"Like a water stream, may your joy flow forth~"
Was the short, yet poetic message written on the small piece of paper,
One which the group somehow managed to find inside the cave of the Stray West Island...
...
Why Alice hid it there of any places was anyone's guess,
Yet they soon realized it must have been part of her "adventure"...
-Mom just wants us to have a lot of fun, Klee is sure of this! -The pyromaniac soon enthusiastically said, as she proceeded to thoroughly look around the cave. What secrets did her mom leave behind...?~ -Klee found a big red button in a wall! I am going to click it now~ -Then, before anyone could as much as blink, she did just that and not a moment later a loud rumble was heard. -Yay, seems like something activated! I have to check what happened!
She yelled out before rushing out of the cave, everyone deciding to quickly follow after her,
Soon noticing her standing in place and glancing at something that looked like water streams...
-No matter how annoying Alice was for most of our "adventure", I have to give it to her for her resourcefulness. -Venti couldn't help admitting, as he was looking where the streams went. -...To think she would be able to suspend them in midair like this, if I didn't know any better, I would have thought she was the Hydro Archon...
He continued in some intrigue, amused how unnaturally the streams flown,
Starting from the sea itself, then gradually rising in circling motions, until they were above the cave,
As both streams intersected with one another, before gradually flowing down to sea level on the other side...
...
Not only it looked like the streams were kept in place by some unknown force,
But even from down here, the unnaturally made water slide looked like it would be a lot of fun...
...
-Alice was always quite the interesting character. One who always goes all out to make things enjoyable for everyone. -Albedo soon admitted, a small smile appearing on his face. Truthfully, he was already planning to make a drawing of this fascinating scene and couldn't help wondering about the perfect spot to do it at...-...I suggest we remain here for a few more days and enjoy our "vacation". We can not, in good faith, ignore the fun she prepared for us, is that not right...? -He added while looking between the people gathered, the two babies and two toddlers included, before he walked a few feet more towards the sea. -Besides, it should prove to be a good "distraction" while everyone turns back to normal. "Burst forth."
He used his Elemental skill to create the "Solar Isotoma", before proceeding to mount the elevator, float to the top of the cave and jump of there,
Before summoning a canvas and some painting tools from his "Hyperspace", soon starting to carefully and nonchalantly work on his first sketch of the environment...
...
Everyone else now looking between the streams and where the Chief Alchemist has just "run off to",
All of them wondering with different emotions what just happened here, as well as secretly agreeing with Albedo...
...
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Everyone knew full well that they couldn't just leave the islands, considering the state Vennessa and Dvalin were in now,
And moreover, it was still their more-than-deserved vacation, one that everyone planned to enjoy...
-That irresponsible Grandmaster is surely going to suffer with all the work left in Mondstadt. Serves him right for thinking he could push his duties onto others~ -Vennessa couldn't help adding in some amusement and barely hidden glee, Frederica secretly agreeing with her. -...This is going to be the perfect revenge for that boneheaded idiot~
"Grandmaster Varka will surely remember this "horrible moment" for quite a long while. We think that it's about time we informed everyone of this small "turn of events".", the Winds agreed, having been quietly watching things unfold for a while now, their voice gradually becoming more and more amused, "...Hearing and seeing a certain Grandmaster's reaction to the news would be quite fun~ Hilarious even~"
At the same time, back in Mondstadt...
-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! THEY CAN'T JUST LEAVE ME ALL ALONE WITH ALL THIS PAPERWORK FOR DAYS! -Varka couldn't help yelling aloud, sounding utterly heartbroken and looking as if he was about to cry. Truthfully, he felt like dying...-...Writing all those letters to the other nations detailing the situation was hard enough, but now having to answer the replies and doing damage control...It's just too much...!
He mumbled in great suffering, already starting to feel depressed,
As he soon started going on and on about how horrible these days have been for him and...
-Thankfully, Lord Barbatos seems to be feeling a lot better now, so we can confidently continue preparing for the festival. -Calvin gratefully and reassuringly said, as he and the others decided to ignore the Grandmaster and his sudden "plight". -Since our Archon is officially with us now, some changes to Weinlesefest itself might be needed. -He thoughtfully added, now wondering which activities they should keep, which ones to remove and which ones they should add. It wouldn't do to sadden Lord Barbatos, especially now, when he is feeling that much better...-...The "Fecund Blessings" and "Charity and Creativity" events should be left for sure, as for the others...
The Cardinal then went on a full on discussion about the matter,
The others, minus the still dramatical Grandmaster, soon joining in...
-I apologize for being such a great burden due to my current...-Xiao courteously started, before suddenly pausing, as his face started to redden. -...I apologize for being a burden for your esteemed...-He tried again, pausing soon after, as his face reddened even more. -...I-I apologize for...U-uh...! P-please, Yánwáng-dìjūn, let go of my wings! M-my current state is troublesome enough, but with you...T-touching there...!
He couldn't help yelling out in sheer embarrassment,
The sensation on his back making him feel really weird...
*As he berated himself for reacting in such a shameful way...
...
He was a toddler now, but still,
To act in such an embarrassing way...
...
And before one of his saviors, at th...!
-Wow, Paimon didn't think that Paimon would ever say this, but Xiao is pretty cute like this. -The Pixie suddenly commented, interrupting his thoughts and making him even more embarrassed. -Not only is he small now and has golden wings on his back, his face is all red in...!
-Yes, Xiao's current form is exceptionally adorable. To such a great extent in fact, that I can't even be mad at Barbatos for unintentionally turning him small. -Zhongli interrupted her, as he absentmindedly continued grooming the embarrassed Yaksha's wings, a small and proud smile soon appearing on his face. -...I never thought too deeply of this matter before, but wouldn't it be nice if we had children, Childe...?
-W-WHAT?! -Childe couldn't help yelling out in shock, his face rapidly turning beet red. -...W-what are you talking about, Zhongli...?! U-us having children...?! W-where did that suddenly come from...?! W-why would you even...?!
He started mumbling in shock and rising embarrassment,
Soon going on a whole speech about the "matter"...
*With a certain Archon attentively listening to his every word,
As he and the others were still putting most of their attention on Xiao...
...
Which, for his own mental state, the now small Yaksha decided to ignore,
As instead he wondered once more how things came to this...
...
...
He saw them again, the other Adepti,
His Yaksha comrades, who...
*Even remembering the occasion made him feel so...Broken...
...
Then he had to be constantly saved,
Even by the Traveler and Yánwáng-dìjūn...
*To rely on them so much, he was unsure how to process this...
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And then, suddenly, he was turned into a toddler...
*To think that the reason for this was Lord Barbatos'...
...
It was thanks to Lord Barbatos that he had his wings back,
The same golden ones he had when he was still "Alatus"...
*And ones who were mercilessly torn out by that god...
...
...
Even if for a short while, to have his wings back,
He had to somehow repay Lord Ba..."Venti" for this...
Click!
...
He had to repay...
Click!
Click!
Click!
...
H-he had to...
Click!
Click!
Click!
Click!
...
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And now the Traveler was taking photos of him!
The reminder of his utterly embarrassing state!
*He wanted to forget it so badly!
...
...
W-why was everyone reacting like this?!
...
H-he was still Liyue's Guardian Yaksha!
T-the Conqueror of Demons!
...
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E-even in this form,
H-he was still...!