"...I'm screwed."
Gabriela stared blankly upward, watching the black ring above her head gradually shrink.
The lake below her feet had long since dried up, the ground was covered in shocking wounds, and the forest was still being annihilated... not to mention those two Slimes.
[Side Quest Completed. Reward obtained: 10,000 Mora, Slime Condensate————]
"...What happened?" The System's voice sounded somewhat bewildered.
"I think I... used a Heavenly Strike?"
Gabriela explained tremulously, the feeling of lingering pleasure filling her body so much that she barely realized she was successfully floating in the sky.
"...You used Heavenly Strike to hit..." The System looked at the Quest Panel, then stared deeply at the ground. "Slimes?"
The Damselette fell silent; rather, she was also a bit embarrassed.
Originally, she had wanted to wander around the forest first, looking for Treasure Chests or something, even if it was just opening one to get a dull blade.
Subject to the actual item, subject to the actual item. So it wouldn't be impossible for her, a Spearman, to carry a sword, right!? Master of All Weapons, after all~
Who knew that Slime would launch a sneak attack, bullying an eighteen-year-old Old Comrade like her? It jumped high and slammed onto her back, causing her whole body to tense up in fright, and then... she flew.
"Gabriela, what... have you done!"
"I was wrong... I was wrong," the Damselette mumbled softly, her wings gently fluttering behind her.
At this moment, the terrifying black ring above her head had completely shrunk, returning to the top of the girl's hair, looking exactly as before.
Seeing the devastated ground, which offered no place to land, she had no choice but to continue floating in mid-air.
"Um..."
"...What?"
"Di-didn't hurt anyone, did I?"
System: Can a Winged Race be this kind?
"No, your Heavenly Strike wasn't very powerful this time; it only struck a very small uninhabited area."
"Phew... that's good, that's good."
"This Heavenly Strike was likely only 1% of your energy output."
"Wow, I'm that powerful!?"
Slap——!
"Ugh!"
The Damselette's head snapped backward, and she nearly lost her balance. Whining, she covered her reddened forehead, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.
The System really is terrifying; better not provoke her... "This time is this time, and the future is the future! You blew up Slimes today, tomorrow you'll dare to blow up Celestia. Do you want to be stewed with Mushrooms!?"
Gabriela shook her head violently.
"...Do your quests properly, be good, and the rewards will be huge."
[Side Quest Completed. Issued: 10,000 Mora, Mondstadt Map*1. Saved for you.]
"...That's so little."
What is 10,000 Mora enough for? It's not even enough for three meals a day!
"Side Quest rewards are mostly dispensable external objects; as a Winged Race, most of them are meaningless to you."
"Main Quest rewards will be much richer~ Your former name was... Tang Xue?"
"Yes, Boss."
System: ?
Ignoring the Damselette's strange address, the System's tone ceased to be intense, becoming somewhat lazy as it continued, "Don't use that name casually from now on, unless it's someone you truly trust, understand... Gabriela?"
"...Alright."
...Someone she truly trusts? The System must count as one!
Wait, she's not human... She won't even issue a gun, she's just a dog!
"host, your luck is pretty good~ You can accept the next quest so soon!"
"Thanks, O."
[Main Quest Issued: Find and encounter the Traveler currently in Mondstadt. Time limit: 1 day.]
...The Traveler?
Gabriela gently fluttered her wings. Having initially mastered the technique, she quickly flew away from the scorched earth and entered the still lush and green forest.
I wonder who I'll draw... Lumine? Aether?
Tsk... that trashy Lumine Sis.
Aether Bro... maybe we can be sisters too?
Ahhh, whatever! Anyway, I was originally one Main Account and one Alt Account, they're both equally important to me. No matter who it is, I'll make sure they never return!
Hmph~
This is the Main Quest? Eeeeeeeeeasy!!
[Main Quest Added: Make the Traveler your Master. Time limit: 100 days.]
Warning! Warning! Failure will result in severe punishment!]
"What!?"
Gabriela hit a tree with a loud duang.
The massive impact caused the tree trunk to emit an ear-splitting snap. In a slow-motion instant, bark flew and wood chips scattered.
The century-old ancient tree sacrificed itself heroically, and the deafening crash as it hit the ground startled a flock of birds in the forest.
Amidst the flying dust, the Angel was seen lying spread-eagled in the wreckage, her wings still extended.
She abruptly lifted her upper body, blinked, and then slowly lay back down, even elegantly smoothing her messy hair.
"...I'll just die for a little while first."
...Meanwhile, on the other side.
"Whoa!" Paimon trembled all over, startled by the loud noise. She grabbed her slipping Little Crown and quickly hid behind Lumine.
"T-Traveler... did you hear that? It sounds like there's been another..."
Lumine quickly reassured Paimon twice, tightened her grip on her weapon, and looked in the direction of the sound.
The dense sea of trees blocked the view, but the trembling of the earth, the scattering birds, and the faint sound of breaking wood clearly indicated that—
That direction was not far away, closer to them than the last time.
Fortunately, the scale of this incident didn't seem large; it quieted down after only a brief tremor.
"Paimon, that thing from before, do you think It... hmm..."
"What is it, Traveler?"
Lumine lightly rubbed her chest, her brows furrowed. "Could It... be related to the God I am searching for?"
"Are you talking about..." Paimon's voice suddenly grew quieter, "The one who took your brother?"
Lumine nodded silently.
Paimon subconsciously cupped her chin in thought, only to realize she had floated away, and quickly flew back behind Lumine to hide.
"Paimon... doesn't know, but It looks really dangerous! Traveler, your power..." Paimon looked at Lumine worriedly.
Lumine raised her left hand, and several wisps of breeze gathered and spun at her fingertips, then quietly dissipated into the air.
It's not enough... far from enough... "We should... hide from It." Paimon suddenly had a Khvarena flash. "Mondstadt is the nation of the Anemo God! The Anemo God will definitely strike hard against this kind of bad guy who casually destroys the environment! We just need to find a way to meet the God of Anemo!"
Lumine slowly lowered the sword in her hand, taking one last look in the direction where the giant tree had fallen.
The birds in the forest had returned to their nests, as if the commotion just now had never happened. She sighed softly, "...Alright, let's head into the city first."
"Okay!"
"Take me with you."
"Ah!"
"Waaahhhhh!!!"
Lumine instinctively shielded Paimon behind her, her right hand already gripping the dull blade.
However, before she could even use her Sword Skill, she heard a crisp snap—the weapon in her hand had been forcibly broken.
"You... you..."
The blonde Traveler was too shocked to speak.
Not because of the sudden appearance of the other party, nor because of the inexplicably broken weapon, but because—
Her, the girl floating before her eyes, or was it a God? That was all.
Many years later, the Traveler would still remember that afternoon.
Remembering the dappled light filtering through the leaves, remembering her wings, her eyes, remembering the pure, flawless face in the sunlight, like a God about to lean down and kiss her forehead.
And her name, Gabriela, or rather... Tang Xue.