The doors slammed open, catching the attention of all present in the palace.

At the sight of the one who waltzed in, all fell silent, allowing the ominous clicks of the visitor's heels to reverberate in the main hall.

The "visitor" in question had amassed a great deal of merit in completing a most legendary mission: retrieving the gnosis of Anemo God Barbatos.

Now, news came that she has been sent on yet another assignment- procuring the gnosis of geo god Morax.

Unlike the archon of anemo, who was known to be a pacifist, Rex Lapis was notorious for his violent accomplishments and impressive kill count back in the archon war.

It's no secret that expectations were great.

After all, everyone was looking forward for the news of victory but were even more excited for the opportunity to mock her failure.

Something told them, however, that that chance would not come.

Something about her sinful hips swaying more arrogantly than usual, and her chin so high up it revealed a generous view of her chest for the many who coveted it.

She swaggered past her colleagues with a venomous smirk, ignoring their darkened scowls and finally knelt before the snowy throne in front of her, making sure to make a show of whipping her own pristine fur cloak before doing so.

"Goddess. I have returned and have executed your will without flaw. The Gnosis of Morax is ours." The woman boasted.

Amongst the enthusiastic gossip of the guards, a piercing voice scolded, "Arrogance was always your defining trait. Signora."

A white haired man stared down on signora while she was still on her knees.

"At least I have something to be proud of. Which reminds me. I am so very sorry for your loss." She smirked.

The man before her was il'Dottore, many levels higher in seniority compared to Signora.

"You would lecture me? Eighth Sister?" He growled, summoning his giant needles.

"Only when you're wrong, third brother." Signora smiled innocently.

"You have done well, my child."

A voice boomed, prompting all in the room to kneel like signora has.

"You have made a tiresome journey to Mondstat, returning with victory for your empress. I am most impressed... which is more than I can say for some." The voice spoke once more.

il' Dotorre cringed a little at that, knowing very well who the voice referred to.

"Beware, my doctor. If you aren't careful, this one might take your place someday." The presence said, earning the excited chatter of those in the court and a grumbled curse from the doctor.

Signora beamed, albeit more devilish than before, then stood up.

"My Goddess. I'd like to report two things I've noticed in this successful expedition of mine."

"Speak." The authoritative voice commanded.

Signora's expression turned grave.

"The traveller I've encountered. He has become very powerful. He's mastered both elements of geo and anemo, making him a formidable adversary."

The court silenced itself.

How could this mysterious outlander manage to posses 2 different elements without the use of a vision or delusion?

"His power has grown to the point that he rivals that of the eleventh brother, countering his foul legacy armor and defeating him in combat." Signora continued.

The room suddenly turned icy cold.

Everyone knew what this meant.

The tsaritsa was growing agitated.

"I see... and how fares my eleventh child?"

The goddess questioned.

"He lives, and continues his duties at the northland bank in liyue. This, however, brings me to my second observation."

The eighth harbinger reported.

"And that would be?" The cryo archon asked.

"It is to my belief that tartaglia has grown soft. His interactions with the traveller are way to amicable for that of enemies. He even allowed him to babysit his little brother, Teucer." Signora raised her head defiantly.

"Of course, it is not my place to conduct an investigation on my fellow harbingers. I only humbly request that your majesty remains vigilant." Signora reminded.

"Tartaglia was manipulated by Signora and Morax. This only proves his incompetence further." Another voice interrupted.

It was the 6th harbinger.

The balladeer.

The skirmisher.

Scaramouche.

Anyone would've mistaken him for a mere boy had it not been for his immense authority in the Fatui ranks.

"Vigilant, my empress? The "whale enthusiast" hesitated when given the opportunity to execute the traveller where he stood. At best? Failure. At worst, treachery." He continued.

"Eighth sister calls for you to be weary, but I beg of you... to allow me to see to his immediate... termination."

Signora scowled at the intrusion, but relented anyway.

"That would be a more direct way of saying things, my Queen. At least allow us to send our spies to monitor his allegiance."

The tsaritsa simply chuckled.

"I still have important plans for my eleventh son. You need not concern yourself with my safety. Should he dare betray me, his death will be most agonizing."

The two harbingers were now forced to drop the subject, faces still blackened with reluctance.

"The research of the meteor fragments done by Scaramouche has yielded promising results. We are now one step closer to securing the survival and well being of teyvat. In the meantime, I would like my 6th child to infiltrate Inazuma and retrieve the gnosis of Baal, immortal shogun and archon of electro."

Tsaritsa ordered.

Scaramouche perked up at this new assignment.

"A note of caution, my son. Baal is ancient and arrogant. She has lived for lesser years than barbatos and Morax yet still prides her rule as eternal. No superior army has reached her, no rebellion could end her dictation of inazuma. She is a formidable opponent. I imagine she will not give up her gnosis without a fight unlike Signora's previous targets." The cryo archon continued.

"It will be as you wish, my empress." The balladeer replied.

"Baal's nation wide vision hunt has proven to be quite problematic. You must be crafty, my soldier. Do not stick to conventional methods- use the unorthodox. Remember what I taught you- in order to defeat the most skilled of rivals, you must have fear, surprise and intimidation on your side. Should any element be lacking, it would be best for you to retreat. you must break your enemies before you engage them... only then will you ensure victory... and claim your trophy."

Scaramouche bowed down at this command, reverently answering his master's call to arms.

"I will remember your most wise counsel, my liege."

With that, the 6th harbinger waltzed out of the court, the bells hanging from his signature hat producing eerie jingles as he ventured out of view.

"2nd son of mine, I have a mission for you." The tsaritsa commanded.

The crowd began murmuring once more.

Why was the tsaritsa dispatching the 2nd in her inner circle?

Usually her top 3 generals would remain in schneznaya to govern the nation.

And this wasn't some personal excursion like il' Dotorre's.

This was sanctioned, no, ordered by the tsaritsa.

The young man in question was Capitano, the "Master of the Seas" or so they called him.

"My empress. What is your bidding?" He asked, as he knelt down before the cryo archon's throne.

"There is an artifact I'd like you to retrieve for me. One located in Inazuma." The goddess of ice said, as a large bust of colorful ice appeared in the center of the court.

It displayed a beautiful ornament- a headpiece of a sort.

It appeared to be a giant blue crystal outlined with shimmering gold, and at both of its sides, lay two long horn-like extensions.

It was but a copy of what the original treasure was supposed to look like, but tsaritsa has clearly overdone herself in creating a thing of such wonder.

"It was ceremoniously named the dragon crown." The Empress of Shneznaya began.

"Long before time had a name, the first archon of electro, Tian Zhen (天震)took the form of a dragon and sacrificed his own body to seal an army of demonic soldiers. This prevented the deadly warriors from eradicating all life in Teyvat. All that remains of his physical form is this very mystic treasure. You must understand... that retrieving it supersedes the hunt for the gnoses."

"My goddess, may I be so bold to ask why?" Pedrillino, first of the harbingers questioned, amid the shocked whispers of the other Fatui agents and cicin mages.

"Tian Zhen's horns became an object of immense worship by all subsequent electro archons... even by Baal herself, as a child. In fact, her vision hunt dedicates all confiscated visions to a thousand armed, thousand eyed statue built in his image. The dragon horns now not only possess the powers of Baal, but all the predecessors before her." The cryo goddess explained.

"Should you encounter Scaramouche in your mission, do not assist him and focus on the task at hand while Baal is distracted. I'd imagine the dragon crown is under her protection."

"Empress, if the crown is so powerful as you've described, what's stopping the Raiden Shogun from using it against us?" The captain asked.

"The ornament is most sacred to the people of Inazuma. Even one as proud as the current god of electro is bound by its customs and respect for their supreme deity. I'm certain she will not use that artifact and defile it so easily." Tsaritsa assured.

"Now, with all your questions answered, do you now understand the importance of this assignment, my son?" The tsaritsa finished.

Capitano simply smiled and stood up.

"Oh mother..."

He swept his robes and held his chin high.

The other harbingers rolled their eyes.

Capitano was known to have a flair for the dramatic.

"I do," Capitano finished, holding his right fist to his heart.