[EARLY ACCESS] SHRINK IMPACT | GENSHIN IMPACT - CHAPTER 14

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the stone halls before the office door burst open.

Mona stood in the doorway, her violet eyes wide with worry, her hat slightly askew as though she had rushed here without a second thought. Her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, and the moment her gaze landed on you, relief flooded her expression.

“Traveler!” she gasped, rushing forward without hesitation. Her gloved hands trembled slightly as she reached out, her fingers carefully grazing over your tiny form in Jean’s palm, as if checking to make sure you were really there, safe and sound.

Jean remained seated behind her desk, watching the interaction with calm scrutiny. “They’re alright,” she reassured the astrologer, her voice composed. “Though there have been…incidents.”

Like nearly getting crushed under your ass?

Mona barely paid attention to Jean’s words at first, too focused on you. “I was so worried,” she murmured, her usual composed demeanor cracking. “I turned my back for a second, and Sucrose—she just took you! I should have never let my guard down.”

You looked up at her, feeling a warmth in your chest at how genuinely concerned she was. “I’m okay, Mona,” you said softly. “Really.”

Mona let out a breath, still shaken, but her grip on you remained gentle. “This is exactly what I was afraid of…You’ve been gone for just a short while, and already, you’ve been put in danger.” She glared at Jean slightly, but not out of malice—more out of frustration with the situation itself.

Jean sighed, placing her quill down. “I understand your concerns, Mona. I agree that this situation is dangerous, which is why I wanted to keep them here under the Knights’ supervision.”

Mona frowned. “And yet, I doubt they were truly any safer here, were they?” Her voice had an edge to it now, though it was clear it came from a place of genuine care.

Jean pursed her lips before nodding slowly. “There was an incident,” she admitted.

Mona raised an eyebrow. “What kind of incident?”

Jean’s cheeks turned faintly pink, her gaze flickering briefly to you. “…I almost sat on them.”

Mona blinked. “You what?”

Jean cleared her throat, regaining her composure. “It was an accident. I wasn’t looking, and they were too small to notice. I moved before anything happened, but it was far too close.”

Mona’s lips parted in shock, then pressed into a tight line. Her fingers tightened ever so slightly around you, holding you close. “This is exactly why I need to be the one looking after them.”

Jean leaned back, considering Mona carefully. “Then what do you propose? Keeping them in your home indefinitely? The longer they stay like this, the more vulnerable they are. If we don’t reverse this soon…”

Mona exhaled sharply, her frustration evident. “I know that, Jean. That’s why I’ve been working on finding a solution.” She took a deep breath, composing herself before finally revealing, “I contacted a friend of mine in Liyue. She specializes in alchemy and ancient medicinal practices, ones even I’m not well-versed in. She believes she might know of a way to undo this, but it requires something more…traditional than standard magic.”

Jean folded her hands in front of her. “You think this method is viable?”

Mona nodded. “If anyone knows how to undo this, it’s her. The only issue is that the ingredients she mentioned aren’t exactly easy to come by. But it’s our best lead.”

Jean hummed in thought. “Then I suppose the best course of action is to prepare for a journey to Liyue. But in the meantime, I assume you’ll be taking them back under your protection?”

Mona met Jean’s gaze steadily. “Yes.”

Jean let out a small sigh but nodded. “Very well. But I expect updates. And if anything else happens, Mona, I will step in again.”

Mona’s grip on you never wavered. “I understand.”

---

The heavy doors of Jean’s office closed behind you as Mona stepped into the corridor, her pace slowing as the weight of the conversation settled between you both. The tension in her shoulders finally eased once you were alone, her grip on you shifting to something far more protective, almost affectionate.

She sighed, shaking her head. “I can’t believe this all happened in just a few hours…”

You looked up at her, smiling softly. “I’m just glad to be back with you.”

Mona halted mid-step, her violet eyes widening slightly as she processed your words. Then, her expression softened, and a small, rare smile graced her lips. “You are?”

You nodded. “You’ve been the one trying to keep me safe since the beginning. I trust you.”

Something flickered behind her gaze—relief, affection, maybe even something deeper. Then, without warning, she lifted you slightly higher, her fingers cradling your tiny form with a sudden tenderness.

Before you could react, she leaned down and pressed a soft, lingering kiss over your small frame.

The sensation was overwhelming. The warmth of her lips enveloped you completely, the softness of her touch making your body tingle as she held you close. The sheer size of her compared to you made the gesture even more powerful, like you were being entirely claimed by her presence.

You gasped slightly, momentarily dazed by the sensation. She pulled back only slightly, her breath warm against your skin.

Her gaze was half-lidded as she whispered, “I’m never letting someone take you from me again.”

Your heart pounded, heat creeping up your face. But as overwhelming as it was, you couldn’t deny that a deep part of you was glad to be back in her hands.

Mona smiled again, a rare, secretive thing. “Come on. Let’s go home.”

And with that, she strode confidently down the corridor, your tiny form safely nestled against her once more.

Mona’s arms cradled you protectively against her chest, her warm plush skin like a cushion. It was the safest place she could think to keep you, nestled securely between her hands and pressed lightly against the soft swell of her cleavage. Every step she took was careful, measured, as she carried you away from Jean’s office, her grip firm but not suffocating.

She was tense. You could feel it in the way her body moved, the subtle rigidity in her posture, the way her fingers curled slightly around you, as if afraid you might disappear from her grasp again.

And then—

“Well, well…”

A familiar, honeyed voice slid into the air, smooth and teasing like silk.

Mona stopped in her tracks, her grip tightening ever so slightly.

Lisa.

She was leaning against a stone pillar just ahead, her ever-present smirk tugging at her lips. Her green eyes flickered over Mona with that same knowing look, but it was when she spotted you—held so intimately against Mona’s chest—that her smile widened ever so slightly.

Mona sighed, clearly not in the mood for this. “Not now, Lisa.”

“Oh, but I think now is the perfect time,” Lisa purred, stepping forward languidly, her hips swaying ever so slightly with each step. “I was just wondering how our little Traveler was doing. And now I see they’re being kept so…snug.”

You felt Mona tense. She adjusted her grip around you slightly, as if to shield you further from Lisa’s prying gaze.

“They’re fine,” Mona said sharply. “And they’ll be even better once I get them to Liyue.”

Lisa blinked in exaggerated surprise. “Liyue?” she repeated, tilting her head slightly, her lilac earrings swaying with the movement. “Why ever would you take such a long journey when I’ve already found a solution right here?”

Mona narrowed her eyes instantly. “What?”

Lisa’s smirk didn’t falter. “Oh, Mona, dear, you do realize I’m the head librarian of the Knights for a reason, don’t you? I don’t just read books for fun—I study. I research. And wouldn’t you know it, I came across something quite fascinating in my studies.”

Mona shifted slightly, her hands still firmly cradling you against her chest. “You expect me to believe you just happened to find a way to fix this?”
Lisa gave a mock gasp, placing a hand over her heart. “Oh, Mona, how cruel!” she drawled. “Here I am, offering a perfectly good solution, and you’re doubting me?”

Mona’s fingers twitched. You could feel her frustration mounting, her body taut with suspicion.

Lisa chuckled, stepping closer. “You can take a long, exhausting trip to Liyue if you want, but let’s be honest, darling—you don’t even know for sure if their so-called ancient medicine will work. I, on the other hand, do.”

Mona’s grip on you tightened slightly. She hesitated.

And that hesitation was all Lisa needed.

She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice into something almost conspiratorial. “Let’s be real, Mona. You want them back to normal, don’t you? And I can make that happen right now. No unnecessary traveling, no waiting, no worrying. Just a simple spell. Done.”

You swallowed hard.

Mona remained still, but you could feel her pulse quicken slightly beneath your hands.

It was tempting.

But it was Lisa.

And Lisa never did anything without a price.

Mona’s lips pressed into a thin line. “And I suppose you’re just offering this out of the kindness of your heart?”

Lisa giggled. “Oh, Mona, you wound me.” She tapped a finger against her cheek, smiling. “I don’t need anything in return. I’m simply curious.”

Mona exhaled sharply, clearly fighting the urge to snap. “And that’s exactly why I don’t trust you.”

Lisa pouted, though the amusement never left her gaze. “Oh well. Suit yourself.” She took a step back, waving a hand lazily. “Go on, take your little trip to Liyue. Waste days—maybe weeks—hoping for a cure that might not even exist.” Then she turned her gaze directly to you, her smirk deepening. “But if you really want to be saved, little one…you know where to find me.”

A chill ran down your spine.

Mona turned on her heel, her grip on you possessive now as she strode past Lisa without another word. You could practically feel the tension radiating off of her, her heartbeat a little faster against your back as she carried you away.

Once the two of you were alone in the corridor, Mona let out a sharp breath, stopping in her tracks.

“She’s lying,” Mona muttered. “She has to be.”

You hesitated. “…But what if she’s not?”

Mona tensed. You could tell she hated that you were even considering it.

But…

What if you were right?