Windrise Ruins.
…But what was this little girl doing here?
And what was she sitting on?
Some kind of floating case…?
Why could it hover in mid-air?
More importantly—
why hadn't he sensed her at all?
Was it because he'd been too distracted by the ruin's devastation earlier?
…Probably.
Childe narrowed his eyes, carefully observing the "little girl" who had suddenly appeared behind him.
Something was off—very off.
And then—
She said something about… a white mouse?
"Little girl, this really isn't a place you should be wandering around."
He still wasn't sure who she was, but she looked like a Mondstadt child who had accidentally strayed in. That was the most reasonable assumption—right?
"Really? Big brother, I thought there'd be something fun here~"
Mebius didn't expect him to actually take her childish tone seriously, so she played along—voice soft, innocent, sweet… and completely fake.
Fun?
There was nothing fun about a battlefield.
Childe sighed helplessly.
"This place is dangerous. There's nothing fun here. Go home."
"But… I just saw a cute little white mouse run in here. Big brother, can you help me find it… please?"
She even lowered her head a little, pausing deliberately as if embarrassed.
White mouse? Some kind of white animal?
Childe instinctively glanced around, but saw no signs of life at all.
"Then can you describe what it looks like? I'll help you look."
He decided to at least check.
He knew from experience—
If you didn't help a child find something, even if they left now, they'd definitely sneak back later.
Ajax had done that kind of thing countless times as a kid.
"Hmm… It's very cute… and very interesting…"
Mebius frowned like she was genuinely thinking hard, only to give the world's vaguest description.
…That was completely useless.
But maybe it was white.
Childe exhaled helplessly.
"Alright. I'll help you search. But don't run around."
He turned and began searching the ruined area—flipping stones, checking weeds, scanning shadows—wanting to finish quickly so he could return to analyzing the battlefield.
White mouse… white mouse…
He worked through one area and turned—
—and nearly jumped.
The girl was already standing right behind him.
"…When did you get here?!"
He hadn't heard a single sound.
He hadn't sensed her approach at all.
"Big brother? What's wrong?"
Mebius tilted her head, looking puzzled and innocent.
"…Nothing. I'll check somewhere else."
He tried to rationalize it.
She floated—no footsteps.
He was focused.
He'd just been distracted.
Yes. That must be it… surely…
"No need, big brother~ I've already found it."
Her tone suddenly dipped—sweet on the surface, but with a chilling undercurrent.
"…Oh? And where is it? I don't see anything."
He still saw no animal.
Nothing white at all.
"It's right in front of me. Can't you see it~?"
Zzz—
A slick sound echoed as green, viscous fluid spread across the ground… directly under his feet.
What—?!
Childe reacted instantly—jumping back, widening the gap between them.
"Looks like you're not an ordinary little girl after all."
His voice turned cold.
He berated himself internally.
Of course she wasn't normal.
What child had a figure this developed?
What child wore that kind of outfit?
What child emanated danger like a predator in disguise?
If she had ambushed him earlier, he might have been in real trouble.
"I'm just an ordinary researcher," Mebius said with a gentle smile.
"I've never even fought on a battlefield. So there's no need to be afraid~"
Researcher.
Like that Doctor?
"And those strange fluids earlier? What were those, little girl?"
He no longer believed a single word she said.
Especially not after seeing that corrosive-looking substance.
"Just a test. A tiny little test," she said lightly.
"If your reaction had been any slower, at worst I would've just caught you."
"Pretty sure it would've been more than just 'caught,' right?"
This girl…
She had the same unsettling aura as the Doctor.
"Maybe~"
Mebius smiled sweetly.
"After all… the purpose of a test subject is to be studied."
"So battle is unavoidable then."
Childe finally understood what she meant by "white mouse."
Not an animal.
A test subject.
He would never let himself be taken alive.
And truthfully—
A thrill was rising in him.
The excitement of facing the unknown.
A kind of ecstasy that only battle could grant.
"Big brother~ you really insist on this?"
Mebius sounded amused.
She hadn't intended to fight him.
Toying with him was enough.
But Childe had already summoned his stance.
"You called me big brother, so I'll call you little sister," he said calmly.
"And yes, I insist."
His weapon materialized in his hand, water rippling with lethal intent.
A fight was about to begin.
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