Jean Couldn’t

The Traveler reached forward, not for the sword that was supposed to pierce their opponent’s body any moment now but for the collar of her kimono. Yoimiya pulled the vanquished enemy closer and kissed them. Neither felt that anything was amiss or that their relationship was, by its very nature, wrong. On the contrary, they reveled in the conclusion of the battle, seemingly marking the end of the war between their kingdoms. Pulling away from her, the Traveler declared, “I know everything you’ve done. I know all about you. I even understand the motives behind all those despicable acts.” “Should I take that as your turn to the dark side?” Miya laughed. “Dummy. I meant to say that I’ll bring you into the light. Although… if that doesn’t work out, maybe so. In that case, we’ll both rot in this darkness. Together.” “Forever.” Around them, flames erupted in a blaze. Jean stretched languidly in the chair of her office room. It was difficult to reconcile that just half an hour ago, she had set aside her request from the tavern to help untangle the complexities of taxation, burying her nose in the pages instead. In her head, it seemed empty. Yet, such precious fantasies about secret relationships, obstacles in the way to great love, and the reaction of those around them who accidentally learned the forbidden couple’s secret, danced there. Grand Master blissfully leaned back against the soft cushion, closing her eyes. The rustle of leaves outside, the sunlight filtering through her closed eyelids, and the rough texture of the book cover, stroked by her fingers, were combined to transport her into a trance she had no desire to escape. Tasks, one after another, were mentally pushed aside for later, or perhaps for never. Jean found herself drowning in emotions that her work could never grant her. At least that’s how it felt at this moment. And she might’ve sat there for eternity if not for a knock at the door, which instantly switched her back into the mode of an impenetrable machine. “Come in.” The door opened, and Lisa appeared in the doorway. It had been two weeks since their last encounter, and given the proximity of their workplaces, it seemed almost unbelievable that they hadn’t crossed paths. Nevertheless, despite the time apart, the book about the Traveler had found its way onto Jean’s desk the previous Tuesday. For several long days, Jean had hesitated to even touch it. There was no doubt in her mind that Lisa had brought the book while she was away from her office. The faint fragrance of ceanothus—the librarian’s beloved flowers—lingered in the air. “Did I interrupt anything?” Lisa asked as she stepped in, as if nothing unusual had happened between them before. Jean’s fingers drummed nervously against the table. It took immense effort to quell her absurd reaction. Her body seemed intent on defying her commands, and her usual impenetrability crumbled under the weight of Lisa’s emerald gaze. “Did you enjoy the book?” Steeling herself, Jean managed to answer “yes”, her voice so quiet that it felt as if it had drained every last ounce of her resolve along with her vitality. Perhaps it had. “I’m here about the personal request of a citizen. Her cat went missing, and she asked me to convey her task to find it for her.” For a moment, Lisa fell silent, a displeased grimace forming on her face. “I’ve never approved and will never approve of the burden you carry. Considering the volume of your tasks and the presence of far more important problems that only you’re capable of solving, allowing someone to send you, crawling around on roofs looking for cats is unimaginable.” No matter how earnestly Lisa tried, her admonishments fell flat, as though they had no effect at all. Jean’s expression had quickly reverted to one of determination. With a weighty seriousness, she straightened her back, reached for a sheet of paper detailing the day’s schedule, and, in a calm and steady voice, asked for the name of the resident and her address. Inserting this task between clearing the lake of slimes and preparing for dinner, Jean allowed herself a small, tranquil smile. More work awaited her. She could do even more for this town. She longed to give herself entirely to Mondstadt. Every task, no matter how trivial it seemed, held unimaginable value for Jean. Improving the lives of the townsfolk, protecting them, and aiding them by any means possible—this was her purpose, her essence, what she lived for. Grand Master couldn’t act otherwise, even when it occasionally seemed that she was taking on too much. “Do you know that you’re incorrigible?” Jean smiled gently. “You saved me.” A look of perplexity crossed Lisa’s face. “When was that?” “When you walked in and told me about the new assignment. I felt like I was about to fall asleep, and you brought me to my senses.” Her fingers brushed against the cover of her new favorite book. She regarded the title before rising from her chair. “Here. I haven’t held onto a book for this long before. I really should return it.” Lisa placed her hand on her hip and smirked. “You can keep it. That book’s yours now.” “What? But—” “And yes, if you want, I have more. I always have more. It’s literature, and I’m your teacher. Everything will be fine, Jean.” Hearing her name spoken by Lisa was exactly what she had been missing. Grand Master held her breath, watching silently as the librarian walked away, unable to release the novel from her grasp. The title on the cover still stirred something within her. Jean’s mind began to drift, but now it no longer felt like she was sinking. Everything was under control. After a few moments, the cover of the romance novel titled 'Cecilia' was turned down to rest against the tabletop. Only then could Jean finally sigh, letting go of all unnecessary thoughts and returning to the tasks on her schedule. She had safely emerged from the depths of her mind and dove back into the work. As Jean was swept up in a whirlwind of events, she felt more confident than ever before, though she couldn’t quite explain why.