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ArabicGenshin Impact: A Guide to the Unofficial History of Teyvat — Chapter 16
Chapter 16: Those Antennae Clearly Don’t Belong to a Human
The afternoon sun bathed Liyue Harbor in a perfect, golden warmth as Lovia marched down the bustling street to collect her manuscript fee. This time, her earnings actually amounted to several thousand Mora!
She was practically a little rich lady now.
Clutching the heavy, jingling pouch of coins to her chest, Lovia practically skipped toward the largest stationery shop in the city. She had already mapped out the entire plot for the second volume of Record of Shi Po’s Wanderings. But the moment she had sat down to draft it, a tragic reality struck—she was completely out of notebooks.
Her original quill and paper had been a meager complimentary starter pack from her transmigration, a pitiful emergency supply meant for a destitute Melusine. Well, whatever. She had money now, so she might as well upgrade her equipment. A bestselling author like “Mr. Li Xin” needed tools worthy of his prestigious pen name! Only with premium paper could she properly spread rumors—ahem, create art!
Out of habit, Lovia kept her oversized hooded cloak wrapped tightly around her small frame. It was a flawless disguise, perfectly concealing her very obvious non-human antennae, while her wings and tail remained securely tucked away against her back. Unfortunately, Liyue’s dry heat was a stark contrast to Fontaine’s comfortable humidity. Being bundled up like a steamed dumpling was absolute torture for a Melusine.
‘Just endure it, endure it…’ she chanted under her breath, her short legs carrying her over the shop’s wooden threshold.
The interior was blissfully quiet, smelling richly of aged paper and fresh ink. The shopkeeper was busy flicking an abacus behind the counter. Lovia let out a quiet sigh of relief and aimed straight for the premium paper section.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted two incredibly familiar figures standing by the latest novel display.
One was a boy with dark blue hair, and the other was a young exorcist with short, frosty silver hair. The blue-haired boy wore elegant, refined silk, exuding a scholarly sharpness as he smiled at his companion. The silver-haired boy had talismans strapped to his waist, his earnest face carrying a serious yet undeniably youthful charm. Faint beads of sweat clung to his temples, making his intense expression look rather cute.
It was the second young master of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, Xingqiu, and the young exorcist burdened by a Pure Yang Spirit, Chongyun.
Lovia’s heart skipped a violent beat. She immediately tried to shrink behind the nearest bookshelf. These two were famous in Liyue Harbor—especially Xingqiu, an avid reader who even penned his own novels. It would be a disaster if they noticed her.
Tugging her hood lower, Lovia pretended to be deeply fascinated by a row of inkstones, silently praying to the Archons that the duo would leave soon.
But reality rarely aligned with her prayers.
Perhaps her heavy, winter-like cloak was too suspicious in the warming weather. Perhaps her diminutive height stood out too much among the adult patrons. Or maybe it was just terrible luck. Just as Lovia was staring intensely at a slate, Chongyun’s gaze drifted over and landed squarely on the heavily bundled figure.
“Hmm?” Chongyun tilted his head, his clear eyes reflecting genuine curiosity. “Little kid, aren’t you hot dressed like that?”
His crisp voice echoed through the quiet shop.
Lovia froze solid.
Little kid?! Who are you calling a little kid! In Melusine years, I’m—!
Okay, fine. To human eyes, she absolutely possessed the proportions of a child. And before transmigrating, she technically was one.
Xingqiu, drawn by his friend’s comment, turned his head. His smiling, perceptive eyes swept over Lovia. “Indeed. And the style of that cloak… it doesn’t seem to be a common Liyue design. Little sister, are you from out of town?”
Lit-tle sis-ter!
Lovia felt the fur on her hidden tail stand straight up. But she couldn’t break character now. Forcing down her panic, she pitched her voice higher, mimicking a timid human child. “…N-not hot. The adults at home said… I’m sensitive to the wind.”
Instead of dismissing them, her excuse only deepened the curiosity in both boys’ eyes. Her voice was soft, sweet, and carried a distinct foreign lilt.
Chongyun, ever the earnest soul, took two steps closer. “If you’re feeling unwell, you shouldn’t force yourself,” he offered kindly. “I know a very skilled doctor…”
Alarm bells! Lovia’s heart hammered against her ribs.
“N-no need! Thank you, Big Brother!” she stammered, waving her hands frantically. As she spoke, she instinctively shrank back.
The sudden movement caused her oversized hood to wobble. In that split second, something soft and elastic twitched beneath the heavy fabric. It wasn’t the natural flutter of wind catching cloth; it was a distinct, living movement.
Xingqiu’s gaze was notoriously sharp. The polite smile never left his face, but a fleeting flash of surprise darted through his eyes. He saw it clearly. It was no illusion. Chongyun frowned slightly, his head tilting as he sensed something off, though he hadn’t caught the detail as clearly as his friend. He merely thought the hood’s movement was… unnatural.
Impeccable manners kept Xingqiu from prying immediately, but his smile deepened into something far more intrigued.
“Little sister…” Chongyun murmured, clearly worried about what strange affliction this child might have.
Lovia was on the verge of hyperventilating. Right now, Chongyun’s pure, concerned gaze was more terrifying than any evil spirit. And Xingqiu’s gentle yet piercing stare felt like it was already stripping away her disguise.
No! I have to get out of here!
“I-I’m fine!” she practically shrieked, her voice cracking from pure nerves. “I’ll leave as soon as I buy my things! Thank you, Big Brother!”
Desperate to escape the suffocating attention of these two overly helpful youths, she spun around on her heel. Blinded by panic, she didn’t check her surroundings. Her short legs scrambled forward, completely ignoring the neatly stacked display of premium inkstones right beside her.
“Hey—be careful!” Xingqiu called out.
His warning came a second too late.
Clatter!
The hem of Lovia’s cloak snagged violently on the edge of the wooden display rack. Her center of gravity vanished. With a chaotic crash of tumbling merchandise, she pitched forward, falling clumsily toward the floor.
In the violent tumble, the oversized hood she had so carefully arranged was thrown completely back.
A shock of unusually colored, soft hair spilled out into the bright light of the bookstore. And right above her forehead, completely exposed to the air, a pair of delicate, soft blue antennae twitched in sheer panic. They were undeniably, unmistakably non-human.
Time froze.