At Lucas's command, he scattered the Qingxin Grass fragments into the air with a flick of his wrist. In the same instant, Jean swung her sword, channeling precise wind elements along its blade. The fragments dispersed perfectly, like a fragrant drizzle falling over the area.
Nearby, Venti had already prepared to intervene if necessary. However, his assistance proved unnecessary—Jean's remarkable elemental control ensured the Qingxin Grass was distributed flawlessly. The soothing fragrance wafted through the air, reaching the ensnared victims.
Sure enough, as soon as they inhaled the fragrance, those under the Hydro Mirage began regaining their senses. Some had been mere seconds away from submerging entirely into the lake; without intervention, they would have lost consciousness and drowned.
"Everyone, retreat to the shore!" Jean commanded immediately. "The enemy hasn't fully revealed themselves yet. Stay vigilant!"
But before the knights could fully regroup, the lake's surface suddenly churned into a massive vortex. The glowing sphere of water shifted, transforming into a colossal, eight-headed water dragon that towered over the group, roaring furiously from the center of the lake.
Its sheer size eclipsed even that of the Stormterror, and its fearsome appearance sent a wave of unease through the gathered fighters.
Yet, Lucas couldn't shake the feeling that something about this creature didn't add up.
Unlike Stormterror, this water dragon lacked the same oppressive aura of overwhelming power.
"Roar!"
The dragon bellowed in a deep, resonant voice: "Foolish mortals! How dare you disturb my slumber? Consider this a mere warning—leave now, or face my wrath!"
It can talk?
Jean, ever the cautious leader, considered the situation. Their mission was to subdue the Stormterror; engaging this creature could be an unnecessary diversion. No casualties had occurred yet, so it might be wiser to withdraw.
However, just as she contemplated ordering a retreat, Paimon shouted, "Oh no! Traveler—Traveler is gone!"
Lucas's heart sank as he realized Lumine had vanished. Even Paimon, usually inseparable from her, couldn't locate her companion. There was no doubt—Lumine was in danger.
At the water's edge, Lucas spotted a single white flower—Lumine's hair accessory. The implication was clear: she had likely fallen victim to the earlier illusion and was now submerged in the lake.
"We'll leave!" Lucas called out. "But return my friend to me!"
"How dare a mere human attempt to negotiate with me!" the dragon roared, its eight heads rising high. Around it, multiple water columns erupted violently, a clear show of force. "Leave now, or suffer my fury!"
"In that case, let me test your strength myself."
Lucas stepped forward without hesitation, his voice resolute. "Jean, Lumine is my friend. This is my responsibility to handle. Take the others and retreat."
"What are you talking about…" Jean stepped forward to stand beside him, her gaze unwavering. "Your friend is my friend. If I can't protect those in front of me, how can I protect the people of Mondstadt?"
Jean's words rallied the group, bolstering their morale. A chorus of steel rang out as the Knights of Favonius drew their swords, ready for battle.
"You cowardly beast!" Eula stormed forward, gripping her claymore with frost gathering around her. "If you think you can toy with us like this, I'll freeze you solid and shatter you!"
"How… how dare you!"
The water dragon's voice cracked as it retreated slightly. "Take another step, and I… I'll drown you!"
But this time, its voice lacked the earlier gravitas and instead trembled with nervousness.
"Enough pretending." Lucas intercepted Eula, stopping her advance. Fixing the dragon with a sharp glare, he sneered. "You're weak, aren't you?"
"W-What?"
The dragon's voice faltered further, the bravado in its tone fading. "I… I'm very strong!"
"If you're really so powerful, why resort to illusions instead of attacking directly?" Lucas asked confidently. "Water, for all its strength, is amorphous and deceptive. Your imposing form is just for show, isn't it?"
"I'll prove how 'strong' you are!" Eula snapped, her frosty claymore sparking with cold energy. "How dare you toy with us like this…"
Lucas couldn't help but wonder what Eula had seen in the Hydro Mirage that had riled her so much.
As Eula prepared to strike, the dragon visibly cowered, curling its eight heads together. "I… I was wrong! Don't kill me! I… I didn't want this to happen!"
The water dragon's form dissolved, and in its place stood a small humanoid figure made of water.
It resembled the "Slime Maidens" from stories, but its translucent blue body shimmered with a vibrant luster. It looked no older than ten, with a frightened, tearful expression.
(AN: smth like this?)
"A pure-water elemental…" Venti muttered beside Lucas. "Let's ask questions before attacking. These creatures are often Fontaine's agents, but they rarely act aggressively unless provoked. Maybe there's more to this."
Lucas was somewhat familiar with pure-water elementals.
They were living manifestations of water formed from concentrated Hydro elements. Typically found near pristine bodies of water, their strength correlated with the purity of their surroundings. Most had ties to Fontaine's Hydro Archon and acted as her spies, observing the world.
Pure-water elementals seldom attacked humans unless the water source was threatened or corrupted.
"Don't be scared," Lucas said gently, kneeling to address the creature. "What's your name? Why did you use illusions against us?"
"M-My name is Endora," the elemental stammered, her voice trembling. "A blue figure with a mask and two bunny-like ears captured me and forced me to cast illusions on you."
"A blue figure with a mask and rabbit ears…" Jean murmured, her brows furrowing. "Could it be a Hydro Abyss Mage?"
Having dealt with the Abyss Order before, Jean immediately recognized the description.
Lucas examined Endora closely and noticed a faint black sun-shaped sigil etched on her forehead.
"That's the Abyss Order's binding curse," said Kaeya, who suddenly appeared from the shadows, his tone casual. "Looks like I missed some fun."
Curious, Lucas couldn't help but wonder what Kaeya might have seen in the Hydro Mirage if he'd been affected.
"I won't hurt you," Lucas reassured Endora. "Just tell me where the blonde girl is."
"Aaaaah!"
Before Endora could answer, she let out a pained cry. Her watery form began to dissipate rapidly, her essence evaporating before their eyes. "I… I feel strange… Help… me!"
"Seems the Abyss Mage is trying to silence her to prevent her from leaking information," Kaeya remarked with a hint of regret. "What a waste."
Lucas, aware of Kaeya's ties to Khaenri'ah, suspected his insight came from his unique heritage.
"Is there a way to save her?" Lucas asked urgently.
"That curse is essentially a master-servant contract," Kaeya replied with a shrug. "You'd either need to break the contract… or overwrite it with a stronger one."
A master-servant contract?
Lucas seemed to recall something. From his storage space, he produced a charm inscribed with red talismans: "I'm not sure if this will work, but... it's worth a try!"
Without hesitation, he pressed the charm onto Endora's forehead. A golden light flashed, halting the disintegration of her body. The black sun-shaped mark on her forehead vanished instantly.
[Successful Subjugation!]
[Shikigami Information Confirmed]
[Name]: Endora
[Species]: Pure-Water Elemental
[Attribute]: Hydro
[Skills: Hydro Mirage, Water Form Summoning, Mirage Explosion, Hydro Possession]
[Gained 1000 Virtue Points for saving Endora from the brink of death!]
Relief washed over Lucas as Endora officially became his shikigami.
The talisman he used was none other than the Shikigami Talisman—a reward from the simulator. While ordinary people couldn't wield such an artifact, Lucas's Great Onmyoji talent allowed him to master its use with ease.
"I… I'm alive!" Endora exclaimed, hopping with joy. "I'm free! Thank you, Master!"
"Now, with your freedom restored, you shouldn't have any reservations," Lucas said, leaning forward. "Tell me—where is the girl?"
"Yeah, where's Traveler?" Paimon cried, her voice choked with emotion. "She's my best friend! If… if she dies—"
Seeing Paimon's distress, Lucas quickly reassured her.
"Don't worry, Lumine—"
"If she dies, you'll have to take me in!" Paimon clung to Lucas's cloak, sobbing. "Don't worry! Paimon's very easy to take care of!"
"Don't lose hope so soon!" Lucas said with an exasperated laugh. "Trust me. If the enemy's goal was just to kill Lumine, they wouldn't go through such elaborate lengths. I'd bet she's still safe."
His words weren't baseless optimism.
As someone who knew the story well, Lucas understood that if Lumine was the Traveler, the mastermind behind the Abyss Order was her brother, Aether. No matter how grim things seemed, Aether wouldn't truly harm his sister.
"I know where she is!" Freed from her contract, Endora spoke with confidence. "She's at the bottom of the lake! That blue guy captured her!"
A Hydro Abyss Mage?
"But none of us have Hydro Visions," Jean said with a furrowed brow. "If I'd known, I would've brought Barbara along."
Even though a Hydro Vision wouldn't allow someone to move freely underwater, it could reduce resistance and make diving easier.
Jean had considered taking Barbara on the expedition initially. After all, if Barbara could master her "Gigantification" ability, she might be a powerful asset against Stormterror.
However, Jean ultimately decided against it.
Barbara was reluctant to use that power, and its effectiveness against a flying opponent like Stormterror was uncertain. Most importantly, Jean didn't want to expose her sister, a support unit, to the frontlines' dangers.
Now, even Lucas was stumped. Though he could swim, he couldn't stay underwater for long, and combat in the enemy's domain would put him at a significant disadvantage.
Even Sun Wukong had his limitations underwater.
"Leave it to me, Master!" Endora suddenly declared. She leaped onto Lucas and melded into his body. "Hydro Possession!"
Bluish patterns rippled across Lucas's skin, glowing faintly like flowing water.
"This is one of my unique abilities!" Endora's voice echoed in Lucas's consciousness. "When I merge with you, Master, you'll gain the same freedom to move underwater as a pure-water elemental. But... I can't maintain it for long."
"That's fine! This is more than enough." Lucas marveled at his transformed body, then turned to the others. "I'll dive in to rescue her. Jean, you all stay here and hold the perimeter."
"Understood…" Jean hesitated briefly before nodding. "Please, come back safely."
"If you dare let anything happen to yourself…" Eula said, her eyes narrowing, "I'll hold this grudge forever."
"By the way…" Lucas glanced at Eula with a smirk. "What did you see in the mirage earlier?"
Eula's cheeks flushed red. She stammered, "Is… is this really the time for that? Just go already! I'll tell you when you get back!"
"Deal!" Lucas chuckled before turning to Jean. "And don't worry, I haven't forgotten our promise. Wait for my safe return."
With those parting words, Lucas dove gracefully into the lake, leaving Jean and Eula exchanging awkward glances.
"Tsk tsk…"
Kaeya's playful laugh broke the silence. "He's quite lucky, isn't he? With so many people worrying about him, if anything happens, I wouldn't be surprised if they drained the entire lake to find him."
"Kaeya!" Jean's face turned bright red. "Since you abandoned your post earlier, I expect a full written report on my desk by tomorrow morning!"
"As you command~" Kaeya shrugged, humming a jaunty tune as he walked away.
Deep beneath the lake…
No light reached the depths, and in the dead of night, the lakebed was shrouded in absolute darkness. Only the occasional glimmer from bioluminescent creatures flickered faintly, serving as bait for unsuspecting prey.
Yet, in one secluded corner of the lake, a faint glow revealed the presence of a small underwater palace. Encased in a shimmering bubble that separated it from the surrounding water, the palace stood like a hidden refuge.
Inside, Lumine lay unconscious on a bed made from an enormous seashell. Her eyes remained closed, her chest rising and falling softly as if in peaceful slumber.
Floating beside her was a small unknown figure clad in a blue robe. A mask obscured its face, and two rabbit-like ears jutted from its head.
----
Author's note: You can see changes to the Fontaine lore because it was not released at the time of this novel, I may do something about it in the future... Will probably do a poll to decide what to do, as I really like Fontaine and its characters.
P.s Next extra chapter at 800 :)