"We are sorry to interrupt your musings, Barbatos, but a mysterious letter suddenly appeared on the side table in the Guest Room of the Homayani Estate!
...This letter...Feels just like a certain 'Mad Dog'..."
True to the Winds' words, there was indeed a letter:
A fancy-looking Light Blue colored one, with Blood Red lining...
*And as for what was in the letter itself...
...
...
'Good day to you, Anemo Archon, Barbatos.
You must be wondering why I wrote you a letter and sent it oh so suddenly. I shall explain it then, the reason for doing such an unpredictable thing.
But first you should know that while I appreciate the extra ingredients in the form of slugs that you sent and still keep sending to me, there were moments where they turned to be an annoyance. Same for that unusual chorus, it was highly amusing to hear at times, yet in certain instances...
Let's just say that my so-called "subordinates" had a very memorable experience. One they would not be able to forget even after their deaths~
...Those of them who are still both breathing and have their mind intact, that is...
...
Returning to the matter at hand, I decided to repay your highly-intriguing attempt at punishment by sending a "small surprise" of my own. One which should be arriving at any moment now...
You better return to Mondstadt and fast, or something very bad might just happen~
...
...
Yours truly, the Second of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers, Ill Dottore.'
...
...
This was the whole letter, surprisingly enough...
*He really thought the Harbringer would be more mad about the Slugs and that Chorus,
Yet even so, the unhingedness of the letter's sender could still be clearly felt...
...
Just what kind of "Small Surprise" did Ill Dotto...?
...
...
"Please, Collei! Please, remember! I know you are still there somewhere!
…P-please, tell me you are still there! I-I don't want to kill you…!"
...
...
"...I am sorry...Lord Barbatos...
...Please, forgive me..."
...
"...I never wanted to hurt..."
...
...
...
"Lord Barbatos, please stand back!
This human child you knew as "Collei" is...!"
"I know. The Traveler already told me. At the moment, she is not herself.
...Xiao, do you remember how I brought you to your senses back then...?
... I am going to try doing the same for Collei. Hopefully, with this..."
"P-please, Venti, please do it!
E-even if it doesn't work, I...I will try anything...! A-anything to bring Collei back...!
V-Venti, I will hold onto her...S-so please!"
...
...
...
Whatever that "Mad Dog...Harbringer" meant, he was definitely not joking...
*He should return to Mondstadt and fast, before something horrible happens again!
As soon as he materialized back in Mondstadt, he saw it clearly:
A humanoid-like creature starting its attack on the city...
*Daring to hurt his children...
-...Not on my watch. -He coldly said upon shifting into his Archon form and creating a Wind Barrier between HIS city and the creature, successfully blocking its strikes. -...I am not sure what kind of sick experiment that Mad Dog is currently conducting, but this time, I wouldn't let anyone harm my...-His words trailed off, as he noticed the arrivals. -...Frederica, Varka...And every other member of the KoF you managed to gather in such a short amount of time. I am glad to see that you are quick to react to the danger. -He soon said upon feeling them come near, all the while trying not to get distracted from his current task: Keeping the shield intact no matter what. Even if he became much stronger now, he was still not as proficient at barriers as Morax was. Though it was much easier to keep up, even with the creature's continuous attacks. Speaking of which...-...You must be wondering what is going on here. This letter should answer that question.
He added upon taking THE letter out of his "Hammerspace" and floating it towards Frederica,
Who, deducting from the audible gasp that followed moments later, started to read through it together with Varka...
*That letter, which was sent to him by that...Crazy person,
Just what was he after this time...?
...
What kind of sick experiment...?
...
...
This humanoid-like creature that was currently attacking the city,
It didn't look weak, but...Somehow it felt like it was barely using any force in its attacks...?
*But why would an enemy of Mondstadt, pull its own...?
...
He should remember that..."Person's" letter,
Surely, there, he will find out the answer...Right...?
...
...
'Good day to you, Anemo Archon, Barbatos.
You must be wondering why I wrote you a letter and sent it oh so suddenly. I shall explain it then, the reason for doing such an unpredictable thing.
But first you should know that while I appreciate the extra ingredients in the form of slugs that you sent and still keep sending to me, there were moments where they turned to be an annoyance. Same for that unusual chorus, it was highly amusing to hear at times, yet in certain instances...
Let's just say that my so-called "subordinates" had a very memorable experience. One they would not be able to forget even after their deaths~
...Those of them who are still both breathing and have their mind intact, that is...
...
Returning to the matter at hand, I decided to repay your highly-intriguing attempt at punishment by sending a "small surprise" of my own. One which should be arriving at any moment now...
You better return to Mondstadt and fast, or something very bad might just happen~
...
...
Yours truly, the Second of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers, Ill Dottore.'
...
...
'Returning to the matter at hand, I decided to repay your highly-intriguing attempt at punishment by sending a "small surprise" of my own. One which should be arriving at any moment now...
You better return to Mondstadt and fast, or something very bad might just happen~'
This part right here was clearly the most important one...
*But it didn't tell him all that much, except what he already knew:
Dottore is responsible for this crisis and he seems to be enjoying it...
...
...
Just what kind of "Small Surprise" did Ill Dotto...?
...
...
"Please, Collei! Please, remember! I know you are still there somewhere!
…P-please, tell me you are still there! I-I don't want to kill you…!"
...
...
"...I am sorry...Lord Barbatos...
...Please, forgive me..."
...
"...I never wanted to hurt..."
...
...
...
"Lord Barbatos, please stand back!
This human child you knew as "Collei" is...!"
"I know. The Traveler already told me. At the moment, she is not herself.
...Xiao, do you remember how I brought you to your senses back then...?
... I am going to try doing the same for Collei. Hopefully, with this..."
"P-please, Venti, please do it!
E-even if it doesn't work, I...I will try anything...! A-anything to bring Collei back...!
V-Venti, I will hold onto her...S-so please!"
...
...
...
Whatever that "Mad Dog...Harbringer" meant, he was definitely not joking...
*He should return to Mondstadt and fast, before something horrible happens again!
...
He rushed back so quickly, but...
*This humanoid-like creature wasn't really...
...
...
...
Now that he looked at it closer, rather than a "humanoid-like creature" like he thought it was before,
Could it have actually been a former human instead, irreversibly changed by that madman's...?
*Was this really one of Dottore's horrible and immoral experiments...?
A chimera of sorts, that...
...
For some reason, he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity...
*Did this Chimera...Former human could have been...?
Just like...Collei was back then...
...
...
"Amber...? You are...? Oh, no! Are you alright?!
...D-did I...D-did I do this...? I-I...! I-I...!
...A-after I was...A-and the experiment...I-I...T-to the place that accepted me...A-and to my good friend...! I-I...PLEASE, GET AWAY FROM ME!
...I-I did it...I-I did all of this...! B-because of me...! B-because of me...! B-because of me...!
...I-I can't control them...I-I can't control them...A-and it hurts so much...! I-it hurts so much...! I-it hurts...I-it...
...A-Amber, please, end it...W-while I am still myself...
...I-I already destroyed and hurt enough...I-if this continues...I-I might...I-I might actually kill you this time!
A-Amber, please...! V-Venti...! X-Xiao...! S-someone, please...! I-I am already...
...P-please, just kill me...T-there is no hope...F-for me now..."
...
...
If it is truly like that...
...
...
Then that...Assh*le, Ill Dottore...
...
...
...
HOW DARE HE DO THIS KIND OF THING AGAIN?!
"...And this is the current situation.", the Winds had just ended their retelling, before there was a small pause, "...Considering the 'suddenly arisen' crisis, you are also going to return back to Mondstadt soon, right...?"
-...That's the plan, yes. -Jean soon admitted, looking and sounding very thoughtful, before she glanced between the people present. -Our group returning to Mondstadt as soon as possible…Is everyone in agreement on this plan...? If anyone wants to stay in Sumeru for a little longer, then...
-NO! KLEE'S FINE LEAVING NOW! -Her words were soon interrupted by Klee's frantic yell, before the child's expression turned ashamed moments later. -...Klee is sorry for suddenly yelling. Klee does want to stay here for a little longer, but if my home is in danger...-She admitted, before her expression suddenly turned determined. -Klee wants to get back to Mondstadt soon and blow the baddie up!
-You are not alone, child. I would also love to punish some people. -Dvalin soon admitted, looking and sounding quite mad. -To think that, THAT..."Person" dares threaten Barbatos again by attacking the city of Mondstadt...
-Sooner or later, HE is going to get what's coming to him. -Vennessa soon added, looking and sounding mad herself, before she deeply sighed moments later. -...But to leave Sumeru so suddenly, even though we were specifically invited...
-It's alright. I...We understand why you are deciding to leave now. Considering the current situation, you don't have any other choice. -Nahida reassuringly admitted, a warm smile soon appearing on her face. -Take care of your home, of one another and Big Brother, alright...? To me, this is more than enough.
"We can hold festivals at any time, but if there is no one left to enjoy them with...", was left unsaid,
Yet it need not be, as everyone soon clearly understood what she meant...
-Yes, you should definitely go back. Help protect your home. -Collei suddenly said, looking and sounding reassuring, as well as a little nervous. -...Even if you fly, it's going to take some time to arrive and during that...
"...Something horrible might happen.", was what she stopped herself from saying,
As she couldn't help but remember a certain painful memory...
*One she wished to forget already, but...
...
-Little Sister...Collei, is there anything wrong...? -Amber soon asked her in concern, worried that something happened. -You know that you can tell me if there is anything...
Her words soon trailed off, as she was suddenly reminded of...
...
"Please, Collei! Please, remember! I know you are still there somewhere!
…P-please, tell me you are still there! I-I don't want to kill you…!"
...
...
THAT specific memory and what followed...
*She didn't want to remember it, not now...
...
Especially not now, when another crisis was...
*And once again, by Ill Dottore, that crazy Harbringer!
...
...
...
-Little Sister Collei, it's fine. Everything is surely going to be alright! Everyone is surely working together to protect Mondstadt and its people! -Amber decided to soon say, looking and sounding reassuring. -Not only that, Venti is already back, so everything should be going much better now, right?
She added, trying to look and sound even more reassuring,
Both to Collei and the others listening, as well as to herself...
...
...
For some unexplainable reason,
She felt like there was something horribly wrong...
*But what could it...?
...
...
"When Mondstadt accepted me, it became my homeland. Then I decided to watch over this new home of mine. Maybe one day, you will inherit this responsibility... Hah, but then, who knows what the future holds?"
...
...
Grandfather...?