"Whew… finally, you're back to normal!"
Venti who is on the girl from again took a sip of her wine and waved casually at the green-haired girl stepping out from the villa.
"We seriously thought you were going to suffer memory degradation too. You suddenly looked more like a god than any Archon, even in their prime."
"I would never 'degrade.' It was just a tiny after-effect of getting stronger. And it's all gone now."
C.C. crossed her long, bare legs as she sat opposite Venti.
In the sunlight, her pale, flawless beauty seemed almost translucent — elegant and ethereal like a witch from a fairy tale.
With her slender hand propping up her cheek, C.C.'s golden eyes drifted toward the open courtyard… where the Yae Miko was fully engrossed in a card game.
And with her was… Zhongli?!
'Rex Lapis! What are you doing!? Rex Lapis!'
"They're not going to just keep playing cards forever… right?"
During the memory-core creation process, C.C. had been meditating — boosting Nagami's efficiency.
Speaking of which, even though Lumine's ring space originated from Teyvat, the pocket reality attached to it has no direct connection to that world.
The only exit to the outside world… is through Lumine's ring.
Which means the three Archons and Yae Miko were all ended up in the Honkai world because they stayed in her ring space.
"And… Ei, aren't you worried that eating like that will make you gain weight?"
In front of the Raiden Shogun was a table overflowing with dango and every dessert imaginable.
She was nibbling them one by one, tiny adorable munching sounds escaping her lips — while a light novel lay open in front of her.
She was so absorbed she didn't even greet C.C.
'Raiden Shogun! What are you doing!? Raiden Shogun!'
"Hm? Oh you're back." Ei finally looked up, smiling calmly a gentle expression that stunned C.C. "Archon cannot suffer such flaws. Besides… it's only sweets. They won't affect eternity."
"Ahaha heh"
C.C. could only laugh awkwardly.
She had no idea where to even start commenting on this situation.
'Is she really turning into a shut-in?!'
And now Zhongli suddenly into games?
Two gods down.
As for the last one…
C.C. glanced at Venti hugging her wine bottle.
Even becoming a girl hadn't slowed down her drinking habit.
'Forget it. All three of them are useless!'
"Do you want to see a world beyond Teyvat?"
That instantly caught Venti and Ei's attention.
"That huge surge of energy a week ago and when then the whole world outside felt different afterward… So you really did return to your home world?" Venti raised an intrigued eyebrow.
Zhongli actually has the power to leave this space at any time.
But things outside seemed complicated, and because Lumine didn't said anything so they simply stayed put.
Here they had wine, games, dango, novels…
Does the outside have that!?
If they left, they'd probably be used as labor by Nagami and Lumine.
No sane person would walk into that trap voluntarily!
But seeing how relaxed C.C. looked… It must mean everything outside had been handled already.
In that case… a small adventure might be nice.
'Teyvat's finest bard shall carry the winds of freedom into another world!'
This could become a wonderful tale someday.
"…Alright." Ei nodded after taking a satisfied sip of her matcha milkshake.
Truthfully, the Shogun wasn't that interested in different worlds, but she remembered Nagami once mentioned someone: a parallel counterpart of Baal.
A girl named Raiden Mei.
That piqued her curiosity.
"Great. Once we arrive at my home, I'll call for you."
C.C. stood, her right leg wrapped in elegant white stockings decorated with faint violet petals, while the left remained smooth and bare.
Her skirt swayed with each graceful step, revealing a flawless curve.
After a cheerful goodbye to Zhongli and the Yae Miko, she headed toward the shore.
As the sea breeze fluttered through her soft green hair and golden eyes and then C.C. spotted a lone figure on the beach.
A tiny girl. Adorable, but fragile-looking.
Her figure small… except for the surprisingly full curve pressing against her swimsuit.
A pure-white swimsuit trimmed with a blue butterfly ribbon like a delicate summer bellflower blooming in the heat.
Her eyes reflected the shimmering coast.
The sound of waves washed away her thoughts, bringing her a rare moment of peace.
Seele sit quietly on the sand, arms wrapped around her knees, chin resting on top.
The wind lifted her floral dress like petals fluttering, revealing her porcelain-white thighs beneath.
C.C.'s pale, elegant feet left faint prints across the soft sand as she approached the little lily-of-the-valley bloom.
"Seele!"
A familiar voice called out from behind.
Seele froze for a second, her once-vacant blue eyes immediately lighting up as she turned around with a bright smile.
"C.C.-nee, you're okay now?"
Her abnormal condition a few days ago had scared Seele badly.
C.C.'s smile had still been gentle and warm… yet Seele felt the chilling calmness hidden beneath it.
C.C. hadn't even used her as a pillow lately a sign something was wrong.
But now… this was the C.C. she knew again.
"Mhm. I just… had a little accident. Sorry for worrying you, Seele."
C.C. sat down beside her and gently flicked her forehead, brushing aside a strand of her ocean-blue hair.
"Why are you out here alone? Something bothering you?"
"Nope!" Seele shook her head, then leaned her soft cheek against C.C.'s shoulder.
Warmth spread between them.
"Seele is just really, really happy!"
This girl who once lost in the abyss of the Quantum Sea was finally growing used to a peaceful life.
And the person who helped her escape that cold, eternal darkness…
Seele looked up at C.C.'s face.
Her long lashes trembled; her sea-blue eyes sparkled like the ocean under sunlight.
"Oh~ did Seele already guess the good news?" C.C. tilted her head teasingly.
"Good news?" Seele blinked in confusion, curiosity sparkling.
"Mhm~" C.C. grinned and gently stroked her soft short hair.
"We will be going back to our own world now. Which means… you'll be seeing Bronya again. Very soon."
"Really?! Nagami-nii!?"
Excitement burst across Seele's face, accidentally called C.C. Nagami.
Not that it mattered; there was no one else around.
"Of course it's real."
"Bronya one-chan…" Her voice trembled, not weak as usual but filled with anticipation.
Her hands pressed together over her heart, unable to contain the joy rising inside her.
"That's amazing!"
She practically tackled C.C., wrapping her in a trembling hug.
From the moment she escaped, Seele had dreamed of reuniting with her Bronya — and that dream was finally about to happen.
Her heart danced with pure, earnest happiness.
————————————————————————
[Veliona]: Quit grinning like an idiot. You look ridiculous.
————————————————————————
A lazy but sharp voice echoed in her mind — Veliona, as blunt as always.
————————————————————————
[Veliona]: Is Bronya really that great? Don't forget, the one who saved us from the Quantum Sea was Nagami-nii, not her.
————————————————————————
Veliona always prioritized Seele first and foremost.
And that would never change.
But compared to Bronya… Nagami held a far more important place in Veliona's heart.