Ew, Stairs...

Long time, work trip sucks, am back.

Read up to 18 chapters ahead! Celestia TIER patreons also get to read the first few chapters of my new series:

MHA - Return By Death - 4 chapters

SOON TM - Konosuba, Nisekoi, League of legends, Majikoi

https://pa treon.com/StickSwinger

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***

"How do you know that ghosts don't sleep? Maybe they do." Yomite continued the discussion about ghosts, "I mean, if we can dream and stuff, then maybe they can too."

"Come on, Assistant...I would say I know a bit more than you do!"

"Fair enough, I guess..."

Considering her specialty was dealing with spirits, it wouldn't be strange if she were right. She did have the knowledge of what sort of people become ghosts after death; there wasn't any point in arguing about something like that.

"Stop your idle chatter, we have company." Lisa alerted them, noticing something.

"Huh? What is it, Teacher?"

Lisa responded with a cold gaze, "All of you, stay close. There's a chance someone's after us."

"Someone?" Paimon asked, confused, "Did other people come to steal our treasures?"

"Paimon, you realize those treasures, if any found, aren't ours yet, right?"

"Eheheh!"

"Someone came to the entrance of the Spiral Abyss and is attempting to cross through the portal." Lisa explained.

"Fatui maybe? Oh come on, they're not even worth a tease! They won't pose problems to us whatsoever!" Hu Tao responded, sure that she could defeat them all with a few blows.

Lisa, though, shook her head. "We have no idea who it is. They may pose a threat. Let's welcome them."

At her words, the group got ready for battle, while Lisa simply raised her hand and aimed it towards the entrance, purple lighting enveloping her palm.

Just as predicted, a mysterious figure appeared from the portal, causing them to draw their weapons in anticipation of an attack.

However, none came.

Instead, they were greeted by silence, accompanied only by the sounds of their soft breathing...until...

"Yomire...Bissha...found you..." A low growl escaped the throat of the figure.

It was Rosaria, who was visibly fatigued from swimming all the way to the island.

Saturated to the core, her garments clung to her like a second skin, every contour of her form visible beneath the drenched fabric. Seawater streamed from her hair, cascading down her face and neck.

"Oh! Sister Rosaria?" Barbara exclaimed, "How did you get here? Did something happen in Mondstadt?"

"...Rosaria? What are you doing here...? Don't tell me you want your Mora back? I'll have you know I don't have it anymore...I spent it all for furniture and stuff..." Yomite spoke up.

"Money? No...I came here to kill you..." She snarled, her eyes glowing with hatred.

In her entire life, she could count on one hand the number of times she had truly been consumed by anger. Yet, somehow, this man had succeeded in infuriating her thrice within mere days.

She didn't know why he was so annoying, but he had a punchable face, a cheeky attitude, and an annoying grin, making him a good target anytime she felt the urge.

Unfortunately, he was stronger than she was, so she had no chance of exacting revenge on him. However, she was currently irrational due to rage and frustration, and she couldn't stop herself from doing anything foolish.

Exhausted, soaked, and thirsty, Rosaria resolved to seize the opportunity before her, using Yomite as a means to release her pent-up fury, in the hope that it might alleviate her anger and dissipate some of her frustration.

With deliberate steps, she advanced, unsheathing her spear and leveling it at Yomite's chest, her intent clear in the menacing gleam in her eyes.

"Die!"

"No he won't."

Before she could even process what was happening, an otherworldly force surged from Lisa's palm, hurtling toward the encroaching adversary with unbridled fury.

"...!?"

In an instant, a torrent of violet lightning branched out across the earth, the ground quaking as the tempestuous energy reverberated through the surroundings. Each person present found themselves momentarily dazed, their senses overwhelmed by the unexpected eruption of power.

As the maelstrom of electricity subsided, they spotted Rosaria unconscious on the ground.

All it took was one strike.

"Ehm...Teacher...? She...wasn't really an enemy..." Yomite murmured, confused, and then looked over at Lisa who was still standing proudly, glaring coldly at Rosaria's form lying on the ground.

"I'm aware, but she had the arrogance to attack my student in front of me, which is a serious offense. I did my best to make it painless." She said calmly, her tone betraying absolutely nothing.

Indeed, her strike had been merciful, but there was potential for something far more lethal had Lisa not shown restraint; with just a touch more force, Rosaria could have been obliterated in an instant.

Not to mention, Rosaria just swam across the sea, and she was drenched in saltwater. Electricity, notorious for its conductive affinity with water, transformed what should have been a mere shove into a devastating, incapacitating blow.

Elemental combinations in the world of Teyvat were simply too powerful, resulting in the absurd damage dealt to her.

"Lisa...that was a bit..."

"P-Paimon doesn't want to get fried! Paimon will do anything Lisa says!!!"

"Miss Lisa is so amazing..."

The group was shocked to say the least.

It was a stark reminder that Lisa harbored fearsome abilities, and should they fail to exercise caution, a loss of consciousness might be the least of their concerns in the face of such overwhelming power.

Yomite looked down at Rosaria's prone form and sighed, feeling slightly guilty, "Well, she was probably still angry that I took her money...otherwise she wouldn't have come here..."

"Regardless, let's move on. We're here to train. This cardio will prove to be my undoing..." Lisa sighed as she gazed above at the number of stairs they had to ascend.

The last time she was here, Jean carried her to the summit on her back; but, this time...

'I could float up there, but that would mean spending magical power for no reason...wait a minute...'

She looked at Yomite and winked at him, "Say, Handsome. You have your first assignment today. It involves ascending these steps."

"Umm, okay? So, explain?"

"Oh! I know! I know! We will need to climb these stairs while doing handstands!" Hu Tao stepped in.

Yomite turned white. "No way in hell! I will jump off these stairs into the void down below and die rather than do that."

"Aww, you scared? Chicken, chicken! Cluck, cluck, cluck!"

"I'm not falling for that. You can do handstands while going upstairs for all I care. I'm definitely not doing that." Yomite shook his head furiously.

This was one thing he hated more than anything else, and he wasn't about to do it now.

"Fine. Then how about a race?" Hu Tao suggested, ignoring him.

"Nope."

"Come on! Don't be such a bore! The first up there gets to do whatever he wants with the loser!" Hu Tao then began performing handstands while maintaining her balance before ascending the steps one by one.

Yomite observed her progression prior to glancing at Lisa.

"So...what was your assignment?"

"Oh, carry me."