Author note:
With the update 4.3 coming up I want to inform you that it doesn't change the story I planned out. However, the very likely 4.4 map expansion will play a crucial role with the ideas I have. Just wanted to say that in case of something.
Either way, here is new chapter:
"You guys always wear these?" Sans asked, looking left and right with curiosity.
"You mean the clothes?" Lily responded.
"Yeah, that's a lot of one color. "Sans nodded. "Like, your horses inspired that?"
"Our first breeds happen to be brown. And so we proceeded through generations." Lily explained. "And while we did, and still would, take other ones over time, brown is by far the dominant one. And so is our cultural preference for the outside presentation."
"Heh, sounds like a lot of responsibility to everyone involved." Sans commented with moderate amusement on his face.
"Everyone in our tribe has the same obligations for their God-given gifts." Lily said in response. "Weirdos like Ike mustn't be respected for the sake of what makes us, us."
"Welp, can't judge that." Sans nodded, politely spreading his arms to the sides. "By the way, why so little armor?"
"Metal is a heavy thing. The more you have it on yourself, the higher strain is put on a horse while you ride it." Lily explained. "Horse that, keep it in mind, is not only your God's gift, but also the basis of our lifestyle. Metal arrowheads and daggers or farming plows are enough as it is. Besides, thick boots and clothes are enough to take an arrow and be unharmed."
"And if they come to fight melee, then you run away from them?"
"Not really. We just keep our distance and shoot arrows at them so they never can get close and hit us."
"Kinda smart of you." Sans commented with an impressed face. "Even if it has high execution in order to work."
"Something for something I guess." Sans sighed before looking behind at a bit slow Eula. "Ey, wanna join us and talk?"
"No, thank you."
"Okay then."
"Is she always like that?" Lily asked him, somewhat amused.
"I dunno, first day knowing her." Sans responded, looking back at her as they resumed their conversation. "Then again, she is The Reconnaissance Captain of ours. Spending time on looking around rather than, let's say, talking, is kinda her job."
"Well…" Lily wondered, looking up into the sky, directly at one, round cloud that just happened to pass surrounded by a bright blue sky. "I think I can take this as an explanation."
"In that case I gotta ask something else."
"And that would be?" Lily leaned towards him with a curious face.
"How are things going? I mean, with Liyue fighting you and all." Sans asked her, trying to be awkward while saying it but failing.
"Pretty good actually." Lily smiled lightly. "Other than, like, two skirmishes with side-eyed while we made our way north it was relatively peaceful."
"Side-eyed?" Sans asked, as if he was triggered by the phrase. "I mean, why the calling?"
"Well, we didn't exactly know this place is called Liyue. Plus, their people gave us a lot of side glares when we were passing across the land to where we are now." Lily explained, looking forward as if to avoid eye contact. "Stereotypes come from somewhere, not nowhere, you know?"
"Yeah, I do." Sans nodded. "And with the conflict you two have, this one won't disappear too soon."
"At least we have initiative with the siege of Wangshu Inn." Lily nodded lightly, as if the wind breeze just shaked her. "And Dragel isn't our responsibility anymore. That also helps."
"Yup, Khan told us about him." Sans said with a sigh afterwards. "By the way, what is your job here and where is your horse?"
"My job is being a messenger between Wangshu Inn and The Khan to keep the situation in his control." Lily explained. "As for the horse, he isn't exactly in condition to to run around that much. My family takes care of him while I do my task."
"Heh, glad to know you don't push him too hard." Sans smiled as they both noticed someone riding up to them.
"Oy! Lily!"
"Yes?" Lily asked him.
"Liyue wants to negotiate with us. What do we do?" The man asked her, staring down from his deep brown horse.
"Run back and tell the. I am coming to negotiate." She answered him quickly.
"Will do! Let's go Hazu." The rider agreed, quickly turning his horse with a call and riding away the way he came.
"Now sorry you two but we have to hurry." Lily added to the Mondstadtian visitors.
"No need to, let's go." Sans agreed, running ahead as Lily followed after him.
"... Fools." Eula scoffed before joining the race as the last one with a moment of gap behind Lily.
"Where are they?" One Iramati warrior asked, looking behind himself as two small groups of his tribal riders and Liyue' Millelith took two halves of the small island on which the inn was located, really trying not to fight each other.
"You mean our negotiation team?" One of Millelith guards with a halbards asked.
"No, ours." Iramati warrior replied. "But good question on your part."
"Heh, thanks."
"As for ours, our contact demands we don't throw this information around." Another Millelith responded, resting the rear of his spear on the dirt road.
"Fine then, keep your secrets." Iramati warrior shrugged his arms with amusement.
"We're here!"
"Oh, there you are." The warrior said, greeting her as the tired out trio walked into the middle ground while catching their breath. "And even first."
"Knight of Favonius?" One of Millelith asked, noticing just who came along to the meeting. "And the third one is…"
"Knight in training. *Wheeze* Nice to meet ya'." Sans responded leaning backwards to stretch his back.
"May we ask what you two are doing here?" One of the Iramati warriors asked from the side.
"Coming as the third party mediator." Eula responded firmly as she straightened her posture and looked forward at Liyue's side. "May I ask where your emissary is?"
"Now, now." Gentle tone sounded from behind the Millelith as they stepped aside for the person to pass in accompaniment of heels knocking up and down the road. "No need to be so impatient. I am here." It continued as people on the Iramati half caught a clear view of who came to meet them.
Liyue's negotiator looked very elegantly, having fair skin that was covered by mostly black and white garmets with blue at the edges while giving away a graceful look from the eyes, in whom purple to pink and gold coloration made up for a stellar visual. On top of that, pale blue hair combining into packed mass all around to partially hide two red backward-facing horns on the head.
"The Liyue Qixing Secretary?" One of Millelith said, visibly shocked at the arrival.
"Secretary, hmm… that is unexpected." Lily added. "I assume you are here on behalf of Liyue?"
"That's correct." The envoy, now clearly visibly as a fairly graceful woman, spoke. "My name is Ganyu, General Secretary of Liyue Qixing." She presented herself, placing left hand on the upper chest in a gesture of modesty.
"I am Lily, messenger of Huzarib Khan." The other negotiator presented herself. "And I am here with third party mediators."
"My name is Eula, Knights of Favonius' Reconnaissance Captain."
"Sans, I just tagged along for a good atmosphere."
"Pleasure to meet you all." Ganyu smiled while Eula gave Sans an angry glare. "I presume we won't negotiate inside the Wangshu Inn?"
"I do not think their insides supply the gathering we have." Lily responded, eyeballing the rows of Millelith behind her. "Besides, fresh air helps to ease the stress if something goes wrong."
"Mhm, then we discuss things as we stand right now." Ganyu nodded while Sans and Eula took their stances to their sides as observers. Eula closer to the inn's doors and Sans on the 'outer' side.
"Mind if I begin with the discussion?" Ganyu asked politely after making sure everyone was ready.
"Not at all, I feel like mine would be very similar." Lily nodded with an acknowledging wave of her right hand.
"Well then, first of…" Ganyu nodded, taking a slow breath before speaking again. "We first have to discuss who started the conflict before proceeding with details."
"Very well then." Lily nodded, crossing her arms in a 'X' pattern and grabbing herself by upper arms. "What does your version of events say?"
"The report of Millelith Captain whose unit was taking a patrol northeast of Yaoguang Shoal at midnight, when they spotted a total of twenty ships going ashore with large amounts of moving shades on and around them." Ganyu spoke, presenting the events. "Then, as they went under his order across the shore to confront you, they were attacked from behind with arrows, ultimately having to retreat at the cost of two men dead and six wounded."
"... Weird." Lily said, giving her a confused look. "We had twenty two ships."
"You are also referring to two objects that were burning around two hours later at the bridge between Mingyun Village and Guili Plain?" Ganyu asked her
"I'm sorry, I do not exactly know local geographic regions." Lily excused herself, still confused.
"I believe she meant the passage between the island you landed on and the terrain east of it and south of Wangshu Inn, am I correct?" Eula explained, afterwards asking Ganyu.
"That's right." She nodded in confirmation.
"In that case the two missing ships must have been those." Lily said. "If my memory serves right, Khan's son Dragel and his men were ahead of us and even waited at the northern crossroad for us."
"And I assume you didn't ram those ships into the bridge." Ganyu added. "After all, it was definitely repaired after you left, but in style far from Liyue craftsmanship."
"We found those ships not safe to pass through, so we deconstructed them and made a new passage for ourselves from taken wood." Lily explained calmly.
"I think I just realized something." Sans spoke up all of a sudden.
"Oh. And that would be?" Ganyu asked him as the whole gathering looked at him.
"Lily, both ships that sailed further up were from Dragel's group, correct?" He asked.
"Yes." Lily responded.
"And since Millelith patrol went forward to approach the main group of ships, that means their backs would be exposed to the east, since that's where they were coming from."
"Where lies the canal leading to the bridge that the ships rammed." Ganyu added, making a concerned expression.
"Wait." Eula raised her hand in a goal to stop their conversation. "Do you suggest that Dragel's group set the entire tribe as a scapegoat and attacked the Millelith from their ships?"
"I mean." Sans said, taking a pause to clear his throat with one solid grunt. "Who else damaged the passage on the way and went ahead, not waiting for everyone else?"
"Well, they did in fact break off from us almost right after we caught up to them…" Lily sighed, looking down onto the ground.
"Heh, guess you already know."
"Huh?"
"Not you." Sans calmed her down. "I was talking to Eula." He added, pointing out the latter's crossed arms and angry scowl across the face.
"I… I don't think I should decide on such matters myself." Lily excused herself, turning around and running up to the Iramati warriors on her half. "What do you think?" She asked, which was followed by a massive whispering as they handed closely together.
"Huh, did not expect that." Ganyu commented from her position, passively observing the events.
"All the pieces line up too well…"
"It's a lot to take for her." Sans responded.
"What else do we do? Take the blame that isn't ours?"
"No, I meant that she went to consult her decision." Ganyu corrected herself.
"Still, we won't just shoot our tribesman. No more…"
"Welp, guess their accountability is to the wider group, not institution." Sans said, bringing up his theory.
"I won't have the heart to go against them, sorry…"
"I am bound by the contract rather than the institution itself, but the part about her obligations isn't exactly wrong." Ganyu corrected him, then making a small, soft smile akin to the so-called 'ice melting' ones. "I think we should respect it."
"I have reached a decision." Lily spoke up, returning to the negotiations. "Dragel's group is solely responsible for the incident on our part . We will not defend them from you, but neither will we support Liyue in actions against them."
"Understandable." Ganyu nodded. "And given that, furthering the topic of reparations will be aimed directly towards them."
"Mhm." Lily nodded. "I understand."
"Next on the agenda…" Ganyu said, pausing for a moment as she placed a finger in the chin. "... Rebuilding relations between our nations?"
"Will come with time." Lily responded with a smile. "After all, action causes reaction. Pushing our people towards each other just may as well make them distant, then disdain."
"Right, this takes time…" Ganyu nodded, as she noticed something was off. "Where is Sans?"
"Here." The comedian responded, walking from behind Eula with an open piece of paper rolled at the bottom like some ancient coil.
"Again with your tricks?" Eula scoffed at him. "And how did I lose track of you again?!"
"C'mon now, chill a bit. It is justifiable this time." Sans shrugged her off before proceeding to the negotiations. "I actually thought about the question of where your pals could settle after this."
"Oh right!" Lily nodded with exclamation. "And what do you have?"
"Officially signed decision from Grand Master Jean." Sans smiled, presenting the writing to the two interested parties.
"You just gained it from her?" Eula asked him. "Also, it's Acting Grand Master."
"Indeed, she acts a lot for everyone's sake." Sans joked.
"Ugh."
"Stormbearer Mountains, Stormbearer Point, Starfall Lake and northern half of Whispering Woods?" Ganyu asked, her eyes big from the impressed feeling about it.
"She is a kind person. All she wants in return is peace and alliance with you for the sake of everyone, though not directly stated here." Sans added, giving Lily a wink.
"Oh, that's… I don't think Khan would pass on that." Lily commented, looking over to Ganyu. "Is there anything you find in need of asking?"
"... No. That covers all the points of discussion." Ganyu responded, returning the smile. "But given the sudden twists, we still need the whole treaty and several signatures on it. This will take time, but that's more of a procedural formality."
"So, what now?" Lily asked, looking back to Sans who just shrugged his arms.
"Well, another turn of conversation will be needed to sign the treaty and work on the details." Eula added, giving her view on the situation. "With that settled, we can end the current situation and part our ways in peace."
"That sounds reasonable." Ganyu nodded, looking back at Lily. "I trust you will deliver the will to your Khan?"
"Definitely." The Iramati negotiator responded. "And I am mostly positive he agrees on those terms."
"Very well then, the negotiations for today are completed. If anything happens, please inform Knights of Favonius Acting Grand Master about it." Eula nodded, turning to her left and beginning to walk away as Iramati and Liyue groups also began to pack their things.
"Guess we can go back now…" Sans added, slowly turning after Eula and following her. "Negotiations went smoothly, I presume?"
"I think you can say that." She responded, slowing a bit so he could catch up to her. "Still, the bravado you present at times is not only very risky. It also endangered the entire operation."
"I dunno." Sans shrugged his arms in a 'whatever' gesture. "In my eyes, doing good deeds is far from medical surgery."
"As well as good deeds are from good jokes in your case." Eula responded with a dry tone.
"Sharp tongue now, aren't ya?" Sans chuckled lightly. "I knew I helped bump up the mood."
"Still, you could do it better. And safer." Eula added, clearly not convinced. "I really hope you won't have to be pulled into another diplomatic mission, for the sake of everyone."
"You're pulling my leg now." Sans joked.
"This again…" Eula groaned. "I really wish I didn't have to look after you right now."
"Hey, no one said you have to." Sans pointed out.
"We are on this together. You're so clueless…"
"I know, a real bonehead." Sans nodded as they both slowed down to a standstill and faced each other with sideways glares. "But hey, I am not a Knight yet. You can just go and enjoy the walk without me while I hang around the place. Meet new people or something."
"Well, I still must make sure you return to Mondstadt. Nevermind keeping an eye on someone as suspicious as you." Eula responded, crossing her arms.
"Then you can as well take your suspicion for granted. I won't hold you in sus-pence."
"Again?!"
"No, first time ever." Sans waved her off, slowly backing away towards the inn. "And we both know it won't be the last."
"Hey, don't just leave me!" Eula shouted after him as he ran away. "I will have my vengeance and report it to the Acting Grand Master!"
"Heheh…" Sans chuckled as he run away, unhearable by his compaat the moment. "Not that it changes much…"
"Go ahead, I have something else to take care of myself around here." Ganyu said, sending the Millelith assigned to protect her ahead.
"Very well, General Secretary." One of them nodded, before turning to the others. "You heard her! March ahead." He said to them before taking the lead and walking away with them.
"..." Ganyu didn't say anything, taking some time to wait until they disappeared from her view before turning around to face Sans. "Hello again."
"Hiya." Sans responded in a goofy manner. "I guess you have something private to me?"
"Not me exactly." Ganyu corrected him. "But I did sense some sort of… Energy when that falling star came down in the morning."
"Where did it fall?" Sans asked her.
"From what I know… It was Mondstadt, around Wolvendom."
"Oh, then that would be me."
"In that case I'm glad to meet you." Ganyu smiled at him with closed eyes. "Now, I hope you can spare me more than some time. There is someone who wants to meet you, and she's rather far away."
"Heh, sure. I have time." Sans nodded. "Also, mind telling me what this place is called?"
"Mount Aocang." Ganyu answered him, slightly surprised. "Why do you ask about it right now?"
"Oh, I dunno." Sans rolled his eyes before a random flash of dark light made them both appear on a flattened mountain top. "Just-"
"How did you do that?!" Ganyu interrrupted him, visibly impressed as she looked at him from the side.
"Can't say that I know for sure." Sans shrugged his arms with a grin.
"Who dares to step in and interrupt one's rest?" Strong voice made them look towards the other end of the area, where a large crane with blue and white feathers stared at them with a pair of dazzling blue eyes.
"Apologies, I have no idea how I goat here." Sans joked, almost snickering while Ganyu's face turned red at the cheek.
"Bold attempt to deceive when one feels your presence as soon as you appear in the sky." The local inhabitor dismissed his explanation, raising her long neck up to look down upon him.
"Alright then, you know everything." Sans rolled his eyes. "Mind if we become acquainted first?"
"... I think I won't mind." The swan nodded. "I am Cloud Retainer, yours?"
"Sans, Sans The Skeleton." Comedian responded with a warm smile. "Honored to meet you."
"Well then, I believe you did become acquainted with Ganyu. If the joke is to be followed." Cloud Retainer spoke, giving a look to his left at the aforementioned companion.
"I think so." Sans nodded firmly.
"Well then, I think I can ask you some questions now." Cloud Retainer spoke, looking aside at Ganyu. "Ganyu, please leave us alone now. It is important for us to discuss this alone."
"Of course." Red-horned woman nodded, turning around and quickly leaving the two on the top.
"... Well then." Sans said, looking back at the meeting's host. "I believe you want something from me."
"A cunning observation." Cloud Retainer complimented him. "However, I felt your arrival spark something within our domain. A thing far greater than the last time someone from another world came down to us."
"Hmm… Any clue as to what?" Sans asked, rubbing his chin with curiosity.
"A vision, of sorts. Not to be mistaken with one's granted to humans." Cloud Retainer continued with explanation. "A certain… Child. Do you remember?"
"Oh, I remember very well…" Sans sighed. "It goes by many names, the main two being Frisk and Chara."
"Oh, I already know that." The crane spoke to him, staring directly at the face of the comedian. "And I know the implications of you falling down to us."
"..." Sans didn't respond at first, instead closing his eyes and lowering his head as if he was ashamed of something and waited for flying tomatoes to meet his face.
"Oh, don't be so negative about this. I am sure you already know what to do better when that child appears in this place." Cloud Retainer tried to cheer him up, giving a solid implication on occasion.
"... Heh, can't go about such a thing alone." Sans sighed, kinda admitting her point. "Thank you for the idea."
"I appreciate your kindness." Cloud Retainer nodded with sincerity. "Mind if we sign our agreement on a contract?"
"I didn't expect the matter of world collapse to matter only if it's mentioned on a piece of paper." Sans lowered his eyebrow, somewhat unamused by this proposal.
"Hmph, it's called contract you uncultured prankster. How else am I expected to know you won't just try to go about this matter alone?" Cloud Retainer asked with a stern expression. "Need I remind you how much I saw there?"
"Actually, do please." Sans shrugged his arms. "How much do you actually know?"
"When the child went down on the dark path, you stood still." Crane said, lowering her neck to stare directly into his eyes from equal level. "You stood still and let it all happen up until the corridor. Again and again. You thought they would change, get bored or just magically leave. Yet, all it gave you was an endless cycle of death broken by you falling down to us. And who knows if the child follows you here?"
"And you just assumed I didn't change my mind before meeting you." Sans shaked his head left and right. "You sure ain't a crane that can lift this topic."
"Hmph, a rude gesture to shy away from guilt." Cloud Retainer sniffed with authority, turning away from him and looking up into the sky. "And to think you could be the edge stopping it…"
"You seriously think I had a choice, huh?" Sans asked her, sighing deeply in between sentences. "Did you ever think of something called… Timeline manipulation?"
"... You sound like you did, for a change." Cloud Retainer responded, turning back to face him with sparked interest. "And while I do know that the child of yours killed everyone time and time again, I am in no way aware of how and why."
"It just resets everything after being done with the killing and repeats the cycle for it's own reasons. Don't try asking, it won't respond." Sans explained with a sour face. "So I admit, I stopped caring. But If I did anything new, it wouldn't matter in the end. Kid could just reset, making everything return to square zero… Or just keep trying until getting that one moment needed for a final hit."
"... Keep trying after being dead like nothing happened, you say?" Cloud Retainer spoke with an impressed face. "That's quite a power to possess."
"Exacly. In turn, it's hard to act when you know that your decisions do not matter..."
"Yet you act here. Explore the land, meet new people... I couldn't honestly call you lazy even if I wanted to." Cloud Retainer said with intrigued voice. "Why?"
"Heh, one could say that I have some hope." Sans sighed with a smirk on his face. "Me coming here is a change, a big change in fact if accounted to myself. Maybe here is a place where my actions actually matter in the end..."
"Then I'll make sure to not stop you until these actions threaten Liyue. I also have contract to obey to." Cloud Retainer informed him, keeping a calm presence.
"Gotcha. I'll make sure to keep myself in check." Sans grinned, rising his left hand for a finger flick. "Oh, and one more thing... Two, actually."
"Yes?" The crane looked at him with sudden spike of nerves.
"Any trouble from horse riders lately?" Sans asked her.
"Not at all, they seem smart enough to keep away from the Adepti dwellings. Humans of Liyue will eventually resolve their situation." Cloud Retainer responded firmly. "And second question?"
"If a child I mentioned happens to come down..." Sans began taking a short pause to swallow something. "Will you aid me against it?"
"Only if it threathens Adepti, Liyue, or myself. I am bounded by contract to keep this lands safe."
"... I can live with that." Sans nodded with a short breath. "Thank you, Cloud Retainer."
"And thank you for respect, Sans." Te crane nodded, smiling lightly as he flicked his fingers and disappeared in a cut frame of darkness.
...
"Ganyu, dear. You can come out now."
"... Yes, Cloud Retainer?" Horned woman asked, walking up to the bird from its right side.
"Please, inform Rex Lapis in my name of what happened here. I am fairly certain we have another Traveler in our neighborhood. And this time not only does he travel closer to us, he is also the one looked after instead..."