Chapter Twenty-one: The Shadow Beneath The Graves
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"Humanity excels at living in the present, but too often we forget the past and neglect the future."
Natlan's Radiant Sun, Kiongozi
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"Oh you poor souls, clinging to delusions even after the truth has been plainly revealed to you..."
Wrydsword of Heaven's End, one of the commanders of the Abyssal Legions
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(I. The Reason For What I'm Fighting For)
The sun rose over the eastern horizon, casting a golden hue across the land of Liyue, signifying the beginning of a new day.
The morning light filtered through the misty valleys, illuminating the dew-covered grass and the distant mountains below.
Inside the Wangshu Inn, Artoria stirred from her slumber noting the presence of four small weights piled over her like warm blankets.
She smiled as she gently brushed her fingers through the hair of her four adorable children, who had somehow managed to cuddle their way onto her during the night, like a chaotic tangle of limbs and blankets that she warmly welcomed.
Jean appeared to have grabbed hold of her right arm, turning it into some sort of makeshift pillow.
Barbara was all curled up like a tiny ball as her little princess rested on top of her chest, drooling a little.
Bennett and Venti, both on her left side, were sprawled out like a pair of starfish with Venti's left hand inadvertently smacking Bennett on the face as they both slept peacefully.
For a fleeting moment, Artoria thought of abandoning her plan and just spend the entire day in bed with her beloved children, to soak in the warmth and love that radiated from them.
But alas, she has responsibilities and a promise to keep.
She needed to solve the mystery that had been plaguing this land and to ensure that its people would be safe from the impending danger that lurked in the shadows.
She's a foreigner, an outsider, a leader of another nation. By all logic, this shouldn't be her fight…
…But the world has now shrunk considerably for her, and the well-being of the innocent was now her sworn duty as a goddess, a knight, and above all else, a mother who knows the pain of losing a child.
She had chosen to take up this burden, to stand against the encroaching darkness.
Call her a hero or someone with a savior-complex, but deep within her heart, she just wanted to ensure that the world her children will grow up in, will be a safe and peaceful one, free from the clutches of chaos and despair.
That's her most solemn vow, not as a knight, not as a goddess but as a mother.
Surprisingly, as the rays of the morning sun began to illuminate the extravagant room even more, her four little angels began to stir awake, as if on cue.
If she had a video camera on hand, she would have recorded the adorable scene before her, as her four precious babies, with their eyes still half-closed, began to nuzzle her like a litter of kittens.
Oh how her poor divine heart almost exploded from the sheer amount of cuteness that was happening right before her very eyes!
"Good morning, my little cubs," she whispered, her voice filled with warmth and affection, as she gently patted each of their heads, trying to dispell the remnants of their sleep.
"Morning, Mama," a chorus of sleepy voices replied in unison, their heads still nuzzled against her.
After a few more minutes of cuddling and a series of playful giggles, the children finally sat up, their eyes now wide awake and ready to start the day.
"Mama, what are we going to do today?" Barbara asked, her small hands clutched onto her mother's nightgown.
"Yes, Mama! Are we going to explore more of Liyue?" Venti added, his bright teal-colored eyes filled with curiosity and excitement.
Artoria's heart ached a little as she looked at their expectant faces.
She didn't want to disappoint them, but she also didn't want to endanger them by bringing them along on her dangerous mission.
She had to find a way to break the news to them gently.
"I'm sorry, my dear children," she said, her tone soft and apologetic.
"Mama has some important things to take care of today, so she won't be able to spend the day with you."
The children's expressions fell, their earlier excitement replaced by a cloud of disappointment.
"Aww," Bennett whined, his lower lip trembling slightly.
"But we wanted to be with you, Mama!"
"I know, sweetheart." Artoria said, pulling them into a warm embrace.
"AndI want to be with you too. But I promise you, I'll make it up to you tomorrow. We'll have the whole day tomorrow for ourselves, just the five of us!"
"Really?$ Jean asked, a glimmer of hope in her emerald green eyes.
"Yes, really." Artoria confirmed, a reassuring smile on her face.
"In fact, I may too bring along a 'new friend' with me tomorrow, if I'm successful with my errand today."
The children's faces lit up again, their disappointment forgotten.
"A new friend?!" Venti asked, his voice now filled with excitement.
"Who is it, Mama? Is it another knight like Big Bro Varka?"
Artoria chuckled softly, a mischievous glint in her emerald eyes.
"That's a surprise, my little 'saber'." she replied, winking at him.
"You'll just have to wait and see."
The children cheered, their excitement now reaching a fever pitch.
They couldn't wait to meet their mother's new friend, and they were already looking forward to spending the entire day with her tomorrow!
After their little morning cuddle session, Artoria then helped her children get ready for the day, dressing them up in their finest Liyuen style clothing and brushing their hair until it shone.
Elspeth and a few other maids from their household arrived shortly after, carrying trays of delicious Mondstadt style breakfast consisting of loads of bacon, eggs, sausages, ham, mash potatoes, toasted bread, stacks of pancakes drizzled with honey and maple syrup, apple tarts and to wash them all down, freshly made apple juice made exclusively from the golden delicious apples from her orchard!
This was the same breakfast (banquet) they usually ate every morning when they were still back home at Mondstadt, a slice of home while on the road.
For that morning, Artoria opted to dine in their room instead of going down once more to the grand dinning halls of the Wangshu Inn.
She had instructed Crepus and Melisa last night to tell the management that she was feeling under the weather and had to cancel all her appointments for the day.
It was a ruse of course, her clever little excuse to slip away unnoticed in order to conduct her investigation with Xiao.
And from what she could sense from the bustling inn below, her little white lie had been taken as truth!
The staff lead by Verr Goldet had even tried to contact the most proficient doctor in a nearby town last night, fearing that their most esteemed guest might have contracted a local sickness!
But in the end, after some elegant convincing, they were able to convinced the clearly distraught Boss of the Wangshu Inn and her husband that her 'sickness' was nothing more than just a case of over fatigue, something that she can handle easily on her own.
Artoria had made a mental note to thank the couple for their concern later and for allowing her household staff to use the Inn's kitchen in order to prepare their Mondstadt-style breakfast.
Back to the present, the small family of five enjoyed their morning feast, with the children devouring their food like there was no tomorrow, all the while chatting and laughing with their mother.
After sometime had passed and while her children were still happily munching on their breakfast, Artoria took the opportunity to speak with her most trusted confidants, Crepus, Melisa, and Captain Yuan, who were already waiting for her outside the room.
She briefed them about her plans for the day, carefully omitting the details about the Abyss Order for now, to avoid causing any unnecessary panic among the group.
She simply told them that she would be investigating the strange occurrences in the area with the help of a local guide, a mysterious adeptus who had reached out to her last night.
She also instructed them to keep an eye on her children and to ensure their safety while she was away.
Even though that both her trusty companions, Fou and Dvalin were present (the two, alongside Sir Kay, were still snoozing away on a carefully prepared cushion at the side of the room) she wanted to make sure that there would be an extra layer of protection for her beloved children.
Crepus, Melisa, and Yuan, ever loyal and understanding, readily agreed to their Archon's request, their faces filled with unwavering determination and trust in their goddess.
"My Archon, you can count on us." Yuan said, his voice firm and resolute.
"We will protect your children with our lives."
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(II. Salt and Tears Frozen in Time)
After breakfast was settled, Artoria donned her so called adventurer',s attire once more, the same one she had used sometime ago, when she sought out the four winds, and prepared to leave.
Her children, though still a bit sad to see her go, were now more excited about her promise for tomorrow, and they eagerly waved her goodbye as she stepped out of the room.
"See you later, Mama!" they shouted in unison, their voices filled with love and anticipation.
Artoria gave them one last smile then proceeded to go to the top most part of the Wangshu Inn where Xiao was already waiting for her.
When she arrived at the top most balcony, she first took sight of the beautiful morning view from atop the inn.
The morning sun had casted a golden glow over the vast landscape of Dihua Marsh, its rays glinting off the winding Bishui River like a thousand tiny diamonds.
The air was crisp and clean, filled with the sweet scent of lotus flowers and the earthy aroma of the marshlands.
A stark contrast to the dark and ominous threat that lurked in the shadows…
Without even turning her back, Artoria called out Xiao's name, greeting the Yaksha who silently appeared before her, perched on the railing, like a gargoyle.
"I hope you didn't wait for too long, Xiao." she greeted, a smile on her face.
Xiao immediately went down from the railings and gave a deep bow towards the disguised Archon.
"Your timing is impeccable, Most Honored Lady." he replied, his voice stoic and respectful.
"I have just arrived myself."
Artoria chuckled softly at the Yaksha's formality.
"Please, Xiao, again there is no need for such formalities." she said, her tone gentle but firm.
"We are partners in this investigation, after all."
Xiao hesitantly nodded, not fully agreeing to the casual terms of the goddess before him.
The goddess who freed him from the shackles of his karmic debt…
Even after the night had passed, he still couldn't believe it.
He was now free.
Truly free.
Artoria then cleared her throat, her expression now more serious.
"Now then, shall we begin our investigation?" she asked, her emerald eyes scanning the horizon.
Xiao nodded, his gaze also fixed on the distance.
"Shall we proceed to the first agreed upon location, my Lady?" he inquired.
"Yes. The final resting place of the goddess of salt, Havria, Sal Terrae."
Artoria's expression turned solemn.
"Then let us be on our way my Lady, I'll guide you towards that place."
Without another word, Xiao extended his hand, and a gust of wind swirled around them, lifting them into the air.
With speed that defied mortal comprehension, they glided across the vast Dihua Marsh, their destination; northeast near the Mondstadt-Liyue border just a few several miles from Dragonspine, to a place long abandoned by time.
Sal Terrae.
*****
After a few minutes of swiftly gliding across the Dihua Marsh, Artoria and Xiao arrived at the abandoned ruins of Sal Terrae.
From above, Artoria saw a small island in the middle of the marshland, with a large, flat, circular stone ruin at its center, similar to that of a stage.
There were no buildings or monuments present in the area aside from the few trees doting the small island.
But Artoria felt the presence of a subtle energy, similar to that of the sea, that still lingered around the small patch of land, particularly at its stonework center.
Xiao then guided them towards the center of the island, their feet lightly touching the ground without making a single sound.
"We are here, my Lady." Xiao announced, his voice a low murmur.
"Sal Terrae, the former sanctuary of the goddess of Salt, Havria."
Artoria's eyes scanned the almost empty area, her senses attuned to the subtle energies of the place. She could feel the faint echoes of the past, yet there was no sense of malice present, but rather, a profound sadness had permeated the very air around them.
The odd thing was, she felt them coming from beneath the ground, instead of the surface.
'As expected, just like in the game.'
"Not much of a sanctuary I suppose. Even a single tone building is absent in this place." Artoria mused.
"You're mistaken my Lady. During ancient times, this small island was once the center of a flourishing realm. A realm that once stretched far and wide almost covering the entirety of Dihua Marsh down to the Qiongji Estuary."
"It was a center of trade and commerce during those ancient times, all thanks to the special salt that was produced within this area, salt that was said to have been blessed by Havria herself."
"The goddess herself was meek and benevolent. She didn't even bother ruling the realm, instead she delegated the task to her people who then installed a king to govern them in her behalf."
Xiao then pointed towards a spot just a few meters away from the circular stone ruin.
"However, when the Archon war began, the once prosperous civilization of Sal Terrae began to decline…"
"Piece by piece, inch by inch, the realm of Sal Terrae grew smaller and smaller as several power hungry gods carved out the once mighty center of commerce."
Xiao paused, then pointed towards the stone ruin in front of them.
"In a desperate attempt to prevent the war from reaching the heart of her civilization, Havria ceded her lands again and again until her territory dwindled to this very small island, which was originally the center of the capital of her entire realm."
"But the war was relentless. So, in a final act of to shield her people, she and her remaining citizens retreated to a small cavern underground. There they tried to rebuild their once prosperous kingdom from beneath the ground, but they ultimately failed leading the inhabitants to a life of utter poverty and despair."
Xiao's expression then turned grim, the memory of the story still fresh in his mind after thousands of years.
"In the end, the very people she tried to protect turned on her."
The Yaksha's voice became laced with a tinge of anger as he continued his tale.
"Either believing her to be too weak to be a worthy god or wishing to covet her power, the mortal king of Sal Terrae and his followers executed Havria."
"However, that act was a terrible mistake, for the inert divine power of a god is not so easily vanquished nor contained."
"When the blade penetrated her heart, it caused an explosion of divine energy that turned all those within the vicinity to salt."
...….
"Most of Sal Terrae, its people and their houses were all turned into monuments of salt frozen in time. The handful who survived fled to Guili Assembly where they told my Lord, Rex Lapis, and Lady Guizhong about what had transpired."
Artoria's heart ached at the tragic fate of the meek salt goddess and her people.
She could not help but feel a pang of sympathy for Havria.
A kind and benevolent being who only wished for the peace and prosperity for her people, yet was met with betrayal and a gruesome end.
She recalled the story of Havria's demise from the history book she often read to her children, the 'Ancient Tales Carved in Stone', but the book itself omitted the more gruesome parts of the story, painting the goddess's death in a more heroic light, a sacrifice for the sake of her people.
Xiao then led Artoria towards the center of the island.
"There is a sealed entrance to the cavern below my Lady. The entrance is hidden by a concealment spell that I and my fellow Yakshas had forged long ago using the adeptal arts."
"It was made to prevent mortals, especially the ones who would come here to do pilgrimage, from accidentally stumbling upon this cursed place."
The Yaksha then raised his hand as a swirl of green energy enveloped his palm.
With a swift and precise motion, he traced a intricate pattern in the air as the energy trailing behind him shimmered like a glistening ribbon.
Then, as if by magic, the stone ruin at the center of the island began to glow, the ancient symbols carved into its surface lighting up with a vibrant blue light.
A low rumbling sound echoed through the air as the ground beneath them began to shift.
Slowly, the large circular stone platform at the very center of the island rose from the ground, revealing a hidden staircase that led down into the darkness below.
"The entrance is now open, my Lady." Xiao announced, his voice steady and calm.
"Please, follow me."
Artoria nodded, her expression now more serious and alert.
She knew that this investigation was not going to be a simple walk in the park, and that there could be some hidden dangers lurking deep within the caverns below that she was now about to explore.
Goddess or not, she had to be careful.
The descent was steep and narrow as the ancient walls of the staircase were damped and slick with moisture.
The lower they go, the air around them was slowly becoming thick with the smell of salt and decay, a grim reminder of the tragedy that had befallen this place.
At the bottom of the staircase, they found themselves in a large, circular cavern.
The cavern was dimly lit, save by the faint glow of a few crystal formations hanging around the roof of the cavern alongside several stalactites.
Their light reflecting off the glistening salt formations that covered the walls and floor.
With a simple flicked of her wrist, Artoria summoned a ball of condensed light that hovered at the surface of her palm. She wanted to see clearly what lies ahead…
...and what they saw a macabrescene frozen in time.
Everywhere they looked, there were mounds of salt shaped like houses, and salt statues of people that looked like they were trying to flee.
There were men, women, and children…
Their faces frozen in expressions of terror and despair.
Some were clutching their loved ones while others were trying to shield themselves from an unseen threat.
The scene reminded Artoria of a biblical story that she knew, the story of Lot's wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt after she gazed upon the destruction of the damned city of Sodom.
Artoria's eyes moistened as she surveyed the scene.
Her heart was heavy with sorrow for these poor souls who had met such a tragic end thousands of years ago.
"I had witnessed this scene once before my Lady. After the fall of Sal Terrae, me and my fellow Yakshas were tasked by our Lord to investigate this cursed place and to verify the accounts of the survivors…"
"And we found this... a kingdom of statues frozen forever in time." Xiao's voice was laced with a hint of sadness as he recounted the memory.
"We tried bringing some of them into the surface in order to find a way to reverse the curse, yet the moment sunlight hit their solid forms....they crumble into piles of salt."
'A goddess's vengeance, no matter how kind or awful they were in life, is truly unforgiving." The lone Yaksha solemnly said.
Xiao then led Artoria deeper into the cavern, navigating through the salt-ridden labyrinthine passages.
Their footsteps echoing through the silent halls with their only witnesses being the dead salted statues of the damned.
Finally, after minutes of walking, they arrived at the inner sanctum of the underground realm.
It was a large, circular chamber with a high vaunted ceiling.
The room was empty, save for a few salt statues and a large, circular depression at the center of the floor, the floor itself blackened from a great heat.
Near the center was a lone salt statue of a man who appears to be thrusting a sword into the very center of the room.
It doesn't take a scholar to guess that they had finally arrived at ground zero.
Xiao pointed at the depression.
"This is where it happened. This is the very spot where Lady Havria was executed. And that...." Xiao pointed to the salt statue with a sword.
"....was her executioner, the last King of Sal Terrae."
The Yaksha then pointed at the depression in the center of the room, or more precisely, at the center of the depression.
"That's odd…. There was supposed to be a large flower made of salt at the very center, the remains of Lady Havria upon her death. But now... it is missing."
Xiao's blood ran cold as he looked at the empty depression.
Someone had entered Sal Terrae, a place that was sealed and protected by the adepti, and took….what was left of the Salt goddess, and that very thought sent a shiver down his spine!
A fragment of a deceased god, taken by some unknown party.
What could be their purpose?
Xiao tried to search the area, hoping to find some clues, but it appeared that the culprit was too careful, too clean with their work.
There were no footprints…
No signs of a forced entry…
No trace of any magic or elemental energy left behind…
Artoria's expression meanwhile turned grim as she looked at the empty depression.
From the way Xiao described it, a fragment of a god's essence had been taken from this place, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
After a few more minutes of fruitless searching, Xiao came back empty handed.
"I'm sorry, my Lady, but I found no traces as to where the last of Lady Havria's remains had been taken. The culprits, for the lack of butter words, were too careful."
Artoria nodded, her expression now was more serious.
"No matter. We still have other places to investigate." she said, her voice calm and steady.
"Perhaps the other two places in our lists. The places where the gods Shui You and Chi had been slain and sealed respectively might provide us with more answers."
"We must gather enough conclusive evidence that could convince Rex Lapis and the Qixing that the source of the mysterious phenomenon that had been plaguing the Bishui Plain for the last two years runs deeper than anyone could have imagine."
Xiao nodded, his expression now more determined than ever.
"You are right, my Lady. For now, we must continue our investigation."
With that, the two left the underground realm of Sal Terrae, leaving behind the sorrowful silence….frozen amidst the figures trapped within the stone cold salt.
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(III. Disappearance and Implications)
After emerging from the ruins of Sal Terrae, Artoria and Xiao once more took to the skies, transversing the land in great speed.
This time they were heading southwards towards the Qiongji Estuary, more specifically in a secluded area near the Yaoguang Shoal.
The journey was swift and silent, both investigators were lost in their own thoughts, trying to go around the unsettling discovery they had found inside Sal Terrae.
Who would dare to desecrate the remains of a god? And for what purpose?
For Artoria, she already had a very good guess as to the possible culprits behind the theft…
But guesseswon't cut as evidence, and they needed something profound, something tangible that would clear away any traces of doubt.
She could only hope that their next destination would provide them with the answers they sought.
They arrived on a small coastal cove surrounded by what appeared to be mangroves.
The air was thick with the smell of the ocean, and the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore created a soothing rhythm.
To Artoria, this place doesn't look like it has anything out of the ordinary.
It was just a simple, peaceful cove, the kind of place one might go to for a quiet afternoon of fishing or stroll.
But Xiao saw it differently.
"We're here my Lady. This is the place." Xiao said in a low and serious voice.
"This is the very spot where the fearsome river god Shui You was slain by my Lord, Rex Lapis."
He pointed to a seemingly unassuming spot in the middle of the cove.
"I was there with Rex Lapis when he impaled the malevolent god with a shower of rock spears."
The Yaksha's eyes took on a distant look as he recalled the memory of the battle.
"It was a fierce battle. Shui You was a powerful god, and he put up a valiant fight. But in the end, he was no match for the might of the Lord of Geo."
"For all his sadistic and barbaric tendencies, that god ran like a cowardly dog after he realized that he was no match against my Lord!"
"Rex Lapis drove him out from his domain in the Bishui River and began to merciless hunt him down across the land, raining spears made of pure geo towards the frantically retreating god."
'How ironic.' Artoria thought as she listened to the Yaksha's tale about the final days of the so called Rabid River god.
'For all the pain and despair he had unleashed to those poor innocent victims, it is quite cathartic to hear that the scum spent his last remaining days in the most humiliating way'.
Then again, as Artoria thought about it further, perhaps it was not so ironic after all…
Shui You had reaped what he had sown, and in the end, he had paid the ultimate price for his cruelty.
"My master relentless pursued him until they reached this very cove."
"Out of options and with nowhere to run, that pathetic piece of filth began beggingfor mercy, but Rex Lapis had none of it."
"He then summoned a hundred of his stone spears and impaled the wicked god, one by one, until Shui You was nothing more than a bleeding, broken corpse."
Then Xiao paused as he walked towards the center of the cove.
"His form exploded after being turned into a pin cushion, however a small, miniscule fragment of his cruel essence managed to remain and lingered throughout these shores ever since, occasionally causing minor illusions to passing fishermen."
"It was a small price to pay for the peace and safety of the people of Liyue, but at least it was better than having an entire region haunted by a malevolent ghost."
"So…where is this fragment now?" Artoria inquired as she scanned the area.
Xiao became confused.
'Huh?' the Yaksha thought as he looked around the area.
That miniscule fragment of Shui You's essence is still here... as far as he knew.
He looked around, trying to sense any trace of the god's lingering energy.
.....
That can't be right…
That small trace of divine essence should be here…
Even those exorcists who were sent by the Qixing sometime ago who initially reported that the area had been quiet, would later confess to him that they still felt that rabid god's presence.
But now, everywhere he look, he found....
"Nothing." Artoria spoke again
"I can't sense a single trace of divine or demonic energy within this the moment we arrived here Xiao. Not even a miniscule amount as you claimed. Are you sure this was…"
Artoria's eyes then widened as the realization dawned on her.
A chilling premonition began to slowly creep inside her heart.
".....the right place?"
Xiao, who was now equally confused, began to think about it more.
'No, this is definitely the place! I was here when it all happened. I was here when master rained down those spears and slew him...'
Then that means...
Xiao's face grew pale as he realized what had happened.
"No... it can't...it can't be.." Xiao stammered as he looked at Artoria with a look of pure horror etched on his face.
Artoria could only nod.
"First it was the flower, the last remaining relic of Havria's divine corpus, missing inside Sal Terrae in an area that was supposed to be sealed using adeptal arts."
She momentarily paused allowing her words to sink inside the mind of the Yaksha.
"Now the lingering essence of another dead god, a remnant, though small, that had persisted for a thousand years had completely vanished."
"This was no mere coincidence Xiao, think about it."
"The culprit had not only managed to find the final resting places of these long dead gods, but had also managed to bypass or break through any forms of magical protection placed upon those areas without alerting any of the adepti."
"Two dead gods, their remnants, now missing."
"By just basing on this pattern, I fear that a similar fate might have already befallen what had remained of other gods, particularly those whose power is still considerable even after their death."
Xiao felt like his heart just plummeted down his stomach.
He had a sinking feeling that he knew exactly which gods Artoria was referring to.
"Don't tell me…"
"Baqui and Chi." Artoria said, finishing his sentence.
"As you said the night before, those two were the most formidable opponents that Rex Lapis had faced during the Archon War with strength that could match the venerable Lord of Geo."
Xiao's face grew even paler than before.
If Baqui's remains had been taken, then perhaps the great behemoth of the sea might once again walk the lands of Liyue.
And if Chi's heart had been taken....
The Yaksha shuddered at the thought.
The last thing Liyue needed was a rampaging serpent god that could split itself into multiple facets!
With a sense of utmost urgency now slowly creeping into his heart, Xiao urgently took Artoria's hand as he prepared to once more take to the skies.
"Forgive me my Lady but WE MUST HURRY, we must check on the last remaining location!"
"If the culprits had managed to obtain what remained of Chi's divine essence, then Liyue might be facing a disaster of unprecedented proportions never before seen since the days of the Archon War!"
"Lead the way." Artoria commanded, her own urgency mirroring his.
There was no need for further words...
The implications were chillingly clear...
This wasn't mere grave robbing; it was the systematic harvesting of divine power.
With a nod, Xiao channeled his anemo and adeptal powers once more as the air began coalescing around them.
In a blur of turquoise and gold, they shot across the landscape into the northern direction, towards the place where the titanic serpentine god had fallen.
____________________
(IV. The Secret of the Chi of Yore)
As they traversed through the wide and vast marshlands of the Bishui Plain, near the foot of Wuwang Hill, Artoria noticed that they were somewhat going into the wrong direction.
She asked Xiao as to why they were going up northwest instead of just going straight to Mount Qingce.
"From what I've read in the section concerning Liyuen history in the book Ancient Tales Carved in Stone." Artoria began.
"....It was mentioned there that Chi was defeated by Rex Lapis thousands of years ago, and its body was sealed deep beneath Mount Qingce."
Xiao, who was still leading the way, answered.
"Sometimes, my Lady, Historians and Storytellers would either simplify the events that happened or would over exaggerate it. In Chi's case, it was the former."
"In truth, the story was more complicated than what was written in the books."
Even as they were gliding across the vast Liyuen terrain with urgency, Xiao began to explain the truth about Chi's demise.
"Like what I've mentioned to you last night your grace, Chi, or Qingce as he was known by the locals, was one of the most formidable god that my master had faced during the Archon War. Baqui may had the strength of a thousand leviathans, but Chi was cunning and had a unique form of semi-immortality."
"He was not like the other gods who would perish once their main bodies were destroyed. No, Chi had the ability to split himself into several facets once his main body was destroyed."
"Each facet, though considerably weaker than the whole, was as formidable as a Yaksha, and had the potential to regenerate back into Chi's full form if left unchecked for a long period of time."
"Thus, Rex Lapis, in order to ensure the total annihilation of the serpentine god, had to defeat and conquer each of Chi's facets one by one, in a series of battles that lasted for several months."
"It was a grueling campaign, my Lady. Back then, Chi's facets were scattered all across Liyue, and each one was a tough nut to crack."
"But in the end, Rex Lapis and the rest of us adepti prevailed, and Chi was no more."
Artoria listened intently as she tried to imagine the scale and ferocity of the battles that had taken place.
It must have been a sight to behold, a clash of titans that shaped the very land itself.
"Chi's heart was bound and sealed in the north…"
"Its bones were pinned and sealed in the south-east inside a mountain…"
"Its flesh was incarcerated in the west…"
"Its soul was fettered in the north-east…"
"...and its form was crushed in the south-west."
The Yaksha paused as he looked towards the direction of Mount Qingce.
"Yet, even with all of its facets either sealed or destroyed, some of Chi's power continued to seep out to the land, causing unnatural phenomenon and occasional attacks from its aspects."
"In order to suppress it, Rex Lapis taught the first inhabitants of what would later become Qingce village to make small Geo Statues carved in the image of his dragon form, the Exuvia, and placed them all throughout the land that surrounds Mount Qingce and Wuwang Hill."
"We, the Adepti also contributed in suppressing the remainder of the god's power by planting crystalline orange adeptus amber all throughout the area which also help suppressed Chi's power."
Then Xiao pointed towards a certain direction in the north.
"Chi's form had been crushed."
"His soul now tethered within the winds, forever wandering the plains of Liyue."
""His divine flesh, burned to cinders by the purifying flames of the pyro adepti."
"His bones pinned and sealed under the colossal weight of the mountain."
"What remained though....the one that we must now check, is his heart, his very core, an object of immense power, hidden and sealed away in some remote domain within these lands."
The look in the Yaksha's eyes was now filled with a mixture of urgency and fear.
"As you already know my Lady, the Heart of a god is a very powerful thing. It usually holds the very essence of the god itself, a condensed form of their power and being."
"When Lady Havria was killed and her heart was pierced, it sent out a wave of divine energy that turned her people and her small domain into salt."
"Now imagine the sheer power of Chi's heart…"
"Qingce was a god of immense power with an authority that aligns with that of nature and fire. If that god's heart were ever pierced in the same manner as what had happened to Lady Havria then the resulting explosion would be enough to wipe out an entire region, maybe even half of Liyue!"
"That was the reason why Rex Lapis chose to seal it, instead of destroying it. Even he, with all his might, was not sure if he could contain such an explosion."
Artoria's own expression, after hearing the story, now mirrored that of the Yaksha.
Her eyes now narrowed in concentration as she processed the new information given to her.
Hearts of gods were no laughing matter.
In her own world, such concepts or relics are known as Divine Cores.
Cores are not just hearts; they are the very center of a being's Spiritual Foundation (more commonly known as Saint Graphs).
In the case of gods, they are the very foundation of their powers and abilities, the condensed form of their authority and divine essence.
She herself has one, and honestly she was utterly surprised, if not DOWNRIGHT FRIGHTENED when she first learned just how unique and powerful both her Divine Core and Divine Corpus are compared to anything else she had ever heard or seen so far!
To put it into perspective, if an ordinary Divine Core/Saint Graph is comparable to that of a small planet in terms of pure energy output.
Then hers was like the SUN...
Hers was truly STELLAR...
Divine cores or anything related to divine spirits were always a magnet for unscrupulous individuals or magi who were blinded by their own greed, ambitions or lust for power.
She had read numerous accounts of various mages who tried to capture or replicate these cores in order to gain divine power to serve their own selfish desires.
These instances, however, would often end up catastrophically, with most mages losing their lives and causing untold collateral damage to the local area and civilian population!
She had heard a story of one such magus who managed to acquire the core belonging a minor god that had a partial authority over the concept of 'space'.
The magus then tried to incorporate it into himself hoping to use it to open a direct connection to the Root.
The end result? He turned into a living Black Hole, devouring everything and anything within its radius including the magus himself!
Artoria shuddered at the thought of that account.
If the hearts of gods present here in Teyvat held even just a fraction of the power that the Divine Cores from her original reality possess, then it would spell a disaster if it falls into the wrong hands!
Especially if the Abyss was really the one behind this…
After a few more minutes of racing across the land and rivers, the duo finally arrived at a secluded location hidden within a forested hill just north of Qingce Village.
The place was a heavily covered with trees and foliage yet upon closer inspection, there were telltale signs of ancient adeptal spells and seals woven all over the area, a testament to the power that lay dormant beneath the earth.
Xiao proceeded forward into a small cavern that was cleverly hidden by the dense foliage and undergrowth.
With a wave of his hand, the ground beneath them parted ways, revealing a stone pathway that goes deep into the heart of the hill.
They followed the path down into the bowels of the hill until they came across…what remained of a large stone door.
The entire structure had already crumbled, the stone bricks and pillars that once stood tall and proud now lay scattered on the ground, shattered and broken, as if they were impacted by a tremendous force from the outside.
Xiao froze at the sight.
"Oh no...."
His worst nightmare was slowly becoming a reality…
He remembered how he and his fellow Yakshas—Menogias, Bonanus, Indarias, and Bosacius—had worked together to create this stone door, weaving their powers and abilities into the very fabric of the stone and earth.
They had even inscribed several ancient and powerful runes of protection within its surface, runes that were said to be able to withstand even the full might of a god.
No one, not even a god, could have easily destroyed this gate without a considerable amount of power.
And even if it occurred, the elemental backlash from the process would have been so immense that it would have alerted him and the other adepti who were tasked to guard this place!
Yet, he had felt nothing…
Not a single jolt, not a single pulse of energy these past few years…
Nothing...
Nothing to alert them of any possible breakouts.
Yet, here he is with the proof of one laid bare in front of him!
A cold dread slowly creeped into the Yaksha's heart, a dread that he hadn't felt since the time of the Archon War.
Without even waiting for Artoria, Xiao hastily proceeded forward, passing through the ruined remains of the stone doors, a swirl of dark green energy starting to emanate from his body, a clear sign of his rising anger and distress.
Artoria followed him into the narrow passageway until she stumbled upon an enormous cavern at the end.
The large cavern was well lighted.
Sunlight appears to be streaming down through an enormous rift from the ceiling above, illuminating the entire place.
The entire place has an ecosystem of its own with several trees and vines, growing all over the place and even a small stream can be seen running at the center of the cavern.
Through her past memories, Artoria began to recognize this place.
This place was the hidden vault just north of Qingce village featured on the Genshin World Quest, The Chi of Yore!
She recalled doing that said world quest after she accidentally stumbled upon that treasure hoarder npc, Big Sis Yan'er at some ruins near Wuwang Hill.
She fondly recalled arriving at Qingce Village for the first time through that world quest. Seeing the village and its vast rice fields for the first time was one of her most memorable experience in the game after unlocking Liyue.
Though she truly HATED what happened to her near the end of the quest.
The treasure hoarders guarding this place were but easy pickings, the true problem lied on the MASSIVE HORDE of Ruin Guards appearing at the center of this place after activating the Qingce Cache challenge!
Her then lowly team of level 50 to 60 characters stood no chance against those monsters!
She would later experience a VERY SIMILAR incident while exploring the shores of the Guyun Stone Forest...
After briefly reminiscing her gamer past, Artoria walked forward only to find herself frozen after taking just a few steps away.
There, at the very center of this enormous cavern, she saw Xiao dejectedly kneeling upon the shallow stream of water and looking upward towards the ceiling.
She could vaguely hear him mutter the words:
"No….it's over."
High upon the very center of this cavern, hovered three enormous curved shaped mechanisms that form a sort of incomplete circle.
They looked old with ancient patterns etched upon their surface.
However there was but one glaring problem…
'Wasn't there supposed to be a giant glowing orb hovering in the middle of those mechanism?' Artoria recalled her experience while playing the Chi of Yore world quest.
That mysterious giant glowing orb of unknown origin and purpose was the very center piece of this entire cavern and now it's missing.
...
'Great, JUST GREAT, don't tell me that thing was actually Chi's...!' Artoria's mind went into overdrive as a dreadful realization dawned upon her.
She ran towards the Yaksha, splashing water from the stream all over the place. When she arrived at the center, she began shaking Xiao out of his catatonic state.
"Xiao! Snap out of it! What are those giant mechanism hovering in the middle of this vault?!"
It took a few more seconds before the Yaksha finally responded.
When he finally looked at her, Artoria saw the look of utter defeat in his eyes.
"The great mechanisms of suppression my Lady... designed by Cloud Retainer…they were used by Rex Lapis to suppress the immense power that emanates from the sealed heart of Chi."
"They were the last failsafe set by my Lord to ensure that the god's power would never escape…"
Xiao looked back up at the empty space in the middle of the three great mechanisms.
"Heart of Chi... it is gone."
*****
(Meanwhile, inside the ███)
Deep within the vast vaunted corridors of the dark citidel situated at the very heart of the dark realm, a group of Abyssal creatures were gathered around a large altar.
On top of the altar stood Haden, the Iniquitous Baptist, and behind him were several Abyssal Mages and Lectors, all of whom were chanting in a strange and guttural language.
The air around the altar was thick with dark abyssal energy, and the very ground beneath them seemed to writhe and twist in agony.
After the chanting has reached its crescendo, Haden raised a single finger and a single drop of black blood fell from his fingertip into a small indentation on the altar.
A bright flash of light suddenly erupted from the center of the room, momentarily blinding everyone present…
When the light subsided, a largedark rift materialized out of thin air, hovering a few inches above the altar.
"Preparations are complete Lord Haden. The conduit is now open." One of the Abyss Lectors reported.
"Excellent." Haden replied with a smug tone lacing his inhumane voice.
"Again, will this gate be strong enough to hold my dear little pet?" The Iniquitous Baptist asked.
Haden looked at the rift for a few seconds waiting for a reply.
"Yes, it will, but only for a short period of time. However, that would be enough for the transition to occur my Lord."
"Marvelous. Truly Marvelous.~"
"Make sure the legion is on standby, ready to march at any given time once I give the signal."
"Well then I'll be going now. I wouldn't want to be late for the grand finale.~"
With that said, the dreaded Iniquitous Baptist stepped through the rift and disappeared.
____________________
(V. When the Petals Fall)
Two figures were seen emerging from a small heavily forested hill just outside of Qingce Village.
Xiao looked like he was about to have an aneurysm while Artoria on the other had an expression of pure silent fury etched upon her face.
She couldn't believe it. Three gods!
Remnants of three gods from the Archon War had been taken. He'll, knowing the enemy, there could be more!
The sheer audacity and power required to perform such a feat was simply mind-boggling.
How did they do it? She wondered.
How did they manage to bypass the seals set by the adepti and Rex Lapis himself?
There were far too many questionsleft unanswered, but there was one thing that was now crystal clear to Artoria.
...….
.....
...
The Abyss or rather the Abyss Order was the one responsible for all of this.
Earlier, after Artoria was able to shake Xiao off his funk, the goddess was able to notice a peculiar trace of dark energy that was left behind near the area where Chi's heart once hovered.
It was the verysame type of energy she had detected in a riverbank yesterday near the Wangshu Inn.
It was well hidden among some rustled foliage, but it was there and she had clearly sensed it.
When she went for a closer look, she found a very small almost minuscule splatter of viscous dark violet liquid near the ground.
Abyssal contamination.
The smoking gun!
The final irrefutable piece of evidence that pointed to the identity of the culprits behind all of this.
Without a second thought, Artoria sealed that small piece of evidence within a small bounded field before presenting it to Xiao.
The still shakened Yaksha had a look of disbelief upon his face at the sight of the evidence presented to him.
He was utterly speechless for a few moments.
'The Abyss Order'
A cold and sudden finality dawned upon Xiao which was then later followed by a growl.
"The Abyss Order." he growled furiously.
An organization of unknown origin that had been causing problems every now and then across all of Teyvat.
Their motives were unknown, but one thing is certain, those heretics uses the corruptive power of Abyss of whom they had taken their name, and use it to sow chaos wherever they go.
Whatever their motives be, it always lead to massive casualties and damage.
Even he himself had fought their agents several times in the past, and each encounter was a brutal battle.
The Abyss Order's presence in Liyue was not new.
There have been reports of their activities throughout Liyue for the past few years, though they were often limited to small scale attacks and skirmishes with the Millileth.
But this...this was different.
This was a large scale operation, one that required careful planning, immense power, and a deep understanding of Liyue's history and geography.
And the fact that they had managed to operate undetected for so long was a testament to their cunning and resourcefulness!
Xiao's blood began to boil at the thought of it.
Those heretics had desecrated the final resting places of the gods that his master had vanquished.
They had stolen their remains and had used them for their nefarious purposes.
It was an insult to the very dignity of Rex Lapis and all the adepti who had fought and died during the Archon War.
It was an insult to all of Liyue!
Not minding the turmoil going on within the Yaksha, Artoria ordered Xiao to take the piece of evidence they had retrieve and present them to Rex Lapis, along with the rest of the findings they had found earlier that day.
She ordered him to tell the Geo Archon everything they had just found.
The Geo Archon MUST BE ALERTED, as well the Qixing and the Adepti!
"Liyue is currently in danger from possible unprecedented Abyssal attack, and all available resources must be mobilized." Artoria's tone was serious and urgent.
When Xiao asked Artoria what she's going to do for the time being, she told him that she'll be heading back to Wangshu Inn, gather her forces and notify them about the situation.
She told him to not worry about them, for as long as she stands, the people who are currently staying at the Inn are safe.
The two then went out of the cavern and with a final nod, Xiao disappeared in a swirl of green energy, leaving Artoria alone in the quiet forest.
Artoria took a deep breath, her mind was still racing with implications of the events that she had encountered for the past few hours.
She had to act fast.
She had to protect her children and her companions, as well as the people living within the inn!
"DUN STALLION!" She shouted, her divine voice laced with power echoing throughout the forest.
In less than a second later, a magnificent white steed appeared in front of her, its coat as white as snow and its mane as golden as the sun.
It was Dun Stallion, one of her two trusted steeds and companion from her days as a king.
Without hesitation, Artoria mounted the horse and with a single command, the divine phantasmal horse galloped through the air in a speed comparable to that of lightning, heading south towards Wangshu Inn.
*****
Artoria arrived back at the Wangshu Inn in less than 5 minutes later.
It would have been faster…if she hadn't taken that detour…
Dun Stallion arrived with a tremendous forces as the steed landed on the top most balcony of the Inn, causing a minor quake all over the establishment!
When the staff arrived to see what's going on, they found Artoria all alone with a few traces of what appeared to be gold colored leaves shimmering around her.
"My...my Lady, wha..what happened?" One staff member asked, his face pale with fear.
"An Adeptus." She answered, a simple clever ruse to explain her sudden appearance and the quake that occured moments earlier.
"I had an urgent meeting with the Conqueror of Demons. A matter of grave importance has come to my attention."
"Please seek out your bosses, Huai'an and Verr Goldet and tell them that I wish to speak with them in private NOW or as soon as possible. The rest of you must stay calm and continue with your duties."
After dismissing the staff, Artoria then summoned a pair of small golden hawks in her hands and gave each of them a message for her confidants.
The hawks then flew away in a blur.
*****
Crepus Ragnvindr was currently in a meeting with a group of merchants from Fontaine, who were clearly shaken by the sudden quake that occured moments earlier.
He was discussing the potential establishment of additional trade routes between Mondstadt and the Nation of Justice, a deal that could greatly benefit both nations.
However, their discussion was abruptly interrupted by the sudden arrival of one of Artoria's summoned golden hawks.
The hawk flew directly towards Crepus and delivered its message.
Crepus read the message, and his face immediately turned grim.
He then excused himself from the meeting and rushed towards the hallway leading to the inn's top most balcony.
There he found Melisa, Varka, and the innkeepers Huai'an and Verr Goldet.
"What is going on?" Crepus asked, his voice dripping with concern.
"I don't know." Melisa replied, her voice trembling slightly.
"We received a message as well. It said that her grace wants to see us immediately."
"Let's not waste any more time then." Crepus said, as he led the group towards the stairs.
When the group arrived at the top most balcony, they were met by Captain Yuan and a small contingent of Knights.
"Captain Yuan." Crepus said.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"I'm sorry Sir Crepus." the captain replied, "But I have orders from the Grand Master herself."
"Orders for what?"
"Sir, I'm afraid I can't say. The Grandmaster wishes to explain the situation herself."
As if on cue, Artoria emerged from the shadows, her face a mask of grim determination.
"Master," Varka said.
"What's going on? Your message was... cryptic."
Without hesitation, Artoria spoke with a low and serious voice.
"Liyue is in danger."
"What?!" Verr Goldet gasped.
"What do you mean, my Lady?"
Artoria then proceeded to tell them an abridged version of what had transpired earlier that day.
Although she omitted some of the more profound supernatural facts such as her being a goddess (considering that the two owners of the Inn and Varka were present), she gave them enough details for them to understand the gravity of the situation.
Her partnership with the Conqueror of Demons had allowed them to uncover the truth behind the series of mysterious phenomenon occuring within the Bishui Plain region for the past two years.
Artoria told them, that there's a chance the one responsible, the Abyss Order, might cause some trouble soon within the immediate area.
Xiao was already en route towards Liyue Harbor in order to inform the Geo Archon and the Qixing about the situation, and she hoping that a large contingent of the Millileth would be dispatched to this area soon.
For the time being, Artoria ordered Captain Yuan and Varka to instruct the Honor Guards to secure the perimeter of the inn while they wait for reinforcements from the Millileth.
"At your command, Grand Master." Yuan replied, his face a mask of steely resolve.
Artoria then turned her attention to the owners of the Inn, Huai'an and his wife Verr Goldet.
"Your establishment, and by extension your lives and those of all who currently dwell here, are now under the protection of the Knights of Favonius. I will personally ensure that no harm comes to anyone within these walls."
The innkeepers were visibly shaken, but their resolve was steeled by her words.
"We trust in your judgment, my Lady." Huai'an said with a bow.
"We will do whatever it takes to keep our guests safe."
Verr Goldet continued.
"We'll also gather anyone nearby, and tell everyone to stay inside the inn. We have a few more storerooms and cellars that can shelter them if needed."
"Thank you. Your cooperation is much appreciated especially at this time."
*****
The time was already half past 4 in the afternoon.
Two hours had already passed by since Artoria ended her impromptu meeting....
...and for some unexplained reason, the sky over the entirety of the Dihua Marsh had began to darken, similar to what can be observe during ann impending storm, but this time….without the rain and wind.
The situation both inside and around the Wangshu Inn was now a tense but organized chaos.
The Knights of Favonius Honor guards were now positioned at strategic points around the inn, their weapons drawn and their senses heightened.
Their presence brought a sense of security to the frightened guests and staff, but it also served as a grim reminder of the impending danger that might arrive at any moment.
Both Captain Yuan and Varka were personally overseeing the perimeter, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of trouble.
While Verr Goldet was instructing the staff and the guests of the Inn to stay calm and remain inside the establishment, her husband Huai'an on the other hand was busy lighting up the lanterns all over the inn in order to cast away the slowly growing darkness.
The man also organized a small band of visiting Liyuen and Inazuman mercenaries to help gather and evacuate some of the nearby farmers into the Inn for safety.
While all of this was happening, Artoria didn't remained idle.
She began casting subtle light-based protection spells all around the building.
Her hands moved in a graceful yet precise manner, weaving intricate patterns in the air as she chanted words of power in a language unknown to any mortal.
A faint golden light soon emanated from her hands, rapidly enveloping the inn in a protective barrier that was invisible to the naked eye but was strong enough to withstand a considerable amount of force.
This barrier also brought a kind of unknown protective warmth to the inhabitants of the inn, making them feel safer inside the establishment.
After placing the finishing touches to her barrier, Artoria then proceeded back to her chambers where her family, as well as Melisa, Lisa, Crepus, Elspeth and the rest of her household maids had gathered.
The entire group was already waiting for her inside the room.
"How are they?" Artoria asked, her expression softening as she gazed at her children.
"They're scared, my Lady." Elspeth replied, her voice trembling slightly.
"The sudden darkening of the sky and had frightened them."
Artoria walked towards the bed where her four children were huddledtogether.
She sat down beside them and pulled them all into a warm embrace.
"It's alright, my little cubs." she cooed, her voice was like a soothing balm to their fears.
"Mama's here. Everything's going to be alright."
The children clung to her as their small bodies trembled.
"Are bad people coming, Mama?" Barbara asked in a small and fearful voice as she snuggled closer to her mother.
"I don't know sweetie." Artoria replied, her gentle fingers stroking the little girl's hair.
"But whatever happens, Mama wouldn't allow any of you to get hurt. I promise."
Artoria then proceeded to walk towards the nearby closet door and began casting another spell, this one more complex and powerful than the ones she had used earlier.
She began chanting once again in language that was both ancient and foreign as her hands began moving in a blur of motion as she drew forth another series of intricate symbols in the air with her fingers.
The eyes of all the children who were present widened as they watched Artoria work her magic.
For the children, more specifically her kids, they were witnessing another display of their Mama's amazing powers, powers that they had yet to fully understand, but it was a source of awe and wonder for them.
For the adults however, it was the proof that their most beloved and revered Anemo Archon, who currently took the mantle of Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, was with them, and that she would protect them with all of her might!
With one final incantation, the closet door began to glow with a bright white light.
When the light subsided, the door had been replaced by a swirling vortex of golden energy.
Another connection had been created, another portal towards her Inner Realm of Avalon had been established.
"My most gracious Arc...Lady." Crepus stammered as he watched the portal in amazement. "Is that…"
"A gateway to my Tower in Avalon. Same with he ones present inside our carriages." Artoria replied, cutting him off.
"....If the situation ever becomes dire, I will send all of you through this portal. You will be safe there until I give you the signal to return."
The adults in the room nodded in understanding, however as they chatted amongst themselves, little Jean noticed that her mother's attention appeared to be somewhere else.
The 10-year-old girl could see her mother's eyes occasionally looking towards the window, as if she was looking for something...or someone.
And she was not wrong with her assumptions.
Throughout all the chaos that had been happening around her, Artoria's mind was constantly drifting towards a single thought, a single person.
Beidou.
Earlier, before she arrived back at Wangshu Inn with Dun Stallion, Artoria made a quick detour towards the Dihua Marshlands, to a certain small cavern that was hidden beneath a broken wooden bridge.
Beidou's home.
She was supposed to visit her later that night but due to the sudden urgency of the situation, she planned on evacuating the child and bringing her back to Wangshu Inn where she could be protected.
However when she arrived at the small cavern, she found that the little girl was currently out!
A note was left and pinned at the entrance of the home written in a poor but readable handwriting on a crumpled piece of paper.
It was from Beidou and it said that she is currently out and would be back after sunrise.
The message confused Artoria for a bit, until she remembered promising the child that she will visit her again this evening…
It was written by the little girl herself after she got a feeling that her Auntie Ria might arrived earlier and ruin her surprise.
Artoria wanted nothing more at that moment but to ran and search for her, but her obligation towards the denizens of the inn, her group and most importantly her children weighed heavily on her mind, making her hesitate to act.
She then decided to go head back to the Inn instead to inform everyone and prepare for the worst.
Afterwards, when all is set and done, she planned to venture out and find the little girl…
She was about to do that after she had established the portal….
That is until she and everyone else inside the building felt a sudden burst of malicious energy coming from the northeast direction!
The late afternoon skies had now completely darken as strong winds began buffeting everyone and anything within the immediate vicinity of the Dihua Marsh.
The building shook a little as if struck by some unknown force, yet the golden light of Artoria's barrier held firm.
Panic erupted all throughout the Inn.
The guests, who were already on edge due to the sudden darkness, now screamed in terror as the building continued to lightly shake.
The Honor Guards of Knights of Favonius however stood firm and resolute, their training kicking in as they tried to calm the panicked crowd.
Captain Yuan and Varka shouted orders, their voices barely audible over the howling wind and the cries of the frightened guests.
Back inside her chambers, Artoria began comforting her four frightened children who were once again huddled in her embrace.
She narrowed her eyes towards the direction of the burst and uttered the words…
"The Abyss has come."
*****
(Somewhere in the Dihua Marshlands….moments before disaster….)
Beidou was happily walking back to her home with a bunch of blue flowers in her arms.
She had picked a whole bunch of Glaze Lilies from a hidden patch near a riverbank that she had discovered a few days ago.
These would be her surprise to her Auntie Ria, and she was sure that she will love them!
Earlier that day, while she was still out looking for them, Beidou came to the decision that after her surprise, she would take her Auntie's offer and follow her towards Liyue Harbor.
She was so excited!
She will finally be able to see Liyue Harbor with her own two eyes!
She heard stories of its magnificence and sheer size from her late parents and grampa.
A city built on by the Geo Archon himself and one of, if not the largest port city in all of Teyvat, where ships of all sizes are docked!
Her Auntie Ria promised her that she would help her find a suitable crew that would take her in their voyages across the seas and to different adventures....
...….
...and yet, the very thought of her dream coming true also brought an unexpected sadness in her little heart.
A part of her thought that if she joined a crew, she would be separated from her Auntie Ria…
Her Auntie Ria….
…She was the first person in a long while that had showed her warmth, kindness and love.
Her hugs were so warm that she instinctively feel safe inside her arms, like she feels that nothing in the world would ever harm her.
She began to miss those hugs and the way her auntie would make her smile and laugh...
Her Auntie Ria…reminded her so much of her late mother, and the thought of being separated from her somehow made her feel uneasy.
...….
As Beidou continued her walk, she noticed that the sky suddenly becamedark.
'Huh? Maybe there's a storm coming up. I better hurry back home before it starts raining.' she thought to herself.
She have to hurry!
...
....
.....
...
As she was about to take her next step, she felt a sudden severe pain on her tummy making her froze up.
...….
.....
...
She looked down and saw a long black tendril dripping with blood..her own blood, protruding out of her belly staining the Glaze Lilies she was holding in her arms.
...….
.....
...
An unfathomable cold began to spread all across her little body as she heard a malicious, raspy and cruel voice from her back.
.....
She could not turn back to look due to the pain, but the voice…..that voice was unlike anything she had heard before.
"Well, well what do we have here. A little girl all alone in the middle of nowhere holding a bunch of flowers. Now this was an unexpected sight.~"
"I was actually planning to hunt a little bird, but in turn I found a common street rat. No matter you will serve a greater purpose…as a fine appetizer for my dear 'little pet' before the main course arrive. He does love human souls, especially those of children.~"
...….
.....
...
….
Beidou heard the person...no, the monster continued to speak but each word that came out from him slowly sounded like a jumbled gibberish murmur in her ears.
.....
Everything was getting darker, colder and she's slowly becoming dizzy.
The awful pain was still there and the blood kept oozing…
At the next moment, Beidou let go of her Glaze Lilies in her arm as she began to wobble.
The sight of the red liquid now pouring out of her belly reminded her of a painful memory from long ago as tears of pain and despair began pouring out of her eyes…
She saw flashes of her past during the time when her mother died after carrying her all throughout that one stormy night…
She recalled how she desperately tried to wake up her mother as she laid on the muddy road, blood pouring out of her stab wound coating her little hands…
...….
.....
...
It was too much for her, and in her despair, before she finally closed her eyes, Beidou whispered the name of the one person she wanted to see the most.
"M...ma..ma…"
(To be continued.....)
____________________
(Saint Graphs - FATE/NASUVERSE)
- Saint Graphs otherwise known as Spiritual Foundation refers to the foundation of a spirit's existence.
- They are the fundamental, physical 'body' or vessel holding a being's spirit (wether they be Servants or Nature Spirits such as Divine Spirits or fairies), acting as their hardware, appearance, and container for magical energy of they were summoned.
- Saint Graphs differ from the Spiritual Cores or Divine Cores.
- Living Gods (not Divine Spirits) don't need Saint Graphs, rather their Divine Corpus served as their unique containers housing their Divine Cores. Though….if that god wishes to summon a aspect of his or herself, he or she might require to summon that aspect with the usage of a Divine Spirit Saint Graph (a higher form of Saint Graphs that are capable of housing a Divine Core and the authority of a god)...or something even higher, which may be on par with the Saint Graphs of Grands depending on the power of the being being summoned.
____________________
(Divine Cores - FATE/NASUVERSE)
- Gods possess Divine Cores, or in the case of a summoned Divine Spirit, their Divine Cores are found inside their Divine Spirit Saint Graphs.
- A Divine Core the foundation of a god's spirit and body, representing a 'supernatural heart' or the 'True Self' of the god. It serves as the primary energy source for gods, allowing them to maintain their existence and authority.
- A god with multiple aspects can share a Single Divine Core (e.g., Parvati, Kali, and Durga all share the same fundamental core), or can give rise to multiple lesser cores that all originate and are under the control of the original Divine Core.
____________________