"Brother Yilan! Brother Yilan! Wake up, what's wrong with you?"
Like ripples in water, Ganyu's fairy-like beautiful face gradually faded from view, and what reappeared was a beautiful face just as stunning as Ganyu's, but more lively and lovely.
She was wearing the church's standard nun uniform. Her golden hair was as bright as the morning sun. Her blue eyes were like lake water, sparkling like broken gems. Her small, rosy, soft lips were like cherry blossoms blooming in April.
Although her figure was a little immature, the perfect curves highlighted the girl's pure charm. She was full of liveliness and vitality—a girl one couldn't help but fall in love with at first sight.
It was Barbara.
The surrounding scenery also shifted from the simple and quaint tent to Mondstadt's magnificent library.
The somatosensory mode was interrupted, and I returned to the real world.
Soon, Yilan assessed his current situation.
Originally, he had chosen to conduct the simulation in the library as an experiment—to see whether the outside world would interfere with his simulated self.
It now seemed that external interference could indeed interrupt his body's sensory pattern.
In a sense, this was actually a good thing. At least he wouldn't have to worry about being assassinated during simulations in the future.
However, next time he simulated, he'd need to find a place where he wouldn't be disturbed.
Yilan raised his head and looked at Barbara, who was standing in front of him. Seeing him stir, Barbara patted her chest in relief, as if she had been holding her breath.
"I was so scared. Brother Yilan, you sat there motionless for a while. I thought something had happened to you and was about to go find Miss Lisa."
"Brother Yilan, what were you doing just now?"
"I'm sorry to have worried you," Yilan said with an apologetic smile.
"As for what I was doing just now…"
He paused deliberately.
"I think I was having an epiphany."
"An… epiphany?" Barbara blinked her big, blue, lake-like eyes and tilted her head cutely, murmuring the unfamiliar word.
"Look—"
Yilan blinked at her and stretched out a finger. As a hazy light emerged, a glowing white particle appeared at his fingertip.
"This is… Geo Element!" Barbara gasped and covered her mouth in shock. Her eyes widened. "Brother Yilan, do you have a Vision?"
"I would like to have a Vision, but unfortunately, I don't," Yilan shook his head, then added with pride, "This Geo element was condensed through my own knowledge and understanding."
The greatest function of the somatosensory mode might not be in altering plots or anything of the sort, Yilan thought. Its real value lay in allowing him to truly experience the time spent within the simulation.
Simply put, when Yilan entered somatosensory mode, the events once only described in words by the simulator would flood into his mind like real memories.
For example, the experience of wielding elemental forces in battle.
Or the time spent with Ganyu.
It was as if… the Yilan in the simulator really was himself.
No…
It should be said that the person in the simulator is himself.
He had once looked into a mirror while in somatosensory mode, and the person reflected back was identical to himself—but due to the gift of "charming as jade," the simulated self had a magical aura.
Naturally, after acquiring the memories of training from the simulation, his real self also gained the ability to use elemental forces, even though he wasn't a Vision-bearer.
—For most people, a Vision was considered a necessary passport to elemental power. But that wasn't always the case.
Mondstadt's Grand Master Falgar, the former Crimson Witch Rosalyne—all had wielded elemental power without a Vision.
And now, Yilan had become one of them. A human capable of using elemental power.
Of course, this didn't mean that anyone with such memories could immediately control the elements.
Ordinary people could technically harness elemental forces—that much was known—but very few pursued it seriously.
After all, in the public's eyes, that kind of power was only for the exceptionally gifted, the one-in-a-million geniuses.
But Yilan didn't see it that way. As a time traveler, his pride wouldn't allow mediocrity. He had studied the principles of elemental power from early on.
It was through relentless effort that he could immediately use elemental power in reality after regaining those memories.
"Congratulations, Brother Yilan."
Barbara's expression was initially a bit complicated.
Though cheerful and lively, Barbara was quite competitive. She had always wanted to surpass her sister, but Jean's talent had been too overwhelming.
Yilan's rise had once brought her comfort. Though her sworn brother was also gifted and had become the much-praised "Knight of Glory," he didn't have a Vision, which still placed him below her in her eyes.
But now, he could manipulate elemental power without a Vision. He had surpassed not just her, but perhaps even Jean.
Still, Barbara was kind-hearted. She quickly pushed aside her momentary gloom and offered heartfelt congratulations:
"Maybe Brother Yilan will surpass the Grand Master and become the strongest person in Mondstadt's history!"
"Thank you for your kind words," Yilan replied with a smile. "By the way, Barbara, it's rare to see you in the library. What brings you here?"
"Hmm…"
Barbara clasped her hands behind her back, twisting slightly as if shy.
"I wanted to look for books about poetry, to get some inspiration…"
"For writing your own idol song?" Yilan guessed.
"Mm."
Barbara nodded and placed a hand over her chest.
"I really want to become the kind of 'idol' Miss Alice talked about. I don't know if I can do it, but I want to try!"
After all, it was her only hope of surpassing her sister.
"..."
Looking at Barbara's hopeful but uncertain expression, Yilan gently tapped the table with his knuckles.
Barbara wanted to be an idol.
As a time traveler, he already knew this.
He also knew this was a path to getting closer to Barbara.
But he had never acted on it before.
The original owner of this body had been just an honest, average person with no close relationship with Barbara and no musical or artistic background.
If he had suddenly claimed to help her become an idol, it might have raised suspicions—even exposed the fact that his soul had replaced the original one.
But now, a year had passed since his time travel.
During that year, aside from necessary work, he had either hunted monsters or studied in the library.
That year of distance had made the change in his personality feel less abrupt.
So he raised his head and gave Barbara a gentle, knowing smile.
"If you want to become an idol, I can help you."