There was something about Wangshu inn that Venti absolutely loved. Standing tall in a sea of nothingness, the inn was a beacon of commodity and hope for any traveller around. Those qualities also made it a great point to glide from, though he preferred to enjoy the view from the top. Like the Windrise tree, in a way.

But there was a pitfall in that comparison. Instead of purifying the area, it stood in an area of miasma that was hard to get rid of. The corpses of dead gods cursed the land, keeping a very restrained group of people on an endless war against corruption.

Still, despite that catch, it was one of his favourite places in Liyue.

As the rain fell outside, Venti and Mona managed to enter the elevator rising towards the main building. Although roofless, the tree branches above gave them enough cover to dry their clothes. Mona's clothes, while oddly skin-tight, were also quite good at letting water slip by. Venti's, however, acted like a sponge.

"It wasn't even raining that much," The bard broke the silence between them, taking off his hat. He rustled his hair before realising the stinging burns in his hands were becoming a nuisance.

"I apologise for being so pushy," Mona decided to use the moment to do some penance. "If you had told me your friends might be… well…"

"Nah, don't worry about it. I'm the one being rude for not telling the truth." He brushed it off, not wanting to make a big deal about it. He tried to wring out his hat, but his hands hurt too much to apply enough pressure.

"Uh… Venti, what's with the funny face?" She caught a glimpse of his hands, burned by the device earlier. Before he could say anything, she took hold of one of them and held back a gasp. "There are blisters all over, what did you do?!"

He had to admit, it was quite a sight. His palms were mostly covered with two sizeable blisters, while smaller ones covered his fingers. They didn't even itch or hurt that much until he saw the horrible state they were in.

The bard couldn't answer, as Mona pulled him out of the elevator as soon as it reached the top. When they entered the reception, she sat him down on one of the inside benches.

"Geez… I've seen injuries, but I've never seen anything like that. You play the lyre like an expert, how come your hands are so soft?" Mona dug through her bag, though it was difficult with the big device in front of everything. "I have some bandages. But maybe the big ones should be drained? I don't know what to do…"

In any other situation, Venti would have declined. The wounds would heal the moment they were out of Bishui plain. The curse of the lands made it hard to use his powers to heal. However, since Mona wanted to do anything to help him, he simply watched how she wrapped his hands loosely with a white-ish bandage.

As he watched her diligently work, his mind uncovered a precious memory of a time before everything went wrong.

Barbatos used a real, physical body from time to time. Some Gods were really into reincarnating by living through all stages of life, before performing some miracle and disappearing. He wasn't so magnanimous. He conjured the form of a dear friend of his, and simply inhabited it. No waiting time, no delays, no clear ageing. However, this carried a slight defect. In its simplicity, things like scars, muscles and agility had to be built up. His fingers, for example, always turned up too soft to play continuously his lyre. After a few weeks and months, some lucky callouses would spare him the pain of hours and hours of playing. He could put some of his powers and fix it, sure. But where was the fun in that? Sometimes the easy way out was too boring.

One night on a cold, rainy night in Mondstadt, Venti had been playing and playing nonstop to receive free drinks. A worthy sacrifice! At least that's what he thought before his dominant hand started bleeding from overuse. No matter, he had two hands for a reason. Until her less dominant hand also started to bleed.

"Another one, Bard!"

"Yeah, hit us up!"

His voice was raspy, and his fingers couldn't take another song But he obliged. For the love of art… and alcohol. "Alright! Last one!"

"Yesterday is buried, mourn it on the morrow.
Here is but ephemeral bliss, ruin it not with sorrow.
Grab yourself a bottle, while you still can swallow.
You won't cop a single drop in the world to follow!

Cheers and laughter filled the room as he sang, only stopping to drink himself. Then, as he basked in the afterglow of cheers, he sat down on one of the many tables of the tavern. He placed his beer mug in front of him, the feeling of accomplishment slowly fading and the pain in his fingers swelling. Blood trickled down to his palm, where it slowly puddled.

He pushed the beer mug and rummaged around his hidden inventory. He produced an empty wine glass. The one he had bought a couple of decades ago, still in perfect condition. The god observed it for a few moments, placing it beside the wooden beer mug.

The thought of filling the wine glass with blood crossed his mind. Luckily, his sense of disgust still lingered even in his rowdy, alcoholic state.

With one last glance at his fingers, he rested his head against the table, his sight focused on the rainy night outside.

He couldn't see much more than the raindrops on the window, his eyes having trouble focusing. How many were there dripping down? More than fifty, he reckoned. He drank that many glasses as well. Why should he trust himself anyway? He was drunk. Maybe that was why he didn't care that much about the small bleeding.

Lightning bathed the tavern. Then, thunder shook it. Venti didn't care.

"Your songs are beautiful, Barbatos." He recognised the voice, but there wasn't any motivation in him to talk.

"Sorry," He said. "Barbatos is closed today."

A few moments later, realisation struck him like a bolt. He turned his head around, still resting on the table. The tavern was still loud and unruly. Yet, what really drew his eye was the woman kindly asking him the question. The white outfit stood out like a sore thumb, and the Inazuman style made it even more extravagant. Nothing you would see in Mondstadt, especially at a gritty tavern in the middle of the night.

"Oh, I'm…" Barbatos hastily got up from the seat, hitting his legs against the table and his right arm against the chair. He was about to offer a handshake before pulling back and standing awkwardly.

"Please, don't force yourself." The woman's voice was calm, though with a hint of concern. "I didn't come here as Baal."

Baal, or rather, the young woman sat down on the opposite end of the table, her manners elegant and graceful. Barbatos glanced at another approaching figure. An almost exact copy of Baal. The only difference was the dark purple clothes and the long braid that almost reached the ground. If he had to guess, she was Beelzebul.

The rest of the clients of the tavern didn't seem to notice them. He had a few theories, but his mind was on low-energy.

"You said my sister could visit you whenever she wanted," Beelzebul uttered like she had read his mind. Hidden in her words, he could tell some disdain.

With that, Barbatos turned to Baal, the real one. He sat down, in the realisation that they had been watching him for quite a while. Getting drunk and singing his heart out. He thanked that his face was quite red already, or they'd notice his embarrassment.

"I, erm… Know better songs." He held back a hiccup.

"The songs you sing in the town centre are much more insightful and calm. I have to admit I love the Black Empress' tale. But I love the intensity of your last song. It seemed so much… you." Unlike his last conversation with Beelzebul, Baal acted way more interested. It didn't seem like an act either.

"I wasn't aware Baal was a stalker?" Barbatos didn't have time for acts either. His words were brusque and direct, though Baal didn't react negatively.

"You complain about Morax's stories, but you like talking a lot yourself. Especially at the Gathering of the Gods. But please, do not call me Baal. I came here as Makoto, a simple traveller from Inazuma."

"Is that so? Then I am Venti, the 'famousest' bard between these four walls." He laughed at his joke, turning into a sigh. "And you, scary double? Do you have a name?"

Beelzebul shifted in place, uncomfortable in the spotlight. "I only came here to protect my sister. But if you have to, you can call me Ei."

"It seems my sister has some conflicting thoughts about Barbatos. Though, Venti, I have to admit I didn't expect her to put up with you for so long." Makoto didn't seem to mind Ei's piercing glare. "You're usually quite loud, the opposite of Ei."

"What can I say, she has some patience like Morax. Though I feared she'd cleave me in twain if I hung around her for a minute more."

"Don't speak like I'm not here, it's embarrassing." Ei chimed in, crossing her arms.

"Come on, don't stand around! Come sit with your old pal Venti."

Ei stared at the bard for some long moments before approaching the table and sitting next to her sister. Having them both next to each other, Venti couldn't help but notice the similarities and differences between the twins. While physically they looked quite similar, their personalities were quite different. They were both calm and confident. But, whereas Makoto's tranquillity came from being fully in control of the situation, Ei's came from her power to prevent or stop any disturbances.

Makoto thus didn't rely on strength or prowess but wisdom and knowledge. Her body language reflected it. She maintained eye contact and carried a pleasing smile even without thinking. Something about her demeanour really attracted Venti, though perhaps that was her natural charm. In a way, Makoto knew nothing would go wrong. And that made her free.

Ei, however, wasn't as loose and composed as her sister. She hid her true self well in the previous Gathering of the Gods, but now Venti could fully see the real Beelzebul. She was aware of any threat in the surroundings, with her eyes glancing at any possible threat if the ambience changed ever so slightly. And in that ever-present state of overwatch, Barbatos could only see rigid rules and habits. The complete opposite of him.

Of course, he knew she was more than a martial artist. Around her sister, Ei was much more amicable and kind. She was at ease, unlike in their first meeting. Venti hoped that she'd view him that way as well, and not as a threat or stranger.

"You are bleeding, Barbatos," Ei mentioned, refusing to use his pen name.

"Oh my," Makoto smoothly took his right hand and observed his fingertips. "You truly love music, do you? Let me help you."

As a small glow emanating from her hands, Venti quickly pulled back.

"Woah, thanks! But I rather let them heal on their own."

Makoto's surprise turned into a brief giggle directed at Ei. "You sound like someone I know." Beelzebul avoided her sister's comment and rested her chin on her hand.

"The injuries I sustain training my skills can't be compared to his useless frolicking," Ei answered back quite seriously.

"Don't be such a downer," Makoto bumped her shoulder and turned to Venti. "She says those awful comments but she loves poetry as well."

"Sister, please. He's…" Ei pressed her lips, resting her glare on Barbatos.

"He's a simple bard." Makoto asserted herself. With those words out of the way, she took her long sleeves and ripped a chunk of them out. Then, with a brief glow, the thick fabric broke down into smaller, more manageable cloth. "There we go."

Ei sighed as she watched her sister, realising that nothing she could say would stop her.

"Here, Venti. Let me wrap your fingers." Makoto offered, smiling with her lips and eyes.

There was a strange, pulsating feeling in his chest as she made her offer. He quickly nodded, though he loathed thinking of her disappointment if he declined. He silently observed how Makoto wrapped his index finger with care and love like she had known him for years. Perhaps that was the case. Wasn't this what he would have done as well? Helping somebody you barely knew? He hadn't thought much about it when he was on the other end, but it felt quite nice.

With an exasperated sigh, Ei took Venti's left hand as well along with some of the makeshift bandages. "Don't move."

While Ei wasn't as careful as her sister, she was way more efficient. Her movements were refined, though the bard didn't feel the same satisfaction as with her sister. The kagemusha was simply doing it to spare her sister the trouble of wrapping his other hand.

"Well, the night sure turned around for the better." Venti laughed as she watched the rulers of Inazuma working to heal him. Morax wouldn't believe it if he told him.

"Done." Ei released him, observing him like he was trash.

"Oh, and I still have three fingers to go." Makoto pouted, which prompted Venti to answer.

"It's fine! I like your method more." He found himself grinning without reason. "Do you do the same to Ei?"

Makoto was too focused on wrapping the pieces of cloth. However, their eyes crossed for a moment and she answered.

"Not so much anymore. Sadly, ruling a nation doesn't leave you much free time." She finished another finger and moved onto his ring finger. "I only have free time around these late hours, which I would rather spend with friends rather than work."

"And today we wasted it here," Ei added, tapping her fingers relentlessly against the table.

"You didn't have to come, you know?" Venti answered back, though not in anger. "Are you maybe afraid I'll snatch your sister from you? I am quite smooth when I want to!"

"Is this how the God of Freedom lives? Wasting his money on cheap alcohol while hoping he entices random women?" Ei asked, lowering her eyebrows.

"Ei, be kind. Our friend Venti is not a human. Alcohol affects most creatures, but wisps don't feel attracted to people in the same way as humans." Makoto calmly explained. "A wisp's true form is quite the sight. Lovely and minute."

"Ehe…! You're going to make me blush." He scratched his neck, having trouble maintaining eye contact with Makoto.

As Makoto finished wrapping another finger, Ei recognised the wine glass next to Venti.

"May I?" She asked the bard, though with some contempt.

"It's all yours." Venti glanced at Makoto, and though he didn't understand it, he added. "You know what? Keep it. I don't really use it. Besides, you can teach your sister about Mondstadt's ways."

"Are you sure?" Makoto and Ei spoke at the same time. They looked at each other and giggled.

"Yep! Having a bit of Mondstadt might help you understand its people." He said with a wide smile.

"Appreciated but unneeded. Makoto already understands it, and that's enough." Ei added, somewhat proud of the accomplishment.

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure." Makoto hastily corrected her. "I'm not sure if I fully understand Barbatos' freedom. Or Morax's contracts. But when you have such an idea, the important is not to know whether it is true or false. The question is to know if it is important, if it is interesting, and if it is beautiful. I will try my best to understand them."

Baal looked around the tavern and then to the window. Mondstadt's night was quite a sight, even in the middle of a storm. As she basked in the city's beauty, she continued.

"Hearsay and rumours only deceive those unwilling to learn. Freedom to choose… Those words have a stigma around most of the Seven. We never had a choice, after all. We only had a death match between our equals. But Barbatos is a wise god, much like his counterpart in Liyue. As much as our peers like to think so, his words aren't a Damocles sword hanging above our heads. But advice to never tie a rope around our precious people." Makoto observed Venti's fully bandaged hands. And then she looked at him with a warm smile. "Or am I wrong?"

Venti just stared wide-eyed at Makoto. She spoke with such gentle and accepting words that no other archon would say. She didn't reject or disregard those ideas. And in that fact, Venti immediately understood his odd infatuation with Baal. She didn't care about how he came to power or what he did in other Archon's lands. She didn't think he was a buffoon either. Somehow, seeing that she treated him like an equal made him feel in a way he couldn't describe. Many words crossed his mind, but only one stuck. Gratitude.

"That's… that's right, yes." Dumbfounded, those were the only words that escaped his lips. "There are many ways a God can rule their lands while letting their people be."

"I wasn't aware you liked stewardship. I'm sure your ideas will bring about innovation."

While Makoto and Venti shared a moment, Ei could only sigh in disappointment. Her sister was in many ways more mature, and a better ruler than Ei could ever be. But, did she not understand that Eternity and Freedom could never mix? Yet how did her sister do it? If she wished to make friends with the Anemo Archon, then her reasoning had to be sound. But seeing their immediate bond somehow made her blood boil.

And Venti could tell as much. Even as he tried to bring her into the conversation or switch topics, it seemed like Ei was far away from understanding him. Perhaps too far away.

"Venti? Knock-knock? The stars are calling you."

The bard snapped out of his thoughts. He felt disoriented for a few long seconds, unaware that he was in Wangshu inn. Unaware that, those times he spent with Baal and Beelzebul were long gone.

He excused himself saying he zoned out, but that was far from the truth. He was so offuscated reliving those memories that he forgot about the outside world. That was dangerous. Without even meaning it, he almost returned to a state of deep sleep.

Not many minutes had passed in the real world. Yet, throughout the rest of the day, his body felt unnatural and hard to move. As they had a cheap salad as lunch, Venti couldn't really bring himself to the conversation with Mona. Those memories had triggered an intense melancholy that almost rendered him useless. If it wasn't for the pain in his hands, he wouldn't even feel his body. He needed to drink, that's what was happening.

With just a bit of alcohol, his body would settle in again.

"Mona," His voice was lower than usual. "Didn't you have a bottle of cognac? Fontaine sure knows how to make good alcohol, you know? We could share it."

The astrologer twisted her lips. "It's a present for my master, I'm afraid I can't do that. I don't relish alcohol either way."

"Ah. Good."

His money pouch was empty after buying food, even after Mona's chipped in for her part. He wouldn't be able to buy anything, much less alcohol.

After the muted lunch finished, they decided to simply wait for the storm to mellow down. Standing idle would not do for the bard, however, and decided to take a walk alone around the inn. Climbing up towards the top, he could see many other travellers like him hanging around, waiting for the weather to clear up. All of them were heading towards Liyue Harbour, for the festivities involving the Rite of Descension.

He didn't mind them and continued towards the highest point of the inn. There, a wide balcony exposed to the elements showed northern Liyue in all its splendour. If the storm wasn't there, at the very least.

Right at the entrance of the balcony, with nobody around, he summoned his lyre. His hands definitely weren't up to the task. Nevertheless, this was a song for a forgotten warrior and he couldn't let him be.

A tune of comfort and peace, slow yet upbeat. The rain danced with each note, in pulses that emanated from his instrument. The clouds' dark colour began to brighten up, while the thunder practically disappeared from their ears.

"Your tunes reveal who you are, Barbatos," The hoarse voice of the hidden listener didn't perturb Venti in the slightest.

"I was never hiding, though I go by Venti these days. Am I unwelcomed by the Vigilant Yaksha?" The bard continued playing the tune, knowing that its purifying effect was properly functioning.

"I am not here for idle chat, and neither are you."

Out from the shadows, Xiao's figure emerged from a cloud of corruption. His usual furrowed brow was almost inexistent, as the Anemo God's music eased his constant pain. Venti continued playing, unbothered by the Yaksha's presence. The former preferred to observe the weakening rain. As minutes passed, he wondered if he could do the same in the lands of Inazuma. Would his song penetrate the eternal storms that surrounded the islands?

"Your notes are pure but your thoughts are not." The Yaksha mentioned, immobile. "Liyue is restless, miasma is seeping in from the Chasm. Countless souls will perish. But you are not here for this struggle."

"Though no contract binds me, I will not act without Rex Lapis' approval in this situation," Venti answered. "I have other matters to attend to."

"The land of Thunder. There are no coincidences. A vagrant from those lands ravaged in curses is around Guili Plains. A damned existence much like mine, though his hostility is well hidden." His advice came as a surprise for Barbatos.

"A vagrant from Inazuma? Interesting. I appreciate your concern."

"Concern? Do not presume my words are such. A warning, no more." Xiao glanced up, the sky clearing up and the rain long gone. "However, the burden I suffer is ever so slightly lessened by your grace. Much like Rex Lapis gave me a name, you saved my life once as well. If there's trouble, call my name."

With that, the Yaksha disappeared in a faint fog. Venti stopped his tune and muttered a long blessing before regaining his usual self. He was sure Xiao appreciated his visit.

Regardless, his bandages were ragged and wet from the bursted blisters. He hadn't played for very long, but for long enough to do some severe damage. His hands kept shaking, though he didn't mind the pain much. His nostalgia was still strong, though he felt more at ease after his talk with the Yaksha.

He just needed a drink. Just a bit. Yakshas, Rex Lapis, Makoto and Ei... He had enough for the day.

And he needed to drink soon. No, he needed it now. The urge felt so strong that the thought of flying back to Mondstadt crossed his mind.

He re-entered the inn and searched for Mona. She had that small bottle of cognac, that would be enough to keep him going. He just needed to reach Liyue harbour before he remembered any more bittersweet memories.

It took him a few minutes of searching to remember that she was already at the base of the inn. He didn't waste any time and directly jumped off the balcony. He glided down without any issues and landed in front of Mona.

"Alright, I found that thing I forgot." Venti proclaimed with an enigmatic smile.

"I thought you needed some fresh air?" Mona raised an eyebrow.

"Well, that too." He faked a cough. "So, eh, my hands hurt a lot. Mind if I drink some for the pain?"

The astrologer tightened her lips. "Is it that bad? I mean… I think my master would understand it."

"Oh, yeah. I can't even hold them straight. Besides, I thought you didn't like her." Venti tried to scratch his hands, barely stopping himself before he bursted even more blisters.

"It's not that I don't like her," Mona rummaged through the bag and pulled out the bottle. "It's just that she doesn't appreciate my talent." She struggled to open the bottle. Mona used so much strength that after a brief fight, the cap almost went flying.

Venti immediately tried to take it, though Mona was faster than him.

"No, no, you're not grabbing it. I'll hold it for you."

His lie had been a bit too successful, but this was better than nothing. She slowly placed the bore of the bottle on his lips, giving him enough time to smell the strong alcohol. It had either spoiled or could knock out a horse with a mere sip.

His addiction, however, didn't really mind that and Venti just gulped down as much as his body asked. Which, due to the strong alcohol content of the cognac, was surprisingly little.

"For the love of- I can see Fontaine's refineries with just a sip."

"A sip? That was almost half the bottle!" Mona screwed back the cap, placing the bottle back in her bag.

"The rest is for you. How kind of me." His words were sarcastic, though not directed at Mona. "Let's get going then. I won't be able to carry you without any hands."

Mona shook her head. "It's fine. One need not scry to observe that the weather will remain clear. Though filled with mud."

With that, their journey resumed. With quick steps and barely any rest, Venti strode forward without a care in the world. He crossed puddles, potholes and fallen trees like they were of little consequence to him. Still, that exercise only sobered him up even faster. And in his mind, the memories started to fester. Having that small buzz only made his melancholy even worse.

He could barely appreciate Liyue anymore. He just wanted to reach Inazuma and talk with them. Screw talking to Morax, screw saving Mona from the Fatui, screw upholding promises to random merchants. He'd just go straight to Tenshukaku. He wanted to see Baal again. Yet, he didn't do that. But he could, and the mere thought was tempting.

With those thoughts looping, minutes turned into hours. Guili plain's sky turned to orange, and his fateful companion got restless.

"Let's… let's take a rest. I cannot push my legs any further lest I fall and injure myself."

Venti narrowed his eyes as he looked back at the astrologer. "There's still a few hours of sunlight."

"I won't see any more sunlight if I keep going." She complained. "Besides, we're in Guili plains. The night is dangerous here. And I want to check on your wounds."

"They're fine." He continued walking, ignoring her comments.

"H-Hey! Wait!" She struggled to run but managed to hold his sleeve. "What's with you? You've been quiet the whole way."

For a brief moment, Venti wanted to snap and just fly away. But he was better than that. Loneliness was getting to him.

"Lots of things. But you're right." He shimmered down his temper. "I think I just need a rest as well. I'll never stop otherwise." He scouted the area and pointed to a nearby sandbearer tree. "Somebody's camped there before. That will make it easier for us."

"I can listen to your troubles, that would be one way of paying you back." Mona's offer flew over his head. "Or you can ignore me, jerk."

The only thing she could do was sigh and follow him. The sandbearer tree indeed held some campfire rocks and a few downed tree trunks to act as seats. But besides that, there was no wood or anything to sleep on.

"I might have a lil'alcohol addiction." Venti suddenly decided to speak as he cleared the ground around the campfire with some kicks. "I mean, it's only been a problem when I run out. I think I'm just losing my sense of self sometimes, you know?"

Mona sat down on one of the tree stumps and fidgeted her fingers. She had offered to listen, but she had no idea of how to do that.

Venti noticed her awkward pose and switched gears. "Have you ever felt like that? Somewhat… alone?

She jumped slightly. "Oh, I don't think so. I'm doing what I love, that's enough for the moment."

"I mean, don't you miss friends?"

"I, er… I don't really have friends." Mona admitted, bowing her head.

"Oh." Venti looked up at the sandbearer tree. "I'll present myself as Mona's number one friend then. I'm sure I'll visit Liyue from time to time. And you need to get a gliding license, remember? I'm a super good teacher, loved all around!"

"I-If you say so?" Though Venti's offer was well-meaning, it didn't feel that way to Mona. She nervously drummed her thighs, before getting up. "I'll go find some more sticks."

Disappointed, Venti decided to speed up their fire-making quest.

Using some of his powers, he gathered some wet and dead leaves into the centre of the pit. After spending some time finding a small pebble, he threw it at immense speed, setting the leaves on fire. Anemo energy danced around the small ember, empowering it and strengthening it.

"Mona~! I need more sticks now!" He cooed like a finch.

She had barely gathered a bit of firewood when he called her. "How did you… You know what, I prefer to not question it."

Backtracking her small detour, she slowly added the wet sticks to the growing fire. The fire was strong enough to dry them rather fast, so she didn't have to find many more.

With fire ready, they focused on finding anything to eat. They couldn't venture too far away from the main road, as the sun was slowly setting. Despite that, they managed to forage enough wild carrots and radishes to make something edible. Venti had gathered all types of mushrooms that, at Mona's behest, he had to drop because half of them were poisonous. So much hard work for nothing.

Still, gathering different types of vegetables and fungus was enough to keep his mind occupied. The vexing melancholy remained, but at the very least he couldn't pinpoint it on an exact memory.

And when the night came over, he felt it again. And this time, not in the form of memory. The sensation of the air becoming electrifying, like Baal was around him. But the more he experienced it, the more alien it became. It was way weaker than her aura, like a mere drop.

Only moonlight gave him an answer, lighting up the silhouette of a vagrant. Making no sounds as he approached, his features were hidden by his large hat. It wasn't something Venti had seen on the mainland. Heeding Xiao's warning, he assumed this traveller wasn't what it seemed.

Once the vagrant got close enough to the campfire, its light showed his slim feature along with the hat's ornamental veils. His Inazuman attire was on the nose, as well as his fake smile.

"Good nights, travellers." The vagrant's measured voice greeted them. "Do you mind if I rest alongside you?"

The Yashiro Commissioner observed the moon high above the courtyard of Tenshukaku. At these hours, he'd be in his residence spending time with his sister, chatting about the day and enjoying the moment. But the outbreak of war had completely shattered those expectations.

He knew it would happen. His connections with the Shuumatsuban might have given him a slight edge in intelligence, but everybody knew Watatsumi would rebel. It was a well-known secret, though people deluded themselves into believing the Shogun would stop it.

Those desires never found a home in Ayato.

Because Kamisato Ayato was a man of consistency. Whenever he had a task to complete, he'd carefully prepare each possible scenario to never be caught off-guard. His desk was a mess because of this, but it was a worthy endeavour. No matter the unexpected incident, he'd have a few tricks up his sleeve.

So when the Shogun herself demanded his presence at Tenshukaku, he was actually puzzled. Though the meetings of the Tri-Commission always occurred at the palace, the Shogun didn't usually take partake in them. She would rubber-stamp whatever motion the Tri-Commission had decided on, and that was it. For this to happen so suddenly and unexpectedly, something had gone horribly wrong.

The Shuumatsuban had reported to him several times that week about the possibility of war breaking out with Watatsumi island. But due to the Tenryou and Kanjou commissions' alliance, the Shogun should have never received that news. Not when it had to go through the Tri-Commission first.

And if that had happened, then a third party had to be part of this. He had always suspected the Fatui ever since they settled in Liyue. And when their diplomats reached Inazuma, he knew there was something they were seeking. But those were conjectures and hypotheses. Right now, the current situation took priority.

Hiiragi Shinsuke, the Kanjou Commissioner, and Kujou Takayuki, the Tenryou commissioner, arrived at Tenshukaku at the same time. As far as he knew, they were having a meeting on Ritou island. Sayu had been spying on them, so her report had suddenly gained a lot of importance.

The three commissioners barely acknowledged each other existence when the screen doors leading to the throne room opened.

Inside, the Shogun was waiting for them. Her presence was overwhelming. Her aura, oppressing. There, upon her throne, the Raiden Shogun glared at them like they were cattle entering the slaughterhouse.