Inside the bathhouse.
Sucrose tried for a while to analyze the composition of the water in the pool, but eventually gave up.
She stood, grabbed the towel placed beside her, and said she'd soaked enough—time to head back to the Alchemy Workshop to continue her research.
Sucrose always wore glasses, and with her shy, introverted nature, she'd usually speak with her head lowered, cheeks flushed, stammering now and then, giving off the awkward air of a bookish nerd.
But now, because the steam fogged up her lenses, she had taken them off. Her jade-green hair was wet, clinging smoothly to her temples. Without her glasses, she suddenly looked far softer—more fragile.
It made one realize: Sucrose was actually a very pretty girl.
Eula gave her a small nod, watching her leave the bathhouse.
Now, only Eula and Rosaria remained.
Eula dropped her gaze, absently stirring the water with her hand.
The sound caught Rosaria's attention. She turned to glance at Eula.
Then, in her cool, detached tone, she spoke.
"Eula Lawrence."
Eula froze for a moment, brow furrowing.
She'd always hated hearing her full name.
The surname Lawrence carried no noble honor anymore.
Her own voice went cold. "What is it?"
Rosaria ignored her tone and said flatly, "You know Schubert Lawrence, don't you?"
"Of course. He's my uncle."
"He seems to be scheming with the Fatui lately."
"Scheming? Hah. Saying bad things about my family right to my face—fine, I'll remember this grudge."
"Believe it or not, I'm only telling you this out of courtesy to the Knights. Think of it as me giving you a dignified choice. You'd better investigate and deal with it yourself. Because if I gather enough proof… I won't be showing mercy."
At Rosaria's emotionless words, Eula's expression changed sharply.
She lowered her head into silence, offering no response.
After a while, Jean and Lisa returned, their faces flushed with satisfaction and delight.
"Sucrose already left?"
"Mm. You two finished your Massage that fast?"
"Yeah, though honestly, while he was doing it, it felt like it lasted a good while."
In reality, Xia Zhi had simply accelerated the flow of time inside the massage room. Otherwise, with so many people waiting, there was no way he could finish at a normal pace.
The result was perfect: those outside only had to wait a few minutes, while those inside enjoyed the full experience without losing any time.
Jean glanced at Eula, frowning slightly. "Why do you look a little pale?"
Eula forced a smile. "Do I?"
Lisa studied her. "Feels like you do. Almost too pale."
Eula shook her head. "Not at all. It's just that your faces are too red after that Massage, so by contrast mine looks paler."
Lisa's eyes shifted between Eula and Rosaria. The latter, though expressionless, still had the healthy flush of a good soak.
Clearly, Eula was lying.
Lisa's expression turned thoughtful.
Jean seemed to notice as well. With a smile, she said, "Why don't you go let Mr. Xia give you a Massage too? It's really wonderful."
Eula refused. "Forget it."
"I wouldn't lie to you."
"I just don't like that sort of thing."
"Fine, but you'll regret it someday."
"…"
Regret? Eula gave no answer. Raised from childhood in strict aristocratic etiquette, she had her pride.
And she was a dancer.
To dance for the gods, one had to maintain purity.
There was no way she'd casually let a man touch her body.
If Xia Zhi were a woman, she might consider it.
But he wasn't.
Eula decided she'd rather die outside in the cold than indulge in something she deemed corrupting.
--
Xia Zhi had just finished giving Fischl a Massage.
The girl sat at the bedside, cheeks burning, looking bashful. She spoke in a small voice.
"Mr. Xia… um…"
"What is it?"
"I… I'd like to invite everyone over to my house as guests. Is that… okay?"
"Of course. But the next couple days I'll be busy with the pet shop, so I might not have time."
"That's fine! A few days later works too!"
"Alright, I'll let you know when."
"Mm!"
"I'm guessing it's not just a casual invitation, is it?"
"T-That… that…"
"It's fine. Just say it."
"Actually… I want to go to Inazuma with everyone. But I'm afraid my parents won't agree, so I was hoping…"
"I understand."
Xia Zhi smiled and nodded.
His loyal believer wanted to follow him—of course he'd help with something so small.
Besides, traveling was always livelier with more companions.
--
Fontaine.
Furina had changed into a relatively plain outfit, pulled her hat low to hide her striking looks, and slipped out to go shopping with Kirara.
At first, Kirara was a bundle of nerves.
After all, she was just a small youkai. Walking beside an actual god felt more suffocating than even being with Lady Yae Miko.
But Furina's personality was easygoing, her words full of wit, with not a hint of divine arrogance.
Soon enough, Kirara relaxed, laughing and chatting with her.
Sometimes, she even felt as though this companion of hers was just an ordinary girl.
Furina occasionally asked about things related to Xia Zhi.
But Kirara had only delivered packages to his place and mooched a few meals—she didn't know much. All she could do was recount those little experiences honestly.
After a while, Furina realized this cat wasn't much use for information about her cousin, so she shifted the topic to Kirara's homeland of Inazuma.
Naive as she was, the little youkai had no defense against someone who'd "roleplayed" as the Hydro Archon for five hundred years. Soon, she'd spilled her background entirely.
Furina listened, amusement flickering in her eyes.
"A pink-haired fox at a shrine, hmm…"
--
After finishing his tasks and returning to his room, Xia Zhi pulled out a white piece of jade and a carving knife.
Soon, the stone became a lifelike white cat.
Then he infused divine power into it, engraving several runes onto the Jade Pendant.
Its Effect was simple: the wearer could cast [Healing] and [Purification].
This was for Rosaria.
She'd be the manager of the pet shop, taking in all sorts of stray cats adventurers brought in.
Those strays lived in harsh conditions, ate poorly, often got sick or injured, and were riddled with parasites and fleas.
With [Purification] she could cleanse and cure them, and with [Healing] mend their wounds. Together, it would solve most problems.
After finishing, Xia Zhi held the pendant, idly turning it in his hand.
He remembered how, back in Liyue, he'd made Jade Pendants for everyone around him.
Why not carve a few more now—for the friends he'd made in Mondstadt? A keepsake.
For Jean, the "Dandelion Knight," he carved a dandelion.
For Eula, the "Spindrift Knight," a wave.
For Amber, a torch.
For Lisa, a book.