Act 2, Scene 13

20th of the 2nd Cycle

Aether emerged from the portal on the docks of the Southern Wharf. Liyue was definitely not having a good time to say the least.

A storm was raging, every time the waves crashed against the stone harbourfront seawater ran up to his ankles. Ships of all sizes, even the Treasure Ships, were smashing themselves against the breakwaters, wood groaning and cracking and they wrecked themselves.

Disgusting, monstrous creatures were slithering up onto the harbourfront. They came in all shapes and sizes, tentacles, hundreds of eyes, numerous heads, limbs and maws. Deformed appendages hooked onto the cobbled stone docks and they crawled up, lifting each other, pulling each other in a swarm.

Brave Millelith were engaging them on the docks, desperately trying to push them back into the sea. He saw what looked like a walking shark chomp down on the upper body of a Millelith soldier and lifted him into the air, crushing his body and eating him alive. There were no civilians around, they must have all been evacuated.

In the distance, he sees the faint silhouette of the Guyun Stone Forest through the storm and fog. The Forest was cradled by a giant sea monster, a five-headed hydra. That must be the ancient beast the Harbinger unsealed.

Not his problem.

He turned tail and rushed up the staircase up to Feiyun Slope, headed to the Central Bank where he hoped Mona was still waiting.

Indeed, she was waiting for him at the entrance of the Bank, and she wasn't happy.

"What in seven hells did you do!?"

He was kind of offended, he didn't even do anything, why did she automatically assume he did?

"I got the Mora for a ship now."

"You- what? Do you think there's going to be a ship left in the harbour after this!?"

She grabbed him by the shoulders and spun him around, giving him a good look at the Sea of Clouds. Every ship in the harbour has turned into driftwood, they have all capsized, wrecked themselves against the port, or grounded themselves. She made a good point.

"Not to mention, that's a bloody Sea God attacking the City!"

"Oh, that thing is a god? It is too far away for me to tell."

Mona snapped.

"That's the fucking Overlord of the Vortex, you retard! Osial! He waged a war against Morax for two decades before being sealed. That's his offspring attacking the City, the Children of the Deep!"

She continued her tirade with no signs of stopping, "Not to mention, if he's unsealed, it's likely his wife is as well!"

"That guy has a wife?"

"THAT'S WHAT YOU FOCUS ON!?"

She gripped her head with both hands, muttering to herself about how they were all dead.

"Come on now, the Qixing must be responding right? And Morax definitely wouldn't let his people die like this."

"Well, yes… the Qixing has already recalled the Millelith from Liyue's inland provinces, and they have announced the Adepti are on their way. But Liyue is vast, and it can take up to a day for them to arrive!"

A shadow fell over them. Aether craned upwards to see the Jade Chamber over their heads, floating in the direction of the Forest. Back down on the harbourfront, the Millelith were losing ground to the Children.

Right when he was going to suggest fleeing the City, Paimon popped out. She had that look in her eye that told him he wasn't going to like what she was about to say.

"...What is it, Paimon?"

Paimon spoke, mad glint in her eyes, "This is a blessing, not a curse. The both of you aren't thinking big enough."

Aether was very cautious when he spoke, "...What are you planning?"

"The both of you see a god, I see our ticket to Inazuma right in front of us. All we need to do is grasp it."

Mona was puzzled, so was he to be honest. "How is Osial our ticket to Inazuma, you think we can convince him? I doubt it."

"We don't need to. We just have to kill him, then forge his bones into our ship!" Paimon finished, insanity dancing in her golden eyes.

"You're insane." He stated as if it was a fact.

Mona nodded vigorously, her twin-tails bouncing up and down in agreement.

"..."

"Sounds like fun, let's do it."

Mona facepalmed.

Act 2, Scene 14

20th of the 2nd Cycle

Aether landed on the polished pavement of the Jade Chamber to the sight of spears pointed towards him.

"Stand down!" The Millelith returned their spears to a vertical position, but remained wary, "What is your purpose here, Sir Aether?" It was the Yuheng.

He shrugged, "It's going to be tiring flying all the way to Guyun, figured I could catch a ride."

"An unauthorised ride, give me a reason why I shouldn't arrest you right now?"

"You need all the help you can get. I'm pretty good you know, nearly killed a Harbinger back at Jin Castle."

"That was you? No- wait, fine. But what could you possibly do against a god?"

Aether waved her off. He had a plan, sort of.

"Don't worry about it, even if I don't kill the big squid, he will still be injured enough you can take him on yourselves. Just bring me close enough to Guyun and I'll handle it."

The Yuheng had a contemplative look. "Why should we trust you?"

"You don't need to, if I die, you lot can just do what you were planning to. And before I forget, once you drop me off get the hell out of here. Tell everyone in Liyue to find shelter, preferably underground. Don't need any collateral damage."

"The Forest is several days away from Liyue by ship, by the time the Chamber gets there the Adepti would have already arrived. What are you planning that can even reach Liyue?"

Aether ignored her, he had other concerns. He didn't realise the Chamber was that slow, he expected the flying craft to be faster. This will have to warrant a change of plans.

"I say we trust him, Lady Keqing. Even if he fails, he will still buy more time for us."

That was the Tianquan's voice. He ignored her.

"Change of plans, drop me off halfway. Then turn the Chamber around and rush back to Liyue at full speed."

The Tianquan spoke to him. "We can do that, but the journey there will still take three hours."

Good enough for him, he turned around and walked past them. He found a bench reasonably sheltered from the rain under an overhang. Aether laid down on it and closed his eyes.

"Wake me up when we're there, will you? Thanks in advance."

"You're sleeping at a time like this!?" The Yuheng's voice was justifiably indignant, but he thought differently.

"I don't know if I'll get another chance to sleep again."