At the wooden table, Klee sat properly on her chair, diligently scribbling and drawing on a design blueprint. Su Bai, who possessed absolutely zero talent in alchemy, only glanced at it twice before suddenly feeling that the talisman techniques Cloud Retainer had once forced him to learn didn't seem all that difficult after all. At the very least, talismans were an advanced form of the onmyō-style arts he had studied in Inazuma—he still had some foundation.
Looking down at the Dodoco Klee had insisted on stuffing into his arms that morning, Su Bai couldn't help but laugh wryly. If any of his old troublemaking friends saw him holding a plush toy like this, they would definitely snap a photo and pin it to a notice board for public ridicule.
Yet he truly couldn't bring himself to refuse Klee.
At this point, it wasn't just indulgence anymore—he genuinely felt sorry for her. After so many days in confinement, not a single person had come to visit her. Because of that, Su Bai found himself deeply dissatisfied with the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. Being busy was no excuse for neglecting a child's feelings.
Su Bai lifted Dodoco in his arms. Klee had once told him that this adorable little doll was her best friend—and now she had entrusted Dodoco to him without hesitation. There was no way his heart wasn't moved.
"Since you're Klee's best friend," Su Bai said softly, "I'll make a Noctilucous Jade pendant for both you and Klee. That way, if you ever get damaged one day, Klee won't be heartbroken."
With that decision made, Su Bai immediately took out a top-quality piece of Noctilucous Jade he had won from Zhongli during a card game. As for how he—someone who knew nothing about minerals—could be so certain it was top-grade, the explanation was simple.
Anything Zhongli bought was always the best.
The materials were ready, but Su Bai hesitated over the design. What kind of animal did Klee like? A crane? A cat? A perch? Or… a turtle?
…No, better not.
Ever since that one time when he and Ayaka were swimming, and he casually remarked that her reflection in the water looked like a little turtle, she had refused to hear the word "turtle" ever again.
Su Bai absolutely did not want Ayaka to see this pendant if he ever took Klee to Inazuma. If she did, Inazuma might genuinely gain a new tourist attraction called The Frozen Fox Statue.
"How about a fox?" Su Bai asked. "Klee, do you like foxes?"
"Klee likes foxes the most!" Klee immediately jumped down from her chair. "Especially fox tails—they're fluffy! Klee really, really likes them!"
She had a strong feeling Su Bai was about to make something fun.
"In that case, keep working," Su Bai said mysteriously. "I'll give you a surprise later."
Though incredibly curious, Klee suppressed the urge to peek. After all, if she managed to make an extra-large firework, she could surprise Su Bai too. Hugging a pile of materials, she returned to assembling things at the table.
Once he got his answer, Su Bai took out a fruit knife he normally used for peeling apples. With Electro energy flowing through his body, the blade became unbelievably sharp.
In just a few swift motions, a cute little fox pendant took shape in his hand.
Watching the Noctilucous Jade glow with a soft, pale-blue sheen under the sunlight, Su Bai nodded in satisfaction. This jade was worthy of his craftsmanship.
Any knowledgeable miner witnessing this would absolutely curse Su Bai to his face. This piece of Noctilucous Jade had already surpassed the "Radiant" grade—it was the kind of treasure one could only dream of encountering. And yet this reckless man had carved it into a fox pendant?
That said, even if Su Bai knew its true value, he would still do it.
He lived by one rule: If I'm happy, no price is too high.
Klee's pointed ears twitched. The carving sounds had stopped—meaning the surprise was ready.
But looking at the pile of materials on her table, she hesitated. Should she sneak a look at Su Bai's surprise first, or keep working on her fireworks?
Before she could decide, a pale-blue fox pendant suddenly appeared on the table.
The moment she saw it, Klee fell in love.
"Wow! Such a cute little fox!"
"Do you like it?" Su Bai asked. "If you do, I'll carve some talismans onto it."
Klee blinked her big eyes. She didn't understand what talismans were, but trusting Su Bai completely, she nodded.
Seeing that she liked it, Su Bai plucked a few strands of fur from his own tail. He wasn't particularly skilled at drawing top-tier defensive talismans, so he needed a medium to assist him.
For Klee's safety, he endured the pain—his fox fur was the best conduit for adeptal energy he knew.
Calming his breath, Su Bai traced complex patterns through the air, shapes Klee couldn't comprehend. After a while, the fox fur resting on the pendant suddenly ignited.
Su Bai wiped the sweat from his forehead. Drawing high-grade defensive talismans really wasn't work meant for a fox—after just one, he already felt completely drained.
"This is even more exhausting than sumo wrestling with Itto. At least with that idiot, I can trick him with illusions. This stuff could kill a fox…"
Despite his complaints, the smile on his face never faded.
He retrieved a gold thread from his Vision's storage space, strung the pendant, and gently placed it around Klee's neck.
"Klee, you mustn't take this pendant off. If you're ever in danger, it will protect you. Even if I'm not around, this pendant will still keep you safe."
"Thank you, Brother Su Bai."
Klee gazed happily at the fox pendant glowing blue against her chest. This was the second handmade gift she had ever received. She would carry it with her always—just like the Dodoco her mother had made by hand.
"Alright, no need to thank me. Now go back to your design," Su Bai said warmly. "I'll use the leftover bits to make a pendant for Dodoco too. That way, both you and your best friend will have one, and Dodoco won't feel jealous."
As Su Bai picked up the knife again, Klee quietly made a decision.
Not only would she make a super-big firework—she would also make a gift for Su Bai.
"Hmm… what does Brother Su Bai like?" she wondered. "Maybe I'll give him a specially modified Jumpy Dumpty! I'll discuss it with Dodoco tonight—Dodoco will definitely support me."