Mona's Next Move!
Mona pushed down the uncomfortable twist in her chest, took a deep breath, and turned her eyes toward Klee.
"Since Alice's daughter can't use astrology, then I'll just carry out the promise made fifty years ago. Hand over the item my master entrusted Alice to keep."
Skipping the duel left her a bit disappointed—after all, astrologers improved fastest when comparing techniques with one another.
But…
her gaze drifted—quietly, subtly—toward Lory.
This man's understanding of astrology was terrifyingly deep.
If possible, she really wanted to ask him a few questions.
Now that she had time to think, things became clear:
It wasn't her own skill that allowed her to glimpse the manor's fate.
It was because he wanted her to find him.
He deliberately left a flaw for her to follow.
Klee tilted her head.
"Fifty years ago… the promised thing?"
Mona's eyelid twitched.
Don't tell me this little gremlin forgot where she put it?!
Thankfully, Klee soon remembered.
She set down her backpack and began rummaging through it.
But what Mona saw only made her anxiety spike again.
"Nope, not this—this is a Jumping Dumpty. And this one is for blowing up Starsnatch Cliff. And this one is—"
Mona stared, speechless.
What are you people letting a small child carry around?!
Aren't you afraid she'll blow up half of Mondstadt?!
Lory and Makoto, on the other hand, were calm as still water.
With Klee's absurd luck, even if every bomb detonated at once, she would miraculously avoid all damage.
Finally, Klee's voice shot upward in excitement.
"Found it! This one!"
From her tiny backpack she pulled out a thick book and handed it to Mona.
"The treasure chest that used to hold it… um… I used it to store treasures. You won't get mad, right?"
"It's fine, it's fine."
Mona accepted graciously.
It wasn't her chest anyway.
She held the book tightly.
Her master had warned her countless times:
"Do NOT open it. If you read it, I'll tear you into eight pieces."
It was terrifying enough that Mona believed it.
Yet strangely, the threat only made her curiosity swell to astronomical levels.
What could possibly be inside that required such a strict warning?
Her fingers shook.
"Just one peek.
Just ONE billionth of a peek…"
She opened it—
—and froze.
"…This… this is a diary?!"
A few lines in, she felt lightning strike her soul.
No wonder she wasn't allowed to read it.
They were all the master's embarrassing black-history entries from her youth.
She had traveled all the way to Mondstadt, spent all her mora, got toyed with by a child, and now had seen something she absolutely shouldn't have seen.
She couldn't go back.
She couldn't return the book unread.
She couldn't even pretend she hadn't read it—
Astrology could pierce any lie.
Her master would know instantly.
Unless one day Mona surpassed her master in astrology…
Mona's gaze drifted, involuntarily, toward Lory.
He… could probably do it.
Acting as though nothing happened, Lory asked:
"You've retrieved the item. What will you do next?"
"I…"
Mona was speechless.
She couldn't go back.
She had no money.
No plan.
The girl spiraled into silent despair.
Lory kindly offered:
"You've just arrived in Mondstadt—leaving so soon would be a waste. Why not stay here for now? Get a feel for the culture."
Mona's eyes lit up like stars.
"I—I may stay?!"
"Of course. Since you are connected to Klee, you're a guest."
Mona immediately started calculating.
Returning home was impossible.
But staying here meant:
—free lodging
—free food
—a chance to befriend the landlord
—and a perfect opportunity to study astrology under him.
An absolute win-win.
Her gloomy expression blossomed into joy.
"Then I'll gratefully accept!"
She bowed, hugging the book close.
Lory waved it off casually.
Then, under Makoto's amused gaze, he took Mona's hand and lightly kneaded it.
He wasn't worried about jealousy—Makoto would never feel threatened by these little girls.
The Raiden Shogun was not someone defined by petty emotions.
She enjoyed affection, but her heart was far broader than that.
Just when the mood warmed—
The doors opened.
Lumene entered with Paimon, both looking shaken.
"What happened?" Makoto asked gently.
She had grown fond of the quiet golden-haired girl over the past days.
Lory already knew the answer.
Lumine had taken the Adventurers' Guild commission about the missing Seven Statues and investigated alongside Dainsleif.
And likely—
she encountered Aether.
The prince of Khaenri'ah, raised as heir, branded "Your Highness" by the Abyss.
Lumine shook her head, eyes fixed on Lory.
"I saw my brother. The Abyss Order called him 'Your Highness.' And… I remembered something."
Her suppressed memories rose like flames.
The burning city.
The ancient kingdom collapsing.
The blackened sky swallowing the world.
And Aether—
who refused to acknowledge her, telling her to walk the world alone and find her own answer.
She couldn't understand.
She wanted guidance—
perhaps from the man who knew more than anyone.
Lory smiled gently.
"If your brother said so, then do as he asks. My only advice is this:
Next month, Liyue will hold a Rite of Descension.
You should go."
"The… Rite of Descension…"
She whispered it, tasting the words.
He had mentioned it before, but she was too busy and too distracted to consider it.
Now, knowing Aether was alive—
her heart finally felt light again.
But she still needed answers.
She would find her brother.
She would confront the god who separated them.
"Would you like to travel with us next month?" Lory offered.
Lumine shook her head.
"Probably not… Katheryne from the Guild entrusted me with several missions. I can't leave yet."
"Then you can travel separately. Just don't miss the date."
"No problem. Katheryne told me about the teleport anchors in the wild and cities—I can get there easily."
She didn't understand why no one else used them.
Perhaps they didn't know how.
But she did.