Chapter 7 - Nearing Impact
"The currencies that flow through this land are my flesh and blood. For thus did I become the guarantor of the people's hard work, wisdom, and future. This is the trust I have placed in them. Betray it, and you taint my blood."
South of Liyue Harbor, there is one building that even the Qixing cannot enter freely. The Golden House – more of a castle than a house, really. Its sturdy walls and foundations could easily defy any attempt at a break-in, and its sheer size and grandeur made it a staple of Liyuean architecture.
And a certain Fatui Harbinger was eyeing the sacrosaint building up and down.
"To think that every single coin in Teyvat comes from this place, Liyue really never fails to amaze me!" Tartaglia whistled. "Aren't you lucky to live in such an interesting nation, Youxu?"
The soldier flinched when he heard his name being called. "It... it is certainly a grand place, mister." he shuddered.
Youxu glanced over his shoulder, and bitterly closed his eyes at the horrible sight. Behind the two of them lied his colleagues, brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect Teyvat's only Mora mint.
And they had paid the price, their lifeless bodies soaking into pools of their own blood. Their eyes bright and fetching mere moments ago were now a sinister dull as they stared into oblivion. Their faces distorted in agony, when they'd finally stopped struggling, had been captured for all of eternity.
A few minutes prior, a suspicous young man showed up, and when his colleagues drew their weapons they were engulfed into an endless stream of slashes. Long after they'd been dead the Fatuus was still playing with their bodies, tossing and swinging their corpses around like ragdolls.
Unable to endure the sight any longer, the guard felt a flow of acid surge from within as he keeled over and threw up. How could someone be so heartless? Was there a single hint of humanity behind these dead blue eyes of his?
No. Tartaglia had been consumed by the battlefield long ago. He'd become a bottomless pit, one that craved human lives but could never be satisfied.
Seemingly satisfied with his slaughter, Childe wiped the bloodstains off his face with his scarf, a terrifying beam still plastered on his face. His hand grabbed the massive golden handle, only for a burning sensation to make him pull back instantly.
"What the..."
The Harbinger punched the ornate gates, and a faint golden crest appeared over the doorhandles. It featured seven stars, intertwining like a constellation into a complex lock shape. The crest was a puzzle of sorts, which he was meant to solve by paying close attention to the links between the starlights.
"Come on now," the ginger groaned. "I don't have time for these games. Open this bad boy, Youxu - that's literally the only reason I kept you alive."
"I-I can't! That's the Seven-Star Ursa Major Seal, sir." the soldier cowered. "Only the Qixing may apply and remove it as they please."
The Qixing themselves had sealed the castle? As far as he was concerned, they only did these things when they wanted to keep something in - in the Chasm, for example, or somebody out. If they are trying to do both this time, he wouldn't even try to play by their rules. The Tsaritsa's orders - the only rules he cared for - were absolute, and he would carry them out to the bitter end.
"Sealing magic, eh?" he scoffed. "Think this can keep me out, little Qixing? Nah, think again!"
Tartaglia conjured an aqueous bow and switched stances, as the markman's weapon morphed into a thin blade made of pure water. The warrior reached out his hand and a dark energy swirled around his arm, powering it through and through as the sound of raging waves screamed from within. An armor-like gauntlet holding a foreign polearm was now in its place, its deadly tassel giving off an ominous glow.
"Foul Legacy," he roared. "Harpoon Crash!"
The riptide edge pierced the crest as the magical seal began to crumble. A golden energy tried to repel the blade, but it was helpless against the Abyss' dark power, a black whirlpool engulfing the seven stars and breaking the lock in the process. Childe felt a familiar tinge in his brain as the cursed strength took its toll on him, but he gritted his teeth and powered through the pain. He thrusted his weapon harder for one final push, and the heavy doors flung open, revealing the Golden House's gilded interiors for all to witness.
"Much better. That didn't hurt as much as a full-body transformation." the Harbinger contently smiled as he willed his gauntlet out of existence. "Now let's see what you have in store for me..."
The terrified soldier did not dare follow him inside as he stepped into the forbidden palace. Childe hummed in delight. The place carried a heavy scent of luxury and riches beyond one's wildest dreams, with a hint of dark secrets which sent an excited shiver running down his spine. The endless clinking flow of gold as coins fell and stacked all around him nearly made his head spin. The ginger was not one to covet riches – the Fatui's funds were more than enough, but no mortal could keep a straight face when life-changing money was just within arm's reach.
A catalyst stronger than any weapon. Mora was Liyue's beating heart, the Lord of Geo's legacy, and could build kingdoms as well as it could destroy lives in an instant. Fascinating, yet terrifying.
But the Fatuus was on a mission. Retrieving the Geo Gnosis – the priceless artifact behind the creation of this fantastic currency in the first place. After countless failed attempts and false leads, the Golden House was the only place remaining. Seeing as it was still minting Mora, the chesspiece-shaped godhead simply had to be within its walls. And as the Harbinger looked up to behold Rex Lapis' corpse in all of its glory...
He saw nothing.
The Exuvia wasn't there. The Exuvia was not there.
Childe nervously laughed. "Hang on, this is some sort of joke right? It's... they buried it in the coins, then?"
He didn't even have to dig through the piles of gold to know that there was no corpse to be found. The "little Qixing" had outsmarted him in every way. Baited him. He'd been planning the break-in for days, and it had just turned out to be an utter and complete waste of his precious time. They knew what he was after. They definitely knew about the Gnosis.
Up until now he'd been a Fatuus by title only, but now he was really a fool.
"Surprised, number eleven? See, this kind of blunder is why you can't rank up."
He didn't have to swivel around to know who was standing behind him, but he did anyway. Yup, he was right on the money – literally. The sultry voice, the haughty and condescending tone, the little click of the tongue that just never failed to irritate him...
His smile was devoid of any positive emotions. "So you followed me, Signora. What, you just came all the way here to gloat?"
In the corner of his vision, he saw Youxu's lifeless body brutally impaled on an icicle. Really wasn't the poor guy's day.
"Precisely." the Fair Lady replied as she approached him, a Fatui Agent in tow. "Typical Tartaglia. All brawn and no brain – and even the brawn is second-rate, anyway."
The ginger sneered. "Oh, please. Don't act like you know something I don't." he sneered back. "We were both played by the Qixing, that's all. One somewhat successful trip to your homeland, and your ego's bloated like never before..."
"I had a personal score to settle with Barbatos, that's all." she hissed. "And I've shown results, unlike a certain someone. When I start something I always see it through to the end."
"Yeah right." he rolled his eyes. "And since you're oh-so smart, I take it you also know how they're minting Mora without the Gnosis? Don't give me that crap."
His colleague picked up a single coin from the pregnant coffers and held it up in the light. "The Golden House is running on a contigency mint as we speak. It creates its new coins with an alloy of gold, silver and copper. So once the Qixing make their machinery self-sufficient, they will never need the Geo Gnosis again."
Oblivious to the fact that she'd just proved him wrong, he snapped in incomprehension. "Then where the hell is the Exuvia?! I've already checked every single location on the goddamn map!"
Signora let out an ugly laugh. "Figure it out yourself boy, I haven't even tried to track it down - the Seven Stars did a really good job of hiding it, it seems. But perhaps someone gave Ekatherina the wrong intel. You know what all this network mumbo-jumbo's like, it's so easy to get two maps mixed up..."
"You little..." Childe pointed an accusing finger at her as it dawned on him. "You led me on for your sick amusement?! Alright, you've officially taken things too far. We're both Harbingers! You're not supposed to interfere with my mission, let alone sabotage me!"
The white-haired woman dismissed the blame, as little snowflakes danced around her fingers. "Eh, it could've been inside the Golden House for all I know. But I just can't wait to see you embarass yourself when you report back to Her Majesty empty-handed, while I'll be over there with the Anemo Gnosis. It will certainly be quite the sight to behold."
Tartaglia gritted his teeth, his senses urgingly screaming at him for blood. "You underhanded, calculating witch..."
Something lit up in the Fair Lady's eyes, and the ginger was immediately engulfed in a deluge of hail and frost. A thick layer of ice encased his tingling arms and legs, preventing all movement.
She menacingly drew closer, until he could feel her ice-cold breath on his face. "Careful with that word." she warned. "Some men have been sent to a frigid grave for less than that."
"You're even more insane than I am." he shivered.
"Oh, quit whining about your own weakness." she hushed him before jamming a finger at the agent she'd brought along. "Lev here is one of our lieutenants in Liyue. He'll be assigned to you from now on."
Suddenly realizing that they were referring to him, Lev took a knee before his new superior – who was still frozen solid. "Lord Tartaglia, I am at your service."
Now that she'd handed things over to her subordinate, the Fair Lady was already departing. "Well, I've wasted enough time on you. If you want manpower, ask him and he'll raise an army if needed. Let's see you try and salvage your reputation after wasting so much time, Young Lord."
"Hey! You're not going to leave me here, are you?" he shouted. "Come back here, woman! I'm not done with you!"
Signora simply waved off as she disappeared in a glacial blizzard.
"Curse that witch..."
The ginger looked down and saw the agent, still kneeling before him. Didn't look like a super cunning guy, but Signora was right on one thing: he needed more men, to hell with his pride as a "solo elite squad". He'd never find the Exuvia in time, that was a given, so he would use every single asset available to grab the Geo Gnosis, through bloodshed if necessary.
"Lev, was it?" he sighed. "Gather as many troops as you can, I want every single Fatuus in the Sea of Clouds ready and standing by. We're turning Liyue into our hunting grounds, this harbor's gonna get real busy."
The loyal agent firmly nodded. "Understood, Lord Harbinger!"
"And..."
"And?"
Childe shuddered. "Go get me an ice pick, will ya?"
"Phew, we're finally out."
Keqing shielded her eyes from the sun as her mare slowly trotted out of Jueyun Karst. Following suit, her retinue let out a tired cheer. Her men were doing better thanks to the Traveler's treatments, but both them and their horses were exhausted after such a long trek through the maze-like valleys. Only Aether and Shenhe looked raring to go, but they were clearly more resilient than the rest.
Since they weren't expecting him to have company, they had only brought one extra horse with them. So the two had to share a steed, but the exorcist didn't seem to mind, quite the opposite.
"Ugh, horses move around so much, it's making Paimon dizzy. Don't big shots like you usually travel by carriage?"
Oh yeah, Paimon's here too.
"I do have a carriage, it's just gathering dust at my family's estate." The Yuheng huffed. "My clan takes great pride in their thoroughbreds, so we mostly travel by horseback. Besides, too much luxury can only make you soft."
Aether gently patted his companion's head. "Paimon, just float if you're feeling sick. It's not like you need to sit on a horse to move around anyway."
"But it's looks so cooool..." the fairy whined. "We should've just asked Cloud Retainer to use some of her adeptus arts to send us back to the harbor!"
"Over my dead body." Keqing vetoed. "I'd rather swim all the way to Inazuma than ask an adeptus for help, especially for a matter I can deal with on my own. Relying on gods to do the heavylifting for you will inevitably lead to disappointment – truly baffling to see that my peers can't understand such a simple fact."
"Master would have loved to help, though." Shenhe mused. "She's very fond of Aether, understandably so."
The Traveler sheepishly ran a hand through his blond hair. "Well, not exactly for the reasons I'd hoped. I mean, trying to rope me into getting married... who in their right mind would do that?"
"I was actually surprised when you turned her down. I thought you liked Miss Ganyu." the exorcist recollected.
"Ganyu is very-" Aether discontinued the thought, suddenly having the creeping feeling that he was about to mess up horribly. "I guess I'm not ready for that kind of relationship just yet. There are a lot of things to take into account, like how I feel about some other people."
"You know, I hear the adepti are really tolerant when it comes to polygamy..."
"Can we talk about something else?"
Thankfully for the Traveler, Ganyu caught up to them. "Aether, shall we tell Lady Keqing about what happened with the adepti? We haven't had a chance to come clean about our deal yet, and it's weighing on me a little."
Shenhe instinctively shifted closer to him. "What deal? They're not taking you away, are they?"
"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere." he reassured her before turning to the Yuheng. "Hey, Keqing? There's a little something we forgot to tell you."
The lilac-haired woman glanced back at the three of them, and her businesswoman's instincts kicked in. "I have a terrible feeling about this. You didn't add any weird clauses to your contract, did you?"
He shrugged. "I just figured it would be best to pin the blame for the so-called "investigation" on you, and told Ganyu to go along with it. Long story short, I'd advise you to stay away from Jueyun Karst for a while."
The Yuheng's jaw silently dropped. "You're kidding, right?" A quick glance at the secretary's apologetic face and Aether's held back laughter told her they were not kidding.
"Oh come on!" she groaned. "Why does Ganyu get away scot-free when I have to stay on my toes?"
"Because you're the only one who doesn't need their support." The Traveler pointed at her brain. "You don't like the adepti, and the feeling seems to be mutual. Ganyu acts as a bridge between the adeptal and mortal world, and I needed to gain their trust. Since they don't really care for the harbor's politics, you were the perfect scapegoat – you're the one who gave me this idea in the first place."
Keqing pinched the bridge of her nose. "But this puts the Qixing in a tight spot! The adepti have been waiting for an opportunity to expose our supposed incompetence for ages, and you just handed it to them on a silver platter!"
The half-qilin objected. "Actually Lady Keqing, it has been made very clear that you do not represent the Qixing here, you chose to come of your own accord. Besides, the Seven Stars have no reason to feel endangered when I'm also on their side."
Good point, but she would've appreciated a kind warning beforehand! Well, if there won't be any serious repercussions, she'll take Ganyu's word for it. Though she had made a few mistakes recently, the secretary seemed in a much better place ever since she'd set foot in her homeland again.
"You came prepared, huh?" the Yuheng shook her head. "You two make it sound so easy... I'm glad we were able to clear all misunderstandings between the three of us, but keep in mind that everyone in the harbor won't be as merciful. I'll let it go this time, but don't pull this kind of stunt again, Traveler."
Aether nodded. "As both you and Ganyu said, Liyue's power play is a game of deception. I'll keep my wits about myself, and besides, I have Yuehai Pavilion's General Secretary to guide me around this maze. If somebody knows how to stay out of trouble it's her, right?" he playfully winked.
The Guardian of All Living Things smiled. "Well, I hope I can be useful to you, Aether... we do have a contract after all."
"You can rely on me too, okay?" Shenhe gently stroked his braid. "I know Miss Ganyu is capable, but I won't fall behind."
Keqing raised a hand. "For what it's worth, I'm here. We kinda need to trust eachother for things to work out so... you have my vote."
"And Paimon's here too! We're the bestest party you could ever ask for!"
The Traveler saw the glimmer in their expectant smiles, and he suddenly found himself grinning too. Maybe he'd grown a little disillusioned with Teyvat since the disastrous Rite of Descension. Compared to Mondstadt, he had been through a lot in Liyue - heck, his troubles aren't over yet.
But at least he had no need for a god's favor, coffers filled with gold, or the strength to move mountains and crush titans. He'll be fine as long as there are people who are willing to fight by his side, even the most unexpected allies.
"Maybe the Traveler doesn't need to distance himself from mortals, and half-qilins too, I guess."
Perhaps he could afford to actually enjoy his journey through Teyvat? God or human, an overwhelming sense of responsibility will eventually cripple you. It sounded silly, but he wasn't really on a mission. Saving his sister had felt more and more like an assignment as of late, but he was only being pressured by himself.
Lumine's brother needed to take a backseat, so Aether could live.
"Geez, I really have to protect everyone to the best of my abilities now, huh?" he wholeheartedly laughed. "Really, though. Thank you. I'm glad to know you all have my back – even though Emergency Food is mostly here for moral support."
The fairy protested. "Hey! Paimon's the most important asset on this team!"
"You sure are, Paimon."
Everyone shared a laugh at the floating child's expense, until a shadow flew over Shenhe's face. Looking up, she saw a black spot gliding between the morning star and themselves.
"What is that thing..."
Preemptively, she summoned her polearm. Lining up her gaze with the moving target, she positioned her weapon overhead, aimed and...
"Shenhe, that's a messenger raven."
...immediately froze when she heard Aether's voice.
The Traveler's sharp eyesight did not betray him. The jet-black bird descended in circles, before elegantly landing on Keqing's arm. The Yuheng, seemingy acquainted with the raven, gently scratched it under its beak.
"This feathered fellow here is Banyi – one of the Qixing's best flying messengers." she explained. "Because our ravens carry human messages, they are trained to never trespass upon the sacred skies of Jueyun Karst. Either way, this little guy probably has an important message for us."
While being very careful not to startle the bird, Keqing untied the little note strapped to its talon. Once she made sure that it was bearing the official seal, her eyes darted across the paper, reading it all from top to bottom in a matter of seconds.
And the more she read, the more her face decomposed.
Ganyu was the most apprehensive. "Lady Keqing, what does it say?"
"The Fatui are up to no good again." she frowned.
A shiver ran down Aether's spine, as he glanced knowingly at Paimon. Not again. Had they already gotten their filthy hands on another Gnosis?
"According to our intelligence, a Harbinger broke into the Golden House, probably hoping to find the Exuvia – of course he failed. The Northland Bank has become suspiciously active afterwards, dealing with a lot more Snezhnayan clients than usual. The Qixing will be holding an emergency meeting in a week at the Tianquan's behest, and I have to attend of course."
The secretary mentally calculated the distance. "If we work our horses really hard, we can make it to the Sea of Clouds in eight days at best."
Eight days. As if she could afford to lose face in front of her peers again, especially when everybody was on edge. Her seat as the Yuheng was already living on borrowed time, no way she would walk away from this one unscathed. Who in Teyvat requested such a tight deadline? A long list of suspects was already rolling in her head.
"It will take less time if we cross through monster territory." Shenhe rectified. "Following the main road will only slow us down. The trip should take about five days if we cut straight across Cuijue Slope and fight our way southeast."
Aether glanced at the Yuheng, and noticed that her hands were shaking. He immediately grabbed her shoulders, while trying his best to sound reassuring. "Hey. We're going to make it in time, okay? This is an emergency for pretty much everyone, we're going to travel as fast as possible."
Keqing silently cursed herself. Liyue Harbor was in a state of political unrest, greedy eyes were coveting the Qixing's lofty seats from the shadows, and all she did was waste her own time running around Jueyun Karst in search of some non-criminal.
In truth, she was scared. She was terrified when she saw the Exuvia plummet to the ground. As much as she liked to talk smack of Rex Lapis' way of ruling, he knew what he was doing. Keqing didn't.
She'd always said Liyue would be better off without him, but now she felt terribly unsure of what would happen next. What to do next.
"No, I'm capable. I. Am. Capable."
Aether was right. What the heck was happening to her? The Yuheng faces her troubles and opponents head-on. She's a businesswoman with an iron-clad determination, one who bends on no matter and never admits defeat. The Fatui want a war? They'll have it. The scoundrels at Heiji Hall want her position? Come and get it. They seriously expected her to back away when Liyue needed its Yuheng now more than ever?
She'd rather die than give up.
"Men!" she roared. "The journey home will be a treacherous one, but we have no other choice. Our planned route is a massive breeding ground for dangerous monsters. Be sure to stick together and keep your weapons at the ready!"
She tugged on the reins and steered her mare southwards, swiftly jumping over a ledge as she carved out a path for herself. That is, until she questioned why she wasn't hearing the sound of hooves following suit. To her surprise, her men were simply staring at her in awe, completely oblivious to the fact that they needed to follow her orders.
Suddenly, one of them shouted "The Yuheng is back!", and the entire squad erupted into praise and cheers.
"All hail the Yunlai Clan! We'll follow you anywhere, Lady Keqing!"
"Let's get these Fatui scum! You lead the way!"
Steel tassels banged against proud breastplates, as her men roared in unison. The Traveler smiled amusedly, with perhaps a hint of bittersweet nostalgia behind his closed lips.
The lilac-haired woman was surprised, yet delighted. Forget about being a member of the Qixing, Keqing, Lady of the Yunlai Clan, is a woman of action first and foremost. She shall bare her blade before the heavens, and watch as her harbor prospers under her careful gaze.
The Yuheng, no, Keqing, let out a proud laugh.
"Come on, everyone! We have a home to protect!"
So it turns out the Exuvia isn't in the Golden House. Crazy, right? The plot is picking up some much needed pace, and the Fatui are finally on the move. Felt like giving Keqing some love towards the end, she's gonna need it. The next scenes are becoming more and more clear in my mind, and I kinda love where this story is about to go.
I have like four different story drafts in the works, one of them is scheduled to come out right after I finish DWtK, the other ones are still on standby while I try to figure things out. I have way too many ideas (help!), but I'm going to grind and see what I can produce for you to read.
If you have any feedback or ideas to keep me (and you) occupied, you know where to drop'em.
