"I've observed this world for a long time, and I've seen many of the things you've experienced. That's why I've never hidden my feelings for you," Akio said. "The same goes for Furina and Clorinde. This might be my goal in this world, but it's also my personal desire."
"…" Jean listened silently to Akio's words. She looked at him and suddenly asked, "Lord Akio, if that's the case, do you also like Lisa?"
"???" Akio was caught off guard by Jean's sudden question. Weren't we talking about you?
"It seems I've hit the mark, Lord Akio?" Jean smiled softly.
"Indeed, who wouldn't like a mature and caring older sister?" Akio nodded, admitting it.
"So, even if I hadn't come to ask you, Lord Akio, if Lisa were to be with you, would you still heal her?" Jean suddenly showed a playful smile, a stark contrast to her usual demeanor, making her look even more adorable.
"…" Akio was speechless. Had he just dug his own grave?
He looked at Jean and nodded. "Indeed, Jean, you're a smart woman."
"Exactly, it seems I wasn't wrong," Jean nodded seriously, then smiled brightly. "But, Lord Akio, what I said was just a hypothetical. I'm still making a request."
"So, what do you mean?" Akio raised an eyebrow.
"Lord Akio, I just have one small question," Jean said. "As the heir of the Gunnhildr clan, Eternal Protection of Mondstadt is my lifelong belief and pursuit. Can you promise me that you won't make me leave Mondstadt?"
"What's the issue with that?" Akio understood Jean's meaning and smiled.
Akio had never intended to confine his women. He didn't like the idea of them being mere decorations—that wasn't what he considered excellence.
Akio had a solution. With his complete authority as the Herrscher of the Void, he could easily create a space similar to the Serenitea Pot.
Through his spatial abilities, each of his women could easily enter this space, their "home," no matter where they were in the world.
"Lord Akio," Jean looked at him and said, "Then… I'd like to make this deal with you. You heal Lisa, and I'll offer myself as the trade."
"Alright," Akio was pleased. Jean's excellence was evident to everyone, and her actions weren't unwilling.
Akio extended his hand, and a pure white light gathered in his palm, eventually forming a crystal. He handed it to Jean.
"What's this?" Jean took the crystal, her beautiful eyes widening. Just holding it made her feel warm and comfortable, as if all her fatigue had been swept away.
"This is the purest source of life. Give it to Lisa," Akio said with a smile. "As long as she carries it, her life force will be fully replenished. The life energy within it is more than enough for her to use freely without endangering her life."
The Source of Life, though casually created by Akio, was condensed from the purest life energy. Apart from reviving the dead and healing the wounded, as long as the Source of Life wasn't exhausted, it could grant its bearer eternal life. In other words, it could even grant immortality to a mortal.
"Ah! This…" Jean looked at the white crystal in her hand in shock. Even a god would covet something like this! It was too precious!
"If I give this to Lisa, what if someone with ill intentions tries to steal it?" Jean asked worriedly. If even an Archon would desire it, wouldn't Lisa be in greater danger?
"Malicious intent?" Akio chuckled softly. "Life and death are two sides of the same coin. If anyone with malicious intent tries to take it by force, this Source of Life will become the purest form of death."
"Even an Archon would experience the most torturous death, their body crumbling and their soul annihilated."
"I see," Jean murmured, looking at the white crystal in her hand. Such a precious item, in a sense, was beyond the value of any mortal.
"Hmm?" Jean was suddenly pulled into Akio's arms, held tightly against him.
"Lord Akio…" Jean, who had never experienced anything like this, looked at Akio in panic.
"Jean, I've given you the item. Now it's your turn to show some appreciation," Akio said, looking at Jean's lovely face.
"Mm…" Jean's face turned crimson, her eyes soft like water. Remembering the scenes from the romance novels, she stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around Akio's neck, and kissed his lips.
Jean's movements were clumsy and shy, but they were incredibly sweet! Akio savored the sweet taste of the Acting Grand Master.
---
When Jean returned to the inn, Lisa was sitting outside, waiting for her.
"Jean, you're back?" Lisa asked as she heard the door open.
"Yes, where's Klee?" Jean asked.
"Klee's taking a nap. She wanted to go fish-blasting earlier, and it took me a while to get her to sleep," Lisa said with a smile.
"…" Jean was speechless. Why did this child love fish-blasting so much? This was Inazuma, not Mondstadt. She couldn't just cause chaos here.
"What did you talk to Lord Akio about?" Lisa asked, then suddenly covered her mouth in surprise. "Jean! Why is your face so red?"
"Red?" Jean instinctively touched her face. She had calmed down a bit before coming in.
"It's probably the cold. It's winter now, and it's freezing," Jean said.
"Is that so?" Lisa narrowed her eyes, looking at Jean.
"Oh, Lisa, stop asking. I've brought you something good," Jean said, holding out the white crystal Akio had given her.
"Huh? What's this?" Lisa asked, confused.
"Just take it," Jean handed the white crystal to Lisa.
Lisa took it, and in the next moment, a pure white energy surged from the crystal, flowing into her body.
"This… what is this?" After a while, when all the energy had been absorbed, Lisa looked at the still-glowing white crystal, shocked by the changes in her body.
Her once-fragile life force was now abundant, even more so than at her peak.
Lisa knew her body well and could feel that the white crystal had formed a connection with her, continuously infusing her with life energy.
She even felt younger! It was as if she could live forever… No, it wasn't an illusion!
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