Episode 12: Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum
Human life is fleeting.
No matter how much one struggles in vain attempts to avoid it, death will come for one and all.
Still, to die so young and so meaninglessly… There was no bright side to this terrible twist of fate. Childe - who had tried so hard to hide the truth about himself from his kind family - was left a broken man. After returning to Liyue Harbor, the two makeshift partners parted ways in the dark without so much as a handshake.
Diluc returned Nikolai to Northland Bank upon his request, making sure the injured man had his travel pack. Then, Diluc set off into the mourning night.
With no purpose to be there, Diluc made haste, and left Liyue Harbor immediately. He walked the familiar road back to Mondstadt in a daze, barely noticing his surroundings at all. By lantern light, his steps took him home on autopilot, as his mind drifted far away.
He returned home after midnight, and claimed a bed in the guest room. He couldn't stand the thought of explaining things to Keqing right now. The sickening feeling in his stomach just wouldn't go away, no matter how hard he tried to squelch it.
And so it was that several days after Teucer's sudden, meaningless death… after the short, sparsely-attended funeral had come and gone… The Jester called a meeting of the Eleven.
Opening Theme: Unlucky Morpheus - 夢幻
The land of Snezhnaya was a wintry, cold place for most of the year. Despite this, its capital city was a modern marvel in the world of Teyvat. Spreading out over countless square miles, nestled in a valley between two barren mountain ranges, it stood as testament to the technological advances that the Fatui had helped usher in. A combination of Gothic and modern sensibilities, the city was truly a sight to behold.
This time of year, the snow melt had pushed most of the way up the mountain peaks, revealing green grass and hardy evergreen trees. This beautiful, wild land was the place young Teucer had once called home.
Now, Tartaglia returned once again to his motherland - to a place that his beloved kid brother would never see again.
Two days after he had received his summons, Diluc Ragnvindr also set foot on Snezhnayan soil for the first time in years. He had never dreamed back then that he would revisit this place one day as a Harbinger - it would have likely made his younger self laugh in derision to see such a future. Yet, that future had finally arrived.
The gigantic city stood before him, and he pushed himself forward, through the large gate leading inside. The massive walls stood menacingly, rejecting any who would do the city harm.
Following the directions he had received from Damselette, he soon arrived at a large structure that seemed to be one of the oldest ones around. Situated near the edge of the city, it almost appeared regal in nature. Around him, countless people walked the modern streets, and above him, a suspended rail line carried its passengers to some unknown destination. This place was truly incomparable to Mond.
The front door of Harbinger HQ was large and imposing, but Diluc knocked regardless. Soon, it was answered by a diminutive woman with sandy hair - someone Diluc had never seen before.
"Eh? Who're you?" she said, already trying to shut the door.
"Some way to greet your newest member," Diluc said, assuming by her clothing that this woman was another Harbinger.
"Oh, so that's who you are," she replied, looking him up and down as if she was staring at walking garbage. "Oh well, come in."
Diluc side-eyed the woman as he stepped into a solemn, spacious room with large stained-glass windows above the entrance and a winding staircase at the other end. This was the nest of the Eleven.
Glancing around the room, Diluc was greeted by a familiar face, one he never thought he would be relieved to see.
"Gianduja, welcome. It's a little late, but this is our Headquarters," Columbina smiled, gesturing around the room.
"You'd almost think I'm not even one of you," Diluc sighed.
"Now now, let's not get back on that subject. We both know how that will end. Come, I'll show you to your room."
"I get a room?" Diluc raised an eyebrow.
"Technically, it was Rosalyne's room."
"I… see."
Diluc hesitantly followed the magenta-haired woman upstairs and down a long hallway to a rather unassuming door.
"I'll leave you to yourself now. The meeting is at 6 p.m. I don't know how you could possibly do so, but please don't miss it."
"Glad you think so highly of my capabilities," Diluc droned, pushing open the wooden door.
It creaked, revealing a dark room beyond. It was decorated with ornate wooden furniture and a rather comfortable-looking bed. The room was rather sparse, but still seemed to be well-cared-for.
"The maids still clean this place from time to time in her honor," Damselette spoke up from outside.
"You know, you have a terrible habit of prying where you aren't wanted," he responded with irritation to her mental intrusion.
"Tee hee, my apologies~. It just comes naturally to me. I'll be going now," she replied, shutting the door.
Diluc set down his pack, and took a seat on the edge of the bed. He sighed deeply, feeling frustrated at himself for pitying La Signora. He caught his mind wandering to thoughts of what she may have been like when she was still alive, but quickly shut them down.
I guess this will work as a place to crash, anyway.
Diluc was no stranger to travel. This would just be another short stay in a foreign country before he could go home and explain things to his wife. That thought kept him positive in the middle of a bleak place like this.
Since he had arrived barely after 4 in the afternoon, he had some time to kill before the meeting that evening. Laying back on the bed, he rested his tired eyes for a bit.
When he opened them again, the clock on the wall read 5:30 p.m. already.
After hastily making himself presentable in the attached bathroom, he headed out into the hallway.
Come to think of it, she didn't show me the meeting room.
He wandered down the long hallway, back to the main entrance room. In that room, leaning up against a wall near the door was a familiar man.
"Tartaglia," Diluc nodded casually.
"Hm? Ah, yeah," he replied noncommittally.
"Heading to the meeting room? Someone didn't have the decency to tell me where it was," Diluc continued.
"Yeah."
Diluc nodded in response, studying the man's face. His usual carefree expression was twisted into a frown, and his eyes looked tired, with black bags under them. Overall, he looked like a man that recently spent some time on death's door.
Can hardly blame him, though.
As Diluc followed Childe down another long hallway, he spoke up.
"Sorry about your brother. I… wish I could have done something to prevent it."
The brown-haired man turned his face to the side and kept walking, eying Diluc.
"You don't have to fake sympathy for me, you know."
"I'm not faking. I know how it feels to lose family."
Diluc's matter-of-fact response revealed the smallest shred of pain still buried underneath it.
"That so? Well, thanks I guess," Childe sighed. "We're here."
He pushed open a rather large wooden double door, and headed inside. Diluc followed him, taking in the layout of this new room. It was a long table, with eleven prominent chairs surrounding it. At one end was the tallest of the chairs, presumably reserved for The Jester. The lighting was dim, but enough to make out a number of figures already present.
"Welcome, you two. Please, take your seats."
Childe headed to a chair on the other side of the table. Diluc surveyed the variegated collection of faces, spotting Columbina, who waved with a friendly smile. Diluc wasn't sure where to sit, but the winged woman quickly gestured to a seat near Childe at the end of the table.
After taking his seat, Diluc didn't say a word. This table was reserved for some of the most powerful beings in Teyvat, and it seemed that most of them were here today. A masked man resembling a warrior sat silently nearby, and another man with long-ish black hair and glasses nodded at Diluc. Down the table, an old man frowned, and The Doctor's sinister smile was just the same as always.
Mercifully, the clock soon struck 6.
"Let us begin. I have gathered you here for two separate reasons, both of utmost importance. I'll start with the most pressing matter. Tartaglia, you have my deepest condolences for your loss. Unfortunately, due to the unexpected failure of your mission, we have decided to postpone further research on the Delusion we have dubbed "The Shade of Evernight" until Nikolai can recover from his wounds."
Some muttering was heard among the ten people present after Pierrot finished speaking.
"Who cares about that anyway?" Arlecchino complained.
"Of course you wouldn't understand, Knave," Columbina calmly interjected.
"Enough of that. The next matter is one that I'm sure has been weighing on your minds. Doctor, if you will," The Jester motioned to the masked man beside him.
"Certainly, Director. My research has almost reached a conclusion. It seems that things might not be as they seem in this world. However, I'm not fully prepared to draw a conclusion just yet."
Diluc thought he caught Damselette glaring at Il Dottore, though with her eyes closed, nothing was certain.
Just then, someone else spoke up unexpectedly.
"Haven't you found enough, Doctor? Isn't it obvious what's going on here?" Childe said darkly.
"Pardon?"
Diluc hadn't been watching Childe, but now he noticed that the brown-haired man's eyes were glazed over, and his face twisted into an ugly grimace.
"This shit isn't real. You know too, right? Everyone here knows it, right?"
Childe drew more than a few suspicious glances at his nonsensical declaration. Some cringed in pity.
"Tartaglia, what do you mean to say?" Pierrot raised an eyebrow and boomed.
Meanwhile, Columbina held her head in one hand, as if to massage a headache.
"He's had a hard time lately, we should leave him be," she said, trying to run interference.
But Childe didn't accept her graciously-provided exit plan.
"Nah, that has nothing to do with this. This world is a sham. Someone reset it, and now everything's all fucked up. Surely you know that, right, Doctor?"
"What is the meaning of this? I won't stand for foolish interruptions, Tartaglia. Doctor, what is he saying?" Pierrot said, turning to Dottore.
"Hm. I hadn't intended to say this yet, but it seems someone else has already comprehended the forbidden knowledge."
Several heads whirled towards Il Dottore, wondering what he meant.
"Tartaglia tells the truth. I have confirmed it myself within Irminsul. She was rather unwilling to reveal it, but contained within her forbidden records is a history that strongly conflicts with our present one."
"Preposterous," Pulcinella muttered.
"No. It is undeniable truth. This world has been tampered with. I strongly suspect that this is tied to the energy readings I detected on Musk Reef. However, exactly who is behind this… I cannot yet say."
Diluc felt his heartbeat race at this unexpected development. At least one of the people present knew exactly who had done it. But would he say anything?
"I see. So that's how it is," Pierrot mused, surprisingly calm despite the bombshell that had just been dropped. "History has been tampered with, and our memories erased? Is that correct, Doctor?"
"I can't say for sure, but it indeed seems that history itself has been retconned, our memories of it included. Which begs me to ask, how did you arrive at this conclusion, Tartaglia?" The Doctor queried.
For the first time in a while, Childe's blank eyes came back to life.
"One day I remembered a past that never happened. I don't know how, though."
The Doctor leaned closer to him intently.
"Fascinating. So it is possible to escape Irminsul's retcon process? This indeed comes as news to me."
"Doctor, would you say that the one responsible for this was a god?" The Jester interrupted, his fingers crossed on the tabletop.
"Hm? I can't say for sure, but I would suspect so," The Doctor replied, not understanding The Jester's intent.
A long silence followed as Pierrot sat with his eye closed. He finally spoke up, with determination shining in that eye.
"Harbingers, the gods have declared war against us with this action. Our history - nay, our very minds have been tampered with against our will. That is simply unacceptable. By the Tsaritsa's honor, I will not let this stand."
Ironically, The Jester stood to his feet.
"Long have we fought against a world of gods and injustice. We have longed for a future of peace - a world that belongs to mankind alone. The time has come for us to lift up our swords and cut off the head of the snake."
Diluc couldn't maintain his composure as that imposing man spoke. Every one of his words felt practiced, precise, and final.
"What do you mean by that, Director?" Dottore asked, seeming to play into their leader's performance.
"It is time to enact our vengeance. It is sooner than I had planned, but it appears that swift action is required. We cannot risk losing our memories again, and forgetting this paramount truth."
"But Director, The Tsaritsa hasn't given us the go ahead yet," Columbina spoke up softly.
"She has given me her blessing to act when necessary. The matter of the final Gnosis is trivial. Once she has heard this news, she will certainly provide it to us. There is no time to waste. We must attack them now, while time is still on our side."
"So the time has finally come," Il Capitano spoke up, breaking his silence.
"Indeed. We will enact our judgment on the gods above. No longer will they look down on us as lowly creatures. We will rise up and smite them once and for all. For the Tsaritsa!"
"For the Tsaritsa!" rose a cry from the others.
Diluc didn't say a word, though. He was still too shocked at this abrupt turn of events to even process it. The gears that had been turning behind the scenes within the Harbingers had begun to reveal a sliver of the truth at last.
The Jester took his seat again, and spoke in a calmer voice.
"We move in two weeks. In the meantime, I will put the finishing touches on our plan. With the aid of all seven Gnoses, we have nothing to fear. We will meet again to discuss the specifics. For now, you are dismissed. Speak of this to no one."
His eye glimmered menacingly as he concluded, but he remained seated as the rest began to file out of the room one by one.
Diluc stood with them, not wanting to attract any undue attention. He eyed Columbina, who seemed somewhat disturbed, though he couldn't be sure. What he could be sure of was this: Childe looked like a man possessed.
Childe left the room, and Diluc followed him. Down the hall, out of earshot of anyone else, Diluc called out to him.
"Oi, what was that about?"
"Huh? Oh, it's you," he sighed. "Look, I didn't make any promises to you."
"Still, you think this is wise?" Diluc prodded carefully.
"I don't give a fuck anymore. This whole world is fake, and I'm sick of it."
"You've really done it now, haven't you?" a third voice joined in.
"You stay out of this, bitch."
Columbina recoiled in mock horror before continuing right where she left off.
"We could have kept this to ourselves, but now everyone knows. That old man isn't going to let this go, you know? The depth of his grudge simply won't allow it."
"Fine with me," Childe said with his palms raised in contempt.
"Are you ready to see this world's end already? How pathetic," Columbina spat, her lips twisted in a rare scowl.
"I've heard enough. Let me know when you have something reasonable to say," Childe flippantly declared, then strolled away with the swagger of a pimp.
The gravity of the situation was starting to set in. Diluc truly understood his powerlessness now, and a feeling of dread arose in his heart. He didn't know what The Jester's motives were, but it seemed that the Harbingers would face off against the gods in the near future, come hell or high water. In fact, perhaps this was the true aim of Pierrot's plan from the very start.
Scared?
No. Please don't intrude on my privacy, either, damn it.
Diluc glared at the blindfolded woman standing next to him in the hall, and she gave him a gentle smile in return.
You're just so fascinating, I can't help myself. Are you ready to tell me all about what happened back then yet? I'll gladly listen to everything, and even throw in some extra service just for you.
"No, thanks," Diluc said aloud, and headed down the hall towards his room.
A shame, really. I may be the only other living soul that could understand what you're going through.
At that provocative statement, Diluc couldn't help but whirl around to answer. But instead of Columbina, what he saw was a long, empty hallway devoid of any life.
Ending Theme: ゆよゆっぺ - Melody
What did she mean by that? Diluc racked his brains, hoping for any clue to surface.
But none did, and no answer came this time. Amidst the darkened hallways of Harbinger HQ, the young man dragged himself back to his room, feeling strangely regretful.
Next:
Episode 13: Somewhere Beyond the Blue Sky