"You're really patient, you know. To prevent me from going to Durandal while you were asleep, you actually watched me all night."
Last night, Lumine, to prevent Venti from going to Durandal while she was asleep, deliberately stayed awake all night, lying in bed and watching her.
The result was that Lumine emerged from her room in the morning with a "celestial" look. Was this state really okay? Would it not affect her when she went out to complete commissions during the day?
"Hehe~ It was just one night without rest, it's nothing. Besides, any accumulated fatigue can be handled by Durandal, it's no big deal."
Lumine did this knowing that Durandal could help her eliminate fatigue; otherwise, if she pushed herself too hard, there would definitely come a time when she couldn't endure it.
When that time came, Venti could boldly begin his actions, and no matter how much Lumine tried to stop him, it would be useless.
Venti shrugged. Even if she could stop him once, what about next time? She couldn't keep stopping him forever; the ultimate victor of this war would only be himself.
"Forget it, it's fine if you want to continue like this. I also want to thank you for accompanying me last night and being my audience. I wonder if the people of Mondstadt will like this new song; a love story like this should find an audience."
Hehe~ Not only did he satisfy himself, but he could also use this work to make money. Venti felt like he was about to fly.
Venti and Lumine arrived in the living room. Durandal and Shenhe were already awake, sitting together and discussing adeptal arts or techniques for exorcising evil spirits, just as they usually did.
Lumine didn't feel much about this scene. After all, when she and Shenhe dealt with Beisht last time, Shenhe's puppet was a great help. Many of her enhanced moves required Durandal's assistance to complete. So, they often got together and discussed techniques intimately.
Venti seemed to have noticed something. Perhaps it was because her situation was similar to Shenhe's; although nothing was visible on the surface, the atmosphere between Shenhe and Durandal had changed significantly.
This discovery made Venti show a meaningful expression, looking at Lumine with some sympathy.
This fellow was so busy being wary of himself that she forgot there was another person nearby who needed to be watched.
The key was that Shenhe hid it very well. Usually, she appeared indifferent and unconcerned about anything. Who would have thought she would take advantage of their "argument" to go find Durandal?
"Lumine? What's with your dark circles?"
Noticing Lumine and Venti's appearance, Durandal first glanced at Venti, then looked at Lumine, seeing the exaggerated dark circles under her eyes, and asked.
"This... Ahaha~ I couldn't resist staying up late. Can you help me with this problem, Durandal? I can't go out looking like this."
"Staying up late? What did you do last night?"
She didn't come to her room all night and came to the living room with Venti. Did she go to Venti's room last night to prevent him from coming to find her?
Instantly reaching this conclusion in her mind, she reached out and flicked Lumine's forehead as punishment: "This time it's fine, but you can't stay up late like this again, understand?"
"Eh hehe~ I know. I knew Durandal dotes on me the most."
Seeing Durandal's slightly intimate gesture, Lumine felt a little better.
Although Venti got a head start, Durandal still doted on her, unchanged by Venti's presence.
"I just don't want to see you getting ambushed by a Hilichurl because you're too sleepy; that would be too embarrassing. I'm your travel companion; if you're embarrassed, I'll be embarrassed too."
Finding a seemingly plausible reason, Durandal helped Lumine eliminate the fatigue in her body and stroked her slightly messy bangs.
"The Lantern Rite Festival ends tomorrow. Don't stay up late tonight. We still have to watch the final show in the evening, you haven't forgotten, have you?"
"Of course I haven't forgotten, I've been looking forward to it for a long time. I wonder what the surprise they're talking about is."
No matter how she asked, those who were asked acted like riddle-keepers, completely refusing to tell Lumine what the final show was.
Hmph! Although they wouldn't say, from the increasingly large giant deer in Liyue Harbor, it could be seen that the so-called surprise should be that, right?
According to the information she gathered, the prototype of that giant deer seemed to be called Skybracer. Legend has it that his antlers absorbed the power of the Geo Archon and were once the hardest things in Liyue Harbor.
But during the Archon War, to protect the human village at the foot of the mountain, he voluntarily allowed his friend to cut off his antlers, using those bloody antlers as a fulcrum to support the entire mountain range, protecting the humans at its base.
The mountain range supported by his antlers was named Mt. Tianheng, and he also fought until his last drop of blood was shed. The blood he shed during his fierce battle condensed into the Bishui River.
He was indeed a respectable adeptus. After hearing the stories of these adepti, Lumine also felt a trace of reverence for this adeptus she had never met.
Although she didn't know the purpose of the residents of Liyue Harbor creating his form, it certainly wasn't just for aesthetics; there must be some other purpose.
"Oh, and Durandal. Today... can you accompany me and go on commissions with me?"
At the dining table, Lumine suddenly thought of something and said to Durandal.
It was mainly to guard against Venti, to prevent him from running off to find Durandal while she was out on commissions.
Durandal pondered for a moment, then shook her head: "I have some matters to attend to; I need to act alone today, so I can't accompany you."
"I see, well, alright then."
Lumine was a little disappointed, but Venti also couldn't accompany her, so it wasn't a big problem.
After breakfast, Durandal and Lumine both left, leaving only Shenhe and Venti at home.
Venti smiled at the expressionless Shenhe and said, "I can probably guess what happened last night. You... succeeded too, right?"
"..."
Shenhe did not answer. In terms of communication, she was certainly no match for the person in front of her.
More words lead to more mistakes; any casual remark could reveal a flaw. She couldn't divulge too much.
"Hehe~ Even though you don't speak, I can probably guess a little. Don't let Durandal's usual cold demeanor and indifference to everything fool you. She actually cares deeply about the people around her, the ones she holds dear."
Venti did not harbor hostility towards Shenhe because of her actions last night. As the Anemo Archon who had existed for thousands of years, his way of thinking was incomparable to Shenhe's.
Although he wanted to monopolize Durandal, given Durandal's personality, if he really did that, it would easily cause her displeasure.
Usually, a little teasing and playful banter were fine, but if a real conflict arose, Durandal would probably personally deal with those who were disobedient.
"Durandal definitely doesn't want to see us in conflict, so how about we get along peacefully? I can draw up a contract, absolutely guaranteeing I won't hinder your approach to Durandal."
"Not hinder... really?"
"Mm, we'll get along peacefully, alright?"
"...Okay."
Shenhe held Venti's outstretched hand. Although she was somewhat reluctant in her heart, this was the best solution for now.
Venti nodded with satisfaction. Fortunately, Shenhe readily accepted this suggestion. He just wasn't sure about Lumine's situation; he hoped... she wouldn't be ungrateful.
On the other side, Durandal, who had left the villa, arrived at Mt. Tianheng next to Liyue Harbor, quietly observing everything in Liyue Harbor from there.
Soon after she arrived, a figure descended from the side.
"I didn't expect you to accept the invitation. I thought you wouldn't bother with my invitation."
The newcomer was none other than Cloud Retainer. She looked at Durandal with some surprise. When she invited Durandal, she had already prepared for her not to come, but she unexpectedly responded to her invitation.
"I wouldn't usually bother with ordinary people, but you took me in for a while, and I owe you a favor, so the situation is different."
She had stayed in Cloud Retainer's abode for a period, though only for a few days. Still, it was a favor, and since Cloud Retainer had shown her kindness, Durandal's attitude towards her was naturally different from how she treated others.
"Hmph, as a God, to still value such things, you truly are inscrutable."
Cloud Retainer agreed to take in Durandal partly for self-preservation. She had witnessed Durandal transform into the black plague on the Jade Chamber, pressing Osial into the sea and battling him. She was no match for Durandal.
To avoid appearing too embarrassed, Cloud Retainer adopted the posture of "I am willing to take you in for a while," making it seem as if she had offered Durandal shelter, rather than doing so out of fear.
What was merely an act of self-preservation unexpectedly turned into a favor, causing Durandal to treat her with a bit more politeness.
Since that was the case, Cloud Retainer could also relax a bit, no longer worrying that Durandal might one day be displeased and toss her into a pot to make soup.
"This Immortal invited you out this time to thank you for looking after Shenhe. When she returned last time, she had become much more cheerful."
When Cloud Retainer saw Shenhe smile, This Immortal was very happy. The one who brought about these changes was naturally Durandal, and as a master, Cloud Retainer naturally had to thank her properly.
"...No need, I didn't do anything."
This was the truth; Durandal genuinely didn't feel she had done anything worthy of thanks. She had merely acted as she normally would.
"Hehe, This Immortal can see your help to Shenhe. Although you may not have realized some things, they indeed influenced that Children."
"...Is that so?"
Durandal nodded. Did she influence Shenhe without realizing it, which led to her becoming that way?
"Cloud Retainer, do you... understand human emotions?"
"Hmm? Although This Immortal is not interested in human affairs, This Immortal does have some understanding of emotions. What's wrong? Are you encountering difficulties in this area recently?"
Human situations are complex, but immortals also have seven passions and six desires, so in terms of emotions, Cloud Retainer naturally had her own understanding.
Noticing that Durandal seemed to have worries in this area, Cloud Retainer proactively inquired and wanted to help Durandal resolve her troubles.
Durandal nodded, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Do you... understand what kind of feeling 'like' is?"
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