It had started with a simple report that Childe had received, that several Fatui forces he had sent to guard the border between Mondstadt and Liyue had been completely routed. All by a single person.

It was a simple report but one that had his blood boiling. Boiling at the losses that they had sustained and the issues they would now have maintaining their continued presence in Liyue. And boiling at the excitement of meeting such a foe in singular combat.

There wasn't much to describe them, for some reason most of the grunts that had survived had been reluctant to see anything about the person that had defeated them. That would only make the hunt for the Fatui Harbinger all the more exciting.

To pit his blades against the strongest of opponents, to edge the line between life and death where his every skill was pushed to the limit. There were few things that could being him as much happiness, as much elation at that.

And so, seconds after he received the report, he left his office within the Northland Bank and made his way toward the assailants last known location.

Childe had begun to regret every decision that he had ever made up until this point. It was one thing to find out that the person who had routed several divisions was a child, one with a pyro vision granted, but still a child. It was another to find that the child was cheerful and had a childlike innocence much too reminiscent of Tuecer, his dear brother. And it was certainly something else altogether when she suddenly asked if wanted to have some playtime with her.

Seeing as he was weak to adorable children he had accepted. Unfortunately, what she had interpreted as playtime soon turned into a fight for his life. And pride over the fact that he was getting completely routed by a little girl.

Childe bit back a curse, best to watch your tongue around children, as he barely avoided a jet of flame. The fires singing the side of his hair.

He tried shooting a few arrows, only for them all to be completely burned to cinder by one of the explosives the child callously threw across the area.

He was, frankly speaking, at a disadvantage.

A single well-aimed arrow might be able to put the girl out of commission with her vulnerable form, but getting that shot was another thing altogether. Between the flying fire, rubble, brimstone, and the child's own jumping form, much like that of a rabbit, it was near impossible for Childe to land a shot with his lack of mastery with that particular weapon.

He had already shot at least ten water imbued arrows and only one of them ever came close. That one she tripped under. That's right tripped. She avoided it by complete accident or maybe it was just that this girl had the luck of a devil. It would certainly explain how she was yet to sustain a single burn from her own overwhelming firepower. Visions provided some resistance to the user's element, but even that had limits.

As it was ranged combat was out of the question, but using his blades was a death sentence. Getting any closer would put him in range of her callously thrown explosives and the countless mines she had somehow littered all around the battlefield.

There was no way he was going to beat her with a vision alone. Thankfully he had a delusion.

Childe brought his delusion forth and prepared himself to take his second form.

He had to hand it to the girl. She had to be around Teucer's age and yet she had pushed him to this point. He'd have to get her treat once this battle was over. Assuming that either of them could move by the end of it.

"I did not think you were one to assault children," a familiar and well-aged voice called out.

It was all the warning Childe needed to stop his transformation and jump away from the giant rock pillar that had appeared in front of him. "Sorry, but this girl challenged me. And you know how I get in a fight," he casually said as he stared at the stoic form of Zhongli on the cliff above him. "Besides I wasn't going to hurt her too badly, just give her a little discipline before sending her back home."

"I had suspicions as to who was causing such a commotion in these lands." The Previous Archon of Geo was carried down to them by a pillar jutting out of the side of a cliff.

"Are you here for playtime with Klee too Mister!" Klee said excitedly with the innocence that only a child could muster.

It was absolutely adorable. And also absolutely frightening coming from a child this close to burying Childe twelve feet under with high velocity explosives.

"I will have to decline," Zhongli replied gently. "I am quite familiar with the wanton destruction that Lady Alice is capable of. As entertaining as they were, I'd rather not fall victim to them from her child."

"You know Mom!" Klee's eyes lit up in delight. "I left Mondstadt to look for her."

Mondstadt. Got it. A place to bring the kid back to once all of this was dealt with.

"Do you know where she went?" Klee asked.

Zhongli shook his head. "The last time I met her was several decades ago, just before you were born I believe."

"Wait a minute, how old is this kid?" Childe asked in disbelief. "Several decades ago, she doesn't look older than ten!"

"Hers and her mother are of a long-lived race. The passage of time has little effect on them compared to most humans. I would say they rival the Adepti and Archons themselves in terms of longevity," Zhongli informed him. "Make no mistake, she is still a child. And will remain so for quite some time."

"You said you met my Mommy before I was born?" Klee asked.

"Ah yes." Zhongli cleared his throat. "I was her traveling companion for a time when she was at Liyue. She certainly… left her mark on the land and I would've certainly noticed her if she had chosen to return again."

"So…" Klee put her finger to her mouth. "She didn't come by here?"

Zhongli shook his head. "No"

"Aw." Klee out down her backpack, reached into it, and pulled out a large map. She then began to draw on it with a bright red crayon. "Liyue is no good then. Hmm, where to next… oh I know! Inazuma!"

"Wait kid, you can't be going there," Childe was the first to voice his disapproval against such a plan. "There's no way you're not getting there without a boat. And even then there's the storm and the beasts of the ocean to deal with. There's no way you're going get there by yourself."

"Hmm… you're right that is a lot of water," Klee mulled to herself. "I know I'll see if I can get a person with a boat to take me there! That's a great plan, thank you Mister!"

"That isn't- ju-" Childe was stopped by Zhongli who held out a hand.

"That journey is one with many obstacles that few sailors would be willing to take," Zhongli informed her. "And those few willing will likely ask for much in return."

"Oh…" Klee looked downtrodden as she began to dig through her bag. I brought some Mora… oh and this card Mommy told me to show to anyone if I needed to buy something I couldn't afford.

Childe nearly choked on his own breath as he took sight of the card. That was a writ from the Archons themselves, one that allowed free passage and resources from the country of each living Archon that signed it. On it there were seven unique signatures, some of them perhaps a bit outdated due to God related death, but one of them he recognized came from the current Tsaritsa herself. Who was this girl's mother to give away such a valuable thing?

"Ah, I remember signing that for your mother," Zhongli commented. "Though I imagine it will no longer work in Liyue due to the death of Morax."

Childe snorted and ignored the glance Zhongli shot at him. He might've still been a bit sore about all of that, but at the very least he wouldn't blab his secret to everyone he met.

"How about this? Come to Liyue Harbor," Zhongli suggested. "My treat. After you've gotten some food and rest we can continue discussing your plans."

"I've never been to Liyue Harbor before," Klee replied. "What's that like?"

Zhongli smirked. "You shall see. And I shall be quite grateful to show you the same hospitality that I once bestowed upon your mother."