Sorry for keeping your waiting dear readers. I was busy to doing my best in my workplace and class test. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.
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Elaine mentally sighed as she still felt that same presence that follows her made her feel unpleasant. It feels like the demi-servant that the Wangshu Inn was that it's their territory even though the Inn is a resting place for merchants and travellers who were coming from afar to, either chatting among themselves or viewing from the top to see Mt. Qingce and Jueyun Karst. It also said that this inn has a mysterious secret but far as the legend goes, no one has ever been able to verify these claims.
'Well it seems that person isn't wary of me since the beginning which I glad for it though, but I wonder why they watching me...' The grey-haired girl thought and went to a waitress as decided to order a quick meal to go because the last meal she had wasn't enough to fill her stomach.
"Excuse me? Can I order something to go?" Elaine asked the waitress who nodded at her who took out her small notebook and pencil then the young girl coughed a little before she began, "I would like five chicken-skewers and five grilled tiger fish with large portion of qingce rice."
As she wrote what the young girl wanted then paused at the moment and looked at little perplexed. "...Is this order only for you only, young customer?" The waitress asked which Elaine nodded at her.
"Yes it is. Though I would order more, but it would bother the other customers and the chef that the food will be shorten. I hope this wouldn't be too much that I asked for it and also I want to pick up my order by myself." The Demi-Servant said.
The waitress nodded at her explanation, "Please wait for a moment. Your meal will be ready soon as possible." Then she leaves as other customers called her over while Elaine went further upstairs to see the breath taken view once more.
"This is sure is different from Mondstadt. From the mountains, to buildings, people and everything." She said out loud and closed her eyes at this moment to feel the cool wind brushed gently her face.
"But, the wind is still the same."
"You think so? I think the winds here or other nations are different from ours." Said Thoma from behind which Elaine opened one of her eyes but didn't looked at him for a moment.
"The wind is freedom. It takes many shapes but never changes as it still moves like time and the world. So, the anemo archon watching over us which steps we take." Elaine spoked full of wisdom then she turned against him. "I never thought that you would get homesick so quickly, Thoma."
The blond haired boy was startled as Elaine said that to him and it quite alarming him that she knows that.
"H-how did you know that?" He asked which the demi-servant replied him.
"I'm quite observant to human's emotion and their desire ever since I got adopted. I was troubled with the fact that my emotion was not there before, so I watching the people to learn even if I don't understand them most of it." She paused to catching her breath then continued, "I know that you don't to let people down for your own hidden feelings since you are an easy-going person. However don't bottle up your feelings; it's not good for you. If you feel going to cry, anger, ect. then do it when the time has come to face it."
Thoma gaped a little and wided his eyes of what she said it to him.
"Excuse me, dear guest?" The same waitress that Elaine ordered food from her interrupted them. "Your order is now ready to be picking up, young miss."
Elaine perked as her packed food is now ready for her to devour it. She passed Thoma and places her hand to his shoulder then said to him with a kind smile.
"Don't think so much of what I said and take your time. I look forward when we going to meet each other once again, Thoma."
She let his shoulder go and headed down leaving him alone for a while.
-
"I apologized for keeping you waiting, dear customer. Here is your order. Five Chicken-Mushroom skewer and five grilled tiger fish with large portion of qince rice." Said a dark-skinned man with white hair who was the chef who cooked her food since the waiters and waitresses were quite busy below as they have many customers, the man himself bring it to her for reducing stress to the staffs.
Elaine thanked at him without looking at him as she grabbed her lunch. Then the demi-servant kept her head a little higher and saw his face which she sudden startled at him.
'Those eyebrows and those eyes... even they had different colours there could be no way that this is him and shouldn't he on my age?' She thought in confusion and knitted her eyebrows.
The man furrowed his eyebrow of why that girl was startled by him in disbelief.
"Is there something wrong, dear customer?" He asked out of concern which Elaine shook her head.
"No. It's nothing, mister." She replied to him then paused as she was thinking if it was worth of a time to ask him but let it aside as she saw his fingertips taping at the desk counter repeatedly. Elaine paid her orders while she took her food at the same time and headed down where the others are waiting for her to come down leaving the mysterious man behind who eyed at her with his cold eyes that could be pairs of swords that would cut down anything in his path.
'The king of magecraft... Now there is a counter guardian from our planets's will stranded here in this world as well... What in name of god is going on here?' Galahad commented which the girl shrugged at as she didn't know it either but she hoped this will be the last time since Elaine wasn't ready to confront her past that it still has those flames of evil, rejection and betrayal burning in her mind which she shake her head.
That man in black hold that auburn haired boy walked away while Elaine cried to come back.
As the Demi-Servant is gone in this floor. The tanned man with eyes of steel continues his work in his kitchen in ease while thinking of that girl from before.
'That girl is different from this world and her feel something familiar like a heroic spirit.'
-
It's been an hour since they left Wanghsu Inn and passed those ancient ruins which the demi-servant got curious about since it has rich history behind it. The travel family hoped that they could stay longer, but they had to reach their ship that reached to Thoma's father homeland, Inazuma.
Elaine still savoured her meal as she ate her last grilled tiger fish with the remaining rice she had while everyone watched her with amusement and amazement from the way she eat like a squirrel with stuffed cheeks.
"The way you enjoyed the food, made me think that I should go a quick stop to the Wanmin Restaurant and say hello to an old friend of mine before I return to Mondstadt." Grinned Cyrus who just couldn't help
Elaine stopped halfway of her juicy tiger grilled fish and quickly looking away from them, to hide her embarrassment since she was originally raised like a noble lady from her background however ultimately failed because the traveling family and Cyrus saw her ear turned red which they couldn't help but chuckled of her act of adorableness as she quickly ate her food.
Then Cyrus stops the horse as those stairs are in a way, so everyone has to lift the carriage that filled with their packings. They expecting that is going to be heavy but not for Elaine who pushes the carriage with her bare hands alone which they got thinking that she's too strong for being a human and the inspection guards were also speechless of her strength while Cyrus wordlessly took the horse since he decided not to dwell question her about her strength which the family also decided not to say anything.
Elaine paused as stretched her arms and gazed to the big stone gate beneath the last remaining stairs then she turned her head to gaze at the statue of the seven.
'Morax... I wonder what kind of god you are... People who loves you... God of Contracts... I wonder if I am able to meet you someday thought I doubt it but it can never be so sure because coincidence and the power to change fate among humanities are what we called miracle itself.' The Demi-Servant thought.
Being a living stray servant who can survive without a need of a master is really questionable and having a journey to finding a meaning of what does it mean to have a role to save this world? Elaine didn't understand what makes her existence so important of this world or Zeltrech sent her out of entertaining considered how ageless and a troll he is.
The Demi-Servant decided to head forward which a gentle sea breeze hit her nose and saw the Liyue Harbor which her feelings of anxiety and self-doubt were replaced by wonder and awe from this magnificent sight.
Her nose caught the smell of sea; it wasn't unpleasant for her though rather that smell was very cool and soothing since Elaine and her family where sometimes at the Falcon Coast during summer times.
'It was very fun back then.' This time she vowed herself that she never loses her precious memories ever again and would join her time with her family again if the fate has mercy on her.
"Breathtaking. Isn't it?" Said Cyrus beside her who Elaine turned up to him and saw he also enjoyed the view of Liyue Harbor. "Every time I step a foot in such places like those. I was acting quite like you when I was on my glorious days though there are always dangers hiding perfectly in those beautiful places. Also, be careful where you travel and be a vigilant around people who can do terrible things. So, be careful and run if you have the opportunity to do so."
Elaine turned head away from him, to see the sea and the sky meet that looked like a serene mirror together then she took a step forward down to the harbor.
Like that wonderful dream she always dreamt.
So many shapes of blue coming from her dream. The many countless stars are above her as the grey-haired child walking ahead to her destination and those stars are people who she hadn't meet them yet.
Her own story was already started when she was saved at night as she escaped from the death's door and bought here in this world.
Her Saviour, Galahad. The heroic spirit who responded her will and still resides in her soul was the person who Elaine was close to him but at the same time distance over the past years.
It's understandable for her. Galahad is a man with few words and a perfect knight but his act as a human being is very questionable since she saw him instead of a man, a walking machine who despises supporting things that even they have good causes which Elaine saw through his memories how he acted like his destiny was already set since he was born and raised to be a perfect knight.
Unlike him who wants good answers and was distance to his fellow comrades due some kind of issues he still has, Elaine wants to enjoy being around with people and seeing their decisions even some of them are hard to bear for her.
'Let's not think too hard.'
The grey-haired girl sighed when she entered the harbor where the merchants offered the customers of their wares which some of them are quite eye catching to her.
Elaine was really in awe how lively the city is as the people living comfortable thanks to the protection from their god.
"Elaine~!" Thoma called her name loudly which she turned on them and saw how much far she went.
The blonde haired boy started to run carefully towards her and took her hands. Thoma grinned at her ear to ear and fished something out of his pocket then gave it to her hand which he let her go as Thoma handed her and closed gently her hand then his grin turned into a warm smile that reminded like the sun.
"We only just meet in short time and parting our ways. I hope this omamori will give you good fortune to your Journey, Elaine." He said.
The girl opened her palm and gazed fascinated of that small, teal blue brocade pouches, also has a cute windwheel aster flower on it with unknown font that she can't read it since it is in Inazuman.
Elaine smiled in gratitude and bowed about 45 degree at him. "Thank you very much, Thoma. I will treasure this and hope that you're managed to come safely to Inazuma with your parents."
Thoma grinned ear to ear then suddenly he hugged her and petted her hair which her cheeks heated up of this sensation even though it wasn't her first time since her family did this to her all the time.
"Take care for yourself and make sure to visit us in Inazuma time to time, Elaine."
Meanwhile at the Ragnvindr resident. Crepus nearly destroyed his precious workdesk with his own strength that the maid besides him stepped away from him as some sort of a dark aura surounded him. Almost like an evil spirit possessed him but it's not as the red haired man sensed from that boy hugged his precious daughter.
"NO! MY DAUGHTER IS WAY TO EARLY OF THIS KIND OF RELATIONSHIP!' He cries in anger very loudly that everyone in on the resident heard him which the staffs and Diluc were confused why Crepus yelled his loud organ out like while Kaeya who apearently managed to break Elaine's room with a crafted key he crafted and inspecting her room, heard him and nodded in agreement.
Doing his plan in the plain sight if Elaine brings a man who wants to be with her which the blue haired boy asassinated him in silent.
Thoma let Elaine go who smiled brightly at him and fist bumped at each other.
"I promise that I will visit you if I am ready to conquer the sea with my own ship one day." She said and then parted their ways. Elaine also said goodbye to Cyrus who had to come back to his branch quickly and told her that the adventurers are always welcomed to the other branches if she got familiar to the nation she explored.
Before that Elaine visit the Liyue branch. Something caught her in her eye, a small plain yellow gem pendant that is made of silver and wondered silently if she would buy it as a souvenir for herself or let it put it aside since simple necklace getting in her way from her journey.
'Wait. I have to save my money for food, useful items, forgery, alchemy and place for living for a time being. Even if the pendant looking cheap, the merchant would rather sell it for a high price since jewelries are for the riches and aristocrat. Outside the city are bandits and treasure hoarders who seeing the rich people as targets.'
Elaine chosed the latter and walked away from the stand and enjoying the happiness from the people who enjoyed the rite around her while a man with brown long hair that glows a nice color of yellow who wears black icognito robe his amber eyes gazed unreadable at her from afar. Then purchased the same pendant that the grey haired girl kept an eye on it.
As the Demi-Servant found an affordable place to sleep and went out to try the commissions in Liyue that are available for this week. A mysterious person placed a teapot and a small box on her desk and vanished in thin air.
Elaine come back to her room in exhausting and wanted to rest to her bed for a long hard day but noticed on her desk. A small box and a teapot along with a short letter that reads.
"I wishe you good fortune and good health in thou path, warrior of time. An old friend who thou don't know yet."
The Demi-Servant pausedthen looked up to the ceiling with a deadpanned expression though she sweated a little.
"It wasn't a good idea to sleep in cheap Inns here in Liyue."
From the day on she rather sleep outside in wilderness than sleeping in a room that someone can come easily to the room and didn't care if monsters bothering her as she constructed her small bounded field which it saved her moras as bought her camping supplies.