Archon of Minus

Chapter 39:Don't freeze up on a walk

The attempt Eula made of talking with the common folk went as well as Kumagawa thought it'd be. That is, ge quickly finished his bucket of popcorn.

But Eula was stubborn. Or perhaps she was just used to such circumstances, much like he was.

Eula: It's alright, this happens quite often. Let's find someone else to talk to.

Paimon:Uh, Paimon thinks we've seen enough now. Let's just stop. Actually, Paimon thinks we should apologize for asking you to demonstrate for us. We had no idea the feelings between the Lawrence Clan and the people of Mondstadt were so bitter.

Eula:Haha, what can we do? The Lawrence name is already a dirty word among every household in Mondstadt. Even three-year-olds know the story. I see this kind of attitude all the time.

Lumine:And somehow you still manage to brush it off with a laugh?

Eula:Don't worry, what with me being a Knight of Favonius, they're usually willing to speak a few words with me.

Kumagawa:[Ah, I know what you're talking about. The people from my high school avoided me like the plague. But after a failed coup, some deaths and a fight resulting in massive propety damage, they actually actively went in a conversation with me.]

Well, that only happened at Hakoniwa. Not many people tried talking with him at his former schools before he destroyed them.

Although the situation was a bit different at Suisou. Apparently, the students that didn't know him saw him as a hero because he dethroned Jakago Aki.

It was something strage, he was not used to being seen in such a positive light. Irronicaly, his fight with Saki that destroyed Suisou took place not long after he was made aware of how the student body saw him.

Eula:Sorry, but that sounds a bit too high risk for me. Perhaps my aristocratic manner of speech provoked them today. Believe me, it's not a big issue.

Paimon:So this is the way things are normally for you? There's no need for them to direct their anger at you personally.

Eula:That's the way things are. Perhaps it's just fate for those who've made mistakes. Accepting punishment is only fair, right? But when your family has committed atrocities, I'm afraid there's no easy path to reconciliation.

Kumagawa:[Hm...]

Personally, Kumagawa thinks that the feelings of thr citizens of Mondstadt are a easy to make use of, because they're so set on something. No wonder the Abyss Order was able to inflirtate so easy.

Oh, well. He supposed it made sense for the people of the City of Freedom to be so stubborn about their own opinions.

Eula:As memories are carried in the city breeze, the faults of such grievances are passed on from one generation to the next. It is now my turn to bear this burden. At least I have a means of living a relatively normal life compared to the elders of my family. I have nothing to be discontented about.

Lumine:So you knew all along that we'd encounter these kinds of problems?

Paimon: Yeah, why were you so willing to try and demonstrate for us?

Eula:Oh, that reminds me... that last person will not escape my vengeance either...

Eula sighed. That last guy had a lot to say, despise his only threat beimg to write a complaint when it came to actual actions.

Eula:...Let's leave it at that. Just think of it as something I like to do. But unfortunately, you probably didn't learn much from those conversations. It seems we have no other choice but to find more people to talk to.

Paimon:Uh, n...No need! Besides, both Lumine and Kumagawa are pretty sharp, and nothing gets in our way on an adventure. Paimon thinks we've got the gist of it now. Right? RIGHT!?

Lumine:Uh... Yeah, I think I've got it.

Kumagawa:[I happen to have very much liked such an exercise! Ah, but I don't think it's a good idea for us to be so fixed on speech. As they say, you have to be able to talk the talk and walk the walk.]

Eula:Yes! Exactly! Well then, I'm glad you learned something. You're already halfway toward mastering aristocratic conduct. A proper manner of speech is more aesthetic than anything else...It stems from their taste for refinement. But we must also practice your bearing. I have a very effective way of training for this. Come with me to Dragonspine.

Eula pointed forward, beckoning for them to follow her as she headed to Dragonspine. She really seems to be enjoying her role as a teacher.

Paimon:Good move.We'll just have to roll with it for now. Let's just keep Eula from getting anyone else riled up.

Kumagawa:[Yes, let's.]

Lumine:You're being strangely diplomatic about this.

Kumagawa:[Ah, well, I figured that Diluc wouldn't serve me anything if I ended up burning the city down.]

Lumine:Ah, makes sense.

The three followed Eula to the entrance of the freezing mountains of Dragonspine. Before them was laid out an obstacle course of sorts.

There were several wooden barriers, much like the ones you'd find at a hilichurl camp, who were also dangerously close to Cryo barrels. One wrong move and ine might freeze over.

There were also some floating green plants around. They seemed fragile and were probably filled with Anemo energy, as it seems to be most of the wildfare of the Nation of Freedom.

Paimon:It's s...So c...Cold...Does aristocrat training really need to be done here?

Eula:If you wish to truly achieve the dignified conduct of an aristocrat, you must learn to remain composed and elegant even amidst harsh conditions. For example, you can see that part of the path up ahead is quite difficult to traverse.

That was the least to say, being that the path was made to only increase the level of danger of death by freezing that the ruthless enviorment of Dragonspine was. It would be deathly dangerous for any normal person.

Good thing neither of them were normal. But while Kumagawa is sure Eula would not hesitate to take such a challenge, he's sure the rest of her family would actually run with their tails between their legs at the mere sight of this course.

Eula:But a well-trained aristocrat would not only effortlessly proceed forward, but do so without a stain on their garment and their elegance fully intact.

Paimon:Paimon thinks we've let the realm of aristocrats and entered the realm of adventuring. Compared to what we've already seen, this should be a piece of cake.

Lumine:Should be way easier than making conversation, at least.

Paimon:Paimon thinks so too... But you've got this in the bag!

Eula:Haha, you look pretty confident this time. Alright, let's get started. Remember, you must be graceful and elegant. Don't get knocked or launched into the air, that would be most unsightly.

Lumine:I think there'd be a bit more to it than being unsightly...

However, Kumagawa was not really worried about this course. Rather, he was interesed.

There was a certain element of this path that got his attention. Rather, the four Cryo hilichurls standing upon the path.

Kumagawa:[Haha, are your cold charms able to tame even hilichurls?]

Eula:Hmph!

Eula turned away, hands crossed over her chest. Even so, Kumagawa still got a glimpse at the grin on her face.

Eula:It's no wonder you did so well when it came to speech. You certainly do know how to use that mouth of yours...