Chu Xi woke to find herself lying on a bed. She tried to sit up, but her body was too weak.
A Cryo Chaos Mage wobbled toward her, carrying a bowl.
(Spy- Remember Aether changed the Abyss order name bc bad pr)
The moment Chu Xi saw the Chaos Mage, she leaped out of bed, clenched her fist, and punched it squarely in the face.
"Abyss! Die!"
The Cryo Chaos Mage couldn't comprehend why someone who had been bedridden for over ten days, so weak they seemed on the verge of death, would suddenly jump up and punch it.
Does this make any sense?!
Caught completely off guard, the Abyss Mage was sent crashing into the wall by the single blow.
After delivering the punch, Chu Xi collapsed, her strength spent. She touched the Delusion on her back and breathed a sigh of relief when she found it still there.
She gripped the Delusion tightly, and the moment her hand closed around it, it glowed brightly, banishing the exhaustion from her body.
Wasting no time, Chu Xi bolted out of the room. Finding no guards, she sprinted away into the distance.
Only after Chu Xi had vanished from sight did Aether emerge from behind the house.
"Your Highness the Prince, shall your servant capture her?"
"There's no need."
Aether turned and swept his cloak aside, leaving the Cryo Chaos Mage behind, puzzled. Didn't I change my name? Why does everyone still curse "Abyss" the moment they see me?
Next time, should I write my name on a sign and pin it to my chest?
-
Chu Xi sprinted frantically until the power she had just obtained from the Delusion was completely drained, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground.
She lay sprawled on the ground for several minutes before finally managing to push herself up, extending both arms.
In her left hand was the Delusion given to her by the Doctor, and in her right hand was the Vision granted by the Geo Archon.
The Vision had long been depleted of its power and now appeared dim and lifeless.
With a determined squeeze, Chu Xi crushed the Vision in her right hand, its fragments dissolving into dust and scattering in the wind.
Her gaze drifted dazedly between her empty right hand and the Delusion in her left. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, as if steeling herself for a final decision.
Biting her right hand until blood welled, she dripped the crimson liquid onto the Delusion. The Delusion surged to life, enveloping Chu Xi in a protective energy barrier.
Exhausted to her very core, Chu Xi collapsed into unconsciousness.
-
Sumeru, within a workshop.
The Doctor grinned, his eyes closing as he notified his "segment" in Inazuma to retrieve his experimental samples.
His experiments could finally begin in earnest...
-
Lumine and Paimon had been in Inazuma for over ten days when they suddenly received an invitation from Liyue to attend the Kaiyang Martial Summit.
During those days, Paimon's mood had improved considerably, though any food prepared by Yuna would immediately plunge her back into grief.
Fortunately, only a small amount of Yuna's food remained. Once it was finished, Paimon's spirits should lift significantly, right?
To relax both themselves and Paimon, Lumine decided to take her to Liyue to attend the Kaiyang Martial Summit.
When they teleported back to Mondstadt, the Kaiyang Martial Summit was still two days away from starting.
Registration remained open until the official commencement of the Summit. Lumine and Paimon made their way to the registration desk.
"Hello, I'd like to register for the Kaiyang Martial Summit."
The female official at the desk looked up, recognized the Traveler, and immediately wrote down Lumine's name with enthusiasm.
"Traveler, here's your registration token. Please keep it safe. The Summit officially begins in two days. Just head straight to the Maritime Venue then."
"Maritime Venue?"
Lumine and Paimon had rushed straight to registration upon arriving in Liyue Harbor and hadn't even seen what the venue looked like yet.
-
After registering, Lumine and Paimon prepared to visit the venue.
To get a clear view of the entire venue, they bypassed the seaside harbor and teleported to a Teleport Waypoint outside Liyue Harbor. Approaching the edge, they gazed down at the colossal arena stretching across the sea.
A massive banner hung above the arena, emblazoned with bold characters: The Kaiyang Martial Summit.
Lumine's heart swelled with ambition at the sight of the grand venue, and the pent-up frustration that had been weighing on her these past few days seemed to dissipate.
However, she soon noticed something amiss—not with the arena itself, but with Paimon beside her.
Paimon's small head hung low, her usually bright, starry eyes now dull and lifeless. Her little shoulders twitched occasionally, like a Pompom Fruit withered by rain.
Several figures were depicted on the banner beside the characters, and the largest one looked remarkably like Qingge...
And that name... Kaiyang...
Qingge's remains were still buried on Tianheng Mountain. Paimon had once told Qingge that she would bring Yuna's flatbread to visit her next time, but... but... Paimon had broken her promise. She would never be able to bring Yuna's flatbread to Qingge again.
Waaah~
Paimon suddenly realized that all three of her top friends on her friends list were... gone! All her dear friends were gone!
Waaah~
Hearing Paimon's sobs beside her, Lumine picked her up and sat with her on a blue stone.
Just as Lumine was fretting over how to comfort the little one, an extremely gentle breeze swept past, carrying the faint scent of dandelion fluff and green apples. It appeared silently behind Lumine and Paimon.
Venti had arrived.
He didn't suddenly appear with his usual mischievous grin, nor did he strum his beloved Lyre.
The usual jesting light was gone from Venti's emerald eyes, replaced by an ancient, tranquil tenderness:
"Traveler, Paimon."
"Venti?"
Venti smiled at Lumine, then gently walked over and patted the grieving little Paimon.
The wind had already told him of the little one's sorrow. It truly broke his heart.
Paimon blinked her teary eyes at Venti.
Venti raised a hand and pointed to the sky. "Look at that cloud... doesn't it look like a chubby bushtit? It wasn't like that just now."
Paimon followed Venti's gaze, and indeed, the cloud in the sky resembled a plump bushtit.
Venti: "The wind pushed it, and its shape changed... from a lion to a whale, from a whale to cotton candy... and finally into this little bushtit."
Venti's voice was very soft, as if telling an ancient fairy tale.
"When the wind is gone, the cloud still remembers the form of the wind. With its new shape, it tells the wind's stories to the sky."
Venti gently patted Paimon's head.
"Even when the wind stops, the grass still sways—that's the echo of the wind's passing. Just like the ache and emptiness in your heart now, Paimon... that too is an echo. It's the most real and precious mark left behind by the moments you shared with them—those times warmer than the sun."
"Even the Anemo Archon cannot bring back the wind that has blown far away."
There was no false comfort in Venti's voice, only a quiet understanding born from countless years of experience.
"Just as we cannot hold onto that cloud that turned into a flock of finches. But..."
"...has the wind truly vanished? It has merely changed form. It has merged into every dancing leaf, into the dandelion's flying dreams, into the cool breeze that soothes a weary Traveler... It is everywhere, continuing to love this world in ways you cannot see, cherishing every place it once lingered."
"Just like them."
Paimon gazed silently at Venti before suddenly leaping into his arms. This time, there were no sobs, only a fierce embrace around his neck.
"Cry, cry loudly, and then remember that this echo is a part of your heart. Don't be afraid, and don't push it away."
"Remember, we'll all be here with you, listening together."
Paimon seemed to understand. Under the gentle caress of the breeze, she burst into loud sobs:
"Waaaaaaah!"