Morning.
Nahida woke from her dreams, blinking her eyes open.
She sat up on her tree bed, first thing carefully sensing her body.
That mysterious [Primal Meditation Technique] was running on its own.
Every passing second, she could clearly feel her elemental power, her mental strength, her Divine Power—all growing stronger.
Nahida stretched out her small hand.
A rock appeared out of thin air.
It was the power of Morax, the Geo Archon.
By common sense, as the Dendro Archon, she shouldn't be able to wield this.
But here it was, firmly in her grasp.
She even felt that with just a thought, she could summon a massive star rock to fall from the heavens and obliterate everything before her.
Nahida stared blankly at the stone in her hand.
Then she dispersed it.
Another thought rose in her mind.
A streak of violet lightning crackled from her palm.
The power of her sister Baal, the Electro Archon.
Again, something she shouldn't have—but she did.
She'd gleaned it last night from that strange book Xia Zhi gave her.
She didn't even know how she understood it. She'd just read, and suddenly, she got it.
She scattered the lightning, then summoned raging flames and gentle water.
After playing around with her new powers, Nahida closed her hand into a fist.
Something subtle was changing inside her.
Her growing strength brought her a deep sense of reassurance, and a surge of confidence.
For years, she'd been imprisoned by the Akademiya, doubted by the people of Sumeru, and plagued by self-doubt, convinced she wasn't fit to be the Dendro Archon.
Ever since learning of the Fatui Harbingers and the Akademiya sages' God-Creation Project, she'd been restless. Even though her sister and cousin had her back, she wanted to resolve it herself.
But these past days, even after finding believers of her own, their strength was too feeble to stand against the Fatui and the Akademiya.
Now, it was different.
With these new powers, she felt confident that no matter how the situation outside shifted, she'd be able to handle it.
This was something five hundred years of reading couldn't give her.
"…Power returning to myself…" Nahida murmured.
"As expected… wisdom alone has to be paired with other cards to unleash its true potential… This way, I'll have more options…"
She pondered for a bit, then picked up her phone and opened the chat app.
This time she didn't open the group chat. She tapped her cousin's avatar.
[Nahida]: Good morning, Brother Xia Zhi.
Morning.
Palais Mermonia.
Furina rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed.
From the nearby mirror, Focalors' reflection appeared.
She looked at Furina, who seemed no different from usual. "Furina, haven't you noticed your Divine Power getting stronger?"
Furina waved it off. "I've noticed. So what?"
"You're not surprised?" Focalors asked.
Furina smirked. "Why should I be? If it's something Cousin gave me, of course it's extraordinary. What's there to doubt? This is just Cousin's love for me."
Focalors was silent for a moment. "…Tone it down."
---
After breakfast, Xia Zhi headed to the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
He knocked, stepped inside, and found Jean already at work.
"Good morning, Acting Grand Master."
"Good morning, Mr. Xia. All the paperwork for your pet shop is right here—I've already approved it."
"Thanks for the trouble."
"It's nothing. Since you're here, why not have a cup of tea?"
"Gladly."
Jean rose, walked to the tea table, and brewed tea with practiced motions.
They sat across from each other, sipping while chatting about the apothecary's business.
Jean sighed, half complaining, "Ever since Noelle went over to be the manager there, I feel like my daily rhythm has fallen apart."
"Oh?"
"Before, when it was time to eat, Noelle would always knock on my door right on schedule. If I was too busy to go, she'd set aside a portion for me, and once I finished, she'd bring it over herself. Now that she's not here, I just keep working until I forget."
"Acting Grand Master should still take care to eat on time."
"I try, but with the Grand Master gone from Mondstadt, I can only do my best."
"You could try setting an alarm on your phone."
"Mm… Actually, there was something else I wanted to ask you…"
"What is it?"
"Um… do you still have any Instant Noodles?"
"Instant Noodles?" Xia Zhi chuckled.
"Not at the moment."
Jean looked a little disappointed.
"But since you'd like some, I'll make a batch tonight and bring them over."
"Wouldn't that be too much trouble?"
"Not at all. It's easy."
"Then thank you."
The topic shifted to the pet shop.
"I saw in the group chat," Jean said curiously, "you're planning to make Miss Rosaria the manager?"
Xia Zhi nodded. "That's right."
"What made you decide that?"
"I thought it over. Of all my friends in Mondstadt, she's the only one who really fits."
"…Is that so?"
"Money isn't the point. What matters is someone who genuinely loves cats. Anyone who can make my cat depend on her that much—well, there's no doubt."
"That's all there is to it?"
"Yes."
Jean sipped her tea, her expression turning a little strange. "I see. I thought there might be some deeper reason."
"Oh?"
"Do you know Rosaria's background?"
"I've only just arrived in Mondstadt, and I've only met her a handful of times. I don't know much. Are you saying her background isn't ordinary?"
"That's right. Strictly speaking, Miss Rosaria isn't really a nun."
"Explain."
Jean recalled what she'd read in the archives. "She was born in a remote mountain village. Not long after, a band of raiders wiped it out and took her. Raised by bandits, she learned to fight from a young age while also doing their dirty work. Slave and tool, thief and child. She fought outsiders and her own companions. She grew up hungry, cold, and competing to survive."
Xia Zhi thought of the old scars he'd noticed on her body. No wonder—they came from that brutal childhood.
"Years later, the Knights of Favonius destroyed that bandit group. As the youngest, Rosaria was seen as still redeemable. Grand Master Varka brought her to Mondstadt," Jean said quietly.
"He told her: [Go to the Church. Wash yourself in the light of the gods. You can start over. Live like an ordinary person.] From then on, she became a nun in name."
"In name?" Xia Zhi asked.
Jean nodded. "In truth, she's an executioner. Other sisters think her movements are mysterious, that she vanishes for days. In reality, she's handling missions no one else can: investigating suspicious merchants, shadowing travelers, interrogations when necessary…"
Sounded a lot like Yelan in Liyue—doing work the public never saw.
Xia Zhi raised a brow. "Should you really be telling me something this secret?"
Jean looked him in the eye. "I trust you won't spread it."
"But I'm still an outsider."
"You're also the Anemo Archon's close friend," she said seriously.
Xia Zhi paused, then smiled. "So you know that drunk bard's real identity."
Jean sighed faintly. "Lord Barbatos may be capricious, but if he's recognized you, then your character is beyond doubt. And since Rosaria is part of the Knights, and you're about to recruit her away, I thought it only right you know."
"I understand. Thanks for telling me."
Executioner or not, it didn't matter. Most of his employees were "problem girls" anyway.
If he tallied them up, only Yaoyao, Zhu Zi, and Noelle were halfway normal.