After some waiting in line, Eula entered a small room bathed in warm light.
"Mr. Xia…"
"Ah, Miss Eula. You came too."
"Jean dragged me here."
"Oh, I see. That's fine. You've been under strain lately. A massage will do you good."
"Do I lie on the bed?"
"Mm."
"I heard there's an essential oil massage option…"
"There is. But usually people don't choose it for their first time."
"I want that one."
"Jean told you, didn't she?"
"Yes."
"I figured. You two really are close."
"…No…"
Xia Zhi moved with practiced ease.
Even the proud Spindrift Knight had a warm body, and no matter how hard she tried to hold back, strange sounds slipped from her lips in the end.
That said… Miss Eula's figure truly was remarkable.
"Did Jean mention the vice principal position?"
"She… did…"
"And what do you think?"
"I… can… do it…"
"Good. A win-win, then."
"Thank you… Mr. Xia…"
"Thank me? For what?"
"Jean… said… you recommended me…"
"I just think you're the right choice."
"There are… others in Mondstadt… better than me…"
"I don't know them. But you're my friend. Between choices, of course I'd pick you."
"Friend…"
Eula's heart stirred with a strange feeling—she couldn't tell if it was excitement or disappointment.
"Once your travels are done, you'll return to Liyue?"
"Yes."
"And the Mondstadt school…?"
"As principal, I'll definitely come check on it."
"Oh."
Eula thought to herself: As vice principal of the branch, visiting the main campus for experience-sharing would be perfectly reasonable, right?
---
Later, while massaging his cousin, Xia Zhi heard her mention Venti's plan to create an island in Cider Lake.
The idea sparked something.
"They're doing it tonight?"
"Not sure."
"I'll call and ask."
"Why?"
"I think we can add some flair."
"Oh?"
"Eula may have gained a Vision and the Anemo Archon's recognition in front of the crowd today, but one event alone won't overturn her reputation so quickly."
"You mean give her another chance?"
"Exactly. Smart as always."
"So, using the island thing… Every morning, people bring flowers to the Archon's statue in front of the Church of Favonius. What if Eula went there to offer flowers, and the Archon sent down an oracle? Declaring he'll reveal a miracle and form an island in the lake?"
"That way, it backs Eula's status, adds divine legitimacy to the school, helps enrollment, and smooths resistance."
"Feasible."
"Right?"
After the cousin, it was the elder sister's turn.
Today, Xia Zhen seemed troubled.
Curious, Xia Zhi asked, "What's wrong?"
"I've been thinking about the school."
"Mondstadt's?"
"Mm."
"You want to be vice principal too?"
"No."
"Then what?"
"I was thinking about Inazuma."
She looked at him. "Cousin, you've already built schools in Liyue and Mondstadt. Any interest in building one in Inazuma?"
"In Inazuma? That's your own nation. You don't need me. If you want a school, build one yourself."
"But if I do it alone, it feels lacking. I want you as principal too."
"…You weren't like this before."
"Hm?"
"You've been corrupted by Xia Ci."
"I think so too!"
"You see, I'm only a figurehead principal. I don't actually do anything."
"Then what's one more title? Doesn't matter if you already have two."
"…Fine."
"Good. Settled."
"So that's what you've been brooding over?"
"No, just one of many things."
"Like what?"
"Once I'm back in Inazuma, I'll start reforms."
"Reforms? I'm no expert…"
"Just humor me. What do you think is Inazuma's biggest problem?"
"I don't know. I've never been there."
"Guess."
"Fine. From the map of Teyvat… compared to other nations, Inazuma's territory looks too fragmented."
"Fragmented, yes… We're made up of islands. Unlike land routes, sea routes limit economic and cultural exchange. That's a huge issue."
A thoughtful look crossed Xia Zhen's face.
"I thought Inazuma's issues were just political. But maybe the root lies here."
"I was only guessing."
"No. The Watatsumi rebellion dragged on for years precisely because of isolation. Troop movements and supply runs were difficult. Even after victory, securing loyalty so far from the capital was nearly impossible. I see now—solving Inazuma's problems means solving the fractured geography."
"You don't mean…"
"Mm. Cousin, what if we fused the islands into a single landmass?"
"…That's…"
"If Barbatos, that drunkard, could reshape Mondstadt's terrain and climate with his power, my sister and I can too."
"But he paid a heavy price for that."
"Of course. But cousin, you'll help me, won't you?"
"I can't move mountains or part seas."
"But you can brew wine."
"…So?"
"Morax is busy. But I can bribe Dragon King with wine. He's idle these days. He'll come to Inazuma if I ask."
Xia Zhi's face twitched. He nodded.
"Fair enough. If it's just the wine, I can supply as much as you need."
"Thank you, cousin."
She thought for a moment, then hooked an arm around his neck, pulling his head down and planting a sincere kiss.
"Taking advantage of me, huh?"
"Exactly!"
"You've changed. When I first summoned your soul, you actually knew how to be shy."
"Not my fault. Xia Ci corrupted me."
"You're still not as bad as her."
"What's she done?"
"She even schemes against her own sister."
"She did?"
"You're her best friend, and you don't know?"
"I don't."
Xia Zhen looked genuinely clueless.
Her mind wandered to her sister, Beelzebul—Raiden Ei.
Nahida looked a lot like Xia Ci, but only in appearance. Their figures were different—one a girl, one a grown woman.
But she and her sister? Identical.
Only the aura set them apart—her sister wasn't as sharp, came off a little duller.
Unless you looked very closely, you wouldn't notice.
If the two of them were asleep side by side, you couldn't tell them apart at all.
Xia Zhen chuckled to herself.
Scheming against your sister? Who doesn't?