As the Witch of Purple Rose although Lisa isn't a witch that can fly with a broom, she does possess formidable power.
"Ah~ To be honest, isn't it weird for a Librarian to have to come out and fight?"
The Librarian's fingertips not even leaving the pages, casually unleashing a bolt of lightning that instantly incinerated the monster hiding in the shadows.
After staring intently for a long time and confirming that no masks or similar items had dropped, Jibril finally turned around and looked at Lisa, slightly speechless. "For a Librarian, being this capable of fighting isn't normal! Who is this even meant for...? People who don't return their books on time?"
"Why would I need to attack... I don't even have the chance to do so. The Knights of Favonius's library is even quieter than the peak of Dragonspine."
Jibril looked at the troubled expression on Lisa's face, then at Lumine, who looked utterly helpless and didn't know what to say for a moment.
It sounded pitiful but having such a job also seemed slightly envious.
When Jibril was still an ordinary person, although her life was quite normal and her family adored her, she inquired with some friends and found a part-time job for the sake of "experiencing life."
The hourly wage was high, the boss was kind, it was close to the house she rented and the store's business was also good.
The only downside was that business was too good.
She would never forget the look of astonishment on the police officers' faces when they rushed over and realized that the crowds filling the street weren't rioting—they were queuing.
"Compared to these spells, I'm actually more interested in you, you know?"
The Flügel tilted her head as she pointed towards herself. "Me?"
"Of course. No matter how you look at it, you are an existence that can only be described as a miracle." Lisa's lips curved slightly and a cunning light flashed in her eyes. "An ability like 'Teleportation', the power to create weapons, and you can even... fly continuously in the sky!"
Lumine looked at the Halo above the Flügel's head, its warm and benevolent light shining upon her. Who could possibly imagine that scene?
From the sky to the earth, everything collapsed helplessly and even the elements dispersed in the air seemed to be swallowed whole. The pure white angel was stained by darkness and then scattered the pitch-black power across the human world.
Although she looked harmless both last night and now, Lumine fully knew the extent of her opponent's power.
While Jibril wasn't paying attention, the Flügel tightened her grip slightly.
"I don't understand."
Lisa unconsciously curled her hair around her fingertip, her brow furrowed with confusion. "Just like the equivalent exchange in Alchemy, magic also has its own equivalent exchange. So why is it that..."
At this moment, Lisa shed the persona of a mature older sister and instead resembled a student full of confidence who suddenly realized they couldn't even solve the first part of the final, most difficult exam question.
"Sister Lisa..."
Jibril interrupted Lumine and under Lisa's puzzled gaze, she extended her wing.
"Touch it."
"Th-that's... quite inappropriate isn't it...? " Lisa waved her hands but her eyes was honestly glued to Jibril's wings.
"Don't make me impatient. Just touch them!"
Lumine: ???
Thus, after a token refusal, she directly extended her guilty hands.
Fingers beneath the silk fabric slowly traced the wing, tips occasionally sinking into the down and then gently outlining the edge of the feathers. The woman's breathing gradually deepened and a blush slowly crept up their cheeks.
It really was like stroking a small bird's feather... Then, that little cutie at the Cat's Tail Tavern... No, petting her might be harder than petting a cat... "What are your thoughts?" Jibril looked at the inexplicably intoxicated Lisa and sharply flicked with her wing.
"Ah!" Lisa cried out, rubbing the soft flesh on her chest and secretly glaring at Jibril. "It felt great to touch... No, I mean, I can feel some kind of powerful force, but only vaguely."
Lisa stammered. In fact, she hadn't felt anything at all, so she could only speak vaguely.
"Hmph... That's right!"
"?
"If I let you figure out all my secrets that easily, I might as well quit the business~"
Under Lumine's relieved gaze and Lisa's frustrated look, the Flügel put one hand on her hip and retracted her wing.
"Lisa, have you heard a saying?"
After a slight pause, Jibril smiled and extended her right hand.
Pitch-black energy surged from her palm. The almost liquid substance pulsed, emitting a low hum like the collision of metal and stone. With every change in shape, Lisa could perceive the faint movement of elements in the air.
Various elements, especially the Anemo that was intensely rich within this temple, seemed to be converging into the girl's hand.
"Power comes with a cost."
"Lumine, you can use Anemo without a Vision right? Just simply gaining it by resonating with the Statue of the Seven?"
Lumine parted her lips slightly and nodded.
"Yes."
"In Lisa's view, Lumine is the exception." The Flügel slightly turned her wrist and the black energy quickly solidified between her fingers. "But some things are eternal: the price."
So, what is the price you may wonder?
"This is like making a deal with the World (Heavenly Principles). We all have to pay something and even what we gain will eventually be lost, just like monsters returning to the Ley Lines after being killed."
"Ugh, what Jibril is saying is so hard to understand... Paimon feels dizzy..."
Lisa looked at another Hilichurl she had just killed, her brow slightly furrowed. She clearly understood the Flügel's words.
"But I... I don't feel like I've lost anything..." Lumine raised her hand and lightly covered her chest.
"Don't worry... Lumine, you are actually the most unique among us."
"Eh?"
The Flügel suddenly flipped her wrist and the moment a dagger formed, she fiercely threw it! The pitch-black weapon tore through the air and the passage, pierced the panicked Hilichurl, and finally shattered the Anemo Stone.
As the last stone was destroyed, the three whirlwinds attacking Mondstadt finally dissipated.
"You are from beyond the High Heavens; you are the variable of this world." The Flügel gazed into Lumine's widening amber eyes and said firmly. "If there is a hero or a protagonist, it must be someone like you."
"Can I really... do it? I can't even beat you."
"If the protagonist were invincible from the start, wouldn't that just become a boring Power Fantasy Novel? I hate stories like that."
[T/L: Who's gonna tell her she's in one...]
She allowed Lumine to unconsciously clutch her hand and when no one was looking, a gentle arc curved her lips.
This time, the script will certainly be rewritten, by them together.
Definitely.