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Chapter Text

Aether and Lumine were running to escape a group of Fatui soldiers in a dimly lit street of Mondstadt’s most dangerous city.
Everything had changed; Teyvat had developed advanced technology, and disputes between nations had escalated. As they fled, the siblings exchanged glances and understood the plan. They would split up to distract the Fatui and lose them.
Aether came to an abrupt halt while Lumine continued straight ahead. He quickly turned left, disappearing into a crowded street filled with people, trying to blend in. Luckily, he succeeded, and the Fatui who followed him were forced to hide to avoid raising suspicion.
Meanwhile, Lumine headed into one of Mondstadt’s most dangerous streets. This was where she and her brother had been staying for the time being. They didn’t consider themselves part of any nation, and the war didn’t matter to them as long as it didn’t directly affect them.
Lumine always knew her physical abilities surpassed her brother’s, and she intended to use that to her advantage if necessary. After all, these were Fatui soldiers—not exactly the most challenging opponents. She also knew that only a fool would venture into the street she had entered, and if anyone dared to, especially a Fatui, it would likely be their last time being seen.
She hid behind a black wall, waiting for her pursuers to realize where she had gone. Once she heard their footsteps fading into the distance, she peeked out to confirm they were gone. Slowly, she emerged from her hiding spot and pressed her earpiece to connect with her brother.
After a few seconds, he answered.
“Aether, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I lost them.”
“Do you still have the package?” she asked as she started walking deeper into the street. He confirmed.
“You didn’t let anything happen to it, right?” Another firm "no" followed.
“Great, I’m on my way.”
The call ended, and Lumine finally relaxed, stretching her arms as she continued toward their hideout. Unlike her brother, she was always the risk-taker. Walking through dangerous streets didn’t bother her; she could negotiate her way out of trouble with anyone and emerge unscathed.
After a few minutes, she felt someone following her. Turning around, she tried to confront the stalker.
“I know you’re there. Come out now,” she said in a bitter tone, but there was no response. “Get out here before I come for you.”
She pulled out a weapon from the pocket of her gray pants—a blade-like device that emitted electric waves capable of knocking someone unconscious upon contact.
A figure emerged from the shadows: a tall young man with blonde hair, blue eyes, and part of his face covered.
“I don’t mean to harm you. I need your help.”

Aether reached their apartment in Mondstadt first. It was in a neighborhood popular with immigrants due to its affordable rent, making it easier for them to move between nations without spending a fortune. He carefully placed the package on a nightstand in the main room and began reading while waiting for his sister.
But as time passed, he sensed something was wrong. After about two hours, Lumine wasn’t answering. Worry started to creep in, and just as he was about to go looking for her, the door opened to reveal his sister.
“Lumine!” he exclaimed, running to hug her. He didn’t notice she wasn’t responding to the embrace.
“I’m so glad you’re here. I was worried about you.”
He noticed she seemed to be coming out of a daze as if something had happened.
“Lumine?”
Finally, she regained her focus, gently placing her hands on his arms as if to reassure him.
“I’m fine; it’s just… The Fatui chased me longer than I expected,” she said, trying to downplay it.
“They didn’t hurt you, did they?”
“No, don’t worry,” she replied with a smile. “Do you still have the package?”
“Yes, but I couldn’t open it without you.”
Lumine stood in front of the package, staring at it seriously as she thought. After a few seconds, she placed her hand on top of it.
“I think it’s better if we open it another day.”
“Why?”
“I’m tired today. I need some rest.”
“...Alright,” the blonde responded without hesitation.
“Good night,” Lumine said as she headed to her room and shut the door. Once inside, she collapsed onto the floor.

The next day, Aether woke up later than usual. Looking out his small window, he saw Mondstadt troops heading south—likely toward an impending battle.
“It’s no longer safe to stay in Mondstadt,” he thought. “Maybe Natlan would be a better option.”
He decided to bring up the idea with his sister and began getting ready for the day. However, a note on his nightstand caught his attention. He picked it up and read it:
Aether, I know this is sudden, but I need to leave. Something has happened that I can’t explain right now, and I have to get out of Mondstadt… and away from everything. I know you’ll try to find me, but it will be a waste of time. I promise I’ll come back to you, but it will take some time. I’m sorry I can’t tell you more."
- Lumine.
After reading the note, Aether stood frozen in disbelief. He rushed out of his room, calling for his sister, and entered her room only to find it spotless, except for a few drawers where their weapons had been stored. He activated his earpiece to contact her, but the signal read “not found.”
After an hour of analyzing the situation, he realized she had completely disappeared.

Chapter Text

Teyvat was no longer what it had been centuries ago.
These were dark times; everyone fought just to survive their day-to-day lives, while others went on living as if nothing had changed.
Meanwhile, Aether suffered from the disappearance of his sister, Lumine.
"Hey, blondie, you have to pay the rent tomorrow, no excuses!" said an older woman, annoyed.
"I promise I'll have the money tomorrow," the boy replied, tired. "Sorry again for the delay."
The woman didn't respond and left the apartment, leaving him alone.
A sigh escaped his lips as he sat down on the couch.
His apartment was small but comfortable. He could say it was of a lower-middle-class standard, though it had everything necessary: a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and his bedroom.
A virtual screen appeared in front of him, and a female voice began to speak.
"You have a message, young man," she said, showing a message from a user named "boss". "Boss says: You can come pick up your payment after 8 PM." The screen disappeared.
"Finally," the blond boy said as he stood up, stretched, and grabbed his electronic keys, heading for the door.
Upon exiting the building where he lived, he pulled up his hood and shoved his hands in his shirt pockets. Lately, he had felt like someone was following him wherever he went, and it was starting to scare him.
He walked down the streets until he reached some stairs leading to an underground area. He descended them, arriving at a wall with a sign that had no visible words. He took out a crystal-like device from his pocket and held it in front of him, extending his arm. The device made the sign show a glowing pink arrow pointing to the left.
"Bingo," he said, smiling as he put the device back in his pocket.
Aether followed the direction indicated, coming up against a grey wall with black blocks. He took out the device again, and a pattern appeared.
"They changed the code..." he muttered, pressing some of the blocks to make them sink slightly. Then he stepped back as the wall began to make noise.
The wall split open, revealing a mechanical elevator. The blond boy entered it and pressed a button to go down to the underground floor.
He sighed and leaned against one of the walls of the elevator.
After a few seconds, he reached the designated floor. The doors opened, revealing a small underground city with neon lights. There were shops, some ruined buildings, a restaurant, a bar, a fast food joint, and a supermarket with neon signs.
He walked toward a food and drink stand, jokingly called "a rundown bar" by his own words. However, it didn’t look like one — at least not by some standards — as it had a slightly medieval architecture, although somewhat abandoned. The lights at the entrance also stood out.
Aether stood in front of the wooden door and knocked three times on the glass part of it. Someone behind the door pulled it open, revealing a girl with an eye patch.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Three hundred and fifty," he replied.
The girl closed the small door and moved the handle to let him open the main door.
Aether glanced around, confirming no one else was around, and opened the door to enter.
Inside, he saw the usual people and a few soldiers drowning their sorrows in alcohol. He walked directly to the bar and took a seat.
"Well, if it isn't the blondie favorite of everyone..." said a guy with gray hair and metallic glasses on his head as he reached the boy’s side.
"Hello, Bennett," Aether responded. "How's everything here?"
"Normal. Nothing new... But I heard they’re sending the guard to Liyue."
"Still at war?" Aether raised his hand to signal the bartender.
"Actually, things have gotten worse"
"And why's that?"
"It seems like Shogun’s empire is growing stronger, like they're gaining allies..."
Aether felt a slight unease in his stomach, but he didn't give it much thought.
"Anyway, it doesn’t affect me," he said, as the bartender approached. Bennett looked at him as though he wanted to say something more but stayed silent.
"The usual?" the bartender asked.
"Yes."
The bartender walked over to a red-haired guy and whispered in his ear. Afterward, the redhead went to the back storage, trying not to draw attention.
"I've got a few things to do," Bennett said. "I’ll see you around."
"Good luck," Aether replied.
Aether waited patiently for his payment, sipping his drink quietly, until the doorbell rang. Someone had arrived.
Everyone kept doing their thing, not paying much attention to the figure, cloaked in a hood just like Aether, who entered.
The person sat two seats away from Aether.
He kept waiting for his drink while checking his right arm screen. No new notifications.
"Here’s your order," a red-haired young man said, standing in front of him.
"Hey, Diluc, thanks," Aether said, smiling as he took the drink.
Diluc placed a wooden box in front of him and smiled.
"On the house," he said before going back to his previous task.
Aether opened the box happily. Inside was a device shaped like an orange credit card. He grabbed it and looked at the back.
"Four hundred thousand mora. Great," he thought.
He slipped the card into his pocket and began sipping his drink.
"If I manage the money well... I think I can afford a new scanner," he pondered, weighing alternatives for how to spend the money.
"Hey, blondie," said the hooded figure. "Do you work for... the boss?"
Aether looked at the hooded person, raising an eyebrow. It was true, but he couldn’t say anything.
He wondered if the person beside him was joking.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about," he said.
The hooded person smiled and slid to the next seat closer to him. Aether became alert, checking the person up and down.
"Maybe this photo will help you recognize what I’m trying to tell you," the person said, and a digital purple photograph of Jean appeared in front of Aether.
Aether tensed up, his eyes widening in surprise.
"What now?" the figure asked.
Aether closed his eyes, trying to calm himself.
"It's illegal to show me that. How did you—"
Aether's eyes widened even further as he looked closely at the person beside him.
The person had purple hair with bangs, bright purple eyes, and pale skin.
"You’re..." Aether stammered, unable to believe it as he stared at the figure in front of him. "Di-Diluc..." he said, trying to call out to the redhead.
The figure grabbed his wrist tightly, and Aether tried to pull away.
"Don’t make a scene if you don’t want to die right here," the person whispered, getting closer. "Come with me without saying a word."
Aether felt fear creeping up inside him and, realizing he had no way out, reluctantly followed the instructions.
They left the tavern, the city illuminated by neon lights from the shops. Aether noticed the other person’s face was now hidden behind a black electronic mask, their eyes now heterochromatic — one blue, one green. They reached an abandoned alleyway dimly lit by neon lights. Aether was slammed against a wall, taking a blow to his back and head.
"Listen closely. Don’t scream, don’t say anything, or move until I tell you to. Understood?"
Aether nodded.
"Good, you’re coming with me. Shogun wants to talk to you," the person said, pulling a syringe filled with red liquid from their pocket.
Aether's heart raced at the sight of the syringe, and he backed away, lamenting that he'd left his personal defense weapons at home.
"No, if I try to fight back, I’ll die instantly," he thought.
"You have no way out. Shogun needs to speak with you, and I have permission to take you, even if I have to destroy this place with you in it. So cooperate," the figure said with amusement as they advanced toward him.
Aether pressed himself against the end of the alley, closing his eyes, bracing for the worst. The figure placed their free hand over his mouth.
"Don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt much," the person said before injecting the red substance into Aether’s neck. He tried to scream, but the hand on his mouth stifled any sound. His vision blurred as the needle pierced his neck, the sharp pain as the liquid burned through his veins.
Gradually, his body began to go numb, and his arms felt heavy.
He couldn’t make sense of it, but he noticed a weapon falling, cutting the ear of the person in front of him, who looked utterly surprised.
"Scaramouche," he heard a deep voice say.
The one named Scaramouche grabbed his bleeding ear and looked up toward an abandoned building.
A figure with amber eyes stood in the shadows, barely visible.
"Do you know what you just did?" the figure asked, annoyed. "You’re an idiot if you think..." He couldn't finish his sentence as the amber-eyed boy emerged from their poor view, revealing himself, and a slight fear ran down Scaramouche's spine when he saw who it was.
"Yes, I know what I have to do" he replied.

Chapter Text

Aether slowly opened his eyes, feeling heavy and disoriented. His head throbbed, and the last thing he remembered was almost witnessing a fight between the last of the Yakshas and Scaramouche.

As his vision cleared, he found himself face-to-face with the last Yaksha, staring at him intently.
"Are you okay?" the Yaksha asked.

Aether sat up, realizing he was in an unfamiliar bed in a place he didn’t recognize.
"Where am I?"

"Liyue. I brought you here because it's no longer safe where you lived," Xiao replied.

"How did you know where I was? Is your technology that advanced or...?"
"Scaramouche has been tracking you for a while. Apparently, you possess something the Shogun wants." Xiao began typing on a glowing green holographic keyboard. "I simply followed his trail. It wasn’t normal for him to be in that area..."

Aether stood, his legs shaky and unsteady. He leaned against the bed for support before managing a slow step forward, his gaze fixed on Xiao's back.
"Where exactly am I?" he asked, his eyes wandering to the large screen displaying various locations and individuals. He noticed the Geo Archon nearby.

"You're in an inn. Don't worry," Xiao replied as he closed the screen, making the holographic keyboard vanish. He then turned to face Aether. "The Archon will decide what happens next. Depending on his orders, you may return home."

"I wasn’t born in Liyue."

"Regardless, you're in a condition where the Alliance Archons decide for you," Xiao stated curtly.

Aether’s eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean by 'they decide for me'?"

"What part of 'the Shogun will chase you for the rest of your days until you give her what she wants' don’t you understand?"

"Listen," Aether shot back, his voice growing louder. "First, don’t talk to me like that. It’s not my fault I don’t know what’s happening. Some lunatic injected me with something, and now I’m in a strange place with a stranger. Second, I get that she’s after me, but why would the Archons waste their time on me?"

Xiao sighed, reviewing Zhongli’s orders in his mind.
"Stupid human," he muttered under his breath before meeting Aether's gaze. "Look, I didn’t save you out of goodwill. I saved you because it was an order. The Archons needed to find you and keep you out of the Shogun’s reach." Xiao paused, his amber eyes glowing intensely. A chill ran down Aether’s spine from the commanding aura Xiao exuded. "But just because Zhongli asked me to rescue you doesn’t give you the right to raise your voice at me."

Aether froze, momentarily unnerved by the faint fear creeping into him.
"Okay, I’m sorry," he replied almost automatically. Xiao closed his eyes, his posture relaxing as he returned to his usual demeanor.

An awkward silence settled between them until Xiao received an automated message. A transparent screen appeared before him.
"You have a call," announced a feminine voice, and Xiao’s amber eyes briefly lit up, indicating he had accepted the call.

"You can come in," a male voice said.

Xiao’s expression soured at the voice on the other end. "What are you doing there?"

"I came to say hello," the voice replied playfully, "and to visit."

Xiao looked like he wanted to say something but didn’t, leaving Aether curious about the caller and Xiao’s reaction.
"We’ll be there soon," Xiao finally replied, ending the call.

The screen disappeared, and Xiao glanced at his wrist, summoning another screen that marked a red point near their location. Turning back to Aether, he gave him a pointed look.

"Do I have something on my face?" Aether asked, raising an eyebrow.

Xiao said nothing, then abruptly grabbed Aether by the wrist.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Aether protested, trying to pull away.

"Calm down. We’re going to see the Geo Archon," Xiao answered calmly.

"Is it necessary to hold my wrist?" Aether asked, slightly embarrassed.

"Yes, physical contact is required for teleportation."

Green lights began to shimmer around them. Aether’s surroundings started to dissolve, and within seconds, both disappeared from the room.

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—You know you shouldn’t be here.
—Hey, I came to see you. I needed to know how you were doing.
—You know you could get into a lot of trouble for this…
—I don’t care as long as I can come to see you.

Two boys stood in the room. One of them had orange hair, a flirtatious smile, striking blue eyes, and a tall, confident build. The other had long brown hair, and deep amber eyes with brown undertones that gave his gaze an intense depth, a tall stature, and an air of pure elegance.

They both turned at the sound of teleportation behind them. Soft green lights swirled, announcing Xiao’s arrival.

"Morax, I brought the boy as you requested" Xiao said, releasing his grip on the blond.

Aether looked at the Geo Archon with a trace of fear. It was his first time standing before someone so imposing—after all, he was a deity. Clearing his throat, he tried to make his voice sound as strong and steady as possible.

—It’s an honor to stand before you, —he said, doing his best to suppress any trace of insecurity.

—So, you’re the one who has caught the interest of the Goddess of Eternity, —the redhead said as he stepped closer to the blond. —Pleased to meet you, my name is Tartaglia.

Aether’s brow furrowed slightly. That name sounded familiar.

—It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Aether, —he replied, shaking Tartaglia’s extended hand with a touch of hesitation.

—Childe, —Zhongli’s voice cut through the moment, commanding attention. —Don’t intimidate the young man.

Zhongli stepped forward, gently moving Tartaglia aside before crossing his arms behind his back and approaching Aether with firm steps.

—Did Xiao treat you well?

—Ah… yes, I had no issues with him.

—I entrusted the preparation of your medicine to someone reliable. They should be arriving shortly.

—Excuse me, I have a question, —Aether said, doubts beginning to cloud his mind. —Why don’t I feel any pain or discomfort right now?

—Xiao administered a sedative injection after your battle with Scaramouche, —Zhongli explained.

Memories of the fight rushed back to Aether’s mind. He had almost witnessed a showdown between the last Yaksha and Scaramouche. Glancing at Xiao, he tried to spot any signs of physical injury, but the Yaksha’s attire revealed nothing.

—I must admit, it was impressive how Xiao took down one of the Eleven, —Zhongli said with a note of pride as he looked at the shorter adeptus.

—Technically, he’s no longer one of the Eleven since his betrayal, —Xiao interjected.

—Really? —Zhongli raised an eyebrow. —Why didn’t you tell me that?

—I assumed you already knew.

Zhongli closed his eyes, clearly restraining his frustration with the redhead.

A series of four knocks echoed from the northern door.

—They’ve arrived, —Zhongli said. —Childe, get the door.

Tartaglia quickly moved to open it. His sharp blue eyes, marked with faint horizontal lines, scanned the figures behind the door. Once he confirmed their identities, he turned the handle, and the door opened to reveal a girl with lilac hair and matching eyes.

—Come in, —he said.

The girl nodded in gratitude and walked in, followed by Tartaglia.

—I’m terribly sorry for the delay, but I have the antidote here, —she said, holding up a small vial filled with a crimson liquid.

Tartaglia glanced at her before eyeing the vial suspiciously.

—Are you sure that’s the correct formula?

Keqing shot him a sharp look, visibly offended.

—Of course, it’s the antidote. Hacking into Inazuma’s secondary database wasn’t exactly easy, —she replied curtly.

—My apologies, I didn’t mean to offend, —Tartaglia said, raising his hands defensively.

Aether couldn’t help but wonder if Keqing was some kind of hacker to have obtained that information.

—Well, are you ready, blondie? —Tartaglia asked, turning his attention back to Aether.

—Uh…

—Don’t worry, it’ll be fine, —Tartaglia said, reaching for the vial, only for Keqing to pull it away from his grasp. —What now?

—I don’t trust you.

—Keqing… —Zhongli said in a calm yet firm tone. She turned to him attentively.

—I understand your concern, but I believe either Xiao or I should handle this.

—Why? —Tartaglia asked, a hint of indignation in his voice.

—Because we both have the experience and knowledge required for this, —Zhongli stated.

Xiao stepped forward, taking the vial from Keqing before turning to Aether.

—Come with me, —he said, leading the blond to a separate room. Aether followed without hesitation.

—So, Zhongli, he’s the boy who will be staying with us…?

—Yes, —Zhongli replied, a slight tension creeping into his posture. —I only hope everything goes according to plan.

—Relax, Zhongli, —Tartaglia said, stepping closer and running a hand along the Archon’s arm and shoulder in a comforting gesture. —I’ll be here for you, no matter what, okay?

Zhongli allowed a faint smile to break his composed demeanor. Though he wouldn’t admit it, he appreciated Tartaglia’s unwavering support.

Keqing cleared her throat dramatically.

—Sorry, am I interrupting something? —she asked, looking away with feigned nonchalance.

—Ah, apologies if we made you uncomfortable, —Zhongli said, stepping back slightly from Tartaglia.

—Hey, Keqing, —Tartaglia said, walking back to her side.

—What?

—Are you really sure that was the antidote?

Keqing rolled her eyes, exasperated.

—I already told you, yes.

—But did you hack the database yourself? —he asked with a hint of teasing in his tone. —Because if you did, I might have doubts.

—I didn’t do it myself; I paid someone else to do it.

—Who did you pay?

"There’s a guy in Natlan, one of the best hackers in all of Teyvat. He’s on par with Scaramouche." she answer.

—Hmm… what’s his name?"

—Uh… I don’t quite remember. Inich? Something like that, —she replied, trying to recall. —It was tough negotiating with him; he asked for way too much, in my opinion.

—Well, hacking the Shogun’s database isn’t exactly an everyday task… Do you realize what could happen to him if they found out he was behind it?

—It doesn’t matter now. What’s important is that we have the boy, —Keqing concluded dismissively."

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Both walked into a dimly lit room with dark tones, two desks, and a cabinet adorned with traditional Liyue accents that highlighted its cultural roots.

"Take a seat," Xiao said as he opened a drawer from the smaller desk in the room. He pulled out a syringe with a regular-sized needle, drew the liquid from the vial into it, and then grabbed some alcohol and cotton. "I'll be honest with you; this is going to hurt. But it's bearable."

Aether didn’t know how to respond. Truthfully, he didn’t want to be injected with anything after his encounter with Scaramouche. All he wanted was to go home and sleep.

"Ready?" Xiao asked, dabbing a bit of alcohol-soaked cotton on the left side of Aether's neck.

After a few seconds, Aether nodded.

Xiao began injecting the needle slowly, piercing his skin gradually. Aether closed his eyes as he felt the sharp sting and the substance coursing into him.

"This hurts more than the first one…" Aether muttered with difficulty.

Xiao remained calm, unfazed by Aether’s attempt to start a conversation.

"It’s normal for it not to hurt much the first time. You were euphoric, after all," Xiao explained as he removed the needle and quickly pressed the cotton against the small puncture to treat it.

They stayed silent for a few moments, but Aether’s mind was racing, replaying the fight between Scaramouche and Xiao.

"What happened to Scaramouche?" he asked, unable to suppress his curiosity. Xiao tensed slightly. "Is he…?"

"I don’t know," Xiao replied curtly. "It doesn’t really matter. I doubt he’ll recover anytime soon unless the Shogun intervenes."

Aether’s eyes widened in surprise, but his curiosity about the intensity of the battle lingered. Perhaps he would ask Xiao about it once they grew closer.

After a few minutes of silence, Xiao moved to the larger desk in the room and activated a green screen displaying data about various individuals from Inazuma.

Aether glanced at it from the corner of his eye. He didn’t understand much of what was happening beyond the fact that the Shogun seemed to want something from him, and it appeared the Liyue Archon was trying to protect him.

"What’s going to happen to me?" he asked.

"Morax instructed me to keep an eye on you. He also told me to be patient with you since all of this is probably new to you," Xiao sighed, leaning his hands on the desk. "But that doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. Tonight, you’ll go back to your apartment and pack the essentials. Then, you’ll come with me…"

"Wait, how do you know I live in an apartment?"

"I’ve been following you for a few days now."

"What?!"

"Don’t get the wrong idea. I don’t even know you. But Scaramouche was showing a lot of activity in Mondstadt, which alerted Zhongli. He sent me to investigate the issue. That led me to you."

Aether finally understood why he had felt like someone was watching him recently.

"So it was you following me."

"Wrong. It was both of us."

"Even worse," Aether thought.

"Let’s go. We need to return to the others," Xiao said, leaving the screen on, now displaying profiles of people from Sumeru and Natlan.

Aether wanted to know more about why those specific individuals were on the screen. He managed to read a few details, like the occupation of one person: under the profile of a boy with gray hair, pale skin, black and green clothing, and a green electronic lens, the text read: Star Pupil of Sumeru.

He tried to see if there was anything about him on the screen.

The display turned off before he could read further. His gaze shifted to Xiao, who was waiting by the door, leaning against the wall with an impatient look.

"Alright, I’m coming," Aether said with a heavy sigh as he trudged toward Xiao.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

"Mr. Zhongli, what’s supposed to be our next move?" the redhead asked as he casually took a seat in one of the chairs near the others. "I mean, the boy needs to return, but what if Scaramouche is just waiting for Aether to come back?" he added as a blue screen appeared in front of him.

"That’s exactly why Aether must not go alone. We can’t risk Scaramouche or any direct ally from Fontaine lying in wait," Zhongli responded.

"An ally from Fontaine?" Aether asked, his voice tinged with unease at the new information. "Are they after me too? Besides… I doubt Scaramouche will recover so quickly from that fight."

Zhongli exchanged a glance with Xiao, grasping the situation. Aether didn’t know the full extent of the battle, nor how close it had come to a one-on-one confrontation.

"Aether," Zhongli began, "exactly one hour after the fight, Scaramouche returned to Inazuma. Xiao was only able to incapacitate him temporarily while getting you out of there."

Aether turned to Xiao with a look of surprise, beginning to piece together what had transpired during the fight.

Xiao averted his gaze, clearly uncomfortable with the subject.

"I take back what I said," Aether muttered, realizing his situation was far more dire than he’d initially thought. Not only did he have the Shogun after him, but now the Archon of Fontaine’s decree loomed as well.

"Hey, blondie, here’s some advice," Tartaglia said as he stood, minimizing the portable screen. "Always make sure you’re with someone—preferably someone stronger than you in battle. That’s your best chance of survival."

Aether’s eyes widened at the last comment, and Tartaglia chuckled at his reaction. Pulling a small navy-blue chip from a pocket in his right sleeve, he handed it to Aether. "Take this," he said, placing it in the blonde’s hand. "Keep it safe and use it if you ever need help while in Fontaine."

"Does it only work in Fontaine?" Aether asked, examining the chip before slipping it into his pocket.

"Well… I doubt anything will happen to you in Mondstadt, Liyue, or Natlan. Inazuma is nearly impossible to enter, and personally, I think Fontaine is the most dangerous place for you—or Xiao. An extra hand might not hurt."

"For your help, nothing would be better," Keqing interjected.

"What’s that supposed to mean?!" Tartaglia retorted, clearly offended by the remark.

"Don’t argue here," Zhongli said in a warning tone, sighing before addressing Aether and Xiao again. "You two can return to Mondstadt now. Try to be as quick as possible."

"Understood, Mr. Zhongli," Xiao replied, nodding as he took Aether’s arm. In an instant, the two disappeared from the room.

Chapter Text

Nine at Night:
The desert at night is cold.
Too cold, according to Scaramouche, who was trying to make sense of what was happening around him.
He tried to push himself up from the sand, struggling as both his arms sank into it, making it nearly impossible to stand properly. He fell back down again.
On his second attempt, his mind began to clear. In the distance, he could make out the blurry figure of a boy approaching him, weapon in hand. This spurred him to try and get up as quickly as he could, though it was futile.

“What do you want?!” he demanded, his voice tinged with distress as he attempted to sound defensive, despite his trembling arms and legs. “Get out of here!”
Anxiety started to consume him. Many people knew who he was and could take advantage of his vulnerable state to finish him off once and for all.
He cursed that Yaksha for everything.

A powerful gust of wind struck him again, and the cold, which he had already been enduring for hours, completely clouded his reasoning. He collapsed onto the sand once more, unconscious.

Meanwhile, the boy, who was cautiously approaching with a weapon still in hand, saw the other collapse harshly onto the sand. His alertness shifted to concern and growing curiosity.
As he reached him, the boy knelt down to examine him more closely. He brushed a few strands of hair away from the stranger’s face to get a better look.

He had never seen him before.
Grabbing his right arm, he searched for a pulse and noted how weak it was. He continued inspecting the stranger’s visible injuries—cuts and other wounds across his neck, arms, and legs.
If he left him there, he would undoubtedly die.

The boy pulled a hooded cloak from his bag and placed it over the stranger’s back. Then, he carefully lifted the injured man's arm over his own shoulders, supporting his weight to carry him somewhere safer.
He was thankful his camp wasn’t far away.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Scaramouche slowly opened his eyes.
He still felt dizzy, and the physical pain lingered.
His vision gradually cleared, revealing a young man with brown hair streaked with white at the tips and tanned skin, gently pressing a damp cloth near his right eye.

“What…” he murmured weakly, wincing as the cloth made contact with his wound. The sting was unbearable, and he shoved the stranger's arm away harshly.
“That hurts!”

Scaramouche noticed the young man’s green eyes soften with a hint of guilt.
“I’m sorry,” the stranger said, stepping back. “I was just trying to help.”

Scaramouche exhaled sharply. Perhaps the boy was a sympathizer of the Shogun, and that’s why he had helped him.
“Where am I?” he asked curtly.
“This is my camp. I noticed you were in bad shape and brought you here,” the boy replied, setting the damp cloth on a table to his left. “Who are you? It’s not common to see someone in your condition in the middle of the desert.”

Scaramouche was caught off guard by the question. So that’s why he had helped him—he didn’t know who he was.
“…Call me whatever you like,” he replied quickly, deciding to take advantage of the stranger’s ignorance.

“Hmm, no name?” the boy asked curiously, then moved to pour a glass of water for his guest.
“I… I don’t remember,” Scaramouche said, leaning against the wall. He felt utterly drained.

“Well…” the boy said, approaching him again with the glass of water in hand. “My name is Sethos,” he added with a smile.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Midnight.
Xiao and Aether appeared in the hallway of a building in the lower city of Mondstadt, standing beside a door. The blond-haired traveler pulled away from Xiao’s grasp.

“Thanks for bringing me,” Aether said, breaking the silence between them. “You can go now; I’ve got something to do before I start packing…”
Aether’s tone carried a hint of nervousness as he prepared to leave, but Xiao stopped him.

“No,” Xiao said firmly, halting Aether in his tracks. “I have to stay with you.”

“I don’t want to be seen with you... It’s going to look strange having a Yaksha by my side,” Aether replied, scratching the back of his neck. “That’ll just raise more suspicions, and for now, it’s better to keep a low profile.”

“You say that as if you’re not already being tracked by two opposing nations. The only places where they stop tailing you are Sumeru, Natlan, and Liyue.”

Aether fell silent, considering his options to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.

“Alright, here’s the plan,” he said, clearing his throat to speak more clearly. “I’ll take the streets, and you stick to the rooftops like you did before we met.”

Xiao analyzed the suggestion and nodded in agreement.

A few minutes later, Aether exited the building, moving as quickly as possible. He pulled his hood over his head and headed to an alley near the structure. He entered a small shop for chemical and mechanical supplies tucked away in the alley. The shop’s neon lights, glowing in shades of blue and red, illuminated its logo.

A welcoming chime sounded as he stepped inside.

“Aether… I’ve been expecting you,” a blond man with piercing blue eyes said, keeping his gaze fixed on Aether.

“Sorry for the delay. I ran into a few issues.”

“Follow me,” the man said, pressing a button beneath the reception desk. Then, he grabbed Aether’s wrist to lead him further inside.

“Wait,” Aether said, pulling away from his grasp. The blond raised an eyebrow in response.

“It’s just… I didn’t come alone.”

“Ah, let me guess,” the man replied, crossing his arms with a sly smile. “This has something to do with your issue earlier, doesn’t it?”

“As sharp as ever, Albedo. You’re a genius.”

“I know.”

The entrance chime rang again, and both men turned to see Xiao entering as casually as any other customer. His weapon had disappeared, and he was wearing the clothes of a “normal civilian,” though his tattoos and visible scars set him apart.

“How—”

“I placed a listening device on you. Everything you say, I can hear.”

Aether was speechless, his mind racing as he tried to recall when that could have happened.

“The last of the Yakshas…” Albedo said, still stunned. “You’ve got quite the company.”

“I’m with him because of an order,” Aether replied.

“Care to explain what happened?” Albedo asked.

“Well…”

“No, it’s none of your concern,” Xiao interrupted curtly.

“Hmm, fine. Follow me,” Albedo said, dismissing the tension. He inputs a code into a wall panel that appears after he presses the button beneath the desk. Once completed, the wall opened to reveal a dimly lit staircase glowing with a faint yellow phosphorescence. Albedo descended first.

Xiao was about to follow when Aether grabbed his arm to stop him.

“Hey, there’s no need to treat him like that. He’s a friend of mine and someone I trust.”

Xiao pulled his arm free, staring at Aether intently.

“In your situation, no one is trustworthy. Keep that in mind,” Xiao said, his voice deeper, delivering the warning with chilling precision.

Aether swallowed hard, a slight shiver running down his spine at the ominous caution.

“Let’s go,” Xiao said before starting down the stairs. Aether hesitated for a moment before following.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Albedo swiped a card through the electronic handle of a cabinet. As it opened, Aether and Xiao were greeted by an array of technological and chemical devices, all in a dazzling array of colors.

“Is all of this legal?” Xiao asked, his eyes scanning the impressive display.

“I work with an authorized permit from the Mondstadt guard, so yes,” Albedo replied, glancing at Xiao with a mischievous smile. “Everything here is perfectly legal.”

Xiao remained skeptical, continuing to scrutinize the room.

The laboratory was surprisingly pristine, with white walls and soft neon gold lighting—a stark contrast to the dingy staircase leading down to it. The smooth white walls lent an air of elegance, and the warm lighting added a touch of luxury. Even the furniture followed the white-and-neon theme, though the worktables and cabinets were a darker gray, providing a subtle but complementary contrast.

“If you’re still doubtful, you can check the desk,” Albedo said, pulling a large brown box with some effort. “My certification is right there.”

Xiao activated his visual scanner to verify the claim. Sure enough, Albedo held a legitimate permit issued by Mondstadt’s official guard.

“Aether, I’m sorry, but I can’t keep holding on to this for you,” Albedo said, sliding the box over to him. “But if you need anything, I can lend you some tools.”

Aether struggled to lift the package, having forgotten just how heavy it was after so much time had passed.

“Thanks, Albedo. I owe you one.”

“Actually, you owe us,” said a green-haired girl with glasses who emerged from one of the back rooms.

“Sucrose?!” Aether exclaimed in surprise. “You’re back? I hadn’t heard from you in so long!”

“It’s good to know you haven’t forgotten my assistant,” Albedo said with a faint smile, letting out a sigh. “At least you’re not like certain others.”

Aether was about to respond when the entrance door chimed, signaling someone’s arrival.

“Master, it’s Kaeya,” Sucrose said nervously as she glanced at the security camera feed.

“Damn it,” Albedo muttered under his breath. He quickly grabbed Xiao and Aether by their arms, dragging them to a secluded area of the lab—a small white storage room, to be precise.

He shoved them both inside, surprising them with his strength.

“Don’t move, and stay quiet,” he instructed quickly before locking the door with a passcode and heading back into the lab, adjusting his demeanor as though he were merely organizing some equipment.

Loud footsteps echoed down the stairs. Albedo donned his glasses, holding a few notes in hand, while Sucrose worked on a portable screen, immersed in calculations.

“Still jotting things down on paper?” Kaeya asked, running his hand lightly over the table as he approached the blond.

“I like the traditional methods,” Albedo replied nonchalantly.

Kaeya smirked, taking Albedo’s black-framed glasses off his face, prompting the latter to look up.

“I know, but it’s always fun to remind you that you’ve got a whole world of advanced technology down here and still stick to old-school techniques.”

Albedo smiled faintly, retrieving his glasses from Kaeya.

“Cut to the chase, Kaeya. What do you want?”

“I need you to analyze these,” Kaeya said, pulling out two small devices—one purple, the other green. “They were found in an alley in Mondstadt shortly after reports of a skirmish.”

Albedo glanced at the devices, resembling electronic chips, and discreetly scanned the green one, recognizing it as belonging to Aether’s companion.

“Got an idea whose they might be, genius?” Kaeya asked mockingly.

Clearing his throat, Albedo glanced at Sucrose, who immediately understood.

“I might have a theory, but I’ll need to keep both items for further analysis.”

Sucrose quietly slipped away to the storage room where Aether and Xiao were hiding. She unlocked the door and found them sitting on the floor. Approaching Aether, she began scanning him.

“What are you doing?” Xiao asked, visibly uncomfortable.

“Albedo’s orders, sorry,” Sucrose replied apologetically as she stood up. “It seems Kaeya already knows about your fight and is looking for the culprits.”

“And who is he?”

“Kaeya is a former commander. Let’s just say… we’ve never gotten along because he’s an outsider. If he finds out I was involved in that fight, he won’t hesitate to put me on trial for disturbing Mondstadt’s peace,” Aether said, laughing bitterly. “To make matters worse, there are rumors he works with the Fatui. If he catches me, he won’t just put me on trial; he might hand me over to them as an excuse.”

Xiao noticed Aether’s growing concern. The Fatui had influence all over Teyvat, but Mondstadt was an especially easy target.

“That won’t happen,” Xiao said firmly, meeting Aether’s gaze. “Now I understand why Morax sent me to protect you. I thought I’d just be babysitting some weaklings. But you’re in far greater danger than I anticipated. I agreed to protect you, and I’ll see it through.”

Both Sucrose and Aether stared at Xiao, stunned.

“Wow…”

“Keep your voices down, guys. Wait until Kaeya leaves,” Sucrose said before slipping out of the storage room and locking it again.

She returned to Albedo and Kaeya, where her master looked visibly tense, while Kaeya exuded an air of superiority, cornering him.

“Master Albedo,” Sucrose said, breaking the tension. “I’ve found the reports and will upload them to the main system.”

“Well, Kaeya, I’ve got work to do. I’ll let you know when I confirm my theories about who’s involved.”

Kaeya studied them both with his scanner, finding nothing suspicious.

“Alright, I’ll head out,” he said, turning to the stairs. “But don’t forget who gave you everything you have here, Albedo.”

Albedo remained unfazed by the manipulation.

“You know I’ll always be eternally grateful for your help… my dear friend.”

Kaeya smirked before finally leaving the lab.

Sucrose quickly checked the security cameras. Once Kaeya was gone, Albedo exhaled a long sigh.

“Go get Aether and his companion,” he said, leaning against the table.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

"I deeply apologize for the inconvenience, Aether..."
"It's fine, you didn’t know he would come by."
"Even so… it was a pleasure helping you, Aether. Remember, if you ever need anything, I’m here."

Aether smiled and threw his arms around Albedo’s neck in a hug.
"Thank you for everything," he said softly.

Albedo was startled by the sudden embrace, but after a few seconds, he reciprocated, wrapping his arms around Aether’s lower back.
Meanwhile, Xiao and Sucrose watched the unexpected display of affection, both slightly surprised.

The hug lasted for a few moments before they pulled away. Aether grabbed the package again, ready to leave.
"You can always count on me," Albedo said with a slight wink from his right eye.

Aether smiled. Without a doubt, he was going to miss his closest friend in Mondstadt.
"See you, Aether. And you too…"
"Xiao."
"And you too, Xiao."

Finally, the two left. Aether pulled his hood back over his head, and Xiao moved to the rooftops.
After a few minutes of stealthily making their way past a few citizens, they returned to the building from earlier.

Luckily, the reception area was still open. Aether entered through the door and quickly headed to his apartment.
When he arrived, he opened the door and waited for the Yaksha to catch up. He was glad Xiao was fast.

"What’s in that package?" Xiao asked, his curiosity piqued. After all, they had almost gotten into trouble that could have jeopardized all of "The Alliance’s" plans.

Aether placed the package on the entryway table, gazing at it wistfully.
"My sister and I stole it from the Fatui…" he said, a note of sadness in his voice. "It was supposed to be a device that would benefit both of us, but… well, I guess now it’s just for me."

Xiao looked at the package, noting a small Fatui emblem in the corner of the box.
“Incredible. They managed to outwit the Fatui all on their own,” he thought to himself.

Aether pulled out a knife and began cutting open the package. Noticing Xiao’s focused gaze, he sighed.
"Don’t make a big deal out of what’s in here, alright? We had our reasons, okay?"

Xiao didn’t respond.

Aether finally removed the last bits of cardboard and looked inside.
"What?!" he exclaimed in surprise. "This isn’t what was supposed to be in this box!"

Xiao raised an eyebrow and peeked inside. There was a small robotic figure of a girl with white hair, white and gold clothing, and a blue cape.

Aether picked up the figure, examining it closely until he found a button at the back of its neck. He pressed it, and the figure immediately floated into the air.

"Greetings, Travelers," the small floating figure said. "My name is Paimon, and I’m here to serve you."

Chapter Text

Aether and Xiao stared in amazement at the machine in front of them.

"Is that what you and your sister stole?"

"There was supposed to be mora…" Aether responded, his tone filled with disappointment. "I don’t understand, that was supposed to be the box—" Aether stopped abruptly, recalling that before they had arrived, Pantalone, the Ninth of the Fatui, had reached the same place. "They swapped the boxes."

Aether sighed in defeat, unsure of what to do with the floating machine in front of the two of them.

"Maybe I can sell it," he thought.

"You can’t sell me; I’m programmed to serve the person who finds me," the small floating figure responded. Aether stared at her in surprise.

"So, it can read minds…" Xiao said.

"Only the mind of the person who found me."

"Do you have a scanner?" the green-haired adeptus asked.

"Affirmative."

"Cybersecurity?"

"Affirmative."

"Technical support programming?"

"Affirmative."

"Location analysis?"

"Affirmative."

"I think it’s useful, especially for you," Xiao said after scanning Paimon with his eyes. Her program seemed harmless. "It will be easier to protect you with her by your side."

Aether glanced at Paimon again. She was hovering, waiting for him to say or do something.

"If you say she’ll be helpful, then she’s coming with us."

Aether headed to his room, leaving Xiao in the apartment’s living room. Paimon began to follow the blond into his room. Once inside, Aether sighed, realizing that he wouldn’t get rid of her as he had initially thought.

"Well, I understand you’re an assistant, right?" he asked, crossing his arms.

"That’s correct."

"Can you make a list of basic things to pack so everything fits in a backpack?" he asked, pulling out a black backpack from one of the drawers and opening it.

"It depends on how long your trip will take."

"Let’s say… about six months or more."

"Maybe I won’t even come back," he thought.

Paimon’s eyes lit up, projecting a pale pink hologram.

"The most essential items are: money, comfortable and lightweight clothing, light food along with water, basic medicines, hygiene products, and personal items."

"Thanks, I’ll start packing right away."

Aether felt strange with everything that was happening. An Adeptus would now have to be with him almost 24/7. He was a key figure for Fontaine and Inazuma, and now he had a floating assistant who would surely follow him around like Xiao. To top it off, he was still worried about his sister.

"I can sense your concern," the small assistant said. "Is there something I can do?"

"Yeah, maybe I’d calm down if I knew where my sister was," he said, trying to sound sarcastic.

"Are you referring to this young lady?" Paimon asked, projecting another hologram from her eyes.

Aether dropped what he was holding as he saw his sister’s face on the screen. His eyes widened in fear—how did a machine know about Lumine?

"I cannot pinpoint her exact location, but her last records are in Natlan. That’s where I obtained this image."

"In Natlan?!" Aether was trying to process all the information he was receiving. Soon, his mind flooded with questions.

"What else do you know about her?"

"Only her last location. I’m sorry."

The door to the room burst open, revealing Xiao with an impatient expression.

"We need to leave right now; it’s almost three in the morning," he said, looking around at the messy room. "Are you seriously not packed yet?"

"Xiao, we have to go to Natlan!" Aether said, his voice laced with excitement. It had been years since he knew anything about his sister, and just the thought of learning more about her whereabouts reignited his hope.

"No. We’re going to Liyue as we originally agreed," Xiao replied, his tone showing more anger than usual.

"I think he has little patience," Paimon said, watching the Yaksha leave.
ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
Zhongli found himself cornered as Childe advanced, and he stepped back until his back hit the wall of the room.

"I missed you too much," the redhead whispered against the Archon’s lips, then proceeded to kiss him deeply. His hands cupped Zhongli’s face, intensifying the kiss and making it even more fervent.

Zhongli placed his hands over Childe’s, intertwining their fingers—a mutual display of affection.

Childe bit his lower lip with just enough pressure before swiftly slipping his tongue inside.

Zhongli leaned further against the wall as Childe’s hand trailed down, brushing softly over his chest with his fingertips before continuing to his abdomen. Childe’s touch across the area sent shivers through him.

"You look so adorable like this," Childe murmured near his face.

Zhongli felt his mind clouded by Childe’s touch; it was always like this. He loved how the redhead could make him feel these exquisite emotions and sensations.

A sigh, mixed with a soft moan, escaped his lips. He glanced up at the ceiling as the redhead trailed kisses down his torso, leaving marks wherever he pleased while slowly removing Zhongli’s clothes.

"Childe…" Zhongli sighed, trembling as he felt Childe’s tongue graze a sensitive spot on his abdomen.

Out of pure reflex, his hips began to move, seeking more friction as he felt himself harden.

His waist was gripped firmly by Childe’s hands as the redhead chuckled. Childe continued to tease the same sensitive spot with his tongue before lightly nipping at it.

A breathless moan escaped Zhongli’s lips, his cheeks flushed a faint red, and his vision began to blur.

Childe stood again, starting to remove his own clothes and the final remnants of the Archon’s attire.

Moments later, Childe’s hand trailed downward to Zhongli’s growing member, taking it fully into his grasp and beginning to pump slowly.

With his free arm, Childe braced himself against the wall, their faces now only inches apart as he continued his work below.

"I wonder… what would Liyue say if they saw their Archon like this?" Childe asked in a low, seductive tone, his eyes gleaming with amusement. He gave Zhongli’s lower lip a quick kiss, tugging on it to make him gasp before leaving a slight bite that drew a hint of blood. "Completely vulnerable to me… panting, sweating, and feeling such wonders because of me."

Zhongli turned his head away, unable to meet the Fatui’s gaze as embarrassment flushed through him.

Childe let out a soft chuckle before pushing Zhongli toward the bed. Climbing on top of him, he resumed their session of heated kisses.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Xiao and Aether were crossing a bridge connecting Mondstadt and Liyue.

“I find it ridiculous that you can only teleport in Liyue. Besides, isn’t there more of that battery Zhongli gave you?” Aether broke the silence.

“I used to be able to teleport across all of Teyvat, but over time, the magnetic fields of each nation changed. That battery has a limited duration,” Xiao replied, pausing to rest for a moment while gazing at the sky. “Unfortunately, its time has already run out.”

“But Mondstadt and Liyue are allies. You can’t even teleport between these nations?”

“Just because Liyue, Mondstadt, and Natlan are under a contract doesn’t mean I can move freely between them. I need an advanced-level battery to bypass the magnetic fields, and only Inazuma has that technology.”

Aether fell silent. It seemed Inazuma had a significant technological advantage over the other nations. Looking at it that way, he understood the reason behind their alliance more clearly.

They continued walking until they reached a bridge that was nearly destroyed.

“I don’t understand...” Xiao narrowed his gaze, searching the surroundings of the bridge. “The bridge should be intact.”

“Even in Natlan, is it difficult to pass?”

“No, it’s the easiest nation to travel to, but that also makes it the most dangerous. Still, they have the most stable warriors in times of war.” Xiao sighed, remembering the time Fatui forces had nearly attacked Liyue’s port. If not for the Archon sending a group of aspiring warriors, Liyue might have faced a worse situation.

Both stopped abruptly when the green-haired Yaksha stretched his hand forward, touching an invisible magnetic field. He strained, widening it slightly, then placed both hands on it to force an opening big enough for someone of their height to fit through.

“Go through before I run out of strength!” Xiao shouted, his body shaking as strong winds battered him, nearly pushing him back. He gathered all his strength, widening the opening further, as sparks of electricity began crackling dangerously close to his hands.

Aether rushed forward, slipping through the gap in the magnetic field. He winced as a gust of wind struck his face, forcing him to close his eyes. Looking back, he saw Xiao struggling against the fierce wind, his hands trembling under the current.

“Xiao!” Aether yelled. The Adeptus staggered forward, his body jolting as an electric current surged through him. With great effort, he finally crossed into Liyue, and the magnetic field snapped shut behind him.

Xiao was left panting as he stared back at Mondstadt. He then glanced at his hands—both were scraped, slightly bloodied, and trembling.

Closing his eyes briefly, he wiped them on his pants.

“Are you okay?” Aether asked, grabbing Xiao’s wrist to inspect the cuts and small wounds. “I’m going to heal you.”

“There’s no need. It’s too late for that, and they’re waiting for us,” Xiao muttered, trying to pull his wrist free.

Aether stared at him firmly, refusing to let go. He finally took Xiao’s hand in his own. “I brought first-aid supplies. You’ll be fine,” he said, gently brushing his thumb over Xiao’s hand. The Yaksha tensed slightly but didn’t pull away; instead, he found the warmth of Aether’s touch calming.

“Wait,” Xiao said abruptly, stopping in his tracks. “I know a place where we can stay for the night.”

“What about Zhongli?”

“We can meet him in the morning. You look exhausted, and traveling in your condition will only make it worse.”

“And what about you?”

Xiao opened his mouth to respond but fell silent. Meeting Aether’s gaze, he saw genuine concern in the blonde’s soft yet steady eyes, and it moved him deeply.

“I don’t need rest. I’m fine.”

Aether didn’t insist further. He sighed in defeat. “Fine, as you wish.” He tightened his grip slightly on Xiao’s wrist. “Let’s go. Paimon could wake up any moment,” he added, emphasizing his point as he adjusted the strap of his backpack over his shoulder.

Xiao glanced at the backpack with faint concern. “Are you sure the machine doesn’t need oxygen?”

“Machines can need oxygen?” Aether replied nervously, looking at his bag.

Xiao almost let out a chuckle. The traveler beside him seemed oblivious to many of Teyvat’s recent technological advancements.

Just as they were about to leave, Xiao felt a faint prickle at the back of his neck. However, in the blink of an eye, his teleportation had already taken effect, transporting them both in a split second.

They reappeared on a quiet street in an old commercial district in Liyue.

“Where are we?” Aether asked.

“It’s a market zone,” Xiao answered, pulling his hood up. He then tugged on the edge of Aether’s hood to pull it over his face. “Keep it on. We don’t know who might recognize us.”

Their sudden proximity caught them off guard. For a brief moment, they stared into each other’s eyes, Xiao’s hand still lingering on Aether’s hood. The Yaksha couldn’t help but notice how Aether’s gaze was both gentle and unyielding—a combination he found himself liking more than he cared to admit.

A sudden crack of thunder broke the moment, and raindrops began to fall.

“Let’s go,” Xiao said, leading the way into a nearby building with Aether following closely behind.

At the reception, they were greeted by a young man with short blue hair, styled peculiarly, and wearing traditional yet elegant clothes. He set aside his book as they entered.

“Xingqiu. I’m glad you’re still working this late.”

“It’s no problem. Keqing told me you might drop by, so I made sure to wait for you,” Xingqiu replied, glancing at Xiao before his gaze shifted to Aether. “So this is the boy everyone’s so worried about...” He examined Aether from head to toe. “Pleasure to meet you. My name is Xingqiu, son of the owner of this merchant hotel chain.”

“Nice to meet you,” Aether said with a polite smile.

“Separate rooms, or will one be enough?” Xingqiu asked.

“Do I have to pay extra?” Xiao responded bluntly.

“Yes.”

The blue-haired receptionist rolled his eyes.

“One room will be fine,” Xiao concluded.
Xingqiu pulled out a bright yellow card from his pocket and slid it across the desk. A soft electronic hum filled the air, and another card emerged from the surface of the table—this time, it was blue.

“Have a good morning,” he said, handing the card to Xiao. “And remind Keqing she owes the payment by seven tonight.”

“I’ll let her know,” Xiao replied as he took the card, then glanced at Aether, who followed him quietly.

Once inside their room, Aether threw himself onto the bed, completely exhausted.

“I don’t think I can sleep.”

“Just try to recover in whatever way you can,” Xiao advised, leaning against the wall nearby.

“I’ll try if you answer one question,” Aether replied, turning to look at Xiao and then at his backpack, where Paimon lay tucked away. For now, everything seemed fine with her.

“Alright.”

“Natlan,” Aether began, shifting his gaze to his companion. “From what you explained earlier, they’re allied because of their physical strength in warfare, right?”

“Perhaps. I don’t know much about the political decisions our Archon makes. I just know that nation is essential to us—for both trade and battle,” Xiao explained, furrowing his brow as if searching for a better answer. “But beyond that, I can’t say. I only follow orders. For the political side of things, there are two other women who handle that.”

“I see…” Aether murmured, shifting his eyes back to the ceiling. He let out a soft sigh and quickly drifted off to sleep.

Hours passed. Xiao tried to rest, but something in his core felt off. An unease that crawled through his body wouldn’t let him find peace.

Suddenly, a faint electronic sound, glitching twice, reverberated in the room. Xiao gasped, as though he’d been choking on air. His vision distorted—everything turned a deep shade of violet. His body began to move on its own, instinctively stepping toward the window and slipping out of the room in silence, leaving everything behind.

Aether woke with a start, a strange, lingering feeling jolting him upright. It was already around six in the morning. The first thing he noticed was Paimon beside him.

“Paimon… where’s Xiao?” he asked, his voice tinged with urgency.

“I haven’t seen him. When I woke up, he wasn’t there. I can’t sense him anywhere nearby either,” Paimon replied, frowning.

Aether sat up abruptly, his heart pounding with a sinking dread. His worst fear was becoming a reality.

He rushed to the door, leaving it open without reactivating the room’s security lock. Moments later, he reached the reception area, where Xingqiu was still sitting.

“Excuse me,” Aether said hurriedly, Paimon floating close by his side.

Xingqiu looked up from his book and smiled faintly. “Ah, good morning. Are you all packed to leave?”

“Xiao disappeared from the room… He didn’t come by here, did he?” Aether’s voice betrayed his panic.

Xingqiu’s eyes widened in surprise. Xiao would never do something like that, he thought, immediately sensing that something had gone terribly wrong.

“I need to warn Keqing,” Xingqiu said, his face clouding over. He waved his hand over the desk, and a holographic blue screen flickered into existence.

Aether and Paimon watched as Xingqiu scrolled through a list of contacts. When he reached one labeled “Boss,” he tapped it. After a moment, he placed a communicator in his ear, and a soft electronic beep confirmed the connection.

“Keqing… Xiao’s gone missing,” Xingqiu said gravely, his expression tense as he listened to the response on the other end. Aether’s mind raced with possibilities, trying to piece together what could have happened. Finally, after about a minute, Xingqiu spoke again. “Understood. I’ll wait here.”

The hologram vanished, and Xingqiu collapsed back into his chair, letting out a long sigh.

“It’s worse than I thought,” he muttered. “Xiao’s information receiver may have been hacked.”

“...His what?” Aether asked, utterly confused.

“People like Xiao have something called an information receiver. It’s a device used to store important data collected over the years—it also helps keep them stable when dealing with threats,” Xingqiu explained, his tone grave. “If that device has been hacked by another nation, then we’re screwed.”

Chapter Text

Mualani guided Keqing, Aether, and Paimon toward her tribe.

It was a complete feast of pure nature. The sea was a stunning turquoise color, entirely pristine.

Above the sea, there were bridges supporting cabins with large, curved glass windows. Despite their presence, the landscape still felt natural due to the rounded shapes and conical roofs made of natural thatch.

“Such a beautiful view,” Paimon said, absolutely thrilled by everything in front of them.

"Maybe, when this war is over… I could come here with Ganyu for a vacation," Keqing thought nostalgically.

“If you’d like, you can each stay in separate cabins,” Mualani said. “But I need you to confirm as soon as possible.”

Aether and Paimon looked at Keqing, and they all seemed to have the same answer.

“We’ll stay in separate cabins,” they said in unison. It was better that way.

“Alright, follow me.”

The four headed toward a cabin farther away compared to the others, which gave the area the feel of a small community.

“This is the reception for my shop,” Mualani explained with a smile.

Mualani walked around the small cabin she worked in, unlocked the door, and entered. She then appeared in front of her companions, separated only by the welcome desk.

“Separate cabins, so that’s two keys…” she said, her tone hinting that she was thinking about something else. She pulled out a locked box from under the counter, opened it, and took out two keys. Finally, she handed them to Aether and Keqing. “Here are your keys.”

“You still use keys here?” Paimon asked, surprised.

“Natlan is more traditional. We have advanced technology, but it’s mostly in the main city,” Mualani explained with a slight smile, stepping out of the reception area. “I’ll show you to your rooms.”

Keqing noticed the change in Mualani’s tone and expression, as if she were worried about something.

She checked to see if Aether had noticed as well, but he was chatting with Paimon. So, Keqing quickened her pace and walked beside Mualani.

“Mualani… are you okay?”

Mualani snapped back to reality. She was with new friends and Keqing—she couldn’t let them notice her condition.

She smiled again and shook her head to clear her thoughts.

“Keqing, don’t worry. I’m fine. I was just thinking about… the rent I have to pay in a few days,” she said, trying to sound cheerful and carefree as always.

Keqing wasn’t naïve, but she also knew Mualani didn’t like to burden others with her feelings. It wasn’t a burden, though. Keqing understood why Mualani was like this—and the answer was Kinich.

Keqing continued walking alongside Mualani, wanting to confirm her suspicions about the change in her demeanor. The sunset started painting the background, beautiful but disastrous for the two of them.

Keqing knew she was partly to blame. Maybe she could have done more than just follow orders. Who knows? Perhaps Kinich’s help in carrying out such a dangerous hack wasn’t necessary.

“It’s about Kinich, isn’t it?”

Mualani stopped in her tracks again. Her gaze darkened completely, her expression more serious. She tried to say something, but the words wouldn’t come out. She looked like her old self again—her eyes gave it away. She seemed more…

Vulnerable.

“I need to talk to you,” she said, then glanced toward the lodging where her companion would be staying.

“Alright, let’s go,” Keqing replied, and the two-headed directly to one of the small houses over the turquoise river.

Meanwhile, Keqing sent Aether a message, letting him know what was happening and telling him to take some time.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Mualani unlocked the door, the discomfort still running down her lower back.

As they entered, the first thing visible was the minimalist furniture with fine, elegant lines. There was a glass table next to the modern kitchen, complete with appliances, and a white-toned bedroom to the left, featuring automated drawers.

Mualani closed the door after Keqing stepped inside, and both sat on the nearest piece of furniture.

“How is Ganyu?” Mualani asked, breaking the silence in a kinder tone. She crossed her legs and leaned back against the seat.

“Oh, um…” Keqing stammered, suddenly nervous. It wasn’t common for people to ask her about Ganyu. She blushed slightly, and Mualani subtly analyzed her reaction. “She’s doing well…”

“I suppose being someone so close to you and working directly for the Liyue Archon gives her strong backing.”

Keqing couldn’t quite grasp Mualani’s comment, but she could sense there was something beneath it.

“What do you mean by that?”

Mualani straightened up, no longer leaning against the seat, her expression turning more serious again.

“If Ganyu were in mortal danger, I’m sure you would do everything possible to ensure her safety.”

Keqing didn’t reply.

“Your silence confirms it. So, you understand why I’m so worried about Kinich.”

“Of course, I understand. And I truly feel terrible about all of this.”

“Keqing, tell me the truth,” Mualani interrupted abruptly, cutting her companion off. “Any other Adeptus could intervene in the Yaksha’s hack, couldn’t they?”

“…What are you implying…?”

“That Ganyu could also hack into the Yaksha and recover his information chip.”

“She’s not going to get involved in this!” Keqing exclaimed, her voice louder than she intended. Seeing the tension in the girl sitting across from her, who then stood up and placed her key on the table in front of the seat, Keqing realized her mistake. “Mualani… no…”

“Don’t worry,” Mualani interrupted, putting her hand on the doorknob as she prepared to leave. “I’ve already accepted it. Let Kinich be the one to sacrifice himself for his mistakes,” she said at last before leaving the room.

Her mind was in chaos, but at least she had a plan to prevent catastrophe and try to save Kinich from what could be his end.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Aether and Paimon were strolling to better appreciate their surroundings, eventually arriving at the food and drink area—a free bar.

“You have a new message from an unknown number,” a screen appeared in front of Aether’s view, accompanied by the voice of his notifications.

Aether stopped talking to Paimon and wondered about the new notification.

“Delete it,” he responded, but Paimon interrupted with a loud “Wait!” halting the action.
“What?” he asked.

“It could be a message from Keqing... I gave her your number.”

“You gave someone my number without my consent?!”

“Well, I thought it’d be good for you to stay in touch with her, just in case.”

“Restore the message,” he replied, looking at the screen with a weary expression.

“Welcome!” someone behind the bar near them exclaimed. Aether dismissed the screen, searching for the voice that had greeted them.
“Um... down here,” the voice responded again.

Aether and Paimon looked over the counter to find a small girl standing there.

“A little girl?” Aether said, and the child smiled in response. “Are you lost?” he asked.

“No, I help Mualani with her business,” she said, still smiling. Then she moved to some chairs to her right, dragging one over so she could face Aether and Paimon. She climbed onto it to be at the same height as her “clients.” “My name is Kachina. If you’d like anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Do they make children work here?” Aether asked, completely taken aback.

“They don’t pay me for this,” she replied innocently.

“Child labor?” Paimon questioned, analyzing the girl with her scanner.

“Kachina!” Mualani exclaimed as she arrived.

“Mualani!” the little girl responded in the same tone. “Look, I’m helping you,” she said with a grin.

Mualani smiled back and then turned to the two guests.

“This is Kachina. She’s like a little sister to me and always wants to help however she can.”

“Ah…” Paimon and Aether said in unison.

“Mualani, isn’t Kinich with you?”

“Ah… he had some things to take care of, so he couldn’t join us,” she said, trying to sound as natural as possible. “Kachina, these are Aether and Paimon. They’ve come from Liyue.”

“They say some really funny things,” the little girl replied, then turned to the woman behind her. “Mualani, maybe we can take them surfing so they can see more of Natlan’s beaches.”

“Hm, that’ll have to be another day. It’s getting late,” Mualani said, glancing at the sky as the sun slowly disappeared and the moon emerged in its place. “Can you make it home alone tonight?” she asked the child, who nodded. “Good.”

After saying this, she pulled a small chip from her pocket and inserted it into the bracelet on Kachina’s wrist.
“It’s a tracker, just in case you get lost or something.”

Kachina nodded, then hugged Mualani, who returned the gesture before they parted.

“Nice to meet you! I hope we can go surfing together soon,” the little girl said as Aether and Paimon waved goodbye to her with their typical arm gesture. Soon after, Kachina disappeared.

“I’ll take you to your accommodations,” Mualani said, leading them in that direction.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

7:00 PM

After dropping Aether and Paimon off, Mualani stayed back, gazing at the moon and the pitch-black night. The wind grazed her exposed skin, sending a slight chill through her.

But she still needed to return to Kinich.

Her mind wandered as she walked back toward the boy’s tribe. Her plan was imperfect, and many things could go wrong, but with a bit of luck, she might achieve her goal.

When she reached the tribe, she pulled out her keys and slammed the door open as she entered the house.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Meanwhile, that same evening:

Kinich looked into Mualani's eyes as she closed the door. Once she was gone, Ahau appeared at his side again.

"So, I guess you already know what you're going to say."

"I’ve known since they first asked, Ahau. At the very least, I want to leave something behind so Kachina and Mualani can live in another nation without any trouble."

"Those rich folks will pay whatever it takes to have someone else fix their mess," Ahau said, laughing maliciously. "Double the reward for me."

"Ahau, I need to ask you a favor... just this once."

"Oh boy... what do you want?" Ahau replied, grabbing a piece of fruit from the kitchen. "Don’t even think about a funeral. That’s off the table."

"It’s not that..." Kinich said, his voice subdued.

"Come on, what grand favor could you possibly want from me, the great Ahau?"

"Take care of Mualani and Kachina… if something happens to me."

Ahau burst into loud laughter.

"Oh, Kinich, it’s obvious your days are numbered. Look at what hacking an Inazuma sub-base did to you. Imagine what a main base will do... it’s your end."

The words came naturally to Ahau, who was confident he could finally use his host for his own plans.

"But fine, I promise nothing will happen to those two girls," he said, moving closer. "But at least try to smile more, kid. You’re on your way out..."

Kinich didn’t respond. He headed to his room and closed the door behind him.

Once inside, he leaned against the door and slowly slid down until he was sitting on the floor. He felt trapped. There was no way out of the deal—an agreement between Liyue and Natlan had sealed his fate.

After a few moments of accepting his destiny, he stood up and went to his workstation. He pulled out a transparent box containing various chips.

He rummaged through the organizer until he found purple and blue ones. Setting them on the table, he adjusted his white desk lamp for better visibility and began analyzing the chips.

"Hey, Kinich, ignoring me now?" Ahau asked as he phased through the door after several failed attempts to breach it. "What are you doing?"

"Checking if I can merge my information chip with one from Inazuma. Maybe that way..." He trailed off, a shiver running down his spine.

Ahau laughed again, loudly.

"Kinich, don’t be ridiculous. Merging your data with one from Inazuma won’t save you. It might even make things worse."

"You never know," Kinich replied, flipping the Inazuma chip to scan its back. A large, transparent screen emerged from his desk, displaying the chip’s detailed information. "Bingo," he muttered, pulling tweezers from another drawer to start modifying the chip.

"What are you doing?" Ahau asked, his tone curious.

"Exactly what I said: lightly altering the information chip," Kinich replied, pausing for a moment. "Maybe, just maybe, I can save myself by some miracle."

Ahau fell silent, watching his host try to save his own life. Though he’d never admit it, seeing Kinich so disheartened stirred a pang of pity within him.

Minutes later, Kinich removed the portable bracelet from his wrist, extracting his own information chip. He began merging it with the Inazuma chip’s basic data to prevent the threat detection system from accurately locating him during the Xiao hack.

"I’ve never understood how you manage without your information chip," Ahau commented.

Kinich sighed.

"Because I’m ninety-nine percent human. I can live perfectly fine without this junk," he said, continuing the data transfer.

"Then whoever got hacked wasn’t human."

"Exactly. They’re more vulnerable to a complete takeover, though they don’t suffer any physical or mental effects from it."

Ahau left the room, letting Kinich work alone until Mualani arrived.

7:20 PM

Kinich startled at the sound of the front door swinging open but immediately knew who it was.

Having just finished working on the chip, he hurriedly stashed it in a drawer.

He hastily cleaned up his workspace to avoid arousing suspicion and grabbed his gaming console to place it on the desk instead.

The door to his room flew open, revealing Mualani with a serious expression.

"Mualani..." Kinich said in a low voice, swallowing nervously. "Are you staying here tonight?"

Mualani nodded and sat on the bed across from him.

"Kinich, tell me. Do you already know what you’re going to do?" she asked, clinging to the hope that his answer would be "no."

"I think it’s pretty obvious what I’ll do..." he said, his voice low but resolute.

Mualani said nothing, but anger consumed her.

"It’s not fair!" she shouted, standing up and moving closer to him. "Why should you be the one to sacrifice yourself for their negligence?! One of them could do it, but they come for you..."

"Mualani, I don’t make the rules, and I can’t disobey a signed contract."

"But..." Her voice cracked, and her chin quivered as she held back tears.

Kinich stood, trying to console her.

"Mualani, please... there’s nothing we can do," he said softly, cupping her cheek and brushing away her tears with his thumb. "I’m sorry..."

Tears slipped from her eyes, and Kinich gently wiped them away.

After a few moments of silence, Mualani finally spoke.

"Get out of the room."

"What?" Kinich asked, baffled. "You want me to leave my own room?"

Mualani grabbed some blankets and pillows, thrusting them at him.

"I’m not joking. Go. Now," she said firmly.

"Mualani, I understand you’re upset, but..." He cleared his throat. "This is my room..."

Regardless of his protests, he soon found himself standing outside, blankets in hand, staring at the closed door.

Ahau approached, laughing hysterically.

"She kicked you out of your own room!" he said, nearly choking on his laughter.

"I’m not going to argue about it..." Kinich replied with a sigh, heading toward the couch.

"You’re seriously going to sleep on the couch?" Ahau asked, still laughing. "This day couldn’t get any better!"

"You wouldn’t understand," Kinich said, spreading the blanket on the couch.

"Oh, I understand perfectly. You’re hopeless when it comes to Mualani," Ahau teased before leaving Kinich to work on some freelance tasks.

Meanwhile, inside the room, Mualani approached Kinich’s workstation. She knew she shouldn’t snoop, but if she told him her plan, he’d refuse outright. She had to do this alone.

Finding Kinich’s information chip, she placed it on the desk and analyzed it. It was missing location and facial recognition data.

Searching through the other chips, she found the purple and blue one. Scanning it, she discovered it contained Kinich’s basic information.

She only needed to modify it and swap it with hers.

Though no expert, she’d observed Kinich work enough to pick up a few things.

"The computer," she thought. It might be able to guide her.

Pressing the gray power button under the desk, the computer powered on, displaying a gray screen with white text. A female voice welcomed her.

"Welcome. Identify yourself with your voice."

"If it doesn’t detect my voice, it’ll trigger the alarms," she thought.

"Identify yourself in five..." the voice began counting down.

"I’m Mualani," she whispered nervously.

The computer processed her voice for a moment before displaying "Access granted."

"Welcome, Miss Mualani," the voice said. "What information do you need?"

Placing the chip in the scanner, she asked:

"Can I change the location and facial recognition data on this chip to match mine?"

The computer scanned the chip, searching its database for a match. After a few moments, it confirmed her request.

"Would you like a basic guide on how to modify the data?" the computer asked.

"A guide might help," Mualani thought.

"Yes, show me the information," she said, and after a few seconds, the screen displayed the complete guide in text, and she began the exchange.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Inazuma:

"Yae, send word to Kazuha about what happened."

Yaemiko hesitated, slightly startled by Ei's request, while Kokomi let out a faint sound of surprise.

"But Ei, don’t you think it’s still too soon to inform him?" Kokomi asked, her voice tinged with nervousness about what might unfold.

Ei turned to face her, her expression completely serious.

"Sangonomiya, this time I won’t entertain your suggestion," she said in a bitter tone, causing the pink-haired girl to step back slightly, unable to respond.

"Yae, send a guard to inform Kazuha about the situation," she commanded, maintaining her firm and imposing tone. "I will not repeat myself."

Finally, Ei turned her gaze back to Baal, who was still lying on the analytical bed, gently holding her hand.

Kokomi left the room without saying goodbye to anyone, not even the Archon herself. Frustration began clouding her thoughts with anger, impairing her ability to reason clearly. She walked through the modern purple-and-black corridors until she heard Yaemiko's voice.

"Sangonomiya Kokomi!" Yaemiko called from the far end of the hallway. The door behind her closed automatically as she began approaching the priestess of Watatsumi.

Kokomi turned around, her expression still serious and weary.

"Yaemiko, don’t ask me for anything, please," she said directly as soon as the taller woman was close enough. She crossed her arms. "I’m tired of Ei never taking my opinions into account. This contract with her will break, and it will be her fault..."

Yaemiko considered the comment, and it rang true. She knew she’d have to reason with Ei to maintain peace within Inazuma, at least for now.

"Very well, I understand," she said. "But let’s at least keep up appearances for the citizens." With that, she passed by Kokomi, heading toward the elevator at the end of the hall.

Kokomi stood there, watching as the High Priestess's figure gradually disappeared, while a lingering sense of unease gnawed at her from within.

Heizou sat at his desk, reading the latest news from Fontaine in a printed newspaper. Despite the technological advancements across Teyvat—particularly in Inazuma—he still enjoyed reading articles in the traditional way during his free time.

On his dark blue desk, next to the newspaper, was an open can of coffee with milk, which he sipped from occasionally as he read.

"There you are," a young man's voice called out as he approached. "Looks like the Fontaine journalist sold you another one of her stories."

"She still thinks I live in Sumeru. Honestly, she’s easy to fool," Heizou replied, setting the article down on the table. "Kazuha, have Baal and Scara returned yet?" he asked, standing up to head toward his computer.

"Not yet," Kazuha replied, taking the katana hanging on the gray wall and sliding it into the sheath on his left side. "Still, I’m sure they’re fine."

Heizou didn’t voice his thoughts but had a sinking feeling about their journey to retrieve Aether.

"I’ll be in the training room if you need me," Kazuha said before leaving the room.

Shortly after Kazuha departed, Heizou received a video call from Yaemiko.

"Finally, news of their return," he thought, pressing the button to accept the call.

"Shikanoin Heizou," Yaemiko said as soon as the call connected.

"High Priestess," he responded, taking a seat for comfort. "How can I assist you?"

"I need Kazuha to be informed about what has just happened regarding Baal and Scara’s return," she said as she appeared to activate her computer, searching for a document. "The Shogun has requested that this matter remain confidential."

Heizou didn’t respond immediately. He could tell something serious had happened based on Yaemiko’s slightly uncharacteristic demeanor.

"You can trust me," he replied.

"Baal has returned, but Scaramouche has not," she said. "Moreover, Baal returned severely injured... nearly at the brink of death."

A bead of sweat formed on Heizou’s brow as unease set in. While he hadn’t expected them to return unscathed, he hadn’t imagined the situation would be this dire. Swallowing hard, he continued to listen to his superior.

"The only clue to his whereabouts is that he fell in Sumeru’s desert," she said, stopping her typing to look directly at the screen. Her face betrayed a deep concern. "Please ensure Kazuha is informed, as per the Shogun’s orders. Once he knows, request his presence at the temple."

"It will be done," Heizou replied, and the call ended.

Chapter Text

The sound of a young woman’s heels echoed through the narrow hallway of one of the two most important towers in Liyue. The walls were dark gray with long, grid-like brown lines. These lines lit up as someone passed through the corridor, following the person until they reached their destination.

Her steps were quick; the woman was rushing toward one of the rooms on the floor she was on. Upon reaching the door, she adjusted her formal attire, exhaled heavily from exhaustion, and then stood properly before knocking on the door.

“Mr. Zhongli?” she asked after knocking, waiting for a response.

After a few seconds that felt eternal, the brown door with golden accents creaked open.

Tartaglia was standing behind the door, his gaze focused more on the woman than on anything else.

“Tartaglia…?” the woman said, stepping back slightly. “Um… Is Mr. Zhongli available to talk?”

“Oh, well, he’s resting,” Tartaglia replied, glancing back into the room before returning his gaze to the woman. “He had… a rather hectic night due to work,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck with a slight smile.

The woman said nothing; she understood what that meant. Most people in the tower were aware of the relationship between the Eleventh Harbinger and the Archon, but they neither thought much of it nor said anything. After all, it was the Archon’s decision.

“What’s going on, Ganyu? I’ll let him know when he wakes up.”

“It’s about Adeptus Xiao. It seems his information receiver has been hacked…”

Tartaglia’s eyes widened, and he swallowed hard. If what Ganyu said was true, it could lead to severe consequences for all of Liyue.

“...I’ll deliver the news to him. In the meantime, ask Keqing to find an intermediary to address the issue with his receiver.”

“Right away,” the blue-haired woman said before dashing toward Keqing’s office.

Once Ganyu had left, Childe closed the door, showing his wrist to the detector near the electronic door.

He stared at the closed door for a few seconds, his face void of expression. Then, he let out a faint, sarcastic laugh that barely masked the concern beneath it. He leaned slightly against the door, resting his forearm on its surface.

“I knew I shouldn’t have let him go after that boy,” he thought. Then, he tried to clear his mind and carefully choose the right words to explain the situation to Zhongli.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Yaemiko was in the entrance hall of the tallest tower in all of Inazuma, the Shogun's base. A massive building with walls made of pure titanium, an unbreakable invisible magnetic field, and state-of-the-art security systems in its main hall. She paced in slow circles, completely anxious, though she didn’t show it outwardly. The ship that was supposed to bring Baal and Scaramouche hadn’t appeared in almost an entire day.

“Still no sign of them?” a female voice asked from the background. “It’s been nearly a full day.”

“I still don’t know anything, Kokomi. We lost track of them near Sumeru.”

“...Maybe I can send my troops to look for them.”

“That’s not necessary. The last thing we need is to start a battle in Sumeru. Especially in the desert…”

The security alarm blared; someone was at the tower’s entrance. Yaemiko pulled a purple lens from the pocket of her black shorts, which were paired with two thick gray leg warmers. She held the lens up to her right eye and checked the security camera, spotting Baal at the door, barely alive.

“Get the specialists now!” she exclaimed as a portable screen appeared on her right arm, allowing her to unlock the fortress doors.

Once Baal was inside the building, Yaemiko teleported her to her side. When she appeared, the pink-haired woman saw her companion gravely injured, barely able to stand before collapsing into her arms.

“Baal!” she cried out in alarm.

Hours later, as Yaemiko and Kokomi waited for Baal to wake up, they managed to close her wounds, stabilize her system, and repair some of the damage. Yet, she still hadn’t regained consciousness.

“What is going on here?” a deeper voice echoed through the room, causing both Yaemiko and Kokomi to grow slightly nervous.

“Ah… It’s you, Shogun,” Yaemiko said, trying to sound calm. The Archon fixed her gaze on her, frowning, then glanced around the room as she began descending the stairs. Her sharp eyes scanned everything until they landed on Baal, unconscious on a white analytical bed with red lights surrounding the puppet.

Yaemiko and Kokomi exchanged uneasy glances as Shogun remained silent, clearly noticing the “minor” detail.

“Where is Scaramouche?!” Shogun demanded in a slightly agitated tone.

Neither Yaemiko nor Kokomi dared to answer immediately. The uncomfortable tension in the room grew as the Archon pieced together what had happened.

“Activate the alarms across Inazuma,” she ordered as she began to leave the room, only to be stopped by the priestess, who grabbed her wrist.

“Wait, there’s no need to alert Inazuma. The citizens would panic, and it could allow someone to attack,” Kokomi reasoned with the Shogun, who reluctantly released her grip, still visibly upset, and locked eyes with her.

“Look, I think the best course of action is to inform Inazuma’s detective about this case. He’s a great professional, and I’m confident he’ll find Scaramouche’s whereabouts.”

“Fine…” Shogun replied, glancing at Baal, who remained unconscious. She approached her and examined her carefully. Her stern expression softened as she placed her palm gently on Baal’s right cheek. Yaemiko stepped closer, intertwining their hands.

“Do we have any clues about what happened when she arrived?” Shogun asked.

“She had sand on her,” Kokomi answered, stepping toward the other two women. “It’s likely that the ship was directly attacked in Sumeru’s desert, and Scara is probably still there.”

The Archon remained silent for several long moments. Yaemiko tried to break the silence but couldn’t find the right words.

“Yae… send word to Kazuha about what’s happened.”

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Kequin ended her call with Xingqiu, instructing him to stay with Aether until she arrived.

“Seriously, didn’t he say anything to you before you went to sleep?” Paimon asked the blonde.

“For the thousandth time, he didn’t say anything, nor did I notice anything unusual about him,” Aether replied, starting to feel frustrated with everything.

“Well, try to remember something so we can conclude,” she responded, then smiled. “But if you need to calm your mind, maybe try drinking a glass of water to relax.”

“Thanks, Paimon. Maybe later.”

A few seconds later, Xingqiu approached Aether with a worried expression.

“You need to come with me,” he said, tilting his head to the right to indicate he should follow.

Before leaving, the blue-haired man slipped on a slightly loose black jacket with a hood.

“I recommend you cover your face,” he said, pulling an earpiece out of the pocket of his long shorts.

“I like music too, but I think I might need both headphones,” Aether joked.

“It’s not for that,” Xingqiu said, shaking his head. He then placed the brown-and-black earpiece in Aether’s ear. “You need to press it once as soon as you step out of here.”

Aether raised an eyebrow at the device, questioning its purpose and necessity. He then glanced at Paimon, who immediately analyzed the earpiece.

“It’s a face transformer,” the floating assistant explained. “And it only works with people from Liyue.”

The blue-haired man looked surprised by Paimon’s explanation.

“Your assistant is interesting,” Xingqiu said, reaching out to poke Paimon with his index finger. However, the small assistant teleported away instantly, leaving both Aether and Xingqiu stunned.

“Incredible…”

“You can do that?” Aether asked, completely shocked.

“Only when I feel discomfort or sense danger,” Paimon replied with a smile.

The sound of the front door caught their attention. They all turned to see who it was. A figure fully covered in dark purple stood there, wearing a skirt that ended just above the knees, gray-heeled boots, and a hooded sweater matching the skirt’s color. The aura emanating from the person sparked a slight unease in Aether.

After a few seconds, the figure removed their hood, revealing Kequin’s face.

“Kequin… I didn’t think you’d come.”

“You’re taking too long, in my opinion, and I’m not going to risk someone else falling victim to another potential hacking,” she said, scanning Aether from head to toe. “At least the boy is fine.”

“You were there that time when they took me to the Archon,” Aether finally recognized the face of the woman in front of him.

“Took you long enough,” she replied before turning to Xingqiu, waiting for a response.

“Oh, right,” he said, realizing what she wanted to know. “I already gave him the earpiece. They can leave safely.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

Kequin headed for the door, while Aether hesitated, still unsure about the woman in front of him. Before leaving with her, he turned back to properly thank the man who had helped him.

“I didn’t know she was your boss.”

“Ah… truth is, I work with her under the radar. I have to look out for myself too.”

“Thank you so much for your help.”

“Don’t worry, that’s what I’m paid for.”

Aether rolled his eyes with a laugh. They shook hands in a more formal farewell before Aether finally left the place with Kequin.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Aether, Kequin, and Paimon strolled through the lower streets of Liyue’s bustling commercial district. It was mid-morning, around nine o'clock, and the bright daylight made it easier for merchants and citizens to recognize them. Unlike the night, there were no glowing lights or distinct fragrances in the air. Aether concluded that Liyue’s unique charm revealed itself most vividly under the moonlight; by day, the city retained its traditional and serene essence.

As they left the hotel, Aether adjusted the earpiece Xingqiu had instructed him to wear. According to Kequin, it gave him a slightly different appearance.

"Is that floating thing your assistant now?" Kequin asked in a hushed tone, glancing at Paimon, who was drawing curious stares from passersby.

"Something like that," Aether replied, brushing it off. "She’s harmless, though. Nothing to worry about."

"If you say so," Kequin muttered, clearly skeptical.

"I can hear you, you know!" Paimon chimed in indignantly.

"What’s your sound range?" Kequin asked, a mix of awe and apprehension in her voice. She had never encountered anything quite like Paimon before.

"I'm not sure I can give you an exact answer," the small floating figure admitted.

"Kequin, where are we headed?" Aether interjected, attempting to steer the conversation elsewhere. "We’re not going to see the Archon, are we?"

Kequin abruptly stopped, her expression unreadable for a moment before answering.
"Intuition?"

"Maybe."

"Before we see Mr. Zhongli, I need to gather information about someone first."

"Who?"

"The guy who’ll help us hack Xiao's data system," Kequin stated matter-of-factly.

"Who?"

"Kinich," she answered, resuming her stride with Aether and Paimon trailing behind. "Not long ago, I contacted him for the antidote Xiao used on you. He should still be in Liyue. I doubt he’s returned to Natlan just yet."

Aether vaguely remembered hearing whispers about someone named Kinich while exploring Mondstadt with his sister. The details were fuzzy, but the name struck a chord.

"Does this Kinich have some sort of unique skill set?" Aether asked, hoping to jog his memory.

"He’s from Natlan. I don’t know much about his past, but I do know that the Pyro Archon once brought him to a summit with the other representatives of the Alliance. It was Mavuika herself who vouched for him in matters of technology."

"A prodigy," Aether thought to himself.

"If you had to compare him to someone, who would it be?"

"I’d say he’s on par with Baal or even Scaramouche when it comes to intellect," Kequin replied after a moment of thought.

They approached a modest, half-constructed wooden house belonging to a relatively obscure merchant in Liyue.

"Does he stay here?" Aether asked, scrutinizing the building from top to bottom.

"No. The person here can tell us if he’s still in Liyue," Kequin explained. She slung Aether’s backpack over her shoulder. "Better I carry this, just in case."

"Don’t you have his contact?" Paimon asked, breaking the silence.

"No. Officially, I can only work with him through the Archons of our respective nations, and this is an emergency," Kequin answered as she knocked three times on the door.

A deep, gruff voice echoed from behind it. "Who’s there?"

Kequin, unfazed by the tone, replied, "It’s me, Kequin." That was enough for the door to creak open.

Inside stood an older man, likely in his late fifties, who greeted them warmly. "Kequin… Welcome. And to your companions as well. Can I offer you anything?"

"Ah, we can’t stay long, sir," Kequin replied politely. "I just need to know if Kinich is still in Liyue or if he’s already left for Natlan."

"Ah, young Kinich left for Natlan about two hours ago," the man said, his tone tinged with regret. "Did something happen?"

"It’s nothing urgent. Thank you for your time," Kequin said, stepping back toward the door with her companions. Just before closing it, she added, "I promise I’ll stay longer next time to catch up."

Once outside, Aether broke the silence. "Why did his voice change so drastically?"

"Kinich installed a program in his vocal chip," Kequin explained. "They’ve been friends ever since."

Grabbing Aether and Paimon by the wrists, she said, "We’re leaving."

The next second, they found themselves atop one of Liyue’s towering structures.

"Kequin?" a soft voice called. Aether turned to see a girl with pale blue hair approaching Kequin, concern etched across her face. "You’re bleeding," she said, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket and pressing it gently against Kequin’s nose.

"It’s nothing," Kequin reassured her, lightly brushing the girl’s wrist with her fingers. She let the black backpack slip off her shoulder. "Aether, Paimon, meet Ganyu, the general secretary of Liyue."

"A pleasure," Aether said.

"The pleasure is mine," Ganyu replied before returning to Kequin. "I told you that doing this would hurt you..."

"I couldn’t stay in the streets any longer."

"You can’t control everything," Ganyu scolded gently.

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of the entrance door opening. Tartaglia strode in, his expression unusually grave.

"Zhongli isn’t aware of this situation," he announced curtly. "It’s better if you follow my orders."

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

"What? Excuse me," said Kequin, drawing everyone's attention. "Morax is the one who gives us orders, not you."
"Kequin, this isn’t the time for this..."
"Does our Archon even know what happened?" she interrupted again.
"Kequin..."
"Exactly, you didn’t even tell him. Don’t come here thinking you can give us orders just because you have something going on with him."
"He can’t know! Do you want Liyue to send troops to Inazuma in its current state?"
"And how does that affect you? You’re one of the Eleven!"
"What’s that supposed to mean?!"

Kequin quickly assumed a battle stance, drawing her sword, which radiated a lilac light. If it made contact with the skin, it would cause severe first-degree burns. The blade hovered dangerously close to Tartaglia's neck.
"I don’t trust you," she said finally, alerting everyone. Tartaglia discreetly summoned two blades to his hands, feeling the intense heat of her weapon near his neck. "This situation is too risky to let you play your games!"

Ganyu stepped between them, attempting to calm the situation.
"Look, I know you two have your differences, but I think it’s better to try talking this out before turning this room into a battlefield."

Kequin shot Ganyu a furious glare, while Ganyu maintained her serene composure. Tartaglia kept a serious expression. Finally, Kequin sighed and lowered her weapon, and Tartaglia also made his blue swords vanish.
"Fine. I think Tartaglia should start."
"If Zhongli finds out about this, he’ll declare a state of emergency. Our troops will stop supporting Mondstadt, and Inazuma will gain the upper hand against us. Do you understand?" Tartaglia said, swallowing hard as he carefully chose his words. "Xiao’s case will have to be resolved discreetly, without the Archons knowing."
"What?!" Kequin exclaimed after Tartaglia finished speaking. "Act like criminals? Have you lost your mind?"
"It’s the best option. Raising suspicions now would be the worst thing that could happen... I understand you have contact with that guy from Natlan, right?"
"I do, but... I wasn’t planning on leaving the entire case to him."
"I don’t think it’ll be too hard for him to hack the base if he’s done it before," Tartaglia said, trying to sound more relaxed.
"It’s different. This is a confrontation with Xiao and Inazuma’s system. I won’t be able to convince him."
"...Maybe not you, but surely there are others who can."

Kequin’s mind sparked with an idea, already formulating a plan to get Kinich to accept the task.
"Aether, Paimon, you’re coming with me. You can’t stay here."
"Why not?"
"Zhongli can’t see you. If he does, he’ll suspect something’s going on," Ganyu responded, then glanced at Tartaglia, who seemed to understand her better now. "Childe, please, I need you to cover for Xiao and Aether’s delay."
"Don’t worry. I already had a plan in case that happened."
"Good. Kequin, Aether, and Paimon, you need to find that Natlan guy and do whatever it takes to get his help."

Aether glanced at Kequin, then at Paimon, both of whom looked uncertain.
"We don’t have any other choice."
"Fine, I hope you succeed," Tartaglia said. "Ganyu, I need to talk to you privately." She nodded, and the two left the room, leaving the remaining three alone.
"Do you think he might refuse?" Paimon asked.
"Maybe. I’ve had problems with him before, so I can’t ask him myself... You’ll have to do it," Kequin said, projecting a hologram of Kinich. "That’s Kinich. He’s easy to spot—there aren’t many guys like him in Teyvat. But pay special attention to his eyes."
"Got it."
"If he refuses, you’ll need to talk to this girl," she added as the image of Kinich switched to that of a girl. "Her name is Mualani. It’s unclear what kind of relationship she has with Kinich, but they seem very close."
"Why don’t you talk to her?"
"Ah... I already did last time. She’s a great girl; if you ask for her help, she’ll probably assist without hesitation."

Kequin closed the hologram and looked at Aether and Paimon.
"I’ll be with you when we’re in Natlan, so don’t worry," Kequin said, grabbing the strap of Aether’s black backpack and placing it in front of him. "But it’s better if you bring weapons. Natlan can be very dangerous."

Aether opened a lower pocket of the backpack, pulling out a few knives and slipping them into his pocket.
—"At the start of all this chaos, I thought about going to Natlan with my sister."

Kequin gave a small, ironic laugh, finding the comment amusing.
"If you think you can handle constant robberies, then go ahead."

Aether didn’t respond immediately, choosing instead to let his actions speak for him. He closed the backpack and slung it over his shoulders, signaling that they were ready to leave.

Kequin grabbed the boy’s wrist again, and Paimon stealthily slipped into the backpack.
"Don’t tell Ganyu I did this again," she said, and within seconds, they vanished.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Reaching Natlan was faster than Aether had expected. Within seconds, he went from standing inside the tower of Liyue to witnessing a nearly untouched natural landscape.

“Wow...” he murmured, admiring the view.

The area was surrounded by lush, natural zones, with the central city of Natlan visible in the distance. It looked like any other city.

“We're on one of the mountains,” Kequin explained, pulling out a circular device that projected a holographic map. “According to this, we’ll come across the tribe Kinich belongs to just ahead.”

Aether felt a sudden thump on his back, prompting him to open his backpack. Paimon flew out, adjusting her hair in the process.

“What were you doing in there?” the blonde asked.

“It was better this way,” she replied. “By staying tucked away in your bag, Kequin’s teleportation worked more efficiently.”

“Incredible…” Kequin thought, impressed by the floating device’s resourcefulness.

“The Huitzlán tribe is down there,” Paimon said, pointing with her finger, causing Aether to turn his gaze in that direction. “We’ll need to go around and descend.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Kequin interjected, wiping blood from her nose. She grabbed Aether’s arm and led him toward the edge of the cliff.

“What are you planning to do?”

“We’re taking the fast way down,” she said before leaping off the cliff with her companions in tow.

The two began plummeting rapidly, Aether’s face frozen in fear at the speed of their descent. Midway, Kequin unfurled a pair of wings from her back, catching hold of Aether. They landed gracefully without a scratch.

“You could’ve warned me about that!” Aether exclaimed, still shaken from the terrifying drop.

Kequin raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by his reaction.

“I assumed you had a glider too.”

“Not everyone has extra safety measures!”

“Alright then. Let’s move on; we need to ask around for him,” she said, heading toward a wooden staircase leading to the second level, where the consultation center was located.

“Good afternoon! Welcome!” greeted a young woman in the traditional attire of the tribe. “How can I assist you?”

“We’re looking for a young man named Kinich. We understand this is his tribe,” Aether said. “We need to know where he is.”

“Kinich... Is there a specific request for him?”

“It’s... urgent. We need to speak with him,” Aether replied, struggling to find the right words.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t disclose his whereabouts without a valid reason,” the girl responded politely.

“Hey, you three!” a voice called out from behind them, making all three turn around. “Are you looking for Kinich’s help?”

The speaker was a young woman with white hair tinged with light blue and sun-kissed skin adorned with native markings. She wore long gloves matching her hair color with dark blue accents. Her cropped top, a blend of white and light blue, paired well with navy shorts that faded into black. A large bow adorned the back of her shorts, mirroring the hues of her top. Her high boots, which extended above her knees, were a striking combination of black and marine blue.

“Mualani!” Kequin exclaimed in relief. “I’m so glad you’re nearby.”

“Kequin, I didn’t expect to see you again so soon,” Mualani replied, stepping closer to the group. “I see you’ve brought company... This must be urgent.”

“It is. We truly need your help.”

“Mhm,” Mualani hummed thoughtfully before smiling. “Follow me; I’ll take you to the person you’re looking for.”

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Kinich was resting in a room, lazily eating a piece of fruit to stave off his hunger.

“Hey, you! Leave some of that apple for me!” demanded the pixelated dragon that always accompanied him.

“Are you sure you want it? I found it lying around, and it’s been in my bag for days…”

“You’re disgusting! Offering me such filthy leftovers is an insult to the great—”

Before the dragon could finish its tirade, Kinich swatted it away, sending it flying into the distance and disappearing.

Of course, the apple hadn’t been in his bag for days. It was fresh and new. He just didn’t feel like sharing it with Ahau right then.

The sound of the main door opening signaled Mualani’s arrival. Kinich quickly stood up from the bed where he’d been lounging and made his way to greet her.

“I’m surprised you’re here so early,” he began in a neutral tone, which faltered as soon as he noticed she wasn’t alone.

And what company she’d brought.

“Kequin...” he said, trying his best to sound unfazed. “I thought I wouldn’t see you again for a very, very long time.”

Kequin bit her tongue, swallowing her words to avoid escalating the tension. Instead, it was Mualani who stepped forward to diffuse the situation.

“Please, Kinich,” she said, walking further into the room with a concerned expression, “can you put this little rivalry aside for now? This is urgent.”

“I’m guessing this is about some kind of task,” he replied, his eyes locking onto the blonde boy. “Who’s he?”

“This is Aether, and that’s his companion, Paimon,” Kequin answered.

“Aether...” Kinich murmured, the name tickling the edges of his memory. “Pleasure to meet you,” he said at last.

“The pleasure’s mine,” Aether replied.

Mualani pulled a chair back from the dining table and sat down, resting her elbows on the surface. Her tone grew more serious, though her expression remained characteristically calm.

“I think there’s something you need to know, Kinich,” she began.

Kinich immediately understood the gravity of her words and took a seat beside her, waiting for the explanation.

“Go ahead, tell me what’s going on.”

Paimon, unable to contain herself, spoke up first.

“The last of the Yakshas was hacked by Inazuman troops, and we need your help to recover their data base!”

“Paimon! That wasn’t for you to say!”

“You want me to hack directly into the Shogun’s base?” Kinich asked, struggling to process what he’d just heard.

“This isn’t just about saving them,” Aether added, his voice steady but urgent. “It’s about saving ourselves and all of Natlan.”

Mualani gently took Kinich’s hand under the table, offering silent support as Aether continued.

“Kinich... we need your help.”

Kinich’s gaze shifted between Aether and Kequin, who both watched him intently, waiting for his answer.

“We’ll pay you whatever you ask,” Kequin broke the silence, her voice resolute. “Name your price, and we’ll accept it without hesitation.”

“If I agree... do you have ten million mora on hand?” Kinich asked, his voice calm but firm.

The room fell silent, the group visibly shocked by the staggering sum he demanded.

“T-Ten million…?”

“I think that’s a fair price,” he said bluntly. “I’d be risking my life, with no guarantee I’d make it out alive.”

“But it’s all through technology! I don’t see how—”

“Besides, they’ll likely figure out that I’m the one who disrupted their plans,” he interrupted, unwrapping the bandages from his forearm to reveal fresh wounds. The sight of the injuries made both Aether and Kequin visibly uneasy.

“These,” he said, gesturing to the scars, “are the risks of breaching a secondary Inazuman database. If I target a primary one…” His voice trailed off as he recalled the excruciating pain from his last mission. It was the worst part of his work—how much of himself he sacrificed every time.

Mualani softly rubbed his back, understanding the weight of his hesitation. She knew he had every right to refuse, but she also knew they had no other choice. It was either him or the downfall of three nations.

“Give us a couple of days to give you an answer,” Mualani said, looking at Kequin and her companions with a sorrowful gaze. “You can stay in my village in the meantime.”

Kequin, Aether, and Paimon exchanged nervous glances, worried that the answer might be no.

Finally, they agreed and followed Mualani as she led them to their lodging.

Left alone once again, Kinich sat in silence, torn between two unbearable choices: sacrifice himself or let three nations fall.

Chapter Text

Meanwhile:

Sumeru

Thirst invaded the ex-Fatui’s throat.

He had never felt so vulnerable and defenseless before. His knees ached with a constant pulse, the fresh cuts on his skin still stung despite the time that had passed, and the cold lingered within him even under the warmth of a cozy roof.

The desert was cruel.

Even though a boy had come to his aid and was now offering him a glass of water to ease the dryness in his throat—an anomaly in such a hostile landscape—he still thought the desert was merciless to its invaders.

Sethos tilted his head slightly while Scaramouche continued to stare at him. His amber eyes reflected the soft light of the sunset filtering through the window behind the ex-Fatui.

"Don’t you want the water?" he asked with a warm smile still on his face.

The former Harbinger was about to say something, but his completely parched throat stopped him, forcing him into a coughing fit. His face betrayed his desperation for water, and he quickly grabbed the glass to drink.

After a few seconds, the purple-haired man let out a heavy sigh as the water rushed down his dry throat—a brief moment of discomfort and pain—before he could finally speak.

"Thank you for the water," he said, setting the glass down on a nearby table. "You didn’t have to worry about me."

"I’ve never seen you around here before, but you’re injured, and I couldn’t just leave you out in the cold desert nights," Sethos replied in the same cheerful tone. The sunset’s glow bathed his tan skin, giving him an almost radiant effect.

Scaramouche immediately realized that Sethos was the kind of person who helped others without judgment, regardless of their circumstances.

Some would call that a good person.

But in this situation, Scaramouche would call him a fool.

He glanced around in search of his large hat, but it was nowhere to be found.

"Hey, where’s my hat?" he asked, leaning back against the dark gray stone wall, sighing in exhaustion. "I had a hat when I was in the desert."

"Ah… right!" Sethos responded, quickly disappearing into another room before returning with the hat in his hands. "It was dirty when I brought you in, so I cleaned it," he said, placing it on the table beside the glass. "Since you don’t have a name… and I can call you whatever I want, how about… ‘Hat Man’?"

"Excuse me?"

"It sounds pretty good, and considering how flashy your hat is, I think it suits you."

Sethos wore an expression of self-satisfaction while his companion could barely process what he had just heard.

Scaramouche finally sighed, half-closing his eyes in resignation.

"Fine, whatever," he muttered as his companion returned the hat to his hands. He stared at it for a moment, wondering why this boy seemed so fixated on such a simple accessory. "What a strange guy," he thought before placing the hat back on his head. "Thanks for your help, but I have to go…"

"Wait!" Sethos quickly interrupted. "You can’t leave yet. You’re still injured, and I doubt you can cross the desert at this hour."

"What? It’s already nighttime?" Scaramouche asked in surprise, turning to his right and spotting a window. Outside, the sunset was gradually fading into darkness.

"You’ve been asleep for nearly seventeen hours," Sethos informed him, leaning against the table with both hands. "I can tell you’re still exhausted, so you can stay as long as you need."

Scaramouche considered the offer. A part of him wondered if this was all a trap—if the boy in front of him intended to hand him over to the authorities.

However, he quickly dismissed the thought. If that were the case, Sethos would have already done so while he was unconscious.

"You can sleep in my room if you’d like," Sethos offered, smiling as he noticed Scaramouche’s hesitation. "I’ll sleep in the living room."

There weren’t many better options—either he spent the night here resting, or he took his chances in the desert as darkness approached.

"Fine, I’ll stay."

"Then you’re staying in my room," Sethos said, still smiling.

Scaramouche wouldn’t admit it, but the idea of being around someone again was somewhat comforting, and the boy who had just saved him was… interesting.

"It’s not necessary. I can stay in the living room."

"I insist," Sethos quickly replied, his enthusiasm unwavering. "You’re my guest, and you’re recovering. It’s better if you stay in my room—it’ll be more comfortable for you."

The ex-Fatui had no choice but to accept. After all, Sethos had a point.

He was still weak, and the last thing he needed was to draw suspicion that he wasn’t just some lost traveler.

Maybe he could lie and say he had been attacked by a desert beast.

"Alright, I accept," he finally said, and Sethos responded with a smile.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Sethos' room was warm and spacious, an unlikely refuge amidst the hostility of the desert. The decor was traditional, featuring desert tapestries in earthy tones with beautiful symbolic patterns.

The bed, at first glance, seemed simple, but with a sunken mattress in the center, it promised a comfort Scaramouche hadn’t felt since leaving Inazuma. To him, those days seemed so distant now.

"Are you sure you don’t want to lean on me?" Sethos asked, his voice full of doubt and genuine kindness.

"No, I should get used to standing on my own," Scaramouche replied, struggling to maintain his pride.

The visitor tried to walk normally, but at times, one of his legs betrayed him, causing his knee to buckle slightly before quickly recovering.

"Someone must have cursed me. It's humiliating to be seen like this in front of a mere human," he thought, then sat on the edge of the bed, his face showing discomfort.

He cursed the Yaksha again.

"Are you sure you don’t need anything?" Sethos asked, looking at him with concern. "You can ask me for anything. I won’t charge you for staying here."

"Why does he insist so much?" Scaramouche thought, confused as to why the boy was so adamant about helping him. He’d never seen him before and had no reason to go out of his way like this. Maybe he looked so pitiful that it stirred some kind of sympathy.

"There’s no need to be so polite. When I recover, I won’t bother you anymore," Scaramouche said, trying to sound as least irritable as possible.

Sethos only gave a slight smile.

"Then I’ll wake you up tomorrow and you can come with me to the city if you’re feeling better."

Scaramouche didn’t pay much attention to what he said; he just wanted to rest, and his eyes were beginning to close on their own.

"Yeah, yeah… whatever you say," he murmured, ending the conversation while trying not to fall asleep.

Sethos left the room, giving the ex-Fatui some privacy to rest.

Finally, alone, Scaramouche let out a last sigh before lying back down, his eyes closing as he finally rested in a more comfortable place.

At last, after what felt like seeing his life flash before his eyes just hours earlier, he could rest without fearing for his life.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

The fortress of Inazuma stood imposingly, a marvel to anyone who beheld it in person. It was a perfect balance between traditional architecture and the futuristic technology that surrounded it. The entrance was guarded by two lethal androids, perfectly camouflaged to appear as ordinary humans.

Kazuha arrived at the fortress gates, his demeanor calm yet alert. As soon as he was within five meters of the androids, a red laser light locked onto his face, scanning the area around his eyes and neck. He remained still, and after confirming his identity, the transparent doors slid open. He walked past the androids and made his way toward the central hall, passing through traditional camps where everything from combat training to technological research took place.

Once inside, he was greeted by the High Priestess.

—Lady Miko, I arrived as soon as you summoned me —he said, resting his hand on the hilt of his katana, trying to appear composed.

—Kazuha —she responded, scanning him with her sharp gaze, noting the slight increase in his pulse and heartbeat, a sign of his anticipation—. The Shogun is waiting for you on the third floor. You can take the elevator down the hallway to your right.

Kazuha bowed respectfully before heading to the designated location, walking through the purple-lit corridors adorned with traditional black Inazuman decorations until he reached the elevator.

During the brief ascent, his thoughts drifted toward Sumeru. How could he move unnoticed through the city? If anyone recognized him as an Inazuman citizen, he would undoubtedly be captured and interrogated by the authorities, raising suspicions of a potential attack.

The elevator reached the third floor in just three seconds. As the doors slid open, they revealed a vast traditional hall, dominated by a massive Electro Vision emblem at the far end. Behind it lay the Inazuma Archon's chamber. White and purple lanterns decorated each corner of the room, casting a solemn glow. Three levels were leading up to the enormous insignia, and Kazuha positioned himself at the center of the grand hall.

The emblem split in two, revealing a deeper section of the chamber. Behind it, he recognized the Archon standing before him. Her face was unreadable, yet beneath her stoic exterior, she was undoubtedly distressed.

Kazuha bowed deeply, showing his respect.

—Thank you for responding so swiftly to my summons —she said, and the white-haired samurai straightened his posture.

—I need you to see this.

Kazuha followed her up a set of wooden stairs that creaked slightly under their weight.

—I thought only Lady Miko and Scara were responsible for territorial monitoring —he commented as he observed the surveillance screens.

—They were… but now that Scara is missing… —she trailed off, unable to finish the sentence, the weight of uncertainty gnawing at her. Kazuha let go of his weapon and positioned himself beside her.

—He will return —he said, offering a small reassurance—. And I will personally ensure that happens.

—I knew you were the only one capable of carrying out this mission with conviction. Scara holds you in high regard, and I trust you will succeed.

—I will.

Kazuha had understood his orders from the beginning. If eliminating threats across Teyvat was necessary, he would do it. And he cursed the moment he hadn't accompanied Scara to find Aether. Perhaps they had underestimated Liyue far too much.

—Before I give you the final instructions and the supplies you’ll need, I need you to see this —the Archon said, pressing a button. A video began playing on the large screen before them.

—A recording from the desert? —Kazuha asked, analyzing the footage.

—It’s the only thing we managed to recover, thanks to one of the surviving soldiers from the ship.

"So, some of the soldiers escorting Scara and Baal managed to return… while Scaramouche remained stranded in the Sumeru desert, his whereabouts unknown," Kazuha thought. Inside, his anger steadily grew. This wouldn't be left unresolved—there had been a grave failure that needed correction.

The footage showed Scara seated inside the ship, still wounded from his battle against Xiao. He had severe injuries across his torso, face, and other parts of his body, yet he remained conscious, though visibly frustrated. In the background, Baal’s voice could be heard speaking to him while a soldier relayed messages to the base about their failed mission.

—Can you focus on my orders?! —Scara's angry voice rang out, while Baal stood behind him.

Then, a massive spherical force appeared in the distance, visible through the ship’s transparent door. Baal shouted something, though the recording failed to capture it clearly, and in an instant, the entire ship exploded.

—An explosion… a sneak attack —Kazuha muttered as he analyzed the video.

—We don’t know where the attack came from —the Archon responded, striving to maintain a firm tone.

—Rewind the video for a moment, please. I want to analyze that force.

She did as he requested, pausing right as the mysterious force came into view. Kazuha narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the energy’s form and trajectory. There was no doubt.

—An Anemo-user cannon blast —he stated—. The sheer force that struck the ship isn’t something an ordinary Anemo wielder could produce. It must have been launched with the power of a cannon to cause such destruction.

—Do you think anyone in Sumeru has that capability?

—I doubt it… It must be from Natlan or Mondstadt. Those two regions, along with Liyue and Sumeru, allied, meaning their forces could be anywhere.

The Archon sighed, her fingers gripping the edge of the table with barely restrained fury.

—I curse the moment they decided to challenge me —she muttered under her breath, struggling to contain her anger.

Kazuha chose to remain silent. It was wiser not to speak when the Archon of Inazuma was consumed by rage. Only a select few had ever witnessed her like this—and most who did never lived to tell the tale.

—Kazuha! —Ei called out, now composed—. I trust you to bring Scara back. Eliminate whoever stands in your way. Show no mercy.

—Understood —he responded firmly, sliding his katana back into his belt—. But first, where are the surviving soldiers?

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Kazuha was in the dungeon, deep within the lowest level of Inazuma's fortress, being led by one of the Shogun’s guards.

"This is where they are," the guard announced once they reached the cell that held the only three soldiers who had survived and made it back to Inazuma—alive, though not entirely well.

"Thank you, you may leave," Kazuha instructed, dismissing the guard.

The cell door creaked open, and the three soldiers turned to face the young samurai standing before them.

"Who are you? What do you want from us?" one of them demanded defensively. "It’s unfair that we’re locked up just to survive."

Kazuha didn’t respond. He took a quick glance around the cell—it was spacious enough for what he had in mind.

"Answer me!" the same soldier insisted, while the other two slowly backed away, a growing fear evident in their eyes. "I am a soldier of the Inazuma Guard—I deserve respect!"

Kazuha unsheathed his katana just slightly, its blade glowing a deep crimson, the edge honed to lethal perfection.

"Soldiers who fail their mission and disregard the orders of their superiors…" he began, and in the blink of an eye, his blade moved faster than the human eye could track.

A sharp, wet sound filled the air. The soldier who had been shouting barely had time to register what had happened. Kazuha’s katana was now coated in blood, and before the other two soldiers could even react, their comrade’s torso split cleanly in half, his body collapsing onto the stone floor with a sickening thud.

"…deserve no respect," Kazuha finished coldly.

The remaining two soldiers were paralyzed with terror, their breaths ragged as they stared at their fallen companion, his blood pooling beneath him.

"You failed. You had only one task," Kazuha stated, flicking his katana once to rid it of the blood. "And to make matters worse, the person you lost was the most important to me."

Without another word, he moved. The same swift, precise motion, the same unseen strike.

The two remaining soldiers didn’t even have time to scream before their bodies were cleaved apart, joining the first in lifeless silence.

For a moment, Kazuha simply stood there, gazing at the remains scattered across the cell floor, the metallic scent of blood thick in the air. A fleeting thought crossed his mind—perhaps he could have made their deaths less brutal. But just as quickly as the thought surfaced, it vanished, replaced by the burning anger and sorrow that surged through him as he recalled the last recorded footage of Scara.

With a sharp click, he slid his katana back into its sheath. Then, crouching near the bodies, he extended a gloved finger, swiping it through the fresh blood.

His eyes gleamed—a deep, crimson-red ring forming within them as a scanner activated, analyzing the DNA.

Moments later, the results appeared. These soldiers weren’t entirely human. Cyborgs, enhanced beyond recognition.

"Well, at least the katana works just fine," Kazuha murmured, rising to his full height.

Casting one final glance at the lifeless bodies before him, he turned on his heel and left the cell. He had a mission to complete.

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Scara woke up in Inazuma once again. It felt as if everything had been just a dream. His head ached, and as he fully regained his senses, he saw citizens running, desperately seeking refuge away from him. He didn’t understand what was happening. Slowly, he turned upon hearing a voice—one that was all too familiar to him—and began walking in its direction.

In mere seconds, Inazuma transformed before his eyes. What had once been a land he secretly loved—a place of advanced technology intertwined with traditional artistry—was now drenched in red. Crimson lightning streaked across the sky, and a fierce gale struck his body, forcing him to step back. Despite the storm blurring his vision, he could still make out the distant figure of Kazuha, mercilessly striking down what seemed to be the last remaining soldier of the Inazuman fortress.

Around him, countless lifeless bodies lay scattered. A chilling fear gripped Scaramouche as he took in the sight. His gaze locked onto Kazuha, who, in turn, noticed him watching.

Their eyes met—one filled with sheer terror, the other eerily calm.

"Finally, I’ve accomplished our goal," Kazuha spoke at last, a wide, satisfied smile spreading across his face as he slowly stepped forward. "At last, Inazuma belongs to just the two of us."

Scaramouche found himself unable to move, his body frozen in place as Kazuha closed the distance between them.

"W-What have you done…?" he barely managed to ask.

"Hm. I did what had to be done so that you and I could finally rule Inazuma together," Kazuha replied smoothly. "Eliminating the Shogun’s resistance was more difficult than I anticipated, but I did it. Now, it’s just the two of us…"

Kazuha raised his bandaged hand, gently caressing Scaramouche’s cheek, his eyes alight with joy as he slowly leaned in closer.

"Kazuha… Kazuha!" Scara suddenly called out.

And just like that, Scaramouche jolted awake, his heart pounding as he processed the dream he had just experienced.

"What was that…?" he thought to himself.

He shut his eyes again, but the exhaustion was gone. On the contrary, he felt completely alive once more.

A knock sounded twice against the closed door.

"Ah, forgive me for interrupting, Hatter, but I’ve prepared breakfast if you’d like something to eat," Sethos' voice came from the other side. "I can wait for you if you'd prefer."

"Right… I’m still staying at this guy’s place," Scaramouche thought.

"I’m coming. No need to wait for me," he responded, getting out of bed and stretching. He hadn’t slept this well in a long time.
ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
After adjusting his clothes and freshening up, the former Harbinger finally appeared in the dining room.

"Good morning to my guest," Sethos greeted cheerfully, pleased to see that his visitor was looking much better. Scara took a seat beside him. "You seem a lot better, honestly."

"Mh, yeah, I noticed that too. It’s honestly incredible how fast the cuts healed—some of the scars are already almost gone."

"That’s because here in Sumeru, we use a special kind of medicine made from forest plants," Sethos explained as he stood up, picking up Scara’s ceramic cup. "I’ll pour you some juice, alright?"

"Fine. I don’t mind eating whatever you give me."

"Do you have any allergies?"

"Yeah—to excessive questioning."

"You’re so funny, Hatter!" Sethos laughed, completely ignoring Scara’s pointed remark. "But back to the plant—maybe after breakfast, I could take you to meet the person who gave me the recipe and the ingredients to treat you."

"You know the person who created the medicine?"

"He’s a friend of mine. His name is Tighnari."

"Ah, I see. And… is he as talkative as you?" Scara asked while discreetly using his scanner to analyze the food in front of him, ensuring it was safe for him to eat.

"He’s calmer than I am."

"Thank the Archons," Scara muttered under his breath. "Are you inviting him over?"

"No," Sethos replied, finishing pouring the juice. "We’re both going to the city."

"WHAT?!"

"Yesterday, you told me that if you felt better, you’d come with me to the city."

Scaramouche had no response. If he insisted on not going, it would raise suspicion. Besides, refusing an invitation after already agreeing was just bad manners.

He cursed the Yaksha in his mind once again.

"Fine… I’ll go with you," he muttered, snatching the juice from Sethos' hand and taking a sip to mask his unease.

"Great!" Sethos beamed, sitting back down beside him. "If you need any clothes, just let me know."

Scara’s mind lit up with an idea—he would come up with a good disguise to keep a low profile and avoid drawing unnecessary attention.

"Yeah… I think I’ll need some clothes," he replied.
ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
In Scaramouche’s mind, he had never thought he could look good in traditional Sumerian clothing, and even less did he expect Sethos to have garments in various shades of purple that suited him perfectly.

He thought it was merely a coincidence of fate.

He was wearing a lilac turban that partially covered his face, a tight black sleeveless shirt hugging his chest, and over it, a soft, flowing caftan in purple with white accents, fastened at his waist and left shoulder. From under the shirt, loose sleeves extended down to his elbows in a dark purple hue with golden details. His pants matched the dark purple, tapering at the ankles, and finally, he wore his usual sandals.

By his judgment, he blended in quite well among the other inhabitants.

“You look really good,” Sethos said, attempting to reassure his companion. “Don’t worry if people stare at you—you’re with me, after all.”

“Ha... right,” Scaramouche replied, still nervous about someone recognizing him. He began to appreciate the architecture of Sumeru, so distinct from Inazuma’s—more intricate and elegant.

Sethos grabbed his wrist upon noticing that the restaurant and bar where he usually met his friends was open.

“Come on, it’s on me!” he said excitedly, pulling Scaramouche along.

Within seconds, they were stepping inside. Scaramouche stood in awe, admiring the grand, towering interior of the place. One thing he was beginning to admire about Sumeru was its meticulously detailed architecture.

“Wow,” he muttered under his breath.

“I see you like the place.”

“Eh, yeah, it’s nice,” he said, taking a seat after Sethos did.

They sat at a table near a slightly elevated stage for performances, designed to give a clear view of whoever stood there.

Sethos leaned back in his chair, resting his left arm on the backrest.

“Tighnari should be arriving soon, but if he takes too long, I can show you other parts of Sumeru.”

The former Fatui smirked and let out a dry chuckle.

“If he takes too long, he’ll leave a bad first impression, but I can wait. I’d like to see what people here in Sumeru are like.”

“I think you might like him. He’s… similar to you in honesty,” Sethos replied with a smile.

His companion rolled his eyes, his expression unimpressed by Sethos’s remark. Then, a waiter approached and handed each of them a menu.

Scaramouche scanned the wide selection of drinks, intrigued by the many new flavors he could try for the first time in his long life. Never before had he imagined himself in a rival nation, about to indulge in its delicacies.

“Is there anything you’d recommend for a tourist?” he asked with a smirk. He wouldn’t admit it, but he was beginning to find this little trip to Sumeru interesting.

“Berry and mint drink,” Sethos answered, leaning in to show him a picture of it on the menu. “You don’t strike me as someone who enjoys sweets, so I think this drink would be perfect for you.”

Scaramouche didn’t respond immediately—his companion had guessed correctly. Not to mention, Sethos’s face was quite close to his.

“Yeah… that’s true. I don’t like sweet things.”

Sethos laughed, pleased to have figured something out about the mysterious young man he had helped in the desert. Meanwhile, Scaramouche only rolled his eyes again, but this time with a faint smirk.

They continued discussing possible drinks for Scaramouche to try until another young man, about Sethos’s height, appeared behind him.

“Sethos, sorry I’m late, but I brought company,” the newcomer said, eyeing Sethos’s companion from head to toe. “I didn’t know you were bringing someone new,” he added, trying not to sound too uneasy before sitting down with them.

Scaramouche raised an eyebrow, noticing the discomfort he seemed to cause the other.

“Hat Guy, this is Tighnari—the one who gave me the formula and ingredients I used to heal you.”

“Oh… nice to meet you,” Scaramouche said, making an effort to keep his hair and the insignia on his nape as hidden as possible.

“The pleasure is mine,” Tighnari replied, resting his chin on his hand, his elbow propped on the table. “I’ve never heard a name like that before… You’re quite peculiar.”

Scaramouche didn’t know how to respond. His eyes darted back to the menu in front of him.

“Tighnari, don’t overwhelm him,” Sethos interjected. “He got lost in the desert—he doesn’t remember how he ended up there.”

Tighnari’s eyes widened, and he swallowed hard, a hint of embarrassment washing over him.

“My apologies. I shouldn’t have been so tactless…”

“It’s fine, it doesn’t bother me,” the former Harbinger reassured him, easing the growing tension.

“I need to relax. If they notice me getting nervous over basic questions, they’ll immediately sense something’s off,” he thought to himself.

Just then, the doors of the establishment swung open again, and some patrons gasped at the sight of the newcomer.

“Cyno?” Sethos asked, watching as the man approached their table.

“Don’t embarrass me this time,” he mentally pleaded.

“Yes… about bringing company, well, Cyno decided to tag along,” Tighnari explained, pulling his chair closer to him.

“Cyno…” Scaramouche thought. “I’m sure I’ve heard that name before…” And then, it hit him. “The General Mahamatra,” he realized, a shiver running down his spine.

“Oh, Sethos!” Cyno grinned slyly, clearly enjoying the secondhand embarrassment his companion was experiencing. “I didn’t know you were the one Tighnari was meeting.”

Cyno enjoyed teasing those he was familiar with, but his expression shifted when he noticed Sethos wasn’t alone.

“A new face,” he remarked, taking a seat next to Tighnari. “What’s your name, kid?”

Scaramouche exhaled slowly. He knew he wasn’t in a position to fight. If the General discovered his identity, it would be over for him. And he highly doubted Sethos would still help him if he found out who he truly was.

Adjusting his cloak to better conceal his hair and the insignia on his nape, he spoke.

“I don’t remember who I am… The last thing I recall is being attacked by something—or someone—in the middle of the desert on a cold night. I had… cuts and wounds all over, and I truly thought I was going to die at any moment… until he found me,” he said, casting a downcast look at Sethos as if he were genuinely grateful. “I can be quite reserved most of the time, but I hope you understand that… I’m lost.”

Tighnari and Cyno exchanged wide-eyed glances, caught off guard by the words of someone who exuded such an unfamiliar aura.

It was as if every word that left his mouth had been carefully crafted.

“Hat Guy, you don’t need to thank me,” Sethos said warmly. “It was no trouble helping you, and I’m glad you’re starting to open up to me. You’re welcome at my home and here anytime…”

How could they ruin Sethos’s happiness with their doubts? It had been a long time since they had seen him this excited about someone.

And they already knew why.

So, they remained silent. Cyno discreetly reached under the table to intertwine his fingers with Tighnari’s.

It was better this way.

As Sethos continued chatting with his guest, Cyno and Tighnari ordered drinks and discussed new techniques for research at the Akademiya.

Until the door suddenly burst open again, followed by excited screams from the patrons.

The group turned to see what was happening, and Cyno sighed, rolling his eyes.

“Here we go again…”

“Nilou?!” Sethos asked, completely bewildered.

“Oh no…” Tighnari groaned, gripping Cyno’s wrist tightly under the table in warning.

A stunning red-haired woman, elegantly dressed, walked in with absolute confidence, signing autographs as some customers eagerly approached her.

Scaramouche turned to the boy beside him.

“Who is she?”

“Nilou, a very famous dancer in Sumeru. You could say she’s the biggest celebrity here…”
Scaramouche glanced at Nilou from a distance once again. He didn’t recognize her, so she wasn’t a threat to him.

"She’s pretty, but it seems like she has some kind of issue with the General."

—"Guys…!"—she said, approaching their table with a smile on her face—"And Cyno,"—she added, shooting a less-than-friendly glance at him.

—"A pleasure to have you around, Nilou,"—Sethos said, leaning back comfortably in his seat—"What brings you here?"

—"Well, I heard there's a special dessert today… but I didn’t expect to find a new guest as well,"—she said, smiling at Scaramouche. Then, noticing the available seats, she spotted one next to Cyno. Without hesitation, she pulled the chair to the other end, right next to Scaramouche—"You must be new around here."

—"Ah, yes. Sethos… he helped me in the desert."

—"Ah, as kind as always, Sethos. So I assume you're staying with him for now?"

—"Nilou, we've already placed our orders,"—Cyno muttered through clenched teeth.

—"Well, then I'll order mine as well,"—she replied firmly, in stark contrast to her tone with the others—"Have you ordered yours, new guy?"

Scaramouche nodded.

—"Great. I also stopped by to personally invite you all to my show tonight, right here,"—she said, pulling out a small round electronic device and displaying its screen—"Besides, Alhaitham asked me to let you know, Sethos and Tighnari, that he needs to speak with you."

"Alhaitham!" Scaramouche thought, reacting instantly to the name. "He's the guy Shogun needs to complete her plan."

Chapter Text

Inazuma:
Kazuha advanced through the shadowy hallways of Inazuma’s fortress, barely illuminated by purple lines that contrasted against the black walls. His gaze was dull as he dwelled on what he had done just moments ago, wondering if he had been too radical in his decision.

He halted in the middle of the corridor, trapped in his doubts. Drawing his katana just enough to see his reflection in the blade, he noticed a faint smear of blood on his cheek. He wiped it away with his free hand.

Suddenly, the voices of his deceased ancestors pierced his mind like daggers, whispering critiques of his actions. Their murmurs grew into an overwhelming cacophony, pressing down on him until dizziness overtook him. His breathing quickened, and he shut his eyes tightly. It wasn’t until he let out a soft gasp and abruptly sheathed his katana that the torment ceased.

He had forgotten how harsh it could be to wield that blade.

“It doesn’t matter anymore. There’s no turning back,” he thought, continuing down the hall until he once again stood before the massive doors of the grand chamber where Ei awaited.

As he reached them, the twin doors—emblazoned with the Shogunate’s emblem—swung open once more. Upon entering, he immediately noticed that Ei was no longer alone. The High Priestess stood beside her, both engaged in a serious discussion.

“Kazuha, you’ve returned,” Ei said, turning to face him.

“I apologize for the interruption,” he replied, bowing respectfully.

“There’s one last matter to address before you can leave,” Ei stated, glancing at her companion, who wore a look of concern. “Miko, can you hand me your transformer?” she asked, extending her right palm expectantly.

“At once,” Yae Miko replied. She reached into her left pocket and retrieved a small, flat device before stepping forward and placing it in Ei’s hand.

“I need you to extend your left arm, Kaedehara Kazuha,” Ei ordered.

Without hesitation or question, Kazuha obeyed. Ei pressed the device against the most prominent vein in his arm. Within seconds, his skin split open, allowing the mechanism to burrow beneath. Kazuha clenched his jaw, suppressing a cry as pain flared through him.

Ei observed his body’s reaction through her scanner. His defenses were stable—his system would properly integrate the device.

“There’s a medical kit prepared for you in case the device causes any discomfort,” Yae Miko informed him, noting the slight pain evident in the samurai’s expression.

Ei ran one final check to ensure Kazuha’s system had properly accepted the implant before releasing him and turning toward the computer consoles.

“Thank you for the information. I appreciate it,” Kazuha murmured, running his right thumb over the now-sealed incision.

It burned.

“You possess one of the most advanced defense systems in all of Inazuma,” Ei remarked, inputting more data into Inazuma’s citizen database, emphasizing Kazuha’s profile. “I believe this will be a great advantage for your journey to Sumeru.”

Kazuha nodded in acknowledgment of her words. Meanwhile, Yae Miko approached the suitcase containing the necessary supplies. At that moment, she received an alert, and a holographic screen appeared on her right forearm, displaying the entrance cameras.

Someone had entered the fortress.

She expanded the image to get a clearer view of the intruder.

“It can’t be…” she thought, eyes widening in shock. Her ears twitched rapidly.

Without wasting a second, she grabbed the small case with her left hand and rushed toward Ei and Kazuha.

“Ei, sorry to interrupt, but you need to see this,” she said, transferring the footage from her wrist display to the large central screen.

Ei and Kazuha analyzed the face of the person who had entered.

Kazuha had never seen anyone like him before. He was not from Inazuma.

But Ei immediately recognized him.

A loud slam echoed through the chamber as her fist struck the table.

If she had been irritated before, now she was livid.

“I told them… to bring the blonde boy, not his bodyguard!” she thundered, fury igniting in her voice. She turned on her heel and strode toward the exit, Yae Miko following closely behind.

“Kazuha, come with us,” the High Priestess ordered, barely pausing.

Kazuha obeyed, his mind racing.

Could it be the Yaksha Scaramouche had fought?

If it was who he thought…

Nothing good would come from his arrival.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Sumeru:

Scaramouche didn't know whether to say anything in the conversation that was taking place with Sethos's friends. His expression remained neutral as he listened to Tighnari speak.

"Do you know exactly why he needs me?" Tighnari asked with some discomfort.

"He didn’t give me details," Nilou replied, lowering her phone and pressing the screen against the table, revealing a pink cover with little drawings of herself. "But it seemed urgent. I noticed he was quite tense."

"Tighnari will go with me," Cyno said, noticing his companion’s unease.

"If you want to go, that's up to you. It doesn’t affect anyone," Nilou responded indifferently, and Cyno rolled his eyes.

One of the restaurant’s waiters arrived just in time, asking what each of them would like to order.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen, and lovely lady. Are you ready to order?" the waiter asked, pulling out a tablet slightly larger than Nilou’s phone. His attire exuded formality, despite the state of the city. The ex-Fatui couldn't help but compare the stark difference between Inazuma’s style and Sumeru’s—even in commercial spaces, Inazuma’s people wore heavier, more modern clothing, while Sumeru preserved its traditional fashion as much as possible.

"I'll have the Padisarah Pudding," Nilou said with a smile, then took a picture of the dessert from the menu and uploaded it to an app.

Scara glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, trying to understand what she was doing with the photo. However, Nilou immediately noticed his gaze and turned her phone, showing only the back.

She crossed her arms and rested them on the table.

"I didn't take you for a curious one," she remarked sarcastically.

Scara’s expression remained neutral despite being "caught." He chose his words carefully.

"It wasn’t my intention to make you uncomfortable," he replied.

Nilou smiled and turned her screen back on, displaying the picture of her order in an app. With a few taps, the image expanded into a hologram.

"It's an app that calculates the calories of food just by taking a photo," she explained, pressing the "Details" button on the hologram. "It’s really useful if you ask me. It even suggests portion sizes based on your diet and recommends side dishes to balance your meal..."

Nilou began enthusiastically explaining the app, a level of excitement the ex-Fatui couldn’t quite grasp. At least she was now distracted from paying attention to him.

Glancing at the others, he noticed peculiar expressions on everyone’s faces except Cyno’s—expressions of discomfort and concern.

"I won’t be ordering anything for now," Cyno said after Nilou.

"I’ll have a Mora Célere," Tighnari added, understanding that Cyno would be sharing his meal with him.

The waiter tapped their selections on his tablet, then turned to Sethos and Scaramouche, the last two who hadn't ordered.

"And what about you two?" he asked.

The ex-Fatui looked at Sethos, waiting for him to speak instead. Luckily for him, Sethos caught on quickly.

"I’ll have an Extreme Shawarma and..." he paused, glancing at Scara before smirking. "A Tahchin with a berry and mint drink."

"Alright, I’ll bring everything shortly," the waiter replied before leaving.

"Are you sure I’ll like what you ordered for me?" Scara asked, looking displeased.

"You don’t seem like someone who enjoys sweet food," Sethos replied with a grin despite Scara’s discomfort. "I think I made the right choice."

"Maybe."

Nilou finished her call and returned to the group.

"Alhaitham asks that Tighnari get there as soon as possible. I told him we were eating at a restaurant, but he asked me to let you know that you should head to the Akademiya as soon as you’re done."

Tighnari sighed heavily.

"I’d better tell the chef to hurry with my dish," he said, standing up.

"I’ll go with you," Cyno replied, following suit.

The two of them left the table, leaving the others behind.

"So, what did you order in the end?" Nilou asked with a smile.

Scara still looked at her indifferently, though he didn’t seem the least bit uncomfortable.

"I ordered for him," Sethos interjected.

"Then you’ll get to enjoy our gastronomy properly," she said cheerfully, then sighed. "I wish I could try the cuisine of other nations someday."

"But you have Liyue, Mondstadt, and Natlan’s food here."

"Yeah, but I’ve already tried those," she replied. "I meant… you know, the others."

"Sure, Nilou, try going to Fontaine or Inazuma as a tourist and see if they let you in," Sethos teased, making his point clear.

"Very funny," she scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Still, it’s just my little dream. I bet Fontaine has the best desserts."

Her phone rang again, and upon seeing who was calling, she quickly stood up.

"Guys, please tell the waiter to charge my order to the address I’ll send you, Sethos," she said hurriedly, her concern evident. "New guy, I hope you enjoy your stay in Sumeru. You’re in good hands with Sethos."

With that, she left, leaving the two boys alone.

A moment of silence settled between them.

Scara took the opportunity to analyze his surroundings more thoroughly, taking in details and storing the information in his mind.

"You preserve your traditional culture even in the smallest details. Why?" the purple-haired boy asked, looking at his companion with curiosity.

"In a world overrun by technology, Sumeru stands strong thanks to its natural landscapes," Sethos explained. "Unlike other nations, we provide life to Teyvat with our forest resources."

"But doesn’t Natlan do the same?"

"You’re not from there, are you?" Sethos replied with a slight smile, noticing the concentrated look on the ex-Fatui’s face. "Not entirely. Natlan has some endangered species and natural areas, but not the majority. They mismanaged their resources, and now they’re paying the price. Bit by bit, they’re losing what keeps them alive," Sethos explained before taking another bite of his food.

Scaramouche, on the other hand, simply began analyzing the differences in decision-making between Natlan and Sumeru, gaining a better understanding of why the Shogunate had left Sumeru and Liyue as the final nations to conquer.

“You don’t seem as affected by the situation,” remarked the former Fatui.

“What do you mean?” Sethos asked, raising an eyebrow.

Scaramouche shot him a look of mild irritation—he thought the question was obvious.

“Oh!” Sethos exclaimed as realization dawned after a few seconds. “It’s… not exactly like that. You just happened to arrive on a quiet day,” he sighed before continuing. “Why do you think I was out in the desert? I was on watch.”

“I assumed it was because you live there.”

“That too. I guess it’s easier for the Akademiya to send someone already familiar with the desert rather than someone who isn’t,” Sethos replied with a grin. “I’d say you were lucky that it was me who found you.”

“Yes, incredibly lucky,” Scaramouche responded dryly.

“I’m serious. Things would’ve been very different if someone like Cyno had found you instead,” Sethos added with a small smile.

Scaramouche knew Sethos was right. Cyno was on Kokomi’s mural list—one of those who needed to be eliminated quickly. If he were being honest, Cyno was a highly dangerous individual. But he had to pretend he knew nothing about that.

"They are people with a level of strength similar to yours, Scara," he recalled Kokomi telling him when he had asked about the list.

Scaramouche glanced at the boy in question. Cyno was sitting in profile, leaning against the table, while Tighnari sat with his back to them. His expression was calm, his attention entirely focused on the forest ranger's words. It was clear that he had simply come along to stay by Tighnari’s side.

That, at least, was what Scaramouche assumed, judging by the look on Cyno’s face as he watched Tighnari.

The scene reminded him of someone.

He sighed as the waiter returned with his drink.

“There was an abundance of berry and mint juice today. I hope you enjoy your order,” the waiter said before leaving once Scaramouche gave a nod of acknowledgment.

Curious, Scaramouche took a sip. He was surprised by how good it tasted—he had never tried anything like it before. Before he knew it, he had already drunk half of it.

He also failed to notice the subtle pride in Sethos’s expression, pleased that he had chosen well.

“I highly doubt it,” Scaramouche muttered as he glanced at Cyno again, then back at Sethos.

“You doubt it because of how he looks. That’s because you’ve never seen him at work,” Sethos replied.

“Should I be concerned?”

Sethos leaned in slightly, catching Scaramouche off guard. The sudden proximity made him instinctively try to pull away.

“He’s only like that because Tighnari is here,” Sethos whispered before slowly pulling back, his usual grin returning. “If Cyno had been the one to find you, there would’ve been yet another report about a dead body.”

And Scaramouche was certain that would have been the case.

He glanced at Cyno again, only to find the man staring straight at him with piercing ruby eyes.

Suddenly, Scaramouche felt lightheaded. The room around him distorted, the sounds around him dulled, and the walls seemed to dissolve. The figures of the other patrons faded away as if they were being swallowed into a void, leaving only him and Cyno in an empty, dark space.

A cold dread crept over him. He felt as though he was being watched by a predator as if the wrong move or word could trigger an attack.

“Hat guy?” Sethos’s voice broke through the haze as he gently placed a hand on Scaramouche’s shoulder, snapping him back to reality.

“...What?” Scaramouche murmured, still dazed.

“You seemed out of it. You started sweating and breathing heavily. Are you feeling okay?” Sethos asked, then paused in thought. “Maybe the drink didn’t sit well with you…”

“No!” Scaramouche cut him off sharply before realizing how loud he had been. “Sorry. I think it’s just… nothing.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Sethos reassured him with a smile, dismissing the incident. “If you liked the drink, I can order you another.”

Scaramouche didn’t respond, still shaken by what had just happened.

After a few moments, Cyno approached them.

“Tighnari already left, but I wanted to stop by and say goodbye on behalf of both of us,” he said with a polite smile before turning his gaze to the former Fatui. His stare was unwavering.

“A pleasure to meet you. Welcome to Sumeru.”

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Inazuma:

The firm and determined footsteps echoed through the fortress corridors as the High Priestess led the way to the laboratory where Baal was resting.
—How did he get in there?! —Ei exclaimed, her voice filled with restrained fury.
—I really don’t know —Yaemiko responded, struggling to remain calm, though her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and ideas.
"How did he infiltrate? Who else knows about this? Did Aether at least fall? What will Morax do when he finds out… if he hasn't already?"
She didn’t want to know the answer. With Scaramouche and Baal out of commission, they could say they were nearly finished.
Only Kazuha remained.

They reached the door of the laboratory. Yaemiko swallowed nervously, but she thought that if the Yaksha had been there voluntarily, he would have found them already.
A very risky plan, if that was the case.

Ei suddenly summoned her katana.
—Step back —she ordered.

The laboratory doors slid open, revealing the interior.
No one was visible.

The three entered cautiously. Ei moved forward first, her katana in her left hand, ready for anything.
Yaemiko took the opportunity to reconnect her system to the laboratory’s, sliding her holographic screen over an interface on the wall.

Then Ei saw him.
—Step away from her! —Ei warned, pointing her katana at the Yaksha.

Xiao abruptly stopped, his arm suspended in the air, unable to complete his movement.
Beside him, impassive, stood Sangonomiya Kokomi.

—Sangonomiya Kokomi? —Yaemiko asked, surprised to see the general there— Why did you come back?
—My alarm vibrated, which meant something unusual was happening in the fortress.
—Why do you have an alarm for the fortress? —Ei asked, very confused by Kokomi’s statement.
—I have the right to know what happens here too —she declared firmly, looking Ei in the eyes—. Don’t forget that I’m also part of the Shogunate’s decisions.

An uncomfortable and tense silence settled over them. Yaemiko lowered her gaze slightly due to the unease she felt, Kazuha remained indifferent to the political issue, and Ei kept staring at Kokomi without saying a word.
But often, looks say more than words.

—So you already knew he was here —Ei said angrily.
—Yes —Kokomi admitted, crossing her arms, then walking until she stood in front of Ei—. I was testing him to assess his information system.
—And what did you find? —the priestess asked.

Kokomi glanced at the Yaksha, who was still standing but had moved farther from the capsule where Baal was.
—His information system is that of a common soldier in the army. He will do exactly what any of us commands.
—Was that the chip the subject was supposed to have? —Kazuha asked.

Kokomi looked again at Shogun, Yaemiko, and Kazuha.
—That’s right —Yaemiko answered—. It was the best way to keep him on our side.
—We can use this to our advantage —Ei said after rethinking her entire plan, adding new details—. I want to know if he still has any information about Aether.

Kokomi looked at the Yaksha again and clasped her hands behind her back.
—Report your last moments with the blonde boy named Aether —Kokomi ordered.

Xiao clenched his jaw in anger, trying to resist Kokomi’s command. His whole body tensed and began trembling slightly.
—Now —Kokomi said sternly, her face serious as she stared at him.

The Yaksha grunted, and a hologram emerged from his eyes, showing Aether speaking with Xiao.

"Xiao, we have to go to Natlan."
"No. We’re going to Liyue as we originally agreed."

After that conversation, only a blurred image appeared of Xiao looking at the blonde boy one last time before departing through the window.

—It’s impossible that they reached Liyue; Morax would have already reacted —Kokomi said as soon as the recording ended.
—Is that all? —Yaemiko asked— Show more…
—No! —Ei exclaimed— He gave us the perfect information.

On the Archon’s face, a confident and pleased expression appeared, and Yaemiko already knew why.
—Prepare the army —Ei ordered— In the meantime, I will modify my new warrior —she concluded.

A second later, Xiao felt the impact of a brutal kick to his abdomen. His body doubled over in pain, and before he could react, Ei delivered a swift, powerful blow.

The Yaksha collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Chapter Text

Natlan:
Some time ago:

The nation of war was burning—and not just figuratively. For decades, Natlan had been consumed by internal and external conflicts, turning into a perpetual battlefield. But it was the second-to-last reign of the former Archon that brought the situation to the brink of collapse.

Poor economic management plunged the government into unpayable debt, compromising the future of its people. As a last resort, Natlan signed a contract with Liyue, handing over the exploitation of its natural resources to pay off a massive debt. The land, once fertile and full of life, was stripped of its riches until it was nearly barren.

But that wasn’t the only burden on their shoulders. Amid the war between Fontaine and Inazuma against the rest of the nations, Natlan had to provide military and economic support to Liyue, Sumeru, and Mondstadt. What little they had left was given to the conflict while their people crumbled.

“We are dying, Mavuika.”

The silence in the room was oppressive. All eyes were on the Archon, waiting for her response.

“I understand the gravity of the situation,” she said firmly. “We will send financial aid to the affected…”

“That’s not the problem!” a furious voice interrupted. “We can’t send any more people to Inazuma!”
The man across from Mavuika leaned over the table, fists clenched.
“The contract is slowly killing us. We have to break it!”

Mavuika stood up abruptly, her heart pounding. Of course, she wanted that too. But that agreement had been in place since the previous Archon’s reign. If they broke it, they’d be doomed.

“Please, let’s remain composed.” Her voice stayed firm, although her hands trembled slightly. “In a few days, I’ll meet with the representatives of Mondstadt, Liyue, and Sumeru. I’ll present the changes we need then.”

“If there are any…” someone murmured beside her.

Mavuika pretended not to hear. It was better that way.

“Thank you for your input. I’ll take it into consideration,” she said as the man sat down in frustration.

The meeting continued for another hour, with each new argument weighing on her shoulders like yet another chain. Finally, everyone stood and left the room.

Everyone except Citlali.

“You should be grateful the citizens are compliant, Mavuika.” Her tone was serious, but the warning was clear. “Otherwise, none of us would be here. Especially after what happened with the former Archon.”

Mavuika looked up and saw the frown on her companion’s face.

“I take all your recommendations into account, Citlali. I appreciate the support you give me…”

But what more could she say? Even though she had earned the title of Archon on her merit, her fellow officials still didn’t respect her.

“I have to try harder.”

It was the same thought after every meeting, after every decision, after every silent defeat. But no matter how hard she tried—

Because in the eyes of the others, she wasn’t their Archon.

And a nation that didn’t respect its own Archon was doomed to fail.

“What am I doing wrong?”

Present day

“Kinich and Mualani still haven’t arrived. I doubt they’ll show up.”

Xilonen was sitting to Mavuika’s right, leaning back in her seat with a disinterested expression. She wore knee-high black leather boots with pointed heels, tight brown denim shorts with a black belt where her sword rested, dark wool gloves with the fingers cut off, and a golden button-up shirt-style top.

“Mavuika, you were supposed to make sure they attended this meeting.”

Mavuika clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms. Her self-control was the only thing preventing the situation from becoming a bigger scandal.

“It won’t happen again. Let’s continue with the meeting.”

All eyes turned to her. Some were judging. Others were cold and indifferent. And others… were full of pity.

It didn’t completely affect her. But she couldn’t ignore it either. When she accepted the title of Archon, she thought her people and her government would be willing to listen to her.

But she was wrong.

Still, she held her head high, though deep down, she felt—almost—alone.

Hours later, another meeting had ended. Another proposal was rejected.

Thirty proposals were denied. Twenty completely rejected. Ten accepted—with modifications imposed by others.

She stayed in her seat, staring into nothingness in the large empty hall.

What was the point of sitting in the most prominent chair if no one saw her?

“Do you need to discuss anything, Mavuika?”

Citlali was still in the room, watching her with the same indifferent gaze as always.

“No. You may go.”

Without another word, Citlali left, leaving the Archon alone.

Still staring blankly, she took the papers full of her proposals, sighed, and folded them precisely until they fit into her small black bag with chain straps, decorated with triangular red patterns and golden tips that shimmered under the dim light. She adjusted her dark leather gloves, feeling the familiar pressure on her fingers, and with one last deep breath, crossed the hall's threshold.

The corridors, in matte and brown tones, crisscrossed with geometric lines in gold and red, harmonized with her outfit as if the surroundings acknowledged her presence.

Maybe that’s what still kept a sliver of hope alive in her.

As she made her way toward the exit, she thought that maybe a short walk through her lands could help clear her mind.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════

The walk led her to Mount Coatepec, where she finally took a seat, gazing out toward the desert of Sumeru, even though it was far in the distance.

There, she remembered that a few years ago, before—

“Maybe, if I organize something... I could get closer to my teammates,” she thought.

Suddenly, the ground beneath her began to move slightly, surprising her and making her turn to see what was happening.

After a few seconds, a small baby saurus appeared in front of her.

By instinct, Mavuika lifted it up and held it on her lap. The tenderness radiating from the creature was unique, and it was one of the few species still under conservation.

She had to be very careful with the saurus—it might belong to one of the last herds born recently.

She began to gently pet it while the little saurus rested on her lap, and a smile formed on her face.

Suddenly, a pink bird flew toward her and the small animal.

“So this is where you were, bro! Oh no!” —said the bird in a high-pitched voice as it flew around the little creature, waking it up.

“Hey… I know you,” said Mavuika, looking more closely at the bird.

“Cacucú!” —shouted a male voice approaching, panting as he stopped to catch his breath and leaned on his knees— “Did you find...?” —he paused when he saw who was with his pet.

“Ifá,” said Mavuika, standing up as the saurus climbed down from her lap.

The little creature ran straight to the boy standing before her, and he picked it up, holding it close to his chest.

“Mavuika, I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” he said in a neutral tone.

“I actually came to clear my mind a little.”

“Work stuff?”

“No, it’s just that…” —she paused for a moment, searching for the right words— “I’m trying to figure out the best way to connect with my teammates.”

Ifá raised an eyebrow at her response.

“You mean... trying to get along with Citlali and the others?”

“Exactly! Maybe since you know Citlali better than I do, you could…”

She was cut off by the boy’s uncontrolled laughter.

“Hey…” Mavuika looked at him seriously as he kept laughing. Finally, after a few seconds, he exhaled and continued, “Sorry, sorry. But that’s impossible.” He paused again to breathe. “Dealing with Citlali is like Chasca trying to fly with a busted cannon: a guaranteed disaster.”

“Seriously?” the Archon asked, slightly surprised. “Then how can I get closer to her?”

Ifá lowered his gaze a bit and shook his head, still smiling.

His words were cold, but deep down, they held truth.

Ever since she assumed her role, she had never truly felt like an essential part of her Nation’s government. She just followed orders and acted as instructed, without questioning too much.

“Judging by your expression, I’d say I hit the mark,” said Ifá with a smile, gently petting the saurus. “And if you want another honest opinion... your government sucks. And it’s partly your fault.”

Mavuika opened her mouth to respond but stayed silent. She was offended—yes—but also... grateful.

“Don’t know what to say?” Ifá asked with disdain, sighing, “Am I the first person to tell you the truth to your face?”

“Well, yes!” she blurted out. “No one ever tells me anything about what I do—or don’t do—for this Nation.”

“Wow,” he said indifferently. And after an awkward silence, he spoke again, breaking the tensio.n “Natlan has to go through years of change for all this effort to be truly worth it. I hope you’re the Archon who manages to pull it off... because we can’t keep surviving on the scraps the other Nations throw us.”

Mavuika pressed her lips together.

“I’ll keep that in mind. I have an important meeting in a few days, and I’m going to try to—”

She was interrupted again.

“We’re past the point of trying. You guys need to act.”

Mavuika tightened her lips but said nothing.

That was the moment she realized her mistake.

Up until now, she had tried to negotiate, persuade, and move with diplomacy... when what was truly needed was action.

“Well, it was a pleasant conversation, but I have to go now,” said Ifá, adjusting the saurus in his arms while his pet waved goodbye to the Archon.

“Ifá, before you leave…”

“Yeah?”

“Maybe you’d be interested in a position within my government. You have good—”

Ifá interrupted her once again, laughing sarcastically.

“No, thanks. I’ve got plenty of work, and I don’t want to mix with people who... well, you know. Good luck, Mavuika.”

Mavuika didn’t insist and let him go, but she had drawn several interesting points from that brief conversation.

The first: many in Natlan, beyond her coworkers, saw her as a ridiculous and easily manipulated leader. Something that needed to change.

The second: Ifá knew more than he let on.

And the third…

She had a strange feeling that wasn’t exactly good.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════

Ifá was on his way back to his estate with his pet and the saurian in his arms.

"Why so quiet, bro?" asked his companion, noticing the seriousness on his caretaker’s face.

"I was thinking about my conversation with Mavuika... and Natlan’s future," Ifá replied with a sigh. "I just hope she does something for us."

"The previous Archon left a deep wound in Natlan. I doubt she can heal it completely," the bird replied.

"I know... but at the very least, she should show that she’s trying."

Silence settled between them as they continued walking. Ifá used the moment to mentally review the tasks he had left for the day, but his concentration broke when Cacucú suddenly stopped. Then, without warning, the bird wandered off.

"Hey, this isn’t the time for games," Ifá called out, frowning as he watched his pet walk away without responding.

Puzzled, he followed him. Not far ahead, he found the bird hidden behind a tall rock marked with faded graffiti.

"Hey, this isn’t the time for—"

"Shhh, look bro!" Cacucú interrupted, tugging on his white-and-navy-blue hat.

Ifá finally listened and tightened his hold on the saurian in his arms, focusing on whatever his companion was pointing at.

"Fatui?" he whispered in disbelief.

It wasn’t unusual to see a few lurking near Natlan’s borders—but a group gathered at such a strategic spot? That wasn’t normal.

"They’re never this close to the city..."

"Wrong, bro. They never dare get this close. Because if they do, they never leave unscathed," the bird replied while they both carefully watched the small group of Fatui.

Alarms went off in Ifá’s mind, and from the pocket of his large gray coat adorned with tribal patterns, he pulled out a small square black device along with an earpiece.

"Oh no! I am not using that thing again!" Cacucú exclaimed in a low but firm tone, making it clear he wasn’t going to budge.

"Shh!" Ifá shot him a warning look as he tried to power the device on. "It still works..."

"Bro, that thing only runs on pure faith."

"That’s about the only thing I’ve got left these days," he muttered ironically.

The device powered off twice before Ifá, frustrated, smacked it against his palm. Finally, a light flickered, and the gadget came to life.

"You know what to do," he said as he stuck the device beneath the bandage wrapped around Cacucú’s right leg. "Act natural. Don’t talk."

He pulled out the bird’s pack. With a grumble of discomfort from the device, Cacucú took off, soaring above the Fatui group.

Meanwhile, Ifá inserted the earpiece and turned it on, adjusting the sound until he could hear clearly.

Cacucú perched atop one of the Fatui’s tents, pretending to be resting after a long flight.

"Get closer," Ifá ordered through the earpiece.

Reluctantly, the bird obeyed and descended to the ground near the table where the group was talking.

Ifá turned the volume up, concentrating hard, trying to extract any meaningful information from their conversation.

What are they planning? he wondered.

After a few attempts, he finally managed to catch part of the exchange.

“Don’t you think this is dangerous?” asked one of the Fatui, nervously eyeing his large red weapon.

“Natlan gets dangerous in a few hours. They haven’t looted this area yet,” replied the tallest of them.

“Still… this is a risky zone for the boss to ask us to meet,” the first one murmured.

After those last words, the group fell silent, visibly tense. Moments later, a new Fatui joined them, arriving from the direction opposite Ifá’s hiding spot—and just like that, they all left.

Cacucú flew back to Ifá once the group had disappeared.

"Ready, bro?"

Ifá didn’t answer right away. His mind was racing, processing what he had just heard. Finally, he murmured:

"Capitano is in Natlan..." Then he looked up at his loyal companion and asked, "Do you think this is just a one-time thing?"

"I don’t think so, bro. Those Fatui were scared to even be here," the bird answered seriously.

Ifá nodded, his expression hardening.

"We need to follow them."

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════

A few minutes later, Ifá once again left the saurian in captivity while using a radar to track where Cacucú and the Fatui were heading.
He took the opportunity to return to his estate and gather the things he needed, leaving a note on the table in case Ororón showed up:

“I have an emergency, I’ll be back when I can. Take care. Love, Ifá.”

Ifá’s plan was simple but effective: Cacucú would fly high, at a safe distance from the Fatui, discreetly following them and sending his location to Ifá through the device he had.

They both traveled far from Natlan’s central city until they reached the entrance of the most dangerous zone in all of Natlan.
A zone even the government itself dared not enter.

Cacucú, feathers bristling from a bad feeling, watched from above as the Fatui drew a strange symbol in front of a massive door. It opened without making a single creak.

“The underground city…” the bird murmured, seriously considering turning around.

“Cacucú? Can you hear me?” Ifá asked through the earpiece.

“I’m not going in there!” the bird shouted.

Ifá understood perfectly why he was scared—he was scared, too.
If people down there discovered who he was, they could take advantage of it and demand ransom.

He slowly approached the entrance: just a huge locked door they had to pass through.

“We’re going in,” Ifá said with determination.

“Bro, are you insane?! No, no, no! I’m out!” the bird protested, starting to fly away.

Ifá quickly grabbed his tail before he could fully take off.

“Cacucú, please, I need your help!” he shouted, holding him back.

“Bro, we’re not making it out of there alive!”

“I have a plan, but you have to listen carefully and trust me.”

Cacucú finally gave in and stopped trying to escape.

“So, what’s the plan?” he asked, still suspicious.

“We’re going in undercover. First, we need new clothes.”

“Did you even think about where we’re gonna get clothes from, bro?”

Ifá dropped his backpack to the ground and started pulling out clothes and other items he claimed were necessary.

“We can’t take all that gear. We’re gonna get robbed,” the bird warned.

“Trust me. We’re only taking… a few things,” he replied, taking off his white coat and signature white hat, revealing a tight black shirt underneath. Then, he pulled out a large brown coat with traditional white patterns, red borders, and a design featuring alpacas.

“Oh yeah, super inconspicuous. Totally doesn’t look like you,” Cacucú said sarcastically.

“Bro, show some respect. It’s the only one that’s not flashy.”

Finally, he pulled out a brown hat that matched the coat and put it on.

“Let’s go,” he said, storing what he needed in the inner pockets of the coat and pants.

The bird sighed and agreed to go along with Ifá’s idea.

Now, the problem was figuring out how to get inside.

“Did you notice if they did something to open the door?”

Cacucú didn’t respond immediately. He flew off to a tree, snapped off a branch, and returned. Then, he began tracing the same symbol the Fatui had drawn a moment ago on the ground.

“So that’s the code,” Ifá said, resting his hands on his hips. He looked up at the sky. “Archons, help me… I really don’t know what I’m doing.”

“Let’s go before you change your mind,” said Cacucú, still holding the branch in his beak.

Ifá looked at him for a few seconds before stepping closer and planting a small kiss on his forehead.

“Thanks for helping me with this,” he said with a smile.

“Now’s not the time to get sentimental. Come on, bro,” the bird replied.

After a few more seconds, Ifá drew the same symbol at the center of the door, and it slowly began to open.

“Listen: the moment it opens just enough for both of us to get through, we run in. Got it?” Ifá said.

“Got it, bro.”

The door opened just wide enough, revealing a ruined city in the distance.
Ifá swallowed hard and looked at Cacucú, feeling his heart race. Then, both of them ran inside.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════

After a few seconds, the doctor and his companion were already inside the underground city of Natlan. However, neither of them expected that the grand city they had seen was merely an illusion. It vanished as soon as the door behind them disappeared, leaving a small space with the walls starting to close in, shrinking the area.

“IT’S A TRAP!” Ifá shouted, turning toward the door to try and open it again, only to be met with the unpleasant surprise of its absence. “The door’s gone…”

Suddenly, he felt the floor beneath his feet begin to tremble. Before he had a chance to react, it cracked open.

Quickly, Cacucú managed to grab Ifá’s wrist with his talons while flying above the same spot, holding him tightly.

The heart of the veteran saurian raced as he gasped from the shock.

“That was close, bro,” the bird said.

“Yeah… I noticed,” Ifá replied, then looked down and realized there was no way to escape. “We have to go down.”

Cacucú obeyed, and slowly, both of them began descending until they could finally see something beneath them.

After a few minutes, Ifá was able to see the concrete floor getting closer despite the narrow space, which had a large square opening. Finally, Ifá touched the ground, and Cacucú perched on his shoulder to rest.

“Now we’re in the lower city,” Ifá said. He then held his loyal pet with his right arm and, with his free hand, pulled up his hood. “Cacucú, hide,” he ordered, separating the hood so the bird could slip inside.

Once Cacucú did as instructed, both of them began walking, heading deeper into the lower city.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════

The lower city gave off an eerie feeling. Ifá looked around as he passed through the market. It seemed to be the first thing you saw when entering.

There were all kinds of gemstones, carved symbols, food, and incense everywhere you turned.

“I don’t see them anywhere,” he thought.

He continued on until he reached the area full of restaurants and bars. He figured he had to be more precise now, in case he found the group.

The first restaurant looked too empty, so he wasted no time trying to locate the group.

“They’re not here,” he concluded after conducting a quick general survey of the area for a few minutes.

“Bro, why don’t you use your scanner? It’d search faster,” Cacucú said in a low voice, still hidden.

“Because it’s broken, and I still haven’t gathered enough to ask Kinich or Xilonen to fix it,” Ifá muttered through clenched teeth.

“But you’ve been saying that for months.”

“Yeah, but I use my money to treat the animals in captivity. The government’s been giving me a pittance for ages.”

“And why haven’t you ever asked Citlali for help?”

“Because Citlali…!” he responded in a louder tone than he would’ve liked, then sighed and lowered his voice. “It’s better not to ask her for anything, honestly.”

After saying that, he started moving toward the next restaurant, glancing around to make sure no one had overheard them.

The next place they checked was in a much narrower and darker alley compared to the rest of the city. The sign was worn out, and there were no windows to look inside.

“They must be there,” he thought.

He carefully entered the alley, as bugs scurried from the darkest corners, along with strange noises that made his skin crawl.

“Stop right there,” a voice suddenly came from behind him, followed by the sound of a weapon pressing against his head. “Raise your hands and don’t make a scene.”

Ifá did as requested, raising his hands, afraid the person might harm him.

“Fly…” he said under his breath.

“What?” the guy behind him asked.

“Cacucú, fly!” Ifá exclaimed loudly, and immediately, his pet shot out from where it was hidden.

The bird flew back to where they had arrived, but the guy fired at it with precise aim, striking Cacucú in the back and causing him to fall immediately.

“NO!” Ifá screamed as he turned and saw what had happened.

However, before he could think of anything or say anything, he felt the same guy shoot at his neck, and he collapsed to the ground.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════

The murmur of the crowd echoed in Ifá's ears as he slowly began to regain consciousness. When he finally woke up completely, he noticed that everything around him was dark. Instinctively, he tried to move, but that’s when he realized he was tied to a chair. He couldn’t stand up, nor could he move his arms.

“Well, well… Who do we have here?” a deep voice asked, even deeper than the voice of the guy who had kidnapped him.

“We found him lurking in the lower areas. Based on his clothes, we doubt he’s from around here,” another voice explained.

“Ah… a foreigner,” murmured the deeper voice. “I see he brought a pet, too. Did you kill it?”

“No, sir. We just sedated it, same as the owner,” replied the other voice.

“Mhm…” responded the man, uninterested, as he began typing noisily on a keyboard that sounded old and heavy. “Take off the bags. I want to see them.”

A few seconds later, Ifá’s vision cleared. He was in an old but surprisingly comfortable room... though not for him, given the situation. If this were another kind of meeting, he thought, this room would be an excellent gathering place.

“Monstad Architecture,” he thought, observing his surroundings.

“What are you staring at, huh?” asked the same guy who had kidnapped him, as he tapped him lightly with his weapon.

The older man looked up and noticed something peculiar about the person in front of him.

“Excuse me, boss…” interrupted a third, younger voice, the voice of a brown-skinned boy with wavy black hair.

“Yes?” the deep-voiced man responded. He was older, around fifty or more, with white hair, tan skin, and marks around his face that spoke of experience and danger.

“Isn’t this the same guy in this photo?” the younger boy asked, showing Ifá’s picture on a portable screen.

The man’s eyes widened in surprise. That surprise quickly turned into concern.

“Let him go, now!” he ordered.

Immediately, Ifá was released from the restraints on his arms and legs. He began moving his limbs with difficulty, his circulation barely responding.

“Your name’s Ifá, right?” the man asked, looking him over from head to toe.

“Who are you? How do you know my name?” Ifá replied.

“I owe you an apology,” the man said, exhaling deeply. He then looked at the guy behind Ifá. “You’re useless! I gave you a list of people to leave alone! How could you not recognize him?!”

“Boss, I…”

He didn’t finish the sentence. In the blink of an eye, the boss pulled a gun from the drawer of the desk and shot the boy in the head.

Ifá couldn’t even move. A little blood splattered into his hair, he was sure of it, and Cacucú started fluttering in his cage out of fear.

“Don’t be scared, kid. These kinds of things happen every day around here,” said the man, calmly putting the gun away. “You’re a friend of Citlali. I apologize for the misunderstanding. As compensation… You can ask me for anything you want.”

“Friend of Citlali, a list of people to leave alone… She’s aware of all this,” Ifá concluded.

“W-What’s your relationship with Citlali?” he asked, still shaken by what had happened.

“I can’t answer that. But I’m surprised, being so close to Citlali’s grandson, Ororón, that you don’t know anything about this.”

“Ororón too…”

“Don’t take it badly. Ororón also found out by accident, and like you, he wasn’t supposed to know. But if you want, I can help you as compensation,” the man added, noticing how disturbed Ifá was. He then gestured for them to release Cacucú.

“Ifá, ask for a new weapon. This is your chance,” suggested the bird as it flew to his shoulder. “Also, money for your new scanner.”

“Cacucú…”

“Need money? Fine. I won’t charge any interest,” the old man responded, signaling for them to bring the requested items. “And tell me, what kind of weapon do you need?”

“Ah…”

“A lethal one, enough to hurt one of the Eleven. Preferably a pistol,” the bird replied.

“Ah, okay! Bring one of the newest models!”

After a few minutes, during which Ifá was still processing everything he’d just learned, five boxes with open lids were placed on the table.

“Pick the one you like.”

Ifá swallowed. He carefully observed the weapons, with Cacucú by his side. Finally, he chose a medium-sized, lightweight black one with a brown handle adorned with traditional red patterns.

“This one,” he said, never taking his eyes off the weapon.

The man whistled when he saw it.

“Dangerous choice. One shot from that could even hurt a deity. Be careful, kid.”

Ifá didn’t answer. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he didn’t know what to say.

“Are you still stunned by all of this?”

“I…” he didn’t finish the sentence. It was true.

The man smiled slightly. He understood why he was this way, then decided to write something down on a piece of paper and handed it to the boy in front of him.

“I owe you a great apology. When you need something, here’s all my information.”

Ifá looked at the paper where everything was written down. After a few seconds, the younger boy left a card on the table.

“It’s a black card. You can buy anything you need with it.”

Cacucú whistled as he looked at the card. It seemed authentic.

“Wow, bro. This is amazing.”

Ifá looked back at the man. He still distrusted him, but deep down, he couldn’t help but wonder why Ororón had never told him about this.

“Is Ororón involved in this too?” he asked, his voice almost breaking.

“No,” the old man replied, crossing his arms. “We only have contact with Citlali, and she warned us about her grandson and you,” he said, staring Ifá in the eyes. “Are you here because of him?”

“No… I found a group of Fatui meeting up, and I need to know what they’re planning.”

“Fatui, you say? They must be the ones who left not long ago. If you want, I can send you all the information. But that’s all. We don’t get involved with them.”

“That would be a huge help.”

“Alright. My secretary will take you to the exit. Contact me later, and I’ll send you everything.”

“Thank you… But you didn’t tell me your name.”

“I don’t have one,” he responded instantly. “I lost it a long time ago.”

“What did they used to call you?”

The man looked him over carefully. Scanned his pulse, his expression… and decided there was no risk.

“Call me Varka.”

Chapter Text

The sun in Natlan burned almost as fiercely as in the deserts of Sumeru.
Ifá lay sprawled beneath one of the most desolate hills in all of Natlan, very close to a vegetable garden.

“Ifá, wake up,” came the voice of a girl as she shook him roughly. When that didn’t work, she turned to the pink bird beside him and woke it up instead.

“Archons, I thought you were dead, Cacucú,” said the person who had roused the bird after a few moments.

“Ow, ow, my head…” the bird muttered softly. Then it began to fly, clumsily, and spotted his friend still lying down.
“Ifá, wake up, bro!” he shouted, tugging on the poncho his friend wore.

After several attempts, Ifá finally began to open his eyes, heavy with fatigue.
A groan escaped his lips as he looked straight ahead—at the blazing Natlan sun, slightly blocked by the figure of someone with horns on their head.

“What…?” he murmured, trying to collect himself. He pushed himself up with both hands against the rough green ground to sit up. Suddenly, the memory of being in the lower zones of Natlan flashed back, along with part of his conversation with Varka.

“Varesa…” he muttered, finally getting a clearer view of his friend standing in front of him, who instinctively stepped back as he composed himself.

The doctor’s mind was clouded—until he recalled the last thing that had happened in the lower parts of Natlan.

“Where is he?!” he asked, his consciousness now fully returned.

“Ifá, calm down. You just woke up,” said the pink-haired girl, her hair streaked with shades of intense aqua green.

“No, he told me—!” Ifá stopped, remembering what he had spoken about with Varka.

“I can’t answer that. But it’s surprising that, being so close to Citlali’s grandson, Ororón, you know nothing about this.”

“Ororón too…”

“Don’t take it the wrong way. Ororón also found out everything by accident, and just like you, he wasn’t supposed to know. But if you want, I can help as compensation…”

“Who is he?” she asked, confused by everything her companion was saying.

Ifá remained silent while the others stared at him intently—it all felt almost like a dream.

“Are you okay, Ifá?” Varesa asked again, looking at her friend with concern. “You don’t even seem aware of how you got here.”

Ifá just stared blankly at his pet. He had almost exposed his secret without meaning to—the one he now shared with Ororón.

“Ifá and I were out running errands, but then we saw some alcohol on sale and ended up drinking a whole bottle,” said Cacucú suddenly, making everyone turn to him with various expressions.

Varesa stared at him, completely baffled. The artistic fuchsia-pink makeup around her eyes gleamed under the sunlight, and the bandages on her cheek, under her eye, and across her chin stood out even more.

“What?” Ifá whispered, his face full of disbelief at his pet’s absurd excuse.

“Where did you even get alcohol?” the pink-haired girl asked, frowning in disbelief.

“Ah… not far from here. But it was strong for both of us, and… that’s why we passed out,” the taller one replied, trying to make Cacucú’s excuse sound as believable as possible.

The fighter looked almost dumbfounded, but she knew Ifá wasn’t someone who typically lied.

“Well, that explains the smell,” she said with a grimace, then reached into the pocket of her fully zipped pink leather jacket with metallic details and pulled out some mints wrapped in foil. “Take these—at least until you can wash up or something.”

Ifá accepted the mints, glancing sideways at his pet.

“Do you know if… Ororón was around here?” Ifá asked while putting a mint into his mouth.

“Well, I haven’t seen him all day. I guess he must be with Citlali,” Varesa replied, then smiled. “Don’t tell me you were looking for him in that state.”

Ifá shook his head, still looking somber, which made Varesa suspicious.

“I just wanted to know if you saw him. It’s not that important right now,” he said, finally standing up and brushing off his pants. “Thanks for your help, Varesa. Please don’t tell anyone what you saw.”

Ifá’s face looked downcast. She’d noticed it from the moment he asked about Ororón.
A thought lingered in her mind: “Something happened to make him like this.”

But she wasn’t a gossip… well, not entirely. Maybe when things settled down, she’d ask Ororón about what really happened.

“No problem… but I want a favor,” she replied, also standing up and dusting off her white skirt, which reached mid-thigh. Then she adjusted the gloves that matched her leather jacket.
“I want a discount for my pet’s next visit,” she said.

“You’re so cheap, bro,” Cacucú muttered.

Varesa tried to keep up her positive attitude, but she knew it wasn’t the right moment for it. So she simply placed her hands on her hips, dragging her white sneakers across the dirt.

Ifá looked at the pink-haired girl with a pleading expression, silently begging her for what he needed.

“Don’t look at me like that, Ifá. Everyone—or at least most of us—is just as broken as you are,” she replied, crossing her arms. “I had to cut down on my meals just to afford my share of the rent, I’m getting tired more easily, and in a few days, I’m being sent to Mondstadt… Please, I really need that discount.”

“Damn the day Sumeru took over our economy,” Ifá muttered, closing his eyes in frustration.

“Sumeru’s the one handling the economy here?” Varesa asked, bringing a hand to her chin. “I could’ve sworn it was Liyue.”

“No. Liyue only sells us their leftover technology… in exchange for our resources.
The one who decides how much our stuff is worth, how much we pay in taxes, and even what we’re allowed to import—that’s Sumeru.”

“Huh…? I didn’t get that,” Varesa said, frowning in confusion.

“I’ll explain another day,” sighed Ifá. “For now… I accept your deal. But only because I know we’re all struggling.”

Varesa didn’t reply. She understood perfectly well what Ifá was going through. Lowering the price of a consultation was probably a significant loss for him—but she couldn’t exactly afford to pay full price either.

“Alright, I’m heading out,” said Ifá, breaking the silence.

“Bye, Varesa! Take care, bro,” added Cacucú, following close behind.

Varesa turned in the opposite direction and began walking back to take care of her pending tasks.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

“Are you sure it wasn’t just a dream, Cacucú?” Ifá asked in a low voice as they continued on their way home.

“Of course not, bro. There’s the weapon that old man gave you,” the bird replied, full of energy.

Still, the veterinarian’s eyes remained clouded with sorrow. Everything he saw, heard, and lived through in those few hours gnawed at his mind.
And he didn’t even want to imagine what might’ve happened if he had seen more than he was supposed to.

He stopped, frozen by the thought.

“Do you think… if it had been someone else, they would’ve killed me, Cacucú?” he asked, his voice on the verge of breaking. His chin began to tremble, and his eyes welled up with tears.

“Ifá?” Cacucú hovered in front of him. The other grabbed the new weapon and looked at it, holding it horizontally in his hands.

“Don’t cry, bro. None of what happened back there is your fault.”

“That’s not what I’m thinking about… It’s just that… I’m sure that if Citlali hadn’t asked those people to spare me, you and I… we’d be dead,” he said, his voice shaking with fear. “That man… he was from Mondstadt,” he added. “Tell me, what the hell are Mondstadt people doing here?”

Ifá felt like everything around him was unreal. He needed to know more about what was really going on in Natlan.
He hated watching his own nation slowly fall apart while the other Nations took advantage of the unfair deals forced on them by a corrupt government.

“How many more people will have to go through the same thing…?” he whispered, then returned the weapon to the right pocket of his pants and wiped his tears away with the sleeve of his left arm, trying to calm himself down.

“Ifá, what’s wrong?” his loyal companion asked with concern.

A single tear slid down Ifá’s cheek and hit the ground. He tightened his grip on the weapon for a few seconds before putting it away again.

“Nothing,” he replied, trying to sound calm. “I’m just still overwhelmed by what happened earlier.”

It was a lie.

“I’m going to wait for Varka’s response about the Fatui meeting. But for now, I’m not going home.”

“And what will you tell Ororón when he asks about you?”

Ifá lifted his gaze again, pretending that name didn’t affect him. Then he adjusted his hat and answered:

“I’ll make something up. Come on, we need to get supplies.”

--

Ifá approached a small produce stand, somewhat isolated from the others, offering typical fruits and vegetables from Natlan as well as some imported from Sumeru.

“Good afternoon, sir,” greeted a young vendor with brown hair, tan skin, and caramel eyes. She wasn’t as tall as Ifá, but she wasn’t short either.

As soon as Ifá got close enough to the stand, he took in the wide variety of products and quickly decided to get everything.

“I’ll take half a kilo of each fruit, and a kilo of every vegetable,” he said.

The vendor was stunned by the size of the order but smiled shyly and began to pack everything.

“It’s been a while since anyone bought this much…” she said in a timid yet cheerful tone. “Thank you so much for your purchase.”

Ifá offered her a faint smile in response, then nodded toward Cacucú, signaling that they would help her pack. He stepped in to help the girl, and after a few minutes, the order was finally ready.

“Whoa, bro, how are we supposed to carry all this?” the bird asked, staring up and down at the bags in disbelief.

“I still can’t believe that with all the advanced technology we have, we’re still using plastic bags,” Ifá muttered, then pulled out his black card, glanced at it to find the scanner, and handed it to the vendor. “Just charge the total.”

She did as instructed, entering the exact amount, then returned the card with a polite smile.

“Thanks again for your purchase,” she said warmly.

Ifá gave her a quick farewell and grabbed two of the four bags.

“I’ll take the other two, bro,” said Cacucú, gripping the handles with effort.

Ifá watched his companion struggle to stay airborne with the bags hanging beneath him.

“Yeah… I think it’s better if I carry three,” he said, grabbing the heaviest one.

The bird immediately felt lighter beneath him.

“How is it possible that two bags weigh more than you?!” he exclaimed, stunned. “And where the hell did you get the strength to carry three all by yourself, bro?!”

Ifá just gave a small chuckle.

“Training, I guess.”

“Bro, what training? You don’t train like Varesa or Iasán,” the bird replied as they continued toward their next stop.

“It’s a secret.”

Cacucú chose not to ask any further, and Ifá let out a soft laugh.

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Xilonen was already back in her workshop after the —horrible— meeting with her coworkers.
She stretched fully, then walked over to her worktable.
“As if dealing with the government wasn’t enough, now they’re sending me repair orders too,” she muttered under her breath, then sighed. “At least the pay is decent.”

In front of her, a transparent screen appeared with a list of her pending orders.
She raised an eyebrow at the first name.
“Mualani?” she said softly, then read the request. “A new information chip?”

Doubts began to cloud her mind — after all, her partner worked in a similar field.
“Why doesn’t she ask Kinich?” she thought, then considered for a moment. “Either they had a fight, or Kinich is too busy for her.”
She shifted her weight onto her left leg and pulled a new chip from one of the drawers on her left.

“Well, whatever the case is… Citlali will fill me in later,” she said with a smile.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and Xilonen let out an unenthusiastic sigh as she glanced at the surveillance screen.
Ifá was standing outside her workshop.

“Oh… no,” she groaned, then tapped a digital button labeled “Microphone.”
“Ifá, it’s Xilonen. I’m busy today.”

From the camera, she could see Ifá gesturing for her to let him in. Rolling her eyes, she pressed another button to open the door.
A few seconds later, Ifá entered the workshop, and she turned around to face him.

“Ifá, I don’t do favors or discounts, I’ve already told you…”
“I’m not here for a favor or a discount,” he interrupted.

Xilonen was surprised by his curt reply, her eyes widening for a few seconds.
“Then… do you have the money?”

Ifá pulled out his black card, and Xilonen’s mouth parted slightly in disbelief.
“Citlali told me his financial situation was getting worse and worse… How…?” she thought.

“I’ll pay whatever it takes, but I need you to fix my scanner right now — and I’ll buy some new gadgets too.”

Xilonen was speechless, still processing the fact that Ifá, of all people, was telling her he’d pay whatever it took for such a simple repair.

“All right, hand over your info chip.”

ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

One hour later:

“According to Varka himself, they should be arriving any moment now,” Ifá thought, one hand resting on his belt and the other holding a new transparent electronic device indicating the exact location of the meeting point.

Ifá was accompanied by his loyal bird companion and a small saurian. Both creatures were quietly discussing the roles each would play to support Ifá’s mission.

After a few more minutes of waiting, some Fatui agents finally emerged from the shadows. Ifá used his new scanner and noticed their impulses were unusually elevated. He understood perfectly—being in a dangerous zone of Natlan wasn’t for the faint of heart.

—Cacucú —the medic called out, prompting his feathered partner to turn toward him. He then tilted his head, signaling it was time for them to play their parts.

Cacucú and the small saurian discreetly moved closer to the Fatui. The bird found a perch from which to position a tiny camera, while the saurian remained underground, an audio device strapped to one of his paws.

From the shadows, a taller and more imposing Fatui figure stepped forward. His face was concealed behind a black-and-grey mask adorned with golden, geometric, yet intricately crafted patterns. He wore a classic but spotless suit of armor, matte silver with golden chains converging at the center of his chest where a transparent, cube-shaped core seemed hidden. Below, casual gray pants and platformed boots adorned with crystalline details reached up to his knees. A regal cloak, made of fine alpaca wool, trailed behind him—white with rich, dark blue pompoms at the shoulders.

Ifá froze. A wave of dread struck him, and his face betrayed the fear.

—Captain —one of the Fatui agents greeted him, noticeably uneasy.

—Did you do what I asked? —the Captain asked, his voice deep and commanding.

—Y-yes, the person you need… her name is Citlali —the agent answered—. She’s part of the main government unit thanks to her years of experience in Natlan.

—But… I doubt she’ll agree to help. She has a bad reputation in the lower zones for being involved in… these kinds of things. If they find out she helped you, everything would fall apart —added another Fatui.

—Citlali… —the Captain murmured thoughtfully—. That’s not the first time I’ve heard of her. Our motives may differ, but we share the same objective —he continued to ponder—. No. It’s better not to form any connections with her for now.

Ifá listened through the saurian’s audio recorder, his head now swarming with questions.

—She also has a grandson —another Fatui mentioned.

Those words triggered every alarm inside Ifá.

—A grandson? —the Captain asked.

—A young soul. He’ll be easy to manipulate. I doubt she would refuse to cooperate if she’s threatened… discreetly.

The Captain said nothing, silently considering whether to pay Citlali’s grandson a personal visit.

—Fine. But I’ll be the one to offer her our “proposal” —he said at last, and then began to walk away from the others.

—Boss, what do we do now? —one asked.

—Nothing. For now, keep a low profile. I have some business to take care of in the lower districts.

Ifá felt as if lightning had struck his skull. The idea of one of the Eleven threatening Ororón—or even going near him—terrified him.

He wouldn’t allow it.

Cacucú watched as Capitano disappeared into the shadows and returned to Ifá’s side.

—What are they planning, bro? —the bird asked, keeping a safe distance from the Fatui.

—Capitano wants Ororón to be part of his plan —Ifá replied with anger, his eyes burning into the ground—. I’m not going to let that happen.

Without hesitation, he summoned the saurian with a sleek modern radar, then left the area with determined steps.

Hours later:

Ifá was back in Natlan’s lower districts. He had asked Varka for one last favor:

"I need your agents to tell me where Capitano is and make sure the area is deserted."

Varka agreed reluctantly, under the condition that it would be the young man’s final request.

—You sure this is going to work, bro? —Cacucú asked, perched on the table while eating a chocolate dessert—. The dessert is amazing, but it’s spooky how empty this place is.

—Everything’s going to be fine. Just have faith in me.

—I always have, but threatening one of the Eleven… that’s another level, bro —he replied, chocolate still on his beak.

The medic didn’t answer. He tried to suppress the fear growing inside him at the mere thought of that Fatui’s presence.

But he wasn’t backing down—not when Ororón was the one at risk.

The soft chime of his transparent device signaled that Capitano’s location had been found.

It was time.

Ifá stood up, pushed his chair back, and gently stroked Cacucú’s head.

—I’m coming with you, bro —the bird said, sensing the worry in his friend’s eyes.

—No. Stay here. I don’t want anything to happen to you —he answered, his voice laced with melancholy.

—But I don’t want anything to happen to you either.

Ifá didn’t reply with words, but offered a warm smile instead.

—I’ll buy you another dessert when I get back —he said, walking out of the restaurant on his way to confront Capitano.

“Ifá, I really hope this goes the way you plan,” Cacucú thought, watching his friend disappear into the distance, a small tear slipping from his eye.
ι═══════ﺤ▬▬☣︎▬▬ι═══════ﺤ
The lower streets of Natlan were littered with garbage on the sidewalks, poorly painted walls, and unfinished roads.
Ifá walked just as Varka had advised him:
“In a place like this, you have to look confident and sure of yourself. As if you already know the streets.”
And that’s exactly what he did.

He began making his way toward the Fatui stop, adrenaline and fear pulsing through him. The streets were lit by scattered neon lights in blue, violet, and green. In certain areas, shards of glass, broken weapons, counterfeit money, and rotting food could be faintly seen on the sidewalks.
The ever-controversial: Charm of the lower zones.

Ifá’s leather boots echoed with each step—confident strides masking an unsettling feeling inside him.
From time to time, he confirmed his destination by checking his transparent device, until finally, his objective appeared fixed on the screen:
A bar.

The only upside was that Varka had already cleared out the streets and most surrounding spots, so facing Capitano wouldn't be a problem.

Ifá stood a block away from the bar. He inhaled deeply, then exhaled. He pulled out two small syringes filled with anesthetic, checked that his weapon was ready, and clenched his fists to settle the unease within him.
“No turning back,” he thought.

He walked steadily until he reached the front of the bar. With his scanner, he saw through the metal door: Capitano sitting in a chair across from someone, and beside him, a slightly older man.
“Quite the private place,” he thought, noticing the lack of staff inside.

From the pocket on his belt, he retrieved an electric master key and swiped it across the nearly invisible electric handle. A short circuit flickered through the mechanism, and the door unlocked. He stepped inside.

Capitano heard the faint zap and turned to see what caused it.
But his business companion let out a muffled gasp and collapsed to the floor almost instantly—before him stood a young man with sharp, unwavering eyes fixed on him.

“Move, and I’ll kill you,” the young man warned.

Capitano wasn’t a fool. He recognized the weapon the boy carried, and a chill ran down his spine. He also noticed that no alarm had been triggered.
“I see where this is going,” he thought, raising his right hand in a sign of cooperation.

Still, he observed the boy’s accelerated pulse through a quick scan—he was clearly terrified.

“What’s a kid like you doing with a weapon like that?” Capitano asked.

“I’m the one asking the questions,” Ifá replied firmly, walking slowly forward and pushing the anesthetized man aside to sit more comfortably.
“I heard you were looking for Citlali.”

“...So that pink bird was yours.”

“That’s not the point,” he said, still aiming directly at the Fatui’s heart. “I’ll say this once—stay away from Citlali and her grandson. Second, you're going to tell me what you're planning here, and why you were targeting them.”

Capitano’s mask showed no emotion, but inside, he was surprised.
No one had ever dared confront him like this over someone else.
He smirked inwardly.

“Fine, I admire your audacity and courage. Someone willing to die for the people they care about is rare nowadays. But I want something in return for leaving them alone.”

Ifá pressed the weapon harder against Capitano’s chest, causing pain.

“You’re not the one setting the rules.”

Capitano’s hand moved instinctively to endure the pain while trying to keep his composure.
“Go ahead, kill me. But your nation and your people will pay the price... I doubt you could stop the other Harbingers from coming here.”

Under that threat, Ifá withdrew the weapon. Capitano immediately placed a hand on his chest, trying to ease the lingering pain.

“Believe me, I’m being merciful,” Capitano said after a few seconds. Ifá sat in the spot previously occupied by the unconscious man.
“I’m a man of my word. I expect the same from you.”

“What were you after?”

“Information. I need to know what recent moves Natlan has made regarding its contract with Liyue, Sumeru, and Mondstadt.”

“The treaty of the former Archon,” Ifá thought.

“Why would you care about that? We're a nation barely holding itself together. Our people and resources are being pushed to the brink every day…”

“Natlan got the worst end of the deal thanks to Sumeru,” Capitano interrupted. “I hoped the new Archon could handle it, but clearly, nothing’s improving. So I’ve decided to take Natlan’s fate into my own hands.”

Ifá’s expression changed—he hadn’t expected such a response from someone as dangerous as Capitano.
But how could he be sure it was true?

“How do I know you’re not lying?”

“You can scan me to verify it.”

Right then, a prompt appeared before Ifá’s eyes: Permission granted.
He scanned Capitano’s vitals—everything checked out. He wasn’t lying.

“What does Citlali have to do with your plan?”

“Citlali has issues with the new Archon. I thought she might help me bring her down. But her... questionable history makes it hard to trust she'd cooperate. That’s why I turned to her grandson.”

“You’d risk dragging him into legal trouble if your plan failed.”

“Highly unlikely.”

“If it did, I’d kill you myself—slowly.”

Capitano was taken aback by the young man’s cold reply.
Still new to this world, he thought.

“That boy… is he someone important to you?”

There was no answer, but Ifá’s gaze said enough.

“I’ll tell you everything I know about Mavuika’s government,” Capitano said.