Chapter 36: Shaken, not Stirred: At the Tavern I Realize Ley Detection Uses the Principles of Seismology.
"Further testing is required to confirm my hypothesis and determine the trigger for yang's release. Perhaps when this is all over, you can return to my lab in Mondstadt." Albedo retraced his steps back to the chasm. He revealed yet another device: a handheld brick of some kind embellished with numbered buttons in neat little lines. A rack had been mounted to the upper short end of the rectangle, and Albedo slid a roll of paper onto it.
Meanwhile, the chasm antenna chimed a simple melody in front of them. It played a lulling piece that Xiao had never heard before, yet it reminded him of Venti's music. Venti's music and his home, which Xiao had seen for the first time in many, many years.
While Albedo calibrated a needle against the paper roll, Xiao envisioned the Ridge Watch Domain. He imagined how it stoically watched the Dawn Winery from its shielded hill, protected from the battering wind by Liyue's terrain. Still, it was reached by the gentlest of breezes.
"Wind-Washed Mountains," Zhongli said, snapping him out of his reverie. "An interesting choice for a piece of equipment such as this." Albedo smiled as he pulled a separate antenna out of the brick. Just how many more tabs and pulleys were hidden in this thing?
"Is that what it's called? I wasn't aware. I just happened to overhear a knight whistling when I programmed this."
Xiao watched the brick's needle sway. Moving slowly back and forth, it drew a single waving line. As it grew, Albedo continuously unrolled the paper.
"Did Venti ever play that pie-" Albedo held up a finger,
"Sorry to interrupt, but I need silence right now." He began typing with his off-hand, his expression growing pale. The machine printed numbers in the blank space beside the line graph. As Albedo became more distracted, he stopped unrolling the paper. The graph scrunched up, creating a messy scribble at the very end.
"No, no, I have to be wrong." He repeated the sequence of numbers. Again. And again. Without warning Albedo shoved the brick into Xiao's chest,
"I need you to take this to the Jade Chamber. As high as you can take it. Point it southwest, away from the harbor, and press this button." Albedo retook the device before Xiao could ever grab it. He ripped the graph from the paper reel, rolled the remaining paper again, and pressed another button. "There, it will play the song when the data has finished collecting. When it's done, come back here as fast as you can."
"Why aren't you coming with me?"
"Because if this is right, you'll need your strength. Go."
Xiao didn't ask any more questions. He simply blinked and opened his eyes, now standing on the Jade Chamber's main terrace.
The last time he was here, the Osial crisis was in full swing. The Traveler plummeted from the sky, raining alongside the cement and rubble, and only the adepti and human forces had been present. Naturally, Xiao had forgotten this was an active place where the main seat of Liyue's government met regularly.
Several people reflexively jumped out of his way, while others flinched and dropped their belongings. One person cursed under their breath until they realized who he was. They apologized and bowed, and he awkwardly locked eyes with Ganyu as he avoided their gaze.
So much was happening so quickly. There wasn't an easy way to explain this situation, so he opted not to. He did the bare minimum by nodding in her general direction, and then he turned over his shoulder running. Ordinarily, he would have teleported directly to his point of interest, but he wasn't familiar enough with this place. To teleport again would endanger himself and likely the people around him.
Instead, he leaped up the nearest wall, an arch that hung over an artificial pond. As he reached the top, he landed on another terrace connecting the Jade Chamber's center to its periphery. Holding the brick in his hands, he didn't see another route upwards. Was it worth teleporting to the top now that he could directly see the chamber's highest point? Or was he high enough already? After all, Albedo had told him to conserve his energy.
As he weighed his options, a seelie sailed in on a gust from nowhere, smacking him like a bug. With a start, Xiao realized it couldn't have been a seelie—it was solid. A tiny, fairy-like creature with a white cloak darted away from him, beating its three wings rapidly from side to side. It came to a restless rest, remaining in the same place yet still swaying, tilting its head curiously as it examined Xiao.
Just as Diluc previously described, it never stopped moving. It was a wind sprite.
"Venti?" Adrenaline gripped Xiao's chest like a spear. It wasn't, he realized. It didn't fly the same, and its cloak lacked any color or ornamentation. Still, that didn't explain what it was doing here.
He leaned in to investigate it further, but it quickly grew bored of him and flew away undisturbed. A tiny air jet shot from beneath it as it propelled itself over a wide ledge, landing on a high roof. Xiao wondered if this was a bad omen or if he was going insane.
He inhaled sharply and steadied himself. He exhaled and checked his censer just in case. Venti was still asleep inside despite the swinging and jostling. Of course, this made sense given he could sleep for hundreds of years.
"Adeptus Xiao!" He frantically shut the censer. Ganyu had caught up to him by climbing his previous path.
"I-I'm sorry, Ganyu. I can't explain this easily, and I don't have much time." Xiao forced himself to focus, tracing the wind sprite's path with his eyes, an idea forming in his mind.
"Is it another ley event? Tell me," she urged, following him a few paces, "you can spare me the details. Just tell me how I can help. The Qixing has been waiting for word from Mondstadt, and we've been preparing forces for international assistance. Apparently, a Knight of Favonius and a Mondstadtian bard had been present while you were defending the Chasm? We must provide aid. Regardless, of course, but they're our allies-"
Xiao stopped and stared at the blank wall in front of him. It said nothing as he reasoned with himself. More people begot more risk, casualties, and delays—death, camaraderie, priceless aid. His instinct told him to shut her out; he had Rex Lapis, Albedo, the Traveler, and the others. He could do this alone.
Except he wasn't. He hadn't been from the start, and he knew Ganyu. She wouldn't be here if she hadn't known the risks in the first place, if she hadn't meant what she said.
"Okay," he turned to look at her. Her expression had been tenuous, but now it solidified into something like confidence. "This device will reveal the location of the next ley anomaly. I don't know where it is, but I will know once I get on top of this roof." He pointed to where the wind sprite had flown and disappeared. "I'll tell you once I get the information. I have to get this to someone else. But then…" he paused.
Albedo and Rex Lapis were at the Chasm. Chongyun, Noelle, and Xingqiu were at the Commerce Guild. The Traveler was missing. Venti was with him.
"It can be anything. We can fight, but if that isn't feasible-"
"It may be, but we won't know until we know. Get the adepti. Bring anyone able to teleport or move quickly to the Chasm. I have a team of three people at the Feiyun Commerce Guild. If you could bring them there as well-"
"It will be done, is that all?" Ganyu began pacing away, though she looked back at him over her shoulder.
"Yes. Thank you, Ganyu."
"A ritual that should destroy reinforces instead. A ritual that reinforces still reinforces. There must be something we're missing," Xingqiu continued.
"And hopefully we'll have the time to figure it out," Noelle replied nervously.
"I hope so," he did his best to feign confidence. Noelle looked at him like he might vanish at any moment, which unfortunately was a legitimate concern. "In fact, I've been thinking about why I might be back here—in the living world, that is."
"Wait, do you know?" Chongyun perked up excitedly.
"It's okay if you don't," Xingqiu quickly added. Evidently, he saw through his facade and seemed intent on quelling his fears. "Spirits aren't usually aware of that sort of thing, right, Chongyun?"
"Uh, right," he answered sheepishly. " If you don't, we still have the time to figure it out."
The bard smiled. For the first time since his rude reawakening, he was beginning to feel like he belonged—at least enough for other living people to acknowledge and care about him. Finding this trio had been a stroke of good fortune.
"I think I do know what I want, though. At least I have a plan. I haven't a clue how I'll execute it, but maybe you can help me out with that."
"Of course, whatever it is. You are a citizen of Mondstadt after all, and a Knight of Favonius in practice if not in name. For your sacrifice, I am honor bound." Noelle placed a hand over her heart and bowed. She immediately stood at attention and gave a crisp salute.
"A…Knight of Favonius?"
"They are dedicated to maintaining the three core virtues of modesty, honesty, and self-control in defending Mondstadt's people and freedom."
"That sounds…" he fought a sudden wave of grief, "very much like what I was. But, enough about that, I-I want to find Venti. You said he's the archon now? And obviously he's honored my wishes, the spirit of the rebellion."
The three of them listened intently, looking at each other. Noelle eagerly perked up when he mentioned Venti, though she waited for him to finish his thought. "You see, I have this gut feeling that there's a reason I need to find him, that he needs me for something. What I've seen and remember all seem to confirm this strange sense of foreboding."
"He's still here," Noelle affirmed, "alive, anyway. He's with a companion of ours."
"It's a bit of a long story, but he's reverted to the form you remember. He used all his strength to save this companion, and now he's a wind wisp again," Xingqiu added.
"Adeptus Xiao. He's on the shorter side; he has an anemo vision, fights with a green polearm, and- you know what, you'll know him when you see him." Chongyun patted the bard on the shoulder as his eyes started glazing over.
"Adeptus Xiao…I can remember that. Adeptus Xiao." I just need to find Adeptus Xiao. He wanted to ask so many questions: who this person was and what they meant to Venti, especially for him to spend his strength so recklessly. He wanted to learn more about Chongyun, Xingqiu, Noelle, and the Traveler. He wanted to learn everything, but he had to stay focused. Find Adeptus Xiao and help Venti. Then I can rest.
Between the four of them, it didn't feel impossible; like a long swig of beer, the bard's conviction rested behind his sternum and diffused throughout his body. The sensation lingered for a moment before it dawned on him.
"Yang energy!"
"What about it?" Chongyun asked.
"I keep feeling more of it. You aren't doing anything new, are you?"
"Not on purpose, no."
"Then…am I creating yang energy by thinking about all this? When I think about Mondstadt and completing our goal, I feel warm and good. That's yang, right? Or is it just my sense of purpose? Does this make any sense?"
"You know what, from what Chongyun's told me, I think-"
"Look out!" The bard instinctively shoved Xingqiu, toppling them both. Behind them, an arrow slammed into a tree trunk and oscillated at forehead height.
