Chapter 17: Road to Liyue

"So what's Liyue like? Is it a really nice place? Dangerous place?"

Lumine and Paimon shared a brief glance of mutual agreement.

"Gourmet place?"

"Getting your priorities straight before we even arrive, I see."

"Just making sure that we won't go hungry, that's all."

"Yeah, Lumine and Paimon don't want to go ahead and assume stuff will be up to our exacting standards, that's all!"

Alec sent the duo an exasperated look from where he squatted on top of a nearby rock formation, commenting, "Your 'exacting standards' included some wild berries, greens and fish we caught out in the wild for a fair amount of time. Forgive my skepticism but I'm fairly sure you two will eat damn near anything as long as it's not poisonous."

"That accusation is as true as it is cruel hearted. Besides, those were home cooked meals and they automatically get a bonus to taste because of that. It counts as high quality."

Turning to the highly amused Fischl and Oz the fallen deity asked, "C'mon, you two. Back me up here and freely admit that these two are gluttons that have no compunction whatsoever about eating whatever the meal of the day just so happens to be."

The traveler swiftly turned on the investigator, batting her eyelashes as she whimpered, "You...you don't think I'm fat, do you, Fischl?"

Expression wiped itself clean from the blonde's expression, mood quickly shifting to mortified as she proclaimed, "W-what perverse nonsense escapes thy lips, friend Lumine? This prinzessin bears no ill will towards thine figure and would even equate it to busts and effigies of great renown!"

Lumine instantly grinned the grin of the victorious, glomping the other girl in an affectionate hug as she suggestively rubbed her hips against the blushing Electro user, cooing, "Aww, you know just what to say to make a self-conscious little lady like myself feel good about themselves~!"

"I'd advise you to have some shame but that would require belief in such a possibility ever occurring. I'll settle with informing miss Fischl that her girlfriend is a cruel manipulator of the highest order."

"Aww, is the old man jealous?"

Alec met Lumine's grin in a deadpan stare even as the traveler let her hands caress Fischl's flanks, earning a squeak from the other female.

"Really selling the idea that you're a responsible and mature lady there, blondie."

"Yup. Definitely jealous."

Oz tactfully cleared his ephemeral throat, commenting, "To answer your earlier question, friend Lumine, Liyue does indeed have options aplenty for local cuisine which consists of spiced meats, fish, various noodle and vegetable dishes and a collection of wines I believe you will find to your liking."

"Why thank you, Oz. And you're right, I do believe that sounds rather scrumptious."

"Eh heh heh, Paimon can barely wait! Best of all we actually have money this time, we can afford to sample to our hearts content!"

Sliding down the rocks with a couple sweet flowers in hand Alec continued with, "The more tangible and childish attractions aside-"

Both Lumine and Paimon favored him with a mutual sticking out of their tongues, bringing a smile to the man's face.

"-Liyue is also the center of commerce, contracts and other forms of mercantile pursuits this side of Teyvat. If you're looking to do business or set up some mutual trade it's the place you should visit first."

Fischl finally stopped blushing at Lumine's handsy flirtation, adding, "The land of ships and mora also hails as the birthplace of the Adepti, spirits and souls of great knowledge and experience that fought alongside the Lord of Geo many cycles ago."

"Hmm…"

Lumine smirked, giving Alec a smug look as she asked, "So are you going to get in trouble for trying to pass yourself off as one of them?"

"Seeing as how I'm friends or acquaintances with a fair few of them and even aided their faction in battle a few times during the Archon wars?"

He shrugged, Lumine pouting that her fun was so easily negated.

"If anything they'll just be confused as to why I bothered. I got quite the reputation back then, when Morax and the rest were locked in a constant and bloody battle for control of the land that would eventually become Liyue. Actually, now that I think about it, I was helping even further back, when the barest beginnings of the Guili Assembly were on the drawing board."

Lumine blinked, curiously asking, "You and Barbatos made it sound like you tried to keep to yourself and not get overly involved with a lot of the battles and other stuff that happened across Teyvat. So what's up with helping in all of these supposed conflicts?"

"Not to detract from Mondstadt's struggles but in the overall scheme of things it was small time compared to what Liyue has been through. While I refrained from taking part in battles that were more ideological or territorial in nature, well…"

His gaze took on a faraway expression, tone distant.

"Not all that walked the land were of sane or relatable disposition. Some creatures were simply better off dead and that's typically when I intervened. Morax isn't called the War God by mistake, even I wouldn't hazard a guess at the amount of foes he's had to face."

Shaking himself out of his reminiscence Alec concluded things with, "So apologies about spoiling your fun, Lumine, but I think the Adepti will be perfectly content with my presence. Maybe. It's been awhile."

Shrugging to herself Lumine fished out a fruit from their pack, biting into the sweet tasting treat with a quiet hum of appreciation, mind wandering as she did so. It was actually rather strange, how some things tended to be universally present across so many of the worlds they traveled to. Fruits that tasted - or were even named similarly - to apples, oranges or similar citrus treats, never mind the glut of humanoid beings that were quite similar in appearance and genetic makeup to humans or human-like creatures.

While she and her brother had never been all that great at extremely difficult maths or other high brow varieties of physics - meaning they could never actually go about discovering if there was some universal equation guiding such discoveries - they nonetheless had lively debates about whether they were just extraordinarily lucky to encounter such familiar objects time and time again or if the universe preferred to keep a fair number of constants across the stars.

Regardless of what the answer was it at least meant there wasn't an excessive amount of time spent familiarizing themselves to local customs and food when they traveled to another plane of existence, acclimation typically came quickly and easily.

Finishing her treat as Paimon badgered Alec to regale them with stories of how Liyue became such a dominant fishing industry the Traveler instead gazed around the land knows as Dihua Marsh, an expanse of mostly flat land that waved gently in the wind as reeds and plants of golden brown and tan swayed with a hypnotic performance, the ground surprisingly firm as long as they traveled along a mildly raised path. Alec had said something about it being the dry season which Lumine was thankful for, she didn't like the idea of squishing her way to their next destination. And the smell wasn't bad at all, a soothing mix of wet earth, plant life and occasional bit of flora such as the kind Alec had just acquired.

"Well if memory serves we should be coming up on a statue of the Seven pretty quickly here, if all goes well then you should be gaining yet another element to control, Lumine."

"You seem pretty confident that I'll be granted that power, Alec. Who knows, maybe I won't make the cut?"

"I doubt it. Old and stubborn fossil he may be I would never argue that Morax doesn't have an eye for talent and worthiness, you should do just fine. Even if Barbatos has already granted you his blessing."

Lumine and the rest shared a brief glance.

"Will that be a problem? You've made it sound like there's bad blood between the two of them."

Shrugging in disinterest the male explained, "Less bad blood and more like trying to mix oil and water in the same jug. Like I said, don't worry about it."

"Thanks, I think I'm going to worry about it anyway."

Chuckling at her wry comment they continued on their way, Alec's words holding true as within an hour they spotted the effigy, notable for its slate gray and stately appearance in the otherwise uniform marshes. Lumine let her gaze wander over the bust, trying to decipher if it was a good likeness of the venerable Geo god or just an artist's interpretation. Barbatos hadn't exactly been a good match for his statue, after all.

"Well? After you, Lumine."

"Yeah, yeah! Paimon bets you'll be just fine!"

"After all you have accomplished in such a short time I would find it far stranger if you were not to be gifted with the favor of an Archon."

Fischl merely nodded in agreement with her familiar, the blonde offering up a genuine smile at the encouragement as she approached, slowly reaching out a hand before placing it atop the statue, inwardly amused at how her goals had changed since the last time she approached one of these. Back then she had been desperate to find her brother, seeking any and all clues that she could find. Now? Now she needed strength since her old power was still gone and displayed no sign of returning anytime soon. It seemed fitting that her next entreaty would be to one that was hailed as a great warrior.

Allowing the now familiar sensation of elemental energy to course through her body and guide her next actions Lumine found her senses subsumed by a slow, tectonic beat that reminded her of a distant avalanche...or perhaps a dragon's roar? And the mind behind it all, one of ancient power and wisdom and...melancholy?

A sharp gasp left the traveler as she pulled away from the statue, mind awhirl with confusion at the overwhelming sensory bombardment even as her dress glowed with a steady, golden shine.

"That...was definitely far more strange than Barbatos' was."

"See? No problems whatsoever, I knew I was right."

Snapping out of her private ruminations at Alec's smooth and confident words Lumine snarked right back, "Yeah, that's totally what you felt so certain about, wasn't it?"

She didn't spend long on the brief moment of teasing, instead focusing on the pulsating feeling of strength and solidarity that hummed within her body, allowing it to spill forth just like she had with the Anemo power Barbatos had granted-

-and at her command a pillar of glowing, jagged stone burst from the soft ground and came to a stop high overhead, warm and inviting with its majestic presence as Alec chuckled, remarking, "Well? Was I right or was I right?"

Narrowing her eyes in concentration before willing the material away Lumine let a fun-loving grin tilt her lips upwards, responding, "Oh alright, you were correct. Now let me have some fun with this-"

She paused, brow furrowing before asking, "You wouldn't happen to know if Morax is a dour kind of guy, would you? The impression I got from him was...somewhat morose. Resigned, even?"

Her words seemed to genuinely surprise Alec, his eyes narrowing in thought before replying, "While he can be stubborn and grave I never would have ascribed the act of giving up or retreating to the Geo Archon. Odd, what could have caused him to start acting like that…"

Instantly regretting her words that had brought down the mood and obviously unnerved the fallen god Lumine hurriedly stated, "Well no way to tell for sure unless we hurry on to Liyue, is there?"

"I suppose you're right. Unless you all enjoy sleeping on the soft, squishy ground?"

Fischl visibly shuddered, Paimon replying to the obvious change in topic with, "Too bad you all can't fly and hover like Paimon can, she never has to worry about things like that~!"

"Yeah yeah, rub it in, Paimon."

Without further comment the group continued on their way, heading deeper into the marshlands as Lumine took to practicing with her new power, manifesting hardy pillars of stone beneath her feet as she used Anemo energy to propel and subsequently slow her jumps from each to each, mind only half-focusing on what she was doing and instead thinking about the brief moment of disquiet Alec had shown at her relaying of what she'd sensed from Morax.

Open worry and apprehension were not states of mind or mood she would normally attribute to the unflappable man.

"Ugh, I should have just kept my mouth shut, Paimon. We were going to be in Liyue soon anyway."

"You couldn't have known, Lumine. Alec barely gets fazed by stuff so it was normal to think he would be okay."

"Yeah, but then you remember what Barbatos told us about how he treasures his time spent with friends and comrades and I don't know if even bringing it up was that great of a decision."

Paimon frowned from where she floated next to the traveler, keeping pace with her acrobatics before perking suddenly, stating, "Well why not get him talking about some of his other friends over the years? He seemed to know about the Adepti and we're going to their homeland, Paimon thinks we should have him tell stories to us!"

"...You know, that's not a bad idea at all. Nice thinking, Paimon."

"Eh heh heh heh~!"

Leaping down from a pillar and gracefully alighting upon the ground with a light updraft of Anemo energy Lumine happily chirped, "So since you went around posing as an Adepti - and are really old - maybe you can tell us a few things about them, hmm?"

Fischl also seized on the opportunity, adding, "Fabled souls both secretive and elusive, gracing mortal eyes only on most rare of occasions do make for fascinating study."

Seeming to perk up at the topic of conversation the male replied, "Well unless you go to Jueyun Karst where they reside the only Adeptus you'll likely run across are the ones that look quite human. Although…"

He appeared a great deal more thoughtful than usual, considering his words before continuing with, "Provided nothing much has changed Ganyu will likely still be secretary of the Qixing, she carries a significant amount of Adeptus blood within her and will be present for whatever meetings or crisis you inevitably end up involved in."

His tone took on a teasing cadence.

"Just be sure not to touch her horns, she's shy about that."

Intrigued at the clear fondness Alec held for this supposed secretary Fischl interjected first with, "The Adepti reside upon lands afar from Liyue due to overwhelming and uncontained emanations of the soul much as you imparted to us, yes?"

"Bingo. Although Vision holders have a much larger safety net than most mortals, thanks to the small but potent elemental emanations from the things. You could spend months next to a full-blooded and natural Adeptus before feeling anything adverse, the ones that contain only half or partial Adeptus heritage don't have to worry about that at all."

Eagerly recording the information in her notebook Lumine decided to use the opportunity to get some more interesting tidbits about this secretary Alec had seemed so familiar with, innocently asking, "For people so powerful and dangerous it seems strange that one of them does something as innocuous as administrative work."

"If you saw the kind of tasks that such a position carries I doubt you would be calling it innocuous."

"He speaks the truth, friend Lumine. Rumor and tales alike of the Enlightened Beast's work ethic travels even to Mondstadt, a feat of no small proportion."

Nodding along with Oz's observation the man proudly added, "Ganyu turned into quite the splendid and accomplished woman, especially since I saw her grow up from the small little butterball rolling down a hill that she used to be to the brilliant individual she is now."

Alec's joviality was quickly replaced with sternness as he glared at Lumine and Paimon.

"Forget the horns, don't mention her weight or figure, that's what she's truly sensitive about."

Lumine seized on the latest reveal like white on rice, using a brief burst of anemo energy to smoothly leap atop of Alec's shoulders and briefly unbalancing him before he righted his posture, staring up at the blonde as she bent forward at the waist, cheshire smile upon her lips.

"Well well well...it sounds as if you have quite the relationship with this 'Ganyu', Alec~! I don't think you've referred to anyone else as a woman before."

"Ooh, ooh! Paimon bets this is the long lost flame and unrequited passion that was missing in his life!"

Rolling his eyes at the various comments the fallen god merely replied, "I can spot and categorize maturity when I see it, little girl."

Lumine narrowed her eyes, carefully grinding her boot heels into the man's shoulders as she neutrally commented, "Those are fighting words, Alec."

"So quick to violence. Befitting an immature young lady, I suppose."

He quickly ducked and twisted his shoulders, forcing the Traveler to alight upon the ground while casually remarking, "We're only a few hours out from Liyue's borders, if you want any last minute lessons on its history or culture now's the time to ask otherwise you'll be getting first-hand impressions."

While Fischl had no shortage of questions that the man was only too happy to answer Lumine held back slightly, taking a moment to think to herself and reflect on just what, exactly, Alec was hoping she was going to learn from this trip to Liyue. He said he wanted her to observe and judge Teyvat, right? Well what, exactly, did that even mean?

Was she just going to walk down the street and decide the world's worth based on passerby? Get involved with politics and judge based on its leaders? Or do as she did in Mondstadt and stumble headfirst in ancient legends and covenants while flying by the seat of her pants?

The blonde unleashed a small sigh, wishing she hadn't been saddled with such a nebulous burden.


A fractured gemstone the color of winter ice scattered its various facets every direction imaginable, the ambient temperature dropping sharply as once verdant plant life froze over with a scintillating layer of frost, Signora ignoring the effects of the Fatui's latest invention as the winter tempest manifested in a vague outline of an ornate headdress, billowing robes and pointed shoes as dual pinpricks of icy winter bored into her own with unavoidable intensity.

"You have news?"

The Tsaritsa's words were as cold and imperial as they always were, the Harbinger resisting the urge to supplicate before even the distant doppelganger, instead gracefully falling to one knee as she ignored the jagged frost digging into her flesh.

"News both good and bad."

"Speak."

Unable to tell if the Tsaritsa was pleased, indifferent or incensed at her words Signora continued with, "The Lord of Geo has agreed to our offer and implementation of the contract has already commenced. Childe has placed himself within Liyue and, predictably, already made himself persona no grata among the Milileth and drawn all sorts of attention to himself, both from the Qixing and our own operatives."

An idle nod, as if all of that was old information already received and cataloged.

"And the bad news?"

Orbs that could have been cut from the finest and keenest of glaciers nailed Signora in place.

"You aren't one to often make such mistakes."

Taking a second to gather her courage and steel her nerves the Harbinger continued with, "My attempt to retrieve the Gnosis of the Anemo Archon ended in failure, our plan to capitalize on Dvalin's rampage summarily ended when the acting Grand Master and a few unexpected outsiders intervened."

"Unexpected?"

The response was utterly flat and neutral, no hint of understanding or disappointment to be found.

"A young woman who goes by the name of Lumine or 'Traveler' expedited the process while two more factions joined the fray...ones who we did not expect to be present."

"Cease your attempts at stalling and tell me of them."

"It was the Twilight Sword and Alec Daman, the two of them entering into an alliance with the Anemo Archon to safeguard Teyvat against the threat of the Heavens and Abyss."

There was several seconds of silence, Signora daring to raise her head-

-and blinked as the Cryo Archon was still staring at her with unblinking intensity...but whereas before the unfaltering glare had been to unsettle and intimidate now it was full of naught but shock and disbelief.

"Prophet is alive?"

The whispered words weren't necessarily a request for clarification but Signora obliged nonetheless, replying, "He is, Lady Tsaritsa. More to the point he seems fully aware of our ultimate goal of casting down Celestia and reason for collection of the Gnosis."

A tired, weary sigh left the Cryo Archon - an admission of weakness that surprised the Harbinger with its appearance - as she murmured, "Of course he does. Few have devoted more time and energy than the Prophet to Celestia's destruction. Fewer yet came as close as he."

Signora quickly lowered her head as the Tsaritsa's gaze met hers with newfound intensity.

"You say he and the Twilight Sword intervened in your attempt to retrieve the Gnosis?"

"While they did not directly say so the implication was clear. Daman additionally suggested that he wished to speak to you at your convenience, that if you told him of your greater plan he may very well decide to aid and abet us."

"I'm certain he did."

The Archon's tone took on a fairly bitter tinge, stating, "Leave Barbatos be for now. His Gnosis isn't required as of this moment and if I know that coward he will eventually approach me of his own accord, seeking to reconcile the past."

Signora elected not to comment on the clearly bitter relationship between the deities, remaining silent until the Tasaritsa inquired, "The Inazuma plot?"

"Proceeding as intended, although…"

Hesitating yet again to be the bearer of unwelcome news the Harbinger nonetheless forged onwards with, "Daman advised against allowing the Raiden Shogun to continue her pursuit of 'eternity', the effigy she has been offering the Visions to evidently a relic of an old god that killed Morax's dearest companion many millennia ago."

A hiss of vexation left the Cryo Archon, voice terse as she instructed, "Then take every step necessary to hinder or delay the Electro Archon's desire. The Lord of Geo is not one to lightly abandon a contract under any circumstances but I would rather not provide an impetus to begin with."

"It will be done."

Mood sour Signora decided to brave a rather bold inquiry as she asked, "Why have we become so circumspect and tentative within the span of a few days? The Fatui have cared not for the whims and whiles of others for as long as we have existed, yet now we retreat from the Anemo Archon and backpedal upon our plot in Inazuma? What has lead to this shift in policy, Lady Tsaritsa? Could you not match the Geo Archon in strength after all that we have done?"

Several seconds passed in silence, the Fatui's founder eventually responding with a contemplative tone.

"This is true. Snezhnaya has military strength far above Liyue and in raw strength I no doubt match Rex Lapis blow for blow."

Her voice turned as sharp and judgmental as the crack of a whip, Signora having to fight down her instinctive flinch.

"But you ignore several facts that I will attribute more to your youth than I will any lapse in judgment or ability. Morax and his Adepti have been fighting and winning against other gods, demons and devas for many times the span I have existed. We could march upon Liyue with twice its strength in all aspects and I would have little faith in our success. And you dismiss Daman's influence too easily."

The Harbinger frowned, remarking, "Legends and tales speak to his prowess, yes, but even the Anemo Archon has more grand achievements to his name."

"One need not be able to call forth mountains, glaciers or typhoons to be deadly beyond mortal comprehension. You did not see his march into Khaenri'ah nor Celestia."

The conversation evidently over with that final, grim statement the Tsaritsa ordered, "Observe the situation in Liyue and ensure it goes according to our contract with the Lord of Geo, we will remain passive for now until the course of events becomes clear...and I will see about meeting with Daman to hear of his offer."

The frozen air abruptly shrank in upon itself, admitting the warmer weather to advance yet again as Signora fought down her annoyance at the sudden paradigm shift.

But orders from the Cryo Archon were not so easily dismissed and she would carry them out loyally, as she always did.

"And perhaps I shall keep a closer watch upon Alec Daman...he seems to be at the center of a great many things."

Mind made up the Fatui Harbinger rose to her feet and immediately strode off, plans already forming within her swift mind.