Chapter 24: Chapter 24: The Lively Water Element
A brilliant flash of blue light flared and then, standing before Ethan Chen, was a striking young girl with twin-tails and a pointed witch's hat.
What caught his eye most, however, was her outfit.
She was wearing a bold, alluring bunny-girl costume paired with sheer, gradient-black stockings. The contrast between her delicate frame and the skin-tight ensemble was enough to make Ethan's eyes widen.
The sleek fabric clung tightly to her slender figure, revealing glimpses of soft, pale skin at the chest and abdomen. Through the thin material, her flat stomach and bellybutton were clearly visible, and below that though concealed was a curvaceous fullness that fired the imagination.
Her legs, wrapped in silky black stockings, were shapely and well-toned, thick at the thighs and tapering at the calves. Healthy and full of life, they gleamed faintly, forming a stark yet strangely appealing contrast to her petite upper body.
Altogether, the outfit amplified her youthful allure to the extreme.
No wonder this version of Mona had once topped international search rankings and remained one of the most frequently featured characters in 3D fanworks of Genshin Impact.
She was, in a word, stunning.
The teleportation had left Mona momentarily dazed, but she quickly realized she was no longer in her room.
Before her stood a tall, handsome man and a cool, mature-looking woman. Both were staring at her, unblinking, with undisguised curiosity.
Then she looked down and froze.
She was still wearing the outfit she only donned at home while experimenting with elemental energy: her overly revealing, borderline scandalous astrologer's uniform.
Mona's cheeks flushed a deep red. Steam might as well have shot from her ears as she squealed in embarrassment, crouching down in a panic.
But crouching only made it worse.
Because of the contrast between her generous thighs and slim calves, the pressure revealed a pronounced crease at her hips, the plush curve clearly visible.
Even Ethan, who tried to avert his gaze, couldn't help but think: She's got some serious curves. Maybe even on par with 2B...
But that wasn't important now.
He quickly opened the closet, grabbed a loose white dress shirt, and tossed it toward her.
"Here. Put this on for now. Once you're dressed, come find me and we'll talk."
With that, he gestured for 2B to follow and left the cabin, giving the flustered girl a moment to collect herself.
"Where did that girl come from?" 2B asked.
"No idea," Ethan replied with a shake of his head. "We'll ask her once she comes out."
"Alright." 2B glanced toward the cabin, recalling how she too had arrived unexpectedly from another world and found herself trapped here.
Was this girl in the same situation?
The two of them leaned against the ship's rail, letting the sea breeze wash over them. Before long, Mona emerged from below deck, the oversized shirt worn like a dress. Her flushed face hadn't cooled one bit.
She looked around, still flustered, and finally asked, "Who are you people? And where exactly am I?"
"I'm Ethan Chen. This is 2B," Ethan replied casually. "You're on the Lexington, my ship. We're docked at Shells Town, in the East Blue."
"East Blue? Shells Town?" Mona frowned. She had never heard of any place like that in Teyvat.
Ethan nodded. "So... can you tell me how you ended up in my cabin? It's not exactly polite to barge into someone's room."
"I am Astrologist Mona Megistus. Which means, the Great Astrologer. I come from the continent of Teyvat, ruled by the Seven Archons..."
She gave a brief explanation of her origins.
"In short, the next thing I knew, I was here on your ship, in your room."
"Teyvat? Seven Archons? Doesn't ring a bell." Ethan feigned ignorance. "You might not be in your world anymore."
2B chimed in, "Same here. I'm from another world too."
"That's impossible!" Mona protested. "I can clearly sense elemental energy. If this weren't Teyvat, the laws of the world wouldn't allow it!"
To prove her point, she raised her hand and began manipulating the ambient water element.
As a bearer of a Hydro Vision, Mona could control and condense water energy to her will, using it for casting spells, enchanting her weapons, and much more.
But something felt... off.
Water began to gather in her palm, quickly forming a small sphere.
Yet within moments, the water element seemed to surge wildly, far exceeding her expectations. The sphere ballooned into a massive orb several meters wide and it kept growing.
The water felt... overly eager, like a group of restless soldiers who had just found a commanding officer.
Mona's face went pale. She hurriedly waved her hand, directing the water orb toward the sea. It struck the surface with a mighty splash, sending waves crashing in all directions and causing nearby ships to rock violently.
Ethan blinked in astonishment.
In the game, Mona had mostly been a support-type character. He hadn't realized her raw power was this overwhelming.
A water sphere of that size... if it had hit a small ship like the Lexington, it could have sunk it outright.
That blast was nearly on par with a cannonball.
"I don't think I'm in my own world anymore," Mona said in a trembling voice. "Back there, I couldn't do anything like that."
Ethan nodded thoughtfully. Maybe it was because Mona was the only person in this world who could control water without relying on a Devil Fruit.
If that were true, she might well be this world's water goddess in all but name.
"So what do you plan to do now?" Ethan asked. "Do you want to join my crew? I'm recruiting. Good salary, full benefits. Room and board included."
"I... don't know," Mona muttered. Deep down, she had a sinking feeling that going back was no longer an option.
She had tried the same ritual circle again just now it hadn't reacted at all.
She would never argue with that annoying old woman again.
Never get to meet her friends for lunch or idle chats.
She hadn't even finished reading the new astrology book she just bought...
But full meals and free lodging did sound nice.
At least she wouldn't have to worry about rent or groceries anymore.
"Why don't you stay here for now?" Ethan said, already making arrangements for the disoriented girl from another world. "There's an empty room prepared for our future navigator. I'll take you there."
He then called out, "Auxiliary unit, come here for a second. Help explain the basics of this world to Mona."
The auxiliary unit floated over and hovered beside him, a compact, intelligent machine far more capable than any AI assistant back on Earth. It had spent enough time with them to understand this world's general layout, and was the perfect guide for Mona.
"Yes, sir." The unit began calmly and systematically explaining the known aspects of this world.
Mona was fascinated. She listened attentively, trying to absorb as much as she could about the place that might now be her home.
Ethan led her to the navigation chamber he had reserved for the ship's future navigator.
"There's your room. If you need anything, just come find me downstairs in the captain's quarters."
With that, he left her to settle in and digest everything she had just learned.