Holowin special - Act VI - The Spooky Spoils Of Adventure – Started!
« Enough! » said the lich in a clear and powerful voice. Surprised to be hearing that single word and clearly not expecting it, the expedition party stopped in their tracks after getting back up and focused their attention on their enemy, weapons in hand and ready to unleash another wave of attacks. However, the lich continued its speech: "Enough... You have proven your worth and your abilities. This will be the end of our battle. You fought valiantly and deserve commendation for your performance.
-What is that all about? Why should we trust you're not going to attack again? replied Chongyun containing his anger.
-That should be a good enough demonstration of my will, continued the lich while letting its battle staff fall to the ground. I am not looking to make any victims here even though I didn't even show half what I'm capable of. I simply upkeep my master's tradition to celebrate this time of the year. Be proud of yourselves, adventurers, you successfully cleared the Holowin domain! Now, if I may ask, how did you find out about the domain?
[The group took a moment to describe the series of events that led to their involvement in the adventure.]
-I see the hourglass didn't fully deplete, said the lich in a calmer voice. This domain closes its door at midnight, the day leading to Halloween... and you succeeded in competing the domain challenges in time; you deserve the reward of the victors. Come forth, fear not, for I shall bestow upon you this year's Holowin domain treasure."
The adventuring party walked forward slowly, still fearing a surprise attack. Xiangling, covered in slime goo from the fighting she did apart from the main battle group, reunited with her colleagues and Guoba before explaining what happened on her side during the battle. Two chests suddenly appeared before the curious party. One of them was entirely made of shiny blueish ice more reflective than a mirror while the other was made of dark wood from which a certain forest aroma could still be detected. The lich, after moving backwards to free up the space for the conquerors of the domain, then instructed them to collect their rewards : "Adventurers, you who have shown flawless cooperation and courage, here are the spoils of adventure. These two chests are now waiting to be opened, and on that you shall not fear for your trials are over. Their contents, I am now bestowing upon for, for you shall fully enjoy the tradition Holowin domain treasure, which is now yours to keep and cherish. The first chest, covered in majestic ice, is the main treasure of this domain. As for the second, wooden and dark, I bestow it upon you as a reward to bypassing the last challenge room before fighting me. To whoever knew about the secret mechanism, congratulations. Now, brave adventurers, time has come to proceed for this domain will soon close its doors again for another year. Take possession of your rewards."
Together, grouped in two smaller teams, the adventurers opened the chests simultaneously and moved back a few steps. The ice chest cracked slowly as it opened before revealing a small being with a light blue dress. Said creature started levitating and looked around itself, saying "Ayaya~" in a low confused voice before focusing its attention on Eula and flying towards her. The party looked, surprised, as a baby abyss mage, with a pumpkin-shaped head, slowly covered the short distance separating it from Eula. The mage stopped a few centimeters away from its target's eyes and looked at her without moving. Lisa made one step forward and teased her friend: "Seems you found yourself a new friend, Eula. You should welcome your friend properly, and no revenge this time... and it's for you that I'm making the extra effort... you know how I am with pumpkins...
-Oola~? repeated the abyss mage with a low voice.
-Do you want to follow Eula home, little mage? asked the lich summoner. These people are your friends.
-Oola~, simply repeated the mage before dancing in the air in front of Eula and creating a few miniature ice pumpkins.
-I'll be glad to have you tagging along, friend, declared a blushing Eula after a moment of silence."
A low noise coming from a few steps besides suddenly got the party's attention as the second chest also revealed its contents... a baby hilichurl with a pumpkin head. That young creature looked around the room, like if it were trying to find something or someone, but seemed a bit disappointed. However, it also agreed to follow the party out of the domain when the lich summoner invited them to exit through a magical portal it created to avoid them having to walk all the way back and, if they weren't fast enough, being kicked out of the domain when the hourglass timer would run out of sand. Xiangling, Lisa, Eula, Chongyun, Guoba, as well as their two new friends all stepped inside the portal together and quickly found themselves outside the Holowin domain, barely a few steps away from its wide entrance doors that would soon be closing completely as the domain would vanish for another full year. A familiar voice caught their attention as they realised what just happened: "It pleases me to see you didn't lose it in this land of terror. And I see you succeeded in completing the challenges and earning the Holowin domain's rewards.
-Hu tao!? said Xiangling in a surprised voice.
-Weren't you busy with the parlor's affairs? added Chongyun.
-There's a chance, if not a certainty, that I set all of that up to send you on a one-of-a-kind adventure, admitted Hu Tao with her usual cheerful yet eerie voice. Now as to how you got reinforcements from Mondstadt is another story in which I'm not involved...
-Long story short, we followed Mona's observations of the stars to investigate this place, quickly summarized Lisa.
-Astrologist Mona Megistus, at your service, intervened Mona catching up with the group after her colleague's explanation. It is indeed my doing from astrological observations with Diona, but it wasn't clear what you were going to find... and I rushed here when I noticed the constellation suddenly disappeared out of nowhere while I was focused on observing it...
-Raaooww~ added the young hilichurl while pulling Hu Tao's robe.
-I think this young fellow wants to follow the master of eeriness and supernatural, mentioned Chongyun.
-Ayaya~ added the young abyss mage before dancing again.
-It would be rude of me to refuse, right? laughed Hu Tao with a grin. How about we go home together, little Holowin hilichurl?"
The baby hilichurl, very happy when it understood Hu Tao's intentions, made a few celebrating noises and danced with the young abyss mage. From that point on, everyone shared a good moment together after the hilichurl accepted the invitation and, even though adventures never end, this particular special anniversary edition adventure is coming to its conclusion. Before both groups split up to return to their respective homes, they swore to take extra great care of their new friends and made an oath to join forces again as soon as the opportunity would arise...
Holowin special - Act VI - The Spooky Spoils Of Adventure – Completed!