Mondstadt — Knights of Favonius HQ
Originally, this was supposed to be Jean and Lisa's peaceful afternoon tea time.
And indeed, it was peaceful…
…until the chat group topic somehow shifted onto Jean herself.
"LISA!"
Jean slammed both hands onto the table, leaning forward with a flushed, angry expression.
Lisa simply sipped her tea elegantly, like a noblewoman watching a flustered maiden who'd just had her secret exposed.
"Alright, alright, Acting Grand Master,"
Lisa smiled lazily.
"I won't say anything. You can relax."
Jean exhaled—then suddenly froze.
"Wait—
No, I didn't do anything, so what could you even say?!"
Lisa only lifted her eyes with a meaningful smile.
Jean's face turned pink.
"Hmph! This is all the Honorary Knight's fault!"
She huffed coldly, attempting to regain her composure before looking back at the light screen.
[Supernatural Chat Group]
Jean: Honorary Knight, return to Mondstadt immediately. I have… "local specialties" for you! (rage.jpg)
Paimon: Huh?! Local specialties? Food?? Is it tasty??
Aether: Fool! RUN! That's no food— that's a curry stick!
Paimon: UWAH! Traveler, RUN! Jean's coming to kill you!!
Jean: ...
After a short, chaotic mess, the chat went lively again.
Inazuma — Kamisato Estate
Ayaka had been glowing with happiness after being acknowledged by the light screen.
She chatted joyfully with her brother and Thoma—
—until the light screen revealed her "secret."
Her smile instantly froze.
Like Keqing, Ayaka knew her own private habits better than anyone.
She had mentally prepared herself for those things to appear in the "Not-so-Serious Review" segment.
But why…
WHY was it showing up in the serious part?!
Her brain went blank.
Once she recovered, she immediately checked the chat.
Seeing the messages—
Ayaka's whole face burned red.
"A… A maiden longing for romance…?"
"N-No! Absolutely not!"
The other details she could endure…
…but THAT one made her entire body feel like it was steaming.
She lowered her head immediately, unable to meet her brother's eyes.
Not even daring to reply to the chat.
The only comfort she found was this:
Once the topic turned toward Jean, Ayaka was instantly forgotten.
Jean was truly a savior today.
Ayato looked at his sister's shy posture. His expression became soft… and complicated.
Part of him ached for how much Ayaka had endured over the years…
Another part was struck by a heavy realization:
"…Ayaka is at the age where she might want romance."
As an older brother—who was now essentially a parental figure—
that feeling was…
uncomfortable, to say the least.
Seeing this, Thoma instantly raised his cup.
"Master Ayato, drink! Quick!"
"...Fine."
Blue Star — Villa
After a pause, Arthur resumed:
"Reading novels and catching fish are small things."
"But the biggest desire of young Ayaka—
is to have a friend."
"A friend who stands equal to her."
"One who does not treat her as a noble, or a princess."
"One who is not chained by etiquette or status."
"Thoma is good, yes…
but he is still a retainer—there will always be restraints."
"So, this ideal friend—
should be knowledgeable, widely-traveled, someone who knows strange tales…"
"Oh, and if they can tell stories sometimes?
Even better."
Mondstadt — Near Springvale
Aether and Paimon were still enjoying their meal while watching.
"Not bound by status…
Knowledgeable…
Well-traveled…
Tells stories…"
Aether blinked.
"Wait— isn't that literally ME?"
Paimon froze mid-sip of coconut milk.
"…Oh my god.
It really IS you!"
Aether: "…"
Paimon:
"And maybe… Ayaka DID dance for you after all?"
Aether's smile twitched violently.
Because if that were true…
then her arrogant declaration yesterday—
"If Ayaka dances for me, I'll be her dog."
—would become the biggest self-slap in Teyvat history.
Paimon realized this too and snorted into her drink.
Supernatural Chat Group
Thoma: Yes! The young lady truly needs such a friend.
Zhongli: A companion unbound by status, cultured, and well-traveled. Many would cherish such a person.
Keqing: Agreed. Such people are rare.
Jean: Lisa is more or less this type. Aside from being… irritating sometimes.
Lisa: Fufufu~~
Venti: By those standards, it IS the Traveler. No one fits better.
Nahida: Indeed. And she will eventually travel to Inazuma.
Yoimiya: It sounds like destiny!
Ayato: True enough… though the Traveler does have some strange habits…
Furina: PFFFF—
Traveler Lumine: Slander!
Alice: But the Traveler won't stay in one place. She will always move on.
Aether: Says who? Once I find my brother, traveling is optional. Eating, drinking, making money— now THAT'S life!
Paimon: YUP! DELICIOUS life!
Abyss Base — Unknown Location
Aether suddenly panicked.
"W-Wait.
Lumine won't look for me anymore?!"
No, no, NO!
That can't happen!
She HAD to follow her "destined journey"!
But…
ever since the Reviews started, destiny itself began to shift.
Which made him panic even more.
"Hm? No—
she said she won't care once she knows where I am."
"So if she never finds out—
she HAS to keep searching!"
Lumine nodded to himself.
That settled it.
He must hide even more carefully.
Aether must NEVER find him.
For "destiny."
Yes. Definitely destiny.
Inazuma — Kamisato Estate
Ayaka was still flushed.
Her head lowered shyly—
a completely different embarrassment than Ganyu's yesterday.
Ganyu's was "I lost all dignity."
Ayaka's was "I am a girl and I am shy."
Reading the chat, she murmured softly:
"Traveler…?"
Truth be told, she liked the Traveler's temperament very much.
But after the infamous
"I am Ayaka's dog"
incident…
She now felt a strange awkwardness toward Aether.
However—
There was someone who seemed even more fitting.
The one inside the light screen.
He understood her.
He didn't treat her as a noble.
He spoke in an interesting way.
He was more knowledgeable than the Traveler.
Just…
he came from another world.
And she couldn't message him privately.
What a pity.
Ayato watched his sister's expression—
Thinking
Smiling
Blushing
Regretting
And he was utterly confused.
What is going on??
Is she…
in love?
With WHO?!
His gaze drifted to Aether.
"…No way."
Poor Aether unknowingly carried a massive pot on her head again.
Blue Star — Villa
Arthur smiled.
"That covers Ayaka's life before the Traveler arrived."
"Now let's talk about what happened after the Traveler reached Inazuma."
"Serious Review, Part Three—
Disrespecting the God."
Instantly, everyone watching tensed.
In Teyvat, disrespecting an Archon was a grave offense.
Normally people would be furious.
But after Aether and Keqing's cases, people had become mentally bulletproof.
Shock? Yes.
Anger? A bit.
Curiosity? Very much.
A refined lady like Ayaka—
how would SHE "disrespect" a god?
[General Chat Group]
Swan: You guys ALSO have people who disrespect the gods? Huh? Why did I say 'also'?
Master Mao: Ahem! Keqing was special— it was for humanity's sake! The real culprit is the Traveler!
Tian Tiezui: So Inazuma also fought the Shogun, right?
Ogura Mio: Impossible! Lady Ayaka would NEVER disrespect the Shogun!
Mitsuya Akane: The Shirasagi Himegimi was praised! There must be a misunderstanding!
Kujou Takayuki: Heh. Not necessarily…
…
Mondstadt — Near Springvale
"Another one disrespecting the Shogun?"
Aether immediately perked up.
No wonder they could be friends!
Paimon almost dropped her food.
"Impossible!
Lady Ayaka?!
Disrespect the Shogun?! No way!"
Aether smirked.
"Hmph. You never know."
"Repression creates rebellion.
Even a refined lady has her limits."
Paimon squinted at her.
She did NOT believe this.
Aether crossed his arms proudly.
"Just wait."
Liyue — Jade Chamber
"Hmm?
Disrespecting the gods?"
Ningguang raised an eyebrow.
"Don't tell me she also supports human authority?"
Keqing glared faintly.
"Not everyone is like me!"
…though she too was curious.
Inazuma — Tenshukaku
"What?!
Disrespecting the Shogun?!"
Kujou Sara shot to her feet.
"Shogun-sama, allow me to arrest Kamisato Ayaka immediately!"
Yae Miko laughed behind her fan.
"Calm down~
Since it's a serious review, it won't be the kind you're thinking."
Ei nodded.
"Let's watch."
Sara returned to her seat, stiff and tense.
She would prefer Ayaka innocent—
but if Ayaka really had done something unforgivable…
Sara would uphold the Shogun's honor no matter what.
Inazuma — Kamisato Estate
The air grew heavy again.
Disrespecting the Shogun.
A capital offense.
Ayaka inhaled slowly.
"This is a serious review.
It must be symbolic… not literal."
She had not done anything.
In this timeline, she hadn't even planned to ask the Traveler for help yet.
So she calmed herself.
Ayato and Thoma nodded.
They agreed—
it couldn't be real blasphemy.
Still—
Their eyes remained fixed on the screen.
Blue Star — Villa
Sensing Inazuma's heavy mood, Arthur didn't drag it out.
He smiled slyly.
"Ayaka's 'disrespect' is a bit different from the others."
"Aether used words—and fists."
"Keqing used ideology."
"And Ayaka…"
Arthur's lips curled into a wicked grin.
"She invited the Traveler—
to start a rebellion with her."
Aether: ?????
Ayaka: ?????
Raiden Shogun: ?????
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