The two Archons soon left the area,

Leaving the place in an awkward silence...

-While I saw for myself that the two Archons are good friends, I still have my instructions from Master to look after Yánwáng-dìjūn. -Shenhe soon broke the silence, as she proceeded to go into a sprint after the already retreating figures.

And no one stopped her, since they already knew how things were currently going on in Teyvat:

Even if the two Archons were good friends and quite strong, both individually and especially together,

They were still prime targets for many malicious forces, like the Abyss Order and the Fatui...

...

-Well then, since Zhongli already left with his friend and wouldn't be able to nag me about "starting a fight in public", I challenge you to a duel, Diluc Ragnvindr! -Childe suddenly declared, as he used his Vision to summon 2 water daggers and took on a battle pose. -Show me how much stronger you got in the time that...!

-How mean of you, my good friend. Challenging someone else to a dual. -Enjou interrupted him, looking and sounding a little hurt. -Are you truly not content with all the spars we had until now...?

He coyly asked, looking even more hurt now,

But in fact the Abyss Lector in human form was jealous...

*Jealous that his sparring partner tried to ditch him for someone else!

...

Was he the only one who loved their constant fights...?

Was he the only one who felt joy during their passionate exchanges...?

-Enjou, hey, you are still my good sparring partner! The best one I could wish for! A comrade who helped me test and hone my skills while no one else wanted to! -Childe couldn't help but say soon enough, looking and sounding a little confused about the whole thing, yet also quite emotional. -...I will spar with you now if you want, so just...!

He soon went on a whole confused and sad tale about their comradeship and how close they became,

How, while Zhongli constantly kept coming to Yujing Terrace to have tea with Madame Ping, Enjou was the only one he could seek out,

The only one who seemed to have the same amount of love for battle as he did and the only one who would take his challenge no matter the time and location!

*The whole speech was taking quite a while, even more so when Enjou stopped being all dramatic (somewhat) and joined the sudden "emotional discussion"...

...

This whole exchange was becoming really annoying to some people,

Such as Diluc, who was currently wondering whether he should attack the two "lovebirds" or not...

*Besides, from what he saw, weren't Zhongli and Childe in that kind of relationship before...?

Or was this a case of an unsuspected threesome between the Fatui, Abyss creature and Liyue's Archon...?

...

...

-Kaeya, please, hit me on the back of the head as hard as you can. -He couldn't help but say moments later, horrified about his sudden line of thought. -...I seem to have caught the stupidity in the air and am in dire need of some emergency "brain rearranging"...-He soon added in slightly less horror, as he looked towards his brother with a weary, yet prepared expression on his face. -...Please, Kaeya. You are the only one whom I can ask this. Save me from succumbing to lunacy.

He almost begged, which told the other that this was very serious,

As Kaeya soon proceeded to summon his sword with a determined expression,

Before bonking Diluc on the head with its blunt side, promptly knocking the redhead unconscious...

*Honestly, Kaeya didn't really want to do something like this, but after seeing Diluc's pleading expression...

...

His brother truly needed a break, pronto...

...

-...I am not certain how the relations between Mondstadt and Liyue usually are, but was not this assembly quite excessive...? -Emilia said a moment later, looking and sounding a little confused, as she was glancing between everyone around. -Ever since we arrived at and landed in the middle of the Harbor, there seems to be one absurd situation after another, ultimately culminating in Cavalry Captain Kaeya knocking Diluc Ragnvindr unconscious. -She shifted her gaze towards said person now holding onto his brother's unconscious form, before turning to look towards Jean. -...I thought we were here to participate in the Lantern Rite celebrations or am I wrong in my assumptions...?

She soon asked, the question itself sounding quite rhetorical,

As Jean looked a little sheepish for a few seconds, before she sighed...

-No, you are right, Emilia. We are here to celebrate the Lantern Rite, not needlessly confuse people. -The Acting Grandmaster finally said, as she soon proceeded to finally dismount Dvalin and lend Barbara a hand, which her sister carefully took. -This kind of entrance would have been fine between two close friends...-...Like Venti and Zhongli...-...But most of the people gathered here are unfamiliar faces to our group...

-But we can still make new friends, right, big sister...? -Barbara reassuringly added, as she was finally helped off Dvalin, soon standing by Jean's side. -Noelle, do you want to join us? -She suddenly exclaimed upon turning to look towards the Knight in training. -...Going on a small stroll around the Harbor, enjoying the sights and the festive decorations, looking through the stalls and participating in the celebratory games...This would be a much more pleasant experience if we join together!

She warmly added, upon reaching her hand towards the other,

With Noelle looking clearly surprised for a few moments, especially when she turned to look towards Jean...

*She was used to spending time with Barbara, but it didn't look like Master Jean minded her joining, either...

...

Even though she would be intruding on family time between sisters...

...

...

-...If you would have me, I would love to join you, Barbara, Master Jean. -Noelle finally answered after a few more seconds, looking and sounding extremely grateful, as she gently took Barbara's hand and soon got down. -...Tell me where we are going and I will surely follow your lead.

She soon added in part gratefulness and part determination,

Which was a "compromise" as good as any on her part, as the sisters soon realized...

*Though Jean couldn't help but wonder how formal Noelle still was towards her,

As she was already planning to find a way to have the newly made Knight in Training open up...

...

The same way she herself did, thanks to the help of the people around her...

...

-Yay, we can finally go see the city! Klee started getting bored! -The Pyromaniac suddenly yelled out, as she practically jumped up from Dvalin, somehow landing into the approaching Yelan's outstretched arms. -Thank you for catching Klee, blue lady!

-You are welcome. Klee, yes...? You are a very energetic child, aren't you...? -Said "blue lady" answered with some amusement, as she carefully let the child down, before looking towards the people still sitting on top of Dvalin. -I heard you were called "Cavalry Captain Kaeya", yes...? If you don't mind, I can open my home to you and your brother. Seeing as he is currently unconscious and the fact that Lantern Rite wouldn't start for a while, it is quite a fortunate plan, no...?

-...Oh, you would open your home to two unknown people...? Even if we are a part of a "delegation from Mondstadt", it's still quite a risky plan. -Kaeya soon commented in some suspicion, as he proceeded to shift Diluc in his arms and soon stood up, his expression turning to slight intrigue. -...Unless of course, you want us to become "friends"...?

-...Of course. I would "love" to know you better. -Yelan soon admitted, with the same amount of intrigue, as she helped Kaeya down. -...People like us should stick together...

She made sure to whisper into his ear, just as his legs touched the ground...

*A whisper so quiet that the only other person who heard it was Dvalin,

Though the dragon decided to simply ignore any implication it might have...

...

-Oh, my, looks like I arrived just in time. -A different voice was suddenly heard from nearby, as Madame Ping, accompanied by Yaoyao and Qiqi, soon entered the scene. -And you must be Klee. Yaoyao told me a lot about you, child. -She commented upon stopping and crouching before her, soon proceeding to take her hat off, gently pat the hair underneath and put it back on. -I see that there are two children who are feeling quite nervous to be here. -She soon commented, upon turning to look towards Emilia and Dvalin, still in the same position as they were before. -Both of you, while the children have fun playing around, would you mind joining me for a cup of tea...?


-Oh, Morax, thank you so much for inviting me to drinks~ Such a good opener for our discussion~ -Venti couldn't help but say in happiness, as he was finishing a third bottle of Osmanthus wine, while also glancing around the room they were currently in. -...I must also add that I am quite impressed by what you did with the place. It looks so much more lively now~

The Archon added soon enough, quite liking the new and colorful decorations,

Though wherever his friend decided to do this himself or got help, he wasn't sure...

*What he did know for a while now, is that both of them were currently monitored,

But since Morax, who surely also noticed it, didn't mind it at all, he decided to ignore this fact too...

...

The important thing now was to enjoy the wine,

And after this they could finally start with the discussion~

*He was really glad that Morax finally remembered that he "shared the memory" and...

-Barbatos, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for what you did for Xiao. -His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the familiar voice of Zhongli, the other Archon looking extremely grateful, which gave Venti pause. -That day, so many weeks ago, I felt the enormous Adeptal energy coming from Mondstadt. I can not deny that this sudden power outburst surprised me to no end. It was as confusing as it was shocking. Only later on, when the Traveler and Xiao visited Liyue before their journey to Sumeru, did I find out what actually happened that day. -He soon admitted, in the same amount of gratefulness, as well as warmth. -You gave Xiao the much needed closure and another chance at life. I can not thank you enough.

The Prime of the Adepti continued, upon going into a small bow,

Extremely thankful to his friend for doing what he himself couldn't...

*Actually saving Xiao and giving him a chance to start anew,

And all of this at the expense of his own safety...

...

If more people knew of Barbatos' ability to revive others, even if temporary,

They would undoubtedly be after him and not all of them coming with good intentions...

*He himself could not help but wonder how it would be like to see Guizhong once more...

...

But not only such a task, reviving a god, would take a huge amount of energy,

Not only it might not work since Barbatos has never actually met Guizhong,

But if his friend tried, THEY might be alerted to his growing power and...

*He would rather not see Guizhong ever again, than lose another friend...

...

...

And if the other Archons knew of this...

*Even some of them might not take this information well...

...

...

-Barbatos, please promise me to refrain from recklessly using this power. -He couldn't help but soon say, feeling quite saddened at the mere idea of losing yet another old friend. -I know full well how open you are to befriending others, yet if anyone with bad intentions came to know about this...

-...I could get targeted, right...? I know that already. -Venti ended for him, looking and sounding quite serious now, as he finally finished the bottle. -This ability of mine, using the Power of Time that SHE left me. I know full well that it could destroy the natural balance of life and death and even ghosts would try to reach me, to ask to be brought back to life. -He softly added, before sadly sighing. -...And as much as I would have liked to save others, just like I did my people and Xiao...-...By reviving Amber and Sophia, restoring Noelle's arm, restoring Xiao's wings and temporarily reviving the other Yakshas...-...I know that overdoing it might ultimately kill me. And then my people, my children of the wind, they would be really sad again. I can't let them go through this one more time. -He couldn't help but add in even more sadness, remembering once more that it was already a year since they found out his identity...-You know Morax, it was the Jubiläum recently. Another celebration those adorable children made just for me!~ -He gratefully and warmly admitted, before deciding to explain in full the events on that day, the retelling taking quite a while. -To think that, once again, so many things happened during the last year. And during this time, through the ups and downs, we all grew as people. Myself possibly more than anyone else...

-...I can clearly see that you did, my friend. -Zhongli agreed almost right away, the expression of warmth on his face again. -While you are still your usual chaos-seeking self, I can clearly feel that there is a semblance of inner peace within. You finally accepted yourself for who you are and your past without regrets, didn't you...?

-...Yes, I finally realized that what happened in the past, my friend's death and so much more, is not my fault. This also helped me accept both aspects of myself: a bard and an Archon. -The other truthfully added, his expression still grateful. -And this is all thanks to those who believed in me and stayed by my side for all this time, my people, my friends and also...HER. I talked with HER recently, SHE said I could call HER "Kairos". -He paused for a few seconds, his expression turning a little somber. -...Morax, I realize that you must be under a Contract of Secrecy made by THEM, but you already knew, didn't you...? About myself and my mother, I mean.

He couldn't help but ask the other, soon glancing towards him with searching eyes,

As Zhongli didn't take long to realize what his friend meant, about him finally being able to speak with Istaroth...

...

Yet, since Barbatos also knew of his Contract of Secrecy...

-You must already know that I can't break it easily. Even trying to do so might have severe consequences. You must already know how THEY operate, after all. -Zhongli soon said, looking and sounding quite grave, before he decided to think about it some more. Barbatos was still his friend, one who helped him a great deal recently. And this same friend wants his help now...-...I am still not certain I can safely break my contract with THEM, yet perhaps I can find a way to help you find the answers yourself. I just first need to know what your discussion was about, Barbatos. To do so, it would be best for us to change to a safer location. The place where you had the discussion itself should do.

He soon amended, making sure to speak vaguely, yet enough for Barbatos to realize his intention,

With Venti soon teleporting to his side and offering him a hand, the two Archons moments later teleporting away...

...

Right to the "Nameless Island" that Venti was at that same night...

...

...

It was time for another retelling,

A much more serious one this time...