Confirming Rosaline's thoughts, Luo Li considered for a moment and simply sat down beside her.
The girl's cheeks flushed pink, and for a while she didn't know what to do with herself.
After a moment, she finally gathered the courage to speak.
"I still don't know your name."
"Luo Li."
"…Oh."
The conversation died on the spot, yet Rosaline was still delighted. She quietly carved his name into her heart.
They sat together a while longer. Realizing the silence might be too heavy, the girl forced herself to find a topic.
"When are you going back to Liyue?"
Luo Li raised a brow. "Back to Liyue?"
"Aren't you from Liyue?"
"Heh, I suppose you could say that. But I live in Inazuma now."
"Oh, I see."
Rosaline felt a bit embarrassed—yet beneath it, a faint joy bloomed.
Eager to learn more about him, she used every ounce of her brainpower to subtly pry out more details.
Judging from his appearance and bearing, she guessed his status must be high; she still remembered the aura he exuded at the Featherball Festival.
Although she didn't understand why he seemed much more carefree in private—almost like a different person—Rosaline didn't ask.
Technically, this was only their second meeting. She needed to mind her boundaries.
Maintaining a gentle rhythm of questions and answers, Rosaline felt no awkwardness at all. Maybe when one is with someone they like, anything feels pleasant.
Until the church bell rang.
"Oh no—it's already this late? I have to go!"
Without realizing it, an entire hour had passed. Rosaline jumped up, flustered.
Halfway out, she suddenly turned back, eyes filled with hope.
"Will you come again tomorrow?"
"If you keep singing."
No sooner had Luo Li finished speaking than the girl eagerly declared:
"Then I'll wait for you."
It was a rather unreserved statement—so direct it was hard not to sense another meaning within.
But Mondstadt people were naturally open and bold; even if she felt impulsive, Rosaline kept her composure on the surface.
Not giving him a chance to refuse, she skipped away lightly from Windrise Plaza.
After watching her disappear, Luo Li finally stood up.
At the corner of his eye, squads of Knights of Favonius were entering and exiting headquarters, and many wounded were being carried into the church.
He frowned slightly. Compared with half a month ago, Mondstadt's security presence seemed significantly stronger.
"So it wasn't just my imagination… Something really happened."
According to the timeline, the Khaenri'ah War was drawing closer—perhaps at any moment.
At this rate, war could break out any day.
A faint urgency welled up in Luo Li's chest. He should return to Inazuma soon.
Not that he feared Makoto would secretly rush off to Khaenri'ah to die—Venti was here.
If Celestia gathered all Seven Archons to descend on Khaenri'ah, Venti would certainly inform him. That way, Luo Li could follow and save Makoto all the same.
And in the days that followed, his suspicions were confirmed.
The Knights of Favonius' activities grew increasingly intense. Their previously masked movements could no longer be hidden.
Guards multiplied severalfold, and arrow towers and cannon platforms began trial operations.
Though the people of Mondstadt did not panic, they were certainly talking.
As for Rosaline, the outside chaos had nothing to do with her.
She cared neither about war nor monsters—only about how to spend more time with Luo Li.
Every morning she dressed up, went to Windrise Plaza, and sang in her clear, sweet voice, hoping he would arrive at any moment.
Day by day, her feelings deepened until she could no longer conceal them.
Thus the days passed—until seven days later.
Venti, who had been missing for a long time, suddenly appeared.
Unlike his usual cheerful demeanor, his expression was grave. The very first thing he said was:
"Something's happened."
Luo Li—who had planned to accompany Rosaline for a few more days—immediately forgot his appointment and asked for details.
"A message came from Celestia.
Khaenri'ah has touched forbidden power—enough to threaten the entire continent of Teyvat."
After delivering the news, even someone as light-hearted as Venti could not remain optimistic. He frowned deeply, lost in thought.
In contrast, Luo Li was much calmer.
He had always known this day would come, and had long prepared for it.
Early or late—what difference did it make?
"And then?"
His voice was steady. Luo Li was curious about the true motives behind the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles' decision to destroy Khaenri'ah.
Based on what he knew before crossing over, this war was referred to as:
"The Crimson Moon's Vengeance Against the Black Sun."
The Black Sun referred to the Khaenri'ah dynasty.
The Crimson Moon was likely the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles—or the four primordial shadows of Phanes.
From a conspiratorial lens, the war seemed like a ploy to make the Seven Archons—who likely knew ancient secrets—and Khaenri'ah destroy each other.
But considering Khaenri'ah's rebellion, which unleashed an abyssal disaster across the continent, even if they had not intended such catastrophe, destroying them still counted as justice.
Based on Bamboo Grove Moonlit Night's description of the calamity where the Three Goddesses turned on each other, this might have been a clash between the First Throne and the Second Throne.
Since the three goddesses loved the same man, the Arbiter of Stars likely died in that ancient catastrophe, triggering a chain of events.
The more Luo Li thought, the more possibilities he saw.
If the Crimson Moon Goddess represented justice, the future Seven Archons would not have a reason to rebel.
But if she belonged to an evil faction, many details wouldn't make sense either.
The only thing Luo Li could say with some certainty was—
Among the Three Goddesses, at least one was a traitor.
Unfortunately, before he had crossed over, far too many mysteries about Teyvat remained unsolved; he could only speculate based on fragments of information.
Still—whether he knew or not didn't matter.
To him, this was simply uncovering a hidden truth.
"Thinking that far ahead is pointless. First, I need to survive the Khaenri'ah War."
Ideally, Luo Li would prefer to slack off entirely.
But the Seven Archons must be present.
Makoto, in order to protect her sister, would shoulder all the danger herself.
And once she went… she had almost no chance of survival.
Khaenri'ah was immensely powerful—bold enough to challenge Celestia and claim the thrones of the gods.
And they truly had the capability. Several Archons died immediately upon descending.
And that was with the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles personally intervening.
If she hadn't… the result would be unthinkable.
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