[Liu's POV]
I enter my mother's office and she immediately stands.
"Liu..." She utters.
"Mother..." I reply. "I'm home."
Suddenly, she rushes towards me and embraces me.
"It's been too long..." She speaks quietly. "Far...too long."
"Only a year has passed..." I say.
She pulls back, looks me in the eye and gently places a hand on my cheek. "That's a long time to go without seeing my child even once."
"Mother, your eyes..."
She has small tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
"Ah..." She wipes them. "I don't know why that happened."
"I apologize for being gone so long..." I say.
She chuckles softly. "No, I understand. This world is truly fascinating."
"Indeed." I agree. "Shall we go somewhere a bit more accustomed to conversation? That way, I can tell you all about it."
"Oh, yes." Mother looks around, clearly thinking to herself. "...Perhaps, the dining room. I'll get something fitting for your return prepared."
"Very well."
[3rd POV]
Liu enters the dining room and pauses to look around.
"Hmmm..." He muses. "It's barely changed. Even after it's destruction and reconstruction."
He approaches a sideboard and looks over the selection of artifacts, sculptures and various jewelry that are set upon it.
"If only I could bring Signora here..." He mutters as he takes a glass cover off and lifts the amulet that was under it up into better light.
"Intrigued, are we?" Ningguang's voice suddenly says from the doorway, getting Liu's attention.
"A little..." Liu says returning the amulet to it's display. "You never allowed me to touch most of the treasure in this place when I was young."
Though, saying that, she has collected a lot more artifacts over the years.
"Just a precaution..." Ningguang replies while sitting at the table. "It was more out of concern for you, Liu. I didn't want you getting hurt. whether it was by dropping something heavy on your foot or knocking a display and it falling onto you."
Ningguang gestures to the seat opposite her inviting Liu.
"Was I really that clumsy?" Liu asks while taking the seat offered.
"Not necessarily..." Ningguang smiles at her son. "I just didn't want to take that risk. Out of everything here in the Jade Chamber, you were always the most valuable to me, and still are."
Liu looks down at the table, deep in thought.
"Ah, right." Ning speaks again. "Why don't you tell me what you got up to this past year?"
Liu looks back up at her. "Sure."
'How am I going to word this in a way that doesn't compromise my work with the Fatui?' He thinks to himself.
[9 Months Ago; Liu's POV]
"Leo!"
I turn to the source of the calling of my pseudonym.
"Ivanisch." I reply to the Agent who seemed to have been chasing me. "What is it?"
"Her majesty, the Tsaritsa, has summoned you." He explains. "I'm here to take you to her."
Did she figure out who I really am? No, that's impossible.
"She did not explain why." Ivanisch says. "It's best if you comply immediately."
"Well, lead the way." I decide to just go along.
"Good choice." He turns and begins to lead me through the myriad of hallways.
I created a perfect web of lies. There's no way anyone here knows my true identity, not even the Cryo Archon herself.
...At least that's what I'm going to keep telling myself...
We enter the Tsaritsa's inauguration room, the central part of Fatui HQ where we're greeted by the Tsaritsa herself on her throne of ice, as well as all 11 Harbingers lined up beside each other.
"Your majesty, I have brought him." Ivanisch bows towards the Archon.
"Thank you." She speaks in her usual sharp tone. "Now, leave us. This matter concerns only us and Major Leo."
"Yes, your majesty." Ivanisch swiftly exits, leaving me alone with the most powerful beings in this entire country.
"Now, Major Leo..." Her majesty speaks.
Here it is, the moment of truth!
I wordlessly kneel before her.
"Your performance continues to surpass even my highest expectations." She keeps her eyes locked on me. "Truly, it is quite a spectacle. How a mortal such as yourself can keep surprising me is inconceivable. Especially, prior to my gifting of that Vision."
"I am not worthy of such praise, your majesty." I reply.
All that worrying on the way here was for nothing it seems.
"Hm..." She pauses. "Well, regardless of how you think of my words, there is another reason I called you here. Stand up straight."
I immediately do as she says, hiding my creeping nervousness.
"Because of these continued exceptional acts, you are hereby promoted to the rank that grants eligibility to join a Harbinger Squadron." Her majesty stands from her throne.
The Harbingers look at the Tsaritsa in surprise.
"Your majesty, are you sure?" Columbina asks. "He's only been here a few months. Wouldn't it make more sense to choose someone who is more experienced?"
The Tsaritsa turns to her. "Experience is meaningless if you have nothing to show for it. Major Leo's skills and his devotion surpass that of many soldiers that have been part of the ranks for years. He is more than qualified to act in direct cohesion with a Harbinger."
Columbina goes to say something back, but decides to keep quiet.
"Does anyone else have any objections to this decision?" The Tsaritsa questions.
The Harbingers remain silent, but a few have dissatisfied expressions on their faces. Her majesty turns back to me.
"Major Leo, do you have a preference on which Harbinger you'd like to work under?"
"N-not really..." I stutter out.
"Well then... I think that you would be best in...La Signora's squadron." Tsaritsa looks over at La Signora. "Does that work for you, Signora?"
"I suppose I could use another pawn..." She agrees begrudgingly.
"Very well." Her majesty turns to me. "Harbinger Squadrons have ranks that are separate from standard forces, and only the Harbinger that leads your group can promote or demote you, not even I can make decisions like that for soldiers in that position."
"I understand." I bow. "I am truly grateful, your Majesty."
She returns to her throne. "Continue to work hard, Leo. Who knows? Maybe one day, you'll become a Harbinger yourself. I expect great things from you."
[Present day...]
"I can't imagine Snezhnaya being a very pleasant place." Mother says.
"It was better than I expected, but I didn't stay very long before returning to Mondstadt." I lied as naturally as I breathed.
I do feel a little bad, but what my Mother doesn't know won't hurt her. Either way, if things keep going well between me and Signora, she'll find out eventually, whether that's next week or when she receives the invitation to our wedding.
I'm saved by creepily laughing to myself for my overly optimistic thoughts by the arrival of dinner.
"Thank you very much." Me and Mother say at the same time.
The servers nod and leave in short order.
"Adeptus' Temptation?!" I exclaim in surprise. "Who did you find to make this?"
"Nobody new." Mother replies. "I just gave the recipe to the usual chefs."
"You gave them something that sacred?"
"I made them swear to keep it secret." She takes a bite. "They can only cook it on occasions such as this."
"I see." I decide to just enjoy the meal.
"...So, Liu..." Mother speaks up again. "What about Inazuma? Was that a worthwhile experience for you?"
"I'd say so." I retort. "Even if I am an outlaw there now..."
Mother stops and sharpens her gaze at me.
"What did you do?"
"It was just a slight misunderstanding, but the Raiden Shogun is quite stubborn." Another one of my half-truths.
"But you must have done something." Mother's eyes are full of worry. "Liu, I really don't want you getting into trouble."
"It's fine, Mother." I respond. "I'm out of her jurisdiction now."
"But..." She sighs. "All right, just don't cause any more problems."
"I understand." With that, we both return to our meal.
How long can I keep this up?
