
“Ah!
Sorry, sorry!”
“I was just thinking how remarkably rare Eve is, that’s all,” Amber immediately waved her hands in a fluster, explaining herself.
“Eve is just well-read because she’s been traveling for many years.
Besides, isn’t elemental attachment something any slime can do?” Lumine asked, looking genuinely puzzled.
“Uh…” Amber blinked, momentarily at a loss for words.
She could barely understand the first part, but as for the second part…
“Lumine, as far as I know, there isn’t a single slime in all of Teyvat capable of initiating elemental attacks quite like Eve does,” Amber said seriously.
“Oh?
Is that right?” Lumine finally had a lightbulb moment.
She had genuinely assumed all slimes were just like Eve!
“Yes!
That’s why I said Eve is so exceptional,” Amber continued.
“I see.
Is that how it is, Eve?” Lumine nodded, turning her head to question her companion.
“That’s right, it’s just one of my unique little abilities,” Eve offered the only explanation she could.
“Ohh!
So Eve, you’re actually super strong!” Lumine looked down at Eve with sparkling eyes.
“Well, naturally.” Eve puffed up her round little body with pride.
If we delay any longer, it’ll be dark, and there’s no telling what other dangers might be lurking around,” Amber suggested.
“Good point,” Lumine agreed with a nod.
Amber pulled some bandages from her waist pouch, quickly wrapping and dressing the still-bleeding wound on her arm.
Meanwhile, Lumine gathered the loot dropped by the defeated Hilichurls—things like broken masks, arrowheads, and worn scrolls.
Once everything was sorted, they finally set off down the road toward the City of Freedom.
Though Amber had treated her own wound, she still needed Lumine’s support to walk properly.
Because of this, Eve broke her usual habit of perching on Lumine’s shoulder and instead hopped along the ground ahead of them, bouncing forward step by step.
Paimon continued to float in the air, keeping close to Lumine’s side.
Along the way, Lumine suddenly turned to Eve and asked, “Eve, what is this ‘elemental reaction theory’ you mentioned?”
She was still lingering on what Eve had said during the battle.
“Ah, elemental reaction theory?
Well, it’s basically…”
Eve provided a concise explanation.
Simply put, when two or more elements collide, they trigger a specialized reaction.
Of course, there are also pairs of elements that never react at all—like the orphan elements Anemo and Geo, which completely ignore each other.
“So that’s how it is!” Lumine nodded in understanding.
“Indeed, her explanation is spot-on.
Not a single error,” Amber chimed in, offering her approval.
“It seems you really are quite knowledgeable!” Amber smiled, casting an admiring glance at Eve.
Before long, a grand stone bridge hove into view before them.
And right across that bridge stood the magnificent City of Mondstadt.
Crossing the threshold of the stone bridge, they arrived directly at the city gates.
“Outlander traveler, allow me to officially introduce it: the City of Wind and Dandelion Wine, the City of Freedom—welcome to Mondstadt!”
Amber announced with a proud sweep of her arm toward Lumine.
“Whoa…” Lumine gasped, staring in wonder at the towering, majestic walls and the striking, exotic architecture.
“We finally don’t have to sleep out in the wilderness anymore!” Paimon cheered excitedly.
At that moment, two guards stationed at the gate hurried over to greet them.