The night lights of Liyue Harbor shone brightly, as if the stars in the sky had descended upon this bustling city.
Zhongli walked along the stone-paved roads of Liyue Harbor, feeling the cool evening breeze brush against his face. He glanced around, taking in the lively streets filled with people coming and going. Merchants hawked their wares, street performers put on dazzling shows that drew the attention of passersby, adults sat in teahouses listening to storytellers, and children played joyfully in the streets.
"It seems the era of human governance must come sooner."
Zhongli thought to himself, deciding that he would end the age of divine rule during the upcoming Rite of Descension. Looking back on the past, he felt that the contract spanning millennia had been fulfilled, at least in his eyes.
He raised his head to gaze at the starry sky—the moon was bright and solitary, mirroring the loneliness in his heart. Despite the liveliness around him, Zhongli felt a wave of isolation wash over him.
"I'd buy osmanthus wine to share... but I wonder when I'll see my old friends again."
He murmured softly, sighing inwardly at the passage of time.
"I'm getting nostalgic again... the erosion really is taking its toll. Perhaps I should visit Osial and Azhdaha sometime."
===✧✦✧===
Meanwhile, in distant Mondstadt, inside the Angel's Share...
Venti, one of The Seven like Zhongli, sat slumped over the bar counter, utterly dejected.
The reason? He had just spent his hard-earned Mora on a book—one that claimed to be a prophecy. Which meant he had no money left for alcohol!
"How long was I asleep? Since when did such absurd things start happening?"
Venti thought back to the book's opening lines, which mentioned the "Sustainer of Heavenly Principles." While the Hexenzirkel's prophecies were already quite accurate, they usually only revealed vague outcomes—predicting the process was far more difficult. But this book went into excessive detail.
Venti half-joked that if the author wanted, they could probably even describe the underwear he was wearing that day. (Not that he wanted Lucian to know about that, even if he did have such powers.)
Speaking of which, predicting him, the Anemo Archon, was one thing—he could accept that as a sign of his own weakness. But how could it also foresee the Outlander and Heavenly Principles? The affairs of those beyond this world weren't even recorded in Irminsul!
Predicting short-term events was one thing, but this was written like history—as if it had already happened. Most importantly, Venti suspected his plan to give away his Gnosis had also been foretold. That would be way too embarrassing!
"Dvalin, stop causing chaos and come witness this divine absurdity with me!"
Diluc, watching the bard sprawled pathetically over the counter, narrowed his eyes in thought. Something told him this man might very well be the green-clad youth described in the book—in other words, the Anemo Archon himself.
He had no proof, just a strong intuition. This person was not ordinary, and Diluc knew to be wary. Even if he wasn't Barbatos, he was certainly no small fry.
Venti, noticing Diluc's gaze, lifted his head pitifully and whined,
"Master Diluuuc~"
He held up a single finger.
"Just one drink on credit? Just one! Pleaaase? Hmm? Hmm?"
Times may change, but the allure of fine wine never would.
Diluc wavered slightly—if this really was the Anemo Archon... But after a brief hesitation, he steeled himself.
"Small business. No credit."
He said flatly, unbothered by the possibility of Venti lashing out. For one, Venti didn't strike him as the type. And even if he did retaliate, Diluc wasn't worried—if Venti was the Anemo Archon, he wouldn't harm a citizen of Mondstadt. And if he wasn't, Diluc was confident he could handle him.
"Ehhh?! No fair!"
Venti wilted even further.
"Then... what if I perform? I am the greatest bard in all of Teyvat!"
"Just one drink as payment, okay? Hmm? It's a great deal!"
"Fine, I'll even throw in two stories! Two stories for one drink!"
"Once upon a time, in the heavens—"
Unable to withstand Venti's relentless pestering, Diluc finally relented.
"One drink. Then you go home and sleep."
"Ehe~"
Venti flashed a sly, triumphant grin.
===✧✦✧===
Still in Mondstadt, but now outside the city...
"Whew~! Finally out of that forest! I feel like I haven't seen the sun in days!"
Paimon was the first to speak as the trio emerged from the Whispering Woods.
"But Paimon, it's nighttime. There is no sun right now," Amber pointed out.
"Wha—?! Have we been abandoned by the sun?!" Paimon wailed.
"Relax, you'll see it tomorrow. Let's set up camp for the night first," Amber said, pulling out a camping set from her Vision. As an Outrider, she was well accustomed to roughing it outdoors.
Lumine nodded in agreement.
Just as the three began pitching their tent, an unexpected figure approached—a blue-haired woman: Eula.
"Eula? What are you doing here?" Amber asked, surprised.
"Amber?" Eula was equally startled.
"Stormterror's been spotted in this area. The Fatui sent people, and I was worried they might cause trouble, so I followed."
Her gaze then fixed on Amber.
"You came from the forest? No injuries, I hope?"
"Not that I care—but if you got hurt, I wouldn't be able to settle our score."
As if worried Amber might misinterpret her concern, Eula quickly added that last part.
"Don't worry, I'm fine! And you don't need to go into the woods—Dvalin's already left," Amber replied cheerfully, long accustomed to Eula's way of speaking.
"Oh, let me introduce you! This is the Traveler, Lumine, and Paimon."
"Good. You're unharmed."
Eula exhaled in relief before turning to Lumine and Paimon.
"Greetings. I am Eula... Lawrence, the Knight of Waves of the Knights of Favonius."
Lumine nodded politely.
"Hiya, Eula~!" Paimon, ever sociable, waved enthusiastically.
Neither of them recognized the Lawrence name, so they had no particular reaction to it.
"Calling me by my first name so casually? How rude. This grudge, I'll remember!"
Eula tilted her chin up slightly, hiding the faint smile tugging at her lips.
"Huh?! Was I being rude?!" Paimon gasped, devastated.
"Oh, don't take it seriously! When Eula says she'll 'remember a grudge,' it basically means she wants to be friends!" Amber hastily explained.
"Tch. Twisting my words? That's another grudge I'll remember."
"Ohhh, so she's just tsundere!" Paimon concluded.
"Paimon, if you call her 'tsundere,' she'll remember that grudge too," Lumine deadpanned.
But instead of reacting to Paimon's comment, Eula's gaze shifted to Lumine.
The moment their eyes met, Lumine knew—oh no, she's coming for me.
Sure enough:
"Assuming I'm petty, are you? This grudge, I'll remember."
After a pause, Eula glanced at the trio's half-built tent and the crackling campfire.
"Camping, huh? I happen to be skilled at outdoor cooking. Consider this your lucky day."
And she was skilled—before joining the Knights, most Mondstadt vendors had refused to serve her, forcing her to hunt and cook her own meals in the wild.
Lumine and the others didn't refuse her offer, quickly assisting with preparations.
"Oh, Eula—have you read that book yet?" Amber suddenly asked.
"Book? You mean the one Kaeya gave me?"
===✧✦✧===
Character Voiceline · Venti: About the Book
"Such fascinating power... I wonder what changes it'll bring. Hopefully, it won't affect Mondstadt's alcohol supply."