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nAs everyone left the inn, the two remaining party members returned to their room and sat opposite each other.

nThe morning streets were rowdy enough for them to talk about a few things without worrying if someone was listening in on their conversation.

n“So…” Fischl started, “The fate has ordered us to some momentary tranquillity and seclusion.”

nShe put her finger up to the bridge of her nose as if she were pushing up invisible glasses.

n“Yes…indeed…” Yomite nodded in agreement, “I just want to say that…yesterday… I-I…ehm…”

nYomite had trouble finding words. He couldn’t recall ever having to apologize in this manner, which worried him because he didn’t know how to handle the matter correctly.

nHe considered lying to her for a fraction of a second before dismissing the idea. He was a terrible liar, and she was going to find out.

nHe didn’t enjoy lying in the first place.

nWhile she might have had no idea what had transpired during the night, which was highly improbable based on their loud noises, she could definitely sense he was thinking about something and needed to get it off his chest.

n“Yesterday…Yesterday…”

nHis throat was dry, he had never felt so guilty in his life before.

nFischl gazed at him for a few seconds, eyes wide open.

nThen she slowly burst into the widest grin he’d ever seen since he’d known her, as it spread across her face like a sunrise, reaching all the way to her lips.

n“I know. I know. This Prinzessin is very well aware!”

n“…Huh? You knew?”

nYomite could hardly believe what he was hearing. He was right. She knew. The young chuuni girl knew it all along.

nHe had a feeling that since Hu Tao was so loud at times, Fischl could have overheard them doing the deed, but now that it was proven, he was perplexed as to why she didn’t simply stop them.

n“Yes, worry not. We signed a deadly “Cursed Pact” with Tao eons ago, and we reached a compromise on several topics that, regrettably, you will never be aware of!” Fischl grinned once more.

nShe looked delighted, and absolutely pleased with herself that she managed to fool him so well!

nThe fact that he was about to confess and apologize made her smile widen even more. It meant that despite doing a mistake, he was afraid of losing her after all.

nThat thought alone was encouraging and reassuring at the same time.

nBut she also seemed quite thrilled with her success. Which only increased his level of confusion.

nWas she actually that happy her little prank worked? Was she turning into a second Hu Tao, because she spent so much time with her?

n(Dear Venti, I hope not. I don’t think I’ll be able to deal with two Hu Tao’s…)

nYomite was being fooled all this time. By both of them.

n“You gave my heart a few shocks…that’s for sure…”

nHis heart almost stopped at times, he didn’t remember the last time he was this pressured about something…

nHandling real relationships was…much harder than he thought…

nHe was afraid that the people he loved would be hurt by his actions, simply because he never viewed relationships like a normal average joe.

nSo, when he was exposed to such a situation, it took some time for him to comprehend everything that was happening, yet…

nIn the end, he regretted what he did yesterday. In fact, he was thankful that the outcome turned out better than anticipated.

nSeeing his baffled face, Fischl stood up from her bed and walked towards him, hugging his head.

nHer grin held steady as he did the same, returning the hug.

nFor a moment, the two remained in that posture, gripping one another tightly.

nAfter a few seconds, he peered into her green eye that wasn’t covered by a chuuni eyepatch before she leaned forward, her mouth pressed against his, their lips moving in unison.

nThe kiss was delicate and tender, as if two lovers were finally reunited after a long time apart, even though they clearly kissed, yesterday and were together at all times.

n“Thou takest everything too somberly. Alleviate a little. Mondstadt ist the country of liberty. Even my late grandfather hadt seven mistresses. Such matters should not be of any importance to us whatsoever. We wish only of one thing, that you keep being with us.”

nShe was correct.

nPerhaps he was simply too scared of everything lately.

nThe assassin, his shifting relationships, the unknown world, and the uncertain future.

nPerhaps the secret was to unwind. To become as free as the wind itself.

n(She is right…Maybe, just breezing through this world without any worries would be a far better feeling.)

nJust then, as if under some sort of spell, a series of sentences appeared inside Yomite’s mind. The words weren’t coming from anywhere, there was no origin. He had no idea where they came from, but they were undeniably a part of his consciousness.

n(Freedom is the spirit of the Land of the Wind. The freedom to live is one of such. It is the freedom to live freely and healthily without concerns of one’s own safety.)

n(Freedom is the spirit of the Land of the Wind. The freedom of travel is one of such. It is the freedom to traverse the land freely without being obstructed.)

n(Freedom is the spirit of the city of wind. To sing is one such freedom. To sing on the land created by the Anemo Archon is to send your heart away with the song on the wind.)

n(Happiness and freedom come the way the wind blows. With the change of the wind, comes the true essence of direction, and yet, freedom shall never fade, till the winds blow.)

nThey were clear and concise, perfectly understandable, yet utterly foreign, as if something familiar and unrecognizable had been crammed inside his brain.

nYomite was momentarily taken aback by the weird words. He pulled away from the kiss to gather his thoughts.

nA voice of an unknown person just rang inside of his head. If that wasn’t creepy enough, he didn’t know what was…

n“Is something the matter?”

nFischl looked concerned and even a bit afraid he wasn’t satisfied with her kisses. She hadn’t kissed anyone other than him before, so she didn’t have any experience regarding that, and her insecurities about herself didn’t help her either.

n“No, no. It’s fine, I just…thought I heard a mosquito, is all. No worries.”

nSaying that, he pulled her and she sat on his lap.

nHe was interested in that voice, but right now, he was busy.

nThey found each other’s lips and explored them thoroughly before finally opening their mouths. Their tongues danced around one another as the couple took in all the sensations that were happening between them.

nThe two kissed, their hands roaming around one another. They broke apart for air and looked into each other’s eyes as their lips connected again. This time more passionately than before, as if each of them needed the other as much as they wanted to feel alive.

nUnperceived by the two of them, who shared this short peaceful moment of intimacy together, an amulet with a bright green orb-shaped gem and tri-feathered wings materialized inside of Yomite’s coin pouch…

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