Xiao Bai slowly stood up, her body swaying slightly as if even a gentle breeze could topple her.
She gently rubbed her temples, trying to ease the sudden wave of dizziness.
Taking a deep breath, she waved toward Shajin, her voice tinged with a weariness she couldn't quite hide.
"It's getting late. We should head back."
Her voice was as light as a feather in the wind.
Shajin glanced at her tired face and shrugged.
Then, with a crisp snap of his fingers, the sound echoed softly in the air.
Golden specks of light floated out from his hand like tiny stars, gradually surrounding the two of them.
In an instant, their bodies were wrapped in shimmering gold, and in the blink of an eye, they vanished, as if they had never been there at all.
The next moment, they reappeared in the same guest room from before.
The room was filled with a faint, comforting fragrance. It was warm and serene, radiating a sense of peace.
Xiao Bai exhaled deeply, as if trying to release all the excitement and emotions she'd just experienced. A faint blush still lingered on her face.
She walked slowly to the bed and sat down, running her fingers over the soft sheets, letting her mind settle.
Shajin stood silently nearby, watching her. After a pause, he asked softly, "How do you feel?"
Xiao Bai looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. She smiled.
"Mmm… it was a very special experience. Thank you for taking me there, Shajin."
Shajin gave a slight smile and waved it off.
"No need to thank me. As long as you enjoyed it."
Then he turned toward the glass tank nearby and filled it with fresh water.
As he tapped the glass twice, the two golden fish that had disappeared earlier reappeared, swimming around like nothing had happened.
Xiao Bai blinked in surprise.
She got out of bed, walked over, and mimicked Shajin's gesture by tapping the glass.
To her astonishment, the two fish rolled their eyes at her in perfect sync.
Xiao Bai: ???
What's going on? Why did they react like that? Could these fish… actually be sentient?
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out:
"So then, White Heron Princess—Miss Kamisato Ayaka, I'll take my leave now~"
Xiao Bai—no, Kamisato Ayaka—turned around quickly, but Shajin was already gone without a trace.
A sense of loss and confusion filled her chest.
He had left so abruptly, without even giving her a way to contact him.
So many things she still wanted to ask.
When did he find out her identity?
Who was he really?
What was that teleportation ability?
Why did he go along with all this so willingly?
All these questions swirled in her mind with no answers.
Despite all the thoughts bubbling inside her, she hadn't voiced a single one—before he vanished.
Ayaka sighed softly and shook her head.
"Ayaka, the meeting's over. We should go," came Kamisato Ayato's voice from outside the room.
Ayaka glanced at her clothes and quickly called out, "W-Wait a moment!"
Ayato, confused, politely waited outside.
A moment later, Ayaka slowly opened the door.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Brother."
Ayato smiled and shook his head.
"It's fine. But… what are those?"
His gaze drifted to the clothes Ayaka was wearing, his eyes flickering with curiosity.
"Oh, these?"
Ayaka looked down, then smiled unconsciously.
Two small goldfish were swimming in a water bag she held.
"They're a gift from someone I just met."
"I see."
Ayato nodded. That made sense.
"Is this guy a siscon?"
Suddenly, a voice piped up from inside the bag.
"Mhm, total siscon!"
A second voice chimed in.
Ayato looked around in bafflement. Other than Ayaka and a few retainers nearby, no one else was present.
The retainers wouldn't dare speak like that. And Ayaka… surely wouldn't say something like that?
"What's that siscon doing now?"
"Dunno. Probably looking for us?"
"But we're right in front of him."
"Exactly! That's why I said I don't get it either!"
Ayato suddenly realized something.
He stared at the bag of fish in Ayaka's hands, eyes wide.
"What are you staring at?" one of the goldfish grumbled.
"Yeah, haven't you seen a talking goldfish before?" the other added.
Ayato (and Ayaka): "???"
…
"I knew it. You only show up when it's time to leave."
Rosalyne sighed and pressed a hand to her forehead, her expression laced with exasperation. She gave a long look at the masked Shajin approaching from a distance.
Feeling her gaze, Shajin awkwardly turned away, instinctively reaching up to scratch his face—only to remember the mask.
He gave a dry cough, trying to cover his discomfort.
"Ahem… Rosalyne, how's the diplomacy with Inazuma going?"
Rosalyne rolled her eyes but answered with forced patience.
"Same as the last report."
She paused, then continued.
"The Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions seem utterly convinced that their Raiden Shogun is unbeatable, so both publicly and secretly, they've been cooperating with the Fatui. As for the Shuumatsuban…"
She shrugged.
"The head of the Kamisato Clan, Ayato, keeps dodging and deflecting. He's never given us a straight answer. For now, let's just treat them as 'hostile.'"
"If they won't cooperate, we'll just replace them."
Shajin offered no opinion.
They walked slowly through the rural fields on Inazuma's outskirts, the earth beneath their feet rich with the scent of nature. A gentle breeze swept past, carrying the fragrance far into the distance.
The peaceful scenery of Inazuma always gave off a sense of timeless calm, as though even the flow of time had slowed.
"Lady Signora, Lord Gambler, the Traveler has arrived in Inazuma aboard Liyue's Crux Fleet. They're currently at the harbor on Ritou," a Fatui soldier reported.
Hearing that, Rosalyne and Shajin simultaneously halted.
Rosalyne narrowed her eyes slightly, a smile tugging at her lips.
"So she's finally here? Looks like she's about to stir things up for us."
Shajin sighed and shook his head with a helpless smile.
"I didn't expect Lumine and the others to get here so quickly. Guess that's the end of our little vacation."
He stretched and yawned.
"Time to get back to work."
He mused aloud, "If I remember right, the script is about to hit the part where Lumine steps in to save someone from injustice~"
_
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