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Chapter 24: Of Birds and Muses

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

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Let's do a rapid recap for my sanity's sake.

I've gone to investigate the Fatui's plan regarding the Rite of Descension, I got spotted by the Fatui Harbinger and kind of got a 'draw' in the ensuing clash. Right now, I was now human, capable of sane thoughts and being tended by a fairly stoic-faced young woman with white hair, blue eyes and... dear lord, those tits are impressive.

Depraved or not, even without my disorganized thoughts I could admire beauty if needed. And Shenhe was a wonderful flower.

...Where's the catch?

I mean, I could tell something was immensely off with her gazing as she did show a certain coherence with her physical reaction to what she was saying but... her eyes shared a degree of 'boredom' that felt uncharacteristic of her current stoicism.

I didn't tackle the matter verbally, not when this very opportunity, the one I was stuck with, took priority on a whole new level. Another thing that happened with this sudden transformation to my human self was that my Electro Vision was now active and my Dendro one had been dulled out.

I wasn't sure of the logic behind this change, but I could tell the two events were connected somehow.

Still, I couldn't exactly stop to pondering on these small details- well, I was investigating something and I have been asleep for a while now. Shenhe spotted me going for a very realistic 'dead in the water' act and pulled me to safety before I genuinely died by drowning or by hypothermia.

Despite the sore draw I was cursed with, I decided to draw the best out of this by actually 'lying' on my name and set up a new identity for the time being. It was a bit of a bad thing to do but... if the Fatui were looking for my survival, it was best to keep my head low and use my current predicament to my advantage.

Hence why the mystery-lover known as 'Ser Conan Holmes' was conceived to fit that part.

Beyond a very disingenous introduction, Shenhe and I entertained a fairly genuine conversation on the matter.

"The Rite of Descension... the Fatui were planning to do something about it? How come the Qixing didn't act on this?" The girl inquired, aware of the maximum chamber in charge of Liyue's policies.

"The Qixing doesn't have absolute power, and any aggressive action can be taken as a reason to go to war with Snezhnaya. Considering the current state of the security in the harbor, I doubt an army can be mustered to face them," I reasoned, the young woman nodding as she understood my point. "Likewise, there's much to determine about the full correlation they have on this plot, so being hasty is not a good idea. Not yet at le- wait, at this point the Rite has to have unfolded."

I forgot to notice time had passed to the point the Rite had to be either unfolding now or had to be over already.

"It's possible," Shenhe agreed. "I don't know the proper hour the rite unravel by, but it should be done at this point."

Crap! That means things may be already happening while I am here.

Considering my current location, getting back to Liyue could be tedious at this point and I would prefer to check on Morax' current wellbeing before doing anything. Luckily for me, Shenhe had connections with the Adepti.

"I don't wish to push this but... Shenhe, may I ask a favor from you? In regard to check on Rex Lapis' situation?"

The girl looked confused and then conflicted by this. "You mean... talking with them or... another Adepti?"

"It's not imperative, but it would allow me to be more at ease if there is no problem with that."

Shenhe looked away from a moment, her eyes being quite expressive despite her flat look.

"...We could ask Cloud Retainer. She should be there at this point and she usually keeps watch for Rex Lapis' return from the rite."

I nodded. "If that's doable, then please."

A nod, and as we drew the small meal n' talk session, we started to move away from the makeshift camp the girl had set up to keep watch over me. The trip to our destination was not as lengthy as I would have imagined, not when the 'fall down the mountain and the subsequent swim through the underground river' literally led me closer to Mt. Aozang.

Reaching the top of the mountain was quite the hassle, but not as tedious and dangerous as it had been with the Dragonspine's exploration. Once we reached the top, we were presented with a fairly large clearing, a circular body of water and a central island with a tree and a table with seats there.

Right as we approached the water, I spotted a crane perched on top of the tree, looking around but then stopping her gaze at our approaching group. First nodding at Shenhe and then... staring at me with a strange look. Flapping her wings, the Adeptus I knew was named 'Cloud Retainer' since it was the one Shenhe had brought me to settled in front of us, wings shifting close to her body as she greeted one.

"This one is glad to see that you are well and safe, Shenhe. This one didn't find you in your usual training field."

"My apologies, Cloud Retainer. I ended up straying when I found this man struggling in one of the smaller rivers. He is an investigator and has been sent to look into a potential attack on Rex Lapis."

The crane looked surprised as she regarded me with a curious look. "Is is so?"

I slowly nodded. "My name is Conan Holmes. I was investigating on a plot carried through by the Fatui of Snezhnaya against Rex Lapis. During that investigation I was attacked by one of their Harbingers."

"This one isn't fully aware of the implication. Would it be right to say these 'Harbingers' are worthy of concern?"

"They are the highest group, second only to the Tsaritsa, within Snezhnaya," I answered calmly. "If one of them is involved in secret dealings, especially near the Rite of Descension, there's a chance they may be trying to do something about it."

Cloud Retainer nodded, but looked a bit nervous quite suddenly. "Peculiar... This one may have to check then as Rex Lapis has yet to return to his abode."

...Oh no.

"Shouldn't he be there at this point?" Shenhe asked. "Maybe he was rendered busy by something urgent on the way?"

"This one is afraid that may not be the case. It's been hours now since he has gone missing, but this one will personally check more closely on the matter. Thank you for the warning, investigator... Holmes."

There was a strange delay in that last word, but the Adeptus wasn't done just yet.

"This one's most sincere apologies but... This one feels like this isn't the first one she gazed upon someone with that face," Cloud Retainer finally spilled out, sounding a bit confused. "But it's been too long and... you are indeed a mortal. How is it possible?"

"With all due respect, Cloud Retainer, I can't really think of a reason for-"

Vision 29 'Obtuse Prankfulness'

"As this one already told you many times, Bukharin, this mechanism is meant to be used in a specific way. Not for prankful reasons."

I was staring at a dark-haired young woman with red-framed glasses and quite the scowl on her face. She was wearing a pale light-blue coat with a feathers-like theme over her black bodysuit and dress.

The disdain was met with an upset groan, this one not from me, however.

"But that could make for quite the fright for Morax. She needs to be shaken up a bit at times or she will just get too lazy to do her job," Another feminine voice remarked beside me, and I stole a glance to the green-haired girl that spoke up. Childish, seemingly without reason, but something buzzed in my head that there was a purpose.

"Plus, she would appreciate it."

"This one is not going to give her mechanism for two grown brats to abuse!"

I reached out to pat the shorter girl's shoulder and huffing. "It's alright, Ramb. We will find something else to prank Rexy. Plus, Cloudette is in a bit of a moody attitude at the moment."

'Ramb' huffed as her shoulders sagged, but nodded in agreement as we went to annoy- I mean, negotiate with another adepti of the clever kind.

An odd way to be subjected to a vision but... I noticed the slightly confused look on her face.

"Is everything alright?" It was Shenhe that asked, looking perplexed too as I recoiled from that unplanned vision.

"I am, yes... it's just that I have those moments at times. Memories that are not mine and... I think I know where you may be drawing familiarity from... Cloudette."

The nickname was far more powerful than I expected as the Adeptus froze up in shock and Shenhe looked quite stunned by this.

"Y-You called Cloud Retainer... what?"

It was oddly amusing the girl's stoic expression cracking, but I could also understand where the shock factor came from.

"H-How?"

"I just have those memories but... it's not planned and never clear," I explained some more. "I just remember things that are not mine to know on a normal basis."

...

"Cl-Cloud Retainer, you were really called-"

"'Cloudette'? Yes," The Adeptus interrupted, sounding irked to a degree but then quite fond with her voice. "This one was keen to see it at first as a derogatory nickname, but then it became a worthy one for the one that bestowed it to me. Likewise, he was keen to do the same with other Adepti. That pesky Bukharin was always at it when his traveling companions were not around."

...Wait, what was that?!

AN

The story behind Cloud Retainer, the 'previous' John, and 'Ramb' is quite interesting. To the point that Morax is quite jealous to bring it up to anyone else without permission.