Ad Astra Abyssoque

"Haaa~... I'm so bored." Sighed Diluc and bent his body over the dinner table like a cat. "I wonder what Elaine is doing right now?" Then he looked up to the clear sky through the window in a dreamlike state which his brother next to him also questioned what their precious flower was doing.

It's been two days since Elaine left and travel with Cyrus to Liyue. The Ragvindr family, Adelheid, Elzer, and the employees missed the only daughter of Crepus Ragvindr who was like a princess who came out from a fairy tale and had a noble heart like a warrior.

All of the grown-ups except Crepus didn't want her to leave so soon. They silently questioned why their master sends her off at such early age and the decision was very strange from the beginning.

Everything doesn't make any sense anymore.

"Who knows what she is doing right now. She could be fighting a Lawachurl with her bare hands if she can do it or this Thoma guy pampers her like a real lady she is, during their travel." Kaeya dryly said. To be honest, he doesn't like that blonde-haired boy even a bit though for some reason. 'Perhaps, I don't like his attitude. It screamed a selfless guy who cares of others but not himself and having some sort of justice I'll never understand.' He mused in his mind.

Diluc looked at him sweatdropped, "There's no way that Elaine would be that reckless to wrestle a Lawachurl for Barbatos's sake!" Then he paused.

The brothers were silent at the moment as they thought that they somewhat made this coming true.

"Shit." Said Kaeya and Diluc didn't bother to correct his word of choice as it was his fault to say out loud. Even though Elaine has a good chance to not encounter that monster since it likes to roam in certain areas for its respective elements and avoids the human civilization oddly, however, the brothers learned recently if they mention what they would be thinking what their sister was doing then she will do it.

Some strange luck she has!

"Still, something is bothering me for a while..." mumbled Diluc softly under his breath while Kaeya leaned against the wall and listen to him with his sharp ears.

"Is it just me or is Elaine hiding something away from our eyes?" He looked over to Kaeya was curious about his question. "You know... back from the first day that she wields a shield that we never saw her fighting and yet, she is an inhumanly natural at this field... don't you think that is very strange, Kaeya?"

"Yes. It is quite strange indeed," The tanned boy said and put his finger under his chin as he was thinking. "Comparing to us who having tutors teaching us swordsmanship that our father hired for us, Elaine was able to fight like in our level if not, more than two of us together."

What's more disturbing is that Elaine's eyes were sometimes changed their color to a sandy gold color that has no humanity on them, unlike her unique blue eyes that shine the light that he fond off and that odd pink-haired doctor who came over to their house as Crepus invited him to talk about something.

Romani appears like a goofy guy but Kaeya knows for sure that there is something about him as he meets him for the first time. His observation never failed him when he saw the pink-haired man unbelievable seeing Elaine like a ghost image of someone that looked exactly like her or he knows her personal but he doubts it that would be the latter and those golden eyes that never showed any sparkles on Elaine's eyes that never fit her image as if she was possessed by a spirit who can come and go as it pleased.

'A living person who has another soul that didn't belong...' He thought then Kaeya realized something as he started to question himself, 'Just who are you, Elaine? There wasn't a fire incident from the beginning when Crepus found you on the road... What sort of secrets and mysteries does she hide from us?' Then he looked at Diluc who was pretty much confused towards him.

"How did you manage to get in her room, Diluc?" The khaenri'ah boy asked.

"Why are you asking this again? How many times did I say that it was an accident that I grabbed her bloomers!" Said Diluc in annoyance which Kaeya lazily waved his hand.

"Don't lie to yourself, Diluc. I know that you adore our precious light and couldn't help yourself to get a souvenir from her room which I get your desire since we are healthy boys as I will do the same in your shoes." Said Kaeya shamelessly with a hint of jealousy then he sat beside his adoptive brother who muttered about his lazy attitude, "Also this isn't what I wanted to know."

Diluc looked at him puzzled as Kaeya has a serious face.

"I want to know how you got in Elaine's room since she puts a special lock that no one can enter except herself."

-

"Motherfucker!"

Softly swore the Demi-Servant, Elaine when her shield got touched roughly by a Stonehide Lawachurl that every adventurer avoided it as it is stronger than a Mitachurl except for the particular girl kept fighting back instead of running away like any normal person would do when the saw that big lone monster. It's another story about how she encounters that monster who rather should be in another area than near at the traveling road which is very unusual.

She was not expecting that her shield reacted by it that a golden spear appeared from the center and pierced at the Lawachurl's chest, unexpectedly. Then Elaine remembers that Around Round carries a special curse that anyone touched that shield besides Galahad and herself, got hit by a holy lance which that large monster got killed itself as it was stuck to its heart was located.

It was a good thing that no one saw that her shield killed a Lawachurl in one blow because it's such a hassle if someone saw it and may take it to the wrong way that they declared she was a heretic like humanity did 500 years ago.

'Well then... since I am done here, I should go back to the others. They are waiting to come back to the main road.' The Demi-Servant sighed softly and hummed a nice tune. 'I wonder what Thoma is going to cook today? Whatever it is I will certainly be looking forward to it.'

Galahad hummed quietly while Elaine headed back to their campsite that she and Cyrus build for themselves and Thoma's family.

'I recommended that you can eat only 2 portions since the soup contains milk after all.' Galahad reminded her which made the gray-haired girl pouted then she turned her lips into a smile as the warm wind blew the golden leaves which Elaine outstretched her hand and a single golden leaf placed at her palm.

She put the small leaf in her journal book and decided to continue her journey.

'I still have time to travel the places around Teyvat before going to sail through the dark sea where Albion lays somewhere.' It makes her feel oddly excited, to go to a different region that another archon ruled differently than Mondstadt and more importantly to see what the world meant for her.

Suddenly she frowned as she felt someone watching her, turned her head around in caution, and unsheathed her dull sword.

'Is someone watching me?'

Elaine saw nothing and decided to progress her journey.

As she leaves the area, an unusual colored large bird came out of their hiding spot and watched with his pair of golden orbs as her figure who disappeared then the 'odd bird' did the same but follows her.

-

"Well? How was your first investigation?" Cyrus asked the ten-year-old girl who seemed to be slightly focused on making something strange from his observation.

"Oh. It was quite fine for me." Elaine replied to him monotone without looking at Cyrus, "I also eliminate enemies who were dangerously close to the road that we traveling." She reported to him like a soldier which made him startle.

"That's good to hear that you do it efficiently of the task."

Cyrus leaned his back against the tree to try to relax his muscle. Thoma and his family aren't focused on them as they spend their family time under the stars and talk about Inazuma where Thoma's father grew up.

"What are you making, kid?" He asked in interest which Elaine stops tinkering at the moment and turned her head slightly towards him.

"A messenger bird." He blinked in confusion, "If I write a letter and send it with a living bird that may be mistaken as a meal or be killed by a person. So, I was thinking why not make it that it can go and back like a normal bird?"

"That's... quite amazing!" The branch guild master was blown away from her explanation and her creation, "This will be helpful to our organization since the pigeon carriers are sometimes going to be missing or to be found dead, unfortunately."

This will be getting revolutionary if this mechanical messenger bird is getting spread across Teyvat, however, there's a problem. It's like a double-edge sword if someone gets the hands of it like who has a connection to the black market.

"Unfortunately, I will not reveal my works here on Teyvat." Elaine told him bluntly which Cyrus was surprised, "I working with this small machine to stay connected to my family and my closest ones. Not making a profit out of it." She added her reasons with him which made Cyrus gloomy a little but he understand why she doesn't want to and was too young for the economic world since it may overwhelm her. Then the blonde-haired man changed the subject as he spoke about their destination.

"We will head to Wangshu Inn soon. Liyue Harbor will not be very far away anymore." He informed her which she nodded as received the information. "When this commission is completed, you will become what you wanted. Which means you can roam every corner of this world with your heart content." Cyrus grinned at her which Elaine returns a small smile at him.

'Finally... even though it might be too early to celebrate it.' Thought the Demi-Servant and watched the humans talking to each other as they decided to continue to head towards the Liyue Harbor, so everyone packed their belongings then stored them in the carriage.

It was her turn to ride which Cyrus sat beside her to teach how to drive which Elaine handled quite well as the horses galloped and lead them where they have to go.

"Elaine? Did you know that there is an upcoming event called Rite of Descension in Liyue?" Mention the guild master which pique her interest, but hide her curiosity quite well since she was focused her eyes to look into the distance. "Unlike our Archon Barbatos who is known as the god of freedom barely shown up in our land... unless there is a crisis that we cannot defend which we didn't have it recently since five-hundred years ago while here in Liyue, their Archon whose name is Morax also known as Rex Lapis graces this land with his prophecy, giving guidance on the economic path that the Liyue people should fellow in the coming and this time is a more fortuitous time because the rite is tomorrow." Her eyes moved towards him a little then she opened her mouth.

"Are Outlanders welcomed to participate in that Rite of Descension?" questioned Elaine and Cyrus nodded.

"Yes, even we are not part of Liyue. Rex Lapis perhaps give us outsiders his blessings but it would be a rare opportunity."

Elaine tilted her head, "What kind of blessings does Rex Lapis will do to us since we are outsiders?"

"Well... We can wish something else other than the economic aspect." Said Cyrus, "Like we wish that life never gets bored as we boarding our horizon and having a longer life." Then he sighed at the moment as he remembers fond memories with Iris as they prayed to the geo archon their wishes while Elaine watched at him briefly and was wondering.

'I wonder why humans are praying to the gods who may be playing cruel behind their backs... is it because of fear or admiration?'

Then she recalled Romani's words about her choice of taking a journey.

"A human lifespan is longer than a heroic spirit who got summoned and only lives for the sake of the holy grail, to gain their wishes that the holy cup grant them. But you, are a lonely irregular who seeks their own answer to live in this world and thus taking this matter in its own hands." Romani summarised her which got her nervous. "Don't you think that you are turning yourself a fool for taking this path alone?"

"Turning myself a fool?" Elaine questioned herself in conflict of the blunt words.

"You are following the words of a heroic spirit, Galahad which is pretty understandable... but isn't it the time to make your own decision?"

She was confused about his question. "I don't understand what you were asking, Romani. Galahad suggested that I have to see the world in my own eyes and said he will also not stop to me if I take a wrong path which I can clearly thinking about myself." She said which made Romani smiled in relief.

"Is that so? Then it's good." He said, "Galahad was known to be a perfect knight who did his duty without a question. Be it returning the holy grail to god or driving a demon out of his grave... However he has some flaws that we cannot understand his mind."

"...That's true..." Said Elaine as she knows what Romani meant since he wasn't supportive about some her action which he deemed unjust even though it was a good cause.

"Then there is nothing I can say but I wish that your journey have the fates you can change or destroy in your own hands." He smiled with his eyes closed and raised his hand which Elaine hold it.

"Let's hope we meet again. Oh wise king of Magecraft, Solomon."

The pink-haired man chuckled lightly.

"My doors are always open to anyone even you, Elaine. Don't be hesitate asking for help."

-

Elaine blinked her eyes as she saw the biggest tree house she ever seen while Thoma was also in awe like her.

"This must be the Wanghsu Inn. Should we rest? or moving forward to our destination, Cyrus?" She asked which the man lightly shrugged.

"It's our clients choice whenever we could take rest or not." Cyrus answered then they peek over the family who seemed to be enjoyed of the beautiful view and wanted to the highest of the tree house which they decided to take a short break.

As Elaine followed them behind, she started to miss her family which she expressed the urge of going back home.

'No matter what my choice was right or wrong. I have to head forward and never looking back of my past action.'