"Thinking about me?"
That very moment, a voice tinged with amusement rang out.
Familiar, yet strange.
All the Archons present immediately snapped their attention towards the source, as jumpy as startled birds.
And they saw it!
Flowing light danced and coalesced, condensing into a familiar figure that appeared beside them.
That was! The Heavenly Principle, Phanes?
No, no, no, no…
"You are… Kiana? The young lady?"
Buer was the first to react, her voice laced with disbelief.
They had just been discussing her, and now the subject of their conversation had arrived in person?
"Mhm, it's me."
Compared to before, Kiana seemed a little less aloof, a hint more of a smile playing on her lips, as if she'd become a bit more approachable.
But even so!
None of the deities present dared make a careless move.
Just moments ago, they had been chatting easily…
Now, they fell silent.
Not daring to continue the discussion.
Even if she wasn't Phanes herself…
Discussing her right in front of her? Wasn't that just terribly awkward?
"You…"
Morax weighed his words carefully before speaking, cautiously asking, "Might you know the origin of that 'sky-screen' that was just displayed?"
"No idea!"
Kiana had long prepared her response.
She answered frankly, "But I've seen the future. Well… more or less! It's pretty much correct, nothing majorly wrong."
Hearing this, Focalors and the others couldn't help but glance at each other, exchanging looks.
She can see the future…?
Indeed! This one was even more formidable than the Heavenly Principle!
Even the Heavenly Principle couldn't see the future, and with such certainty? Yet she can?
"Don't worry. The future is ever-changing. I can only get the general gist." Kiana said with a light smile, as if she could tell exactly what these girls were thinking just by looking at them.
But that's still terrifying!
Barnabas and the others couldn't help but complain internally.
The good news was!
It seemed this Heavenly Principle from another world had dropped her act; she was much more amiable now compared to when she was on Celestia.
But, they still had no idea what attitude to adopt towards her!
After all…
The guys were fine.
But the girls? Every single one present had been named in the sky-screen as Kiana's future wives.
And this was something Kiana herself acknowledged.
She said the future she saw was just that. Didn't that make their feelings even more complicated?!
How should they even describe it?
"Don't worry."
Kiana smiled. "Although I can't see the origin of this sky-screen, the screen itself means no harm to me, or to you."
She spoke leisurely.
"In fact, in my own original world, this sky-screen has appeared many times. Though the one there is slightly different from yours here."
"But overall, they're similar. They just spoil the future."
She continued.
"By chance, I borrowed Phanes' body and came here, to see you all."
"Although it hasn't been long, it was enough to observe you all a little… I also wanted to know what my future wives would be like…"
"Mhm."
Kiana pursed her lips slightly.
"My impression? Not bad, I'd say!"
That was her only evaluation.
Barnabas and the other goddesses unconsciously let out a sigh of relief, as if they'd just received some great honor.
A rather peculiar feeling.
Indeed, they were happy.
Felt a little skip in their hearts!
"From what you're saying, it seems you already knew of our existence even before the sky-screen exposé, is that right?" Nahida looked up at Kiana, her gaze somewhat adorable.
Kiana gave a slight smile and nodded. "That's right."
Morax and Barbatos exchanged a glance, then silently moved to position all the female Archons in front of themselves.
It was clear.
This girl temporarily replacing the Heavenly Principle Phanes was even more extraordinary than they had imagined.
And her attitude was very clear.
Her eyes were only on these goddesses.
Logically, the two of them, being male, stood out more here.
But Kiana didn't even seem to have the slightest intention of looking at them.
This preferential treatment was terrifying!
But good!
Well done on the preferential treatment!
Barbatos and Morax would be thrilled if Kiana paid them no mind.
Because can you imagine?!
Someone with the appearance of the Heavenly Principle Phanes speaking to you so kindly.
It was downright creepy.
Gave you goosebumps.
Better to stay far away!
"So, my being able to be resurrected, is it because of this as well?" Focalors thought of this point.
Buer was even more direct, asking, "Because in your eyes, we are your future wives, so reasonably, you'd take a little care of us. Is that it?"
"Mhm, that's right!" Kiana nodded, neither affirming nor denying.
Well, that solved the mystery.
No wonder!
No wonder some of them always felt that the Heavenly Principle Phanes had changed this time, that the seemingly harsh punishments weren't actually overly forceful.
Although they had already guessed the answer in their hearts.
Hearing Kiana's confirmation still made them feel as if in a dream, somewhat implausable.
"Then, you…" Furina seemed to want to say something more.
However!
At that moment.
Kiana interrupted her.
"Ah… time's up."
She said.
"I can only stay for a week."
All the Archons present were stunned.
If they counted from when they thought the Heavenly Principle had first awakened…
Indeed! It should have been about a week now.
Seeing their understanding dawning, Kiana smiled and said.
"I've seen the future… A day will come when my world and this one will connect."
"This meeting, though brief, has made me very happy. When the time comes, and we meet again, let's play together then~"
"I hope that by then, you'll be able to tell me and Phanes apart."
"Otherwise! I'll get angry~!"
Her tone held a hint of jest.
A touch of willfulness. Like a willful yet adorable little girl, standing there with her hands on her hips.
Furina hurriedly said, "We won't! We definitely won't forget you."
After all, no matter what! If you think about it reasonably.
Kiana's arrival had saved Teyvat.
Prevented Teyvat from heading towards collapse and ruin when no one was aware.
Perhaps they would only have realized at the final moment. That catastrophe had descended, and no one could escape.
Now, all of that had been prevented by Kiana. This debt of gratitude hadn't been repaid yet!
How could they just laugh it off?!
Moreover, being earmarked as the wife of another world's Heavenly Principle was just too fantastical.
Even the events of this period had been so unbelievable.
Even Barnabas had to admit she owed Kiana a debt of gratitude. Because of Kiana's arrival, she learned the truth of the world, ceased being the fool stubbornly clinging to her path, and avoided committing a grave mistake.
The dissolution of Snezhnaya, the reckoning for all sins…
In comparison, it all seemed insignificant.
As the saying goes, short pain is better than long pain!
Compared to truly believing it was hope, only to lead all of Teyvat to collapse and ruin, the present situation was undoubtedly easier for her to bear.
At least this way, she had found her way back before it was too late!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
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