An Ice Abyss Mage had stolen the book; Stelle had met plenty of its kind—fluffy weaklings fond of petty tricks.
And, come to think of it, most weren't too bright and had zero sense of an enemy's real strength.
Even so, Stelle couldn't fathom why it wanted the white princess and the six dwarfs.
The familiar-sounding title screamed children's tale or nursery story.
Could the Abyss Order be starved for entertainment?
Surely they wouldn't resort to stealing books for fun.
Or maybe the book hid some secret… Impossible; Lisa would never casually lend a secret-laden tome to a regular person.
"So this is the white princess and the six dwarfs." Stelle picked the book off the ground and glanced at the charred Abyss Mage in the distance.
Remembering the continuous, non-lethal current Lisa had unleashed, Stelle broke into a cold sweat.
The Abyss Mage had been fried into something unrecognizable.
"Honestly, this volume isn't even in the Restricted Section and shows no odd elemental traces—why make extra work for me?" Lisa sighed in exasperation.
Thankfully the troublesome task was finished.
Lisa turned her attention back to Stelle.
Stelle was absorbed in reading, clearly intrigued by the story.
"Little Cutie, if you like it, keep the book," Lisa said with a gentle smile.
"Eh?" Stelle looked up in surprise, then back at the book in her hands.
It was more interesting than she'd expected—hardly a simple fairy tale.
Somehow it felt heavy, almost tragic.
Add the Abyss Mage's half-delirious mumble—"To think someone in Mondstadt could fathom the book's secret"—and the story might be deeper than it seemed.
"Then… when must I return it?" Stelle asked cautiously.
A vital question: the fried Mage had graphically demonstrated the penalty for overdue Library books.
Stelle definitely did not want Lisa to electrocute her—at least not like that.
"No due date; I'll list you as custodian, not borrower." Seeing Stelle's genuine fondness for the book, Lisa was generous.
"Is… is that allowed?" Library books supposedly couldn't be given away.
"Of course—consider it your reward for helping big sister."
Besides, handing it to Stelle spared Lisa further hassle.
She trusted Stelle to keep it safe.
"Sigh… never imagined our date would end up like this," Lisa murmured, drifting into thought.
Her gaze on Stelle turned momentarily hazy.
"If only Little Cutie could accompany me at work every day."
Then she might never feel tempted to slack off again.
Sadly, that was probably impossible.
"All right, let's head back—it's likely pitch-black outside by now."
---
As Lisa predicted, night had fallen; by the time they reached Mondstadt, most people had finished dinner.
In the end they chose to eat out, and the restaurant was an obvious pick:
Hunter's Deer.
No other place in the city enjoyed better repute.
When Mondstadters dine out—unless for drinks—they head there first.
Stelle had eaten there often and rated it highly.
Best of all, it was cheap.
The exotic rose she'd bought Lisa earlier had thinned her purse considerably.
While not back to penniless, she could hardly afford extravagance now.
"Welcome to Hunter's Deer—please sit wherever you like." Miss Sara greeted the two of them warmly.
Yet, when she looked at Stelle, her smile seemed to carry a deeper meaning.
Thinking about it, it made sense; after all, Stelle had already brought quite a few people here to eat.
Miss Sara was rather envious.
"Lisa, anything you'd like to eat?" Stelle took the menu, pretending not to notice Miss Sara's odd grin.
"Up to you, Little Cutie; I did say you'd lead this date." Lisa said with a smile.
"Then..." Stelle turned back to the menu, hesitated a moment, then made up her mind.
"Vegetable soup it is."
"Oh? Did my Little Cutie research my tastes beforehand?" Lisa looked at Stelle in mild surprise.
"I just think thick vegetable soup somehow suits a witch." Stelle shook her head. "So it happens to be your favorite?"
"Yes, vegetable soup is a witch's romance; I can feel the elemental flow inside me running smoother." Lisa nodded.
"Besides, I usually brew some myself—just toss every vegetable into one big pot and stir with a long-handled spoon..."
"Uh... what does that even taste like?" A mental image instantly popped into Stelle's head, yet from Lisa's simple description she couldn't imagine the actual flavor.
"Well, I just happen to have a bottle on me. Would you like a taste?" Lisa produced a small bottle from nowhere.
The bottle looked familiar; it was the same kind Albedo used to store reagents when she helped him with alchemy.
"This bottle..." Stelle hesitated; the container looked odd enough, and the liquid inside was purplish-red.
It certainly didn't resemble any vegetable soup.
"I just didn't have a better container; an empty medicine bottle was handy." Lisa explained, "Besides, this kind of bottle keeps things fresher and warmer."
"R-really...? Then, I'll give it a try." Stelle took the purple liquid, hesitated, opened the bottle, and—under Lisa's gaze—drank it in one go.
An almost imperceptible curve lifted the corner of Lisa's mouth.
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