Seeing the Traveler lost in memories, Paimon let out a sigh to mimic them.
"Yes… before we knew it, we've been together for over four years. Time really flies—"
They looked back on their journey.
They had passed through Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, Fontaine, and now Natlan beneath their feet. Their footsteps had almost covered the entire continent of Teyvat. Only Snezhnaya remained…
Paimon lit up.
"Traveler, once we reach Snezhnaya, we'll have visited all seven nations of Teyvat!"
The Traveler smiled.
"Yeah… just one more."
Thinking of the past—whether it was Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, Fontaine, or Natlan—they had faced countless hardships. It wasn't hard to imagine… the last remaining nation would definitely be the toughest challenge yet.
Just thinking about the Fatui still waiting ahead gave the Traveler a headache. Once they reached Snezhnaya, trouble was guaranteed.
As they talked, the Traveler and Paimon had already walked down the hillside.
Then Paimon added,
"Traveler, let's go check on New Eridu again sometime later. Who knows—maybe the City of Calydon is already finished!"
The Traveler laughed.
"There's no way they built it that fast…"
But Paimon insisted, "Their construction machines are huge and super fast. It might really be done by now… Oh, and Sam Li and Venti—they actually left Teyvat behind and went off exploring the stars with that Astral Express…"
At the mention of this, Paimon fell speechless. The universe was so vast—who knew when Sam Li and Venti would return to Teyvat?
They chatted as they walked, and before long, they saw Mavuika working hard.
After Mavuika successfully repelled the Abyss, Natlan had regained peace and entered a period of rebuilding. At the moment, Mavuika was leading the people in reconstructing their settlements.
Seeing the Traveler and Paimon approach, Mavuika hurried over.
"Wonderful! Traveler, Paimon—you're finally here."
Paimon blinked.
"Did something go wrong again?"
Mavuika shook her head with a smile. "Nothing like that. Natlan is peaceful now… Thank you for your help before. I didn't even get the chance to thank you properly before you rushed off…"
They had left immediately for New Eridu. After helping Mavuika push back the Abyss, the Traveler and Paimon had departed in a hurry before she could host them.
Now that they had met again, Mavuika intended to welcome them properly and award them Natlan's highest honor—the Peace Medal.
Hearing her praise, Paimon scratched her head awkwardly, feeling a little embarrassed.
Then Mavuika asked with a smile,
"Last time you rushed off to Liyue—did something happen there?"
Paimon shook her head.
"Not Liyue—New Eridu. A huge battle broke out there, and we went to help."
Mavuika stared blankly.
"New Eridu?"
Paimon nodded. "Yep! New Eridu—another world entirely…"
And so, Paimon began explaining everything about New Eridu: cars, televisions, Hollows, coffee, Bangboos… These strange, dazzling concepts left Mavuika shocked—and quietly wary.
"What you're describing… isn't that forbidden knowledge from outside this world?"
"Ah—'forbidden knowledge'… I don't think so? Right, Traveler? It shouldn't be… right…?"
Paimon grew flustered. She truly wasn't sure herself. She just hoped it wouldn't affect Teyvat.
Seeing her so nervous, Mavuika laughed.
"Since you both say it isn't, then it must not be. You must be hungry—come, follow me."
Along the way, the Traveler and Paimon passed Natlan's construction sites—still completely manual, with people and dragons carrying materials and building structures by hand.
Paimon sighed.
"If only we could bring over a single construction machine from Belobog Heavy Industries, the work would go way faster."
Soon, they arrived at Mavuika's home.
Just as she promised, Mavuika first prepared a feast for the Traveler and Paimon. The next day, she held a grand ceremony, awarding them Natlan's highest Peace Medal for their crucial role in repelling the Abyss.
But right after the ceremony ended, Xilonen rushed over, unusually tense, and pulled the three aside.
Seeing her expression, Paimon grew uneasy.
"What is it, Xilonen? What happened?"
The Traveler and Mavuika both looked toward her seriously.
Xilonen frowned deeply.
"There's been a disturbance in Natlan. Darkness has resurfaced—the power of the Abyss has descended again…"
At her words, Mavuika, the Traveler, and Paimon all turned pale.
They exclaimed together,
"How is that possible?!"
They had clearly defeated the Abyss. How could it return so quickly?
It was unthinkable… yet Xilonen's grave expression left no doubt she wasn't joking.
Paimon asked seriously,
"Xilonen, you really aren't joking?"
Xilonen shook her head.
"Of course not…"
After taking a steadying breath, Mavuika said, "Traveler, Paimon—come with me."
She couldn't rest easy. She needed to confirm it herself.
She could only hope… nothing disastrous had happened. Natlan had just reclaimed peace—she didn't want it to fall into crisis again.
...
While Mavuika led the Traveler, Paimon, and Xilonen to investigate the situation in the Natlan—
At that very moment, in another land of Teyvat, within Inazuma—
Himeko, Dan Heng, the Trailblazer, and March 7th were busy repairing the Astral Express.
Fortunately, the damage wasn't nearly as bad as they feared. With Inazuma's official support, Pom-Pom's guidance, and help from the Cunning Hares, the train was fully repaired after three days.
That same day, Sam Li and Venti prepared to board the Astral Express with the Cunning Hares and the train crew, returning to Liyue.
Upon hearing that Billy was leaving, Arataki Itto dragged Kuki Shinobu along.
"I couldn't help with Hollow Zero last time, but this time against the Antimatter Legion—this Arataki will give it everything I've got!"
Nekomata chimed in excitedly.
"I get to see Keqing, Ganyu, and Xiangling again!"
Just thinking about Xiangling's fish dishes already had her bouncing in anticipation.