"Lantern Rite exclusive:
Dishes enhanced with a special Fragrant Seasoning brough straight from Sumeru!
Enjoy their special Flavor and Aroma amidst the celebrations!"
Was what was written on the bulletin by Wanmin Restaurant,
And the Crux members didn't lose time in ordering the festive dishes...
*It also helped that the seasoning was made by a friend of someone from the Gourmet Supremos group,
A member of which they heard won the cooking competition in Mondstadt during the last Ludi Harpastum...
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...
As the group was discussing this fact, as well as the recent crisis, the food soon arrived...
-Here is your order, twelve portions of Fragrant Black-Back Perch Stew, as well as some Osmanthus wine. -Chef Mao warmly said, as he and his assistant put up the dishes before the waiting people. -I hope you enjoy the meal.
He added with a small appreciative bow, before proceeding to turn around to return to the shop,
Only to be stopped by Furong, who practically jumped before his path...
-Wait, we forgot to order for Captain Beidou! -She suddenly said, looking and sounding a little desperate. -We could order Fragrant Black-Back Perch Stew for her as well! Or perhaps Fragrant Qingce Stir Fry? Fragrant Stir-Fried Filet? Fragrant Mora Meat? A few of them or all? Our great captain deserves...!
-One dish should be enough. There is no need to order any more when our captain is not even here at the moment! -Mora-Grubber interrupted her, as she was counting the remaining Mora in a middle sized bag. -...Seeing as we brought this much money with us and already ordered twelve dishes and alcohol, we should leave most of the remaining mora for other spendings we would surely have during the celebrations.
-Thank you for inviting me to eat with you, even though I am no longer a member of the Crew. -Zhang Shun was the next to say, as he ate some of the stew. -...Since I am now a Peddler, how about I order Captain Beidou the food? If not for her, I would have died during the battle with Haishan.
He suggested, soon taking out his mora bag,
But was stopped from taking any Mora out by a familiar hand...
-There be no need fer this here, mate. Ye might no longer be part o' the crew, but ye be our guest. -Juza soon reassured him, before slowly moving his hand away. -As the Chief Mate, I tell ye to enjoy yerself an' let us discuss an' decide on this here matter.
And with these words, he motioned for Furong and Mora-Grubber to follow him,
With the three of them soon proceeding to leave the area, to have a talk in the back...
...
-Where is Xiangling? I don't see her around. Even with her love for culinary travels, she had never missed Lantern Rite before. -Was suddenly heard from a regular nearby, just as chef Mao and his assistant started preparing another dish.
-...I am not sure where my daughter is right now. -Mao soon answered, looking and sounding a little concerned. -While I approve of Xiangling's travels in order to perfect her art, I haven't heard from my daughter ever since she went to celebrate Mondstadt's Ludi Harpastum.
He soon explained, starting a small discussion about the matter,
One which the Crux members soon joined as well, seeing as it was about their favorite chef...
...
Kazuha on the other hand, was only partly listening to the discussion going on in the background,
As he was still wondering about different matters, such as the news of the recent happenings in Inazuma and the Raiden Shogun...
...
As well as what happened to him at that time, months ago, when he was suddenly turned into a baby for a few days...
...
Before that happened, the wind felt very strange,
As if it was not a simple breeze, but something much more...
*But to be able to revert someone's age, what kind of power...?
...
"Everyone, I am going to use my powers to help Morax.
Please, don't let this secret get out of Liyue's walls."
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...
Lord Barbatos...Venti, was able to save his fellow Archon,
Almost reviving the Geo Archon with a great power...
*One which he also seemingly used to revive the Raiden Shogun with...
...
"...It appears that I have gotten used to this power and its adverse effects...
...I don't even feel any energy drain from using so much of the Power of Time..."
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This "Power of Time", was it the power that reverted his age...?
...
The Anemo Archon, just how many secrets did he hold...?
*How many surprises was he going to reveal...?
...
Should he inquire "Venti" about what was going...?
"We would advise you against it, Kaedehara Kazuha. At least for the duration of the festival.", the Winds suddenly interrupted him, sounding a little concerned, "The matter of Barbatos' Time Power...Let's just say that it's problematic. Though talking about it in a specific location should be okay...", their words cut off by the last sentence, before there was a short pause, "...Yes, we think it should be alright as long as Barbatos is the one who initiates this discussion, preferably after teleporting with you to a certain hidden place."
They soon mysteriously added, before becoming quiet once again,
And Kazuha decided to heed their words, focusing on enjoying the festival for now...
*If this matter was as problematic as the Winds said it was, he wouldn't mind waiting for as long as the Archon wants...
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Was it just his imagination or was the time going quite slowly this evening...?
With everything that went on until now, normally it would have already been near midnight.
*Was this also an effect of Lord Barbatos' "Power of Time", perhaps...?
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...
Still, Kazuha didn't hate this unusual occurrence,
It was nice to have more time to celebrate Lantern Rite...
...
Besides, he still remembered how overly long THAT day was...
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"Venti", he was truly something else...
-I must admit that I am impressed with how fast and efficiently the Liyue Qixing took care of the attack aftermath. It was at most two and a half hours ago and already the Lantern Rite has fully resumed. -Diluc couldn't help but say, as he and Kaeya were currently walking through the Harbor and looking between the stalls. -This is so different from the Knight of Favonius, led by that meathead Grandmaster, who...
He soon went on a full blown tale about how inadequate Varka was for his job and how he should have been replaced ages ago by someone more competent,
And how the fact that the "Big Oaf" was still in the Grandmaster position actively harmed the Knights' conduct and...
*Kaeya was only half listening to his brother's words, choosing to focus on celebrating the festival, instead...
...
Even with Diluc complaining about Varka and the KoF again, it was still nice to have some sibling time with his brother,
Now that the recent crisis was finally over, he could actually help his brother to relax...
...
Even if he was the one paying for things, just as he initially promised to and was glad to fulfill this promise...
*After all, he could always earn more money, but if he suddenly lost his brother...
"...Kaeya…? Are you okay...?
...You were very quiet for a while now. And looking uncharacteristically sad, as if you are on the verge of tears..."
...
"...So it's weird for me to be quiet and sad...?! I should always be "happy-go-lucky"?! You really think that the facade I am always putting on is the real me?!
...DO YOU, DILUC RAGNVINDR?!
But of course, you are the only one between the two of us who can be sad and depressed! The only one who is secretly lonely and wishes to have his family back!
It's not like I was abandoned in Mondstadt at a young age by my biological father, had a "spy" status I never wanted pushed on me, for the sake of a "homeland" I don't even remember! And then had my foster father who took care of me for years die and had my foster brother try to kill me and then denounce our sibling status because I tried to tell him the truth and the only reason I survived that night is due to me gaining my Cryo Vision!
...H-hahahaha! W-what a farce this is...! S-so laughable...! A-and pathetic...!
...M-maybe it would really have been better if I died that night. M-maybe then, I wouldn't have stooped so low...I-I am really so pathetic, couldn't keep my emotions in check...A-and had them suddenly burst out like this..."
...
"Kaeya...What you said just now, is it the truth...?
...D-did you really feel like that, for all this time...? D-did you really...F-for my mistake...?
...A-and now, just because you...C-couldn't hold your feelings anymore...Y-you wish that...Y-you were dead...?
...D-do you really wish that...Y-you had died that night...K-Kaeya…?"
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"...Why wouldn't I...I just lost my foster father and then when I turned to you...I lost you too...
...So why wouldn't I wish to die...I really had lost everything I held dear...The people close to me ever since I was just a small boy...
...A-after that night...I-I forced myself to act like I was fine...B-but in truth...I-I wasn't..."
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Huh, the memory of that evening, of that night,
It seems like he could clearly remember it, even now...
*He was so grateful to still have a family in Diluc, if not for this...
"Your stubbornness is getting on my nerves! Stop beating around the bush and talk already! Sort out your differences!"
"You don't know what you have until you lose it". Until you understand the meaning of this sentence, don't even think about being released from this cell!"
...
Since Eula and Rosaria were currently back in Mondstadt,
Maybe he could choose and buy something for them, as well...?
*Now then, to remember what kind of things the two like...
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-Yo, Diluc, Kaeya! How nice is it to see you! -A happy voice was suddenly heard from nearby, as Childe and Enjou walked to the duo. -I was just discussing something with my sparring buddy here and noticed you two looking through the stalls. They resumed Lantern Rite really fast. -He continued, upon looking through the merchandise in the nearest stall, which had all kinds of Lantern Rite decorations and toys on display. -...They don't look half bad, I wonder which ones to choose for my siblings.
-Childe, my "dear" sparring companion, I thought you planned to ask them a few questions...?~ -Enjou soon cheerfully said, his voice not mirroring in his expression at all, which made the other pause in what he was doing. -...Or am I the only one who wants to know more about a certain Anemo Archon...? -He eerily continued, upon smiling widely, before turning around to look towards the now serious looking Diluc and Kaeya. -Oh, it's nothing too serious, we were just wondering who you found to be more powerful/harder to beat/scarier, corrupted Osial and Beisht...Or corrupted "Venti"...? You must have noticed that no Abyss members were actively involved in the attack this time...-His expression soon darkened. -...And having heard about what happened BACK THEN, I might have an idea as to why...
"After the massacre that happened last time, our leader was surely reluctant to send any more of our forces to their demise.", was left unsaid,
Yet, everyone present understood this perfectly, as Childe now looked towards the two Mondstadtians in interest, while Diluc's face darkened, as well...
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-We somehow managed to beat the corruption out of those two, even if it took time. But in the case of the bard...Archon...-He soon started, before heavily sighing, clearly still remembering what happened back then. -...Rather than the "God of Freedom" that he should be, he was more akin to the "God of Death", powerful and extremely merciless. And with the Power of Time, he could literally erase someone from existence...-He sadly admitted, his voice getting quieter by the last sentence. -...Seeing him like that at the time, so different than he usually is...
The sentence soon broke off, as Diluc tried really hard to forget what he saw and heard that day,
Which told Enjou all he needed to know and for both him and Childe to get enthusiastic at the chance of seriously fighting against the Archon in question...
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To think that the Anemo Archon could traumatize their Leader was...
-BIG BROTHER! -Was suddenly heard from nearby, interrupting the Lector's intrigued thoughts, as everyone soon turned to its source. -IT'S BIG BROTHER!
The voice continued and before anyone could as much as blink, a ginger haired and blue eyed boy ran out of the crowd and jump hugged Childe,
With said "big brother" looking surprised for a few seconds, before he returned the hug, just as Yelan and Keqing arrived with 2 other similarly looking kids...
-Teucer, Anthon, Tonia! When did you arrive here?! -Childe couldn't help but ask as he recognized them, looking happy, yet still slightly taken aback. -Why didn't you tell me you were coming? If I knew, I would have prepared...
-We wanted to make it a surprise, big brother! -Teucer told him through the hug, as he soon buried his face in the other's legs. -...Big brother wasn't coming back...You were busy...Wanted to see...Spend time together...
He soon started to mumble, some of the words getting left unheard,
Yet, it was enough to understand what he and the others were here for...
-Little brother wanted to see you. I wanted to see you too, so we came here. -Anthon soon explained, looking happy, yet also a little sheepish. -...Big sister left mom and dad a note.
-Big Brother, are these your friends?! -Teucer suddenly said, as he let go of the hug, soon proceeding to look between Diluc, Kaeya and Enjou, stars appearing in his eyes. -Are they also toy sellers? Are they from the Institute for Toy Research?! Are they friends of Mr. Cyclops?!
-...That they are, Teucer! My buddies at the Toy research institute, right...? -Childe soon admitted, trying to sound as nonchalant and happy as possible, while also secretly giving his three "buddies" a sideway glance, silently telling them to go along with the story. -We were just taking a break after a long day of work and...!
He soon went on a long tale about their day and how much fun they had making a bunch of Mr. Cyclops,
With Teucer soon starting to ask Diluc, Kaeya and Enjou questions, as Anthon joined in before long...
...
And as her siblings were enthusiastically asking her brother's "coworkers" all kinds of questions,
Tonia instead decided to pretend to be interested, similar to how her parents and brother were usually doing...
*It wasn't that long since she found out the truth about her brother and she still wasn't sure how to react...
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She and big brother were so close before, playing together and sharing the deepest of secrets,
He always addressed her as his "Dearest Sister" and himself as her "loyal knight.",
And when he was away from home, he still kept sending her letters...
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...
How much of this was actually a lie...?
Was he just pretending to like her all this time...?
*For all this time, why couldn't he just tell her the truth...?
...
She was older than Teucer and Anthon,
She would have understood if he had just told her!
*She noticed him act a little weird when he returned from the forest,
But back then she was just happy that her big brother was finally back...
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And even when she heard what their parents said, secretly discussing between themselves,
About how he changed that day, in that forest, and him now being part of the Fatui Harbringers...
*Wherever happened in that forest was to blame for him changing and joining those awful people!
...
Ever since she found out the truth,
She still considered him as her big brother...
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Her stupid and mean big brother,
Who didn't trust her at all!