Book 6: Contracts of the Earth
Chapter 1: The Land of Contracts
Teyvat; a world of fantasy where the seven elements flow and converge. Anemo, Geo, Electro, Dendro, Hydro, Pyro, and Cryo.
In the distant past, the seven Archons granted mortals unique elemental abilities. With the help of such powers, the people of Teyvat formed a bountiful homeland out of the wilderness.
However, 500 years ago, the collapse of an ancient civilization turned the world upside down.
Years later, the Cryo Archon known as the Tsaritsa, ordered the Fatui and its harbingers to capture the Archons' Gnosis for an unknown purpose.
One such Gnosis was from Barbatos the Anemo Archon, now known as Venti the travelling bard. A Fatui Harbinger named Signora was very close to obtaining the Gnosis from him, only for her plan to be foiled by an untimely and unexpected arrival of Xross Drive Rebellion.
Lumine, a dimensional traveller and a member of Team XDR, went to Teyvat in search of her long lost twin brother Aether, along with escorting Sucrose and Noelle back to Mondstadt, the nation of the Anemo Archon, the Land of Freedom. Thanks to the help of her team, she was able to reunite with her twin brother who was staying in Mondstadt and also made a friend with a familiar named Paimon.
With the twins reunited, a new goal was set for them. Travel to the other nations and earn blessings from the Archons by praying at the Statues of the Seven which might be a clue to regaining their lost powers; obtain the Archons' Gnosis before the Fatui do and keep them safe; and defeat the Fatui along with the Abyss Order, the latter which are enemies of humanity.
Currently, Lumine, Aether, Paimon, and the rest of Team XDR led by Zeo and Akira Naotora, set off to the nation of the Geo Archon named Rex Lapis by ship to participate in the Rite of Descension where the Archon will make his appearance.
What trials will our heroes undertake within the new nation?
Teyvat, Sea of Clouds
Daytime
On board the ship known as the Alcor which is owned by Captain Beidou of the Crux Pirates, Zeo, Akira, Lumine, Aether, Paimon and the rest of Team XDR alongside Jean Gunhildr, Acting Grand Master from the Knights of Favonius, are doing their daily activities as the ship continued its voyage to Liyue Harbor, where the Rite of Descension takes place.
But before they could reach the harbor, they need to take a quick stop at a Statue of the Seven which is located between Yaoguang Shoal and Mingyun Village. They were able to learn about its location after Kaedehara Kazuha, a member of the Crux Pirates and originally from Inazuma which is the nation of the Electro Archon, showed them the map of the Liyue region, which is now saved after taking a photo of the map using their Zikan Phones.
Speaking of Kazuha, the team were able to learn more about his past as the ship continued its voyage.
The reason why Kazuha left Inazuma is because of an incident when the Raiden Shogun enacted the Vision Hunt Decree, an appalling rule the team already knew about when it was mentioned by Tsubasa and Maria in the Favonius Library. Kazuha's friend, who's also a Vision-Bearer, chose to challenge the shogun, only for him to die in the ensuing duel as he was defeated in one strike. Kazuha, who'd just arrived and witnessed the final moments of the duel, quickly snatched the Vision and fled the area and his pursuers, hoping to keep his fallen friend's hope alive.
Eventually, he was found by Beidou aboard the Alcor, took him in as a new member of the Crux Pirates and escaped Inazuma, evading the harsh windy weather and lightning storms caused by the Raiden Shogun until they reached Guyun Stone Forest in the Liyue region. After hearing Kazuha's story, the team felt great sympathy and wanted to find a way to help with his problem. He then told them about the rumors of Masterless Visions reawakening during his travels, which is why he's roaming around the wilderness, hoping to find someone that can reawaken the Vision that was owned by his late friend. He then took out the colorless Inazuma Vision and asked the ones who didn't own a Vision to try and reawaken it.
Unfortunately, none of Team XDR were able to reawaken the Vision, so it was returned to Kazuha.
"It's alright, everyone. At least you've tried." Kazuha said to the group, putting away the Vision.
"To be fair, someone needs to have a very strong ambition and willpower in order for a Vision-Bearer to be chosen, so it's not as easy as everyone thinks." Fu Hua pointed out.
"Fu Hua's right." Jean agreed, briefly showing her Vision. "Earning a Vision of my own is no easy task, especially when I was promoted from Captain to Master in the Knights of Favonius. But eventually, I was able to overcome those difficult odds and re-established the authority of the Knights. And when I finally earned my Vision, I felt a breeze flowing through my hand. And I'll never forget the motto of the house of Gunhildr: For Mondstadt, as always."
"Well said, Master Jean." Noelle smiled.
"Amazing, Jean-san." Miku said with awe.
"Agreed, and well earned." Kazuha nodded in agreement. "You have my praise, Jean-san."
"Thank you, Kazuha." Jean smiled back.
"By the way, you never told us how you got your Vision, Noelle. Can you tell us, dess?" Kirika asked.
"Well… it's a little embarrassing, to be honest." Noelle admitted, fidgeting a bit.
"Don't be shy, Noelle! We all want to hear it!" Hibiki insisted with a smile.
"Hibiki-chan's right. Just tell us!" Kanade added with a grin.
"I'm also curious about it, too." Elfnein added.
"Oh… alright." Noelle reluctantly accepted. "It started a few years ago when I had to undergo the Knights' selection test for the seventh time. However, despite me memorizing the etiquette, the swordsmanship, the lines, and the strong points of an official Favonius Knight, I failed the test."
"Wow… that's rough." Kiana remarked. "After all of that hard work, it's still not enough?"
"Unfortunately not." Noelle sighed. "I never stopped aspiring to become a Knight of Favonius, but my exhausted body wouldn't let me get back on my feet like usual. But then a few moments after the test, I was sitting at a bench outside of the Favonius Headquarters, when I saw Master Jean coming out of the entrance. In response, I stood up from my seat and gave her a precise knightly salute. And to my surprise, she returned the salute with a smile."
"Fufu, how sweet of you to return the greeting, Jean." Akira chuckled.
"Well, it would be rude to ignore it." Jean giggled. "And besides, I was the one in charge of the selection process. When I looked at Noelle's smile, it was a bit strained and clumsy, but very pure."
"Y-You don't need to tell them that…" Noelle blushed a bit before smiling. "But still, it was the luckiest day of my life that I'll always cherish, thanks to you, Master Jean. My hard work has been known after all." She then briefly showed her Geo Vision. "And that, is how I earned my Vision. And from that point on, I'll continue to be a gentle and reliable knight, until one day, I'll become part of the Knights of Favonius."
"I'm sure that dream will come one day, Noelle. You have my support." Zeo supported with a thumbs up. "But honestly, you've been doing a damn good job so far when you're working alongside the Rebellion. Although you do need to work on learning from your mistakes."
"I understand, and thank you." Noelle smiled and bowed. "Please let me know on what I should improve on, and I'll do my very best to resolve it."
"That's the spirit." Zeo smiled, patting her shoulder.
"I guess you saw something from her that I didn't, Zeo." Jean remarked. "If that's the case, please continue taking care of her."
"You got it, Jean." Zeo nodded.
"Hey, guys! We've reached our pit stop!" Beidou informed, approaching the group as the Alcor began to slow down near Yaoguang Shoal.
"Oh, good! Now we can finally go to a Statue of the Seven." Paimon responded.
"Once Miriam, Aether and I gained the Geo Archon's blessings, we'll come back here and resume our voyage to Liyue Harbor." Lumine stated.
"Try not to take too long, we don't want to be late for the Rite of Descension." Yanfei reminded.
"Don't worry, we'll be back soon." Aether assured.
"Is it alright if I could come along and watch?" Jean requested. "I was curious to see how you three were able to have Anemo powers after touching the Statue of the Seven in Mondstadt."
"I don't see why not." Miriam approved. "Also… try not to be too shocked at what happens to me when I touch the Statue."
"Your Shardbinder powers, correct?" Jean recalled. "Don't worry, I'll be alright."
"Good."
"Alright, let's go!" Lumine declared as she, Aether, Jean and Miriam summoned their Wind Gliders and flew towards the location of the Statue with Paimon following behind.
Moments later, they found the slightly damaged statue with a red glowing aura on top of a small mountain and landed in front of the statue. From the looks of the statue, it's different than the one in Mondstadt. This one had a hooded man sitting on a stone throne with ancient markings and holding a cube on his hand.
"So this is what the Geo Archon looks like." Miriam remarked as the group observed the statue.
"Looks different than the one in Mondstadt. It's my first time seeing this Statue up close." Jean added.
"Well, time for the moment of truth." Paimon declared. "Aether, Lumine, Miriam, it's all yours."
"I think I'll let the twins go first." Miriam said as she, Jean and Paimon moved a few steps back.
The twins nodded at the group before approaching the Statue and touched its pillar together.
"The world opens itself before those with noble hearts…"
An unknown voice was heard from the twins' minds as the Statue's aura changed to blue and its broken parts began to repair itself. Then a pair of amber elemental orbs with Geo symbols on them appeared out of the Statue and plunged inside of the twins' bodies, causing them to have a brief amber glow before vanishing.
"So this is how those two were able to gain Anemo powers back in Mondstadt." Jean mused with her hand on her chin.
"Correct." Miriam nodded. "Our team were very surprised when it happened to Lumine."
"How do you two feel right now?" Paimon asked the twins.
"I feel like I can summon rocks from the ground." Aether remarked as he and Lumine stared at their own hands.
"Me too." Lumine added as the two lowered their hands.
"Well then, give your new powers a try." Miriam requested, gesturing to an open area beside the statue.
"You go first, brother." Lumine insisted.
"Okay, sis." Aether complied, turning to the open area and raised his hand forward. He focused his energy on his hand which let out an amber glow and summoned a meteorite from the ground that's the same size as a human. The group reacted in surprise and awe while Aether lowered his hand.
"Incredible…" Jean remarked with awe.
"Did not expect the rock summoning to be the same size as a human." Miriam added.
Paimon then flew towards the meteorite Aether summoned and sat on top of it. "Oh, this rock is safe for Paimon to sit and stand on! You can definitely create your own platforms with this."
"Alright, my turn." Lumine declared, performing the same actions as her brother and summoned a meteorite next to the one he made.
Paimon floated near Lumine's rock and knocked it a few times before nodding. "Mhm, just like the one Aether summoned."
"That's good to know." Lumine smiled, looking at her hand and clenched it. "Two elements down…"
"Five more to go." Aether finished as Lumine lowered her hand.
"Looks like it's your turn now, Miriam." Jean deduced as all eyes are on her.
"I believe so." Miriam replied, taking a deep breath and approached the statue while the others stepped away. Once she touched its pillar, another Geo orb appeared out of the statue and transformed into a crystal shard.
"This is gonna hurt..." Lumine began to wince, knowing what would happen the last time Miriam touched the Statue of the Seven.
The shard plunged deep into Miriam's chest, shocking the group as she winced in pain and placed her hand on her chest. Her body began to let out the same glow as the twins before vanishing.
"That's how you get your new powers?! That looked very painful compared to what Aether and Lumine did!" Paimon exclaimed.
"I know…" Miriam panted. "Such is the curse… of a Shardbinder."
"Are you feeling okay though, Miriam?" Aether asked.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine." Miriam assured as she calmed down. "I'm already used to this pain."
"I hope you're right." Jean replied. "It's a shame you didn't meet Albedo yet during your stay in Mondstadt. He might find some clues on how to stop that curse."
"We'll meet him someday." Miriam replied back. "Until then, I'll use this curse to help the people I want to protect."
"At least you have a positive mindset for that." Paimon remarked. "Anyway, Paimon wants to see you try out your new Geo powers next!"
Miriam giggled in response. "Relax, I'm about to do just that."
"So you're going to summon a rock like how Lumine and I did?" Aether guessed.
"Actually…" Miriam turned to the two rocks while her legs began to glow amber. " I'm going for a different approach."
"Pardon?" Jean raised her eyebrow.
"Just watch." Lumine replied.
Miriam turned to the two meteorites and rushed towards them while performing a few flips and cartwheels before leaping ahead. And once she got close, she delivered a Geo-infused flying spin kick that shattered them into dust. The group responded with awe and applauded as Miriam dusted off her foot and gave a graceful bow before approaching them.
"Wow, now that's stylish!" Paimon remarked.
"Thank you." Miriam smiled back. "Sure I can infuse my Geo powers onto my whip or sword to break those rocks, but this is much more fun."
"And it certainly shows." Lumine agreed.
"I don't think I can do those fancy moves since I'm not that flexible." Aether said.
"Maybe take up some yoga lessons?" Miriam offered.
"I'll uh… think about it." Aether replied, scratching his cheek.
"Paimon will pass on that offer." Paimon declined. "Maybe Jean will take those lessons?"
"That depends if I'm free." Jean replied. "Anyway, I think we should head back to the Alcor since our task is complete."
"Then let's get going." Lumine declared as the group summoned their gilders again and flew back towards the flagship.
Moments later, they arrived at their location with Zeo, Akira, Noelle and Elfnein still on board and landed on the ship.
"So? How'd it go?" Akira asked Miriam and the travellers.
"Despite having another elemental shard plunging into my body, it went quite well." Miriam replied.
"We can even summon rocks from the ground for platforms and defensive walls." Lumine added with Aether nodding.
"And they can even infuse the Geo element onto their weapons for more power!" Paimon also added.
"Good to know." Zeo noted. "One other thing to note is that the power of Geo can be used both in offence and defence."
"He's right." Jean agreed. "Compared to Anemo which can increase your agility and attack speed along with drawing out enemies into one group so you can deliver a decisive blow in one strike."
"Ah, that's a good point, too." Akira noted.
"Hm?" Paimon noticed some people missing on the ship. "Where did Hibiki, Kiana and the others go?"
"Oh, they went out to explore the area for some treasure, materials and other stuff while you're gone." Elfnein answered. "They should be back soon."
"Hey, we're back!"
"And here they come now." Noelle smiled after hearing Hibiki's voice. The group then saw her and the others boarding the ship.
"Did you guys find any good treasure?" Paimon asked them with excitement. "Paimon wants to see it!"
"Calm down, you." Chris replied in annoyance as she and the other Attuned dispersed their Symphogears. "It's just the usual Mora, weapons, crystals and artifacts. Nothing special."
"Although we did get some very pretty ores, dess!" Kirika informed. "Let them see it, Fu Hua-san!"
In response, Fu Hua took out a pair of ores, one glowing in amber and the other in aquamarine. "The one in amber is called Cor Lapis, and the other one is called the Noctilucous Jade."
"Which happens to be my favorite type of ore, mind you." Beidou mentioned.
"Cor Lapis…" Jean repeated. "That name came from Rex Lapis, right?"
"That's correct, Jean." Yanfei confirmed while Fu Hua put away the ores.
"By the way, you guys should've seen how Kazuha fought those hilichurls! It was amazing using both his swordsmanship and his Anemo Vision!" Hibiki said with glee.
"Aww man! Paimon would've loved to see that!" Paimon replied.
"Maybe next time." Kazuha replied back.
"By the way, Miku, your relic does sound like something from Liyue, don't you think?" Yanfei asked.
"I can understand what you meant, Yanfei-san." Miku replied.
"Makes me wonder if there's a Shenshoujing relic in Liyue?"
"GV and Copen did find a fragment of Gungnir and Airgetlám in their world, so does seem possible." Kanade mentioned.
"Hmm… I wonder about that." Miku pondered, looking at her relic pendant.
"Anyway, did you guys finish your blessings with the Statue?" Kiana asked Miriam and the twin travellers.
"Yup, we did." Lumine confirmed with Aether and Miriam nodding.
"We can summon rocks from the ground for defence and platforming." Aether added.
"And we can infuse the Geo element in our weapons and bodies for added power or defence." Miriam also added.
"That's good to know." Fu Hua noted. "If there's any free time after the Rite of Descension, you three will start practising the Geo element."
"She's right." Zeo agreed. "Especially you, Aether. You may have freed Dvalin from the Abyss' control, but there's going to be even more powerful enemies as you continue on your journey."
"In addition, the obstacles in Teyvat aren't the only ones you need to prepare for. You also need to prepare for the other worlds in case we need your help." Akira added.
"I understand." Aether noted.
"Okay, I think we can continue our voyage to Liyue Harbor." Beidou declared. "Raise the anchor, we're heading out!"
"Aye, captain!" Her crewmates responded. The anchor was then raised before the ship sailed towards their destination.
During the voyage, Yanfei decided to explain to the team about the other guardians of Liyue besides Rex Lapis: the Adepti, deities consisting of illuminated beasts and even gods. Rex Lapis is also the leader of the adepti with the title of Prime of Adepti. Yanfei also revealed to the team that she's a half-adeptus since she has the blood of an adeptus running through her veins which surprised the team. She also mentioned another person who's also half-adeptus: Ganyu, general secretary for the Liyue Qixing and a Cryo Vision Bearer who's very skilled in archery.
As Yanfei continued to talk about the adepti, they were able to learn about three of the most known ones; Mountain Shaper, dwelling within Mt. Hulao; Moon Carver, residing within Qingyun Peak; and lastly Cloud Retainer, dwelling within Mt. Aocang.
Several minutes later, the Alcor was nearing its destination as the team watched the open seas until they saw a large city that resembled China from Earth along with numerous fishing and supply boats. "Beidou-san… is that…?" Hibiki asked.
"That's right." Beidou confirmed with a smile. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Liyue Harbor!"
"Whoa…" The team were in awe at the sight of the city, bustling with people, a marketplace filled with food and supplies, and other amazing things as the Alcor continued to sail towards the docks. As the ship is nearing the docks, the team heard music being played somewhere, which caught some attention from the Attuned, especially Chris.
"Wait… am I hearing rock music?" Chris questioned.
"Heh, that's gotta be Xinyan. She sometimes boarded my ship to play music for the crew." Beidou answered.
"Xinyan, huh?"
"You'll know it's her when you see her guitar axe."
"She has a guitar axe?! Now that's hardcore!" Zeo said in amazement.
"Well she's gotta have something to protect herself." Beidou pointed out. "Plus, it also shoots Pyro."
"So she's a Pyro Vision Bearer?" Akira guessed.
"That is correct." Kazuha confirmed. "Also, her music is quite nice after hearing her play a few songs."
"Oh I can tell we're going to get along with her very well." Kanade grinned.
"Kanade, we're here for the Rite of Descension, not a concert." Fu Hua reminded.
"I know, I know."
"Speaking of the rite, I hope we're not too late for it." Kiana said.
"Maybe we can ask Xinyan when the rite will begin." Noelle suggested.
"Good idea." Lumine agreed.
"Anyway, once the Alcor reaches the docks, you guys will go on ahead since Kazuha and I will be busy for a while." Beidou said.
"Thanks again for the ship ride, Beidou." Aether smiled.
"We appreciate your help, Beidou-san." Elfnein bowed.
"Heh, no problem." Beidou smiled back. "And if you ever need another ride, give me a call."
"You got it, captain." Zeo replied with a thumbs up.
Once the Alcor reached the docks moments later, the team said their farewells to Kazuha, Beidou, and the Crux Pirates before heading towards the city of Liyue with Yanfei as their guide.
As the group were climbing up the stairs leading towards the city, someone approached them from behind and called out a familiar face, which garnered their attention. "Hey, Yanfei! Fancy seein' ya here!"
"Oh, hey there, Xinyan!" Yanfei greeted with a smile. "Good to see you."
Xinyan is a girl with dark skin, amber eyes, and shoulder-length dark brown hair with dark red streaks and some orange undersides. Her hair is also pulled back into a pair of buns with spiked bands holding them. Her outfit consists of a black-brown tank top fastened by knots and white shorts, with a red and white vest with flared red, black, and white sleeves; a black and red ribbon tied around her right leg, and a netted sock on her left. She also carries a drum on the back of her waist. Also, her Pyro Vision was affixed on said drum.
"So, how's everythin' goin' so far?" Xinyan asked the legal advisor.
"I had to help out Beidou with supply and material collecting in Mondstadt." Yanfei replied. "Though we did run into a bit of trouble along the way." She then gestured to the team. "Luckily these guys were here to get us out of trouble."
"I see." Xinyan noted before looking at the group. "Thanks for the help, y'all."
"Heh, it's no big. We're always ready to lend a helping hand." Kiana replied with a smile.
"So you must be Xinyan." Chris said. "Gotta say, liking your taste of music there."
"Oh, you heard my tune earlier? What'cha think?" Xinyan asked.
"Anything involving rock and roll is great in my book." Chris replied with a smile.
"Hehe, sweet!" Xinyan grinned. "Good ya know another fan who likes my music."
"Would be nice if we could hear you sing, but we have other plans at the moment." Kanade said.
"Yer talkin' bout the Rite of Descension, right?" Xinyan guessed.
"That's the one, Xinyan-chan." Hibiki nodded. "Is it starting soon?"
"In about an hour or so. Should be enough time fer y'all to explore the city since you guys aren't from around here."
"Oh thank goodness, dess." Kirika sighed with relief.
"Anyway, I'd better not keep y'all busy." Xinyan said. "In the meantime, I'm gonna go take a quick break before performin' again."
"It's a pleasure meeting you, Xinyan." Jean bowed. "Take care of yourself."
"Heh, same goes for y'all! Have a good time in Liyue!" Xinyan grinned and waved before leaving while the group continued onwards.
"(Hey uh… Zeo, Akira?)" Kiana whispered.
"(What's up?)" Zeo responded.
"(Her name is clearly Chinese, or Liyuean in Teyvat's case, yet she speaks like a valley girl or someone from Texas. May I ask… why?)"
"(I… don't have an answer to that.)" Zeo answered with a sweatdrop.
"(Neither do I.)" Akira added with the same expression.
"(I see.)" Kiana noted. "(I'll just chalk it up to another case of multiverse weirdness.)"
"What are you three talking about?" Fu Hua asked them.
"Oh, nothing. Just talking about Xinyan and her music." Kiana replied with a small lie.
"Ah, right. Though I have to admit, it was ambitious of her to play rock and roll in a nation like this."
"Gotta give props for that." Kanade remarked. "Especially if a nation is used to their own oriental style of music."
"Well it depends on the people's opinion if they accept other styles." Yanfei stated. "In my case however, I find Xinyan's style pretty unique. Speaking of which…" She turned to Chris. "I remember hearing you sing that kind of music back in Mondstadt, correct?"
"Yup." Chris nodded. "I used to hate singing at first, but I eventually grew fond of it over time."
"That's great to hear." Aether smiled. "Music is very pleasing in the ears."
"That's because you've heard me, Hibiki and a few others sing already." Chris smirked.
*Growl…*
But then the sound of stomach growling made them stop for a moment. Chris sighed before turning to Hibiki. "It's you again isn't it, baka?"
"Eh?!" Hibiki gasped. "I thought it was Paimon-chan!"
"Huh?! Why pointing fingers at Paimon?!" Paimon exclaimed. "That sound's definitely coming from Kiana!"
"Excuse me?!" Kiana retorted. "Why put the blame on me?!"
"Please don't fight, we just got here…." Miku sighed.
"Now now, let's not fight amongst ourselves over growling stomachs." Miriam interjected with her hands raised before turning to the legal advisor. "Is there any place we could go for a quick meal?"
"You know… we could try Xiangling's restaurant." Aether suggested.
"Oh yeah, Wanmin Restaurant!" Lumine remembered. "You did meet Xiangling when she paid a visit to Springvale for cooking materials a few weeks ago."
"Oh, she visited the Mondstadt region? Well that's a surprise." Yanfei remarked.
"It's for a cooking competition, by the way." Aether mentioned. "So, anybody wanna grab a quick bite?"
"No thanks, I've already had my fill." Yanfei declined.
"Same goes for me too./Mine too, actually." Jean and Noelle also declined.
"I'll pass on the food, thanks./Same here, I've eaten enough." Fu Hua and Miriam also declined.
"It's okay. I've already had my meal./Me too." Miku and Elfnein also declined.
"Well, I guess this means the rest of us will go eat at Wanmin's." Zeo declared.
"Alright then." Yanfei noted. "In that case, I'll be escorting the others to Yujing Terrace where the Rite of Descension will take place. Lady Ningguang will also be there."
"No problem." Akira replied. "Once we're done eating, we'll head there as soon as we can."
"Got it." Yanfei noted before pointing at the path ahead. "If you're looking for Wanmin Restaurant, just keep following this path till you reach the Adventurers' Guild's Liyue Branch. It should be on the opposite side of it."
"And how do we get to Yujing Terrace, dess?" Kirika asked.
"After you walk past Wanmin Restaurant, you'll find a pond. Turn right and cross the bridge, it'll lead you to Feiyun Slope." Yanfei answered. "Then keep heading straight until you find the stairs leading upwards on the left, which is where Yujing Terrace is."
"Thanks for the directions, Yanfei." Kanade said.
"No problem." Yanfei replied. "But just in case you're still lost, you can ask the Millelith for directions. They're wearing amber-colored soldier uniforms."
"Gotcha." Kiana nodded. "Well, see you guys later!"
"Try not to be late for the rite!" Noelle said.
"Also, say hello to Xiangling and Guoba for me!" Yanfei added as she, Jean, Noelle, Elfnein, Miku, Miriam and Fu Hua made their leave, while everyone else head for Wanmin Restaurant for a quick meal before the rite.
Moments later, they arrived at their destination and took some seats before looking at the restaurant's menu.
"Ooh… so many good dishes to try out…!" Hibiki said.
"Oi, it's only for a quick meal, not a buffet." Chris reminded.
"Almond Tofu, huh?" Akira mused at the one photo on the dish menu. "Sounds and looks kind of healthy."
"Oh, shrimp!" Zeo noticed the photo of the shrimp dish called the Crystal Shrimp. "Haven't had shrimp in a while."
"Hmm… Stir-Fry Filet looks appetizing." Kiana mused.
"Oh! I wanna try that too!" Hibiki added.
"I think I'll go with Stir-Fried Fish Noodles." Chris decided.
"I'll take the same dish as Chris-chan's." Kanade decided.
"Squirrel Fish for me, dess!" Kirika cheerfully decided.
"Aether, what do you recommend for Liyue dishes?" Lumine asked.
"During the cook-off competition in Springvale, Paimon and I helped Xiangling cook the Jade Parcels." Aether replied. "She even gave me the recipe for it afterwards."
"Alright." Lumine nodded. "Jade Parcels it is then."
"Oh! Paimon wants that dish too!" Paimon said in excitement.
Aether chuckled at the familiar's response. "In that case, Paimon and I will have that dish too."
"Okay! We're ready to order!" Zeo called out to the chef.
"Coming!" The male chef responded and approached the group. "Welcome to Wanmin Restaurant. I'm Chef Mao, the owner of this place." He greeted as he observed the group. "And from the looks of your attires, you guys are from other nations, right?"
"You could say that." Zeo replied.
"It's our first time in Liyue, by the way." Akira added.
"Ah, that explains it." Mao noted. "Well then, welcome to Liyue Harbor."
"We were gonna have a quick meal before we go and watch the Rite of Descension." Kanade said.
"Ah, so you folks are also interested in meeting with Rex Lapis." Mao noted. "Don't worry, your orders will be done in time so you won't be late for the rite."
"Thanks for that, dess!" Kirika smiled.
"So, what are you having?" Mao asked with his pen and paper ready.
"One Crystal Shrimp, one Almond Tofu, three Jade Parcels, one Squirrel Fish, two Stir-Fried Filet, and two Stir-Fried Fish Noodles." Zeo ordered. "Oh, and don't forget the glasses of water."
"You got it." Mao noted, writing down the orders. "The orders should be done in around 10-15 minutes."
"Got it." Kiana noted.
"Okay!" Mao finished writing and tore off the paper. "Guoba, give this to my daughter. We've got customers!"
"Guoba?" The group (except Aether and Paimon) blinked in confusion.
"He's down here." Mao replied, passing the paper to a… small amber-colored bear walking on two legs?
"...Eeehhh?!" The group exclaimed when looking at said bear.
"Hey, Guoba! Long time no see!" Paimon greeted with a wave, making the bear wave back before heading for the kitchen.
"Oh, so you know this little helper?" Mao asked while preparing the glasses of water.
"Paimon and I met Guoba and Xiangling in the Mondstadt region several days ago." Aether answered.
"Ah, so you met my daughter?"
"...Your WHAT?!" The group exclaimed at the chef's response.
"Huh, and I thought she'd mention my name already." Mao blinked.
"...We might've forgot to ask about that part." Paimon admitted.
"Ah, that explains it. Well at least you know now. Still, it's nice of my daughter to make new friends during her travels."
"It is." Aether agreed. "Plus, she's really good with a spear and used her Pyro Vision well."
"Good to know." Mao noted before placing the glasses of water in front of the group. "Well, here's your water. I'm gonna go to the kitchen and give my daughter a hand. I also have another helper besides Gouba, but she's out getting more supplies. Not to worry, she should be back soon." Afterwards, he went inside the kitchen to help with the cooking.
"Another helper, huh? I wonder who that could be?" Zeo pondered.
"Can I point out the bear walking on two legs earlier?" Chris mentioned. "What kind of bear is that?"
"Well… Xiangling said Gouba's a panda." Aether answered.
"...That's not a panda." Chris deadpanned. "Panda's are white and black. This one is amber and brown. And there's no such thing as an amber and brown panda!"
"Guoba also breathes fire after eating chilli peppers." Paimon mentioned. "Paimon saw it, and still can't believe it."
"...I'll believe it when I see it."
"At this rate, we can just throw logic out the window." Kiana said. "I don't wanna think about stuff like that too much."
"Yep." Kanade agreed.
"Excuse me! Pardon me! Coming through!"
"Hm?" The group turned their attention to a female voice approaching from the path on the right and saw a teenage girl carrying a wheeled cart with food supplies on it. Soon after, the girl stopped near the restaurant the group were eating in.
"Phew… finally made it." She sighed with relief, letting go of the handles and catching her breath.
When Zeo and Akira looked at the girl, their eyes widen in shock. "What the… Huang Lingyin from Infinite Stratos?!"
The girl named Lingyin has green eyes with light brown hair tied into long twin tails with a yellow ribbon at both sides. She's also wearing black chinese pants with black shoes, a chinese purple blouse with red outlines, and fingerless gloves with the same colors as the blouse. She also has pink rings on her right wrist.
"I think this must be Mao-san's extra helper, dess." Kirika said, looking at the girl.
Kanade then noticed the shocked looks on the Naotora siblings. "Hey, what's going on with you two?"
"(Well… let's just say sis and I know who that girl is.)" Zeo quietly answered.
"(And she's definitely not from Teyvat.)" Akira added.
"(Lemme guess… Dimensional Quake victim?)" Kanade guessed, earning a nod from the Naotoras. "(She's from another version of Earth?)" That earned another nod from them. "(Wow, you two and Gaius watched a lot of anime.)"
Lingyin picked up the supplies from the cart and entered the restaurant's back door. "Mao, I got the supplies you needed!"
"Put them down over there, I'll take care of the rest! You can rest a bit once you're done!" Mao replied.
"Okay!" Lingyin replied back as she did her work.
"Hmm… I'd better wait a bit longer before I start asking her." Zeo thought while taking a quick sip of water from his glass.
Several minutes later…
"Okay, dishes are ready!" A cheerful young female voice was heard.
"Now there's a voice we haven't heard in a while!" Paimon smiled before waving. "Over here, Xiangling!"
"Oh? Is that Paimon I hear?" The girl replied before coming out with several dishes on her arms and placed them in front of the group. She then gasped upon noticing a couple of familiar faces. "Oh, hey Paimon! Aether! Good to see you!" She greeted with a smile.
"Same to you too, Xiangling." Aether smiled back.
Xiangling has gold eyes with black hair cut in a bob-like fashion at the front and of unknown length at the back, and a pale complexion. Her bangs are swept to one side by a golden hairclip with a paw motif, and the rest of her hair is braided in a looped bow-like updo at the back of her head resembling panda ears, fastened with a small red ribbon. Her outfit consists of a brown and gold leotard with red ribbons in the front and back, the back being larger and holding a bell, a gold belt, which she uses to hold her Pyro Vision, brown fingerless gloves and boots, as well as a braided red ribbon around her left thigh and right arm and adhesive bandages crossed in an X on her right knee.
"What are you doing here in Liyue Harbor?" Xiangling asked.
"We're here to see the Rite of Descension where we can meet Rex Lapis." Aether replied. "Also, thanks for the food."
"Ah, so that's why. And you're welcome, by the way." Xiangling smiled. "Hope you enjoy the food!"
"Don't worry, my brother told us how good your Jade Parcels are." Lumine assured as the others chowed down on their food.
"Wait… who are you?" Xiangling asked.
"I'm Lumine, Aether's sister." She introduced before gesturing to the others. "And these are my friends; Hibiki, Kanade, Chris, Kirika, Kiana, Zeo and Akira."
"Wait… you're his sister?!" Xiangling gasped.
"She found us while Aether and Paimon were still in Mondstadt a week ago, and she brought a lot of friends with her." Paimon explained.
"I did tell you that I was on a quest to find my missing sibling." Aether mentioned. "But it turns out to be the other way around thanks to Zeo and Akira."
"I see." Xiangling noted before smiling. "Still, I'm glad you and Lumine were reunited at last."
"Mhm." Lumine nodded. "And this time, we won't get separated again."
"Hey Xiangling, can I ask you something?" Zeo asked as he took another drink after eating his food.
"Oh, sure thing." Xiangling replied. "What is it?"
"Could you tell us about your dad's newest helper for this restaurant?"
"You're talking about Lingyin, right? Well, it all happened a week ago. She was being escorted to Liyue Harbor by my friend Yaoyao. She then took Lingyin to my dad's restaurant where he, Guoba and I met her. She was looking for some friends of hers at an academy I've never even heard of."
"Must be talking about IS Academy." Akira thought.
"Dad and I fed her with some of our favourite dishes since she was hungry." Xiangling continued. "Afterwards, she wanted to search around to look for her friends on her own. However, she's not familiar with Teyvat since she's an Outlander."
"An Outlander?!" Aether, Lumine and Paimon gasped.
"Where is she from, by the way?" Hibiki asked.
"Well… she's from a country called China from a world called Earth." Xiangling replied.
"...EEHH?!" The group (minus Zeo, Akira and Kanade) exclaimed.
"Was it something I said?" Xiangling tilted her head.
"...Something like that." Kiana replied. "It's a long story, not to mention a huge secret that must not be revealed."
Xiangling gasped and covered her mouth. "S-Sorry! I didn't mean to reveal any secrets!"
"It's okay, don't worry, we're not mad. Just surprised, that's all." Kiana assured.
"Oh, okay then." Xiangling noted, lowering her hands. "So I'm guessing you wanted to talk to her about it?"
"Just me and Zeo will do. But not right now." Akira replied. "We need to finish our meals first."
"No problem." Xiangling noted. "So, what do you think?"
"Aether and Paimon were right. These dishes are delicious." Zeo replied with a smile.
"Soo… good…" Hibiki, Kirika and Kiana were in bliss while eating their dishes.
"Try not to choke." Chris smirked while slowly eating her dish.
"Meh, they'll be fine." Kanade shrugged while eating her dish. "So how did you get your Vision, Xiangling-chan?"
"Oh, this?" Xiangling showed her Pyro Vision hanging on her gold belt. "It appeared to me one day. Maybe it's because of my passion for cooking. You can make something super delicious out of any kind of ingredient."
"Huh, that's not a bad ideal." Akira remarked. "Provided if said person can actually cook properly."
"Don't worry, I'm a master of the culinary arts of cooking." Xiangling assured. "That's why my favourite place is the chicken… I-I mean the kitchen!"
"Heh, stuttered a bit at that last part, huh?" Zeo chuckled.
"Ehehe… oops." Xiangling sheepishly chuckled, rubbing the back of her head. "Anyway, once you're done eating, let me know. I'll call in Lingyin to meet you and Akira."
"Thanks." Akira smiled as the group resumed eating their meals.
Some time later…
"Thank you for the meal!" The group thanked as their dishes and glasses were finished.
"Glad you enjoyed it, everyone!" Xiangling smiled before turning to the Naotoras. "So, are you two ready to meet Lingyin?"
"Yep, we are." Zeo replied as he and Akira nodded. "Oh, first things first." He took out a large bag of Mora and placed it on the table. "Gotta pay for our meals, after all."
"Thanks! I'll give this to Dad, right away. Wait here a moment." Xiangling replied, picking up the bag of Mora and went inside the restaurant.
Zeo then turned to the group. "You guys should go on ahead to the Rite of Descension, sis and I are gonna be here for a while."
"Understood." Aether replied as he and the others nodded.
"You two better not be late for the rite!" Paimon said.
"We won't, don't worry." Akira assured. "Once we're done talking to Lingyin, we'll come right over."
"Alright, see you later. And give Xiangling our regards!" Lumine replied as she and the others left the restaurant.
"Okay, I'm back!" Xiangling said as she arrived, then noticed only the Naotoras remaining. "Huh? Where did everyone else go?"
"They had to go and see the Rite of Descension. Also, they send their regards to you." Zeo informed.
"Oh, okay." Xiangling noted. "Though it would've been nice if I could give them a proper goodbye."
"Don't worry, you'll see them again some other time." Akira assured with a smile. "Now then, shall we?"
"Mhm. Come inside." Xiangling nodded, escorting the Naotoras inside the restaurant where they find Lingyin having a conversation with Mao while Guoba took a nap near the stove. "Hey, Dad! Zeo and Akira wanted to meet Lingyin for a while."
"Ah, I heard from my daughter about it." Mao said to the Naotoras. "If it's a secret, then me and my daughter will not pry on it. Never mind Guoba, by the way. He's just taking a nap after heating up the stove."
"Sorry for the trouble, Mao." Zeo apologized.
"It's no problem. Take your time." Mao replied with a smile before he and Xiangling left them alone.
"So… what do you want to talk to me about?" Lingyin asked.
"Xiangling told us how you ended up in Liyue Harbor." Zeo explained. "And especially about you mentioning Earth."
"Guess what… Zeo and I, along with some of our friends, are also from Earth, but in different universes." Akira revealed.
"...WHAT?!" Lingyin exclaimed in shock. "Are you serious?!"
"Mhm." Zeo confirmed as he and Akira nodded and took sat down. "Listen well, Lingyin. This is something you need to hear."
Moments later…
"...And here we are now." Akira said as she and Zeo finished their explanations on the events that occurred so far, as well as the cause of how Lingyin appeared in Teyvat.
"The Neo Time Jackers, Gjallarhorn and the Dimensional Quakes, huh…" Lingyin noted. "So that explains why I'm warped here."
"Could you tell us what happened before you're warped to Teyvat?" Zeo asked.
"Well… let's see…" Lingyin pondered with her arms crossed. "If I remember correctly, I was at a beach at night, chasing that two-timing Ichika who nearly kissed Houki behind me and our friends' backs using our IS frames."
"Which is complete overkill in my opinion." Akira mentally sweatdropped, remembering that one episode of the anime. "You and your friends really need to chill…"
"And then, from out of nowhere, a mysterious quake occurred in our area. We were too late to react as everything became white. And when I finally woke up, I was somewhere within the Liyue region. I tried to look for my friends without going too far, but no luck."
"I see. So the Dimensional Quake happened in your world, too. And thanks to that, you and your friends were separated and warped away to unknown worlds." Zeo noted.
"Mhm." Lingyin nodded. "Good thing I met Yaoyao who was kind enough to take me to Liyue Harbor. I stayed with Xiangling and her dad at Wanmin Restaurant for food and shelter, in exchange for working at their restaurant. Liyue really does remind me of my home country of China, now that I think about it."
"Yeah, it really does feel like we're in China." Akira agreed.
"I've been living here for quite some time and I was able to learn about Teyvat, Liyue Harbor, and the people living here including the Adepti and Rex Lapis. Speaking of which, he's coming today because of the Rite of Descension."
"Yeah, that's the reason why we're here in the first place." Zeo replied. "To warn him about his Gnosis being in danger of getting stolen by the Fatui."
"The Fatui?! Those shady assholes?!" Lingyin gasped.
"Had a run-in with a few of them already?" Akira guessed.
"I did while I was doing my food deliveries. It made me feel tense just looking at them." Lingyin replied, shuddering a bit.
"Yeah, we get that feeling too. Heck, we've fought plenty of them already." Zeo agreed. "By the way, whatever you do, do not, and I repeat, do not, let them see you use your IS frame. They will not hesitate to copy your teah and use it against us. And they might break apart a lot of ruin machines to do so."
"?!" Lingyin's eyes widened in shock. "Are you serious?"
In response, Zeo took out his Zikan Phone and showed images of the Fatui using metal suits and firearms with elemental properties, which made Lingyin gulp nervously.
"N-Noted…"
"Good." Zeo nodded, putting away the phone before noticing the rings on her wrist. "By the way, I see you have your rings there. Can you still summon your IS weapons?"
"Hm?" Lingyin blinked before looking at her rings. "Now that you mention it, I haven't tried it yet. Though I'm not sure if my Shenlong appeared along with me."
"It can't hurt to try, at least." Akira insisted.
"Hmm…" Lingyin pondered for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I'll give it a try." She held her open hand up and began concentrating. And seconds later, a magenta and black gauntlet appeared on her arm, along with a Chinese sword on her hand. "I-It worked!"
"Great! Now you won't have to worry about buying a weapon to protect yourself." Akira smiled.
"Mhm." Lingyin nodded and smiled, dispersing her weapon and gauntlet. "I'm so glad I can still use Shenlong."
"Remember, do not fully reveal your IS frame without permission. But you're free to use your sword." Zeo reminded.
"Got it."
"That being said…." Akira offered a hand. "Wanna join the Rebellion?"
"If it means finding a way back to my world along with looking for my friends and kicking the butts of the ones responsible for this dimensional mess, I'd be an idiot to refuse." Lingyin replied with a smile and accepted the handshake. "I'm in. Oh, and you can call me Rin instead."
"You got it, Rin." Zeo nodded and smiled. "Welcome to the team."
After the girls released their handshake, a phone rang.
"Did someone bring a cellphone?" Rin asked.
"Ah, that's mine." Akira replied, pulling out her Zikan Phone to answer the call. "What's up?"
"Where the heck are you guys?!" Kiana contacted. "The rite is starting in five minutes! You'll miss your chance to meet Rex Lapis if you don't get your butts over here!"
"Oh crap, I didn't realize we took too long with that conversation. We've just finished already, so we're heading there ASAP!"
"Good. Please hurry!" Kiana replied and ended the call.
"Well, time to go to the rite." Zeo declared as Akira put away her phone.
"Mind if I come along with?" Rin requested. "I'm a little curious to see what Rex Lapis looks like in person."
"Sure, why not." Zeo approved. "But what about the restaurant?"
"One sec." Rin replied. "Mao? Xiangling? You can come in now! We're done talking!"
Soon enough, the two in question arrived.
"So, finished with your talk?" Mao asked.
"Yeah." Rin nodded. "And they might be able to help me find my friends and my way home."
"That's great news!" Xiangling smiled. "But… that also means you'll be leaving our restaurant."
"I can still come back if I feel like it to help out." Rin replied before smiling at the sleeping panda. "And I wanna play with Guoba again since he's cute."
"Hehe, he sure is." Xiangling giggled.
"Anyway, I'm taking Zeo and Akira to the Rite of Descension. It's gonna start in five minutes." Rin said.
"Ah, so you're also curious to see Rex Lapis." Mao replied. "Then you'd better get a move on before it's too late."
"Thank you, Chef Mao." Rin smiled as everyone stood up. "Let's go, you two. I'll take you guys to the rite location since I know the city like the back of my hand."
"Right!" The Naotoras replied before bowing to the chefs. "Thanks for the meal!"
"Anytime./Come again soon!" Mao and Xiangling smiled and bowed back before Zeo, Akira and Rin left the restaurant with the latter leading ahead.
Yujing Terrace
After climbing the stone stairs which is near Bubu Pharmacy, the three arrived at their location. Rin then led the Naotoras to the main plaza where the rite is being held. Once they've arrived, the plaza was already packed with people, awaiting the start of the rite.
"Wow, this plaza gets crowded real quick." Akira commented, observing the crowd.
"So this is how they're gonna summon the Geo Archon." Zeo noticed a large censer on top of the offering table in the center of the plaza with several offerings.
"Hey, I know it's a little late for me to ask, but during your adventures, did you find Ichika or any of my friends?" Rin asked.
"Unfortunately not." Zeo replied. "But Gaius is in the Blaster Master Universe, so maybe he'll have some luck searching there while looking for the Gjallarhorn Fragment."
"I see." Rin noted. "Well, here's hoping your friend could find them."
"Ah, found our friends." Akira noticed the other team members on the left side of the plaza.
"Oh, and I see Jean, Noelle, Fu Hua and Yanfei over there." Zeo noticed the three on top of some stone stairs and in front of a large building. "Huh, I wonder who those two are?" He also noticed two girls standing with them.
"Hey, it's Ganyu and Keqing!" Rin recognized them. "Ganyu's the one with blue hair with a Cryo Vision while Keqing has purple hair with an Electro Vision. I've met them during my food delivery runs."
"So that's Ganyu…" Akira mused, remembering Yanfei's explanation at the Alcor. "Though Keqing is new to us."
Ganyu has fair skin and pale blue hair that naturally bunches in the middle and fades into a darker shade at the ends. She has black-red horns that bend back along her hair, similar to how a goat's horns look, with brighter red markings on them. She also has eyes that appear to exhibit sectoral heterochromia, fading from purple at the top to pinkish-gold at the bottom. Her outfit consists of a black halternecked leotard and black tights with gold accents on the legs, under a white and purple bodice with gold trim and long ends similar to a tailcoat, with a separated pair of sleeves to match and a pair of grey high heels with black soles. Her Cryo Vision rests on her left hip with a red cloverleaf knot. Additionally, she wears a partially flattened golden bell around her neck tied by a ribbon with xiangyun motifs.
Keqing has fair skin, amethyst eyes with rhombus-shaped pupils, and waist-length purple hair that turns into silver-purple at the ends. Her hair is also tied into waist-length twin-tails, topped by small odango-style buns resembling cat ears. There's also a small braid running along the side of her bangs. Her outfit consists of a pale lavender top with a high violet collar and ruffled dark blue skirt, layered under a deep violet overcoat, engraved with xiangyun and peacock motifs. The opening of her overcoat is marked by a golden ornament that housed her Electro Vision, with white flowers and purple and gold-accented feathers attached. The pattern of the feathers resembles the ones on the dangling backs of her detached long sleeves. In addition, she wears a golden hairpin, a pair of drop earrings, a tasseled choker, and dark gloves with lavender trim.
"Huh, never expected Keqing to have the same hairstyle as Maria." Akira remarked, looking at the purple haired.
"By the way, I heard you mention Yanfei's name earlier. Did you two met her already?" Rin asked.
"We met her in Mondstadt a few days ago. She was looking for materials there, but then was captured by the Fatui to cover up their plans. Luckily, we freed her, kicked their asses and arrested them." Zeo explained.
"We even met Captain Beidou in the process. As a reward, she allowed us to board the Alcor and sail to Liyue Harbor." Akira added.
"Wow, so that's how you got here." Rin responded. "Also, nice job kicking the Fatui's asses. Wish I could do the same to them, too."
"Oh you'll get your chance, don't you worry." Zeo assured.
"Hey guys, someone's coming out of the building!" Akira noticed a woman and two of her female attendants exiting the structure as Jean and the others stepped aside.
"Lady Ningguang…" Rin said, recognizing the woman.
"So this is the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing…" Zeo mused, remembering Beidou and Yanfei's mentioning of the person.
Ningguang has fair skin, red eyes, and straight, knee-length, white-beige hair that fades into an ashy color at the ends. Half of her hair is tied up into a wide bun resembling a bow while the rest falls into two divided parts. Her bun is accessorized with a black hairpin, and she wears a red tassel decoration atop her head which lays between her eyes. Her outfit consists of a white, high-necked sleeveless qipao dress with side slits that reach up to the thigh, unveiling black shorts with diamond-cut patterns, below her left midriff where her Geo Vision resides. Ginkgo and phoenix motifs are embellished throughout her dress, accessories, and detached ruffled sleeves. Her gloves are decorated with copper patterns and claw attachments on the thumb, ring, and pinky fingers that act as fingernail guards.
"So Rin, you met her during your food deliveries too?" Akira asked.
"At least once or twice." Rin replied. "She's one of the richest people in all of Teyvat. Heck, she could give Cecilia a run for her money."
"Wow. That's something." Zeo replied as the three watched Ningguang giving a nod to Fu Hua before the two and the attendants went down the stairs.
"Looks like the ceremony is about to begin." Akira said as the girls approached the censer after walking down the stairs.
Fu Hua stayed in position while Ningguang and her two attendants approached the crowd at the front. She gazed at the sky before speaking to the crowd while her attendants bowed to her before stepping away. "Citizens of Liyue and visitors of the other nations, the hour is upon us!" She then summoned four glowing Geo crystals and moved them towards the censer as the crystals circled around it. And with one hand sign, the crystals flew right into the censer, causing it to glow before it fired a beam of light to the skies above.
Zeo whistled in amusement as the crowd murmured in awe. "Now that's some light show just for calling forth the Geo Archon."
"I'll say." Rin agreed. "I've never seen anything like this before."
"Same here." Akira also agreed. "I'm glad we're able to make it in time."
The beam also caused the clouds to swirl, but then the sky suddenly turned dark, causing the crowd to murmur with worry.
"Is this… part of the ceremony?" Rin questioned.
"I'm… not really sure. Again, our first time witnessing it." Akira replied.
"...No." Zeo however, narrowed his eyes at the dark sky. "Something's not right here."
Fu Hua also narrowed her eyes while looking at the sky. "What is this sudden pressure I'm feeling?" She thought. "Something's wrong. This is definitely not part of the ceremony." But then, her eyes widened as she suddenly sensed something large that's about to drop from above. In response, she quickly ran towards Ningguang. "Get away from the plaza!"
"Hm?" That earned Ningguang and her attendants' attention as they were pushed to safety by Fu Hua. And just in time too as a large creature fell from the sky and crashed right onto the censer and the offering table. And said creature was a large, long, wingless amber and brown dragon.
This unexpected turn of events shocked the crowd, including Team XDR. "That's… Rex Lapis?" Rin spoke.
"It has to be." Akira replied. "But I'm more concerned about his condition. What the heck just happened?"
"Frick…" Zeo mentally cursed with a frown. "Don't tell me the Fatui got to him first…!"
"Are all of you okay?" Fu Hua asked Ningguang and her attendants after helping them get back on their feet.
"We're fine, thanks for saving us. You have my gratitude." Ningguang replied before they turned to the unconscious adeptus. "This wasn't supposed to happen."
"Indeed." Fu Hua agreed. "But is he okay?"
"Will you check on him?"
"Of course." Fu Hua replied, approaching the unconscious adeptus, went down on her knee, placed her hand on its body and closed her eyes as she began using her ki sense to detect any lifesigns or aura. Unfortunately after a few moments… "No… we were too late. He's gone… along with his Gnosis. Accursed Fatui and their harbingers… they will pay dearly for this…!" She opened her eyes and sighed before looking at Ningguang, took off her glasses and shook her head.
Ningguang sighed sadly before giving Fu Hua a serious nod, faced the crowd, and let out an announcement that left them speechless and in shock. "Rex Lapis has been killed! Seal all exits immediately!" In response, the Millelith swarmed the terrace with some blocking and patrolling the exits while others began questioning the people who witnessed the rite in order to look for the suspect responsible for the death of the Geo Archon.
"A-Am I hearing this right…? Rex Lapis… has been killed…?" Rin questioned as she and the Naotoras are in a state of shock.
"You heard Ningguang, not to mention Fu Hua using her ki sense to check for any lifesigns." Akira confirmed.
"Then that also means the Geo Gnosis has been taken as well." Zeo frowned. "Gacking Fatui… they were several steps ahead of us!"
"The Fatui?! They had something to do with this?!" Rin gasped.
"It has to be. They must have a powerful harbinger in their ranks to defeat an Archon." Akira replied.
"Come on, girls. Let's go talk to Ningguang and Fu Hua." Zeo declared as he and the girls began walking towards Ningguang and Fu Hua, only for a Millelith soldier to step in with his hand raised.
"Hold. I'm here to ask some questions regarding Rex Lapis' murder." The soldier ordered.
"Please move. That girl with the silver hair happens to be a friend of mine." Zeo insisted.
"We don't have time for this, sir!" Rin added.
"Answer my questions first, or else!" The soldier warned.
"That's enough." Ningguang said, surprising the soldier as she approached the group. "I will talk to them. You go on ahead and continue questioning the other people."
"Y-Yes, my lady." The soldier bowed before walking away.
"Please forgive him. He was only doing his duty." Ningguang said to the group.
"We understand." Akira replied. "Lady Ningguang of the Liyue Qixing, correct? Captain Beidou told us about you."
"Ah, so she did." Ningguang noted. "And you two must be Akira and Zeo Naotora, founders of Xross Drive Rebellion, is that right?"
"Yeah, I guess Yanfei and Jean filled you in on the details already." Zeo replied with Akira nodding.
"She did, along with how you saved Yanfei from the Fatui in Mondstadt. You have my utmost gratitude for saving her." Ningguang bowed before noticing Rin. "Lingyin? What are you doing here?"
"Uh… hello, Lady Ningguang." Rin greeted nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. "I was just escorting Zeo and Akira to the Rite of Descension to meet Rex Lapis. However… this turned out to be a disaster."
"I see. I apologise for what has happened."
"It's okay, Lady Ningguang. It's not your fault. We already knew who's responsible for the archon's death." Zeo replied.
"Is that so?" Ningguang raised her eyebrow. "The same goes for me, too."
"Wait, really?" Akira blinked.
"Come inside my office, we'll have our conversation away from prying eyes and listening ears. And don't worry about your friends, Fu Hua will guide them as well." Ningguang replied. "And as for you, Lingyin…"
"I'm going with them. There's something I need to tell you, and they might help me find my way home." Rin said.
"...Very well. Let's be on our way." Ningguang replied as she escorted the three to the building she came out from with Fu Hua and the other members of the team following behind. Jean, Noelle, Yanfei, Ganyu and Keqing also began walking towards the same building.
As they continued walking, Zeo took one more look at the fallen archon with a somber tone. "I'm sorry, Morax. If only we arrived sooner, then none of this would've happened. But I promise you, the Fatui will pay for this."
Chapter 1: The Land of Contracts
END
(Huang Lingyin has joined Xross Drive Rebellion)
Author's note: And so begins the Liyue Arc. Only this time, the travelers and Paimon don't have to run away from the Millelith thanks to Team XDR's recent actions. But that also means they won't meet a certain harbinger until much later.
Speaking of the travelers, they and Miriam now gained the Geo element after touching Morax's Statue of the Seven. Also, the team found Huang Lingyin at Wanmin Restaurant and is now joining the team in hopes of finding her friends and a way back to the Infinite Stratos world.
Now our heroes are about to have a private conversation with Ningguang about the Rite of Descension incident. And if you guys played Genshin Impact's Geo Archon Quests, you know what's coming up next.
Until then, stay safe and see you next chapter!