Act 2, Scene 10
20th of the 2nd Cycle
The Jade Chamber was in chaos. All semblance of unity between the Qixing has disintegrated completely as each has their own ideas on how to carry forward with the knowledge that their god is still alive. Some say they must respect Rex Lapis' wishes and keep his well-being a secret, others say they must announce to the people that Rex Lapis' still lives.
In any case, compared to the mayhem inside the Chamber, outside was positively serene. Both of them have secured 4 million Mora, and Mona was especially happy with her newly acquired bottles of rice wine.
Entering the Central Bank, they began the process of exchanging their promissory notes for actual Mora. As they waited for the bank employees to gather the stipulated amount, he overheard some people talking about the increase in Fatui presence in the City. That can't be good.
Excusing himself from Mona, he headed over to the gossiping merchants and asked them about the Fatui.
"Yes, you haven't heard? With Rex Lapis' death, the Fatui has been putting more and more pressure on the Qixing. Some even say a second Harbinger had just entered the City! I wonder if the Qixing is finally going to put them in their place…"
The other merchant had his own thoughts as well. "That's right, merchants coming south from Mondstadt has spread word that the Knights and Church purged the region of Fatui. Not even the Snezhnayan Embassy in Dornman Port remains! I for one would fully support a purge of the Fatui here."
"Shhh! Quiet down you idiot, the Fatui might hear you!"
Aether left them. He hadn't heard of the Fatui purge until now, what had they done to antagonise the Knights so badly?
Mona saw his troubled face and questioned him.
"The Fatui in Mondstadt were completely purged while the Fatui presence here is increasing. They say there are now two Harbingers in the City."
Mona adopted his troubled look, but before they could think too much about it, an employee walked up to them.
"My apologies, esteemed patrons, but the Central Bank isn't capable of acquiring the sum you asked for. If you would allow us some time, we can provide one million now, and send you the rest in a few days."
They shared a look. Mona decided to inquire.
"What's the reason for the hold-up?"
The employee's face betrayed him with an anxious look. "The… the Bank doesn't have such a sum with us currently, so we asked for more from the Golden House… but the Golden House isn't responding."
"The Golden House is the only mint in Teyvat, is it not? How can it close at a time like this?"
The employee looked around nervously, before leaning in and whispering.
"We suspect that they have been attacked by the Fatui. A Millelith squad was sent to the House, but even they haven't reported back yet. The Treasure Hoarders don't have the strength to do such a thing like take out the Millelith."
Mona put up an act of being unperturbed.
"Understood, I hope the Qixing can rectify this issue quickly. For now, can you open an account in my name, and hold on to the amount? We will collect the entire sum at a later date."
"Of course esteemed patrons! The Central Bank thanks you for your understanding."
He rushed off to get the necessary paperwork. In the meanwhile, Aether told Mona to stay behind and wrap up while he went to the Golden House.
"You're insane! You think you can take on the Fatui, the Harbingers even, alone!?"
"I fought the Dragon of the East before and won, what are a few Snezhnayans to a veritable lesser god? Besides, I have Paimon with me, even if she doesn't help, she won't let me die."
Mona let out an explosive sigh.
"Y-you- I can't even… fine! Go do your thing, come back in one piece you hear me?"
"Obviously."
Aether dashed off. The Golden House was the most important building in all of Teyvat by a mile, as such it was located in a fortress, Jin Castle. For the Fatui to attack such a place, they must either have massive amounts of numbers or incredible firepower. Considering they have 2 Harbingers at their disposal, he was inclined towards the latter.
To make matters worse, Jin Castle was located four days south of Liyue, but he had a plan.
Paimon help me out here, I know you're there.
I suppose it can't be helped.
A rift in spacetime appeared in front of him. That works too, he supposed.
Act 2, Scene 11
20th of the 2nd Cycle
He emerged before a set of two massive gold doors. He spun around, trying to get his bearings. Behind him was quite the sight.
Millelith lay dead on the streets, limbs strewn all over the place in an ocean of blood. He inspected one of the corpses, whatever they were torn apart by had cleaved through flesh, bone and all.
A Harbinger definitely came through here.
Back at the doors, he placed both his palms against them and pushed. Slowly but steadily they gave way under his inhuman strength. They hit the end of their hinges with a resounding clang. Well, there went any chances of subtlety.
The Fatui stationed inside immediately went into action.
"Reinforcements already!? All of you, don't let them get to the Vault!"
The Vault huh? Aether inwardly thanked them for the information. It was a shame he was running low on time. He saw them rushing towards him, the bodies of Millelith soldiers lay lifelessly on the ground.
Fatui grunts, not even worth the effort. He conjured a blistering whirlwind of Anemo and sent it into the onrush of Fatui. It ploughed into them, lifting them into the air and tore at them, blood and gore flew out like a fountain as he rushed through the gap in their lines.
He quickly found the stairwell down to the Vault and leapt. More Fatui rushed up to meet him. Sighing in frustration, he willed his starforged blade to materialise.
He hacked his way downwards, rolling under a slash here, stabbing into the gut of a man there, beheading a woman over here. Time flew as he made his way downwards, leaving a trail of corpses in his wake. Blood flowed down the stairwell like some twisted waterfall. The scent of iron lingered in the enclosed space.
When he made it to the bottom, the Vault's gate was already broken through. As he stepped through the threshold, he saw a ginger-haired man laughing at him.
"You're too late, Millelith!" The man dashed towards the Exuvia with a flash of purple lightning, "I've already gotten the Gnosis!"
He plunged his hand into the Exuvia, and pulled out nothing.
"What…?"
Aether gave him the most apathetic look he could muster. "Are you quite done?"
The man flashed back onto the Vault's floor. "You speak Snezhnayan? No, wait, who are you? You aren't the Millelith! Did the Qixing really only send a single person to deal with me? I am quite insulted. I'll deal with the Gnosis later, and I'll kill you now!"
Aether groaned, he didn't have the time for this. He just needed the Mora, not fight some overly dramatic Snezhnayan bloke. He backpedalled to the edge of the Vault and drew out more of his power.
"Are you really running away now? Hah, I cannot blame you! Unfortunately, I am in a bad mood, so I'm still going to-"
"Will you shut up for one, fucking, second!"
Aether drew back his hand and launched it forward. A lance of crackling starlight burst forth. The Harbinger reacted quickly, sidestepping the very moment the lance left his hands.
Too bad that not even the fastest person on Teyvat can move faster than light.
The lance sheared through the man's left arm, burning it away from the moment it contacted. It impacted the wall behind him, leaving a gaping hole in the bricks, revealing natural stone beneath. The Harbinger screamed in agony, gripping the cauterised stump where his left arm used to be.
"Y-you… enough! I will MAKE YOU PAY!" The now one-armed man rose into the air, Electro and Hydro swirling around him.
"hhrrraAAGHHHH"
The 6-foot tall one-armed man somehow turned into a 12-foot tall two-armed man with a really damn cool cape. He ignored Paimon scoffing in his head saying that she could do better.
Unfortunately, Aether did not have a cool transformation to fight the Harbinger with so he decided to just conjure another spear of starlight, this time for melee combat. Sword in his left and spear in his right, he moved first, leaping forwards.
What a pain.