The days following Ren's return to Liyue were a flurry of warm reunions and the distribution of exotic treasures. He visited Wanmin Restaurant, presenting Xiangling with a small crate of rare Sumeru spices—Harra Fruit, Sumeru Rose, and a potent curry powder that made Guoba sneeze fire in delight. Xiangling immediately dragged him into the kitchen to taste-test a "Slime Curry" prototype, which, thanks to the new ingredients, was surprisingly edible.
He visited Yujing Terrace, finding Madam Ping admiring the Glaze Lilies. He gifted her a potted Nilotpala Lotus, explaining how it bloomed in water and moonlight. The old adeptus smiled, her eyes crinkling, noting how the flora of the dendro nation carried a different, vibrant kind of life force. He even stopped by Bubu Pharmacy, giving Qiqi a bag of candied Ajilenakh Nuts (which she noted had "no taste" for her, but she liked the texture) and Baizhu a sample of a potent medicinal herb Tighnari had recommended for constitutions weak to humidity.
But beneath the cheerful veneer of the gift-giving boy, a clock was ticking. The mirror in the void, the shattered reflections of his past, the warning of Istaroth—they were a constant, low-frequency hum in the back of his mind.
Preparation for Mondstadt began.
In his room, Ren watched Ganyu pack his bag. He didn't just watch her; he heard her. Thanks to his new telepathic connection, her internal monologue was a frantic, loving stream of consciousness that filtered into his mind because he was focused on her.
...did I pack enough socks? The winds in Mondstadt can be chilly this time of year. Maybe another scarf? No, he has the Pyro gauntlet, he won't be cold. But what if he forgets to charge it? I should pack extra crystals. Is he leaving too soon? He looks tired. He smiles, but his eyes... they look older. Is he eating enough? I should put in more Lotus Flower Crisps...
Ren smiled softly, stepping forward to gently take the shirt she was furiously folding for the third time out of her hands.
"Big Sister," he said, his voice cutting through her mental noise. "I have enough socks. And I promise to eat."
Ganyu froze, her cheeks flushing pink as she realized he had likely heard her spiraling thoughts. She turned to him, her eyes shimmering.
"You just got back," she whispered, her voice tight. "And you are already leaving again."
"I won't be staying long," Ren reassured her, reaching up to hold her hands. "This isn't an adventure like Inazuma or Sumeru. It's just... a question I need to ask. A library I need to visit."
He looked her in the eye, broadcasting his own feelings of warmth and reassurance back to her. "I plan on returning to Liyue quickly this time. Once I get my answers... I'm staying. I want to spend time here. With you. With Master. With everyone."
Ganyu searched his face, seeing the truth in his azure eyes. She let out a shaky breath, nodding. She leaned down and kissed his cheek, a soft, lingering touch.
"I will wait," she said. "Go. Find your answers. And come home."
The flight to Mondstadt was a testament to how much the world had changed in his short absence.
Ren stood on his hoverboard, the wind whipping through his hair as he zipped past the Stone Gate. Below him, the road was no longer just for carriages. He saw a merchant from the Feiyun Commerce Guild gliding along on a hoverboard, balancing crates of silk. He saw a Millelith guard on patrol, hovering a few feet off the ground to get a better vantage point.
When he crossed into Mondstadt territory near the Dawn Winery, the change was even more apparent. The people of the wind had taken to flight with a natural, joyous enthusiasm. He saw adventurers using hoverboards to scale the cliffs of Brightcrown Canyon. He saw a group of teenagers near Springvale racing each other, performing daring spins and jumps that made Ren wince in sympathy for their safety regulations.
Some of them saw him—the boy with the blue-streaked hair on the sleek, high-performance board—and waved. Ren waved back, a small celebrity persona in the sky he had helped unlock.
By noon, the familiar, fortified island city of Mondstadt rose from the Cider Lake. Ren didn't head for the main bridge. He ascended, flying over the walls and gliding down towards the open plaza in front of the Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
Two figures were waiting for him.
Jean stood tall and dutiful, her blonde ponytail swaying in the breeze. Beside her, leaning casually against the stone railing, was Lisa.
Ren touched down, the hum of his board dying away.
"Welcome back, Honorary Knight," Jean said, a warm, genuine smile breaking her usual stoic expression. "The winds of Mondstadt have missed you."
"And not just the winds," Lisa purred, walking over to inspect him. "My, you didn't waste any time, did you? I've barely unpacked my own bags from Sumeru, and here you are. Did you miss me that much, cutie?"
Ren felt the familiar heat rise in his cheeks. "Of course I missed you, Lisa. I missed everyone."
He looked around, scanning the plaza. "Where's Klee? I thought she'd be the first one here."
Lisa sighed theatrically, placing a hand over her heart. "Ouch. You arrive, tell me you missed me, and in the same breath ask for another girl? You really know how to break a witch's heart, Ren."
Ren stammered, "I—I didn't mean—"
Jean chuckled, rescuing him. "Don't tease him, Lisa. As for Klee... I'm afraid she is currently unavailable."
Ren frowned. "Is she okay?"
"She is fine," Jean said, rubbing her temple. "Physically. However, yesterday she decided that the fish in Cider Lake needed to be 'woken up' for your arrival. With a Jumpy Dumpty. She is currently in solitary confinement."
Jean looked at Ren, her expression softening. "She will be devastated that she missed your arrival. I suppose... I could release her early. Under your supervision, of course."
Ren hesitated. The image of Klee's sad face tugged at him. But then, the image of the shattered mirror and the dark void rose in his mind. He had a mission. A serious, potentially dangerous mission involving ancient witches and forbidden fate. He couldn't do that with a bouncing, explosive spark knight in tow.
"No," Ren said, shaking his head with a twinge of guilt. "Best release her tomorrow, Jean. I... I have some work to do today. Boring, technical stuff. If she gets out, she'll want to play, and the work will never get done."
Jean looked relieved. "That is... very responsible of you. Very well."
"Come on," Lisa said, gesturing to the headquarters. "Let's get you out of the sun."
They moved into Jean's office. The room was exactly as he remembered: stacks of paperwork, the smell of coffee, and the sense of tireless duty.
Ren opened his bag and pulled out a thick sheaf of documents—copies of the finalized Sumeru patents, along with the proposed amendments for Mondstadt's specific use of the technology.
"Here," Ren said, placing them on Jean's desk. "This is a copy of the patent directives and the registration protocols we finalized in Sumeru. You can discuss the technicalities with Ningguang later—she's sending a formal trade envoy next week—but this is for your reference, so you know what's coming."
Jean took the papers, looking at them with respect. "Thank you, Ren. We could have waited for the envoy, or for a letter. You didn't need to fly all this way just for this. You must be tired."
"It's fine," Ren said, shifting his weight. "I... I also have some personal work to do here."
He looked at the clock on the wall. It was early afternoon.
"Could you arrange for my room? The one I used last time?" he asked. "I have someone I need to meet in the city. I'll come back to collect the key and my things in the evening."
"Of course," Jean said. "Your room is always ready."
Ren placed his hoverboard in the corner of the office, setting his heavy travel bag beside it. He felt lighter, physically, but the mental weight was increasing.
"Thanks, Jean. Lisa."
"Don't work too hard, cutie," Lisa called after him as he turned to the door. Her eyes were sharp; she sensed a tension in him, a purpose that went beyond patents. But she respected his secrets.
Ren walked out of the headquarters, the heavy oak doors closing behind him with a dull thud. He stepped out into the Mondstadt afternoon. The city was lively, the bards singing, the windmills turning.
But Ren ignored it all. He turned his steps towards the residential district, navigating the cobblestone streets with a singular focus. He was looking for a specific house, a modest rental with a distinct lack of Mora but an abundance of magical seals.
He was looking for the Astrologist, Mona Megistus. And through her, the truth of his existence.