On the Light Screen
The video continued.
After Wan Yan fled in denial, Zhongli, Lumine, and Paimon followed her out.
The moment they exited the sealed chamber, a horrifying sight greeted them.
The corridor was filled with salt-petrified human statues.
Judging from their poses, every one of them had been running for their lives.
As if they had witnessed something utterly terrifying.
Lumine remained composed, but Paimon visibly tensed up.
"Th-these statues…"
"They were… running away?"
"What's ahead?"
"What kind of truth is waiting there?"
Zhongli fell silent for a long moment.
Then he spoke softly.
"Salt."
"And betrayal."
Lumine and Paimon stiffened.
Soon, the three caught up to Wan Yan.
Together, the four entered the next sealed chamber.
And the secret buried for thousands of years was finally laid bare.
The Inner Chamber
Compared to outside, this room was even worse.
Salt statues filled the space.
Every one of them was centered around the middle of the chamber, fleeing outward in desperation.
As if something terrifying had erupted from the center.
Yet at the very heart of the room stood one statue that was different.
Unlike the others, it wasn't running.
Its legs were braced.
Its body leaned forward.
It stood in a clear attacking stance.
[Transcendent Chat Group]
A chill ran through the crowd.
Most people didn't fully understand yet—but the atmosphere alone was suffocating.
Those sharper minds, recalling Zhongli's words—
Salt.
Betrayal.
—had already pieced together fragments of the truth.
Mockery. Pity. Realization. Sighs.
All of it mingled together.
The Truth
Zhongli finally spoke.
"This is the scene."
"When Havria was killed, her form collapsed."
"All that remained was salt."
"This moment was sealed here."
He continued calmly.
"The rest of the story is this."
"As Havria continued to retreat, her people realized something."
"That this kind, gentle, yet weak god…"
"…could not protect anyone in the brutal Archon War."
"If that was the case—"
"Rather than letting her suffer defeat and torment…"
"They chose to grant her what they believed was a gentler release."
Paimon swallowed.
"Th-then what about these statues?"
Zhongli shook his head lightly.
"No matter how weak she was, Havria was still a god."
"The power released at her death was far beyond what mortal bodies could endure."
"Those who failed to escape…"
"…became what you see now."
"As for the rest of Havria's people—"
"They fled Sal Terrae and sought refuge in Liyue, under Rex Lapis' protection."
He paused.
His tone turned subtle.
"Yet their descendants feared the remnants of Havria's power."
"Feared a divine curse."
"So they returned here at great risk."
"They broke swords and left offerings…"
"Hoping to appease her anger."
"But that was unnecessary."
"A god who never resisted…"
"…would never hate her own people."
Truth did not wound gently.
Truth cut like a blade.
Wan Yan's face went pale.
Her mind unraveled.
"I… I refuse to accept this."
"It's fake. All of it!"
"You—Morax's follower—don't think you can shake my faith!"
She forced out those words—
Then fled.
The video ended.
After the Video
Silence.
Then shock.
The truth was unimaginable.
Havria wasn't killed by Morax.
Not by another god.
Not even by herself.
She was killed by her own people.
Deicide.
A first in all of Teyvat.
For nations protected by the Seven, it was almost inconceivable.
And the justification?
Laughable.
We feared she would suffer defeat, so we gave her a gentle end.
What an absurd excuse.
No one believed that.
Zhongli's explanation was restrained—merciful, even.
But the word he'd used earlier—
Betrayal—
said everything.
The real truth was simple.
They wanted a better life.
So they offered their god's life as a pledge.
A god who loved humanity—
betrayed by humanity.
The irony was bitter.
And remembering Wan Yan's earlier accusations—
mockery followed naturally.
[Normal Chat Group]
Chef Mao:
Assassination? Still want to say that now? The truth's right there.
Iron Tongue Tian:
"Freeing her from suffering"—what a joke! That logic wouldn't survive a single storyteller's crowd.
Ying'er:
Rex Lapis was far too merciful. Your ancestors betrayed their god, then blamed His Excellency out of guilt.
Hanxue:
First betrayal, then framing the Geo Archon? Truly impressive. 👍
Yixuan:
Kept saying Rex Lapis was the killer—turns out it was your own ancestors. Does that sting?
Zheping:
We resisted decrees. You people straight-up murdered your god.
Azar:
So now no one can say I'm disrespectful to gods, right? I only "provided a learning environment." These people went further.
Pearl Galley
Wan Yan had been excited at first.
Certain that Morax's "crimes" would be exposed.
That Havria would finally be vindicated.
Just like previous revelations.
But after watching everything—
Her world collapsed.
"No… impossible…"
The killer wasn't Morax.
It was her ancestors.
Those protected by Havria.
They had betrayed their god.
Her reason screamed denial.
But logic remained.
The light screen had never lied.
It had no reason to fabricate this.
Realization crushed her.
She collapsed to her knees.
Her faith shattered—
Not because of Havria.
But because of humanity.
The surrounding crowd felt no pity.
Only grim satisfaction.
This was the Geo Archon's punishment.
Or rather—
The truth's punishment.
Soon after, the Millelith arrived.
Charged with spreading false accusations, Wan Yan was taken away.
She didn't resist.
Her heart was already numb.
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor
Zhongli and Venti fell silent after watching the video.
"What a gentle god," Venti sighed.
"What a shame."
Zhongli gazed into his cup.
"Her fault… yet not hers."
"Cruel wasn't the truth," Venti nodded.
"It was the era."
Trying to lift the mood, he raised his cup.
"Come on—drink!"
"Drink."
[Transcendent Chat Group]
Nahida:
So this is the truth… it's very heavy.
Alice:
Betray your god for a better life, fear her curse, then shift the blame. Classic surrender politics.
Lumine:
Havria was too gentle… even then, she never retaliated. 😭
Furina:
"We killed you for your own good." That logic is terrifying.
Neuvillette:
In centuries of judgment, I've never seen something so shameless.
Yae Miko:
Now imagine—if Morax truly stepped down… 😈
Alhaitham:
Hypothetically speaking—rumors like this already exist while the Geo Archon still reigns.
If he truly withdrew… conflict would be inevitable.
Liyue fell silent.
The implications were terrifying.
If Morax ever truly left—
Who would defend the truth?
A Sudden Thought
Lumine:
Watching Havria's story… it reminds me of Nahida.
Nahida:
Huh? Me?
Paimon:
It really does. One god murdered. One imprisoned. Both betrayed.
Alice:
At least the Akademiya didn't "free" her.
Yae Miko:
They're very kind like that. 😏
Sumeru fell quiet.
Nahida began thinking.
Too weak.
Too gentle.
Too compromising.
If this were the Archon War era—
Her fate would be obvious.
Even now—
If someone more "useful" appeared…
Would history repeat itself?
Her chest tightened.
Then—
She lifted her head.
"No."
"That was the past."
"I'm not that god anymore."
"I am the current Dendro Archon—"
"Lesser Lord Kusanali, Nahida."
Her eyes shone with resolve.
All she needed—
Was opportunity.
And when it came—
She would reshape Sumeru.
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