Ozz's Betrayal and Little Amy's Despair**
"One day, I really should assign her harder homework for disturbing my morning."
Luo Li muttered as he descended the stairs.
Just as Fischl and Oz were whispering about hiding last night's incident, the door opened.
Her golden pupils widened.
"Sa—Sage! Ah—g-good… good morning, t-t-teacher!"
Her usual arrogance evaporated into panic.
Yesterday she caused a commotion outside Mondstadt, and she prayed he hadn't heard.
"Come in," Luo Li said calmly, already knowing something was off.
Fischl released a tiny breath of relief and slipped inside.
She discreetly signaled Oz: We stick to the story. You promised.
Oz nodded solemnly.
But—
The moment Luo Li began preparing breakfast, he asked:
"So? What happened yesterday?"
And the traitor Oz immediately spilled everything.
"Yes, yesterday the young lady clashed with the Knights of Favonius, interfered with their duties, and nearly injured an innocent passerby. The events were as follows—"
Fischl stared at him, dumbstruck.
We JUST AGREED to hide it!
And you betrayed me BEFORE TEA TIME?!
She wanted to punch him into next week, but with her teacher right there, she could only grit her teeth.
Luo Li listened quietly.
"…It was Amber, yes?"
Oz confirmed.
But what caught Luo Li's attention was the mention of a gold-haired girl with her.
"What was that girl's name?"
"We do not know, my lord. Amber referred to her only as 'the Traveler.'"
A golden-haired female traveler?
Luo Li immediately knew.
Lumine.
He had expected the Traveler to awaken two years earlier, but time was never exact.
He and Makoto had been in Mondstadt all these years without hearing of her—until now.
His thoughts drifted briefly to past events:
— Foiling the Fatui's attempt to orchestrate Diluc's fall.
— Saving Boy Master Crepus's life.
— Intervening in the dark fire incident involving Collei.
All major disruptions in Mondstadt's future timeline.
If the Fatui knew how many plans he had ruined, they would grind their teeth to dust.
Luo Li returned his attention to Fischl just as Oz finished reporting.
After a moment of thought—
"Tomorrow, your training will be tripled."
"E-eh?! Y-yes… teacher…"
Her face scrunched into despair.
Oz received a death glare promising vengeance.
At that moment, Makoto descended the stairs after dressing.
"Good morning, Lady Makoto!" Fischl greeted sweetly.
In front of Makoto, she never dared use her chūni persona.
Makoto simply had that natural aura of older-sister authority.
The two chatted briefly until Fischl remembered:
"Oh! Recently the Adventurers' Guild reported danger near Mondstadt's outskirts. A Stormterror sighting!
Lady Makoto, please avoid leaving the city for now!"
Makoto smiled faintly.
"I will. Thank you."
She rarely left the city except during long annual trips with Luo Li, so she wasn't concerned.
Then—
"I wanted to take the Stormterror tracking request, but Oz refused!"
"…My lady, please do not send me to spy on Stormterror. I would not even survive as a toothpick."
"Hmph! As a familiar of the Prinzessin, your life belongs to me!"
Oz looked desperately to Luo Li.
To Fischl's shock, Luo Li agreed.
"Take the commission. When you find Stormterror, report to me."
Oz froze.
Luo Li then handed him a glowing lyre.
"Th-this is… the Skyward Harp from the Cathedral?!"
"A replica."
Total lie.
It was a gift from Barbatos himself.
With the harp's blessing, Stormterror wouldn't harm him.
Fischl was thrilled and dashed out instantly to begin her "glorious mission."
After she left, Makoto approached.
"Aren't you afraid someone will notice you lent out such a thing?"
"It doesn't matter. The gears of destiny have begun turning. The reflection of fate already shines upon the stars."
Makoto paused, then sighed softly.
"…So our peaceful days are coming to an end?"
"More or less."
"Hmm…"
She wasn't entirely happy about that.
Five years of quiet living had made her reluctant to return to troublesome responsibilities.
And—
There was the matter of her sister.
Makoto looked away, a little guilty.
For five hundred years Ei struggled alone…
Meanwhile Makoto and Luo Li were traveling the world like newlyweds.
The thought made her shrink back.
No matter how she phrased it…
She was absolutely in the wrong.
"…We should start planning," Makoto whispered.
"How to make Ei forgive us when we go back.