Chapter Text
The employees of the Northland Bank all bowed down upon the Harbinger's arrival.
Ekatarina dutifully handing him his schedule.
He was about to check on the debt collections when he felt an all too familiar draining of his energy.
He grabbed onto the nearest wall to stop himself from falling.
Fits of cough started and he saw residues of the powdered Crystal Marrow when he wiped his mouth.
His secretary quickly beckoned the evening guard, Vlad, to call Liyue's Bubu Pharmacy owner.
Dr. Baizhu wasted no time when he arrived.
Quickly examining the spent Harbinger, Qiqi following behind him.
The zombie carried a suitcase that's almost as tall as her.
He motioned for Qiqi to start grinding the Stardust coal with a mortar and pestle. The doctor then clinically explained what happened.
"I've found traces of Crystal Marrow. Adding fragments of the ore to the Sumerian drinks was popular a few centuries ago."
Ekatarina listened while Vlad resumed his position outside the bank.
"They dubbed it a 'miracle drink'. Famous for giving enough energy to move mountains."
"And the catch?" Tartaglia managed to ask in between coughs.
"Crystal Marrows release their stored elemental energy, giving the consumer a burst of vigor. The ore will then start absorbing double the energy to replenish the ones it lost."
Noting how the Fatui is similar to the ore, Baizhu decided not to share his thought.
"It's counter intuitive at best. Fatal at worst." The doctor pursed his lips as the zombie finished grinding the coal.
"This is a stardust coal. You can say that it counters the Crystal Marrows, neutralizing the toxins." He began mixing the dark powder with water.
"I'm supposed to drink it." Tartaglia eyed the mixture. The swirling drink reminding him of a starry sky.
"Yes. But know that it tastes too horrible. Some people opted to just risk their fate instead of drinking it." The doctor warned the ginger. Ekatarina can be heard gasping in the background.
The harbinger drank the mixture without any hesitation.
Any sane person would quickly drink the medicine and eat the offered Violetgrass to combat the dreaded taste of the medicine.
But Tartaglia even let the drink settle on his mouth, seemingly tasting it.
After what he had a few hours ago, the drink might as well be water sprinkled with some dirt to him.
"Not the worst thing I've drank in my life." He nonchalantly said, pleased that it no longer felt like his life force is being drained.
The harbinger headed upstairs, Qiqi the only one left without a shocked expression.
The bank manager, Andre, scurried over as soon as the second floor's door closed.
He drank the residual mixture upon getting the go ahead from the Doctor.
Surely, it wasn't that bad if their Harbinger didn't even react, he reasoned.
The Snezhnayan fell backwards, eyes completely white and mouth foaming at the taste.
The receptionist of the bank settled the bill with a new found respect for the harbinger she serves.
Tartaglia was back down a few minutes later, appearing as if he recovered completely.
With the list of the targets in his hand, he was heading for the door when he heard the bank receptionist's voice.
"You're already going to work, Lord Childe?" Ekatarina asked in disbelief.
"It's just debt collecting. I can't see how my slightly less than satisfactory day will turn out if I stay cooped up in here." He reasoned, fully aware that his secretary doesn't have any clue on what he's saying.
Lumine and her companion arrived at the library located in the Knights of Favonius' headquarters.
They stepped in just in time to see Lisa closing the library for the day.
"Ara, a cute witch dropped by." The librarian greeted them while circling the Traveler to appreciate her new get up.
"Lisa, can you translate this for us?" Paimon decided to cut to the chase.
The fairy is well aware that the wait must be unbearable for her companion.
So she'll do her best to not get them sidetracked.
For the Traveler to finally know what happened to her brother.
"Oh, let's see here." Lisa's eyes momentarily widen as the duo presented the last page of the grimoire to her. The bell shaped crystal glowing a soft golden light.
"Are those the instructions on how to ask the book for anything? Can you read it?" Lumine couldn't help but ask.
Groaning inwardly as she caught herself being impatient again.
The librarian probably not having an inkling on what she's saying.
"The book that can answer any question." Lisa chuckled, seemingly getting hit with nostalgia.
"Quite the ploy to get people into witchcraft." The librarian motioned for them to sit as she continued talking.
"To translate this." Lisa began, reading as if the words were written in common tongue. "Congratulations on becoming a witch! If you've reached this part, you will without a doubt reach the answer you seek."
She smiled at the Traveler. Face evidently saying she's proud of the blonde.
"S-So the book is basically telling us to do it ourselves?" Paimon angrily stated as she stomped her foot midair.
"To seek for the answers-witness the truth with your own eyes. Words the Sumerian scholars live by." Lisa added, relating to the scholars the duo encountered throughout their travels.
"This book is just a glorified lucky charm then." Paimon accusingly poked the book with her fore finger.
"Ha ha, not quite. The book can help you build a solid foundation to witchcraft." Lisa stated after scanning the book.
The librarian knows the basics of witchcraft by heart.
"False advertising." Lumine whispered, words borrowed from a certain harbinger.
Lisa smiled brightly as the air around her cackle with electro. "I must say, I'm quite hurt that you didn't come to me for advice. You do know I'm a witch, right?" The librarian stated, a bit disappointed at simply being an after thought.
Paimon audibly gulped as parts of her hair rise-thanks to the electro present.
"C-Calm down Lisa. It wasn't planned. We just got that book today." The elf blurted out rapidly.
Hands in front of her as she appeased the electro vision holder.
"I am perfectly calm. I could have mentored Cutie over here." Lisa motioned at the Traveler.
In awe that the blonde can grasp the basics of witchcraft in a single day, even with the outlander's knowledge of basic alchemy.
"And Paimon thinks Lisa wouldn't get along with the Fatui Harbinger who helped us anyway." The elf whispered as she fiddled with her fingers.
"Oh, so it was a date." The librarian exclaimed with a clap. The prickling of electro vanished in thin air.
Lumine was starting to protest.
Not knowing what to do with the knowledge that Lisa didn't even bat an eye at her spending the day with a Fatui harbinger.
Her bemoaning cut short by Lisa's questioning.
"May I know cutie's title as a witch?" She inquired, genuinely interested at the junior witch's alias.
"Title as a witch?" Paimon parroted, floating closer to the librarian now that she doesn't appear angry any more.
"Yes. Mine is the 'Witch of Purple Rose'." She supplied the information while seemingly introducing herself for the first time.
"I don't have one." Lumine admitted, not even sure if she can properly qualify to get such titles.
"That won't do. All witches should have one." Lisa disapprovingly stated, already thinking of names for the Traveler.
"How do you even get one of those?" The floating elf queried. Maybe she can get one too.
Pointing at the ellipsoidal crystal, Lisa informed the duo that the titles are based on the color displayed on the almond shaped glass.
"So, something to do with gold. Golden witch is all Paimon got." The floating elf disappointedly stated as she clutched her head.
She's better at giving ugly nicknames anyway.
Lisa stood up and paced back and forth.
"Gold....Gold. Rhinedottir. Aurum." She stopped and looked at the traveler. The blonde's title already decided.
"Aurelium Witch." The librarian declared. Getting acknowledged by a witch is the proper way to become one, after all.
Lumine's robe and pointy hat glowed in response. The previously plain robe now adorned with golden highlights.
She examined the patterns on her robe's sleeves. The words 'Aurelium Witch' can also be found on her hat.
Paimon traced the words on it. Noting the color- molten gold.
"Perfect way to end today's adventure." Paimon clapped as she circled the Traveler.
"This grimoire won't see the light of day." Lumine declared. Still bitter at the false hope dangled her way.
As she was about to shove the book to her bag, Lisa stopped her.
"Say cutie, can you give that book to me?" Lisa requested. Already aware that the kind Traveler won't turn her down.
Lumine readily nodded in response while Paimon voiced her question "But you're already a witch, Lisa. Why would you need a book for beginners?"
The elf was met with a chuckle before getting her answer. "For nostalgia's sake. It also wouldn't hurt to freshen up my knowledge. I wouldn't want to lose my edge."
"How about I treat you two to dinner as thanks for the book?" Lisa volunteered, expertly steering the conversation. She earned the cheers of the gluttonous fairy.
"Now you're talking!" Paimon exclaimed, already heading for the door.
"I'll help you lock the library." Lumine offered, always ready to lend a hand.
As thankful as she was, Lisa only shook her head.
"I appreciate the offer, cutie. But you two should head first to reserve us a table."
Paimon helped convince the Traveler to move along as the fairy recalled the dinner rush at Good Hunter.
Lumine gave the librarian a final look, which was met with a nod, before heading out.
"Are you really okay with this, Traveler?" Paimon worriedly asked as they exited the library.
"I figured something like this would happen anyway." Lumine admitted with a sigh.
The disappointment she's feeling is surprisingly less than what she thought she'd experience.
"Besides, if we learned anything from this, it's to find the answer ourselves." She relayed to Paimon, fully digesting the words.
"Yeah. Paimon will help you." The elf clapped while nodding as they passed the headquarters' door.
"I appreciate it, Paimon. Now go ahead and secure us a table." Lumine reminded her companion as she folded her previously worn robe.
She stared at her pointy hat before placing both garments in her bag.
Not having to be told twice, Paimon zoomed past the knights guarding the headquarters.
She can be heard yelling "Sticky Honey Roast!" on her way to Good Hunter.
The Librarian let out a loud sigh after making sure that the duo already left.
"And I thought we've destroyed all copies of this." She muttered to herself as she started walking towards the lit fireplace.
The air around her crackling with electro element.
Flipping through the pages of the book, she placed her hand on the ellipsoidal crystal.
A bright electric purple light radiated through out the now empty library.
"Tch." She clicked her tongue as the same crimson letters presented themselves to her.
"Ad respondendum quaestio pro anima vivens" She read the phrase out loud.
The almond shaped crystal's electric purple glow deepened. A click can be heard as the back cover of the book's lock gave way.
"To answer any question...in exchange for a human life." The rough translation of the ancient Sumerian words escaping her lips.
She recalled her days in Sumeru. The scarcity of the book a direct result of Lisa and her mentor's efforts.
She helped eradicate the widespread grimoires that tempt those with potential for witchcraft-into doing unspeakable things.
The acts - a generous source of the infamy of witches. Just to quench the unbearable thirst for knowledge, they willingly committed such atrocities.
The glass jutting out of the book shattered into a million pieces as the electro user hit it with her signature 'Lightning Touch'.
The crimson liquid contained in the ellipsoidal case oozed out. Giving the impression that the Grimoire was bleeding.
"Not a very good deal." She said with finality before chucking the grimoire into the fireplace.
The pages of the book rapidly flipped. The hard bound cover thinning as pages hidden behind it presented themselves.
The prior parts of the book is a genuine guide to witch craft.
The knowledge inside perfectly harmless-albeit a little outdated. Some bits practiced even up to the present.
The back part grimly different. Directions on how to perform the forbidden ritual of sacrifice appeared before Lisa as she watched the grimoire get fully engulfed in flames.
Upon securing that not even a single page survived the ordeal, she began lazily locking up the library.