Funeral Parlor Mishap

"There were more SpiritCatchers right here in Liuye?" Aether asked surprised, "That's right, and the highest rank at that." Sibley confirmed, "Must have been weird meeting two superiors for the first time." Paimon thought outloud, "Not really, it was just like coworkers chatting." Sibley reassured before putting a hand to her chin, "They did seem pretty dead inside though..." She commented, remembering how dull their eyes were, "They are dead." Aether pointed out, "No I know that, I mean... Like their humanity died... As if they didn't consider themselves humans anymore." Sibley explained in more detail, "That makes sense actually, hunting spirits for a hundred years and most likely dying a lot doing it, they must not consider themselves human anymore." Paimon said in understanding.

Sibley looked to the ground deep in thought, 'Will I become like tha to? Or better... Should I consider it a goal or something to avoid?' She wondered shutting out everything around her until Aether waved a hand in front of her face, "Teyvat to Sibley, are you there?" He asked making her turn to him, "Just thinking, it's not every day you have to consider if you'd be better off being something else entirely." Sibley explained, "Who knows, that might be really helpful for you." Aether told her, "I... I'll think about it." Sibley responded.

While thinking about what to do, the Freedom Matrix began beeping like never before, "That's different!!" Paimon exclaimed watching the Matrix almost go haywire, "Multiple Phantasms detected! Multiple Phantasms detected! Imminent danger! Imminent danger!" It repeated a few times before an arrow hologram projected on top of the screen, "Phantasms!? Right now!?" Sibley lamented looking at where the arrow pointed, "Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? A little on the nose for spirits..." Aether commented, "Does it say there's spirits other than Phantasms?" Paimon asked, "Nope, only Phantasms." Sibley repeated in confirmation, "Let's hurry then! Who knows what's going on in there!!" Aether exclaimed as he started running towards the parlor.

When they arrived at the parlor, the first thing they saw is vines coming out from the door, "That's not unsettling at all..." Sibley sarcastically mused as she got a little closer, "DON'T TOUCH THAT!!" A young sounding voice yelled from behind her, causing Sibley to stumble to te side, "Where did you come from?" Aether asked the seemingly very young girl, "Wait I know you! You're the girl that was with Childe!" Sibley exclaimed, recognizing the particular mask over her eyes.

Profile 20

Name: Columbina/The Damselette.

Age: ???

Occupation: 3rd of the Eleven Fatui Harbringers.

"So you did notice me, I thought Ajax was joking." Columbina smiled coyly, "Are you also an Harbringer? Or are you his escort or something?" Sibley asked catching Aether and Paimon off guard, "So you know about that too, huh? Well, since you're aware, Ajax is currently here for a different purpose than I am." Columbina explained before noticing the crosshair pointing at her, "So you're Columbina... the 3rd Harbringer?" Sibley asked surprised, "I'm sure Childe told you that there was a change of plans after how you wounded Signora." Columbina explained, hiding her surprise at how Sibley just discovered stuff about her.

Taking a look around, Sibley focused on Columbina again, "Where is Childe by the way?" She asked the Damselette who just turned to the parlor, "Don't tell me you're planning to risk your life for a Harbringer!?" Paimon exclaimed in shock, "You remember it was another Harrbringer that beat me and Venti up right!?" Aether asked in equal shock, "Technically I already saved one." Sibley pointed out by motioning to where she got cut up by a hat, "Also what? Because he's a Harbringer he deserves to suffer in there?" She questioned looking disappointed at the two, "Heh, Signora said you're a particular one." Columbina said with a smirk, "And you're adorable, see you in five." Sibley said back before heading inside the Parlor.

Just after a step inside, Sibley frowned at what she saw, "Maybe I should have dragged Aether along..." She thought outloud, seeing that the Parlor is a lot bigger than it probably should be and the fact that there were trees, a glacier and lava dripping from the ceiling, "I'll give it to Phantasms though, they're the real thing when it comes to paranormal." She compliemented before walking further in the building.

Somewhere else in the Building.

"Where did all these wolves come from anyway!?" Childe questioned as he was fighting off a bunch of them, "I don't know! I was busy checking this month's income when everything froze over!" A girl who was also fighting the wolves told him, "I heard you have a Pyro vision right? Use it!" Childe instructed, prompting the girl to jab her polearm towards the wolves and with the aid of her vision she caused a vortex of fire to be shot against three of the wolves, causing the others to run away in fear.

Profile 21

Name: Hu Tao.

Age: 20.

Occupation: 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

Now that the wolves were gone the two managed to take a moment to breathe, "I would have never guessed you'd be this skilled in combat." Childe complimented, "Sometimes I have to retrieve my clients myself, and most of the time they're surrounded by hilichurls." Hu Tao explained before noticing someone approaching on some weird device, "Is that a friend of yours?" Hu Tao asked Childe who turned to see, excpecting Columbina, but instead he saw Sibley getting closer on some kind of top spin, "There you are!" She exclaimed looking at Childe and then turning to Hu Tao, "And you are?" She asked her, "I'm Hu Tao, 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!" Hu Tao introduced herself, "Nice to meet youm I'm Sibley, a SpiritCatcher." Sibley introduced herself.

Hearing this information, Hu Tao looked at Sibley like she was about to start fangirling, "A SpiritCatcher!?" She exclaimed in excitement, "I've read all about your job!" She exclaimed just as excited, "There's books about us/them?" Sibley and Chide asked confused, "SpiritCatchers are almost the symbol of this place! Every time one helped get rid of a spirit that got loose in the parlor was recorder in it's own databook! You're like a legend!" Hu tao informed, "Wow, with something like that it must be pretty eventful..." Sibley thought before noticing Hu tao's Vision.

"That's a Pyro Vision right?" She asked the director who nodded in response, "Perfect! Can I borrow it for a moment?" She requested, confusing both Hu Tao and Childe, but they didn't have any reason not to trust her so Hu Tao gave the SpiritCatcher her vision, "You know why I requested this right?" Said SpiritCatcher asked, "Not at all..." Hu Tao replied still confused, but her eyes widened when Sibley formed some kind of snow machine and put her vision in it, "It's a fire machine!" Sibley joked before activating it and the thing started spewing out flame all over the place.

As the flames continued to run rampant, the frozen area started melting completely, "You're a genious, let me tell you that." Childe told Sibley who turned off the machine the moment all the ice melted, revealing the Phantasm, which looked drunk from how it was moving, "There it is!" Sibley exclaimed as she formed a snare trap on the ground and when the Phantasm approached it got caught by it and trapped, "One down, two to go!" She exclaimed as she looked at the are filled with trees, "Same thing?" Hu Tao asked, "Same thing." Sibley repeated in confirmation.

After Causing an In House Forest Fire.

When the charred remains of the trees fell to the ground, the Phantasm floated out like the other and Sibley trapped it the same way, "Now for the lava rain." She stated looking upwards, "How do we get rid of that?" Hu Tao asked after getting her Vision handed back, "We would need water, lots and lots of water." Sibley replied, "Lucky I'm here then!" Childe exclaimed as he gave his Hydro Vision to Sibley, "This will do nicely!" She exclaimed before forming a cannon with a slot where she put the Vision in.

After taking aim, Sibley got ready to fire, "Take cover!" he instructed the other two who dropped to the ground with their hands on their heads as Sibley pressed the cannon's trigger, shooting a massive water stream that reached the ceiling and cooled the lava dripping from it, "How long will it take!?" Childe exclaimed, watching the cannon's energy bar almost run out of energy, "Too long!" Sibley responded as the cannon dematerialized, "It takes too much energy to have the water reach the ceiling..." Sibley explained as she picked up Childe's Vision, "Maybe you should try something different." Hu Tao suggested.

"Something different you say..." Sibley repeated deep in thought before an Idea came to her mind, "I know!" She exclaimed as she began forming some stuff, "Hmm?" Hu Tao and Childe hummen in curiosity, wondering what she was doing, "And now." Sibley stated as she started absorbing Hydro energy from the Vision into her storage, filling up two whole slots, "I don't get what you're planning." Childe told Sibley who handed him his vision back, "You'll see." Sibley replied as she activated the thing she formed, which is a cannon that shot out a weirdly shaped ball at the lava.

While the ball approached the ceiling, Sibley formed a snare in advance, and when the ball finally arrived, "Explode!" She instructed causing the ball to release all of the Hydro Energy she stored, cooling down the lava immediatly, "That's amazing!" Childe exclaimed, "Incredibly so! But can you stop it?" Hu Tao asked, but Sibley stayed quiet, "You can... Right?" She asked again concerned at the lack of response.

Outside the Parlor.

Aether and Paimon were getting worried since this was taking so long, while Columbina just observed patiently, "Okay no, I'm going in too!" Aether exclaimed as he approached the door, "Calm down, from what you told me it's not like death it's abig deal for her." Columbina told the Traveler, aggravating him, "Calm down!? CALM DOWN!?!? The whole reason she went in is to get your colleague out! It's your fault if she's in there right now!" Aether retorted to the Harbringer, "And who tells you she wouldn't have gone in either way?" Columbina pointed out, right as the doors of the Parlor burst open with a flood of water that carried Sibley, Childe, Hu Tao and three snare traps.

When the water stopped coming, the three got up, with Sibley coughing up water and Childe slapping her back to help her get it out, "The Databook did say sometimes it gets this crazy..." Hu Tao chuckled as she looked at the inside of the now normal Parlor which is still wet all over, "Better than everything staying like it was before though, I can't thank you enough for your help Sibley!" Hu Tao thanked with a bow, "Just doing my job  *Cough.*" She said before coughing one last time and going to the snares to collect the Phantasms.

Spirit Index.

4. Name: Veranda.

Spirit Type: Phantasm.

Information: A Snezhnayan woman who got killed by an Abyss Mage on her way to Liuye Harbor.

5. Name: Bante.

Spirit Type: Phantasm.

Information: A man who accidetaly got his hands on a Pyro Delusion, it did not end well for him.

6. Name: Destro.

Spirit Type: Phantasm.

Information: This spirit was once a botanist who died after testing the effects of a plant's extract.

"These were easier than the last one..." Sibley commented while stretching her arm, getting a pop from her shoulder, then she turned to Aether and Paimon who wee staring daggers at Childe and Columbina, "Why did you go in there anyways?" She asked Childe, "I was looking for someone when all that happened." Childe explained, "And that someone wasn't even there right?" Columbina asked, "Not at all." Childe replied, "*Sighs.* I guess we should continue searching somewhere else, it was nice to meet you." She waved good bye as she left, "I should be going aswell, see ya." Childe gave a finger sign as he stated following the Damselette.

Sibley waved goodbye before turning to Aether and Paimon who looked at her a bit upset, "What's wrong?" She asked, "You should have stayed out of it." Aether told her, "What? Why?" Sibley questioned, "Paimon doesn't want to be a stick in the mud, but... He's a member of the Fatui..." The pixie explained, "So?" Sibley said wanting clarification, "So he kind of deserved it." Aether stated, "I know you haven't been in this world for as long as I have, but I can assure you that the Fatui shouldn't be trusted." He continued, only managing to have Sibley look disgusted at him.

Seeing her change in expression, Aether was a bit taken aback, especially since she started talking at normal volume, "Listen, you already saw it, I would put everything on the line to help people who need it." Sibley stated and inched a little closer, "Deserved or not, he needed help and I gave it to him, even if it meant I could have died for the third time, so I can assure you, iI'd give up being your friend if I had to." Sibley stated firmly before she started coughing, Aether and Paimon looking at her in surprise, "I hope keep this discussion in mind..." Sibley said in her usual tone when she finished coughing, and then started walking away from the two.

"...Maybe... Maybe we still don't get her well..." Aether told Paimon having realized that there were still more layers to Sibley's persona, "Yeah, we've seen her put her life on the line for complete strangers three times now..." Paimon agreed remembering that when she saved them, they were strangers, "We should try to listen to her better." Aether suggested gettin a nod from Paimon as they started following Sibley.