To avoid being mobbed by enthusiastic classmates at the school gate like rare animals, Celeste, under the "you're acting weird" and "you're hiding it so deep" gazes of her classmates, pulled her sister—who was still in a state of combined excitement and confusion—and slipped away as fast as if she had oil on her feet.
Along the way, Selene was dancing with joy, even happier than if she had won the match herself:
"Sis! That last Backward Staff Strike was so cool! You sent that Li Yue flying! You didn't see the expressions of the people below the stage; their eyes almost popped out!"
She imitated Celeste's horizontal sweep with the staff, nearly hitting a roadside utility pole.
"And when you refuted her, every word pierced the heart! 'Lazy, arrogant, shallow'! Hahaha, her face turned green!"
Celeste looked at her sister's energetic appearance, the corners of her mouth curling slightly: "Standard operation."
"But seriously," Selene leaned in closer, lowering her voice, her eyes sparkling with mischief, "I saw you secretly practicing hitting people with a staff at home before, but I didn't expect you to be so fierce in real combat! Pressuring an Assassin and then sending them flying with one strike! Your style is way too unique—a Melee Priest!"
"What Melee Priest," Celeste said without changing her expression, "this is called a profound understanding of the profession."
She explained solemnly:
"Can a Priest's business be called violence?"
"I call this 'Root-cause Healing.' As long as I eliminate the enemy, no one can hurt my teammates."
Selene burst out laughing: "'Root-cause Healing'? Sis, you're just fooling people with that talk! But..."
She put away her joking expression and looked at Celeste seriously: "No matter what you become, being able to fight is always a good thing! When we go into a Domain later, I'll be in front, and you'll be in the back... uh, depending on the situation, will you be healing or coming up to bash people together?"
"Trust me, sisters with one heart," Celeste patted her sister's shoulder, "when the time comes, you'll naturally know the wonderful use of these skills of mine."
"So mysterious..." Selene puffed out her cheeks, but the smile and trust in her eyes didn't diminish at all. "Anyway, as long as you're okay and have become so strong, I'm more than happy!"
Back home, their parents were still on duty at the Domain and hadn't returned.
Celeste used "consolidating insights" as an excuse and dove into her room.
"Bang!"
The door closed and locked.
The whole movement was seamless, completely cutting off her sister's curious gaze.
The world was finally quiet.
She took a deep breath, and with a slight thought, a card flowing with teal-green brilliance appeared out of thin air at her fingertips.
On the card was a Bard wearing a green cloak and holding a lyre, with that signature, punchable smile on the corner of his mouth.
[venti trial card (24 hours)]
[Type: Limited-time Character Card]
[Description: After use, you will temporarily transform into the Bard Venti from the Teyvat continent, gaining some of his abilities and traits (including but not limited to Anemo element control, the Bard's charm, and the essence of slacking off), lasting for 24 hours (accurate to the minute, supports pausing). After use, depending on the synchronization and usage, there is a chance to obtain permanent buffs.]
[Note: Do some work, Barbatos! — Oh, now it's you who needs to do some "work," Host.]
"Anemo Archon Barbatos..."
Celeste whispered the name, her gaze gradually becoming fervent.
In this world where everyone changes classes, element control is the monopoly of Mages. Although Priests can use the Light element, it's more focused on healing and purification.
If she could master the Anemo element, even if only temporarily, it would be a brand-new trump card for her.
A more fatal temptation was the words "permanent buffs" in the system description.
Take a gamble, and a bicycle becomes a motorcycle!
"But..."
Celeste walked to the full-length mirror.
In the mirror was a height of 175cm, with a perfect S-curve sculpted by years of Priest physical training.
Those overly proud curves were hard to completely hide even in loose loungewear.
Plus the smooth muscle lines shaped by the Millelith Five-Year Experience Book a few days ago, her whole being was full of power and the beauty of a mature woman.
A standard Onee-san figure.
Her gaze slowly moved back to the slender, thin, and even somewhat androgynous boy on the card.
Celeste fell into deep thought.
She looked down at the amazing rises on her chest.
This transformation... are you sure it's not a clothes-bursting trial card?
Imagining the tragic scene of buttons flying and fabric screaming, even though her skin had been tempered by the system for a long time, she felt a strong warning of social death.
But the words "permanent buffs" seemed to have magic, pounding frantically in her heart.
"Let's do it! Anyway, I'm the only one in the room, the embarrassment won't leak outside!"
Celeste took a deep breath, doing psychological construction for herself in the mirror, "For the sake of strength, what does this bit of shame matter?"
She stood in front of the dressing mirror, made up her mind, and whispered in her heart: "Use, venti trial card!"
The card turned into thousands of teal light spots at her fingertips, like a swarm of disturbed fireflies, instantly wrapping around her.
A breeze mixed with dandelions and the scent of freedom arose out of thin air, gently curling the tips of her hair.
The loungewear on her body didn't tear, but strangely "melted."
The texture of the fabric changed rapidly on her skin, the softness of cotton replaced by the coolness of silk and the toughness of leather.
The light dissipated.
Celeste couldn't wait to look in the mirror.
The corner of her eye twitched uncontrollably.
The person in the mirror still had her bright and atmospheric face, but the outfit on her body had turned into a set of ridiculously "modded" Bard clothes.
The shorts that originally belonged to the boy were lengthened into slim-fitting dark trousers, outlining the lines of her amazing long legs perfectly.
The white ruffled shirt, to accommodate her proud figure, was filled to the brim in front of her chest, showing every curve, with every button bearing pressure it shouldn't have.
The green cloak shawl on the outside appeared even more short and compact at this moment.
This image was practically a mature and charming big sister who, for some unspeakable interest, had secretly put on her younger brother's COS outfit.
The sense of incongruity was off the charts!
Before she could carefully savor this wonderful transformation effect, a strong urge to express herself, which didn't belong to her, welled up in her throat.
Her body acted before her consciousness, hands already on her hips.
A clear and lively voice, with a boyish playfulness, popped out of her own mouth:
"Is it time for some warm-up exercises?"
Celeste: "!!!"
Shut up! This isn't my voice!
She suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes full of horror.
This voice! This tone!
This damn trial card is actually a forced role-play?
Not only a transformation, but it also comes with a voice pack and tone lock?!
She tried to use her own cold voice to make a syllable, but as soon as her mouth opened, it was that boyish voice with a lazy smile:
"Ehe! It seems I can't say the original words anymore! It seems the wind also likes this new vessel; although the process was a bit convoluted, the wind will always find its own way out, won't it?"
Celeste raised her hand to her forehead and gave up struggling.
Forget it, anyway, no one is watching.
I'll endure it.
She sank her attention into her body to feel that brand-new power.
It was the wind.
The free, unrestrained wind was flowing through her limbs and bones with her breath, light and agile.
She raised her index finger, and a wisp of teal breeze obediently wrapped around it, condensing into a small cyclone at her fingertip, spinning happily.
With another thought, the air above her palm suddenly contracted, and a palm-sized teal wind field formed out of thin air, the airflow stable and powerful.
No chanting, no spell models, as natural as breathing.
"So this is element control..."
Celeste held the magnificent longbow named "Elegy for the End" that appeared with the use of the card.
"Skyward Sonnet!"
She whispered the name of the Elemental Skill in the boyish voice.
The moment the words fell, she tapped her toes, and an invisible force suddenly lifted her up. Her whole body was like an arrow leaving the string, shooting straight towards the ceiling!
"Bang!"
Her forehead and the hard ceiling had a solid intimate contact.
"Ouch..."
Celeste covered her reddened forehead and slumped back onto the soft bed.
The pain was clear, but the excitement in her eyes burned even brighter than before.
This kind of mobility is simply an epic buff for a short-legged profession like a Priest!
"So this is... the power of the Anemo element?"
This feeling of controlling and riding the wind was completely different from pure physical strength, full of agility and ingenuity.
Should I... try the ultimate?
Celeste looked out the window, a bit eager to try.
That [Song of the Wind God] that is said to be able to swirl everything...
Reason pulled her back at the last moment.
This is a residential area. If this ultimate goes off, tomorrow's Yi City headlines would probably be "Shocking! A college entrance examinee suspected of excessive pressure, demolished their home in the middle of the night and actually triggered a tornado!".
Forget it, forget it, the ultimate should be left for the wide-open fields!
"That's about enough."
Lin-Venti-Qingyue glanced at the time.
About ten minutes had passed since the transformation.
She felt like she was about to lose control of the thoughts belonging to Venti.
If she continued, she was really afraid she wouldn't be able to resist running to the square downstairs to busk for wine money.
"Deactivate state."
Teal light flashed again, and the tight Bard outfit disappeared, changing back into her original loose loungewear.
She cleared her throat and tentatively said, "Hey."
The tone was cold; it was her own voice.
Celeste breathed a long sigh of relief.
Great, I'm back!