"Mm." Kaeya's smile tilted, teasing at the edges. "Curious, isn't it? Oz almost never leaves Fischl's side, yet he refused to say where she went. Could it be Her Highness and Barbara set out somewhere even Oz shouldn't follow?"
Jean didn't answer. Logic said Barbara and Fischl wouldn't simply vanish. All signs suggested they left of their own accord—not in danger. The puzzle was why they left no message… and why Oz wouldn't talk.
She pressed a finger to her temple and spoke evenly. "Don't alarm the city. Keep this quiet, for now."
"Oh? No immediate search parties?" Kaeya drawled.
Jean shook her head, gaze thoughtful. "They're not ordinary citizens—one's a Vision holder, the other the Church's Deaconess. If they left by choice, they have their reasons." A beat. "Even so, I want to speak to Oz myself."
Kaeya spread his hands. "That may be difficult. After the Cathedral asked him, Oz… flew off. No one knows where."
Jean: "…"
Headache.
—
Liyue — Dihua Marsh
Kairo and the others followed the reed-fringed paths, drinking in Liyue's quiet grace. Lakes stitched the marsh into mirrors. Distant hills wore shawls of cloud. Egrets dotted the water. Peace lived in the air.
Barbara had her Mondstadt Kamera out, fussing with angles as she tripped from scene to scene. "Liyue is so beautiful. It's nothing like Dawn Winery or Windrise—it's a different kind of calm."
Click. A heron's ripple. Click. A mountain's reflection. Click. A wind Slime bouncing by.
Paimon watched, scandalized. "Haven't you taken, like, fifty already?"
"Hehe—can't help it!" Barbara beamed, tucking the Kamera away. "I'm going to print these and show everyone at the Church."
Kairo only smiled and let her have the moment. Fischl stood by the lake with arms crossed, eyes half-lidded, face turned to the breeze—composed as a princess, lips quietly tilted up. She was enjoying it too.
By dusk they reached the Statue of The Seven—Geo's kindly gold washing the marsh in honeyed light. As the sky deepened to orange, Kairo's thoughts flicked ahead: he'd need to sweep the nation and set Trailblaze Anchors at every statue when time allowed.
For now, he drew on the Trailblaze Path. Ley lines gathered at his call; space knitted to a point.
Second time was easier. The anchor flared awake.
"All right," he said. "Direct hop to Mondstadt."
"So fast?" Barbara and Fischl traded a glance—surprised, then steady.
"Thus ends our brief Liyue sojourn," Fischl intoned, hair glinting in the glow. "But fear not—this is but the prologue to our next convergence."
"Heh-heh." Paimon waggled her brows. "Give it a few days and we'll be in Liyue Harbor proper. Way livelier than out here!"
Barbara's eyes sparkled. "I can't wait."
The world folded.
—
Liyue Harbor — Yun-Han
A porcelain clink. Zhongli paused mid-sip, eyes slipping toward Wangshu Inn's direction far beyond the city. A thread had plucked the world—something unusual.
Ley lines as fulcrum… yet the construct is unfamiliar.
"Hm." A beat. "…Never mind."
No malice rode that current. Curiosity stirred, then settled. He turned back to his tea and the stage.
—
Mondstadt — Just off Kairo's street
"—Huh?!"
"W-who's there?!"
Patrolling Knights of Favonius recoiled as figures appeared in the road. Hands leapt to sword hilts—then froze.
"Miss Barbara?! Honorary Knight?!"
The leader stuttered, eyes flicking from Kairo and Lumine to Barbara, shock knocking him speechless. Barbara—wasn't she supposed to be at the Cathedral? And the Honorary Knight had set out for Liyue—personally seen off by Acting Grand Master!
Barbara flushed and bowed in apology. "S-sorry! We didn't mean to startle you!"
"Ah—no, no…" The knight waved his hands, still rattled. "It's just—how did you… suddenly appear?"
"From Liyue," Barbara admitted, sheepish.
"L-Liyue?!"
Before anyone could process that, Paimon squinted at the skyline. "Kairo, we're not doing dinner in Mondstadt, right? We already made plans at Wangshu. Liyue food's way better!"
Kairo chuckled. "All right."
"Oooh… Liyue dishes are wonderful…" Barbara murmured, wistful.
Fischl tossed her hair, regal even in farewell. "Our bond pauses, not ends. Kairo, Honorary Knight—may your feet find the next page of fate anon."
"See you in a few days," Kairo said.
"Mm. See you!" Barbara waved, warm as candlelight.
The air bent; Kairo, Lumine, and Paimon vanished. The knights stared at the empty street.
"…"
"…So they… left again?!"
What was this power?
"Should we… report to Acting Grand Master Jean?" one ventured.
The leader's mouth twitched. "No need. Miss Barbara will tell her. Let's… not overcomplicate this."
Barbara was already tugging Fischl along. "If we're heading back to Liyue soon, no need for a cover quest with the Adventurers' Guild. I'll check in with the Knights now—easier to keep things discreet."
"Mm." Fischl nodded, satisfied. Sensible. Why sneak if there was nothing to hide? Kairo's abilities were past counting anyway.
A caw split the evening. Oz swooped down, landing by Fischl with a scandalized look. "At last, mein Fräulein. Where have you been? I have been fielding questions all day."
He'd felt her presence flicker into Mondstadt—out of nowhere. Highly irregular.
Fischl sniffed. "A new nexus of destiny. Naturally."
"Outside Mondstadt?" Oz blinked. "This concerns Kairo, does it not?"
A small nod. Talking, the three of them made for Headquarters.
—
Knights of Favonius — Jean's Office
Jean sat behind her desk, hands folded, the faintest sigh ghosting her expression. In front stood Barbara—contrite smile—and Fischl—imperious poise. The air hummed with complicated silence.
"So," Jean said at last, rubbing at her brow, "you vanish for a day… and then return just as quietly?"
"Um… I'm sorry, Acting Grand Master," Barbara mumbled. "We really didn't mean to worry anyone…"
Fischl flicked her hair. "Our journey was ordained by fate itself. How can time and space bind such writ? You need not be troubled, Lady Jean."
Jean: "…"
Another sigh. She was Acting Grand Master of Mondstadt, not a keeper of spontaneous teleports. First the Honorary Knight. Now her own sister blinking out and in. And Fischl. And, inevitably, Kairo.
"Anyway, I'm glad you're both safe," she said, choosing her battles. "Next time, inform us first. The Church visited several times to ask for you, Barbara."
Barbara nodded fervently. "O-okay! I will!"
As they left, Jean noted Kairo's name in her mind once more. His capabilities were more… mysterious than she'd thought. This kind of transfer hadn't existed in Mondstadt before.
—
Dihua Marsh — Statue of The Seven
Kairo, Lumine, and Paimon blinked back to Wangshu Inn, devoured dinner, traded rumors with merchants, watched the lamps wink to life over the marsh, then turned in.
A quiet night.
At dawn they ate a hearty breakfast and set out again.
"At our pace, we'll reach Liyue Harbor by evening," Paimon said, tracing their route. "We could go the long, safe way… or we cut straight across Guili Plains. Fastest path wins!"
"With this big guy around, even Liyue's monsters aren't a problem," she added, thumbing at Kairo across the map.
Lumine nodded. "Straight across it is."
Morning bled into noon, noon into dusk. Under the Trailblaze's blessing and the Traveler's wind, the road unfurled before them—until at last the lanterns of Liyue Harbor glimmered on the horizon.
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