Inside the Library of the Knights of Favonius.
Others were quietly reading.
Xiao entered from outside, glanced around, then headed toward a certain corner.
There, he found Xia Ci, reading.
He approached and spoke softly. "Miss Xia Ci, you called for me. What would you have me do?"
Xia Ci looked up, smiling. "Vigilant Yaksha, are you free these days?"
Xiao nodded. "I am. I don't like drinking, so yesterday I just walked around alone. Is there something you need my help with?"
"Yes," Xia Ci said with a nod. "A small matter—but only you can handle it."
"Please, tell me."
"You know about cell phones, right?"
"I do."
"They need to be modified using the Akasha Terminal. Last time, Yelan got me some components, but not enough. Later I had my sister get more and send someone to deliver them. That person should be arriving in Liyue Harbor today."
"I see. And you want…?"
"She'd take too long on her own. But you, with the speed—you could fly to Liyue and bring her here."
"Understood."
Xia Ci extended her hand, summoning a small leaf of condensed Dendro power.
"With this, you'll be able to find her."
Xiao caught the leaf. "Alright."
She then handed him a ring. "These are the books my cousin and I collected here in the Library. Please bring them to Vice Principal Zhongli, have him organize them, and add them to the school's library."
"Got it."
"There's also a catalog inside. Ask Zhongli to prepare those books as well, so they can later be sent here to the Library."
"Understood. I'll head back right away."
Xiao accepted the ring and was about to leave when Xia Zhen stopped him.
"Miss Xia Zhen, you too?"
"Yes. While you're there, keep an eye on Komaniya Express."
"Oh? Komaniya Express?"
"I sent a letter back to Inazuma before. By now Miko should be about ready to reply. Check if Kirara has arrived in Liyue. If she has, bring her along."
"Understood."
Xiao nodded once, and his figure vanished in an instant.
----
A ship from Port Ormos slowly pulled into Liyue Harbor, docking smoothly against the pier.
Collei stepped out from the cabin and onto the deck. She gazed at the spectacular scene before her—thousands of sails, countless merchants—and couldn't help feeling dazed.
This was far livelier than the docks of Port Ormos.
After a moment, Collei snapped out of it, hugging the package strapped to her back, and silently disembarked with the other passengers.
Setting foot on foreign soil, she walked into the bustling streets. The enticing aroma drifting from a nearby food stall made her stomach rumble.
She hesitated for a bit, then headed over.
The stall owner greeted her warmly in fluent Liyue speech. "What'll you have, customer?"
Collei didn't speak the language. She pointed at the food on the stall and gestured awkwardly, stammering, "I… this one… one serving…"
The stall owner didn't look the least bit surprised. In Liyue, it was common to meet travelers who couldn't speak the local tongue. He'd been running this stall for decades and knew how to handle it.
"Judging from your clothes, you're from Sumeru, right?"
This time, his words flowed out in fluent Sumeru speech, paired with a friendly grin.
"You want this? One serving?"
Collei froze, cheeks flushing red, then nodded quickly. "Y-yes, one serving. How much is it?"
"Seven Mora."
"Alright."
She handed over the coins and received a parcel of Mora Meat wrapped in oiled paper.
"Enjoy your meal, and come again!"
"Thank you."
Collei hesitated again, then glanced at him. "Excuse me… what's the fastest way to get to Mondstadt?"
The man blinked. "Heading to Mondstadt? To join the Windblume Festival, I bet? You're cutting it close, but if you join a caravan, you might still make it. Ask around over there—many caravans will take passengers along for a fee."
"Got it, thank you."
"If money's tight, prepare your own food for the road—you'll save Mora that way. Plus, your own food'll suit your taste better."
Though just a simple stall owner, his hospitality was spot-on.
Even for someone like Collei, who rarely spoke with strangers, the conversation felt easy and comfortable, never awkward.
She thought it over. Paying the caravan fee was fair, but the boss was right—bringing her own food was smart too.
For someone who'd once endured long, hungry days, saving Mora whenever possible was second nature.
She glanced over the food again and, following the man's advice, bought some cheap, long-lasting items that still tasted decent.
"Safe travels, miss."
"Mm."
It was his livelihood, after all.
Collei tucked the supplies into her pack, munching on the fresh Mora Meat as she headed toward the caravans' gathering spot.
Halfway there, a tall, unfamiliar figure appeared in her path. (Tall TALLL)
A young man with a blank expression, his gaze fixed on her.
Collei stiffened, wary. She tried to step around him, but he raised a hand to stop her.
Seeing her puzzled look, Xiao produced the Dendro leaf Xia Ci had given him.
The leaf glowed faintly with gentle Dendro energy, drifting toward her and landing against the ring on her finger.
It was her, without a doubt.
Xiao looked at her and confirmed in Sumeru speech:
"You're Miss Collei, correct?"
"Huh?"
Collei froze, then asked cautiously, "And you are…?"
"I was sent by the God of Dendro to escort you to Mondstadt. Call me Xiao."
"The God of Dendro!"
"This leaf is proof. You should be able to sense the aura on it."
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and Nahida were both incarnations of Irminsul—their divine power carried the same aura.
Collei lowered her head, staring at the leaf pressed to her ring. The doubts in her heart eased somewhat.
Yes… it was indeed the God of Dendro's power.
Even so, her eyes still held a trace of caution—habits born from her past suffering.
Xiao paid it no mind. His gaze flicked to the half-eaten Mora Meat in her hand. "Miss Collei, finish your meal first."
Collei stuffed the rest of the food straight into her mouth, chewing quickly and forcing it down.
Xiao's expression turned a bit strange. "Miss Collei, there's no need to rush."
She swallowed hard and said seriously, "The God of Dendro's matter is urgent. Let's go."
Urgent? It was just a courier job.
Xiao didn't comment, only turned and said, "Please follow me."
Collei nodded. "Alright, sorry to trouble you."
But after a few steps, she realized they were heading back toward the docks.
Confused, she asked, "Um… are we taking a ship?"
"No. I also need to pick up another courier heading to Mondstadt. We'll wait a bit."
"…."
Then why did I scarf my food down like that?!
Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. She felt like she'd just made the God of Dendro look bad.
Thankfully, her guide's expression remained as blank as ever, giving no sign of judgment.
Collei kept her head low and followed him to one of the large ships.
Xiao stepped forward and asked the overseer, "Has a Komaniya Express delivery arrived from Inazuma this month?"
"It came yesterday. Our couriers are distributing the parcels now. Your package should arrive within the next couple of days—just wait at home, it'll come."
"Yesterday… I see. Thank you."
"No problem."
Turning back, Xiao said, "Miss Collei, please wait here. I'll find the person."
"Oh…"
Before she could say more, he vanished.
She glanced around. He was nowhere in sight.
So fast…
Her wariness rose again. Hugging her bundle close, she stood quietly on the pier, watching the dockworkers haul crates.
A few minutes later, a sudden breeze swept past. Xiao appeared before her once more.
This time, he wasn't alone. A young girl stood beside him—bright smile, cat ears perched on her head, two tails swishing behind her.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Collei."
"It's fine."
Xiao introduced them. "This is Miss Collei. And this is Miss Kirara."
Kirara waved cheerfully, her voice ringing in fluent Sumeru speech. "Hi! Great to meet you!"
As a gold-rank courier, being multilingual was just part of the job.
Collei's cheeks reddened again. She stammered, "N-nice… to meet you…"
Classic social anxiety written all over her.
Kirara turned back with a grin. "Mr. Xiao, let's go!"
He nodded. "Alright. The wind will be strong—please endure it."
"The wind—?"
Before Collei could finish, she felt herself swept up, her body lifted by invisible currents, floating into the sky.
She gasped in shock.
Kirara, however, was brimming with excitement.
Noticing Collei's pale face, she asked, "Miss Collei, you okay?"
"I-I'm fine…"
"Mr. Xiao's amazing, isn't he?"
"You… you know him?"
"Of course! We even had dinner together once."
"I… I see. And this is…?"
"He's flying us to Mondstadt."
"No carriage?"
"Hehe, an Adeptus is way faster than any carriage."
"A-Adeptus?!"
"Eh? You didn't know? Mr. Xiao's one of Liyue's Adepti—the famous Vigilant Yaksha."
"!"
Collei was stunned.
But thinking about it, it made sense. The God of Dendro asking an Adeptus for help wasn't strange at all.
She looked down—mountains, rivers, forests whipping by in a blur.
So fast!
But… we won't fall, will we? From this height…
Still, this was better. She could deliver the God of Dendro's package that much quicker.
With jumbled thoughts swirling, Collei simply clutched her bundle tighter in silence.