As if he had expected Luo Li's calm reaction, Venti took a deep breath.
"Sky Island hasn't issued any further orders yet," he said, "but I suspect… the next message will come very soon."
Luo Li didn't know what Venti's prediction was based on.
After thinking for a moment, he decided not to stay in Mondstadt any longer.
The Archons' Gnoses could communicate directly with Sky Island, and although Venti could relay any message to him,
when the truly critical moment arrived, Luo Li still wanted to be by Ei's true body.
As for Rosaline, leaving a message for her should be enough.
"It's a troubled time… I hope we can meet again."
Luo Li rolled his eyes at Venti's words, which sounded almost like a curse.
Venti faintly knew that Luo Li might have foreseen this situation long ago—
otherwise he wouldn't have said what he said to Morax after the Seven Gods' gathering.
Venti's intention in bringing Luo Li to Mondstadt had been to keep him from getting too involved.
As Morax had said: sometimes knowing less was not a bad thing.
Venti huffed, "Go, go! I'm still planning to ask you for wine later."
"You'd better not come looking for me."
"No way! We've known each other for over two thousand years. Friendship like that can't be forgotten."
Just moments ago the boy had been troubled—now his eyebrows rose mischievously once again.
Luo Li curled his lips. "Alright, I'm leaving."
With a snap of his fingers, the spreading sound opened into darkness,
and Venti watched Luo Li step inside and vanish.
At the same time, the smile at the corner of Venti's lips slowly faded.
A long moment later, the God of Freedom sighed softly.
"…I should make some preparations as well."
Mondstadt Residential District
Like any other day, Rosaline woke with a bright, lovestruck smile.
After dressing carefully, she hurried toward Windrise Plaza.
Along the way she greeted the familiar shopkeepers lining the street.
The flower shop lady said,
"Dear Rosaline, today's Cecelias just arrived—they still have morning dew. Here, let me tuck one into your hair."
"T-thank you…"
The bakery owner called out,
"Rosaline! Fresh bread—want a piece?"
"Thank you very much, but I'll pass."
…
After bidding farewell to many acquaintances, Rosaline stopped at the tavern window to adjust her appearance.
Her off-shoulder white dress trimmed with lace hugged her graceful waist.
Butterfly embroidery spread across her shoulders.
Her amethyst eyes shimmered more brilliantly than the sky's divine radiance.
Her lovely face flushed with a mix of shyness and joy, lips slightly lifted with anticipation.
Today she had boldly styled her platinum hair to one side, the ends loosely pinned up,
softening her girlish aura and giving her a faint noble, mature charm.
Satisfied with her appearance—almost too perfect—she twirled lightly,
then skipped toward the place of her usual meeting.
Windrise Plaza
Even in a beautiful plaza like this, Rosaline's appearance attracted countless admiring gazes.
Proud and elegant, she sat in her usual spot, waiting patiently for the man in her heart.
Today she didn't sing.
She wanted to save her best performance—her most perfect voice—for him.
Some acquaintances approached, offering ten thousand Mora to hear her sing for luck on their trade journey,
but Rosaline gently refused.
Because she had a small secret.
She had already saved enough Mora for the trip to Sumeru and her tuition.
The only reason she still remained in Mondstadt…
was a man.
But today, the promised meeting time slowly passed, and he still hadn't come.
Just as confusion grew in her eyes, a middle-aged woman walked up to her.
"Excuse me, are you Rosaline?"
"Yes… that's me. Is something the matter?"
"Someone asked me to deliver a letter to you."
Rosaline accepted it blankly, wondering who it could be—
until she saw the name at the bottom.
Luo Li.
A faint sense of dread rose in her heart.
She opened the letter.
"Sorry. Something urgent came up, and I have to leave.
I won't be able to return to Mondstadt for a while."
"Things are unstable recently—go to Sumeru sooner rather than later."
"From what I know, you've already saved enough Mora.
You don't need to stay here any longer."
"…"
Her face flushed instantly when she read the last line.
So he had seen right through her intentions from the start.
The embarrassment washed away even the small sadness born inside her.
She quietly folded the letter and held it to her chest, dazed for a moment.
"What a shame… I couldn't show you the perfect version of me.
But there will be a next time. When I return from Sumeru, I'll go find you."
Then she remembered something more comforting.
When she was a feather-ball prodigy, she had been Mondstadt's beloved Crystal Princess—
her life's peak moment.
He must have already seen her most dazzling self.
Thinking that, she felt much better.
"I don't know where in Inazuma he lives…
But with his status, all I have to do is ask around for Luo Li. Someone will know."
After arranging her thoughts, Rosaline let out a long breath, her bright smile returning.
She would contact the caravan heading to Sumeru later today.
Once she completed her studies, she would return—and confess to him herself.
The only thing she worried about was…
A man as outstanding as him surely had countless girls around him.
Rosaline grew a little anxious.
What if, by then…
"No! Enough overthinking! I'll leave now!"
The sooner she returned, the better her chances.
With innocent, budding love in her heart,
the girl stepped onto the road leading to a distant foreign land.
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