Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

| SPECIAL 01 |
TRAVAIL

NO one knew how it began. One moment, they were in their cities, forests, battlefields, courts, and caverns. The next, every soul—noble, rogue, god, and mortal—was falling.

Not through space.

Not through time.

But through something deeper. Something that unmade logic and reshaped existence. Some screamed, some called out in confusion, some simply clenched their jaws and waited for the impact.

Then…

They landed.

One by one. Groups, pairs, and loners, tumbling in an impossible silence. Velvet red carpet cushioned their falls. Grand walls towered around them, opulent and lined with golden sconces. At first glance, it looked like a theater—no, a cinema —but the scale of it was absurd. It could seat the entire population of Teyvat, and then some.

“Ugh… What just happened?” Paimon floated up, dizzy and pale.

“Traveler—are you okay?” she fluttered over to the golden-haired Traveler, who had landed squarely in the very center of the grand front row. Strangely, a plush seat behind him bore a plaque: “Reserved for: THE TRAVELER, XXXXXX”

He turned, eyes scanning the room as he pulled Paimon into his arms protectively. Around them, familiar and unfamiliar voices echoed in disarray. 

The Knights of Favonius branded their weapons, rallying under Jean’s command. The Qixing and Adepti of Liyue gathered together. Inazuma’s Tri-Commission and present Sangonomiya Troops stood side by side, weapons drawn with the Raiden Shogun herself at the front. Sumeru’s scholars and rangers formed around Lesser Lord Kusanali while Fontaine’s people brandished their guns and gunbrellas. Natlan’s warriors, too, readied their positions with Mavuika front and center. At the edge of it all, the Fatui Harbingers appeared—silent, watching—prepared to fight alongside their former enemies against the common threat.

It wasn’t the entire population of Teyvat that were in the room. Most of them were important figures of their respective nations, while some were random citizens that also happen to be acquaintances with the traveler.

Among the chaos, the Archons looked around, meeting each other’s gaze.

“No wind… no stars… only velvet walls,” Venti murmured mostly to himself, pressing a hand against one. “We are not in Teyvat.”

He smiled on instinct—but inwardly, he frowned. “This reeks of Celestia’s hand. The way they drop the curtain… It’s always theatrical with them.”

“It’s no leyline distortion,” Zhongli said calmly, his eyes narrowed. 

His expression was unreadable, as always. But a heavy weight pressed behind his gaze. “A room where time stands still. Perhaps… Celestia is watching.”

Raiden Ei muttered, hand on Musou Isshin. “I do not appreciate being moved against my will.”

But even she hesitated, her grip tighter than it needed to be. She didn’t vocalize the thought that gnawed at her, but it clawed the back of her mind like lightning behind clouds. “Control removed. Power sealed. Consciousness guided. This… isn’t mortal design. This is judgment. Celestia’s?”

Nahida stared upward in silence, her small form tense as she tried to connect with Irminsul. “…I can’t… reach it. I can’t reach anything . ”

She forced herself to stay calm, but the fear in her chest was not her own. “Even Irminsul is silent. This is not a dream.”

Furina dared not say what she thought—not in front of the others. Not aloud. “Is this… another trial?”

Neuvillette stood still, unease coiling beneath his usual calm. The air was too dry, too still—no trace of mist, no pull of the tide. “I cannot feel the waters.” He reached inward, he couldn’t feel his elemental authority. His jaw tightened.

Mavuika crouched near the far wall, hands scraping the floor. Her glowing eyes fixed on the one archon. “This is not your game, is it?”

The temperature dropped. She turned when the Tsaritsa strode through the velvet-lit darkness.

“Clearly not.” She said, her heart was still ice cold.

Aether rose to his feet slowly, steadying Paimon with one hand as his gaze swept across the endless velvet-lined expanse. Every face he passed—every voice, every stance—was familiar. It was everyone.

Except two.

Lumine was nowhere to be seen.

Nor was Dainsleif.

His heart sank, though he didn’t let it show. Instead, he moved, weaving through the crowd as murmurs swelled. Most gave way when they saw him—The renowned Traveler, always at the eye of the storm.

He searched the walls for cracks, the ceiling for illusions, the stage for any sign of exit or cause.

And that’s when he saw it.

A pedestal, glowing faintly, as if calling only to him. Upon it sat a rectangular object—out of place in this world of magic and divine power.

A cassette mixtape.

Witness this to the end. Only then will you be allowed to leave.

Paimon hovered beside him, frowning. “What’s that supposed to mean? Is it a threat? Or—ugh, is this some kind of twisted game show?”

Aether frowned, and then—holding it high—turned to the vast sea of familiar faces. The voices around him dulled into a hush as more eyes landed on the Traveler.

“This was left for us,” he said, loud enough to carry. “It says we have to watch it. All the way to the end… and then we can leave.”

A pause.

“That might be the only way out. I… have a feeling we should watch it.”

No grand speech. No commands. Just truth from the one person every nation had fought beside—bled beside.

And that was enough.

The crowd shifted. Tension eased. Doubts fell into silence.

Venti leaned close to Jean and whispered,, “Calm their hearts. The wind says we must watch.” He forced a smile. “Sometimes, the only path forward is through the performance.”

Jean nodded and stepped forward. "All forces of Mondstadt, I command you to stand down. For the safety and well-being of our citizens, and by the recommendation of the Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius, I ask that you heed his counsel. For the citizens, please follow for your safety."

Ningguang raised her hand, the weight of her presence palpable as she spoke with unwavering authority. "To the Qixing and the Adepti, I trust you will recognize the importance of this moment. The citizens' well-being must take precedence. In the wise counsel of the Hero of Liyue, I urge you to stand down."

Raiden Ei turned toward the Tri-Commission. But even she knew better than to provoke what she didn’t understand.

“Stand by,” she ordered, “Eyes open. But do not interfere.”

Nahida’s small hand tugged gently at Alhaitham’s cloak. Her voice was barely a breath. “We’ll listen to the Traveler. Can you calm everyone down for me?”

Alhaitham sighed, annoyed but obedient. “Calm down, everyone. Nahida has made a decision, and it is in our best interest to follow her guidance. We shall do as the Traveler suggests.”

Neuvillette’s voice followed not long after, quiet yet resonant, like a gavel through deep waters. “Fontaine. Be still. The verdict awaits.”

Mavuika’s voice rang out, light and unbothered, cutting through the tension like a breeze. "Alright. There's no need to get all worked up. ‘Tumaini’ has spoken, and I suggest we listen to him. So, take a breath, relax, and let’s handle this calmly.”

Then came the Tsaritsa. She spoke only one word, but her voice froze the last of the resistance.

“Comply.”

And like that, the theater of velvet and void fell still.

Aether stepped forward toward the stage, the cassette now glowing faintly in his hand. Something about it told him to just sit back and watch, considering the Archons were also powerless in the situation. Within one movement of inserting the tape, the screen behind him came to life.

“We had no time to say goodbye. So let’s not call it that.” The traveler's voice rang out from the screen.

Aether’s eyebrows furrowed. That was the very first time he heard his voice outside of his own thoughts. It felt weird, and strange as well. Would watching this show his secrets to the others? 

“Are you talking about your sister?” Amber looked at him from her seat, concerned etched into her face. “I’m sorry I wasn’t much help.”

“It’s alright…”

“The war has already begun. It is just a continuation of past battles,” Spoke an older male voice as a sea of inteyvat flowers appeared on the screen. “The Gods goad us all with the promise of their seven treasures. Rewards for the worthy. The doorway to divinity. Yet buried in the depths of the world lies smoldering remains, a warning to those that dare trespass.”

“Seven treasures?” Heizou tipped his chin.

Xingqiu added, “Perhaps the seven visions? Or the seven nations?”

Collei dropped a sweat, “Why do I feel like watching this is a bit dangerous?”

“It is undoubtedly giving us a view outside our own perspective.” Albedo looked at his palm, “It would not be wrong to think these are forbidden knowledge.”

Kaeya narrowed his eyes as the man continued to speak. The voice wasn’t unfamiliar, and it irked him that he couldn’t remember who it belonged to.

Nahida looked at her hands in somber. “The seeds sown long ago are still bearing poisoned fruit."

The Archons in the room exchanged uneasy glances before quickly looking away. The concept of Celestia was something rarely, if ever, shown to the public. They steeled themselves for the sensitive information that might be exposed to these people. All they could do now was hope that it wouldn’t jeopardize the safety of their citizens.

Two shooting stars streaked across the sky as we see Aether and his sister, Lumine, standing atop the sea of flowers, holding each other's arms as the man continued to speak. “That throne in the sky is not reserved for you.”

“A throne in the sky?” Mona tilted her head in curiosity.

The Wanderer merely scoffed at the idea, pulling his hat down as he overheard Mona’s thoughts.

“What does all that mean?” Mualani asked.

Aether hesitated, his brow furrowing as he processed the information. “I… I’m not sure.” He paused, struggling to wrap his mind around it. First, the voice speaking was unmistakably Dainsleif's, and the reference clearly pointed to Celestia. Then there was his sister. Had they truly been reunited at the end of their journey?

“But mortal arrogation never stops. None will escape the flames. See for yourself.”

Kazuha contemplated, "It seems this will follow the Traveler’s path through the Seven Nations, leading them toward the journey’s end… perhaps even to the throne in the sky."

Venti shut his eyes, releasing a quiet, unheard sigh. Zhongli’s headache started to cloud his mind, while Ei simply shut her eyes completely. Nahida, however, kept her gaze fixed on the screen, as did Neuvillette and Mavuika. The Tsaritsa didn’t even blink.

“Mortal Arrogation?” Keqing repeated, “Is the one speaking some kind of God or Immortal then?”

“Perhaps…” Ganyu replied, though quite unsure herself.

“They talk like they know the future,” Escoffier crossed her arms.

Xiangling looked at the chef, “Maybe they do? I mean, whoever this guy is sounds like they’re quoting someone. Like some kind of mysterious riddle!”

Xiao crossed his arms, "Why speak in riddles? It serves only to confuse those who hear it."

Paimon was unbearably quiet. She knows the voice to be Dainsleif, but she knows nothing of what he was even talking about. For once, she didn’t have the time to yap and simply listened. 

ACT PROLOGUE : Mondstadt. The Outlander Who Caught the Wind.

Mea Libertas Meus Canor.

“‘My freedom is my song.’” Dahlia read the untranslated text, getting nods from the people of other nations.

Most of the Knights of Favonius grinned with confidence, a bit proud of their nation being the first to appear.

“Ah, Mondstadt! I miss it.” Thoma hummed, “The things I’ll do just to drink fresh Dandelion Wine from there again.”

“Are you from Mondstadt, sir?” Amber tilted her head, narrowing her eyes as if trying to remember who he was, “I don’t remember seeing your face around there.”

“Oh, well, I was born there, but I haven’t got the chance to visit since the decree.”

Ayaka and Ayato smiled at one another and suddenly patted him in the back, “Perhaps we should take a short stroll outside Inazuma once in a while together?”

Thoma was about to decline, but the Kamisato siblings had none of it. If they ever do get out of here, that’d be the first thing they’ll do.

“The dragon who defended Mondstadt for a millennium finally faces his perturbation. What does freedom really mean when demanded of you by a God?”

“Now there’s a quote to haunt you in your sleep.” Kaeya glances sideways. “Were we ever really free? Or just playing our part?”

Amber shifted uncomfortably, “That line makes it sound like... like freedom was used as a leash. That’s not what Lord Barbatos wanted. Right?” She doesn’t sound entirely sure.

Barbara immediately spoke up,  “But Lord Barbatos always said we were free to choose! That we weren’t bound by him!”

Rosaria merely rolled her eyes, but she could see how the deaconess was very latched on her beliefs.

At first, Venti would go still. The smile—the one that always dances on his lips like wind in spring grass—would falter. His eyes, usually full of mischief, dimmed.

"They’re not wrong," he’d think. "Not entirely."

He was never the kind of god who gave orders. He was never meant to rule, only to inspire. But even inspiration, when misread, becomes pressure. And Dvalin… Dvalin had read it that way.

"Freedom should never feel like a duty. But maybe, to him, it did."

He'd think of how long Dvalin bore the weight of protecting Mondstadt. How alone he must’ve felt. And how little Venti did to stop it.

Then we see an image of a red-headed man holding a flaming claymore appear on the screen.

“It’s the weird grown-up!” Klee pointed at the screen with glee.

“The weird grown-up?”  

“It’s my enemy! The creator of the wine industry!” Diona also pointed fingers.

“Diona’s enemy?” 

“My supplier!” Venti spoke in glee all so suddenly.

“That bard’s supplier?” Diluc all repeated in his mind, a bit offended by the way everyone saw him.

Other than their extremely weird comments, the rest of the cast were curious what Diluc had to do with the precedent. Was he an important figure in Mondstadt? Is he a knight? Or maybe even the Grandmaster?

Hearing their assumptions, maybe through the wind, Venti hummed. “Master Diluc here is the owner of the largest wine company in all of Teyvat!”

“That will not get you any free wine, bard.”

ACT I: Liyue. Farewell, Archaic Lord.

Ruat Caelum, Fiat Pactum.

“Even if the sky must fall, the contract must be completed.” Keqing read, already raising her suspicions.

The line “even if the sky must fall” sent a chill through Ningguang, an unsettling echo of Rex Lapis' death. She couldn’t shake the feeling that it was more than just coincidence. Or perhaps they were all simply overthinking it? Ningguang wasn’t so sure.

She still vividly remembered the dream she had in the wake of the Geo Archon’s death—its cryptic, haunting imagery lingering in her mind.

“The God of contracts senselessly slaughtered as his people watched in horror.”

The people of Liyue grimaced at the memory of their fallen Archon. They remembered that time all too well—when they were simply preparing for the titular Rite, gathering offerings and tributes in honor of their god... only for Rex Lapis himself to become the centerpiece of that very rite.

A cruel twist of fate—ironic, and unforgettable.

Lan Yan and Ga Ming bowed their heads in reverence, solemn as stone. Nearby, Chongyun, Xingqiu, Xiangling, and Hu Tao pressed their hands together in silent prayer. Baizhu stayed grounded, gripping Qiqi and Yao Yao’s hands, while Yun Jin and Xinyan closed their eyes in respect. Even the ever-busy Yanfei and mysterious Yelan followed suit. And then there were Keqing, Ganyu, and Shenhe, each offering their own prayer.

Xiao, Xianyun, Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper and Madame Ping looked at one another before doing the same gesture as the rest of the Liyuean people.

Beidou snuck a glance at Ningguang, who very much still wore her usual strong facade. She could not show any weakness, as she has a nation to lead after all. It’s only natural that only now where she is surrounded only by people she trusts, that she allowed herself to mourn for the death of the Archon.

Venti side-eyed Zhongli, and sighed. Raiden Ei continued to watch on, while Nahida looked in horror first before composing herself. Neuvillette’s brow furrowed; the idea of placing the Geo Archon on trial now seemed... less feasible than he’d hoped. Mavuika had no contact with the other archons, so hearing this for the very first time was a shock to her.

“In the end, he will sign the contract that ends all contracts.”

This raised the eyebrows of all the people in the cinema. 

Neuvillette scrunched his nose, thinking of many ways to interpret whatever that meant. "Even the oldest laws may be undone by their own author. If Morax’s laws vanish… what becomes of his divine authority?"

“Is it referring to a final contract of sorts?” Alhaitham thought.

Kuki tipped her chin, “What exactly did he sign?” 

Xingqiu nodded, “A contract to end all contracts… What a dramatic phrasing for it, but maybe there’s some truth to it?”

“Sounds like the funeral for the age of Gods,” Hu Tao whispered, “At least, in Liyue.”

Xianyun let out a quiet sigh, the weight of the Geo Archon’s true intentions finally settling in. Beside her, Ningguang read between the lines with sharp clarity—this wasn’t just the end of a reign, but the end of an age. To her, it was clear: Morax had stepped aside not out of weakness, but to usher in a future where mortals and Adepti would stand united, no longer under the shadow of a god.

And there appeared the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing herself.

“The person representing Liyue in place of the Geo Archon,” Beidou crossed her arms with a proud grin.

Xiao simply nodded. “I agree.”

Ningguang looked at the rest of the Liyuean, who gazed at her proudly. Pride welled quietly in her chest—these were her people, and it was her honor to stand among them, let alone lead them.

ACT II: Inazuma. Omnipresence Over Mortals.

Perpetua Perennis Impervia.

“Eternal, everlasting, impervious.” Ayato read the text for the rest to understand.

Yae giggled a bit, “Very fitting for the Raiden Shogun’s motto, isn’t it?”

Ei glanced at her and simply shook her head.

“In the secluded land of the immortal Shogun, the Bakufu rules eternal. But what do mortals see of the eternity chased after by their God?” 

Raiden Ei doesn’t flinch, but her eyes tighten ever so slightly. The words cut closer than she expected. “So they question my eternity... and rightfully so.” She folds her hands in her lap. “Even now, I am still learning what that word truly means.”

Yae Miko gives a low, knowing hum. “Poetic. And painfully on the nose.”

No one dared to voice their thoughts aloud—not with the very God in question seated just a few rows away. Despite the fact that the Decree has ended, speaking against the Shogun is still not the brightest idea.

Of course, Ei noticed the silence, and though she wanted to say something, she found herself just as speechless.

Well, there was one idiot who spoke.

Itto squints at the screen. “Wait, are they calling the Shogun a villain or a misunderstood boss lady? I can’t tell.”

“Shut up, boss.” Kuki shoved him off the chair. Yanfei dropped a sweat, while Yelan and Xiao shook their heads.

Then we see an image of a young woman holding a fan up as ice circled around her. The noblewoman of the Kamisato Clan.

Ayaka flushed when she suddenly saw her face on the gigantic screen. She at least expected her brother or perhaps Kujou Sara to represent Inazuma.

“There she is, the princess of the Kamisato Clan,” Thoma said proudly, “You look graceful as always, milady.”

“She truly is the pride of our clan,” Ayato gave a rare smile.

“T-Thank you, Thoma, Nii-sama.” She muttered, utterly embarrassed, “It is an honor to represent our nation.”

Ei looked at her softly. “She represents what Inazuma should be. A future shaped not by force, but by heart.”

ACT III: Sumeru. Truth Amongst the Pages of Purana.

Sub Floreis Lumen Sagacitatis.

“The light of wisdom can be found under the flowers.” Layla read.

Alhaitham raised a brow, "Interesting. The words seem to imply that wisdom is not always found in grand gestures, but in the subtleties—the small truths that grow from the roots of understanding."

“Subtle truths? Please. That’s the kind of thing you say when you’ve spent too much time buried in dusty old books, Alhaitham. Wisdom doesn’t come from tiptoeing around things—it's about making bold choices and seeing things through to the end!” He gestured dramatically. 

“You always misinterpret everything, Kaveh. The quote clearly states it's about the small, steady work.”

“Small? Like the pile of random books in our living room?”

"Those are organized," Alhaitham replied instantly, "Unlike your 'brilliant' designs that are scattered everywhere, similar to your life."

“I…” The blonde architect was a bit flustered and looked away, “I’m working on that…”

“The God of Wisdom’s enemy is wisdom itself, and the oasis of knowledge is a mirage in the desert of ignorance.”

“A paradox of knowledge.” Yelan tilted her head.

Tighnari raised an eyebrow, “The oasis is a mirage, huh? I suppose it means that the more we think we know, the less we actually understand.”

“The more we understand, the more we realize how much we don’t know.” Albedo replied to the forest ranger, “But to call it an enemy? That’s a bit extreme. It’s more of a... double-edged sword. We must always be cautious of the consequences of acquiring knowledge.”

Kaveh rolled his eyes, “Oh, great. More cryptic nonsense to confuse everyone.”

“I agree…” Furina shyly raised her hand, “It’s so confusing!”

“In the city of scholars, there is a push for folly, yet the God of Wisdom makes no argument against it.”

Nilou’s hands slowly folded over her chest. “Our Archon made no argument… because she wasn’t allowed to.” Her voice trembled slightly. “All that time, and we never even knew.”

Cyno lowered his head,  “All our laws, all our order… built while our true god sat in a cage. We were fools. I was a fool.”

Nahida stood still in the center of the sorrowful silence. Her small hands were clasped in front of her, her eyes gentle—not with pity, but with understanding.

“I don’t blame any of you,” she said, “It was not the people of Sumeru who locked me away. It was the Akademiya’s ambition… their pride… their hunger for wisdom. You were told what they wanted you to hear. And you believed it, as anyone would.”

She turned her gaze to Nilou, then Tighnari, Collei, and Cyno, her smile tinged with sadness but never bitterness. 

“You still danced, you still protected the forest, you still lived your truths. That was never your mistake to carry.” 

Her eyes swept across the room, taking in the faces of her people—Alhaitham, Kaveh, Dehya, Candace.

“Each of you stood for something,” she said. “Whether it was your duty, your art, or your questions about the world. Even when the Akademiya silenced me, you were never truly lost.”

She turned briefly to Layla, still clutching her notes with trembling fingers.

“To study, to dream—those were never sins.”

Her gaze softened as it fell on Faruzan, Sethos, and then Dori.

“To preserve knowledge and history, to build futures… none of you failed me.” She smiled softly, “I am happy to have you as my people.”

Cyno emerged, cloaked in a swirl of golden sand, the wind carrying grains that danced like ancient whispers around his figure. 

“The General Mahamatra, huh?” Dehya crossed her arms.

Candace nodded, “No one upholds the Akademiya’s values—and critiques them—quite like he does.”

Sethos dropped a sweat, “Hopefully they don’t show him reciting one of those ridiculous jokes next.”

Cyno, in the corner, didn’t react—yet. But his fingers twitched near his deck.

To everyone’s surprise, Albedo chuckled. “I find his delivery precise, actually. There’s an art to humor that relies on its awkwardness.”

Lisa turned to him with an arched brow. “You mean to say you enjoy Cyno’s jokes?”

“Why not?” The alchemist said, gaining facepalms from all the Sumerians.

ACT IV: Fontaine. Masquerade of the Guilty.

Unlike the others, this title piqued their curiosity the most. While the true reason behind the shattering of the Hydro Archon’s throne was obscured by half-truths and omissions, they all knew of Furina’s sacrifice—though each understood it differently.

“Lady Furina sacrificed everything for Fontaine, she is guilty of nothing!” Charlotte nodded to herself.

Chevreuse agreed, “Very well said.”

Neuvillette, however, had shared his version with the world. He had publicly declared that "Furina used up all her powers against the flood, which is why her archonhood vanished."

It wasn’t a lie, but it certainly wasn’t the full truth.

The full truth, hidden beneath layers of secrecy, was far more tragic.

"She wore that mask not out of guilt, but out of necessity," he thought. "Furina’s actions were misunderstood, buried beneath layers of deception. She chose to protect Fontaine, and in doing so, condemned herself to be seen as the guilty one."

He paused, his gaze distant. "No one will ever truly know the depth of her sacrifice, or the pain she endured. Focalor’s plan was a desperate one, and she bore it alone—masked, not to deceive, but to save all Fontainians. Yet she remains a victim of her own burden, and the world will never understand her truth."

Iustitia Omnia Vincit.  

“Justice conquers all.” Escoffier read for the rest to understand.

Sigewinne fiddled with her fingers, “I think justice should be kind… not something that conquers. That word feels too cold.”

Neuvillette bowed his head, memories of past injustices weighing heavily on his mind—those rigged trials that still echoed in Fontaine's halls. He recalled Vautrin, Carole, Callas, the Melusines… even Wriothesley’s sentencing… and especially, Furina’s and Focalor’s trial.

"Justice… should be kind. But too often, it was blind—especially in Fontaine. I stood as its face, yet even I failed to see everything in time." He paused,  "And some paid the price for my silence."

Navia looked away, the thought clearly hitting home.

Furina, too, felt as guilty as the Iudex.

“The God of Justice lives for the spectacle of the courtroom, seeking to judge all other Gods. But even she knows not to make an enemy of the Divine.”

Wriothesley commented, “Huh. Even gods are not immune to their own judgments.” 

Emilie was also interested enough to speak up. “It’s a delicate game the Gods play… The balance between justice and consequence.” 

Venti winced, knowing full well that Focalor had done the exact opposite of the statement. Though the Hydro Archon was able to fool the Heavenly Principles, he doesn’t think that lowly of them. THEY will learn of it.

Zhongli and Ei crossed their arms, both aware of the events that had unfolded in Fontaine. Nahida, connected to Irminsul, had learned of them too. Mavuika, however, simply clenched her fists while the Tsaritsa’s brows furrowed at the last sentence.

Lyney and Lynette stepped out from behind the spotlights, hand in hand, as if they were performing on stage.

“Oh, it’s you two...” Freminet pointed at the screen.

“Freminet should be part of that too.” Lynette commented, a bit displeased at how one of them was excluded.

Lyney suddenly hugged the two of them, “We are a trio, not just a duo! Don’t forget that.”

Freminet blinked in surprise, going stiff at first under Lyney’s sudden hug. But after a moment, he relaxed just a bit, murmuring, “O-Okay… Thanks, Lyney, Lynette.”

Lynette nudged him, “You’re part of this family too, like it or not.”

Off to the side, Arlecchino stood with her arms crossed, watching the three of them. But for once, her usual sternness softened. 

ACT V: Natlan. Incandescent Ode of Resurrection.

“Resurrection?” This piqued Kazuha’s interest, “Do people die and live again over there at Natlan?”

“It’s a bit… complicated to explain.” Kinich was stumped.

“Still, it means it does exist over there?!” Yoimiya shook her head, “It’s not forbidden or something?”

Mavuika vaguely explained, “The Ode of Resurrection has its limitations. Since we have fought the Abyss for years, lives will eventually fall. The Ode of Resurrection is not a gift, nor a rare occurrence—it is an earned honor. When one of us falls in battle, their spirit is carried in the flames. They are reborn through the heat of the flames of Natlan. It is the soul’s natural return. A celebration of triumph and strength.”

Kachina added, “I don’t really understand how it really works but it’s not abused!”

The rest of the people seemed to have taken that as a good enough explanation, especially since it came from the Pyro Archon herself. 

Xiao looked rather solemn at the thought of resurrection, and so did the Wanderer. Somehow, a tear fell on Nahida’s cheeks, but even she didn’t know why.

Surge Vir Fortis I Natam Victoriam.

“Rise, mighty hero, approach your assured victory.” Ororon read.

Citlali grinned, “In Natlan, victory is earned, not given. Every natlanese is a warrior, a hero.”

Mualani’s eyes sparkled as she added, “That’s why our battles don’t end in defeat. We always rise again! It’s the Natlan way!”

“That’s so cool, bro!” Cacucu chirped.

The rest of the Natlanese smiled confidently, proud of the nation and the people they fought so hard for. 

“The rules of war are woven in the womb: The victors must burn bright, while the losers must turn to ash.”

Mualani nodded proudly, “It’s simple: if you fall, you burn. But those who rise from the ashes are the true victors! It’s not over ‘til you give up!”

But the outsiders—those from other nations—exchanged uneasy glances.

Childe crossed his arms, “But what becomes of those who fall? Does this burn not leave something behind that can never be recovered?”

Keqing, truly the pragmatist, “If that is the nature of victory in Natlan... does it not risk turning the world into an endless cycle of conflict, where no one can truly rest once they fall?”

Iansan let out a hearty laugh, brushing aside the concerns. “You outsiders think too much about it. We don’t erase our fallen, we honor them! The fire doesn’t burn them away—it forges them into something stronger, so they can rise again.”

"Very well said, Iansan," Mavuika began, "I understand your confusion. Victory in Natlan isn't something that can be easily understood by those who have not lived as we have. War… is a constant presence, whether we like it or not. For us, battle is woven into the fabric of daily life—survival means rising again after each fight. It’s about overcoming our own weaknesses, forging ourselves stronger in the fire of conflict. The defeated are not forgotten or erased, but rather those who choose to give up are the ones who truly lose. Only then will the losers turn to ash.”

She glanced at the others, remembering her own struggles. "I know this may seem strange, even unsettling, but this is the reality we live in Natlan. We don’t cherish war, but we’ve learned to live with it. We honor the fallen by rising again. In Natlan, a defeat is never the end—it’s simply another step toward strength. I understand that you might not agree, but that’s the way of our people. It’s a different world from yours, and that’s alright. We live by our ways, just as you live by yours."

Childe uncrossed his arms, “Alright, I get it now. I can respect that.”

Keqing nodded, her tone softer. “I was too quick to judge. It’s about perseverance, not conflict. I understand now.”

Mavuika smiled. “Thank you. It’s a different world, but that’s okay.” 

“When the God of War shares this secret with the Traveler, it is because she has her reasons.”

“What secret?” Aether looked at the Pyro Archon, who looked back at him with a knowing mixed with confusion type of look. 

We then see Iansan stepping onto the rock and destroying it with her own fists.

“Wow! Being able to break rocks with your bare fists?” Childe grinned, seemingly seeing some kind of potential, “Would this person ever be up for a spar?”

Collei scratched her head, “I can’t tell what vision she has. Pyro? Or Geo?” 

Ifa heard the young teenager’s comment and answer, “Coach Iansan holds an electro vision, but that was her brute strength.”

“Brute Strength?!” Itto gasped, “Ain’t no way, bro.”

“Yes, dude!” The vet winked at him.

“Coach Iansan is Natlan’s representative though!” Varesa squealed, proud to be her student.

Chasca agreed, "She’s been through more battles than anyone here—no one deserves it more than her."

“Even the Almighty Dragonlord K'uhul Ajaw agrees with this sentiment!” The 2D dragon claimed.

Cacucu looked at the green dragon and said, “For real, bro. Coach Iansan’s the coolest, bro.” Ifa himself nodded to the little Saurian’s thoughts though.

Iansan smiled humbly, “You all are too kind. I’m just one of many who’ve fought for Natlan.” She paused, looking around at her people, “But if I can be the one to represent Natlan, then I’ll wear that honor proudly, for all of us.”

“That’s our Iansan.” Mavuika said.

ACT VI: Snezhnaya. Everwinter Without Mercy. 

Ducam Regina Mea Gloria Haud Pluribus Impar.

The Harbingers stayed quiet, not really open to having an open conversation with the common folk. Thankfully, a couple of siblings in Fontaine were able to read Snezhnaya’s language.

“Let me lead my queen to near unmatched glory.” Lyney read.

The Archons exchanged knowing glances, their expressions unreadable but heavy with shared understanding. They all knew too well the price of pursuing unmatched glory, for their Gnosis had been seized by the Cryo Archon. Some willingly, some in exchange for something, and some taken by force.

Zhongli silently awaited to see what the Tsaritsa intended with all the seized Gnosis.

Nahida’s mind wandered to her unsettling exchange with Dottore, and she looked away.

Neuvillette’s thoughts turned to the destroyed Hydro throne as he stole a glance at Arlecchino, recalling the conversation they shared over the Hydro Gnosis.

Venti absentmindedly massaged his stomach, the lingering pain far more vivid than any memory of the Gnosis.

Ei had long since dismissed the trinket from her mind, while Yae recalled handing her Gnosis to someone, though the details of who escaped her.

Meanwhile, Mavuika remained the only one still holding her Gnosis, keenly aware of the Tsaritsa’s frequent, calculating gaze. It felt like a quiet battle between her flames and the Tsaritsa’s icy stare.

“She is a God with no love left for her people, nor do they have any left for her. Her followers hope only to be on her side when the day of her rebellion against the divine comes at last.” 

Pantalone arched his brow with faint amusement while Columbina hummed softly, eerily unbothered. Arlecchino didn't move an inch. Dottore smiled, not kindly, as though entertained by the world's shallow grasp of their Archon's aims. Pulcinella cast his eyes downward, while Capitano lifted his gaze in contemplation. Sandrone scowled, muttering something under her breath about 'outsiders who know nothing.' Pierro gave no reaction, and Childe reacted fully.

The Tsaritsa merely scoffed at the statement.

The Wanderer let out a sigh. He’s no longer part of the Harbingers, they are of no concern to him anymore.

Yumemizuki’s face fell. “A god with no love left for her own people… I can’t help but wonder… what burden is her mind carrying to reach such a state?”

Baizhu adjusted his glasses. “Emotional detachment on a divine scale... what kind of wounds leave a god hollow?”

“A phenomenon worth studying—emotional regression in a divine being. Was it an erosion of purpose?” Albedo pondered, though he knew he would never unearth a Cryo Archon's emotions with his own hands.

Navia held her breath. “Was she always like that? Or did the world turn her cold?”

We then see  the Rooster, Pulcinella, sitting on an icy throne while Fatui surrounded him.

“Dang, not me?” Childe whispered to himself. He still had to keep up the good guy act to Xinyan.

The other Harbingers did not speak, nor did it look like they acknowledged anything. Still, they all understand this isn’t a coincidence. Pulcinella wasn’t chosen lightly. And if he is the one representing Snezhnaya… then something deeper is at play.

The Tsaritsa raised her chin, eyes not moving.

Diluc clicked his tongue, clearly irate of the presence of so many Fatui Harbingers. Perhaps being banned from Snezhnaya wouldn’t be an obstacle for him to rid the world of the Fatui.

“In a perpetual meantime of a sheltered eternity, most are content to live, and not to dream. But in the hidden corners where God's gaze does not fall, there are those who dream of dreaming.”

Yumemizuki pouted. “ A dream about dreaming… What could that possibly taste like?”

Venti grew quiet, the line tugging at the corners of a long-forgotten song. Zhongli closed his eyes briefly, thinking of those buried in contracts, their hopes dulled by duty. Had he too once stopped dreaming?

"Eternity... has starved Inazuma of dreams." Ei admitted in her mind.

Nahida understood it all too well—how dreams can wilt when watched too closely. Neuvillette understood it too, but chose not to think about it. Mavuika straightened. Dreams meant survival in Natlan, without it, perhaps they have already lost all hope.

ACT []: Khaenri’ah. The Dream Yet to Be Dreamed.

“Khaenri’ah?” Most of the people tilted their heads in confusion.

Venti gritted his teeth, Zhongli let out a sigh, as did Mavuika. Raiden, too, disliked remembering the Cataclysm. Nahida doesn’t seem to remember what happened in the cataclysm, and Furina/Focalor wasn’t the first Hydro Archon. The Tsaritsa didn’t speak as the words Khaenri’ah were shown on screen.

“What’s that? I’ve never heard of that nation before.” Kirara asked.

Lisa suddenly replied, “"It was a land that never knew a god, at least as I remember it. It wasn’t that their deity was killed, left, or abandoned—rather, they never had one in the first place. Information about them is scarce, and most of the records have been lost to time. That’s all I have read during my time at the Akademiya."

Faruzan added, “Other than what she said, there’s nothing else in the Akademiya’s library nor in the Akasha Terminal back then.”

“Huh. It sounds like a novel more than something in history.” Xingqiu thought.

Albedo could not agree with the writer. He doesn’t know much, but he knows full well that his creation and Durin’s are linked to the fall of Khaenri’ah.

Zhongli, too, stood quiet. That place is a tragedy buried deep within the history of Teyvat. It was destroyed long ago, erased from the world’s memory. Venti was just as quiet.

Raiden Ei faltered for a moment, knowing the horrors that occurred in that place 500 years ago.

Mavuika had never seen Khaenri’ah for herself, and yet she pondered. “To think you would walk in its ashes…”

Kaeya’s frown deepened, and Diluc mirrored him, crossing his arms in silence. No words passed between the brothers. Capitano and Pierro bowed their heads in quiet acknowledgement, while Arlecchino remained silent, yet gave a nod toward Khaenri'ah.

“Some say a few are chosen and the rest are dregs, but I say we humans have our humanity. We will defy this world with a power from beyond.” He says, revealing that it was this blonde person appearing on the screen speaking. He waved his hand backward, showing a magic not from Teyvat.

“I remember now. Dainsleif.” Kaeya recalled. Pierro and Capitano eyed the person on the screen.

Meanwhile, the archons seem to be in disbelief at the fact that there were survivors of Khaenri’ah, and that there were those who fought against the curse of immortality and erosion.

“There are still Khaenri’ahns…” Ei mumbled, mostly to herself.

“The stars in his eyes…” Is what Mona slipped in as everyone stared in awe.

Zhongli thought, “A pure-blood Khaenri’ahn still lives ‘til this day. Not once succumbing to erosion.”

“What is that power? It’s like some kind of dark magic!” Bennett commented.

“It’s definitely something else,” Eula looked at the young adventurer, “Especially since it’s related to this… Khaenri’ah.”

“Now you who have set foot into this world. Your journey has reached its end, but one final doorway remains.” And now we see Aether alone in the sea of flowers in an orange hue. 

Paimon let out a gasp but remained silent. She already disliked seeing Aether all alone, but what unsettled her even more was the way Dainsleif spoke—like he was foreshadowing something terrible about to happen to the Traveler.

Nothing could compare to the anguish twisting in Aether’s chest at that moment. He had endured so much—fought, searched, hoped—all for the chance to see his sister again. But now, faced with the possibility that even the end of his journey would leave him alone, the weight of it threatened to crush him.

Was this the end she had meant for him? A lonely path into the ashes of a fallen nation? If so, then why did it feel more like a punishment than a reunion? 

“Step forth, if you have understood the meaning of your journey. Defeat me, command me to step aside, show me that you are worthier than I to rescue her.” 

“Rescue her…?” Aether repeated, worrying if his sister was in trouble. 

The words struck something raw inside him. Until now, he had believed Lumine was always a step ahead, waiting—never lost, never in danger. But the way those words were spoken, heavy and absolute, cracked that belief. Doubt clawed at him. Was she suffering somewhere while he wandered, clueless and too slow to reach her?

Each had crossed paths with him—some as allies, others as cherished companions. He had earned countless names: Honorary Knight, Hero of Liyue, Swordfish Captain, First Sage, Executor of Justice, even ‘Tumaini’. But for all the roles he played and the friendships he forged, he had only one sister. And no amount of titles could bring her back to him.

“Then, the threads of all fate will be yours to reweave.”

“I will save you, Lumine.”

"My memory has all but faded completely... but I will always remember how she, too, loved these flowers."

 heavy stillness fell over everyone—Archons, Harbingers, and the people of Teyvat alike. Deep down, they all felt it: what was about to be revealed wasn’t just dangerous—it was forbidden, the kind of truth that changes everything. And once seen, it could never be forgotten.

“Well,” The author of this fanfiction thought, “Not all of it is forbidden knowledge!”

Chapter Text

| MONDSTADT 01 |
The Outlander Who Caught the Wind

The lights dimmed as everyone sat stiff from the revelation. Most of it were not mind-boggling, sure, but one thing stood out.

Khaenri'ah.

From Lisa's explanation, it wasn’t a place entirely lost to time. And yet… it wasn’t something openly taught or spoken of either. Not to the public.

"This Khaenri'ah... did it really exist back then?" Lan Yan wondered aloud.

"I don't think it's on history books," Xingqiu added, tipping his chin thoughtfully.

The archon’s gaze lowered. No one dared say more. The Godless nation of the past was a truth they’d all rather let this strange machine explain—than confront themselves.

Without warning, a new mixtape materialized in the traveler’s hand, softly glowing with a mint-green hue. Anemo feathers danced in the air before settling gently between his fingers.

"Mondstadt: The Outlander Who Caught the Wind"

As soon as everyone noticed it, the screen flashed a few sentences: The beginning of the Traveler's journey begins in another world.

"Another world?!" Kachina gasped.

Mika paused, "A place... outside of Teyvat?"

"Is that even possible? Isn't it just the sky?" Collei said in a matter that it sounded so ridiculous.

The wanderer scoffed at the mention of the sky.

Paimon turned to Aether, worry etched into her face. Her fingers carressing the traveler's hands as she asked, "Do we really have to watch all of this?"

A whisper echoed into Aether's ears, sending shivers down his spine.

"No exit exists for those who leave things undone."

Aether swallowed hard. That damn voice again. The one only he could hear for some reason.

He hesitated.

Rewatching his entire journey… it wouldn’t just stir up old wounds. It would expose everything. Every choice. Every loss. Everything he was—to all of Teyvat.

But still…

Everyone’s fate of escaping solely lies in his hands. Why? Why his? Why was it always him who had to choose, to carry the burden? Is this part of the journey his sister seeks him to see?

"Traveler..." Paimon muttered, tugging the hem of his shirt, "Are you okay?"

"It’s okay. I’m okay,” He answered, biting his lip, “Let’s just watch it.”

| THE ENCOUNTER WITH THE UNKNOWN GOD
Two stars did fall from skies so wide,
And with them came the gods to bide.

“An unknown God?” Emilie repeated as she read through the text.

Zhongli simply crossed his arms, while Venti whistled quietly. Aether tensed, and Ei took a bite of her dango.

Two shooting stars were drawn in the sand as a familiar, high-pitched voice narrated, “So… what you’re trying to say is that you fell here from another world?”

Aether’s body paused. This was the beginning of his journey, at least, the one that he remembered. He had already forgotten the journey he and his sister had before everything that happened.

To those who knew, they simply nodded. But the rest? Well…

“Another world?!” Varesa’s mouth went wide open.

Mualani added, “Like… you’re not from here? At all?”

Aether nodded, albeit a bit awkwardly.

Yanfei gasped, “Hold on, this changes jurisdictional boundaries entirely. If you’re not from Teyvat, does Teyvatian law even apply to you?”

“Broooo, you’re seriously stressin’ the small stuff right now!” Itto flailed, eyes wide, “We just found out the traveler’s not even from this world, and you’re sittin’ there like, ‘Oh nooo, better check if they broke a clause in paragraph seven!’ Dude, what if they’re from one of those floating city-ships—y’know, where people live on GIANT SKY WHALES and fight immortal plant dudes?! Or worse—what if their brain’s wired into a dream-world, where you fall asleep and wake up in a freaky disco party dimension?! That’s the level we’re dealing with! We’re talkin’ dream invasions, mind mazes, reality-breaking beetle battles!”

Kuki sighed through her nose, “Boss, please—not everything is about your beetle fights.”

“No, bro, listen to me, Shinobu!” Itto spun around and jabbed a dramatic finger at Paimon, “Think about it! Jumpin’ between worlds, ridin’ space-whales, snackin’ on gravity-defying dango—epic! And her?!” He pointed to Paimon, “If the traveler’s some kinda outsider, then she’s totally some kinda secret god! Like, c’mon, the flying Lavender Melon’s probably the one makin’ the Traveler hop through dimensions! Bet she’s got, like, cosmic admin powers or somethin’!”

Paimon crossed her arms, smirking. “Bullchucker, why are you that cuckoo in the head…?” She spat. “If I really am a god, I’d already made you my servant!”

“Bro, are we literally going to ignore the fact that our dude here is an outlander?” Ifa suddenly intervened, raising a hand. “Literally freaky.”

“Freaky, bro! Freaky, bro!” Cacucu said.

Suddenly, a chuunibyou stood up, “Dost thou truly claim ignorance of the Traveler’s origin beyond our realm? Fie upon such folly! Even I, Fischl, Prinzessin der Verurteilung, am privy to this most elementary truth!”

Oz deadpanned, “She’s saying it was obvious the Traveler isn’t from here… and she can’t believe you didn’t know that.”

“Well, it’s not like I was informed…” Amber dropped a sweat, “I thought he was just some random traveler who wanted help finding their sister!”

“That’s not exactly a lie.” Yoimiya rubbed her chin.

High above, two shooting stars streaked across the skies of Liyue and Mondstadt.

“I’ve never seen shooting stars that close in Liyue.” Hu Tao tilted her head.

Yanfei replied, “There are records saying that phenomena happened 500 years ago.”

“Huh…”

“But when you wanted to leave and go on to the next world,” the voice continued, as the screen showed two blonde travelers standing together in a land formed in the sky.

“That place…” Venti winced, the image of Celestia giving him an eerie feeling.

Zhongli’s posture straightened as Ei herself eyed the screen. Mavuika was at awe, opposite to how the Tsaritsa imperceptibly furrowed their brows. Neuvillette, too, didn’t like seeing the land in the sky.

“Celestia… The thieves of the sovereign dragon’s elemental authority.” He thought.

Nahida fidgeted with her fingers. This was her first time seeing Celestia—and it felt strangely unfamiliar. As the original Dendro Archon, shouldn’t she at least remember a place so important?

The rest of Teyvat watched with mouth agape. This was the first time they’ve seen a land in the sky.

“Your path was blocked by some unknown God?”

Suddenly, the travelers stood before eerie, red, star-shaped portals. A woman appeared—radiant golden eyes, snow-white hair, and an aura that exuded divinity.

“Outlanders. Your journey ends here.” she declared.

Yae’s eyes widened, “Is that the God that took your sister, Traveler?”

The blonde hesitated at the thought, but nodded nonetheless.

The pink-haired kitsune pondered over this information. “You have… quite the formidable enemy then.”

“An enemy? You’re trying to go against a God that isn’t even recorded in history?” Kaveh glanced at him nervously.

Layla added, “That’s undoubtedly dangerous…”

Itto eyed the traveler, "Yo, Traveler! Look, I know you’re tough and all—like, real tough—but uh, I gotta say, this lady? She’s no small fry. And hey, if I’m saying that, you know it’s serious!"

"Dude’s got a point," Ifa cut in. "Last thing we need is you ending up wrapped in gauze and hooked to IVs."

“Who are you?”

“The sustainer of the Heavenly Principles.” Drawing a crimson cube from thin air, she added, “The arrogation of mankind ends now.”

"Are they… stronger than the Archons?" Collei asked, her curiosity slipping out before she could stop it. The moment the words left her mouth, regret settled in—she had just asked that in front of Teyvat’s gods.

An uneasy silence followed.

Diluc shot a glance at Venti, while Xiao’s eyes briefly met Zhongli’s.

Nahida remained silent, clearly choosing not to touch the subject. Ei didn’t even open her mouth. As for Mavuika, she simply sat still, saying nothing.

“They could be.” Alhaitham observed but chose not to speak either.

She launched an attack, but the twins dodged effortlessly. They soared into the sky, wings gleaming like starlight.

“You had wings?” Amber gasped, “Like… real wings! Not gliders!”

“Paimon didn’t know either!” The little girl pouted, “Traveler! You never told me that we’re twinsies!”

“I thought it’d be better to tell you when I got it back,” He replied, sounding a bit forced.

“Well, they’re quite beautiful.” Noelle clapped her hands, “It must be why the honorary knight is already an expert during Amber’s test!”

The unknown God thrust her hand forward, unleashing a barrage of red cubes. The twins fought back amid a storm of dodges and counterattacks. As they prepared to strike together, the woman seized the female traveler’s sword. The male managed to escape her grasp.

The Archon's gaze darkened, memories of the Cataclysm resurfacing at the mere sight of those red cubes.

The rest of Teyvat gasped, concern flooding their faces at the thought of the Traveler’s sister.

Childe, while genuinely worried about the traveler's emotional state, couldn’t help but let his thoughts wander—just for a moment—to how powerful he truly was… and how much he wanted to face him in battle. But today wasn’t the day for that. 

A chill prickled down Kaeya's spine. His father had told him this story long ago—back when he was far too young to hear something so grim. The tale wasn’t some bedtime story—it was dark, unsettling, filled with images of an otherworldly being who tore through worlds without mercy. Looking at the unknown god before him, the pieces fell into place. She matched the description perfectly.

The girl was quickly consumed by the red cubes, shrinking into a single cube resting in the God’s palm.

“Lumine!”

Everyone gasped, almost all of them were sitting at the edge of their seats as the traveler's past unfolded.

Desperate, the boy lunged forward to save her, slashing at the woman, trying to retrieve the cube—but it was no use. The God’s power overwhelmed him, and he too was sealed away.

“Wait! Don’t go! Give my sister back!” He screamed, just before darkness swallowed her.

And just like that, the God took my sister away.
Some kind of seal was cast on me, stripping me of my powers.
Where we once crossed world after world... now, we’re stuck here.

Aether sat in silence, shoulders trembling, eyes fixed on the horizon where the unknown god had vanished.

Gently, Paimon floated closer. She didn’t say anything at first—just wrapped her tiny arms around his neck in the tightest hug she could manage, pressing her forehead lightly against his. Aether's eyes widened, then slowly closed as he let out a shaky breath, leaning into the comfort.

“We’ll get her back,” Paimon whispered, “No matter what it takes, we’ll bring your sister home.”

Aether’s voice was barely above a whisper as he wrapped his arms around Paimon in return, holding her close. “...Thanks, Paimon."

The rest of Teyvat watched the wholesomeness that these two shared. It felt... quite heartwarming.

Kaeya side-eyed his dear brother, while Diluc inadvertently crossed his arms but acknowledged his brother nonetheless. Nearby, Barbara nervously fidgeted with her fingers, not expecting to meet Jean’s eyes. But when she blinked, she found her sister looking back at her with a gentle, reassuring smile. Albedo, too, held Klee's hands.

And all of them didn't like seeing their siblings in danger, thus why they felt so bad for the Traveler.

The scene shifts to a drawing of the unknown God etched in the sand.

“How long ago was that? I have no idea. But I will find out.”

“After I awoke, I was alone—until I met you two months ago,” he said.

“Yeah, Paimon really owes you for that. Otherwise, Paimon likely would have drowned,” the floating white creature chirped. “So Paimon will do her best to be a great guide!”

"LMAO. That's stupid!" Itto laughed out loud, "Can't 'ya like, fly, little lavender melon?"

Ifa patted the oni in the back, "Well, not all saurians with wings can fly."

"Are you calling me a saurian?!" Paimon was offended, crossing her arms in glaring at the vet.

Ajaw cackled, shoving his butt to the flying fairy. "Ah, little one, do not take offense. A 'saurian' is a term of reverence. They are ancient, wise, and resilient creatures such as myself, the Great Almighty Dragonlord, Ku'hul Ajaw! Obviously, the comparison was meant as a compliment!" 

"For real, bro," Cacucu spoke, "Spitting facts. Spitting facts. No lie, for real, for real."

Paimon awkwardly shuffled back, "Hmph. Well, if being a 'saurian' means being awesome and adored, then maybe it's not so bad..."

Aether smiled faintly, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

“We should off. Let’s get going!” Paimon added cheerfully.

| THE ANEMO ARCHON'S STATUE
In Mondstadt’s fields, a statue glowed, Granting power where the winds once flowed.
A bard stood by, a dragon near, Its roar shook earth, but none would fear.

"These sentences are really good, they sound like poems." Sethos commented.

Paimon tours Aether, the traveler, to Mondstadt, showing it’s luscious green leaves and rich greenery. At the center of a lake lies of statue.

With a mere touch from Aether’s hand, the statue lit up, and gave him the power of Anemo.

Kachina's mouth went wide open, "So that's what you meant when you said touching the statue would give you powers!"

"You knew about it, Kachina?" Xilonen asked.

"The traveler even tried to demonstrate it to her in Natlan!" Paimon interjected, "But pyro didn't resonate for some reason... He did get pyro eventually!"

"Conclusively, this means you now hold all six elements?" Albedo gazed at him, curious.

"All except cryo."

"That's really cool!" Bennett thought, "You are way too lucky! Just getting one vision is already a rare blessing from the Gods."

"Don't forget, the little cutie also has his own sealed powers." Lisa reminded, leaving everyone at awe at how strong the traveler would be 

The two travelers continue to explore the land of Mondstadt with newfound powers.

“Huh? Look at that!” Paimon then pointed to a green bard listening to a gigantic blue dragon, who purred. Aether immediately hid behind a tree.

“Don’t be afraid,” The bard said, “It’s alright now, I’m back.”

“Is he talking to a dragon?” Paimon whispered.

Dahlia looked at Venti, giving a mix of concern and awkwardness. A random bard being correlated to one of the Four Winds would undoubtedly raise some eyebrows.

Barbara recalled how Venti had once called upon Dvalin during their visit to an island, but Jean said that his songs were simply too soothing that it can call upon any creature. There's no reason for her sister to lie, so she believed her. 

Klee believed Venti was just a tone-deaf bard, just like Master Jean said!

Lisa, Rosaria, and Kaeya exchanged wary glances, their suspicions beginning to solidify. Razor and Bennett appeared genuinely puzzled, while Fischl and Mona seemed just as bewildered. Noelle and Sucrose glanced up in curiosity, and Mika joined them with a look of quiet intrigue. Eula and Amber shared a brief, confused glance, both clearly uncertain.

"I don't know much about Mondstadt, but are talking to dragons rare or something?" Ifa asked.

"It's not quite normal, especially since this is Dvalin, one of the Four Winds." Mona answered.

Suddenly, Aether’s anemo powers seemed to have resonated or some sort, alarming the Dragon who roared and almost attacked the bard.

“Who’s there!?”

The dragon roared once more, engulfing the forest with the wind. The bard backed off, transforming into the wind and disappearing. The dragon saw the travelers, and left immediately.

"Good thing you escaped!" Chasca commented.

"What were you even doing with a dangerous dragon that could attack you like that?" Iansan asked.

Venti chuckled lightly, trying to cover up. "Hehe! As a wandering bard, it’s only natural for me to seek inspiration for my songs~"

"Is it really worth hiding anymore if this will reveal everything?"

| THE LAND OF FREEDOM AND THE KNIGHTS OF FAVONIUS
The traveler roamed through Mondstadt’s door,
But Amber’s welcome was met by a dragon’s roar.

"Oh! This is during Stormterror's attack!" The outrider suddenly turned to the traveler, "Sorry your welcome to Mondstadt was terrible."

"It's not your fault, Amber!" Paimon gave her a thumbs up, "The sticky honey roast was the best!"

"Hehe, why don't we eat again sometime? Maybe with everyone too!"

"That sounds fun! Paimon is up for anything as long as it's free food!"

Aether and Amber entered the land of freedom, Mondstadt. As soon they’ve arrived, the winds swept through the city like a storm. As the blue dragon flew, panic grew. It roared so loud that Aether was thrown eaten by a tornado, forcing him to glide and attack the dragon, eventually fleeing away.

"Wow! A battle against a dragon in the dragon's turf aka the sky?!" Charlotte gasped, "I wish I was in Mondstadt to witness that! It could've been an amazing article!"

Diona tipped her chin, "Hmmmm, how did you stay in the sky that long if you were only wearing a glider?"

"I find it frustrating that the fight isn’t depicted here. There’s so much we could have learned about mid-air combat dynamics and the associated research," Tighnari remarked.

Venti rocked his chair, playfully waiting for what's to come.

Aether flew back down to the ground, with Amber grabbing him by the arm, asking, “Are you hurt?!”

Before he could answer, a man with blue hair and what seems to be a knightly outfit, appears, clapping his hands together. “You’ve actually got the power to go up against the dragon. Are you a new ally… or a new storm?”

“He just saved Mondstadt, and you still have the audacity to ask if he’s the enemy?” Citlali said flatly, shooting a deadpan look at the Cavalry Captain.

“She’s got a point,” Chiori added, crossing her arms. “You're being unnecessarily theatrical.”

“So dramatic, he might as well audition for Furina’s theater troupe,” Navia chimed in with a laugh.

Kaeya’s smirk faltered, clearly not expecting to be the target of their teasing.

In a different room, a blonde woman watches the clock with worry.

“Jean, what’s the hurry? I thought we agreed to meet them here.” Reminded the woman in purple hats and dress.

“There have been sightings of Stormterror outside the city. Once we meet, we must…”

“Relax. I’ll lend a hand when the time comes.”

"Do not overstress yourself, Acting Grandmaster Jean," Ningguang spoke,  “As leaders, we must remember that delegation is not a sign of weakness—it is a necessity. Even the strongest structures collapse without proper balance.”

"Yees, you're... absolutely correct." Jean nodded, holding her hand above her chest.

The Tianquan then pointed to her workmates. "That applies to you two too."

Ganyu and Keqing both paused—one sheepishly rubbing the back of her horn in embarrassment, while the other pouted and turned away. Those familiar with the Liyue Qixing knew all too well how often the two managed to overwork themselves.

Suddenly, the door flew open, with Kaeya, the blue-haired knight, bringing in the traveler, as well as Amber.

"Oh! So the drama kid actually brought them to the good guys, huh." Itto commented.

| FIRE AND ICE, CRYO AND PYRO
Jean commands to quell the Ley Lines' strain,
To three temples they must go, to ease Stormterror’s reign.

"What does that mean?"  Freminet asked.

Lisa answered, "Ah, yes. Back when Stormterror was causing all that chaos, Jean had to take quick action. She asked us to stabilize the Ley Line disruptions that were empowering him. As the Knights’ Librarian, I recommended targeting the sources directly—three of the Four Winds' Temples. Each one was acting like a conduit, amplifying the disturbance. It was a bit of a mess, honestly. But the Honorary Knight and the Cavalry Captain took good care of it nonetheless."

"Oh... That makes sense."

Kaeya dusted his hands off after a battle, “Quite rewarding, no?”

“We’ve seized another temple from Stormterror’s grasp!” Paimon declared.

"So this is after the three temples?" Chevreuse asked.

"Yes."

“I can take care of the rest here. You go take care of other things while I’m at it.”

“See ‘ya later then! Bye bye!” She waved as both she and the traveler left the temple.

"Kind of funny how you two just upped and left." Kuki commented.

“There’s no way hilichurls organized an ambush like this themselves. Not with their limited mental capacity.” Kaeya eyed the hydro abyss mage that roamed behind him, “Thus, YOU were behind this.”

"Observant as always." Jean smiled.

As the abyss mage was about to attack, Kaeya merely stood there with a smug grin. Suddenly, a fiery claymore pounds into the abyss mage, and then we see a man with long red hair scoff, “Knights of Favonius… Always so inefficient.”

"Such a cool entrance! I wanna do that sometime!" Bennett thought optimistically.

"The weird grown up saves Uncle Kaeya? Maybe Klee was wrong! Maybe the weird grown up isn't weird!"

Diluc simply shook his head. "Thanks. I guess."

Kaeya clapped his hands. “Agree to disagree. But, your involvement in this just made things a whole lot more interesting.”

With temples seized, his strength grew weak,
The storm was gone, and clear skies now speak.

"Huh, wait that's it?!" Dahlia mid-paused, the popcorn in his hands dropping back into the bag.

"It's oddly inconclusive." Chevreuse commented, shoving a piece of fry into her mouth.

"Perhaps this is merely part one of a bigger story." Ayato suggested, sipping into his boba tea.

Nilou took a bite of her Tahchin, "I was very invested!"

Furina frowned, eating her cake, "And I thought it'd be even more dramatic."

"That eyepatch guy seemed overdramatic, I think!" Xiangling said matter-of-factly as she took a bite of a Jueyun Chili.

"I am not!" Kaeya was offended.

Iansan looked at the people eating, frowning, "So much calories..."

Neuvillette also sighed. "So much grease..."

Chapter Text

| MONDSTADT 02 |
For a Tomorrow Without Tears

| STORMTERROR'S TRUTH
A masked one calls for dragon's death,
But Jean defends her Wind with breath.
The gem burns bright with silent weight,
While song reveals the dragon's fate .

"By gem, you mean the one that you two found when Venti and Dvalin were together at the beginning, right?" Dehya asked.

"The episodic nature of what we're watching are leaving out some details. I suppose I can explain it." Jean sighed, "Basically, the honorary knight found a red gem, which we soon realize to be Dvalin's tears. Apparently, the traveler can purify it."

"Outlander powers..." Emilie mumbled.

"An interesting source of research." Albedo pondered, "Traveler, can I learn more of your body?"

Aether laughed a bit, "I don't think I have a choice, don't I?"

"I promise I'll be gentle." 

"Oh? If you're going to be that persuasive, then however will I resist?" The traveler joked, spreading his arms wide with a smug grin.

In the plaza of Mondstadt lies the Anemo Archon's statue. In front is a bard, singing of Dvalin's despair.

Barbara closed her eyes, listening intently to the bard’s melody. Though she often acted indifferent around him, she held a quiet appreciation for the stories and songs Venti sang in honor of their Archon. Beside her, Dahlia listened in silence, equally absorbed.

Xinyan and Yun Jin found themselves drawn in as well. The bard’s voice, smooth and lilting, was a stark contrast to Liyue’s booming opera or the raw energy of Xinyan’s rock. Nilou, too, watched, marveling at a performance that told a tale not through dance, but through song and poetry alone. 

Furina, ever the lover of drama and rhythm, was delighted by the music, while Mavuika found herself genuinely enjoying the bard’s soft, almost whimsical style.

Even Xiao couldn't help but be still. Though he wouldn’t admit to watching the screen, he crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and listened closely. The Anemo Archon’s familiar voice, like the wind itself, always brought a strange kind of peace—both to his karma, and to his heart.

"What is to be sung transpired in days of yore. When the divine archons still walked the earth, A dragon cast his curious gaze on the world below as he parted from the heavens that gave his birth." Cecilias bloomed on the screen as a silhouette of Dvalin appeared.

Everyone sat at the edge of their seat.

"We're finally getting the big dragon's backstory!" Yoimiya cheered.

Ayaka glanced at her, "I doubt it would be anything happy..."

"The dragon searched for truth among mortals, yet their fleeting concerns only clouded his thoughts." In the silhouette, Dvalin stands still, watching the Anemo Archon play a lyre—white wings unfurling softly behind him like whispers of wind.

"The windborne bard strummed his strings dolce, and the Holy Lyre answered his questions kind." Venti continued to narrate, "The dragon was but a child full of wonder and soared the heavens free from care."

Wanderer closed his eyes, with Mini Durin resting calmly in his lap. The words stayed with him. Even if the song was about Dvalin, he couldn’t help but think of the little dragon beside him.

“A child full of wonder, huh?”

"The bard's songs invited him to sing along, for he yearned to let all perceive him fair." We get a closer view of the Anemo Archon's face, donning short black-ish blue hair with short twin braids, eerily similar to that of the narrating bard.

"Enchanting legends the bard and dragon were, but the tides of despair soon engulfed the land. The lion fang perished and the falcon flag slept as a vile dragon approached Mondstadt in lone stand."

Xiao lowered his head, not quite ready to have the sudden shift tone in the music. For some reason, the tune made him remember all the pain he had went through. The soothing tone that calmed him disappeared.

"Xiao, are you alright?" Zhongli asked.

"Re... Mr. Zhongli," He dusted his hand off, "I'm okay... Thank you for your concern."

"Don't push yourself."

The rest of the cinema frowned, knowing this wasn't going to go in a very nice direction.

The peaceful song that once drifted through the sky—where the bard and the dragon once flew together in harmony—was suddenly ripped away, replaced by loud, harsh music. It was such a sharp change, it felt like the sky had split open. Tension filled the air as Mondstadt’s blue dragon appeared, ready to defend. 

We now see an image of a dragon in a red silhouette, with eyes venomous. It was obvious to those who knew history that this dragon was Durin.

"Over the Cathedral loomed death and his friends. Of the people's agony, the bard soon sang. The soaring dragon heeded his grave calls, and amidst the windstorm a brutal war sprang." Dvalin appeared, standing against the venomous dragon.

Albedo observed quietly, the story of Durin lingering in his thoughts. Plans for the upcoming Windblume Festival resurfaced in his mind, and he could only hope the trial ahead would prove successful. He saw his gaze meeting Jean's, Kaeya's and Eula's, all four of them being hopeful.

The Wanderer stared at Mini Durin, his expression thoughtful.

"You really were once like me too..."

Blood devoured the screen, before an image of the sealed dragon is seen watching Mondstadt from afar.

"Blood of venom sent the sky dragon into slumber, only to awake to be expelled in abhor." Venti then quoted the dragon, "'Why do people in this age loathe me so?' But the Holy Lyre replied no more."

"What happened?" Sayu asked slowly, unusually attentive.

Dahlia replied, "Dvalin fell to slumber after defending Mondstadt. During that, Durin's poisonous veins seeped into his, tormenting him. When he awoke, he thought that the people of Mondstadt and the Anemo Archon had already forgotten about him." 

"Didn't he?" Alhaitham ask, more matter-of-factly rather than an actual question.

A hush fell over the members of the Church. The comment, though not shouted, landed like a dropped stone in still water.

Barbara stepped forward, “Lord Barbatos has always watched over Mondstadt—just not in the way everyone expects. His winds never truly leave us. Dvalin may have felt alone, but that doesn’t mean he was abandoned!"

He glanced briefly at the ceiling, then back at the deaconness. “If your Archon truly watched over Mondstadt, perhaps he should have done more than whisper through leaves.”

Before the silence could stretch too long, Kaveh let out a sharp breath and stepped forward.

“Alhaitham. That’s enough.” He turned to the Mondstadters, bowing his head. “Please forgive him. He speaks from logic, not malice. But that doesn’t excuse the lack of tact.”

"You are right," Alhaitham looked at them, “My words were uncalled for. That was inconsiderate of me, I'd like to apologize."

Barbara blinked, surprised—but smiled faintly in gratitude.

Venti snickered in the background, thankfully unheard. The winds had whispered something to him about this Sumerian scholar, who unironically questioned the relevance of gods—while standing in their presence, helping them such as the Dendro Archon, and occasionally correcting their logic with footnotes.

"What an interesting guy."

"Wrath and woe, vigor and venom. Poured from the dragon's bitter eyes, the dragon's curse sprawled in silence." We see yet another silhouette of the dragon, this time with red tears on his eyes as he hold onto a lonesome flower.

"But the Lyre could no longer soothe his cries."

Venti frowned, feeling the guilt hammer in his chest. It was embarrassing to face the truth that Mondstadt had to bear the burden of his inadequacy. The Four Winds were his responsibility, not the people's. And yet, it was the people who had to deal with Dvalin’s plight.

"That was really sad!" Sigewinne wiped a tear on her cheeks.

Wriothesley nodded to the melusine, "I'm kind of hoping he's going to be fine."

| HEIST OF THE HOLY LYRE
The gem now pure, Dvalin’s tears,
A gift of sorrow through the years.
The gem now pure, the wind god knows,
To Windrise high, the Traveler goes.
The lyre denied by Church decree—
Three names sought to set it free.

Rosaria read suspiciously, "The lyre denied by Church Decree. Is this about the time the Holy Lyre was stolen?"

Noelle read the title instead, "'Heist of the Holy Lyre'?! Traveler, you didn't have anything to do with this right..."

"Uh..." Aether dropped a sweat, already ready to flee.

"A crime committed by the Traveler?" Childe grinned, quite interested.

"He's too dignified to have done such a thing." Arlecchino thought.

Capitano also thought, "Surely he wouldn't..."

Wanderer crossed his arms, "He would."

The Traveler is seen to have almost taken the Holy Lyre, until a Cicin Mage took it before his eyes.

"She disappeared!" Paimon yelled.

"The Fatui?!" Charlotte gasped, unconsciously grabbing her camera to take a photo.

Kirara dropped a sweat, "Um, Charlotte, I think that'd be outdated news, meow..."

"...Right."

Diluc narrowed his eyes, "Still though, the fatui are trying to frame you?" 

"I mean, he was still originally going to steal the lyre," Kaeya laughed, patting the nobleman in the back, "Traveler here just happened to have lost the race."

Barbara gasped, finally knowing why the Lyre was broken and was at their hands. Rosaria merely sighed, and Dahlia facepalmed.

"Before you blame me, someone told me to do it..."

"You were blackmailed~?" Hu Tao asked.

“He wasn’t!” Venti blurted out, practically jumping to his feet—only to be met with a wall of awkward silence and confused stares. Realizing he had absolutely no follow-up, he cleared his throat and sat back down like a scolded cat.

"Freeze! What are you doing here?!" Pointed a Knight.

The two travelers then ran, and ran, and eventually reached the outside. Venti is relaxing outside when he hears Paimon screaming. "We're busted! Run!"

"I mean, he did get sent to the Fortress of Meropide once," Lyney tried to compensate, "He's not that less of a criminal."

"What? Follow me!" Venti creates wind currents that drop them off near the Angel's Share, where he enters and tells a red-haired man to give them their least conspicuous table. 

Diluc calls them down to explain,
Venti’s tale clears up the strain.
Jean arrives, her role set aside,
In secret, she stands by their side.

"Dang, a secret meeting? Why wasn't I invited?" Kaeya frowned dramatically, even to the point of fake crying.

Diluc crossed his arms, "That bard already gave me enough headaches, having you there would be twice more agonizing."

Kaeya gasped. “Master Diluc is as harsh as always!”

“Come now, you two really ought to work on your brotherly bond. Maybe over some nice chilled apple cider?” Venti offered, raising an empty mug like a toast.

Paimon glared at him, putting her hand on her hips, "Why do we always end up at the bar when Venti’s involved?!”

Aether hummed, "Because Venti thinks strategic planning happens best with snacks and alcohol."

“You’re absolutely correct there~!” Venti beamed, clapping his hands together, positively glowing with joy. “Finally! Someone who understands my process!”

Diluc’s intel points to the lyre,
Not in the hotel, but in higher spire.
A Fatui warns of Signora’s wrath,
But Dvalin’s tears will heal the path.

"Signora..." The Tsaritsa muttered silently.

Pierro's mind lingered on her sacrifice, as Il Capitano looked on, no expression could be found above the mask he wore. Columbina hummed a song, silent, but heard. Arlecchino and Sandrone averted their gazes, lost in their own thoughts, while Pantalone wore a smirk, as if amused. Il Dottore frowned, arms crossed, his irritation barely contained. Pulcinella seemed to dismiss the moment with a casual wave, while Tartaglia let out a deep sigh.

Nobody outside Snezhnaya noticed any of their reactions.

Charlotte tipped her chin, "The fatui keep involving themselves in every nation's affair, what do they have in plan?"

| STARSNATCH CLIFF
With purified tears, the lyre is found and whole,
They head to the cliff, to heal Dvalin’s soul.

"The lyre was retrieved! Thank Barbatos!" Barbara gave a long sigh of relief.

Most of the archons gave a deadpan stare to Venti, who just winked in reply.

"Oh Barbara... Now I'm curious how you'll do once you find out the truth..." Jean dropped a sweat before shaking her head, "Now I sound like Lisa! Oh dear..."

"You have come. What has been done cannot be undone." He growled.

Venti replied, "If so, then why do I see sadness in your eyes? Sadness that speaks for your yearning of this song."

Everyone sat at the edge of their seats, worried for such a close encounter with the dragon. They've learned a lot, but they also know so little of what the dragon has suffered through. Even with only tidbits of information, the sight of Dvalin was utterly depressing.

Klee looked at the dragon on the screen, remembering the time Dvalin had brought them all to the beach. "Big brother Albedo... why is the big dragon sad?"

Albedo didn't quite know how to answer such a question. Instead, he just patted her head and told her, "He'll be alright soon."

"Dvalin..." Venti mumbled, his eyes not betraying guilt.

"Bar- Venti," Zhongli suddenly spoke up, though it was more of a whisper that only he and Venti could hear. 

"Hmm?"

He had always known the truth behind the bard’s smile—a veil stretched thin over centuries of burden. But it had been lifetimes since he last saw such sorrow laid bare in Barbatos' eyes. The god who once danced with the wind now stood still, grief anchoring his every breath.

Yet now, watching him weighed down by guilt, it stirred memories of Azhdaha. A soul eroded by time, forgotten by the world, and left to bear the weight of pain alone.

"Would you care to have tea after this?" He whispered.

"I think I'd prefer wine," Venti cheekily replied.

"Of course. Why not?"

| THE PRINCESS OF THE ABYSS

In what appeared to be the desolate remnants of Dvalin’s lair, a lone figure stood—small and still amidst the ruin—her presence flanked by two Abyss Mages. Above, the sky rumbled as the great dragon Dvalin passed overhead. From behind her, another Abyss Mage emerged from the shadows, bowing low in reverence.

Eula gasped, "Is that...?"

"Your Highness... your humble servant returns."

The girl turned slightly, the dim light catching her features—revealing the unmistakable face of Lumine, the Traveler’s sister.

Everyone gasped, caught off guard by her sudden appearance—especially after being taken by that unknown god. But she was different now. The light in her eyes had dimmed, her expression heavy, like someone who had glimpsed a truth far too cruel.

Almost instinctively, all eyes shifted to the Traveler, whose gaze had steeled with newfound resolve.

"Did you already know about this?" Kaveh asked.

"I do now," Aether replied. "But back then... no. And even now, I still don’t really understand what she wants me to do."

Yoimiya added, "Have... you two ever reunited yet...?"

"Once. But she left just as quickly." He frowned, "I... have a feeling that wasn't our last encounter. But I can't seem to remember a thing."

A quiet gloom settled in; no one smiled, no one spoke. Faces fell into uneasy frowns, the weight of what they’d seen and heard pressing down like a stormcloud. Even those who usually hid behind wit or wonder couldn’t mask the worry lining their eyes.

"When your homeland returns to this world. We shall revel in its glory."

"Homeland?" Sara repeated.

"Now that you say it… where does the Traveler live here?" Sucrose asked, tilting her head curiously.

"Nowhere," Kaeya replied bluntly.

The room turned on him with a dozen sharp looks—but he simply lifted a hand. "Ah, ah. I wasn’t finished. What I meant to say is: nowhere yet. But Mondstadt will always welcome him with open arms."

Aether blinked, a bit stunned, but smiled—touched by the sentiment.

"He is always welcome in Liyue as well," Ningguang added, "The Jade Chamber will always have a place prepared for you."

"And I’ll cook you food every time you visit!" Xiangling chimed in brightly, giving him a greasy thumbs-up with a wok still in hand. "You're, like, our honorary taste tester!"

The people of Liyue nodded, most of them eager to bring him there permanently. 

"Inazuma is your home too," Thoma said gently. "I'll be waiting by the shores, just tell Beidou so she can update me about it!"

"Don't think he'll ever get to Inazuma without the Crux first," Beidou grinned, "You can always come with us, traveler."

"You still got a room at the Shuumatsuban compound if you want it." added Sayu, half-asleep on Yae Miko’s shoulder.

Nahida looked at all of them kindly, before chiming in. "Should you seek  peace, the doors of Sumeru remain open to you. You are part of the great story of our world, after all."

"Partner! The Spina de Rosula's doors is always open!" Navia cheered.

"The duke is always saving a cell for you here in Fontaine," Clorinde joked dryly, with Wriothesley sighing. “But we prefer you as a guest, not an inmate.”

"And Natlan!" Mavuika pumped a fist with a grin. "You're part of the family, you can come home whenever you want!"

"The People of the Springs will always have a spot for you!" Mualani cheered.

Kinich nodded, "And when you've finally reunited with your sister, we'll make sure to add an extra bed."

Aether stood in stunned silence, heart full, as he realized—he didn’t just travel Teyvat.

He belonged to it.

Chapter Text

| MONDSTADT 03 |
Song of the Dragon and Freedom

Aether picked up the latest tape that appeared before him. It was titled "Song of the Dragon and Freedom," which was stated to mark the end of the Prologue.

"Looks like it's time to save Dvalin!" Amber cheered, "Aw! I wish I was there when you did it!"

"It was very dangerous, Amber." Jean suddenly replied to her, "If it weren't for Venti, we would probably have fallen to our deaths."

"To your deaths?!" Barbara gasped. The thought of losing her sister like that so suddenly would've been devastating.

"Yes." Diluc answered curtly, "To our deaths."

"Don't scare them!" Venti nudged the redhead away, "If I let my people die right in front of me, what kind of archon would I be?!"

Kaeya smirked. "Hmm, dramatic rescues and humble bragging? Careful, Venti—you're starting to sound like me."

"Ehe~"

| STORMTERROR'S LAIR

Diluc reports a mage was slain,
Its fading form released a strain.
Venti confirms the cursed energy
Had blocked his bond with Dvalin’s plea.

"What does that mean?" Kaveh asked.

Alhaitham eyed him. "Do I need to draw you a picture? Or would crayons be too advanced for you?"

"I—" The blonde was too stunned to speak at first. "Mocking my intelligence and my artistic profession in one go? You're really checking off all the boxes for 'insufferable genius today,’ aren’t you, Alhaitham?"

"I’m just speaking at the level you seem most comfortable with. Bright colors and simple shapes."

Kaveh gritted his teeth, stood up, and started pointing fingers. "You are—without exaggeration—the most frustrating person I’ve ever met!"

"What does he mean?" Qiqi suddenly spoke, tugging Baizhu's clothes regarding what the blonde man just said.

The pharmacist sighed, "It means those two Sumerians are playing their favorite game again—'Who Can Be the Loudest Distraction in a Quiet Room.’"

"Oh... That sounds like a bad game."

"You're absolutely right, Qiqi. No one ever wins. Not even us."

Alhaitham folded his arms and shut his eyes, while Kaveh was an embarrassing mess, scratching his head. Cyno and Tighnari were at the brink of wheezing. 

It also sealed the ruins tight,
But now he sees the path to right.
Though one of Seven, proud and blessed,
Venti admits he's now the least.

"The least?" Gaming repeated in question.

Venti glanced toward the other Archons, casting them a careful side eye, subtle enough not to draw attention, especially to Zhongli who was hiding his identity. The other Archons seemed to catch his gaze, holding brief eye contact before quickly looking away. In that moment, it was clear they were ready to listen—truth or not—to whatever he was about to say.

With a knowing nod, Venti finally began to speak.

"Hehe, you may find it out soon, but I am, in fact, the weakest archon among the Seven." He admitted. He probably also lied.

"Why is that?" Faruzan asked.

Aether, Jean and Diluc glanced at the Anemo Archon, overthinking if they even had the right to explain it, if they should even explain it. Venti waved his hand, and replied.

"Well, dear Sumerian scholar, I'll let you in on another secret~" He winked, "Every archon of Teyvat plays the part of presiding over their nation. If we perform our duty, we can attain power."

"So that means..." Sethos hesitated, letting his words hang in the air until Cyno picked up the thread.

"Since you're the God of Freedom, and the recurring fact that you're called an 'absentee archon'. Does your lack of control over Mondstadt made you the weakest?" the General Mahamatra reasoned aloud. He had visited Mondstadt on several occasions, and the rumors surrounding its absent Archon were hardly new to him.

"Precisely!"

"Still," Sucrose pondered, "Being the weakest among the gods doesn’t conclusively indicate that Lord Barbatos is weaker than humans—the scales of comparison are fundamentally different."

Most of the mortals in the room nodded along. Weak or not, he’s still a god—capable of things no mere human could even dream of.

That said… seeing this guy on the verge of serious wine withdrawal made it hard to take him seriously as the mighty God of Anemo.

Long years away have dulled his might—
He leans on friends to aid the fight.
With hilichurls sent to stall their pace,
They press ahead to end this chase.

Dvalin flies through the stormy skies of Stormterror's lair, his wings sending gusts to the heroes standing near. It was so strong it sent Venti, Jean, Diluc, Paimon, and the Traveler stumbling on their toes.

Despite everything, the heroes succeeded in defeating him and bringing him back to his senses. Things went smoothly—right up until the battle was over.

“The bridge is going to collapse!” Paimon cried.

"Wait, but aren't all of you very high up?" Freminet asked in concern.

And Paimon was right. The ground beneath them gave way, sending the group plummeting into the sky. They reached for the drifting platforms, scrambling for a hold—only to slip through the air.

"Grandmaster Jean, is this what you meant when you have almost fallen to your deaths?" Kaeya stifled a laugh, his nose twitching a bit. Jean only replied with a sigh.

"I don't know how you guys survived that high!" Itto pointed at the screen.

Kuki deadpanned, "Boss, they have the Anemo Archon in their presence."

"Oh! So what you're sayin' is, Lord Barbie here is like, a living helicopter or whatever, keeping them all floating?"

Barbara intervened, "That's Lord Barbatos!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever! Lord Bartharoth!"

As they fell, Dvalin circled around them in a protective arc… before everything faded to black.

Gasp!

"Relax, we're still alive." Diluc reminded all of them.

"Aw man..." Someone from Snezhnaya mumbled.

The darkness lifted with a blink, and Venti awoke atop Dvalin’s back. To his relief, the others were there too—safe and sound—riding alongside him as the dragon soared away from Stormterror’s Lair.

“That looks so fun!” Yaoyao exclaimed, eyes wide with wonder. “I want to ride Master Dvalin! Right, Qiqi?”

“Yes…” The little zombie smiled softly, “Very fun…”

Sayu, half-lidded and sleepy, added, “Seems like it’d be pretty comfy to nap on, too…”

Kachina’s eyes gleamed brightly. “That dragon’s even faster than Turbo Twirly or Mualani’s Sharky!”

“Klee rode the big dragon before! It was super windy—like, ‘whoooosh,’ and ‘wheee,’ and ‘zoom zoom’ all at once! It was so fun!” The little knight eagerly acted it out.

“Really?” Sigewinne’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Nahida let out a soft laugh and glanced at Venti. “Looks like they’re all hoping for a ride on Dvalin. Would you be willing to grant them one, Barbatos?”

“Of course! I’m sure Dvalin wouldn’t mind giving the little cuties a lift.”

“I’m not little, just so you know!” Sayu muttered under her breath.

Venti patted his back, "It's been a while since we flew like this together... huh, Dvalin?"

"Just now... Why..." Dvalin trailed off, "Why did you not ask me to protect you like the last time?"

"He's finally back in his senses!" Kirara cheered.

"Me not wanting you to listen to the Abyss Order doesn't mean that you have to listen to me." He replied.

"Freedom, if demanded of you by an archon, is really no freedom at all."

"True." Ororon commented.

"For real! For real, bro!" Cacucu nodded cutely.

Heizou, too busy being too analytical, suddenly asked, "Isn't that the statement a while ago during the... what was it titled again? The travail episode?"

"Yup!" Yanfei replied to the detective, "It went full circle. Looks like our questions before were finally answered."

"I still have a question," Layla spoke up, "Um... I do want to know how can there be a God of Freedom if freedom means not having anyone in charge?"

"A fascinating paradox, isn’t it?" Lisa replied to her fellow scholar, "A god who governs by not governing. But perhaps that’s what makes Lord Barbatos—oh, I mean, Venti here—so unique. He represents the ideal of freedom, rather than enforcing it."

Mika nodded aggressively, "Our archon trusts the people of Mondstadt to lead themselves."

Venti watched the people of Mondstadt with pride that softened the usual mischief in his eyes. They laughed, argued, built, and dreamed entirely of their own will, unburdened by chains or fear. To see them govern themselves, protect one another, and find joy in the little things without needing a god's constant hand—that, to him, was the truest song of freedom.

As Venti finished speaking, a swirl of wind gathered in his palms. 

The Anemo orb took shape, then floated toward Dvalin. As it merged with the dragon, a wave of strength pulsed through him—restoring the power he had once lost.

"Is this... the power of the Anemo Archon?"

"But I am no longer part of the Four Winds," He debated.

"The power of the Anemo Archon?" Ayato asked.

"Just a small little blessing~!" Venti, again, winked.

"Even if that's so," Venti answered whimsically, "You still protected us regardless."

"Now spread your wings of freedom and go with my blessing." Dvalin's wings fluttered as they finally reached Mondstadt.

The screen turned white, before we see a setting inside the Knights of Favonius' headquarters. The Acting Grandmaster, Jean, was seen writing in her papers. She said, "And so, the Stormterror threat was quelled. I clarified the misunderstanding to the citizens of Mondstadt and let them know they are safe."

"To them it seems... Stormterror attacked Mondstadt out of nowhere and then vanished just as quickly." She said as we see Paimon and the Traveler walk throughout Mondstadt.

"They must be finding the whole ordeal very confusing." She continued, as the screen shows Dvalin pass by Diluc at the tavern.

"It was," Eula sighed, "All of the knights—except myself—were being asked by the citizens of the reason why 'Stormterror' just suddenly disappeared."

"I agree," Kaeya chuckled. "They practically mobbed me. I didn’t realize looking this good was such a burden."

Albedo shook his head to the Cavalry Captain. "You really should publish your delusions, captain Kaeya. They’d make a fascinating psychological case study."

"I’m offended," He said, placing a hand dramatically over his heart. "You wound me, Chief Alchemist."

"If honesty offends you, perhaps we need to reconsider your title as ‘Captain’." The blonde one smirked.

"Ohohoho, you got me there. Alright, I admit defeat."

Venti was seen sitting atop Barbatos' statue, as he took over to narrate. "However, winds change their course. Someday, they will blow towards a brighter future."

"Can the people of Mondstadt just normally sit at their archon's statue?" Yoimiya wiped a bead of sweat from her brow, imagining how severe the punishment would be for doing that near the Raiden Shogun’s statue.

"Nope," Thoma replied, "At least, if I remember correctly..."

Rosaria nonchalantly said, "I sometimes see the traveler and Paimon climb that statue every time they return for Windblume."

"W...What?" Barbara looked at the other nun in disbelief. "You didn't try to stop them...?" Then she turned her gaze towards the blonde climber, "Did you really do that?"

| THE RETURN OF THE HOLY LYRE

Amber greeted them with urgent cheer,
While you fought, we held the city here.
Hilichurls attacked with coordinated might,
But where was Kaeya in the heat of the fight?

Diluc folded his arms, recalling every tense conversation he’d had with his brother on that stressful day; Kaeya being a big part of that stress, of course.

Noticing how the redhead's scowl deepened at the sound of his name, Kaeya just let out a resigned sigh.

They met him at the tavern, calm and sly,
Suspicious of the attack, he stayed nearby.

"So the Knights of Favonius's Cavalry Captain isn't all just talk after all." Albedo nodded to himself.

Kaeya snapped back playfully, "I don't recall the Chief Alchemist helping out in the fight during Stormterror's or the Abyss Order's infiltration of Mondstadt either."

"Compared to the other captains, I am merely a feeble alchemist." He admitted as he crossed his arms.

Aether snickered before shaking his head.

"Sure, sure. If that's what you believe." 

He battled Abyss infiltrators with skill,
Learned of a single leader, plotting still.

"A single leader?" Gorou thought out loud, forgetting what they just watched a while ago.

"The Abyss Order is led by one person..." Paimon nodded with a frown.

"Person... So it really is the traveler's sister leading the abyss..." Heizou pondered, deep into his thoughts. "Why, though?"

Amber’s anger flared at the captain, as she asked the crew,
Where will you go, and what will you do?
We seek the Seven, Paimon did say,
To journey through Teyvat, come what may.

The Traveler held the broken Holy Lyre out to the deaconess. Paimon stood awkwardly, and Venti wiped a bead of sweat from his brow.

"I forgot about the lyre..." Chongyun nervously commented.

Barbara gasped, "AH! THE HOLY LYRE!"

"Even if it was Venti's lyre, it was still quite the relic..." Emilie said.

"What a shame it was—to witness such a priceless historical treasure shattered by the very god who created it." Zhongli said, though there was surprisingly a hint of sarcasm in it.

"I heard that, Morax!" Venti clicked his tongue before putting up a facade smile. "Well, Barbara, I hope you forgive me."

"I-It's okay," She awkwardly stuttered, "It was your lyre so... In any case I should be the one asking for forgiveness..."

"Huh? For what?" Venti clearly forgot.

"Oh, Lord Barbatos... Even if I atoned for these sins for the rest of my life..." She suddenly bent to her knees in prayer, "...it would still not be enough!"

"For that..." She trailed off, holding her twintails in front of her now reddish face, "I can't believe I said that right in front of you!"

"That's alright. Barbatos is a forgiving archon!" Nahida quietly reassured her.

"Of course I am!" Venti's voice then lowered, "Not that you did anything wrong anyway..."

The Traveler and Paimon couldn’t help but laugh quietly behind her, knowing the full truth.

Venti sighed, placing his hands on his hips. "Oh, give it here."

The Lyre floated into his palms, and with a surge of Anemo power, he restored it to its original state.

Barbara’s eyes widened in disbelief. "The Holy Lyre... but how?"

"Huh? Let Paimon see!" Paimon exclaimed, excited.

Barbara, clutching the Lyre protectively, cuddling and hugging it, glared at the floating baby. "I don’t know how you managed to fix it, but you’ll never touch the Lyre again!" She turned and marched off, heading back into the church.

Barbara further sunk into her seat, with Dahlia just rubbing her shoulder, telling her it was absolutely fine and she was just doing her job.

"It's funny now that we know Venti is actually the owner of the lyre." Navia chuckled.

"How embarrassing!" The deaconess cried out.

"We ahh..." Venti paused and faced them, "...should really get going."

"That trick I used on the Lyre... Hehe, I mean the magic I used..." Venti paced around, "...it isn’t going to hold forever, you know."

"W-What?!"

Before they could react, Venti was already running toward the church entrance. The Traveler and Paimon quickly followed, leaving Jean standing there, still in shock.

"Wait, it's forever broken?" Barbara gasped.

"Ehe, whoopsie!" Venti playfully said.

"T-That's alright... hehe..." Everything that had just been revealed still felt unreal to Barbara. Honestly, she was still reeling from the fact that the god she had prayed to all her life turned out to be the same drunk bard she once scolded.

| ENCOUNTER WITH LA SIGNORA

The screen flashed back, showing Venti sprinting out of the church. Suddenly, two Pyro Fatui agents attacked him from behind, but the Traveler was quick to react, unleashing a powerful Anemo strike that knocked them back.

"Good one, traveler!" Everyone cheered, except the people of Snezhnaya of course.

"An ambush," Diluc scoffed, "What a cowardly approach."

Some of the Fatui Harbingers merely smirked. While Rosalina’s death wasn’t something they’d easily forget, Signora had served her purpose—after all, she had successfully secured both the Anemo and Geo gnosis for the Tsaritsa.

The traveler rushed toward the Fatui, but just as he did, a womanly figure appeared in the distance. With a flick of her fingers, a gust of ice swept through the air, freezing Paimon solid.

Venti quickly used his Anemo powers to weaken the ice, but he realized his own feet had been frozen in place. He turned back, concern flashing across his face as he saw the Traveler tackled by the two Fatui agents.

Some of the people eyed the screen curiously.

The woman, with flowing blonde hair, wore an intricate dress of red, black, and white. A crown rested upon her head, and she was flanked by two Cicin Mages.

"At last, Mondstadt's rodent ruler in the flesh," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.

LA SIGNORA, The Fair Lady
The Eighth of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers

"Holy cow!" Ororon yelped out, with Varesa lightly bonking him in the head.

"A fatui harbinger..." Yelan leaned in, widely interested for any possible intel against this faction.

"I, myself, have never encountered a fatui harbinger before..." Ganyu commented with worry, "But Mondstadt's archon should be stronger than her, right?"

"That should be obvious." Keqing replied.

"Scurrying through the streets, looking for leftovers," She then grabbed Venti's cheeks, "Mondstadt calls this a God?"

Xiao scowled. Barbatos, or Venti, was the bard that had helped him against his karmic debt. He was a gentle and caring God that doesn't deserve to be trampled upon by some nameless harbinger.

Zhongli observed intently—this was the first time he’d seen exactly how the Fatui had managed to obtain the Queen chess piece. Ei, while outwardly indifferent to the matter of the gnosis, was just as intrigued as Nahida. Mavuika and the Tsaritsa leaned forward, watching. Furina gasped and massaged her cheeks as if she was the one in pain.

Venti spat back, "Resident rodent beats invasive vermin-"

La Signora slapped him, "Don't you dare speak back to me, insolent bard."

"The fudging audacity?!" Boothill gasped.

"Who are you, exactly?" Aether tilted his head.

"Oops, sorry, wrong universe." And just like that, the Galaxy Ranger left.

"Whoever that was, they're right," Bennett shook his head, "That harbinger just slapped our archon!"

Venti seemed to be summoning an immense amount of winds, grunting even. But his hair didn't even glow.

"Absentee archon of Mondstadt... How impotent you have become."

"Why aren't you fighting back, Venti?" Charlotte asked.

The mortals raised the same question. Sure, maybe unleashing a whole black hole or wind current as strong as the Anemo Archon's could probably kill off a harbinger like them. But maybe there's a way to tone down the power, right? So then why does it look like Venti is weaker than this Signora?

Aether narrowed his eyes at the screen, noticing a tiny detail. From his experience with every other archon, whenever they used their full power, their hair seemed to glow. But in the video they're watching? Venti's hair didn't glow one bit. Was he really trying to fight back?

"That smirk you wear looks out of place, did you steal it from your master's face?" Venti cheekily said.

"I don't know what those mean but, dang..." Itto trailed off before shouting, "BURN!!"

"He was popping, for real, bro." Ifa nodded to his oni bro.

The Harbinger was visibly offended, her eyes flashing with anger. She raised her hand, summoning a powerful gust of ice that rushed toward Venti. In an instant, a shot of frost slammed directly into the bard’s chest, knocking him back.

"What... How can she do that to an archon?" Xingqiu exclaimed in worry.

"Venti may be the weakest, but he can't possibly weaker than a human..." Lan Yan pondered.

Before he could recover, she swiftly grabbed something from her side—a chess piece, shaped like a Queen, and held it up with a calculating expression.

"A Queen piece?" Furina looked confused.

"Why would she take a trinket from you?" Kokomi asked.

Venti let out a low sigh, "It's not just any trinket."

"So... this is a Gnosis?" She admired it, "Wouldn't be caught dead wearing this ugly thing in public."

"What's a Gnosis?" Razor asked.

Venti has revealed a lot, but he was not quite sure he would like to be Celestia's enemy here. After all, he's still not 100% sure if this cinema was the doings of the Heavenly Principles or the works of the world beyond Teyvat.

In the silence of all the archons, the Tsaritsa spoke up, "A Gnosis is a divine conduit—bestowed by Celestia, meant to tether us Archons to their will. It represents authority... and obligation." She paused, "But power, little wolf, doesn't always bring freedom."

Razor blinked, "I don't really get it..."

The Fatui Harbingers looked at one another, not expecting their archon to talk to someone from Mondstadt, much less, someone who looked poor and homeless. They did not expect her to give a second reply.

"Little wolf, it's like a badge that gives power... and shows we were chosen." 

"Oh. Okay." He nodded slowly, "Thanks, big powerful ice lady."

The Tsaritsa paused, before replying, "You're welcome."

Venti spotted the Cryo Archon and felt a bittersweet warmth in his chest.

Venti continued to talk even though he was already crawling in the ground, "Beauty is a waste... when the beholder has no taste."

Chiori took out a notebook and wrote what Venti said down.

This led to Signora kicking him the chest once more.

"Venti!" Yelled the traveler.

"Well, we have what we came here for." Signora said, "Come. Before our dear Favonian friends arrive. Leave nothing for them to find."

"As much as I hate to say it, that Signora was very careful," Disappointment flickered across Diluc’s face, "Judging by Kaeya's reaction, the Knights of Favonius did not know this has transpired at all, and right in front of the church too. Still as inefficient."

"Master Diluc is correct," Jean said softly, lowering her head. "I'm sorry, Venti. As Acting Grandmaster, I failed to uphold the Knights' duty to protect you."

"Hey! No need to do that! I'm just a very weak archon, I can't possibly be—"

"Though you are Lord Barbatos, I believe Venti is still a Mondstadt citizen, is he not?"

This got to Venti.

She looked at him right through the eyes with a saddened gaze. "As the Acting Grandmaster, I apologize for our inadequancy to protect Mondstadt's citizens. We... will try to do better."

Suddenly, as though it was an unheard command, the rest of the Knights echoed the sentiment with action.

Kaeya, Albedo, and Eula rose to their feet and bowed their heads deeply. Amber, Lisa, Mika, Sucrose, and even Noelle followed in solemn silence.

Klee looked around in confusion before awkwardly mimicking the gesture, trying her best.

The sensation that welled up in Venti’s chest was strange, foreign even. It curled warmly in his stomach and prickled behind his eyes.

After all these years—after centuries of masks, songs, and sidestepping the weight of godhood—this was the first time he felt seen, not as Barbatos, not as the God, but simply as Venti without having to lie. Just another soul of Mondstadt. 

His gaze eventually fell on the traveler, who, too, stood up from his seat.

Aether gestured the same bow before standing straight up, "As the Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to protect you, Venti."

Venti blinked, startled. Of all the people he expected to bow to him, Aether was not one.

“You guys really are something else,” he murmured, voice barely louder than a breath.

Chapter Text

| SPECIAL 02 |
WE WILL BE REUNITED

ALMOST everyone grew fond of Mondstadt after witnessing what had just unfolded. The concept of freedom felt truly majestic — and the revelation that their Archon lived among them in disguise added a playful, intriguing charm to it all.

“I still can’t believe that the Anemo Archon is just right here with us,” Tighnari thought, long believing the absence of the Barbatos had meant something.

Cyno, completely serious, added, “Guess you could say… he really blew his cover.”

Silence followed. Even the wind seemed to stop.

Collei forced a laugh. “Ahaha… wow, General Mahamatra, that was… um… wind-erfully terrible.”

Then she looked at Tighnari, pleading with her eyes for moral support.

Among the crowd of nonchalance, Gorou threw his head back and laughed loud and genuine. “Hahaha! That was actually pretty good! I should write that down!”

Chiori shook her head.

Itto threw his hands up as he stifled a chuckle. “Bro! You’re seriously laughin’ at that lame joke? C’mon, Doggie General, my guy, my bro — you got legendary taste in battle, but your joke radar’s busted! That was weak sauce! Like... sauce with NO FLAVOR!”

“Doggie general?!”

Gorou’s tail lowered, and he inadvertently whimpered. Cyno also seemed to lower his head.

Ayato raised a calm hand to the oni’s shoulder. “Itto, my good bro, bros don’t judge bros. If General Gorou finds humor in it, who are we to deny him that joy? Let him laugh, there’s honor even in the simplest chuckle.”

Itto scratched his head, “Heh, alright, alright, Ayato-bro, you’re right, you’re right. Bros don’t judge bros... even if the Sumeru bro’s joke was trash.”

“Yo, Gorou, bro, listen—my bad for droppin’ the whole ‘Doggie General’ thing like that! I wasn’t tryna ruffle your fur or nothin’, alright? Oni honor!” Itto slapped a hand to his chest, then dove into his bag. “BUT FEAST YOUR EYES—BAM! ONIONS, BABY!” He held out a fistful of them. “Yeah! Shinobu said they stop tears if you eat ‘em or... maybe it was the opposite? Whatever! Point is—peace offering, bro-to-bro!”

Kuki’s eyes widened with disbelief, Ayato looked completely thrown off, and Kokomi and Yae barely managed to smother their laughter.

Gorou glanced nervously at the pungent bulbs. “Uh… thanks, Itto, but… there’s just one problem.”

“Yeah?”

“I… don’t like onions.”

“Wait, what!? Bro, that’s rough! Well, then, uh…” He picked up a box from his bag, “What about chocolate?!”

Kuki simply gave up with a defeated look, Ayato let out a long-suffering sigh, while Kokomi and Yae finally burst into laughter, no longer able to contain it.

Gorou gave a small, resigned sigh as his nose started to twitch. “Nope. I think I’m allergic.”

“Right! Doggie! Yeah! Gotcha!” The oni scratched his head again, “Well, uh, guess I really messed up this time! Sorry, doggie general—looks like you’re gonna be crying for real now!”

Gorou whimpered softly, “I should’ve known…”

Aether let out a quiet sigh as the exchange behind him faded into the background. His gaze fell on the next mixtape, its title etched in familiar words that struck a chord deep within him.

"We will be Reunited."

Another heavy sigh escaped him. He didn’t need to listen to know this one would be about his sister.

Paimon nudged his arm gently. “Traveler… Are you okay?”

He hesitated, then shook his head with a weak smile. “It’s nothing, Paimon.” Sliding the tape into the player, he added under his breath, “I just keep wondering… have we ever truly reunited yet? Why does it feel like we have even though we haven’t?”

Paimon’s wings drooped slightly as she hovered closer, “You will. You’ll see her again soon… Paimon just knows it.”

Her words, though small, lingered in the air like a promise neither of them wanted to break.

Venti hummed before the screen lights up again.

Amid the windswept ruins that resemble Stormterror’s Lair in Mondstadt, a Ruin Guard strides steadily across a grassy field, its arm extended. Perched calmly atop its hand sits a young woman — unmistakably the traveler’s sister, Lumine.

Aether closed his eyes, already missing his sister.

“Your sister is in command of the Ruin Graders?” Albedo pondered out loud.

“H-How?” Sucrose fixed her glasses, “Those are ancient machines that attack adventurers when spotted. I can hardly imagine being able to control one.”

Arlecchino tipped her chin, “It must be connected to the fact that she is the Princess of the Abyss.”

“Probably.” Lyney thought.

“Outlanders do not belong in this world.” She states.

“That’s what Celestia called you two, right, Traveler?” Iansan asked.

“Yup.” Paimon answered.

The scene shifts abruptly. The lush green fields of Mondstadt fade, replaced by cold gray tiles bathed in a crimson hue. Lumine now runs through this crumbling space, a place clearly on the verge of collapse, beneath a looming, blood-red moon.

(I will italicize from now on when it’s a flashback to Khaenri’ah, ‘cause it changes from the Mondstadt POV to Khaenri’ah POV so frequently.)

“Is that…?” Charlotte’s voice faltered.

“That can’t possibly be Teyvat.” Sara’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“It’s similar to those ancient domains across Mondstadt…” Amber thought.

Lumine hopped off of the Ruin Guard’s hands, watching a small dandelion.

“One day, this journey will reach its end.”

The music grew darker, as Lumine seemed to finally have gotten out of the falling building. She reached a cliff, and when she stood there, her eyes fell at the sight.

Her white cloak fluttered against the heat that rose from the inferno below. Before her stretched a broken, burning land — a kingdom now lost to chaos. Red cubes spiraled through the air like serpents, forming arched chains that bridged the skies.

The ruins crumbled into glowing lava, its towers shattered and streets drowned in flame. The earth bled molten rivers, and shadows twisted in the heat, warped and restless. The sky above was ablaze with deep crimson.

“What…?” Thoma asked nobody specifically.

“This happened 500 years ago,” Ei mumbled, remembering how her hands were stained in blood…Makoto’s blood, as her sister laid bare lifeless in front of her. She hesitated at the thought.

Nahida winced at the sight of Khaenri’ah, yet could hardly recall being there before. Furina gulped. Seeing a city engulfed in disaster gave her flashbacks of the flood.

The rest of the archons crossed their arms, unwilling to speak of the Cataclysm.

“Those cubes.” Lynette pointed with her teaspoon, “Aren’t they the ones that the Sustainer had?”

“You’re right,” Yumemizuki nodded, “Perhaps it’s Celestia who did this?”

“But… aren’t the archons on Celestia’s side, meow?” Kirara tilted her head in question.

The words hung there, echoing the unsettling truth.

Around the room, faces shifted, eyes darting from one person to another. The cat wasn't wrong. Some of the scholars knew the bitter implications all too well—if Celestia had truly laid waste to Khaenri'ah, then the Archons' alliance to them twisted the narrative into a knot of unsettling contradictions.

Alhaitham’s eyes swept across the room to the existing archons. The imperceptibly tightened grip on Venti's glass. The Raiden Shogun's internal recoil. Mavuika's almost unnoticed clenched fist. The Tsaritsa's split-second change of expression. Even Nahida’s slight tremble. Alhaitham saw it all.

Tighnari tried to change the subject. “You just have to wonder what this unknown person who brought all of us here’s angle is. Why go through all this trouble to inform us about this?”

“Maybe they want us to learn about the true history of Teyvat?” Heizou pondered out loud.

“Why in my perspective though?” Aether frowned. Sure, he’s an outlander, but according to Nahida, he’s the fourth descender. Why him out of them four?

Nahida glanced up at him, “Your journey will most likely affect the future of Teyvat as a whole.”

“That’s… a heavy responsibility.” Paimon gulped, shaking her head.

The rest of the people in the cinema nodded in agreement. There was no denying it—the traveler was a mystery, but lately, he'd been a stroke of luck for nearly every nation he'd passed through.

“To a safe journey, traveler…” Ifa looked at him in concern.

Lumine stepped onto the dandelion in dismay while the Ruin Guard followed suit.

Jean frowned, her eyes fixed on the crushed dandelion. She’d always had a soft spot for them. Lisa stepped in quietly, resting a hand on her back.

“But until the abyss has engulfed the thrones, my war with destiny will see no end.” She proclaimed before turning around to a familiar voice.

“War with destiny?” Nilou repeated.

The Wanderer scoffed at such a thought. Fighting against destiny has always been a pain that he had to take things in his own hands. If he lived in Khaenri’ah just as the traveler’s sister had, he may have lost more than he already had. “I would still have done what I’ve already done…”

“The stars are rarely wrong,” Mona murmured, imagining a few constellations, “They chart what’s to come, what must be. Having war with it... defying it will be quite the feat."

The Wanderer chuckled at her. “The stars in the sky… so you believe they are real?”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing,” He whistled, “I’m just wondering how long you’ll believe in a lie.”

“They don’t lie,” she snapped, then hesitated. “They… don’t always tell the whole truth, either.”

“There it is. A little crack in the faith.”

Mona glared at him, only for Nahida to scrunch the Wanderer’s head. They didn’t say another word, but a quiet tension hung between them.

“Your highness,” Said a tiny abyss mage, “Our plan to weaponize the dragon has been impeded.”

“By the Anemo Archon?” She pondered, “He rises again for the dragon’s sake?”

“No, not the Archon. We were well prepared for his interference. Regrettably, your highness, the issue is…” It paused, “Your brother.”

Venti furrowed his eyebrows. “Well prepared for my interference? What else could they possibly have under their sleeve if the traveler didn’t come to Mondstadt?”

Diluc crossed his arms, “It looks like you were the key to saving Dvalin, traveler.”

“I’m always willing to help.” Aether smiled softly, but slowly his face began to gloom at the sight of his sister.

Lumine’s thoughts came to a halt as a distant look settled in her eyes. Memories stirred. Two shooting stars streaked across the sky, and the painful moment she and her brother were torn apart by the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles echoed in her mind.

“Wait, so she pretty much forgot everything that happened between you two? The whole being separated thing and all?” Dori said bluntly without a second thought.

“Don’t word it like that.” Chevreuse glared at the source of the insensitive comment, “Maybe with everything she went through in Khaenri’ah, the grief was just too much. Perhaps she was so overwhelmed that you can’t see clearly anymore.”

Aether’s mind drifted as Chevreuse spoke, her words lingering. It wasn’t simple forgetfulness; it was survival. Sometimes memories twisted, faded, or hid themselves away to protect the heart. He felt frustrated. How could he expect her to hold onto everything perfectly when her world had been shattered?

“Thanks, Chevreuse.”

“It’s nothing, Traveler.”

The music swelled, intensifying the emotion, as Lumine sprinted toward a cliff, one eerily similar to the one she had once stood upon in Khaenri’ah. From a distance, she watched as Aether fought valiantly against hilichurls within Stormterror’s Lair, his floating companion skillfully dodging each blow that came their way.

“So Lumine was there… No wonder I felt like someone was watching me,” the blonde said, his voice trembling with tears. “I… wish we’d had the chance to talk, even just for a little while.”

Paimon rushed to get tissues out of her magical pocket, wiping it immediately to Aether’s cheeks.

Jean and Barbara quietly observed the Traveler’s longing gaze toward their sibling, a feeling mirrored in Kaeya’s brief glance at Diluc. Albedo squeezed Klee’s hands gently, and Ayato did the same with Ayaka. Childe’s expression softened with the thought of Teucer, wishing he were there to share the moment. Nearby, Lyney and Lynette leaned in together, resting their heads on Freminet’s shoulder, all silently acknowledging the deep bond that only siblings truly understand.

She watched him fondly.

“We will be reunited, dear brother.”

“But not here, not now.”

As Aether struck down the final enemy, he glanced up at the cliff above, only to find it empty.

Aether took a deep breath, the weight of everything settling heavily on his chest. He found some quiet comfort in knowing his sister had wanted to reunite just as much as he did.

Paimon drifted closer, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder—no words needed. Sometimes, the quiet presence of someone who understands was enough to ease the ache inside.

By then, Lumine had already begun her descent, returning silently to the Ruin Guard’s outstretched hand.

“We will meet at this journey’s end… once the dust has settled,” she whispered.

Zhongli’s eyes briefly widened at the quote, but he quickly cleared his throat and returned to his calm, composed posture.

“Being able to reunite is better than not to, even if it’s in the distant future.” Sunday crossed his arms.

While Aether and Paimon made their way out of the lair, Lumine moved in the opposite direction, each of them walking away — unaware of how closely they had crossed paths, yet never truly seen.

“Then you will understand.”

“So the traveler’s journey isn’t solely for the reason of travelling and to find his sister.” Kachina thought out loud, “He’s trying to reach his journey’s end.”

Zhongli nodded to the child. “The Traveler’s journey… It seems every step taken was not merely wandering, but a deliberate pursuit. An unwavering desire to reach a certain end. A purpose so profound, it guides their very path.”

Most of them felt heartfelt at the traveler’s sentiment… but not the Harbingers. At least, not all of them.

“It looks like Snezhnaya is his final destination.” Capitano said.

Columbina’s face barely shifted as she murmured. “A fragile thread pulled tight by longing and loss. Yet, like a puppet dancing toward its final act, he steps on a stage set for tragedy.”

Dottore tipped his chin, mischievously grinning. “A tragedy I would like to play a part of.”

The Tsaritsa lowered her gaze. The renowned traveler will soon set foot onto her icy land. Would he take part in the assembly happening at Nod Krai? Her porcelain-like fingertips drifted forward, brushing against her cold temple.

"Will you be able to endure my bitter cold, outlander?"

Chapter Text

| SPECIAL 03 |
GNOSTIC CHORUS

“HUH?” Itto tilted his idiot head, “What does that even mean?”

“Gnostic… hmm,” Albedo tipped his chin, “Perhaps it came from the word Gnosticism? The belief that the world’s an illusion, and real truth comes from hidden knowledge.”

Layla replied, “So… it’s like truths you can only discover through deep thought... or dreams.”

Mona looked at the scholar, “Are you trying to say this world is fake?”

“Nothing more than a theory—though an intellectually stimulating one.” Alhaitham replied, “Like they said, it’s just a belief.”

“Chorus, it says too.” Emilie theorized, twirling her pen, “I wonder how all this will connect.”

Aether dropped a sweat, he was a bit curious as well. The title is pretty vague, and he couldn’t pinpoint what chapter this is of his journey. Nonetheless, he picked up the tape and placed it into the player.

A recognizable voice begins to speak as the scene opens on an image of a kingdom. “Once there was a glorious kingdom established among the heavens.”

“It’s Tone Deaf Bard’s voice again!” Paimon noted.

“Of course, who else would it be?” Venti bowed, grinning behind a facade.

“A kingdom among the heavens... it sounds strangely familiar.” Aether thought, “It’s like the stories we’ve heard about Celestia.”

Kazuha thought, “I’m kind of unsure if this is truly about Celestia or if it’s hidden history.”

The view pulls back from the castle, revealing a king gesturing grandly with two guards at his side, while a kneeling crowned heir bows in reverence.

“From that kingdom came a crowned heir, tasked with seeking out the Genesis Pearl from the Kingdom of Darkness.”

“A ‘Genesis Pearl’… it sounds like a symbolic artifact of creation or origin.” Sucrose noted down in her notebook.

“I can’t tell if this is about Teyvat or not…” Xinyan shrugged.

“Maybe we should just continue watching.” Yun Jin said.

A princess is shown walking through a field of dandelions, her gaze locked on a clamshell ahead.

“The first crowned heir began her journey seeking the pearl.” The clamshell opens to reveal a radiant, glowing pearl, guarded fiercely by a snake whose venom drips and taints it.

“But she was deceived, and the memory of her noble origins faded.”

“Huh… a serpent?” Aether frowned, he could recall something from such an animal.

“What does this got to do with the traveler, I wonder?” Paimon thought out loud, but nobody replied. Actually, nobody knew the answer, except a certain bard.

A vision appears of her crown wrapped in thorny vines before descending onto her head. Shadows coil around her as she takes her seat on a throne.

“She now believed that she was the queen of the Kingdom of Darkness.”

Fischl dramatically said, “Lost in shadow, crowned at night—oh, the tragedy of the fallen heir.”

Aether’s eyes widened. Why did this story sound so familiar? Like it was a reflection of his and his sister’s own? They were royalty. Is it about that?

He could hardly recall anything about this past for some reason. He shook his head. Somehow, the memories were foggier in the cinema.

“But take heart, a second crowned heir had already taken up the path where the first had stumbled.” Venti’s voice goes on.

The next image shows a prince staring out across distant mountains. His appearance closely resembles the princess, as though they are twins.

“This is the story of your journey, of your tale to be told.”

“Twin siblings. One has fallen into the darkness, while the other is on a journey.” Albedo eyed the blonde in concern. He folded his hands behind his back, the corners of his mouth drawn tight in quiet contemplation.

“You’ve heard this story before,” he thought, “Or rather... you’ve lived it.”

“What do you think this is about, Venti?” Diluc crossed his arms, quietly observing how the bard had been staring at the screen. 

“Right,” Kaeya nodded, “You are the narrator, are you not?”

“Why, I know just as much as you all do in this context!” Venti lied, “I hardly recall singing such a beautiful poem like that myself.”

“I see…” Jean replied for the rest of them. Maybe he has a reason for hiding a secret, “Then all we can do is mere speculation. The honorary knight also doesn’t seem to know anything.”

“Yes! This is all new to Paimon too!’ The flying baby pointed out.

“I have a theory,” Chasca spoke up, “With the way it’s presented, to me, it feels more like a warning or something else. If this did happen in the past, with another set of twins, could it be foreshadowing of the pattern that keeps repeating in Teyvat?”

“That works.” Wriothesley nodded, “But I think taking it at face value also works. The traveler’s sister is called ‘the princess’ by those abyss mages. It won’t be farfetched if these stories parallel or it is as is.”

“I dunno about all that deep stuff,” Itto said, arms crossed, brow furrowed, “But lemme tell ya what I saw.”

The group collectively paused, already bracing.

“The crowned heirs? That’s obviously you and your sister, bro,” he said, thumbing at Aether, “Total twin stuff, right? One goes missin’, the other’s out lookin’ for her?”

Aether blinked, genuinely surprised by how close Itto was getting.

“And that Gene Pearl whatchamacallit? Pfft—easy. That’s the flying Lavender Melon.”

“HUH?!” Paimon squeaked, flailing midair. “Why am I the shiny object?!”

“Well duh!” Itto grinned. “You float, you sparkle, you talk weird—like a treasure! It just makes sense! You’re the Traveler’s emergency food!”

“I—HEY!!”

“But then,” he continued, “Some snake-jerk trapped the traveler’s sister in the Kingdom of Darkness, right? That’s the Abyss dudes. They trap you too, flying lavender melon, and boom—he’s like, ‘I gotta get ‘em back!’ But my bro here is pretty strong, so he can do it.”

Paimon opened her mouth, closed it again, then puffed her cheeks. “Well... I guess that’s better than turning evil…”

Kaeya smirked. “Honestly, I’m impressed. That’s… not the worst take I’ve heard.”

Heizou raised a brow. “The symbolic framework of it is weird but it works?”

“And don’t forget!” Itto finished proudly, “The moral is: protect your floating buddy and sister, and punch snakes in the face!”

Everyone paused.

“…I mean… he’s not wrong,” muttered Gaming.

| SPECIAL 03.5 |
THE BOY AND THE WHIRLWIND

“So there’s a part two or is this different?” Beidou asked.

“They have the same art style, so maybe not?” Yae Miko replied.

“In Old Mondstadt transpired the story to be told.
Where a tyrant ruled, I met a boy, not that old.”

“Oh. It is different.” Barbara said, “It’s about Mondstadt’s history.”

“And Venti is at the scene of the crime again!” Paimon joked, considering everything so far has been narrated by the bard.

“Ehe?”

Venti’s voice carried over the scene as an image of wind sweeping across the screen appeared.

Within the swirling breeze, a silhouette formed in the shape of a queen chess piece, revealing the outline of a young bard.

“A queen chess piece again! It was your gnosis, right, Venti?” Charlotte gasped.

“Yup.” He answered quickly.

“Then this should be about the Anemo Archon as well?” Collei asked.

“I guess.”

This bard had twin-tail braids framing his face, much like Venti’s own. Draped in a brown cape, he knelt on the ground, gently cradling a lyre in his hands.

“The lyre he played, and for a song he sought,”

“He looks a lot like Venti!” Hu Tao pointed out as if it wasn’t obvious already.

“I do recall my family clan saying they fought with the Anemo Archon.” Jean pondered.

Venti’s ears went unheard. Seeing his old friend’s image projected so grandly nearly brought him to tears. He had always looked into the mirror and seen that same face—but deep down, he knew it was never truly his .

This was his friend’s face. He had never forgotten him, but now seeing his friend now as who he truly was and not seen as Venti nor Barbatos, his heart couldn’t help but ache.

Oh how he missed him.

Capitano cleared his throat, “I’ve heard that the Archons used to be normal living beings in Teyvat before ascending to Godhood.” He stated, gaining shocked faces from those who didn’t know.

Still he continued, “Venti, is this you before becoming the Anemo Archon?”

The bard simply nodded, “I’d rather let the winds of the past sing the tale than speak it plain from my own lips.” He winked, “Wouldn’t that be more exciting?”

The Captain folded his arms, seemingly curious.

A small, wisp-like creature emerged before the lyre, glowing softly.

“Waaa! So adorable!” Mualani whispered as best she could, considering the atmosphere was incredibly heavy. 

“Very cute.” Lynette added, hoping to cuddle with it.

Venti, though no stranger to compliments, found himself blushing faintly at their remarks.

Zhongli, catching sight of the bard’s expression, turned his head with a barely-there smile. “What’s wrong, Mr. Venti?”

“N-Nothing, Mr. Zhongli!" 

“Are you sure?” Ei caught on, “You’re awfully red in the cheeks.”

“Red? Are you sick maybe?” Nahida instinctively went towards Venti and touched his forehead, as if trying to look at his temperature. “You’re not sick at all… Ah, I get it! Maybe you should go try to flush the anxiety dookie away! I heard that people feel less stressed after they take a dook-dook!”

Mavuika paused. “Anixety… dookie?”

“Dook-dook?” The Tsaritsa felt appalled by the choice of words.

Neuvilette almost spat out his cup of water. “The God of Wisdom truly has a way with words…”

“Nahida, please!” Venti begged, flustered beyond measure as he frantically tried to convince her that he was perfectly alright.

The scene then shifted to an image of a towering structure shrouded in fierce, stormy weather.

“But storm-walls blocked the blue sky - he was sincerely distraught.”

“Well, that’s a huge change in mood.” Keqing commented.

The bard’s face came into clearer view, bearing a striking resemblance to Venti’s. His expression was tense, eyes narrowed in anger as he stared up at the looming tower.

“‘I do so wish to see the birds in flight,’
Said he, his strong eyes filling with light.
But his voice was lost in the howling wind’s churn,
For the whirlwind takes, and gives naught in return.”

“Question,” Childe raised his hand rather politely, “Why’d you keep talking about it in third person? Or is this something bards do all the time?”

“He is narrating in the guise of a bard.” Skirk explained to her pupil.

“Is that really it? Feels pretty sus.” Ifa’s eyes narrowed.

Ororon facepalmed, “Everything’s sus in your eyes, bro.”

Dark clouds converged, showing an intricate flowery aesthetic. In one bubble, we see the Venti-look-alike mapping out something on the ground, the same wisp floating nearby him. The surrounding scrolls depict beautiful sceneries of Old Mondstadt.

“The true sky, and songs that cageless soar.
Were they not wishes worth fighting for?”

“Wow. Is Mondstadt that beautiful? I’d love to pay a visit.” Childe looked quite eager.

Zhongli gave him a sidelong glance. “A journey to the land of freedom does have its appeal.”

Childe caught the look and raised an eyebrow. “Hey, why are you staring at me like that?”

“Because, duh!” Paimon laughed, “You’re Zhongli’s walking wallet! I bet he wants you to take him on that trip.”

“Mr. Zhongli is not broke!” Hu Tao pointed out, “You make it sound like the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor doesn’t pay well.”

“Does it?” Xingqiu questioned, gaining only a pout from the director.

“So the boy turned, extending his hand:
‘Let us cast down the tyrant and his walls from this land.’”

Now, a full view of the bard is revealed as he extends his hand forward, radiant light shining behind him like a beacon of hope.

“So you lead the fall of Decarabian?” Cyno asked.

“No.” Venti answered curtly, “I would hardly take credit for something I didn’t do.”

This led to confused looks from everyone, with them not understanding why he couldn’t possibly be credited for this.

“The young boy raised then the flag of revolt,
And I threw myself into freedom’s tumult.”

Aether raised a brow. “So Venti does do first person narrations, does that mean he isn’t the boy there?”

And finally the memory clicked. It had been years since Venti had told him of that, but now he remembered.

“This… must be Venti’s friend. The one whose identity he borrowed just like Stanley.” He then looked up again, “Then… could you be that little wisp?”

Venti hummed quietly but loud enough for Aether to hear, as if it was confirmation.

“The winds are hollow.” Kazuha noted.

The bard is now shown leading a group of people, with the same tower consumed by roaring flames in the background. Among the crowd, a white-haired woman and a red-haired man stand out clearly.

“Victorious were we who fought to be free.
Gods fell, winds whipped, nations shook violently.”

The tower fractured and finally burst apart, possibly marking the collapse of tyranny.

“Of course they’re successful,” Kaeya shrugged, “Else Mondstadt wouldn’t be where it is today.”

“Is the one that fell a king or something?” Lyney asked, “Sorry, I’m not too familiar with Mondstadt’s history.”

“That’s alright, sweetie. Decarabian was the God of Storms that ruled over Old Mondstadt.” Lisa explained, “All in all, he was a tyrant who went against the ideal of freedom that the people hoped for.”

Alhaitham, ever the nitpicker, added, “Though do take note that ‘tyrant’ is a term shaped by hindsight. He believed he was shielding the people from Boreas’ blizzards.”

“That barrier was a prison,” Amber cut in, arms crossed. “People couldn’t leave, couldn’t sing freely, couldn’t even choose where to live!”

“No one’s denying the outcome,” Alhaitham replied coolly. “But intent matters. Decarabian wasn’t cruel, just distant. He was a God who misunderstood humanity, not one who hated it.”

“Misunderstood or not,” Lisa said, “he still forced his ideals onto others. That makes him a tyrant, no matter how poetic the motive.”

The scholar didn’t argue, he simply shrugged. “A tragic one, then. Still worth studying.”

Venti sighed, “Freedom means nothing if it’s only what you decide it should be. He may want to protect but love without listening is just control dressed in pretty words.”

Tsaritsa's eyes widened for a moment, before shaking her head.

“He built walls of wind, caging people in. At that point, you stop hearing the people’s song.” He paused, “And without song, what’s a city but silence?”

“Well said.” Zhongli nodded.

Alhaitham just agreed. He was on neither side, and he simply wanted to know the two varying perspectives. 

As the war drew to a close, wreckage lay scattered everywhere. Amidst the debris rested the bard’s shattered lyre, and the bard himself—pierced by countless arrows. The red-haired man cradled his body, his gaze fixed on the crumbling tower.

“Did the little Bartholos die?!” Itto gasped.

“It’s Lord Barbatos!” Barbara puffed her cheeks.

“Same thing! But why is he like, unalive there?”

Venti sighed, he truly doesn’t want to explain these things of his past to random strangers. Only the traveler knew of it. 

Just seeing his dead friend’s image gave him shivers.

And yet the world told him to hell with that!

“Were you the little elemental spirit?” Yelan asked, almost as if she was certain.

“I’ve been noticing it for a while but the bard has always been mentioned in third person, and you have mentioned yourself being involved.” Yanfei said, “Then you must be the recurring wind spirit?”

Aether’s brows furrowed. “Venti, you don’t need to—”

“It’s fine. I think I’d rather that everyone knows the truth than to speculate about my friend.” He squared up, “That bard… was my friend, and I used to be that wisp.”

Mualani and Lynette flushed. Did they just call the Anemo Archon cute a while ago?!

“So that form must be…” Kinich trailed off, now fully understanding what could’ve happened.

“Oh.” Yelan and Yanfei said at the same time, “Apologies…”

“It’s alright.” Venti said, “I’m just glad he didn't get buried in the past.”

“In the smoke, a despot met his doom,
And we watched as his great tower fell none too soon.”

“Oh! Now I get it.” Collei said, “So Stormterror’s Lair is where Old Mondstadt used to be.”

“Mondstadt began anew, the story passed down,
And since then never has another worn its crown.”

Dottore tilted his head, smiling thinly, "Fascinating. So even the weakest can ascend, given enough sentimentality and corpses."

“You’ve said enough, Doctor.” Arlecchino didn’t mince her words, “I don’t want the children to hear.”

The people of Mondstadt glared at the Doctor. He had no right to judge their archon like that.

Venti spat back, “You’re not a man, you're just rot with pride. Even monsters feel, while you’re empty inside."

"Hmph." Dottore’s eyes glinted behind his mask. “You rhyme like it hides the fact you ran away. Teyvat burned and you played drunk.”

"Better a drunk who sings for peace, than a freak who cuts just to feel release."

“Hahaha! It's funny how you play ‘God’ with tears and poems, while I can build gods.” His laugh echoed across the room.

Venti leaned, “You built gods, yet none stayed true. They break like you do: all parts, no you."

“OOF! NOW THAT BURNED!” Itto and Ororon said at the same time.

“We don’t even have the context of what they meant…” Kuki dropped a sweat.

Chapter Text

| TEASER 01 |
VENTI: THE FOUR WINDS

“One millenium ago, when the aristocracy fell at last from grace.” Venti narrates, as he’s shown drifting in the sky, gently holding his lyre.

“The Defender of the South banished tyranny from the city gates, while the West spread her wings and took her rightful place!” Visuals follow, displaying two flags—one with a lion, the other with a falcon.

Most of the people of Mondstadt stood tall, proud of their history for being able to banish a tyrant. Alhaitham took note of this.

Jean daydreamed, “Will we be able to see Grandmaster Vennessa?”

Lisa chuckled slightly, already knowing what was going on in the Acting Grandmaster’s head.

A third flag bearing the image of a wolf emerges. “The wanderer in the North settled with the wolven race."

Razor tilted his head at the mention, but couldn’t quite understand what it meant.

We now see these flags displaying themselves inside a grand building. All four: a purple lion, a green wolf, red flacon and a blue dragon.

“Huh.” Kirara squinted her eyes, “They didn’t show the other flag before!”

“Probably because we’ve already met Dvalin.” Chiori explained to the neko.

“As the Four Winds blew,
To all corners they flew,
But much was to be done to build Mondstadt anew.”

“Sounds like Lord Barbatos sat back and let everyone else do the rebuilding.” Dahlia joked out loud.

“I—I gave guidance!” Venti shot back, stamping a foot. “And I composed songs to uplift the spirits of the people!”

“Yeah? And how many of those songs had lyrics that went, ‘Mondstadt’s fine, now pass the wine’?” Dahlia grinned, already knowing the answer.

“That was a hit single!”

Barbara watched as the two bantered, her mouth wide agape. “Lord Barbatos may be Venti, but to tease him like that? Dahlia, are you okay??”

We glimpse a moment in that era, where a red-haired woman sits at the desk typically used by Jean, absorbed in her duties as Grand Master. Venti stands before her, strumming his lyre.

Mavuika paused at the person, knowing the history of Natlan, and furrowed her brows.

Jean’s eyes widened, looking at the screen.

“Is that Grand Master Vennessa?”

Venti slightly smirked. “Why of course!”

Jean’s eyes lingered on the silhouette. Then almost imperceptibly, her fingers curled and uncurled against her glove.

"...Do you know more about her, Venti?" she asked.

Venti turned to her, a knowing look in his eyes. “Acting Grand Master Jean… What do I know more about her?” He chuckled softly. “Conscientious. Courageous. Kind and considerate, through and through.”

He let the breeze speak for a moment before adding, “Venessa is exactly like you, Master Jean!”

Jean’s breath caught as she turned back to the figure. “...Really?”

“Why of course! Would a bard like myself lie?” His smile curved gently.

“The Anemo called on them, each one in turn.
First their leader, the west wind, though he found himself spurned.”

“The Lionfang Knight was less than impressed:
‘I’ve no time to join you and sing, dance, and jest,
For you see to these three while I handle the rest!’”

“The first Grand Master sounded so diligent!” Noelle clapped her hands together.

Itto nodded to the knight, “So the lady leader was all like, ‘Nah, you go have fun. I got this.’ Total boss move!”

Paimon stared at him, “That sounds more like Shinobu than you, bull-chucker!”

“Hey! Give me some credit, dude!”

Now we see Venti facing Andrius, a gigantic wolf in the middle of the forest.

“Next did he track down that leader of wolves
Asked him to tame his most unbridled of souls.
The Wolf-leader growled, he would not be contained:
‘Do not lecture me, bard, you who are the least restrained.’”

“Wolf angry. But wolf right!” Razor said, pointing to Andrius.

“Even the Wolf of the North knew his antics.” Lisa chuckled quietly.

Now we see Venti reaching his hand out to a familiar dragon.

“So the Anemo God implored the friend he’d known first.
To blow the ice from the face of the earth,
That verdance and freedom could once more be birthed.”

Xiao crossed his arms, “Dragons tend to have… complicated issues with Archons. But I suppose this is Dvalin.”

Zhongli and Neuvillette almost coughed out their osmanthus wine and water, clearing their throats. Hu Tao stared knowingly at Zhongli before turning her head away.

“Why do you think so, Adeptus Xiao?” The director asked.

Xiao glanced slightly at Xianyun before clearing his throat. “I’m just surprised Venti thought asking Dvalin for help would work.”

Hu Tao hummed in reply. Yup! She shouldn’t know about the history of the dragon sovereigns, Xiao thought.

“But the dragon had known his bard-god friend too long,
He would not share the work, but dictate it through song.”

“So he does do nothing but slack off.” Childe grinned cheekily. “He just sings, huh.”

“A song may seem like idle play, but winds obey what this bard conveys~!” Venti replied against the fatui.

The screen fades in black, before Dvalin’s voice rang out: “Do some real work, Barbatos!”

Diluc stared at the bard, deadpan from what he just said earlier. “I don’t think Dvalin agrees though.”

Everyone exploded into laughter at what the dragon had said. Chairs shook. Water spat. Kaeya nearly choked on his drink.

Venti’s smirk twitched. “W-Wait—”

Kaeya leaned back lazily, grinning like a cat. “You ride the wind, you play your part. But where’d you leave your dignity, bard?”

Mika and Lisa tried their best not to laugh. Eula and Amber looked at the Cavalry Captain and sighed.

Dahlia mock-bowed. “A god, a bard, divine and free. Then why’s your work ethic worse than me?”

Barbara gasped, Rosaria grinned.

Albedo quietly chuckled. “A bard whose words drift light and free. Just like his sense of responsibility.”

Sucrose choked back a laugh. Mona snorted. Fischl failed to stay composed. Noelle is just utterly flabbergasted.

Venti blinked. “Et tu, Albedo?”

Diluc sipped his drink. “You’re lucky wine-making isn’t part of being an Archon. Mondstadt would’ve gone dry.”

Venti finally slumped in his seat. “Okay. I yield.”

Everyone in the cinema couldn’t hold back their laughter. The People of Mondstadt’s freedom truly is something, even to the point of roasting their very own Archon.

Ifa added, “I like how Venti is just constantly being disrespected in both here and the video.”

“Even the Four Winds agreed.” Sethos reminded.

“I get it! I get it!” The bard tried to make them stop.

| TRAILER 01 |
A BARD'S BUSINESS

“This time’s a trailer?” Yoimiya then tipped her chin, “What’s the difference between a trailer and a teaser?”

“We’ll just have to find out.” Ayato replied.

A soft, orchestral melody drifts in the background as the scene opens on Venti, perched on a rock—likely somewhere near Windrise.

“What a beautiful tune!” Nilou pressed her hands together in glee.

Skirk smiled, remembering how a certain musician had taught her how to strum a guitar. She gazed at him for a moment, and focused back on the screen.

“There’s an archaic tale to be told,
that of which is of an ancient one,
That of which traveled among the gods,
That of which beheld lands undone, seas spun.”

Yun Jin commented. “As much as everyone has already roasted Venti, I would love to hear more of his poems.”

“Hearing rhymes is certainly soothing to the ears.” Ningguang replied.

Before Venti can finish reciting his verse, a sharp crackle of electricity interrupts the calm. An Electro Cicin Mage makes her entrance.

Kazuha’s brow twitched as he listened. “The interruption of art, always so abrupt.”

“To interrupt the sacred weaving of verse is most vile indeed!” Fischl declared, doing some weird Jojo poses.

“Is that really what ya’ll are concerned about right now?!” Itto jabbed a finger at the screen. “That fatui is cooked! Barbara here is THE Archon of Mondstadt!”

“That’s Lord Barbatos! Not me!” The deaconess puffed her cheeks, flustered but secretly flattered that her name came close to their archon.

“Whatchu talking about, Barbatos?” Itto looked solely at the blonde.

“Seriously, boss?” Kuki muttered, palm already pressed to her forehead.

“Oh? How chained to your daily toiling you are… Must you intrude on a bard’s leisure time?” The mood shifts—music growing more intense—as the Fatui mage lunges toward him.

“The bard’s leisure time being 24/7.” Dahlia added.

Venti for once, deadpanned.

Venti responds by tossing his lyre into the air and leaping after it, strumming its strings midair while laughing. The visuals morph into a 2D animation, briefly flashing his constellation.

“Whoah! That transition is way too cool!” Bennett said in awe.

“Not to mention, the artstyle is beautiful.” Albedo said, inspired to draw once more.

“He looks the same as always.” Xiao commented inadvertently, not intending it.

“Ohoho?” Venti smirked. “So you have been looking at me, Adeptus Xiao! How flattering.” He struck a pose, fingers still delicately plucking his lyre’s strings.

Xiao blinked. “I was making an observation.”

“Mmm, don’t worry. You can observe me as much as you like.”

“…I already do that,” Xiao said bluntly. “Your presence disrupts my focus sometimes.”

Aether choked on air. “Wait… Xiao, that’s not—”

“Ah, he’s so dedicated!” Venti swooned dramatically. “Watching over my every breeze, how romantic.”

“...Why are you making that face?” He tilted his head questioningly.

Albedo quietly scribbled in his sketchbook. “This is a rare interaction. I must capture it.” Dahlia nodded, eating a bag of popcorn.

Venti leaned in closer to Xiao with a lopsided grin.

“Come now, surely even you feel a little flutter when I sing, yes?”

“I feel annoyed when you’re off-key.”

Venti clutched his chest in mock agony. “Ouch! My pride… pierced by a yaksha’s spear of indifference!”

“Don’t be dramatic,” Xiao said flatly.

Everyone blinked, feeling out of place even though they are the majority.

Paimon hovered uncertainly. “Uhhh… should Paimon say something? Or is this one of those weird adult conversations?”

“No, I think it’s just Venti being Venti,” Aether tried to keep calm, like there was something he wanted to say to the bard.

| VENTI | ANEMO |
One of the many bards of Mondstadt who freely wanders the city streets

“I wonder what the more normal bards are like.” Chongyun pondered out loud.

“Hey! What do you mean by ‘normal’?” Venti frowned, crossing his arms and shaking his head.

Eula added. “He is the most famous bard in Mondstadt though.”

Thoma joked. “Imagine having ‘many’ versions of Venti. Mondstadt would collapse.”

“I’m irreplaceable, of course~!”

Venti displays his combat finesse with a bow, dancing through the fight with whimsical grace as the music turns playful—plucked strings and energetic guitar riffs setting the tone.

“That tune rocks!” Xinyan said, rocking her head up and down.

Venti, again, throws his lyre with a smile. “Some notes can’t be played for just anyone.”

The screen displays the lyre in full, showing a short message that states:
Full of Mystery, Born from the Branches of Time
A History full of glory and sorrow, and witness to the Divine

Alhaitham scrunched his nose as he read through it, nodding and taking notes. Albedo and Heizou were no different, as if they were ready to write about Venti’s suspicious life story.

“That lyre has seen more history than most mortals ever will.” Yae said almost suddenly.

Yelan smirked, “It could even be older than Barbatos himself.”

“Yes, yes, go ahead and theorize in front of me~” Venti laughed.

“Lest the high winds blow you away!” Venti jests, summoning a powerful gust that blasts a group of hilichurls, his hair glowing with radiant energy.

“Did your hair just glow?” Candace asked.

“This is the first time we’ve seen that.” Cyno tipped his chin, quietly observant despite playing TCG by himself.

There was a pause. Then Xilonen, thoughtful, broke it. “That only happens when Mavuika uses her full strength.”

“My vision usually lights up when I use it,” Yanfei said, frowning slightly, gears already turning behind her eyes. “I think that works on everyone, right?”

She glanced around. The group responded slowly—first a hum from Tighnari, then a small nod from Faruzan. The rest seemed to mirror them.

“That’s true,” Kuki muttered.

Yanfei’s voice quickened. “And Archons don’t use visions like us.”

Heizou snapped his fingers. “Ah! I see where you’re going.”

Yanfei continued, “Then maybe, since archons are the embodiment of the element, it causes their hair to glow or something? Since it’s not a vision like us, and also the fact that Venti here can still use his anemo despite having his gnosis taken.”

Tighnari tilted his head. “So his connection is innate… possibly physiological in some way.”

Sucrose blinked. “Then maybe the glow is because their powers manifest innately?”

“You’re on to something there.” Alhaitham pointed his pen at her. “I’ve noticed on the Mondstadt Chapters, against the fatui, Venti’s hair did not glow when fighting against her. So that begs the question,” He calmly asked the archon, “Did you hold back against Signora?”

Venti chuckled, twirling a breeze ‘round his lyre like a ribbon of song.

“Not all winds will show their face, nor every calm reveals a trace. Sip your thoughts like aged wine, oh clever minds. Some truths are best left in rhyme.”

Nahida immediately stepped in. “I think your theory is well thought out,” she said warmly, addressing the group, “but not every truth needs to be confirmed, especially if it means prying into someone’s heart.”

She looked toward Venti, her gaze kind. “Intentions can speak louder than evidence. If someone chooses to hold back, maybe it's not from deceit… but compassion.”

Then she turned to the smarties again with a knowing look. “As seekers of knowledge, it’s just as important to ask why we want answers… as it is to find them.”

Alhaitham nodded towards the two Gods. “Apologies. I never asked the question to be answered.”

Then he returned to his notes, as if nothing more needed to be said.

“Rhythm take you!” Venti summons a goddamn blackhole against the hilichurls, and then for some reason, Lisa and Klee attack the black hole.

“Yay! Mr. Venti likes Klee’s bombs!” The little girl cheered, jumping from her seat.

Lisa tapped her chin, confused. “I don’t recall assisting Venti in a fight…”

"I don't think being that close to a blackhole is safe, Lisa, Klee." Jean sort of reprimanded them.

Venti strums his lyre one final time—only for it to shimmer and transform into the bow he's wielded throughout. He fires an arrow straight toward the viewer, causing the screen to go dark.

Everyone flinched as the arrow seemed to pierce through the air itself, the screen going dark in its wake.

“...Okay, that was so unnecessary.” Kaveh huffed, brushing off his sleeve like the arrow had grazed him personally.

“Dramatic,” Cyno muttered.

Collei gasped. “Did he just turn his lyre into a bow?!”

“Ehe~”

Chapter Text

| TEASER 02 |
KLEE: FLEEING SUNLIGHT IN THE NIGHT

“It’s Klee! It’s Klee!” The little knight pointed excitedly at the screen. “It’s Klee’s name! Yay!”

“Sounds like everyone’s getting a bit of spotlight.” Kaeya noted, “I wonder how mine will go.”

Diluc crossed his arms, huffing. “I would rather not watch a demo about you.”

“Now, now. Calm down, Master Diluc.” The Cavalry Captain shrugged his shoulders. “We’re here to watch Klee’s. Try to be a bit nicer.”

“Hmph.”

Meanwhile, Jean was already having a headache. She could only wonder what type of destruction that’d unravel in Klee’s story.

Klee’s voice echoed cheerfully as she lay sprawled on the floor, clutching a crayon and scribbling on a sheet of paper.

“Hey Traveler, I’ll let you in on a little secret. Did you know there are monsters that come out at night in Mondstadt?”

Jean sighed, she had already heard of this story, and it did not result into anything nice. She slightly eyed Kaeya, who felt a shiver in his spine.

Paimon, apparently, was quite stupid and believed it. “W-Wait, what?! There aren’t monsters pretending to be Knights… right?”

Aether laughed, whispering to her that this is Klee’s point of view.

Albedo chuckled, “It’s always interesting to see Klee’s imagination at work.”

The screen slowly transitions to black.

“Shh! Be quiet! I’ll tell you everything, but you can’t tell nobody!”

“Aww… now everyone will know!” Klee frowned, hugging her little dodoco.

“At least now we can protect you from the monsters, Klee!” Bennett pumped up his fist.

“You’re right!” The little elf’s eyes sparkled, “We can fight the evil Master Jean together!”

A childish drawing appears on-screen, featuring zombie-like versions of the Knights, sketched with messy lines and vivid colors.

“After everyone is tucked up cozy in their beds for the night, monsters pretending to be Knights of Favonius come out to trick people!” the little elf warned.

Wriothesley rarely smiled, but he did. “Why is this kinda… cute?”

Sigewinne giggled, tilting her head. “Aww… look at you. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the Duke call something cute before!”

He didn’t respond right away—just huffed a quiet breath through his nose, almost like a laugh. Watching this Mondstadt child’s eyes bright with wonder, it struck him how foreign that feeling was. No chains, no weight, no survival hidden in play. Just joy. It wasn’t something he ever had, but it just felt distant. Soft. Like a window into something he never knew he missed.

“You always know exactly what to say, don’t you?” he added, ruffling Sigewinne’s hair with a warmth that surprised even him.

Neuvillette stared at him, and hummed. “There is no wrong time to feel something for the first time.”

The scene shifts to animated doodles of Amber and Lisa causing chaos around Mondstadt, while Jean looms watchfully above the city’s walls.

Cyno crossed his arms. “The wall… has been breached.”

Venti snickered, "Colossal Jean, with eyes aglow! Our final hope, our deepest woe!"

“Venti, what are you even talking about.” Dahlia asked but it didn’t sound like a question at all.

Jean just let out the most awful sigh in all of her life, while Lisa actively tried to comfort and at the same time, joke about her.

Meanwhile, Amber frowned. “Wha—?! Why do I look like I’m breaking every rule in Mondstadt?!”

“Rules are meant to be broken!” A gray-haired raccoon suddenly appeared and disappeared from the cinema. Everyone ignored that.

“I could even hear their footsteps in the confinement room… and so…” Klee’s drawing erupts into sparkles and color. “BOOM! I blasted the door open to defend Mondstadt from the monsters!”

“Wait, what?” Yanfei paused for a moment. “Did… did she just say confinement room?”

“Why? Is it illegal?” Freminet asked.

Kuki shook her head. “It’s not illegal, but isn’t that kind of cruel?”

“I kind of see it as a form of disciplinary action.” Lan Yan tipped her chin, reminiscing of the times she was a little bit mischievous as a kid. “It’s quite common in Liyue since most parents are so strict!”

“I second that.” Gaming whispered.

“They can be a bit strict for a reason... Um, one time,” Collei piped up nervously, “I, uh… accidentally turned the whole kitchen green with mushroom powder. I had to scrub the floors for three days…”

She shrank a little at the memory. “Master didn’t even yell, but the disappointment was worse. And Cyno's jokes didn't help...”

Tighnari glanced over with a soft sigh. “I wasn’t disappointed, Collei. I was worried. There’s a difference.”

“O-Oh…” She looked down, cheeks red. “Right. Sorry.”

Sethos raised a brow. “Wait—weren’t we talking about parents?”

Collei rubbed the back of her neck. “Yeah, I know… I just, um… nevermind!”

Cyno nodded solemnly. “Tighnari’s the mom in our family. One with sharp ears and stricter kitchen standards.”

Tighnari narrowed his eyes. “I heard that.”

Diluc folded his arms, gaze still on the screen. “In any case, I think Klee’s situation is far worse than a simple mushroom mess.”

A teary-eyed Dodoco is then shown, looking small and terrified.

“But the Master Jean who grabbed me and dragged me away was really scary.” She said, “Scary like the real Master Jean, not like some monster. So strange…”

Now a dramatic image of Jean is shown with jagged teeth and fire bursting from her mouth, trying to snatch Klee by the head.

“That’s… an interesting imagery.” Ayato chuckled, covering his mouth with his arm.

“Do I really look that scary to Klee?” Jean frowned.

“Oh, Jean,” Lisa rested a hand lightly on Jean’s arm, “you don’t look scary. You look serious. And in little Klee’s eyes, sometimes that’s the same thing.”

Jean sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I suppose you’re right…” She still had her doubts, but decided to hide that. “Thank you, Lisa.”

Behind the door, Amber, Kaeya, and Lisa peer in, grinning.

The screen goes black once more.

“Anywho, you mustn’t tell a soul!”

Nahida smiled knowingly. “The sacred trust of children’s secrets.”

Klee proudly holds up her artwork to the Traveler, while Jean and Lisa stand by the door, clearly unimpressed.

“Kaeya’s the one who told me the secret about the monsters. He didn’t tell nobody else but me!”

Kaeya grinned, “Well, well… I’m honored to be her sole confidant.”

“We finally found the culprit!” Furina laughed, pointing at the knight.

Lisa smirked. “You do love playing the long game, don’t you?”

Kaeya gave a mock bow. “Only the most entertaining ones.”

Amber looked absolutely stunned, “Wait… You’re the one who put all those ideas in her head?!”

Neuvillette continued to be deadly serious. “Distorting the truth through the eyes of a child... That is a dangerous power.”

In the background, Jean lets out a weary sigh. “Oh Kaeya… Coaxing Klee into escaping solitary confinement, it seems…”

Lisa let out a soft giggle. “Hehehe, perhaps we’ve made the child’s studies a little too imaginative lately?”

The music fades as the screen cuts to black a final time.

“Come now, Master Jean. She needed a little fieldwork experience.” Kaeya nonchalantly tried to convince her.

“In the middle of the night?” Jean’s smile cracked, and Kaeya immediately recoiled.

Lisa laughed, trying to change the subject before Jean could explode. “Well, Klee’s creativity has certainly reached new heights. Shall we frame the artwork?”

“Ah—my apologies,” Albedo interjected calmly. “I’ve already placed several of her artworks in an album in my office. Am I… required to return them?”

“Nooo!” Klee hugged him tightly. “Big Brother Albedo makes such pretty and cool drawings, so I want him to keep mine too! That way they can stay together!”

Albedo smiled faintly, placing a hand on her head. “Then I’ll keep them safe for you, Klee.”

| TRAILER 02 |
DA-DA-DA!

The Legendary Girl in RED
In the Stormbearer Mountains
Jumpty-Dumpty Boom-Bang-Fun

Uncontainable Sunlight
You know the consequences

“Wait, this beat kinda rocks!” Xinyan commented, liking how the text timed perfectly to the song.

“It’s quite catchy too!” Yun Jin nodded, bobbing her head.

A Burny Girl in RED
Solitary Confinement
It’s way worth it
The Fish tastes so gooood!

“I don’t know what those reads but I really like the song!” Klee cheered.

"Confinement is serious... though I admire her spirit." Candace couldn’t help but comment.

Dehya added, "Y’know what? I kinda get it. I’d break rules for good food too."

The STRONGEST Fighter in Mondstadt
…well maybe. I’d rather pick—
Master Diluc
Noelle
Klee
The Torrent of Judgement
The Confinement Room

Noelle blushed a bit. “Oh my! I wouldn’t call myself one of the strongest fighters of Mondstadt… I could barely compare myself to Klee or Master Diluc…”

“C’mon Noelle, take credit when credit’s due!” Amber cheered.

“Thank you, Amber, but I am not an official Knight, so I am still not strong enough.” Noelle shook her head, still believing that.

Lisa shook her head. “The more exhausted Noelle is, the happier she could be. I still don’t understand her.” She then looked at Jean, “She’s already quite ready to become a Knight.”

Jean noticed the librarian’s gaze, and thought. “She’s more than capable… but she pushes herself too hard. I can’t let her get hurt.”

You mean that LITTLE GIRL?
[Lupical] This must be fate’s chosen!

Razor nodded aggressively. "Klee… strong. Like lightning. She is... lupical too."

"Strength comes in many forms. Hers is… unconventional." Diluc commented.

“You’re all keep sayin’ how strong that little girl is, but I haven’t seen her fight at all!” Itto stood up, hands on his hips. “Ain’t no way she’s stronger than the Arataki Numero Uno Itto aka me!”

The song slows down, as we see Klee looking at the screen.

“Are you here for playtime with Klee?” She jumped up, “Okay! So, you’ll be in charge of the Storm Watch!”

“Which means, you warn Klee the second you see Jean coming!” She then proceeded to run off and Aether nodded.

“So it’s not just Kaeya letting Klee run wild…” Jean sighed, clearly not expecting the Honorary Knight to encourage mass destruction.

“F-For the record! Paimon totally doesn’t support fish-blasting like someone does!” the floating companion declared.

“Aww… really?” Klee’s face fell with a pout.

“O-Of course not!” Paimon immediately backpedaled—her cuteness resistance crumbling. “Paimon supports fish-blasting with Klee all the time! The fish is very tasty!”

“Wow. Paimon folded in two seconds.” Dahlia muttered, snickering. “Klee’s cuteness is a certified weapon.”

KLEE | FLEEING SUNLIGHT
An explosive expert and a regular of the Knights of Favonius’ confinement room.

"Klee's so cute… but I wish she'd play safer." Barbara commented.

“She’s always being described as explosive.” Iansan added, pondering. “Is that some kind of exaggeration ‘cause I haven’t really seen her do anything other than being adorable.”

“Coach Iansan’s just as adorable…” Varesa thought.

Now we see Klee throwing pyro-made bombs on hilichurls.

She then throws a bigger bomb!

“Oh.” Iansan blinked twice. “Now I see.”

“Is she throwing literal bombs?!” Charlotte gasped, immediately writing it onto her notebook. “Unsupervised Child Reportedly Causes Explosions in Mondstadt.”

“Do not make a newspaper about that, Charlotte!” Aether tried to stop her.

“She’s like me but... smaller and louder!” Yoimiya cheered. “I love her already!”

“She’s gonna burn the forest down.” Tighnari muttered, already stress-picking his ears.

“Explosions? Cool.” Lyney shrugged. “Explosions by a child? Alright, that’s new!”

“I must respectfully request that she not come to Sumeru.” Alhaitham said flatly.

“ARE WE JUST GONNA IGNORE THE FACT THAT SHE’S LITERALLY A KID WITH BOMBS?! A KID. WITH BOMBS. BOMBS!” Itto shouted, arms flailing. Was it an exaggeration? …Not really.

“She is a member of the Knights of Favonius, though,” Dahlia chimed in, casually munching on popcorn, clearly enjoying the meltdown.

“Wait, wait, wait—why is a child even allowed to be a Knight?” Faruzan asked, wide-eyed. “Is there no minimum age requirement in Mondstadt?”

“Who in their right mind just hands explosives to a kid?” Cyno added.

“They gave her bombs?” Ororon looked intrigued.

“No,” Albedo spoke up calmly, “Klee makes her own bombs.”

Silence.

Everyone turned to look at him, stunned.

“…What?” Yanfei whispered.

“She… builds them?” Navia blinked.

“That… actually makes it worse...” Tighnari offered. He couldn’t even imagine Collei creating bombs in their home!

“I love her even more now!” Yoimiya beamed.

“Excuse me while I reevaluate everything I know about child safety.” Charlotte muttered, furiously rewriting her headline.

"Don't worry, Klee's quite the expert." Albedo said, as if that fixes it.

“Jumpty Dumpty! This is my special, totally-not-for-fish-blasting, extra-explodie formula.”

Now we see her running away in a T-Pose as bombs exploded left and right.

As she ran, Jean stopped her. “Klee, you know the consequences!”

“Why does it sound like she does this every other day?” Nilou dropped a sweat.

The screen fades before we’re shown an image of a door inside the Knights of Favonius Headquarters. The time ticked at the corner.

The music intensified, and when daylight hit, Klee opened the door in excitement.

“I now understand why she’s in solitary confinement.” Yanfei placed her hand on her chest and bowed.

“She’s a walking ball of disaster.” Ajaw grinned with all his teeth. “I hope one of her bombs hits Kinich though! Hahaha!”

“No! That’s bad!” Klee quickly shook her head at the saurian’s comment, arms flailing. “Klee’s Jumpty Dumpties are not for hurting people! They’re for the bad guys! And for fish-blasting!”

A beat of silence passed.

“At least she has a sense of right and wrong.” Dehya smiled a little.

“Yeah. Klee’s got a good heart.” Aether added, nodding.

“Explosive, but pure,” Mizuki let out a fond sigh. “She’s just a sweet girl who likes… bombs.”

She sits atop a rock made by the traveler, throwing more bombs at hilichurls.

She continues to walk calmly, chaos ensuing behind her. Finally, we see her running, continuously throwing even more dodoco bombs as destruction leaves behind her trail.

“Damn, the little bro has aura.” Ifa nodded to himself, arms crossed with approval.

“Ain’t no way this girl got more aura than me!” Itto cried out, visibly flabbergasted. Klee walked there looking effortlessly cool—meanwhile, he looked like he just tripped over his own shoelaces.

“She’s got that main character energy, and you’ve got… side quest vibes.” Ororon joked.

“Wh—HEY!”

“Next time, let’s go fish-blasting together!”

“YES!” Dahlia, Aether, Paimon, Venti, and Mika all shouted in unison.

“Mika?” Eula blinked, surprised.

“Dahlia?!” Barbara gasped in disbelief.

“What?” Venti shrugged with a grin. “Fish-blasting does sound fun~”

Jean’s eyes narrowed, a long sigh escaping her. “You five… seriously." At this rate, she was considering solitary confinement for all of them.

“Please, not again,” Noelle and Bennett muttered, visibly distressed.

Noelle still hadn’t recovered from the one time she’d gone fish-blasting with Klee—her apron had never been the same. As for Bennett, he was more worried the bombs might go off the moment he got too close.

“The little girl’s pretty strong.” Mavuika applauded, before cheekily staring at Xilonen. “...Maybe I could commission some-”

“Mavuika, no.”

“Mavuika, yes.”

Chapter Text

| TEASER 03 |
VERSION 1.X FOUR STAR & STANDARD FIVE STAR DEMOS

FIVE STAR 03.1
QIQI: Icy Resurrection

“Why does it say five stars?” Collei was asking the bigger questions, “Venti and Klee were also said to be ‘five stars’... is there a rating system or something?”

“Sounds like it,” Tighnari nodded, arms crossed thoughtfully. “Usually when people rate things, five stars means something’s top-tier. Like... quality approval. So maybe there are also four-star, three-star, or even two-star people.”

“What, like a review?” Kinich blinked. “That’s kind of rude, no?”

“Maybe it’s just how they categorize strength,” Albedo added. “Or rarity. Though I agree, it’s an odd way to display it so publicly.”

“Other people’s ratings of me don’t matter,” Diluc said coolly, arms crossed.

Kaeya chuckled, lazily twirling a finger in the air. “Oh, come now, Master Diluc. Surely you’d be a five-star.” He leaned back with a smirk. “And if you’re a five-star, then clearly I must be a six.”

Qiqi, meanwhile, was still staring blankly at her own glowing image.

“Qiqi is ... five stars. That sounds... important.” She paused. “...But I… forgot what that means.”

Baizhu patted her head, sighing. “We’ll say it means you’re a star, and leave it at that.”

The screen shows an image of Qiqi, posing with her hand adorably.

An apprentice and herb gatherer at Bubu Pharmacy. This undead with a bone-white complexion seldom has much in the way of words or emotions.

“Undead? So she died and lived again?” Kaveh tilted his head.

“Obviously.” Alhaitham replied curtly.

Citlali eyed the young girl, though she wondered why she hadn't aged. Does being an undead affect that? She couldn’t tell, there was no one like this girl in Natlan. “I wonder how old she is…”

“I am Qiqi, I am a zombie and I… forgot what comes next.” She says as we see her standing behind the counter of Bubu Pharmacy.

“A zombie!?” Itto’s soul left his body.

“Teyvat is full of surprises.” Navia commented, “Do zombies age though?”

The Liyue teens exchanged looks.
Chongyun and Xingqiu remembered seeing Qiqi shuffle past Bubu Pharmacy back when they were still learning their first sword forms. Yun Jin and Xinyan had caught glimpses of her in the streets years ago, just as small and expressionless. Even Hu Tao and Xiangling recalled that Qiqi looked exactly the same when they were children.

No one had ever seen her grow. No taller, no older. Just Qiqi—forever small, forever pale.

“…She probably never will,” Xiao frowned. “She’s frozen in time.”

The Liyue locals fell silent. And then, from other corners of the room reactions, softer than before.

Aether frowned, he knew none of Qiqi’s full story, but now that he heard even an ounce of information like that, he couldn’t help but say, “That’s really sad…”

Freminet whispered, “She… reminds me of lost time. Like old toys under the sea.”

After the chatter quieted, a few weightier voices remained.

“…Eternity like that is cruel,” Ei said softly. “I once believed eternity was peace. But to lock a child in time... That is no kindness.”

Nahida, curled in her seat, nodded slowly. “She’s still so small,” she murmured. “Trapped between life and death, forgetting yet forever living. A tragedy.”

A few rows back, Zhongli remained silent.

He watched Qiqi’s image with a stillness that ran deeper than stone. Though he had not been the one to bring her back, the memory of that era rested heavily on his shoulders. The adepti had called it an act of compassion, a desperate attempt to atone for the mortal’s death. Qiqi’s existence is suspended between life and death. Whether or not he had chosen it, Morax had allowed it. And now, the child who bore that legacy remained frozen, while time moved on without her.

At the center of it all, Qiqi blinked, looking around at the crowd of confused, emotional faces.

“…Why is everyone sad?” She tilted her head.

And then, more quietly: “…Qiqi forgot what this is about.”

“I want to build a snowman, do you want to help?” She said, and then we get montages of her running around Liyue. “The wind is frigid, I like it.”

“Uh… Does it snow in Liyue though?” Itto got revived.

“No.” Qiqi replied curtly, frightening Itto even more.

“Hold my hand please, this wind could blow me away.”

“I’ll protect you!” Yoimiya said, assembling now the so-called Qiqi protection squad composed of her, Mualani, Aether, Yaoyao, Navia, and Kachina.

Baizhu laughed a little. “I don’t think little Qiqi here needs protecting.”

“But isn’t she just a little kid?” Ifa raised an eyebrow.

Now we see Qiqi beating up a bunch of treasure hoarders with her sword and her cryo powers.

“Wait, what!” Charlotte gasped, “She can fight better than me!”

“She’s literally fighting people twice her size.” Ororon also gasped, but more exaggeratedly.

Now she’s fighting a freaking Lawachurl, and it died.

Qiqi then threw her sword upward, then posed with it. “I should’ve stayed indoors today.”

“I think she should join the Yunkui Summit!” Ju Fufu appeared out of thin air.

"I don't think we should let a forgetful zombie like her join any fights despite her strength," Yi Xuan said, giving the tiger a casual pat.

“I am not enrolling Qiqi to a dojo, or whatever you are.” Baizhu sort of tried to hide her.

Pan Yinhu shrugged. “Fair enough.”

FIVE STAR 03.2
KEQING: Yuheng of the Qixing

The same transition appears, this time an electro vision with a Liyue-designed background. We now see Keqing posing at the front.

“Oh, it’s about me now?” Keqing looked unimpressed. She’d rather have none of her thoughts be shown in public.

“I think it’ll be as interesting as Qiqi’s!” Ganyu held her hand, trying to uplift her.

The Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing. Keqing has much to say about Rex Lapis' unilateral approach to policymaking in Liyue... but in truth, Gods admire skeptics such as her quite a lot.

“She questions the Gods? That’s kinda bold.” Ifa thought out loud.

The people of Mondstadt could hardly ever try to question their God, even after finding out it was Venti. They are a being far from humanity, it just feels outright stupid to call out celestial beings.

“Lady Keqing often goes against tradition,” Yun Jin said thoughtfully. “But never without reason. I believe she wants what’s best for the people.”

Ayaka pondered, not aloud. “To question one’s Archon so freely… In Inazuma, that would have been unthinkable. Even now, I’m not sure many would dare.”

Chevreuse commented, a little surprised. “She just says it? Out loud?” she mumbled. “Even in Fontaine, we don’t say those things. Not like that.”

Kinich crossed his arms. “If I said that in front of our Archon, I might get roasted.” He then shook his head, “Or maybe praised. Our archon respects fire. Maybe she’d laugh and toss Ms. Keqing a weapon.”

“Is that how you see me, Kinich?” Mavuika asked, with puppy eyes.

“Ignore her, Kinich.” Xilonen rolled her eyes.

Zhongli’s gaze was calm but intrigued. He had heard Keqing’s doubts before. Had listened quietly while she challenged the very foundation he once upheld. Yet never once did he take offense.

To him, skepticism was not rebellion. It was evidence of growth. That Liyue could stand without him… was all he had ever hoped for.

Venti leaned back lazily in his seat, one eye open. “Heh… Nothing wrong with it. The world needs people who stir the winds.”

"I am Keqing, Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing." We then see her looking at a board. "C'mon stop procrastinating. Let's go, time is against us."

"We live in an era of change as the old order that has existed for a thousand of years is about to be rewritten. Join me. Let us bear witness to this historical moment together." We then see her training atop wooden logs in the middle of the lake.

“What exactly are you skeptical about?” Chasca asked. Natlan wasn’t exactly isolated, but the war with the Abyss made it harder to pay attention to the nuances of other nations.

“I’m skeptical of the way the gods have made it seem like we have to rely on them,” Keqing replied. “I don’t think our future should depend on Archons or Adepti. Humans are capable and it’s time we started proving that.”

“And you have,” Ningguang added, folding her fan. “We don’t have to reject the gods to stand on our own. The strength of Liyue lies in balance.”

“I agree,” Ganyu nodded softly. “I still believe in the Archons and the adepti… but I believe in people too. That’s what makes Liyue whole.”

Keqing didn’t say anything—but her expression softened, just slightly.

The beat begins to build up as we now see Keqing demonstrate her swordwork against whopperflowers, ruin graders, and hilichurls. She even had a close-up shot before unleashing her ultimate attack.

"When your heart is set on something, you can get closer to your goal.”

“That final attack is very practical.” Alhaitham gave a thoughtful nod. “Area coverage, no wasted motion. I use a similar technique.”

“I think she did it better though.” Kaveh added, squinting his eyes at his roommate.

“Elegant and ruthless,” Xingqiu said with a nod. “Her blade speaks louder than her speeches ever could.”

"Keqing just zapped an entire battlefield like it was nothing!!” Paimon shouted, floating in place with wide eyes.

Several heads turned in agreement, voices overlapping with quiet admiration.

“That footwork was flawless.”

“She doesn’t just talk the talk, huh?”

“Liyue’s lightning in heels.”

Keqing, seated near the front, sat straighter than usual. Her ears were pink.

She cleared her throat softly, trying to look composed. “…It was just basic fieldwork.” But the way she avoided eye contact said otherwise.

Ganyu chuckled. “You can accept praise, you know.”

“I am,” Keqing muttered, “Just… give me a moment.”

FIVE STAR 03.3
MONA: Fate and Destiny

“It’s the Great Astrologist Mona’s time to shine.” She crossed her arms with a smug look on her face. She knew she was deserving that rating of five stars. It was fate.

“Her ego’s got more inflated!” Paimon shook her head.

“It’s not ego if it’s accurate,” She replied matter-of-factly, flipping her hair. “The stars don’t lie, and they clearly agree with me.”

“Stars can’t roll their eyes, unfortunately,” Amber whispered to Collei, trying not to giggle.

The same transition, yet this time it’s a hydro vision, and a Mondstadt background, before we see Mona along with tiny little stars surrounding her.

A mysterious young Astrologer who proclaims herself to be “Astrologist Mona Megistus” and who possesses abilities to match the title. Erudite but prideful.

“I am not prideful!” Mona lashed out as soon as she read it, fists clenched at her sides.

“Says the girl who called herself 'The Great Astrologist’ less than five seconds ago,” Paimon quipped, floating with crossed arms.

“That’s a title, not a boast,” She huffed. “There’s a difference.”

Fischl raised a hand dramatically. “Fear not, Mona! For the path of the learned is oft misunderstood by the unawakened masses.” She paused, “...Though you are a little prideful.”

“It’s true even if Fischl spoke normally.” Bennett added.

Albedo nodded. “It’s not uncommon for highly competent individuals to be perceived as prideful.” He glanced at Mona. “But in your case, the perception might be… well-earned.”

Mona groaned, pulling her hat lower over her face.

“None of you understand. The stars confirm my brilliance. I am merely... acknowledging it.”

“That’s exactly what pride is!” Paimon cried.

Mona is seen scrying on top of a Mondstadt hill. “I am Astrologist Mona Megistus, meaning ‘The Great Astrologist Mona’.”

“Narcissist.” Dottore scowled.

Mona blinked once, slowly. Then smiled.

“Coming from someone who thinks morality is a distraction… I’ll take that as a compliment.”

She didn’t look directly at him, but her tone was deliberate.

“I know I’m better,” she thought, “but I also know not to provoke a wild dog.”

She kept her arms crossed, expression neutral, but her mind stayed sharp.

Dottore said nothing in return. Just glanced her way… then looked away.

Mona’s heart eased just slightly. Her point was made.

Now we see her standing in front of Schulz's Blacksmith. “The equipment repair bill is due, and so is the final payment for that celestial globe I ordered.”

Mona’s smile twitched. “Yes, yes… I’m simply waiting on the right astral alignment for payment. Obviously.”

“Pfft! She’s broke!” Itto called out. “I knew all that star-reading stuff didn’t pay!”

“She at least has a job, boss. You don’t.” Kuki reminded flatly. “Thoma said you couldn’t fold laundry without starting a turf war.”

“Hey, that towel was disrespecting me first!”

A soft tsk came from somewhere above.

“The Akademiya was also quite expensive for me.” Lisa chuckled faintly. “There’s a certain charm in academic poverty… but I do wonder how she’s still alive without a line of credit.”

Collei whispered to Amber, “Is this what adulthood is like?”

Amber gave her a reassuring pat. “Only if you’re someone with poor impulse control.”

“I heard that!” Mona furrowed her brows.

She then proceeds to run away to Musk Reef, venturing through domains.

“Astrologers must rid themselves of material desires. Only by ridding oneself of clutter can one see the true world around them.”

Lynette sipped her tea. “She means she can’t afford things and decided that’s her philosophy.”

“Well, I can afford things.” Mona said, “I just…”

“Use it on unnecessary things?” Aether smugly finished.

Mona could only sigh in defeat.

“Hypocrite.” Dottore grinned.

“Oh shut up, fatui.”

She slides through the ground with her hydro powers, and begins attacking pyro slimes and abyss mages and treasure hoarders.

“Fate is upon you!” She yelled as a beautiful starry design engulfed the entire battlefield.

“This was ordained by fate! Long had I foreseen it.”

“Her hydro powers are kind of pretty.” Lan Yan commented.

“They’re star-themed, I don’t know how you do that!” Sigewinne looked interested, “Maybe the other melusines know how…”

FOUR STAR 03.1
Cavalry Captain KAEYA: Cryo Chapter

“It’s Captain Kaeya’s trailer now!”

“Wait what? Four stars?” Kaeya frowned. Why did he get one less star compared to the others?

“Did Master Kaeya do something bad?” Klee frowned. She was a five star, so Kaeya should’ve been a six star in her book!

Jean noticed the captain’s frown and tried to lighten up the mood. “Stars don’t define a Knight’s worth. Captain Kaeya is one of our most capable captains.”

Alhaitham nodded. “Classification errors are not uncommon.”

“Honestly, what even are these categories?” Cyno looked serious. “Who are the ones deciding these?”

Again, same transition, cryo vision, mondstadt background, and boom, Kaseya image.

"Cavalry Captain Kaeya is quite approachable, at least when compared to his predecessor. He seems to know about everything happening in Mondstadt."

Diluc crossed his arms, “He’s always known too much.”

“Hmph.” Eula added, “‘Approachable’ is one word for it. He’s too smooth for his own good… though I’ll admit he does his job well.”

Venti hummed a short poem. “Winds blow soft where watchers wait, With eyes that see both door and gate. A smile, a toast, a tale well-spun… Some know the moon, but dodge the sun.”

“Uhh... is this one of those poems you make up after three ciders?” Amber looked absolutely clueless.

Kaeya nodded to the outrider, raising a glass as he looked at the bard. “Ah, you always did enjoy chasing shadows with riddles. Let’s not get too lost in the wind, Venti.”

“I’m Kaeya, Cavalry Captain for the Knights of Favonius.” Now Kaeya’s running. “My eyepatch? Wanna hear my story, eh?”

Now Kaeya is swimming.

Then, Kaeya is climbing.

Now, Kaeya is sprinting.

Now, Kaeya is gliding.

And… more running Kaeya.

“...”

“Uh…” Sethos scratched the back of his neck.

Ajaw cackled, “This is kind of mid. He’s just jogging around like he’s late for brunch.”

Iansan dropped a sweat. “That’s… a lot of cardio. Is that the trailer, or an outdoor fitness demo?”

Varesa looked at the coach. “I think even the coach's fitness demo is better than these.”

Yae laughed into her sleeve. “My, my. Is this a knight’s promotional reel or a Mondstadt tourism ad?”

“Both could work.” Chiori replied.

Kaeya had it. “Tourism ad, you say? Then I suppose Mondstadt is selling quite well, if I’m the face of it.”

A moment of silence passed—then the entire group groaned, a ripple of secondhand embarrassment, amusement, and reluctant respect spreading like wildfire.

Cacucu blinked up at Kaeya, upright in his little perch.

“For real, now, bro?”

Kaeya grinned, “For real, bro.”

Though he said that, he was slightly disappointed at his trailer so far.

Now we finally get to see Kaeya attack the enemy, and do exactly 49 physical damage.

Escoffier sighed. “I’ve seen slimes do more damage than that.”

Cacucu chirped. “Bro, too weak!”

Kaeya, trying—really trying—to stay unbothered, took a breath. “Now you’re all just pretending you see these numbers in real life.”

And then we see Lisa and Barbara take the spot, using their vision to help Kaeya apply Electro-Charged and Wet Status to the enemy.

“Hmm… not bad.”

“Not bad?! You got hard-carried like a baby in a backpack!” Ajaw was absolutely cackling.

Dahlia snickered, “I fear the librarian and deaconess have done more damage in the video than Captain Kaeya.”

Kaeya didn’t even sip his wine this time. He just set the glass down. Face unreadable. Eye dull.

“…Okay.” He stood up slowly. “I’ll just… go re-evaluate my life. Or uninstall.”

He turned away and walked out with the quiet dignity of a man defeated by his own trailer.

FOUR STAR 03.2
Chef de Cuisine XIANGLING: Pyro Chapter

“It looks like its Xiangling’s trailer!” Hu Tao hyped up.

“A chef from Liyue, huh?” Escoffier pondered. “What kind of chef could you be?”

“Oh, I’m just a humble chef for our little restaurant,” Xiangling replied, smiling modestly as Guoba waddled beside her.

“Don’t cut yourself short, Xiangling!” came from Beidou. Ningguang nodded elegantly beside her.

“She’s right,” Ningguang added. “Your dishes are sought after even in the highest circles of Liyue.”

Chongyun added, “Though… they’re usually awfully spicy for my taste.”

Escoffier chuckled, “Spice is just one instrument in the orchestra of flavor,” she mused. “A true chef doesn’t just cook, they listen. Cooking is a dialogue. It’s about understanding your customer’s soul and composing a dish that speaks to it. Balance, boldness, refinement. These are the tools of a culinary artist.”

Xiangling blinked, then giggled. “Wow, that’s really poetic! I usually just go with what smells good.”

Yae Miko sipped her tea, “That, my dear, might be the most dangerous kind of genius.”

A pyro vision falls and we see Xiangling posing for the screen.

There are many secrets to cooking. The most important of which is passion.

Escoffier crosses her arms, “Hmph… well said.” She nodded, “Passion is the flame that kindles every great dish. Without it, you have no reason to hold a knife. You have no soul on the plate. With it… even the roughest cuts can shine.”

Ei tilted her head. “Passion… is enough? Then perhaps I can try again.”

The room collectively stiffens.

Yae immediately straightens in alarm, tea nearly spilling from her hand. “Ei, that is a horrific idea.”

Aether choked, “Someone hide the oil and unplug the stove, please!”

Ei frowned, “Please don’t concern yourself. This time, I will not use the sword to flip the omelet.”

“You did what.” Escoffier looked utterly disappointed, her eye twitching.

“It was efficient. The egg obeyed… a bit.”

There was a long silence.

“You absolute donut.” Escoffier stormed forward, looking ready to lecture her. “You may be an archon, but the art of cooking must not be destroyed!”

Ei blinked. “Should I not trust my instincts when it comes to eggs?”

“You shouldn’t trust your instincts when cooking.”

Yae tried to hide her grin behind her sleeve. “This is going much better than I expected.”

Aether stepped cautiously between them. “Um, maybe we can all just calm down—?”

But to his surprise, Ei suddenly bowed her head.

“I welcome your criticism, Ms. Escoffier.” she said with complete sincerity. “I have spent centuries refining the sword and the state. But I have yet to master the stove. I would like to learn the art of cooking… properly.”

Escoffier froze.

Yae giggled, “She’s giving you a go to calling her an idiot sandwich."

“Miko, that’s not what I was trying to say.”

“Can we keep the MasterChef tutorial later?” Hu Tao cut in, pouting. “I’m watching my friend’s trailer here!”

We’re shown a beautiful view of Liyue as the chef strolls through the landscape, introducing herself. “I’m Xiangling, I’m a chef from Liyue! If there’s nothing better to do, we could go foraging for ingredients!”

“I’m much better at cooking than navigating. But if you do go out, definitely take me with you!” she added while walking, running, climbing, and gliding.

“I’m getting deja vu.” Chongyun commented.

“It’s Captain Kaeya’s trailer all over again.” Diluc sighed.

She then used Guoba to light up a campfire.

“What is that? A pet?” Wriothesley asked, thinking if he could get one for himself.

Guoba puffed up his cheeks with a proud little grunt, turning his entire body as he dramatically rotated in protest.

Xiangling gasped. “Guoba is not a pet! He’s my partner! My best taste-tester and lifelong cooking buddy!”

“Hmph!” Fischl scoffed, “Not all companions are pets. One must not mistake the loyal for the lowly. Oz is my familiar, my emissary of the night, my tether to destiny!”

Wriothesley turned toward Ifa, who stood nearby with Cacucu floating gently behind. “Okay, but Cacucu is a pet, right?”

Ifa’s ears twitched. “Uh… Cacucu is not a pet. He is my work-buddy.”

“And furthermore!” came a dramatic voice. “The great Ku’hu’l Ajaw is no one’s pet!” Ajaw then jabbed a thumb toward the silent figure beside him, “If anything, Kinich is my pet! Loyal, stoic, and completely obedient to the will of me, the one and only radiant sun incarnate!”

Kinich simply grunted in reply.

“…He adores me,” Ajaw added smugly.

“He tolerates you,” Oz muttered.

“Semantics,” Ajaw sniffed.

“...Okay.” Wriothesley awkwardly said, “Guess I should not be getting a pet anytime soon.”

“It’s time to introduce you to my latest masterpiece! I call it the Most Marvelous, Multi-Colored Super Pancake!”

“That’s a mouthful.” Skirk commented, “But it was delicious.”

Xiangling then attempts to burn and attack a dendro slime. Then, Kaeya appeared afterward, as well as Lisa, helping her defeat a Mitachurl.

“Wow this was great! Is there time for a quick snack?”

“I don’t know this lovely chef but I’m glad to have fought alongside you,” Kaeya even bowed down.

“Hehe! We can eat together sometime, Captain Kaeya!” She replied.

FOUR STAR 03.3 (DEMO)
FISCHL: Glanz der Nacht

Sayu tilted her head, “What does that mean?”

“Shine of the Night, little Ms.” Oz explained.

“Hidden evil has been lurking beneath the surface in Mondstadt.” Narrated by a female voice. “Again, I shall send forth the Night Raven and unveil the truth.”

An electric bird flew over the skies in Mondstadt, seemingly sentient. It said, “Ah, yes, my purpose is to act on your behalf. Be at ease, mein fraulein.”

“So that one’s not a pet…” Wriothesley thought.

“I wish Guoba could talk to me directly like that!” Xiangling commented, though she was more than content to have Guoba by her side either way.

Furina laughed awkwardly. “If they could, I fear Mademoiselle Crabaletta would complain about eating macaroni all day…”

“Locked on!” It shows a couple of abyss mages being spotted from the sky.

Oz vanished in a flutter of wings—and in his place, Fischl dramatically emerged, striking a bizarre, Jojo-esque pose as she proudly declared:

“Slumber, in the name of Immernachtreich, I command thee!”

Lisa chuckled fondly, "Oh my, still as theatrical as ever, cutie.”

“Imma what rich?” Itto scratched his head, “Imma-snack-rice? Imma… nacho… ranch??”

Fischl gasped like he’d just committed blasphemy. “How dare you defile the sacred name of the Immernachtreich! It is pronounced: Im-mer-nacht-reich! A realm of unending twilight and regal melancholy!”

“Yeah yeah yeah,” Itto waved her off, “Well in my realm, we call it Nacho Rich Supreme. Has a better ring to it.”

“You dare mock the sovereign tongue of my blessed domain?! Have at thee, insolent oni!”

Oz landed nearby with an audible sigh. “Fraulein, please. We must calm down.”

“I care not! This insult shall not go unanswered!”

Itto bent into a wide sumo-like stance. “Bring it on, Princess Spaghetti Words!”

“Is being civil and normal in this room even possible?” Thoma sighed.

Fischl | Adventurer’s Guild | Intelligence Department

A mysterious girl who calls herself “Prinzessin der Verurteilung” and travels with a night raven named Oz.

“My, my, now I understand where this is all from.” Yae giggled, “This is one of the best-selling books of my publishing house in Inazuma.”

Fischl jolted upright in a panic. “H-Heed my words. The chronicles you speak of are but shadows—pale imitations of my true history, the sacred tale of the Prinzessin der Verurteilung!”

Yae leaned in with that sly fox smile. “The scene with the upside-down castle and the night raven? Yes, that was particularly vivid. And the moonlit betrayal chapter made me cry, who knew Oz had such a tragic backstory?”

“I… I know not of what you speak!” Fischl turned away dramatically, hiding her very visible blush. “These tales you cherish are but echoes from a realm forgotten by mortal minds… not some… some mass-market fiction! Hmph!”

As the dramatic debate between Yae and Fischl unfolded, one girl stood quietly at the edge of the gathering.

Citlali.

She said nothing. She just sipped her cup slowly, eyes fixed on the elegant shrine maiden across the room.

“That’s her… That’s really her. The Yae Miko. Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine. Head of Yae Publishing House. The reason my bookshelf is full. The reason I cried at chapter twenty-two of ‘Flowers for Princess Fischl.’”

“Don’t scream. Don’t squeal. Don’t explode. Just. Be. Normal.”

She adjusted her posture, and nodded politely in Yae’s direction like she was simply listening in on some passing conversation. Totally casual. Totally fine.

Inside her head? “THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE.”

She uses what seems to be Amos’ Bow against them, and summons Oz from time to time. “The Eye of Judgement has foretold my eternal victory!”

Venti’s eyes lowered at the sight of the bow, and simply tried to shake his head.

Amber appeared, helping her in the fight.

“O-Oh… I’m there to help!” Amber looked confused, not sure when exactly this happened.

“So, a mere mortal wishes to lend the powers of my Thundering Retribution…”

It ends with oz slipping through the screen, causing a black screen.

“Honestly, that was the coolest trailer we got so far!” Gaming said, “Her hand-drawn version even had little cool effects.”

“Her trailer feels more like the five star among them indeed.” Clorinde added.

A burly voice came. “You want me to get your salary from the Adventurers’ Guild tomorrow?”

Aether nudged Mona and said, “At least she’s got a salary.”

Mona blinked, offended. “Excuse me?”

He nodded toward Fischl, who was still mid-monologue about the Immernachtreich. “Say what you will, but she’s got a stable income. Probably even a spending plan.”

Paimon added, “Yeah! She never complains about rent.”

Mona’s eye twitched. “I live modestly! For the sake of my research!”

Oz chimed in, “Mein Fraulein allots 14% of her income to fantasy novels and bird feed. She is quite responsible.”

Yae smiled. “Unlike some people.”

Fischl posed dramatically. “The light of the Immernachtreich guides not only fate… but also responsible Mora management!”

Citlali simply watched, “She’s kind of accurate to the Fischl in the book.”

FOUR STAR 03.3 (ANNOUNCEMENT)
FISCHL: Fischl can’t lose just yet!

“What? It’s Fischl again?” Asked Navia.

Fischl laughed out loud. “Ahaha! As the crowned Prinzessin der Verurteilung of the Immernachtreich, a second trailer is but destiny made manifest!”

“Indeed, mein Fraulein.” Oz nodded, “The threads of fate themselves demand a sequel. Lest the chronicles of the Immernachtreich be left unfinished.”

“And if I may add, her first trailer is more impressive than anything we’ve seen so far.” Yun Jin said.

Xinyan seemed to be in agreement. “Right?! I was thinkin’ the same thing! That entrance, the effects. The princess had the whole stage burnin’!”

Fischl smiled, “Ahh… to have one’s sacred narrative exalted by the illustrious mistress of opera and the blazing siren of rock… Truly, the stars sing in harmony on this day!”

A gothic classical music played in the background which sounded like a pipe organ or some sort.

Fischl is seen standing atop something, gazing at Mondstadt. “I am Fischl. Prinzessin der Verurteilung. I am the ruler of the Ashen Darkness. Oh, how pleasant my little garden Mondstadt is to behold.”

"She’s quite the peculiar one… but interesting," Yae said with a knowing smile. "Observing how readers respond to our stories is half the joy of publishing them."

Citlali pouted but never spoke. "She doesn’t realize she’s behind every plot twist I’ve ever lost sleep over."

“Hmph. You’re finally here.” Fischl is then seen unleashing her eye against Dvalin, as electric magic crackled. “Tasraque, my arch nemesis! Unleash, our millenia-lasting conflict shall end here!”

“Dvalin?!” Almost everyone gasped.

“You bet Venti played a part in Fischl’s roleplay with him.” Diluc crossed his arms.

“Ehe~”

“Auge der Verurteilung des Groβen Kaleido Phantasmas!" She said as Dvalin was engulfed in electric flames. “Let the cleansing fires of darkness burn you to embers!”

“What is she even talking about?” Kuki looked utterly confused.

Ayaka commented, “It sounds… majestic. Though I admit, I didn’t understand a word.”

“Yeah, except that last sentence, I guess.” Tighnari shrugged.

“That’s Fischl for you.” Bennett commented.

The screen turned black.

Turns out, this was Fischl explaining her story to Katheryne, who seemed to have not believed a word she said.

“I mean… defeating Dvalin as a human sounds like a stretch.” Lyney said, looking at his siblings.

Lynette replied, “If pretending helps her sleep at night, let her, Lyney.”

Freminet gulped, “…Lynette, maybe don’t say it like that.”

“Alas, the sinful dragon was no more. Hehehe!”

From afar, an older voice yelled, “Come home now, Amy! Dinner is served!”

“Dad! Ugh… I’ll be there in a minute!”

Itto gripped his head, “AMYYYYY?! WAIT I THOUGHT HER NAME WAS LIKE... DARKLORD NIGHTSORROW OR SOMETHING!”

Freminet whispered, “…Amy’s a nice name.”

Neuvilette looked at him and replied, "It's a gentle contrast to her self-styled identity.”

Fischl stood stiffly. There was a long pause, as if everyone was waiting for her. Her voice trembled at first.

"Ahem, yes... That is my... mundane mortal designation." She inhaled, “Amy… the name of the one who once wandered the shadows, unknowing of her destiny. And Fischl, Prinzessin der Verurteilung, the one born from the dreams of stardust and storm! I am both! A vessel of truth and fantasy! Of homework and heroism!”

Oz nodded, “Mein Fraulein has already entered her acceptance arc long ago.”

Mona, Xinyan, Kazuha, Aether and Paimon all looked softly at the girl. They have watched what she went through in that island, and it was nice to see she hasn’t changed.

This was Fischl. And she was also Amy.

“You’re going to make Paimon cry!” The little fairy sniffled.

FOUR STAR 03.4
DIONA: Wine Industry Slayer

“Oh great, it’s about me.” Diona didn’t seem to want this.

Venti sniffled. “Oh no… cats.”

A cryo vision fell and we see Diona posing for the screen, almost crying as she poured a drink.

A young lady who has inherited trace amounts of non-human blood. She is the incredibly popular bartender of the Cat’s Tail Tavern.

“Huh? But wasn't her title the ‘Wine Industry Slayer’ just a while ago?” Charlotte tipped her chin.

Diona pouted, shaking her head. “I am the Wine Industry Slayer! I only work at Cat’s Tail to bring the whole wine biz crashing down from the inside!”

A beat of silence.

“…Wait,” Amber blinked. “You’re still doing that?”

“Still? I live for it,” Diona huffed. “Mondstadt’s gotta be freed from this wine-obsessed nightmare!”

Kaeya gave a low chuckle, swirling his drink. “You do realize who you’re saying that in front of, right?”

Everyone looked at Diluc.

The redhead frowned slightly, arms crossed. “So that’s why you glare at me every time I walk by the tavern…”

“You’re the final boss,” Diona said flatly.

Diluc sighed. “I don’t even like alcohol.”

That made everyone freeze.

“…Huh?” Diona squinted.

“I don’t like how it feels in my mouth,” He added almost begrudgingly. “I prefer grape juice.”

There was a long pause.

“…Okay. Maybe you’re not completely evil,” Diona mumbled, looking away.

“Diona, Bartender of the Cat’s Tail! I charge a hefty fee for private events.” She then rubbed her body like most cats would.

“My ears and tail are no prop, they’re real. Proof of my Katzlein bloodline.” We see her stretch her body, similar to that of kittens.

“People doubt your tail?” Lynette frowned, her own twitching subtly.

“All the time,” Diona muttered. “Tourists, drunks, some guy from Fontaine who asked if it was glued on—like I’d ever glue anything to this.”

“Same,” Kirara sighed. “My customers always say ‘Wow! What a cute costume!’ when I deliver parcels…”

“Welcome to the club,” Xilonen said, “When I first came to Fontaine, someone asked me if my tail was painted on. The disrespect.”

“Honestly, I don’t get it,” Tighnari chimed in, “Real tails are clearly superior to fake accessories. How can people not tell?”

“I think most people just don’t pay attention,” Gorou said, scratching behind his ear. “Though I admit... even I thought Kirara’s extra tail might be fake the first time I saw her. I panicked.”

Kirara raised a brow. “...You barked at me.”

“I panicked! I’m sorry!”

Diona groaned, flopping into a seat. “Great. So even other tailed people doubt us.”

“Not me,” Lynette said quietly. “I knew yours were real from the start.”

Diona blinked. “...Huh. Thanks, I guess.”

“Life as a mixologist is very busy! When I’m not at the tavern, I’m out collecting ingredients for new recipes. So… so unless something is urgent, don’t bother me!”

We then see her show her prowess on the bow and using her cryo vision to create a shield and attack against the fatui. Of course, the fatui was defeated.

“Watching the Fatui get flattened in every trailer? Never gets old,” Wanderer commented with a smirk.

Diluc glanced at him, mildly surprised, before giving a small grin. Finally, someone who understood him.

“They never learn,” he said. “Which makes them perfect training dummies.”

Wanderer scoffed lightly. “They never think. All that bluster and armor, just to fall over the moment someone serious shows up.”

“And yet they keep coming back, thinking they’re a threat.”

Wanderer shrugged. “Let them. If they want to be punching bags, I’m happy to oblige.”

Pantalone scoffed, adjusting his gloves—if anything, this only proved his theory that brute force was wasted on the incompetent lower ranks. Dottore chuckled at the insult, already drafting modifications to “fix” the failure rate.

Tartaglia, on the other hand, wasn’t even offended. Those guys really were useless.

Meanwhile, in Natlan, confusion rippled through the crowd. To them, the Fatui were nothing like the warmongering villains from other nations. Under Capitano’s presence, they stood beside Natlanese warriors against the abyss. Children waved at them in the streets.

…So when the outsiders mocked the Fatui so casually, the Natlanese could only blink in surprise and murmur, “...What Fatui are they talking about?”

We see her 2D art once more, ending with the quote. “I-I wasn’t waiting for you. I just happened to be resting!”

“Tsundere.” Citlali commented.

FOUR STAR 03.5
XINYAN: Aw Yeah, Rock On!

“Oh, cool! I finally get some spotlight!” Xinyan looked quite excited.

We see Xinyan posing for the screen, holding her guitar and what seems to be a drum behind her back.

Liyue’s sole rock ‘n roll musician. She rebels against ossified prejudices using her music and passionate singing.

Albedo nodded, “Her equipment defies conventional acoustics for Liyueans.”

“Now that’s my kind of sound!” Itto shouted, hands thrown. “Rock ‘n roll is totally my vibe! Me and the flying lavender melon even threw a concert in Inazuma once. The crowd went nuts!”

Venti was at awe. “Rock ‘n roll sounds fun!”

Nilou looked in awe. “I’ve never seen someone move like that while playing.”

Tighnari tilted his head. “To defy a tradition that deep-rooted? Honestly, it sounds familiar.”

Xianyun looked on proudly, “A mortal, standing against centuries of taste and calling it art…” She paused, “Impressive.”

Then came Zhongli’s voice, low, calm, final.

“Rock ‘n roll is absolutely welcome in Liyue.”

The words drifted like smoke, curling through the quiet. To most, it sounded like another one of his elegant riddles. But to the Archons, it was something else entirely.

The former Geo Archon, once the unshakable symbol of tradition, had just publicly welcomed rebellion. It wasn’t just words, it was permission. The freedom to break away. The freedom to create something new, even if it cracked the stones beneath it.

He welcomed Liyuean’s to freedom.

“Xinyan’s the name, an’ rock ‘n roll’s the game.” She said, “And I’m the only one who plays it in Liyue Harbor. Been thinking about staging concerts elsewhere lately, but… hmm…”

“I’d love to listen to this “rock ‘n roll” someday.” Nahida clasped her hands in curiosity.

“Lesser Lord Kusanali has spoken,” Kaveh said, “That’s an invite to Sumeru for you, Ms. Xinyan!”

That alone made Xinyan blink. “Wait, for real?”

Nilou perked up, her smile blooming. “You should perform at the Grand Bazaar! The stage is always open for passionate hearts. I can already imagine the lights and the dancing… maybe something fiery with the troupe!”

Xinyan’s eyes widened. “Now that sounds like a proper venue.”

Alhaitham shrugged. “I don’t see the issue.”

Cyno crossed his arms. “Then I suppose I’ll need to prepare a rock-themed joke.”

“No you don’t,” Kaveh muttered.

We then see her run up to the Traveler in Windrise, Mondstadt.

“What say you sign me up for your world tour?”

Now we see them back in Liyue, with Xinyan holding a gigantic claymore right behind the Traveler. They stood side by side against a couple of hilichurls.

“Almost about to go live over here. You comin’?”

We see how both the Traveler used his geo powers to aide Xinyan against the treasure hoarders, who fought them like she was playing in a concert as flames erupted around her.

“I’m on fire lately. Look out for my next performance!”

Amber could barely sit still. “Did you see that move?! That was so cool! She's like a one-woman army and a band!”

Kaeya let out a low whistle. “Now that’s what I call stage presence. She might be the only person who can keep up with the Traveler and outshine them.”

“No need to say that last part, Captain Kaeya.” Aether eyed him.

FOUR STAR 03.6
ROSARIA: No Overtime, Ever

“Oh, great.” Rosaria said unenthusiastically.

“Why is everyone not excited to see their own trailers?” Yanfei tilted her head.

“Maybe ‘cause their secrets are out? Not that I have any secrets!” Yoimiya thought.

Rosaria appears on screen, holding a gigantic cross made of ice.

A sister of the church, though you wouldn’t know if it weren’t for her attire. Known for her sharp, cold words and manner, she often works alone.

“Oh me? I’m just another ordinary person. Church work… I just do what I have to do.” She said as she stood atop Mondstadt’s church.

Xinyan leaned forward, squinting. “Thought she was a bounty hunter or a vigilante or somethin’.”

Cyno furrowed his brows. “That’s not standard clergy behavior. Unless Mondstadt’s doctrine allows for lethal force?”

Nilou gently tilted her head. “I always imagined nuns being more… soft-spoken.”

Kaeya chuckled, swirling a glass in his hand. “Well, now that we also know Lord Barbatos is Venti,” he paused, “What are your thoughts, Sister Rosaria?”

Rosaria didn’t even blink. “My stance is still the same.”

Venti raised his hand in a lazy half-wave, “Hey now, I never asked anyone to believe in me.”

He let the words float a moment, before adding with a soft lilt, “Faith isn't obligation. It's a choice. If people choose to believe or not, that’s the heart of Mondstadt, isn’t it? Freedom, after all.”

That hung in the air for a while.

Even Rosaria didn’t argue. She just looked away, arms folded, like the whole discussion was mildly irritating but not worth correcting.

Kaeya smirked. “Well, I’d drink to that.”

“So would I!” Venti winked.

“Each of the sisters is worse than the next.” We then see her sitting on one of the chairs inside the church. “If it’s not about prayer, then it’s about choir or another thing I’m supposed to participate in.” We see her hiding from Barbara and then drinking at the tavern.

“I’m trying to stay out of sight.”

Amber was the first to break. “Wait, she hides from Barbara?! Oh nooo, poor Barb—”

Barbara’s smile was tight. “W-well… everyone has their own way of expressing faith! Sister Rosaria just… chooses a more independent path!”

“By independent, you mean disappearing during choir rehearsal and ending up three pints deep at Angel’s Share,” Kaeya said helpfully.

“S-she’s still part of the church!”

Hu Tao grinned. “Ooh, now that’s what I call an internal haunting.”

Sethos tilted his head. “Her aura does suggest someone who’s constantly dodging social obligations.”

Cyno crossed his arms. “She's basically a rogue subclass of nun.”

Navia blinked. “So… are all Mondstadt nuns either idol singers or ice assassins?”

“Don’t worry, there are more normal nuns in Mondstadt.” Dahlia corrected.

“Pray. Not for the Gods nor for the betterment of others.” She paused, “But for yourself.”

Silence.

Not the awkward kind, just still. The kind of quiet that lingers after a bell tolls.

Even the Archons paused.

It wasn't an agreement. Not everyone believed the same, especially with different pasts.

Barbara’s hands slowly lowered from where they’d been folded in prayer.. “That’s… not how I see it,” she said, “But… maybe it’s how she needs to.”

“It’s a little sad. But also… brave?” Dunyarzard commented.

Kaeya tilted his head, wine in hand. “You’d be surprised how many people pray just to keep themselves breathing.”

Dahlia didn’t flinch. “That’s classic Rosaria.” he paused, “She’s not wrong, though.”

Alhaitham commented, “It’s the truth, to be honest.”

Nilou held her arm like the words had brushed her skin. “I… don’t know if I could ever pray like that.”

Tighnari looked at her, “It’s a hard belief. But it fits someone who doesn’t trust easily.”

Cyno, as always, was blunt. “That’s not faith. But it is conviction."

After she said that, she began duking it out against the treasure hoarders. She used her cryo vision to attack them with ice, and ending it by throwing a gigantic ice cross on top of them.

“I think you just murdered them.” Wanderer commented nonchalantly.

“They’re fine,” Rosaria replied without blinking. “They just won’t be walking ever again.”

“Heh. I like you.” Wanderer grinned.

“Anything’s negotiable except overtime.”

“She’s so real for that,” Xilonen whispered.

Kuki eyed her boss. “I felt that in my soul.”

Tighnari muttered, “You think being a Forest Watcher means peace? I haven’t had a day off in months.”

“I agree.” Cyno looked at him, “Do you know how much paperwork it takes to not arrest someone? Overtime is a scam.”

Kaveh leaned back with a groan. “I’ve worked on blueprints while asleep. And they still weren’t satisfied!”

Even Diluc, stoic and silent, gave the smallest grunt of agreement.

Zhongli stirred his tea. “A contract must be honored… but compensation must be just.”

“Preach,” Kaeya said, raising a glass.

Barbara tried to smile but sighed. “Even I… wouldn’t mind one less choir rehearsal.”

Yae Miko chuckled. “Ah, the sacred boundary, do not cross a woman who’s off the clock.”

Venti ladded. “I invented the idea of slacking off. I respect her devotion to rest.”

FOUR STAR 03.7
YANFEI: Legal Expertise

“Oh no, it’s her again…” Itto looked utterly afraid of her and Yelan.

“Boss, it’s in the past.” Kuki said.

The element pyro fell and we now see Yanfei posing for the screen, holding a scale behind her.

A well-known Legal Adviser active in Liyue Harbor. A brilliant young lady in whose veins runs the mixed blood of an illuminated beast.

Yanfei pouted. “...Why does everyone always act surprised when they find out I’m part illuminated beast?”

“I mean…” Xiangling said slowly, “You don’t look like a giant mythical creature.”

“Yeah,” Hu Tao chimed in. “Ms. Yanfei here looks like someone who sues people into the next life.”

“...That’s not untrue.”

“Is everyone here special?” Bennett thought, “The only thing different about me is my luck…”

“My name is Yanfei, top legal expert in Liyue - and for the avoidance of doubt, no-one else comes close! I’m fully versed in every area of the law.” We then see her getting different focuses on her body.

“The editing in this one is magnificent!” Furina was impressed by the film.

Escoffier nodded, “Yup, it just keeps getting better and better.”

Gorou asked, “Legal adviser? Isn’t that just… a lawyer?”

Kuki replied “Sort of. A legal adviser is generally a lawyer, but not all lawyers are legal advisers.”

“Wait, what?”

She glanced up, adjusting her mask slightly. “Legal advisers usually work in-house—giving advice to a business, an organization, or even the government. They’re not always arguing in court like trial lawyers. Think of them as the strategist behind the scenes.”

“You know a lot about this.” Kokomi looked genuinely curious.

“I studied law in Liyue. Exchange program. But it isn’t really the program for me.”

“Really?” Yanfei thought, “I thought you would’ve been an excellent lawyer, Shinobu.”

“Maybe. I’ve got the certificate, but… there are a lot of restrictions, and honestly? The more I studied, the more I realized I didn’t want to live by the rulebook.”

Yanfei blinked. “Coming from the girl who used to fact-check our professors?”

“Fair. But, you know what I mean.” Kuki laughed a bit.

A gigantic book is dropped on Yanfei’s hands as she reads it. “I’ll remind you again: The law can be both a help and a hindrance.”

“True.” Yanfei and Kuki said at the same time.

“Only by adhering to the law can the people solve life’s myriad of problems.” She said as she stood atop one of Liyue’s fences.

“If that’s the case,” Baizhu said, “then can we file a restraining order against the funeral director for the attempted murder of Qiqi?”

The air shifted.

Yanfei, halfway through writing a clause in her notepad, froze. “Wait. Is this a formal petition?”

Baizhu blinked. “It was a joke.”

“Because I can draft the paperwork,” Yanfei said, serious as ever. “Although it’s complicated. Given Qiqi’s undead classification, the case falls under special post-mortem protection laws. And depending on whether the original death certificate is still valid—”

“Yanfei!” Hu Tao snapped around, scandalized. “I have never tried to kill her!”

“Your last attempt involved a talisman, a shovel, and a very large net,” Baizhu pointed out.

“That was a playful misunderstanding!” Hu Tao huffed. “Besides, how am I supposed to help her ascend peacefully if she won’t cooperate?”

Xiangling looked torn. “I mean… Hu Tao’s not entirely wrong…”

“Xiangling!”

“I'm just saying!”

Yanfei, still scribbling legalese, muttered, “Technically speaking, if the zombie in question refuses funeral services, the director is not permitted to pursue posthumous ceremonies by force—”

“I/HE SAID I/HE WAS JOKING!” Baizhu and Changsheng repeated.

We see her fighting against cryo abyss mages using her pyro vision, attacking them with flames. Eventually, she was victorious.

“Anyway… my point is, you can always rely on me!”

“If my lawyer isn’t this cute, I’m not going to court.” Yelan joked.

Yanfei blinked. Once. Twice.

“Flattery doesn’t hold up in court, Ms. Yelan.” she said, completely deadpan.

There are none for Amber, Barbara, Beidou, Bennett, Chongyun, Diluc, Jean, Lisa, Ningguang, Noelle, Razor, Sucrose, Aether, and Xingqiu

Chapter Text

| EVENT 01 |
UNRECONCILED STARS

"Event 01? What is that about?" Paimon tilted her tiny head.

Venti let out a low whistle. "Oof. Sounds like some stars are holding a grudge. I wonder who made the sky angry this time."

"Really now, Tone-deaf Bard?!"

ACT I:  UNKNOWN STAR

"There's an Act I? So there's a second act and so forth." Charlotte noted.

Xilonen shrugged, "Sounds like this'll be a long story."

Paimon and the Traveler were assigned a specific commission by Katheryne. According to her...

"There was a meteor shower last night. The strike zone was very large, covering the entire countryside of Mondstadt and Liyue." We see blue meteorites crashing into every inch of the mentioned regions.

Wanderer's eyes widened, briefly. He recognized this scene. His first meeting with the Traveler... back when he was still the Balladeer.

And yet, he couldn't tell if this film had been touched by Irminsul.

Would he appear as that version of himself?

He tried to rewrite that wretched history soaked in regret. But even now, he knew the truth: those events still happened. No one remembered, except him.

So... would this film drag his mistake in Tatarasuna back into the light just for him to watch?

"Tch."

"The meteorites seem to harbor a strange power. A power that sends any who touch them into a deep sleep." She explains as a random Mondstadter touched it and fainted. "The Guild believes the meteorites are highly dangerous."

"Oh, I remember that!" Xiangling pointed out, "I remember seeing those meteors fall everywhere!"

"It was very frequent in Dihua Marsh." Xiao added. "Wangshu Inn had to accommodate the people who touched it and fainted."

"Yeah." Chongyun agreed and slurped his popsicle. "And then they all just suddenly woke up. Kind of weird."

"I think the reason for that will be explained in this film." Xingqiu patted his shoulder.

"Yup!" Paimon gave a thumbs up.

Katheryne hopes they accept the commission to help, in which case they did. Then, she introduced a fellow adventurer that could help the traveler. She wore a gothic outfit, and a flying talking raven was fluttering next to her.

"My loyal subjects, I see your faces are filled with fear and trepidation at the vile and villainous evils that once again seek, albeit in vain, to disturb the peace and tranquility of our beloved Mondstadt." Fischl said.

Tighnari blinked. "Okay. That's Cyno. But with enough delusions than he has right now."

Cyno frowned. "I don't sound like that."

"You're right," He deadpanned. "She's got more stage presence."

Sara's eye twitched. "Why does this feel like... Itto, if he were raised in a library?"

A pause.

"Actually, you're not wrong," Gorou murmured, looking mildly traumatized.

Alhaitham looked up from his book just long enough to sigh. "How exhausting."

Zhongli added, "An... acquired dialect."

Katheryne stated that both Fischl, Oz, Paimon and the Traveler were partnered for this commission for the sake of their safety.

"Rejoice! For to join the Prinzessin der Verurteilung on her majestic mission for but a fleeting moment is surely cause for an eternity of elation!" Fischl claimed.

Oz added, "This young lady is my master, Princess Fischl. She hails from a world beyond known as Immenachtreich. I am Mein Fraulein's humble familiar, Oz the Raven."

Kazuha and Xinyan bowed their heads to the Prinzessin. They couldn't tell if it was out of habit or if it was forsaken in fate?!

Fischl looked very pleased. "Verily, thy reverence honors not merely me, but the divine mandate of fate itself! To receive the bows of such noble souls, 'tis a moment worthy of inscription upon the sacred scrolls of destiny!"

Oz translated. "Mein Fraulein is most pleased. You have shown proper respect to the sovereign of shadows."

From the side, Beidou raised an eyebrow. She nudged Kazuha lightly with her elbow. "Didn't expect you to play along." She then asked, "Have you two met before or something?"

Kazuha's eyes glinted like passing clouds.

"A star once wandered,
guided not by map or name.
She called it destiny."

Beidou blinked. "...So that's a yes?"

He only tilted his head, silent as the breeze that carried his words away.

Fischl continues to yap, and Oz translates it in normal language. Paimon and the traveler are a little skeptical of her but they went with it anyway.

Oz shook its tiny head, "I fear this film has misunderstood. I am no translator, but a humble conveyor of mein Fraulein's royal will."

"...Does it matter? It's a talking bird." Itto scratched his head.

They went to Springvale to examine the victims, learning that they all fainted and are in deep sleep. They showed no signs of waking up and sleep-talked often.

Their sleep-talks was always about being on top of a mountain and being cold.

"It could be Dragonspine." Albedo said thoughtfully, "Though that'd be quite easy to predict, so perhaps it can't be."

Aether smirked, "You always think past the obvious, Albedo."

"Only because I've had to keep up with you." The alchemist replied with a grin.

They also realized that Fischl's vision was reacting to the surroundings, which meant that elemental energy is inside the meteorites. So, when they got to the meteorites, they destroyed it and two of the victims finally woke up afterward.

"Well, now that you explain it. The solution does sound obvious." Gorou said.

"We did the investigation for you!" Paimon huffed, "It wasn't that easy to figure out!"

He shook his head, "Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to say it was easy, just that you explained it so well it sounded easy!"

Yae giggled, whispering to him. "My, my. Such quick backpedaling. Is that tactical retreat part of your combat training, General?"

"I-I mean t-that's not—! Paimon's very formidable!" Gorou's ears shot straight up. His trail fully bristled and his brain fried from panicking.

ACT II:  THE CRISIS DEEPENS

The quintet continued to help the people affected, and eventually came to Liyue.

They found a young man wearing a huge hat watching someone lie on the floor. He wore a peculiar outfit like those who lived in Inazuma.

Nahida and Aether almost forgot how the Wanderer looked before the Irminsul tampering, but they would never forget what he went through.

Wanderer sat still with an expression so unreadable. He crossed his arms with casual ease, head tilted slightly as if unimpressed.

But his eye twitched. His jaw tensed for the briefest moment before smoothing out again.

And both Nahida and Aether noticed.

"Is the guy on the ground sleeping?" Paimon asked. "Looks like he got hit by a meteorite like the others."

"I believe so. I've tried everything, but he won't wake up."

"Isn't that Hat Guy?" Kaveh pointed out.

Faruzan grinned. "You can never mistake Hat Guy's big hat."

"He's wearing something entirely different for once though." Dehya added.

Tighnari narrowed his eyes. "And somehow even edgier."

Cyno commented. "New outfit, same hat. I guess some things are a... top-priority."

Silence.

Navia's eyes sparkled. "That outfit looks quite cool, Hat Guy! It's different from the one you're wearing in Simulanka. Almost like something from the Chioriya Boutique!"

Chiori merely shrugged. "It does resemble delicate Inazuman clothwork... but I wouldn't dare take credit for something I didn't craft."

Kirara scratched her head, "I mean, he is from Inazuma, though I don't remember seeing him there in all my life, nya!"

The young man explained, "If by 'meteorite' you mean the rock that struck the cart - worry not, I have dealt with that already using my magic. But by 'others,' do you mean to say, there are others who have fallen into a similar slumber?"

Fischl yapped. "One has witnessed with one's own Auge der Verurteilung the nightmarish slumber that proceeds forth from the Valley of Demonbone. It has caused great suffering for the humble pleasants in the Vale of Springdom, many of whom still battle this wretched affliction even as we speak."

Oz translated. "As mein Fraulein most eloquently describes, we came from Mondstadt, where many people have also fallen into an unwaking sleep. Their symptoms are identical to those of this poor gentleman here."

Chasca dropped a sweat. "I understood... maybe five words of that."

"A shared dreamlike illness..." Nahida frowned, "I've seen this before."

"Is that what happened to Sumeru?" Mavuika asked curiously.

"It's similar but not quite."

The Sumerians in the room gloomed at the thought.

"Is that so..." He tipped his chin, "It appears these meteorites really made quite the impact."

They talked and the quintet introduced themselves, but before the stranger from Inazuma could do the same, a Millelith appeared to assist.

The young nameless man with a big hat said his goodbyes, saying he isn't needed.

"He just dipped like that?" Sethos raised an eyebrow.

Dehya shrugged, "I mean it's not uncharacteristic of Hat Guy to do that."

They helped Liyue the same as they did in Mondstadt by destroying the meteorites.

Amidst it all, they clashed with a few Fatui operatives and easily defeated them. In a last-ditch threat, one of the agents warned that a Harbinger was close by.

The Harbingers' ears twitched. They do recall sending some fatui to investigate the meteorites, but most of them could hardly recall a Harbinger involved there.

...Was there a harbinger deployed there in the first place?

Their memories felt hazy. Maybe this was just some low-ranking operative bluffing to sound more important.

The quintet discussed that the four of them aren't enough, so Fischl suggested to 'fetch the one fated to deal with this foe.'

Katheryne suggested Mona to assist them in it.

"Ah, it's the Great Astrologist Mona Megistus!" Layla whispered loudly.

Mona turned, raising an eyebrow. "That's Astrologist Mona Megistus, yes. Who might you be?"

"I—I'm Layla! From the Rtawahist Darshan! I, um... read your essays on astral convergence for my thesis... They were revolutionary."

Mona's posture straightened ever so slightly. "Ah, well. Of course they were. I do set the standard, after all." She gave a modest cough. "I'm glad someone in academia recognizes true brilliance."

Layla beamed. "I even tried modeling my star charts like yours!"

"You're promising!"

After Paimon explained what they'd discovered beforehand, in which case Mona seemed to be intrigued.

"I am Fischl von Luftschloss Narfidort, Prinzessin der Verurteilung, and I hereby extend you the great honor of joining my retinue." The blonde one introduced herself.

Mona tilted her head, "'Prinzessin der Verurteilung'? I'm sorry, which nation are you a princess of?"

"I hail from a distant and long-lost land known as the Immernachtreich."

"...The in-my-what reich?!"

"I mean it is hard to pronounce but that sounded way too off." Kinich commented.

Mona crossed her arms. "Because that is what it sounded like! 'In my what reich?' What is that supposed to be? A real place? A metaphor? A fever dream?"

Nahida tilted her head. "I believe it's more of a personal mythology."

"Yeah, and somehow I ended up in it," Mona muttered. "Again."

"Alas, precious few mere mortals know of the Immernachtreich."

Mona gasped. "Mere mortal?! Do you have any idea who you're talking to? I am a highly accomplished astrologist, thank you very much!"

"...Did she just say that?" Dehya blinked slowly.

Yanfei tilted her head, "She does know she's in a room with, like six archons, the adepti, and other long-living beings?"

"Even I know I'm not that impressive." Childe vaguely said.

let out a long sigh. "Okay... fine. Technically, I am a mere mortal." She pouted, "But I'm not just any mortal. I've read the stars, mapped fates, and predicted calamities with pinpoint accuracy. That counts for something!"

Yae chuckled lightly, "Oh, don't be so glum, Ms. Mona Megistus. Among mortals, you're certainly one of the more delightful ones."

Mona squinted suspiciously. "Was that a compliment?"

Yae smiled. "Would you believe me if I said yes?"

"...No?"

"Just give me one second with my scryglass, then we'll see exactly where this homeland of yours features in your personal history!"

Oz then retaliates, saying that Mona should sympathize with a princess' grief for her lost kingdom. The traveler suggested going back to work mode and focus.

"The traveler really is a person of focus!" Chevreuse said, impressed.

Mona begins her process of hydromancy when they reach an area that has no leyline disturbances. She learned that the meteorites came from someone's constellation.

"The stars that make up a constellation—the Stella Fortuna—are genuine celestial bodies in the depths of space. They are not simply notional."

For some reason, someone's constellation turned into meteors all of a sudden.

"She's not just making it up." Albedo mused, fingers steepled. "If Stella Fortuna were physical, and someone's constellation broke apart... then the meteorites could quite literally be fragments of their soul."

"It's almost poetic," Yae murmured with a smile. "A broken star falling to earth... how very tragic I could write a novel about it."

Citlali looked excited about that.

Mona crossed her arms with a satisfied huff. "Of course I was right. I told you the stars hold the truth."

"But whose constellation was it?" Candace asked.

"You'll find out soon I think."

ACT III:  WHAT THE SKIES CONCEAL, THE WATER REVEALS

They realized that the snowy mountain every victim dreamt of was not Dragonspine, else people would've recognized it. They went and interrogated other people about this, learning that it's an ice-capped mountain. The sleepers felt forced to try and climb to the summit, but they don't know why.

"The person who owns that constellation must've been very determined." Sigewinne said.

Mona scryed again, and learned the name of the owner of the constellation: Leonard.

"Uh... who?" Itto asked, but nobody also knew a Leonard in their life.

A cutscene appeared on screen.

The same red-hat guy was waving his hands at them. "Sounds interesting... Mind if I join you?"

"Huh? He feels kinda intense all of a sudden... Is it just me?" Xiangling shivered.

Mona and Fischl felt their heads were going to combust. Everything that has happened so far was the same as their memory, but... who was this guy? Who was this Hat Guy?

Fischl greeted him, "What ho! We meet again, vagrant of Inazuma!"

Mona felt danger, and grabbed both Fischl and the Traveler, and used her hydro vision to engulf them in water to teleport far away.

"Wait what? That was kind of rude!" Yoimiya pointed out.

Ayaka noted. "I agree but I think Ms. Mona has her reasons."

Varesa blinked, still processing. "She looked super serious all of a sudden... like something really set her off!"

Shenhe added, "It wasn't just caution. That was instinct."

"I..." Mona tried to recall it hard. "I do remember doing that, but I don't think Mr... uh, what was it? Hat Guy, wasn't the one I remembered..."

Dahlia looked concerned. "Huh? That's kind of weird, how would you not remember?"

Fischl furrowed her brows, "Strange... I, too, recall that moment only faintly. The figure you shielded us from, Mona... it bore the presence of a Harbinger. I felt it in my very soul!" She paused, turning toward Wanderer. "Yet thou bearest not the title of Harbinger... nor hath mine eyes ever met thee before. Most perplexing!"

Mona glanced at her with unease. "Exactly. I remember the feeling, the danger, but the face? It's... gone. Blurred."

They had hoped the Harbingers might offer an explanation, but neither of them were anyone Mona had ever met. And expecting the Fatui to help with their sudden memory loss had been far too optimistic.

Nahida gazed outward, Aether looked downward and so did Paimon. The Wanderer was... silent.

The Inazuman didn't seem affected when they disappeared, and spoke to himself.

"The first time the Millelith were present, I had to forgo the chance to strike down Mondstadt's saviour." He lowered his hat, "This time was the perfect moment. I was mere seconds away."

"Strike down Mondstadt's saviour?" Noelle tilted her head, "Is he referring to the Honorary Knight?"

Aether wasn't unbothered. He remembered everything after all.

And that? That was strange to the others. Why would the traveler not react at all about the supposed attempt at his life? If this Hat Guy copycat had succeeded, the nations might've remained exactly as they were.

"Traveler, do you remember anything?" Oz asked.

Aether shook his head. "No. I can't recall."

He lied. As an outlander, Aether wasn't affected by Irminsul's changes like the others were. He remembered everything. But saying so would only complicate things. So instead, he simply said he didn't remember either.

Paimon huffed quietly. That was the traveler's decision, which means she'll keep her mouth shut. She didn't remember that moment either but she did know Wanderer had messed with Irminsul.

From the back, Skirk glanced sideways at Aether. She said nothing but as a fellow outlander, she knew he was lying.

SCARAMOUCHE | The Balladeer
The Sixth of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers

Wanderer stared at the screen, his expression unreadable at first. Still, almost too still. But beneath the surface, something bitter stirred in his eyes. There he was: the Harbinger, the weapon, the puppet on strings he thought he'd cut. Watching that version of himself—empty and hollow—felt like being forced to wear a name he no longer answered to.

He didn't flinch, but his arms slowly crossed tighter.

Nahida glanced at him, noticing the way his stare hardened. He said nothing, but that silence spoke volumes.

Aether also noticed it yet didn't say anything either. They just watched with him, understanding more than he let on.

Most Harbingers hardly cared who joined or left their ranks. They treat each other as interchangeable. But this thing was a tick.

This 'Scaramouche' claimed to be the Sixth Harbinger. Exactly the spot that was vacant for years. So, though their memories too were as hazy as Mona's, does this film truly hold a truth they forgot?

Though the Harbingers stayed silent, their thoughts were already calculating what really happened. The Tsaritsa also seems to be thinking of something.

Beside her, Ei's brows twitched the faintest bit. That name. Scaramouche?

She didn't know why but it sounded awfully familiar. Not in the mind, no. In the gut. Like it belonged to someone she should've named, but didn't.

Meanwhile, the others were in disbelief.

Collei shivered in her seat. "H...Hat Guy... is a harbinger?"

Tighnari's ears twitched at the name as Collei spoke it aloud. "A Harbinger, though... and not just any one, but the sixth? Just like the Doctor."

"The Doctor." Faruzan said in disgust, "Even hearing his name leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I don't trust anyone who shares ranks with that man."

Dottore scuffed at the mention. He could care less about some woman's comment.

Wanderer's gaze flicked to them but said nothing.

Dehya whistled lowly. "I don't know... I've seen how Lesser Lord Kusanali treats him though. Can't imagine she'd be on good terms with someone who's still that kind of person."

Wanderer's arms tightened just a fraction more.

"She believes in people's capacity to grow." Alhaitham said blandly, "But that doesn't mean we should disregard context. The Traveler and the others forgetting might not be coincidence. It could very well be the Fatui's doing."

Childe laid back, "Wrong. I can't even remember seeing this guy there."

"Wait," Kirara blinked hard, "Does that mean he's kind of... a bad guy?"

They all turned toward the Wanderer, who quietly tipped his hat and sat right next to Nahida.

"I disagree." Nahida replied, "Though he once bore the title, that part of him is no longer who he is." she said, she believed faking the truth wouldn't be wise, considering every secret is being revealed one after another either way.

"You may call him Scaramouche but that is a name bound to an identity he no longer wears. Just like I'm no longer confined to the cage the sages once kept me in."

Wanderer didn't look at her, but his eyes softened, barely.

Candace watched the exchange with an appraising calm. "I'll take your word for it but I still believe in keeping an eye open. Especially when it comes to someone who used to serve the Fatui."

"That's wise." Cyno said. "Trust is earned over time. If he is no longer that man, then his actions will prove it."

"Hey," Kaveh spoke up, brows furrowed, "Not that I'm defending him—because he is a smug little menace—but doesn't it count for something that he's been hanging out with the Traveler and Lesser Lord Kusanali this whole time?"

"Yes!"Nilou added, "I can vouch that Hat Guy saved me, Navia, Paimon and the traveler when we were in Simulanka."

"A wise parasite knows how to cling to strong hosts." Alhaitham deadpanned.

"Really, Alhaitham?" Kaveh rolled his eyes.

"The Knave isn't that awful. The Harbingers surely would be like her." Navia murmured. "And Hat Guy... I've met him before. He was sharp-tongued, sure, but not cruel. If he really is this 'Scaramouche,' then maybe there's more to his story, too. I'd rather try to understand than assume the worst."

For the first time, Wanderer's voice finally emerged. "I didn't ask for any of you to understand me."

A beat passed.

Sethos, who had remained oddly quiet the entire time, finally spoke. "Well, I still think Hat Guy's cool. The name's a little edgy, though."

The rest of the Sumeru cast was split—some leaned toward trust, others remained cautious. One thing they all collectively noticed was the fact that neither Nahida nor Hat Guy denied it.

"Who was that mage? She could not have known who I am. Perhaps her powers reveal to her things unseen?"

"Soldiers!" He yelled, and three low-rank fatui appeared, bowing to him.

Faruzan scoffed. "Ordering soldiers like that... ugh. It's all the proof I need. A title like 'Harbinger' is not easily faked."

Alhaitham shrugged. "The confirmation was never really necessary. His behavior matches the implications. But at least this proves it for the more sentimental thinkers among us."

Kaveh shot Alhaitham a look.

Nilou hesitated. "Even if he was a Harbinger... maybe he didn't have a choice."

Navia gently nodded. "Power can be forced on people too."

Wanderer turned his gaze aside. It was... oddly nice, having the two of them speak up for him even if they didn’t know the whole story. Not that he cared what anyone thought, of course.

"Find them. And when you do..." He was interrupted by a meteorite, a bigger one.

"My lord!" Screamed a low-rank fatui. "It's happening again. This is the largest one we've seen so far."

"They just keep coming. Then so be it." He then ordered. "Move out! Change of plan, your prior objective remains in force. Continue to research the meteorites."

Some of the Harbingers in the room raised their eyebrows in confusion.

Pierro, specifically, does remember ordering someone to research the meteorites.

A stupid low-rank stood up. "My lord. Leave them to us! We will make short work of them."

"Are you deaf or just stupid?" Scaramouche turned to him. "When did I give you the right to issue your own orders?"

"O-Okay... Hat Guy really is scary when he's mad..." Charlotte shivered.

Chongyun gulped, "He sounds like he'd scold you just for breathing wrong..."

"It sounds like something Hat Guy would say though." Dori added.

"My apologies, my lord!"

"Now move out and complete your objectives as assigned."

The screen fades to black and we're back to the quintet and Mona.

Mona discussed that Scaramouche was a fatui harbinger, and that he was aiming specifically for the Traveler. They realized the fatui were plotting something with the meteorite, assuming that they were the ones who made the meteors fall down.

"So I knew he was a Harbinger in this?" Mona looked utterly confused.

Fischl agreed. "Verily, the strands of fate seem tangled here, for even I—Fischl, Prinzessin der Verurteilung—can scarcely recall the moment such authority was exercised by the one known as 'Hat Guy.'"

ACT IV:  WHERE ANCIENT STARS ALIGN

Fischl bid farewell to the Traveler and Mona, saying they need to help those hurt by the meteorites and that they believe Mona and the Traveler are enough to discover the truth about the gigantic meteorite.

Mona scryed the meteorite a while ago and shared intel, saying the rocks lived a thousand years ago, saying that Leonard's will must've been so strong that it hasn't diminished.

"Leonard was an adventurer who lived 2000 years ago. His lifelong dream was to reach the summit of the mountain called Pilos Peak." She explained, "Apparently, Pilos Peak no longer exists now."

"I don't think I've ever heard of that place." Yaoyao commented.

"I once read that the Anemo Archon, Barbatos, once used his divine power to mobilize the winds and blow the ice and snow from the face of the earth. The whole landscape of Mondstadt was changed in the process." She elaborated. "The summit still reaches just above the water's surface. So the place known as Pilos Peak in Leonard's day is today known as Musk Reef."

Even though the room's atmosphere from the Scaramouche thing, another realization hit them.

Everyone just kinda... stared. Like, seriously? Venti—that Venti—was Barbatos all along? The more they thought about it, the worse it got. Yeah. The whole 'Barbatos is Venti' reveal was a few episodes ago but it's still insane! It was still the hardest thing to believe.

Diona was the first to break the silence. "Wait. Wait. You mean to tell me that the guy who gets drunk and passes out behind that tavern more times than I can count... did that?! Blew a whole mountain into the sea?!"

Amber gasped, "I've watched him trip over nothing! And he did that?!"

Rosaria sighed, "You are a drunk bard who likes snacks. You're just also a god."

Venti raised his cup. "Multitasking is a skill, my friend."

The trio went to Musk Reef and found out that Scaramouche came first before them. It looked like he touched the meteorite, fell asleep and woke up with his own will.

"His will must be as strong as that Leonard guy if he could wake himself up." Ga Ming said.

"You're too late, anyway. I've finished my research." He said.

"We knew it!"

"Save it. No more fun and games for me today. I'll come for you when I'm good and ready." He grinned, "I've discovered something far more important and far more terrifying."

"What is it?"

Heizou laughed a bit. "Isn't he a harbinger? What's the point of asking the enemy, Paimon?"

"W-Well," She stuttered and half-lied, "I don't remember this happening anyway! So that Paimon is more stupid than current Paimon!"

"I doubt you'll get any real answers from him." Sara added.

"The stars, the sky... it's all a gigantic hoax. A lie."

Silence hangs in the air. At first, no one moves. No one breathes.

"He's bluffing," Diluc muttered. "Harbingers love their dramatics."

"He's probably trying to mess with us." Mualani adds quickly, "Right?"

"I wouldn't joke about something this stupid," Wanderer said. "You people really thought the sky was normal? That everything above your heads wasn't just some painted cage?"

"Wait... what do you mean painted?" Sucrose asked.

A few uneasy glances are exchanged. Cyno narrows his eyes. "Do nod krai everyone, we should all calm down."

Tighnari deadpanned, "Now's not the time for jokes, Cyno!"

"Stars being fake is one thing," Baizhu noted, "But faking the sky? The entire sky? And the fact that this information is being revealed to us by this... unknown location. I think we need to worry about our own safe-being for knowing these."

No one answers. The air feels thinner, somehow like the lie they'd lived under was still looming above, cracked but unbroken.

Iansan reminded, "Even the archons aren't able to force us out of this place."

It was true. The archons and those who knew had assumed this theater was Celestia's doing... but even that, now, was uncertain. As talk of Celestia and the fake sky circled them, a new unease settled in. This just can't be Celestia's work as they assumed in the beginning. Why? Because Celestia would never reveal the truth they worked so hard to hide. So why were they brought here to witness the truth? If so... by whom? And for what purpose?

"I'm afraid our predicament is worse than a fake sky." Mizuki also said, gaining worried glances.

Kokomi added, “Unfortunately, all we can do now is keep watching.”

"The stars are a lie? What are you talking about?" Mona asked.

"Hahahaha! Oh, you are so naive, it kills me!" He crossed his arms. "Still, can't really blame you. After all, I used to believe the same thing myself—up until a few moments ago, that is."

"A few moments ago... you mean?"

"So he really is being dead serious." Ifa gulped, cradling a scared Cacucu.

Keqing looked at him. "I mean... the archons didn't deny it."

Skirk eyed the Wanderer for a moment. She would hardly care about talking to those she deems unworthy, but his knowledge over Teyvat's truth is something that caught her eye.

Aether didn't know what to say.

Scaramouche just ignored them, pondering.  "What was the Jester thinking? He must have had some inkling of what we might discover on this mission. Would it really have been so difficult to give me a little forewarning? Hmph, or maybe he just wanted to give me a fright."

Pierro lifted his head up. This 'Scaramouche' person may really be a harbinger even if his memory betrayed him.

"Time for me to go out and find the truth. So long suckers!" Scaramouche disappeared.

"I can't believe I just let him run away like that!" Mona commented. Yeah she doesn't remember, but fatui are scumbags in her book!

After defeating the fatui low-ranks when Scara dipped, Mona grinned. "How do you like that, Harbinger! Scumbag."

She tipped her chin, she thinks Scaramouche wasn't lying since she has read claims of the false sky during astrological readings.

Mona sighed. "I always thought they were just cryptic metaphors or outdated nonsense."

"Wait, you've read about it too?" Layla asked, "I... I thought those theories were just impossible. Like fringe interpretations of old constellations. I never imagined..." She looked up, eyes wide with dread. "You're saying those texts weren't symbolic?"

Mona nodded slowly. "I didn't want to believe it either. But if he's right..."

She trailed off, the unspoken truth hanging heavy between them.

The screen fades to a 2D artstyle, and the familiar hum of Mondstadt's breeze.

"Oh, look! Another one of these, I like the way they're made." Furina tried to lighten the mood up.

A male voice was heard, and with context, this should be Leonard. "With ropes, we can scale mountains. With boats, we can sail the seas. By age 40, I have conquered every last domain. Pilos Peak alone defeated me."

The screen cracked, and we saw him freezing in the cold, facing the peak. "Now, I am approaching the end of my life. Many times have I sat and stared up at that peak as the boundless snow slowly engulfed me."

Tighnari couldn't help but note. "Prolonged exposure to that climate... it's a miracle he lived to tell the tale."

"I would never try to go to Dragonspine because it looks way too cold." Xiangling shivered.

"This place looks colder than it too." Chongyun thought, "I think I wanna go there for training."

"Then we shall." Shenhe said.

"It is a beast without weakness. The merciless face of the world. It fills me with fear, and when an adventurer loses courage, they can no longer climb mountains."

"My mountaineering days may be over, but I have a greater ambition now. Humans create tools to conquer nature, and when nature conquers them in return, they create better tools." We see Leonard drafting mechanics.

Venti hummed, "Ah... from mountaineer to maker. A man who once scaled cliffs now crafts wings for others."

"Do you know him, Venti?" Paimon asked curiously.

"Hehe, nope! I was just a wandering little wisp~" He answered with a wink. "Since Pilos Peak is there, it was still Decarabian's rule."

"Oh you're right! That was stupid of me to ask."

Venti gasped theatrically. "Paimon! Don't steal my job! I'm the one who says the dumb stuff around here!"

Paimon puffed up. "Hey! Paimon's just being honest!"

"For once." Alhaitham continued.

"Where our legs cannot take us, maybe our tools can. And when tools can't, perhaps wings can carry us instead." A paper appeared of a drafted version of the gliders. "My dear friends, I leave you the "Wins of Incompletion.'"

"Against the unknown, humanity stands as one. To be alive is to seek, to set foot in every place that the eye can see."

"So he was the one who made the gliders!" Bennett said in surprise.

Amber grinned, a touch emotional. "He didn't conquer the mountain, but he gave us a way to soar over it. That's incredible."

Mona frowned, "Touching, yes... but let's not forget what happened. It's quite impossible for all four of us to have forgotten meeting 'The Balladeer.'"

A few heads turned, just as Wanderer looked away. Even though Leonard's story was incredible, the foggy memories are a thing to discuss.

"Is it?" The Wanderer said smoothly. "Memories are fragile things. Maybe you just grew older."

Durin quietly whispered to him, unseen from everyone's point of view. "Hat Guy... be nice."

"I am not a hag!" Mona scoffed. "I just know something doesn't add up."

He shrugged. "Then believe what you wanna believe."

Mona and Wanderer were now locked in a silent, sharp-eyed standoff. They were glowering at each other like they both knew exactly what the other wasn't saying.

"I think we should take a short break." Aether suddenly said, in which case, everyone agreed.

Chapter Text

| TEASER 04 |
ALBEDO: STILL LIFE AND CREATION

"Ah, interesting. It's about me now." Albedo looked curious rather than afraid for his well-being.

Paimon flew to him, and whispered in his ear. "But aren't you afraid they'll find out you're a homunculus?"

Albedo offered a small smile, and whispered back. "And what would I be afraid of, Paimon? Everyone's truths are coming to light. Mine included. There's no use in fretting over the inevitable. All I can do now is brace myself and meet it head-on."

"Big Brother Albedo, what are you whispering about? Klee wants to know too!" The little sparknight also whispered.

"Paimon was just asking if glitter is edible."

Paimon immediately turned red. "I was not!"

A shot of Albedo appears along with a canvas, while both his hands held a paintbrush and a palette. It appears they're just outside Mondstadt's gates.

"Alchemy is a mysterious art that revolves around all living things. And the study of life, in particular, requires painting."

Tighnari nodded, quietly impressed. "That's actually... a pretty profound way to put it."

Baizhu tipped his chin. "Studying life through painting. It's an unconventional method, but there's merit in it. Visual learning can reveal details the eye often overlooks."

"So he's just some random alchemist?" Citlali asked curiously.

"Not just any alchemist, he's the chief alchemist of the Knights of Favonius." Lisa elaborated.

"And Mondstadt's very own genius," Sucrose added, eyes bright behind her glasses. "Mr. Albedo's research has advanced our understanding of alchemy tenfold, especially bio-alchemy. His insights on transmutation are... well, groundbreaking."

"Damn! What a resume he must have!" Itto gasped.

A dry voice cut through the moment. "And your resume," Sara said, "is nothing but warnings from the Tenryou Commission."

"Wha—?! You didn't have to say that out loud, General!"

Sucrose smiled from across him, "Yes. You certainly make wonderful paintings of anything that piques your interest, Mr. Albedo."

Albedo paints the canvas with a cryo crystalfly. As his painting finished, it came to life and fluttered its wings. "Arise! Lifeless dust of the universe and that within, thou art reborn!"

He held it in his palm. "Do you understand now, Sucrose?"

"Simply amazing, Mr. Albedo!"

There was a moment of stunned silence.

"...Wait," Emilie leaned in curiously. "He just painted that into existence."

"That's... that's not illusion magic," Lyney's eyes narrowed. "That's real."

"That's alchemy," Sucrose added, a little proud.

Xiangling's mouth fell open. "You can do that?! Like, turn art into reality? What if I painted a perfect jueyun chili? Would it taste perfect too?"

"Hold on, what if I drew a perfect marbled steak?" Escoffier gasped. "Would it be edible enough for me to cook it?"

Kaveh had gone pale. "Do you realize what this means? If art can become reality, then my blueprints—!"

Meanwhile, Itto was squinting at a stick figure he had drawn on his palm. "Hey, uh... why isn't mine turning real?"

Sara sighed. "Because it's not alchemy, that's a five-year-old's art project."

Albedo blinked calmly at the chaos. "As I mentioned, alchemy is the study of life. To do this, you need a fundamental understanding of the principles involved."

"Teach us!!" Xiangling, Escoffier, Kaveh, and Itto all shouted in unison, eyes sparkling.

"...Maybe after we get out of here," Albedo said with a small sweatdrop, realizing he'd just become their new favorite person.

The screen fades to a short second black screen, and we see Albedo painting again.

"Next, I will paint the common vishap." He said.

"That sounds like a terrible idea." Keqing said.

"I find the carapace to be its most enjoyable feature. The intricate patterns and even its sheen... But the rest of the vishap is quite ordinary and requires but a few quick brushstrokes."

"Voila!" He said and threw the paintbrush.

"Arise! Lifeless dust of..."

Sucrose screamed, "W-Wait, you mustn't!"

"What do you mean he mustn't?" Cyno said, completely deadpan.

Tighnari and Collei braced for it, the others being completely oblivious.

"He's AlbeDO, not AlbeDON'T."

Albedo laughed. Cyno smiled. Dahlia snorted. Xingqiu chuckled. Chevreuse continued to eat popcorn. Ororon suppressed a laugh. Childe snickered. The rest deadpanned.

"That was very funny." Ei commented, "Because Albedo didn't go through with it, you changed 'do' in his name to 'don't'... to reflect that he, in fact, did not. It's a pun."

"I'm honored," Cyno looked pleased. "To have made the Electro Archon laugh... One of my life's purposes is complete."

"You misunderstand. I wasn't laughing." She blinked.

Yae explained, "You said it was funny, dearest. That counts."

"Oh. Then it is a laugh."

Cyno's eyes lit up. "Then I was successful."

"I am proud of you." Ei gave a confused approving nod.

The screen exploded.

Now we see Albedo and Sucrose retreating to Mondstadt.

"Excuse me, Mr. Albedo, but I fear creating such creatures may sit outside the sphere of acceptability within our roles as alchemists."

"Is that so?"

"Are you sure Sucrose is your assistant?" Heizou looked skeptical.

"Why of course." Albedo answered. "Why would you even ask that?"

The detective pondered for a moment and explained. "Because based on this, she's less your assistant and more like your caretaker from doing stupid things."

Mika's jaw dropped. "You didn't just say that about the Chief Alchemist..."

"No way," Eula muttered. "Did he really just call Albedo stupid?"

Kaeya was just laughing like a maniac.

Albedo was unfazed, and just nodded. "He's not wrong. I kind of agree."

"Just like always!" She dropped a sweat. "Overly passionate about what piques your interest yet completely indifferent towards anything otherwise. Your swing in interest this time didn't even leave you long enough to finish your painting."

"Wait, what do you mean he didn't finish the painting?" Varesa asked, "Wouldn't that mean the vishap is..."

As the two left, there walked a vishap with a very detailed top and a hand drawn incomplete body walking outside Mondstadt.

"What is that abomination?" Mona gasped.

Tighnari's eyes went wide. "...It's anatomically offensive."

Xiangling was in awe for some reason. "It's kinda cute though?? Like a failed dessert!"

Escoffier gagged. "Don't compare that to food. It looks like it was baked, dropped, then reassembled by a toddler."

Childe snickered. "Looks like something Teucer would draw... and then cry about when it came to life."

"I saw that before... It blinked at me. I think it wants to die." Mika was stunned.

"Let's just forget we watched the ending." Aether suggested, in which all of them agreed.

| TRAILER 04 |
ALBEDO: CONTEMPLATION IN CHALK

"Contemplation in... chalk? What'cha contemplating about that?" Itto asked.

"Boss, please. You eat chalk." Kuki sighed, pushing his head away.

A majestic device was seen on the screen, centered somewhere in Mondstadt. Albedo seemed to be investigating it.

He said. "This is Timaeus' newest design? Hmm... A commendable achievement. Twenty more years and perhaps we can let him make a start on the textbooks Sucrose uses today."

"Timaeus? That name's kind of familiar..." Chongyun tried to wrap his mind onto it but just couldn't.

Hu Tao popped off. "Isn't that the Mondstadter who keeps visiting Ms. Ying'er?"

Albedo nodded, "Oh, yes. I've believe Ms. Ying'er is 'the one' in Timaeus' mind everyday."

"Not really a shocker to find out Ms. Ying'er found someone." Keqing laughed a little.

Albedo snapped his finger as there was a geo-made explosion. We now get a very interesting montage of the following: The Skyfrost Nail, Venti's Statue, Durin's Core, Decarabian's Fallen Tower, the Tree in Windrise, Frostbearing Tree, and then Starglow Cavern.

"I didn't know Mondstadt was kind of scary..." Kachina commented quietly.

This all transitions to be the glowing light in Albedo's hands as we see him on the screen.

ALBEDO | Kreideprinz
A genius known as the Kreideprinz, he is the Chief Alchemist and Captain of the Investigation Team of the Knights of Favonius

"Kreideprinz?" questioned Yelan inquisitively. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that translate to 'Chalk Prince,' no?"

"Chalk?" Sandrone repeated. "Not a flattering title."

"Maybe it's code." suggested Kaveh. "Like some academic nickname. Scholars love their obscure metaphors."

"Mm," Tighnari hummed. "Or maybe it's about his process. Chalk is a tool, right? For drawing diagrams, for sketching ideas. He is an alchemist, so maybe he's always in pursuit of some greater design."

"Exactly," Emilie nodded. "Chalk isn't random. It's one of the most essential tools in alchemy. Used in transmutation circles, calculations, drafting runes. You name it. If they're calling him the Chalk Prince, then it might mean he's deeply rooted in the foundations of alchemical study."

Fischl suddenly raised a hand, her voice ringing with dramatic certainty. "Then verily, he is a prince of creation, as I am the Prinzessin der Verurteilung, bound by fate, yet sovereign over it! Mayhap we are kindred spirits, he and I, both heirs to the unseen powers of the cosmos!"

Everyone blinked.

Oz cleared his throat. "What milady means to say is: she finds the title 'prince' quite relatable."

Albedo is now shown using his swordsmanship.

"I didn't expect him to know how to fight." Xinyan commented.

Albedo explained to her. "Being part of the Knights requires you to learn Favonius Bladework, much more if you're a captain."

"Oh yeah, you're right." She replied, nodding. 

Albedo summoned a Geo construct, one like a flower. He stood atop it, avoiding enemies.

"A self-made elevator using geo... Fascinating!" Navia pondered out loud. "I should try and do that sometime!"

"Ah yes, far easier to elevate oneself than with my pillars," Zhongli mused, watching the platform rise.

Klee came to assist, and both of them stood side by side. Albedo stretched his shoulders and proceeded to obliterate the fatui and slimes with the Sparknight.

"Of course." Eula and Amber said at the same time.

"Hanging out with Big Brother Albedo is always the best!" Klee squealed in her seat.

"...Yeah, that tracks." Mika said, "If it's the Chief Alchemist, Klee's never far behind."

Lisa added with a small sigh. "He's the only one who can keep up with her explosions and her energy."

"Kinda sweet, actually." Lyney remarked. "Like a chaotic little sibling shadowing her calm big brother."

"Klee's presence just confirms it's really Albedo's trailer." Paimon nodded firmly. "They're like a combo. Never to be separated!"

"Agreed." Aether said.

"Moment of Birth!" Albedo yelled, as we got a very cinematic showcase of animals one after another.

Albedo is then seen in a black background, with his body levitating.

"The universe... The sable essence of the starry void."

"Earth." He continued, "The accumulative memory of time and being."

"I wonder how he sees the world." Mizuki thought out loud. "Everything he says is so layered, so precise."

Chiori responded. "He's a genius for a reason."

"Soil. The origin of alchemy, the basis of all life." A butterfly fluttered to his fingers.

Albedo grabbed the butterfly, and alchemically turned it into a bird.

"Wha... why would you do that!" Hu Tao suddenly spoke. "Now the butterfly can't finish its journey!"

Albedo blinked. "...That's not scientifically accurate."

"Well duh, it's spiritually accurate!" she huffed, crossing her arms. "All butterflies want to be seelies when they grow up. Now it can't grow up!"

"It's now a bird," Albedo said flatly. "It can still transition. It'll just take the scenic route."

Hu Tao gasped. "You gave it extra steps in the afterlife! That's paperwork!"

"Then I suppose I'll inform the bird of the delay."

"Too late! The Seelies already marked it absent!"

Wriothesley dropped a sweat. "What are they even talking about?"

"Chalk. The substance from which primal life is molded."

A 0.50 second glimpse of an image was shown, which showed two Albedos facing one another with the text 'FROM SOIL WAS BIRTHED CHALK' in the front and center.

"What does that mean?" Mualani asked innocently.

"Maybe he's having an identity crisis...?" Freminet paused, "Oh, sorry... That was rude of me..."

Meanwhile, Aether, Eula, Amber, and Bennett knew what the split-second image actually meant. The image was symbolic, sure, but it was also a memory they all shared back in Dragonspine. Albedo really was a mystery to them.

Albedo knew full well what he meant here. He was chalk, and the second Albedo was the soil. The original.

We returned to the battlefield, and Albedo unleashed his ultimate attack. It was a geo attack filled with flashes of Solar Isotoma.

"The way you use Geo is honestly quite pretty." Yun Jin pointed out.

Chiori remarked. "I, too, have a thing for flowery decorations."

He then punches the ground, making it quake. And as he was about to unleash the most ultimate of ultimate attacks, it turns out it was Klee's Dodoco Bombs.

"...Was that Klee?" Ayato blinked.

Mavuika looked impressed. "His ultimate move... is a child with explosives. Bold."

"Actually," said Nahida with a hand to her chin, "that tracks perfectly."

Wanderer scoffed mutely. "Figures. Ridiculous, but it works."

No one was surprised. If it was Albedo, of course his trump card would be a walking bomb shaped like a child who just happens to be his little sister.

So while the others were laughing about that matter, Albedo was quite puzzled. His trailer... revealed far less than he expected. Still, though his past remained in shadows, he understood that only time would unveil the rest.