Genshin Impact: The Road to Reversal

"Ha... How could I... collapse here!"

Claire roared, pouring her last bit of strength, along with her will, into her palm.

The poisonous fog continued to seep into her limbs and bones, and purplish-black lines had already covered her neck, almost spreading to her cheeks. Yet the fire in her eyes burned brighter than ever before.

Using flames as a shield and thorns as a blade... This is not only the oath he made when he became a paladin, but also a way to console his former cowardly self.

Compared to the ruthless and decisive Peruvier, she was far too cowardly. Even with superhuman strength, her compassionate acts and indecisiveness became her fatal weaknesses.

That's what she used to think.

But at this moment, that compassion has transformed into love for the millions of people, supporting her faltering body.

What is flawless?

Even a flawless white wall has a slight imperfection, and so too do people.

It is precisely because of this compassion for all living beings that this unwavering belief is so beautiful, so pure and innocent.

Emerging from the mud, yet remaining unstained!

Drink up!

Claire roared furiously, and the poisonous elements surged even more violently between her palms. But unexpectedly, at this moment, the poison imprinted in her blood began to retreat at a visible speed.

Yes, although elemental power is released through contractual resonance, it is already imprinted deep within the soul from the very beginning of a person's birth.

However, it requires tempering, an opportunity, and a soul-stirring determination to fully awaken that potential.

Poison and fire are her talents, but because poison is an evil substance, she subconsciously always resists that power and focuses only on fire, even when she uses it, it is more of a supportive force.

But at this moment, in order to protect everything behind her that needs to be protected, and in order to completely purify the source of this filth, she chooses to accept the "origin".

It is not intended as a weapon to cause harm, but rather as a remedy to save lives, to purify, and to dissolve.

Compassion is not weakness, and acceptance is not succumbing to despair.

As the last wisp of poisonous mist was inhaled into the palm of the hand and dissipated into starlight, the hissing sound in the workshop completely ceased. The rusted experimental table remained dilapidated, but no more black smoke emerged.

Claire lowered her arms, her body now completely free of any trace of poison. Even the skin that had been corroded by the venom was gradually returning to normal.

She swayed, almost losing her balance, but managed to brace herself with her sickle.

I wonder how things are up there...

She was panting, then looked up and gazed toward the exit.

Fortunately, there were no major casualties...

Teacher... I didn't let you down...

She slowly walked towards the exit, but soon, the exhaustion of surviving the ordeal spread like a tide.

Claire took only two steps before losing consciousness and collapsing to the ground.

Before losing consciousness, two figures appeared before me in a blur.

"Cressy!"

"Miss Claire!"

……

When I opened my eyes again, it was the familiar ceiling again.

She lay in bed, surrounded by the familiar, slightly bitter scent of herbs.

It is the medical ward of the garrison.

Just as she was about to get up, a cold and indifferent voice came from the side.

"Hey, are you awake?"

Sitting to the side was a brown-haired girl reading a book. She leaned against the chair, resting her elbow on the edge of the table and supporting half of her cheek with her fist.

She wore a black top hat and an asymmetrical gothic dress, sitting there quietly with a calm and composed demeanor, exuding a scholarly focus and aloofness, as if everything around her was separated from her by an invisible glass.

“Mrs. Sandoni?” she said softly, turning her head as she lay in bed.

Upon hearing this, the girl closed the book with one hand, nodded with her eyes closed, and said, "Hmm, you can still talk, so it seems you're alright."

"Did you save me?" Claire asked.

"Heh, you're overthinking it. The garrison and the Knights are just nominally partners. What value do you have that makes me want to save you? It was Peruvieri and that purple-haired girl who brought you out of the basement."

"Peipei and Miss Zixuan?"

"Yes, but you're really lucky. You forcibly absorbed such a dense concentration of poisonous gas and you're completely unharmed. You know, even the Guardians would be badly injured if they encountered that stuff."

"Heh, that just means I'm lucky." Clementine smiled slightly, then looked up at the ceiling.

"Really? Then you really are the kind of guy who's been blessed by Lady Luck from beginning to end." With that, she got up and walked to the bedside, one hand on her hip, and said, "I'm saying, are all you paladins crazy? Your teacher sacrificed himself to build a city to protect everyone back then, and now you're risking your life here to forcibly absorb the poisonous fog. Do you really think you're immortal?"

Sandoni's voice remained calm, but Claire detected a subtle hint of annoyance in his cold tone. She casually placed the book on the bedside table, her eyes, hidden beneath the brim of her hat, narrowed slightly as they fell on Claire's pale face.

"But thankfully, it was a close call, wasn't it?" Clementine smiled slightly.

“Yes, it was a close call.” Sandonne drawled, “So you almost got yourself killed, and you just brush it off with a ‘close call’? When did the lives of you paladins become so worthless?”

"Hmph~" Upon hearing this, Claire chuckled a few times.

"What are you laughing at?" Sandoni asked, hands on his hips.

"It's nothing, I was just thinking that the young lady who commands the entire garrison also has a caring side."

"Huh? Who cares about you? Please get this straight, this operation was initiated by you taking it upon yourself to mobilize the guards under my command. If it weren't for Peruvieri begging me, I wouldn't have tolerated your actions. Do you know how many of us were mobilized to support your rescue operation?"

"Five hidden hideouts and nearly twenty secret passages. Even I, the director, had to personally cooperate with you. And just when I thought everything was settled and I could settle accounts with you, you stayed behind to cover our retreat, getting yourself into this half-dead state. Did you really think of your paladins as expendable resources for the glacier?"

As Sandone spoke, she grew increasingly agitated, gradually shifting from initial composure to questioning with obvious emotion. The mask of that calm scholar seemed to crack, revealing a hint of the true temper of this "young lady."

Just then, the door to the lounge was suddenly pushed open, and Peruvieri, who had heard the commotion inside, rushed in anxiously.

"Sandonie, Clementine is awake, isn't she?" she asked as she quickly walked to the bedside. Seeing Clementine's eyes open, her anxiety finally subsided.

"Clevis, how are you feeling? Is there anything else that's bothering you?" Peruvier asked anxiously, carefully examining her best friend's complexion.

"I'm fine, Pepe, just a little tired." Clementine gave a reassuring smile. "Miss Sandoni said that you and Zixuan brought me out from underground? Thank you."