As Sai and Lisa walked through the forest path, they eventually reached Whispering Woods, which was their only way to Mondstadt. The orange and light green leaved trees gave way to darker tones and barks, and the atmosphere was intense. The difference was clear as day.
Dusk was just starting, and nonetheless the forest was still oppressive.
Sai inched a little closer to Lisa, just for her to magically appeared ahead once again. 'Did I imagine it?'
He tried again, but the distance between them didn't seem to shrink.
"What the… Sigh… Whatever…" Sai was very tired at this point.
…
'How long has it been? We're probably almost there right?' At a certain point in the forest path, Sai could see the bright blue water of Cider Lake, the lake that surrounded Mondstadt.
"Huh?" Sai thought he heard something.
"Celi upa celi…"
"Sada shato lata!"
"Kuzi uno ya zido!" The sound was growing stronger.
"Is that…" Sai was hesitant.
Suddenly, all sounds stopped, followed by an indistinct sentence. And then:
"Kyaaaah!" In unison.
"That's why I hate hilichurls… They can't even feel elemental energy." Lisa grumbled.
"Um… Lisa?" Sai wanted her to explain, but that was just wishful thinking.
From inside the forest somewhat up ahead, a group of four hilichurls came. Two were the common types and there were two pyro shooters, the type that carry crossbows. From behind them came two samachurls, given their staffs and size.
The two front hilichurls immediately rushed for Lisa, while the two shooters behind them seemed somewhat hesitant to approach. The samachurls further back seemed to be screaming something, and despite not speaking 'hilichurlian', Sai realized that they were scared.
"Sigh… Their innocence is going to be their downfall, but perhaps it is also their only good point as well…" Lisa wondered.
When they were about to reach striking distance, Lisa lifted one of her arms, as purple lightning formed a translucent wall in front of her. When it met the hilichurls, they were sent flying away towards their companions.
"Yaaaak!" Four hilichurls fell down on their backs, apparently all alive.
The samachurls yelled more strongly now, and all the hilichurls on the ground stared at them. Finally, they turned to look at Lisa, who hasn't stopped walking, and stood up.
The samachurls then rushed inside the forest, with the other four closely and desperately following.
Soon, silence retook the Whispering Woods.
"Why didn't you… kill them?" Sai only realized how bad it sounded when he spoke out loud.
"Why would I? They run away after I show they can't beat me anyways."
"But if they found someone who they can beat?"
"Then they will beat."
"And you don't care about that?" Sai was confused.
"Normal hilichurls like them never kill anyone. Not killing them creates the need for adventurers and creates stronger fighters…"
Sai was shocked. What did she mean with 'never kill anyone'? He himself was almost killed by one just some time ago.
"You said they don't kill but I've seen times where they do though…"
"…"
"So what do you mean by that?"
"…"
"You… are you only going to answer three questions again?!?" Sai was stupefied.
"Watch your tone, boy." Lisa looked behind her apathetically.
Sai immediately shook in fear. It was survival instinct at its finest. He felt that if he angered her again she would fry him like a potato.
'She's scary alright!'