Hello, I know it's been a while since I've been on vacation, which is why it's taken a while to update the story, but here's the new chapter with some new characters making their entrance into the story.
I'd also like to point out that there may not be any chapters in the next four months for personal reasons. However, I'll try to write in the meantime and I hope to get at least one chapter out in that time. I'm not guaranteeing anything, but you'll know, so you won't have waited for nothing. That's also why I wanted to post this chapter now.
Anyway, happy reading.
It was finally happening. After constant obstacles and fighting, Aether and Paimon finally made it to the ship that was taking them to Fontaine.
Aether stood on the main deck with Paimon right beside him, overlooking the vast ocean. A solemn look on his face as he felt no joy almost reaching his destination of the Hydro Archon's nation. As it was just a means to an end to him.
The ship's crew and the other passengers paid them no mind which Aether was thankful for. They didn't recognize the famed Traveler and his floating companion which was fine with him, he just wanted to be left alone. Paimon decided to speak up to break the silence.
"Aether, Paimon's curious. How long are we going to stay in Fontaine?" asked the little fairy curiously. Aether turned his head to address Paimon.
"A month."
"Just one month?"
"Yep. After fighting Childe and the rest of the Archons showed me what I need to do to become stronger. Once my training is done, we'll leave Fontaine." Aether explained to Paimon who thought it was overkill.
Aether had become so ridiculously strong, and he still considered himself weak? Was it even possible to become stronger when you're already above everyone else in terms of everything whether be power, speed, and endurance?
Aether had picked up on Paimon's confusion, and decided to clarify more.
"Paimon, if you think I'm invincible now because I defeated Venti, Zhongli, Ei and Nahida. Don't. I don't even consider beating the Archons an accomplishment at all." Aether said nonchalantly which shocked Paimon greatly making her wonder if her ears were working right.
Aether defeating the Archons who stood as Teyvat's zenith of power was nothing in his eyes?!
"But…there the gods…"
"Wrong, I defeated a drunken bard, a heartless senile old man, dumb muscle and a wingless bird." Aether giving out an insulting apt description of his former friends. "They were so pathetic that me beating them all was inevitable."
"Paimon still doesn't understand…"
Aether sighed to explain more. "I'm sure in the distant past, Venti, Zhongli, Ei and Nahida truly did deserve their titles of being terrifying gods that deserved to be worshiped and feared. However, they let the grief of losing their loved ones and their vices consume them. While the former is understandable, the latter is unforgivable. Then again, there was no point in improving. Why would you need to do it? After as gods, they stood above everyone else naturally. It would be completely laughable that you would need to train hard just to crush mere ants. However, I never stopped improving ever since I came to Teyvat which is exactly why they lost to me." he said with Paimon taking it all in.
Paimon was starting to understand now, and everything Aether had said made sense.
Tone-deaf bard constantly just enjoyed his precious freedom consisting of drinking and singing, Zhongli gave an air of sophistication of sipping tea and ran absurdly high tabs on Hu Tao's Mora, Ei was terrifying when they first met, but spent all of her time in the Plane of Euthymia doing nothing, and Nahida was understandable since she spent all of her life inside a cage. While it was undeniable that they were skilled, but never really improved on their fighting prowess even more like Aether had done.
It made Paimon realize that without all the raw power of a god on Venti, Zhongli, Ei, and Nahida's side, they were pathetic!
"You're right…Paimon never realized it until now…" Paimon spoke, her mind blown from this revelation.
"I'm glad you're starting to see it too. The will of the gods. What a joke."
At Palais Mermonia, Neuvillette was patiently awaiting Furina's arrival. He had arranged to meet her to discuss a matter of concern to them both: the news of the Abyss Order, which the Steambird claimed had decimated Mondstadt.
With his arms folded behind his back, Neuvillette looked out of the window at the landscape of the Fontaine courtyard. The Hydro Dragon tried his best to remain calm, but he couldn't help worrying about the future. He hoped that the city's beauty would remain intact until the end of time. With a heavy sigh, he wondered if the prophecy had omitted a crucial detail, or if the archives were incomplete.
In any case, he found it strange that the Abyss Order had decided now of all times to make their move. He put his hand on his chin, muttering to himself about the likelihood of an attack on Fontaine.
"I don't think they would dare attack Fontaine without being aware of the danger it would represent. But if they do, it's better to think ahead. And in the worst-case scenario, I'll intervene. I've heard that over three-quarters of the Mondstadt's knights are currently away on their expedition, but it still doesn't make sense that the Abyss Order would attack now since it's been months since the expedition. Nonetheless, in Fontaine, things will be different."
Just as he was finishing his thought, the door opened to reveal the Hydro Archon, Furina, who entered without the slightest restraint, as usual. This time, however, she wasn't wearing her usual smile, because she knew perfectly well why she was here.
"Bonjour, Lady Furina." said Neuvillette, bowing slightly.
"Bonjour, Neuvillette. As you can see, I'm here. There's no need to beat about the bush, just tell me straight out how you intend to foil any attacks from the Abyss Order."
"Indeed, I'm going to tell you. But before I do, I'd like to know if the citizens are worried or if they're keeping calm. After all, news like this must be upsetting for everyone, even if it concerns another region." replied the Iudex of Fontaine, anxious to avoid any panic among the population. There was as yet no concrete evidence that the Abyss had any intention of attacking Fontaine, or even the other nations.
"So far, so good. There have been whispers in the restaurants and shops, but nothing alarming. I suppose everyone is worried, but not out of their minds yet. However, the situation is not without consequences. I've received word that a few scammers are trying to shamelessly take advantage of the prevailing fear by selling ridiculous products claiming to make you invisible in the eyes of the Abyss Order, or strong enough to overpower a Mitachurl. I'd like you to deal with that later. I don't want my beloved citizens to give in to their fears and paranoia." says Furina, placing a hand on her chest. Although her tone was slightly amused, she meant every word of it sincerely.
Neuvillette nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He knew that maintaining order and confidence among the population was essential to prevent fear from turning into chaos. As he prepared to outline his plan to protect Fontaine, he took a moment to think about the best way to reassure Furina and, by extension, everyone in the city. It wasn't just a question of military strength, but also of strategy and communication.
"I'll take care of that, rest assured, Lady Furina."
The Iudex's voice was calm but full of unshakeable determination. However, the white-haired woman couldn't help smiling, a mischievous gleam in her eye.
"Well, either way, it will make for something entertaining to watch in court." Furina replied playfully, although part of her felt that she should be concentrating more on the situation. The seriousness of the situation weighed heavily on her shoulders, but she sometimes liked to take refuge behind humor to lighten the mood.
The Iudex, aware of Furina's light-heartedness, continued in a soft but firm voice:
"Lady Furina, I think it would be more appropriate to refocus on the present situation," Neuvillette asked humbly, although he was persistent to continue on the crucial subject at hand. He knew that time was running out, and every second lost was a missed opportunity.
Furina, realizing that she had gotten carried away, lowered her eyes slightly before replying, her tone becoming more serious:
"Yes, my apologies, I got distracted. Go on."
Neuvillette nodded, grateful for Furina's understanding, and continued in a more confident voice:
"What I propose is to ask the Adventurers' Guild, as a special commission, to recover all the Clockworks Meka components they come across on their way, in every corner of Fontaine. These machines are scattered outside of Fontaine's walls. What's more, if they manage to recover entire Clockworks Meka machines, even if the parts aren't detached, that will also be useful to us."
Furina frowned, puzzled. She still didn't understand what Iudex was getting at.
"Okay, but I still don't see why you want to do this?" She replied, her voice betraying curiosity mixed with concern. She knew that Iudex was a thoughtful man, but she didn't like being kept in the dark. The Iudex took a deep breath before explaining, hoping to clarify his intentions.
"As you know, most of those machines were deliberately released into the wild. Most of them have been reprogrammed by Treasure Hoarders or other criminal factions for nefarious purposes. So adventurers often find themselves fighting them as they explore the region or are assigned to specific missions."
Furina nodded, although the confusion still lingered in her eyes.
"Yes, but apart from cleansing the region of criminals who prefer theft to honest work, which is fine in itself, I still don't understand your final goal." She said, her tone becoming more insistent.
Iudex smiled, recognising Furina being skeptical, but he was also determined to convince her.
"I'll get to that." He began, his tone becoming more serious. "As well as reducing crime and facilitating the Adventurers' Guild's missions, this initiative will also help us strengthen our defenses against the Abyss Order. Clockwork Meka are designed to protect the population and are heavily armed. If we can recover all the available components or even the entire models, we could recycle them and reprogram them so that they can be used solely to protect Fontaine. This seems to me to be an effective alternative solution."
Furina straightened slightly, her eyes lighting up as she finally understood the Iudex's vision.
"I see, you're trying to kill two birds with one stone, that's clever. But how do you intend to ensure the secrecy of such a plan? After all, it would be suspicious if the adventurers suddenly received such a bizarre commission on their way to see Katheryne."
Iudex smiled, anticipating this question. He had already thought of an answer.
"I'll pass it off as an anonymous request from a wealthy philanthropist with a passion for Clockwork Mekas. After all, I plan to give a substantial reward to those who make the effort to provide us with such pieces. What's more, the better the condition of the pieces, the higher the reward. I'll be talking to Katheryne. She'll be the only one to know that it was us who commissioned the adventurers."
Furina nodded, satisfied but not without one last worry.
"And how do you intend to provide the Mora to reward them?" She asked, her tone revealing a slight concern.
"Fontaine's resources go directly through me, Lady Furina. No price is too high for Fontaine's safety. So it won't be a major problem." The Iudex looked her straight in the eye, his voice full of certainty.
"If you say so, I trust you. However, if the adventurers are capable of destroying Clockwork Mekas, who's to say that these machines will be effective against the monsters from the Abyss?" asked Furina, a shadow of concern crossing her eyes. Her tone betrayed her fear that she had discovered a flaw in the plan. She was well aware of Neuvillette's reputation for meticulousness, but the uncertainty gnawed at her.
Unperturbed, Neuvillette replied, his gaze calm and reassuring.
"Your reasoning is valid, Lady Furina, but I had anticipated this possibility. It's true that if the adventurers can neutralize these machines without difficulty, it would compromise our strategy. However, it's not just a question of reprogramming the mekas, but also of improving them. I've already mobilized the best engineers available, particularly those from the Fontaine Research Institute. They'll be more than happy to take on a new technological challenge. The only limiting factor is time. That's why I'm offering them a substantial financial reward to speed up the process and ensure that the machines are stronger and more durable."
Furina nodded, but the concern hadn't entirely left her eyes. "I understand, but are you sure this will be enough? Will we really be ready to face the army of the Abyss if it unleashes its fury on Fontaine?" she asked, her voice betraying an anxiety she was struggling to contain.
"Lady Furina, I can assure you that there is no cause for alarm at this stage. We are preparing for this eventuality, but remember that nothing has yet been confirmed. It's not even certain that the Abyss Order is targeting Fontaine or any other region. The reports only mention an isolated attack, with no sign of a large-scale invasion. Furthermore, there has been no change in the behavior of the Hilichurls or the Abyss Mages who prowl the borders of Fontaine. They remain just as insignificant as before. As for Mondstadt, there has been no siege, especially as less than a quarter of their army is in the region, the rest having gone on their expedition with their leader, which could explain why they were attacked and beaten at the same time," Neuvillette replied with unshakeable confidence.
Furina bit her lip slightly, realizing that she might have gotten carried away. "You're right, maybe I'm letting myself get too carried away by fear... But what if the army of Clockworks Mekas doesn't work?"
Neuvillette smiled reassuringly. "They will work, Lady Furina. Even if they're on the front lines, I'll make sure to inform Captain Chevreuse and Maison Gardiennage to reinforce our troops. They always carry out their work with the utmost seriousness. In addition, I'll be alerting seasoned fighters, adventurers, and Visions carriers who might be able to lend us support. If the situation becomes critical, I won't hesitate to ask Wriothesley and Clorinde to take part in the battle, and Sigewinne to look after the wounded. Nor would I exclude myself from the battle if necessary. However, I remain convinced that it won't come to that."
Furina nodded, recognizing Neuvillette's wisdom and preparation. It was foolish of her to doubt him, as he had already considered every possible scenario.
"You've really thought of everything. If that's the case, I have no further objections. In the best-case scenario, the Abyss Order doesn't attack, and we'll have managed to strengthen our forces while reducing crime. But in the worst case, we'll be ready to defend Fontaine. I'm counting on you, Neuvillette."
The serious look on Furina's face showed the confidence she had in him. Neuvillette was touched by this show of faith.
"Don't worry, Lady Furina, we have the situation under control. There's no need to exaggerate fears and worries, especially your own. I know that you are deeply invested in protecting Fontaine, which is to your credit. But don't let fear cloud your judgment, that's advice I try to follow as Chief Justice of Fontaine."
Furina smiled slightly, a smile that expressed both gratitude and relief.
"You're right, I'll think about it in the future. Thank you for thinking of everything, Neuvillette, and thank you for your support."
"You're welcome, Lady Furina. I want you to know that I'll always be there to support you."
She straightened up, looking more serene, and headed for the door. Before leaving, she took one last look at Neuvillette, who raised an eyebrow in puzzlement.
"What is it, Lady Furina?"
Furina hesitated for a moment, then asked softly.
"Do you have any news on the Traveler? It's said that he's on his way to Fontaine, but I have no other information."
Neuvillette discerned a sincere hope in Furina's eyes. She was counting on the arrival of the Traveler, whose reputation as a savior stretched across Teyvat. He understood her feelings perfectly because having an ally like Aether would be an invaluable asset. Alas, he had no information on the subject.
"I'm sorry, Lady Furina, but I have no idea where the Traveler is at the moment." His reply, although sincere, left Furina slightly disappointed, but she didn't let it get her down.
"It's a shame... I would have liked him to be here now. He would have been an exceptional asset for the protection of Fontaine. But we'll have to manage on our own."
"As you say, Lady Furina. However, if I hear anything about his whereabouts, I'll be sure to let you know." nodded Neuvillette.
"Merci, Neuvillette. A plus tard!" she said, giving him a grateful smile before leaving the room.
"Au revoir, Lady Furina," replied Neuvillette, watching the door close behind her.
Once he was alone, he returned to his preparations, ready to set out his strategy to protect the Hydro nation. Furina's agreement gave him renewed confidence to anticipate future events, even if he still had no idea that the adversary he was preparing for might not be the one he thought.
In Fontaine, in the House of the Hearth, in an office that served as headquarters, a certain person drank a cup of coffee while completing some of the neverending paperwork.
She put her coffee down on the table before sighing, it wasn't her favorite part of the job, but she knew that given her status, it was part of her responsibilities. However, she told herself that it could be worse, murmuring her thoughts aloud, even though there was no one around to hear her.
"Unless, Tartaglia isn't here to annoy the others, as if I needed another headache from that manchild..."
Before she continued her daily task, someone knocked on the door, surprised that someone had come so early in the day to disturb her, because her children knew that disturbing her during her morning routine would put her in a bad mood, and nobody wanted to see her angry.
"Come in," ordered the exotic-eyed woman calmly, knowing that if anyone did disturb her, it would only be to inform her of something of great importance.
When the door opened, she saw Fontaine's best-known magician, and incidentally her adopted son, with whom she was banking as her successor to take over the House of the Hearth.
"Bonjour Father." Lyney greeted before bowing his head to the Fatui's 4th Harbinger, Arlecchino, aka the Knave.
"Bonjour Lyney, may I ask why you're here?"
"Well, it's better, if he explains it to you," he replied, pointing to the shaking Fatui Pyro Agent behind him, and if Arlecchino thought it was because of her presence, well, she was wrong.
He kept replaying all the events in his head, because he was the only survivor of Aether's massacre at Liyue's Fatui base, and witnessing Tartaglia brutalized before his very eyes by the Traveler without mercy. Just thinking about what he had done had made him lose all sense of courage, but he managed to muster the courage to report to Arlecchino, having made it all the way to Fontaine.
"Good morning Father...I know you weren't expecting me, but there's something urgent I must report," he said with a shaky breath.
"Calm down first, and catch your breath, you don't need to worry, I'm going to hurt you." reassured Arlecchino.
While Arlecchino wanted answers now, she knew better than to be impatient and snap at one of her subordinates. Patience was a virtue she possessed greatly, and her lashing out wasn't going to help.
"No Father, you don't understand, it's...because of...what I saw..."
"What did you witness?"
"The perpetrator responsible for all of the losses among the Fatui divisions in Mondstadt and Liyue..."
Arlecchino frowned slightly, not expecting the culprit responsible to have been the same person that terrified her subordinate.
"And what happened?" asked Lyney, who also didn't know who the instigator was, and had accompanied the Agent because he had told him that he had discovered the person behind the Fatui massacre.
"He came into our base and killed everyone. No one could stop him. Numbers, Delusions, and our weapons were useless against that demon. I was the only one who survived because I wasn't at my post at the time."
Arlecchino and Lyney listened attentively to what they had just heard, while the white-haired woman crossed her arms, understanding that the culprit was a threat that needed to be put down.
As for Lyney, he deplored having lost yet more Fatui comrades, wondering if Tartaglia, who had been sent to look for and deal with the culprit, as he was sure that he was at least at a level equivalent to a Harbinger, given the description of the individual.
"And you couldn't have asked Lord Tartaglia to intervene to stop him from continuing his rampage? I assume you were ordered not to intervene as he would take care of it himself," asked Lyney, grabbing his chin, thinking of a better option than fleeing, but he had no idea what he was going to hear next, and neither did Arlecchino, because it also concerned the 11th Harbinger.
"That's exactly the problem...Lord Tartaglia intervened when that monster left the base. Their paths crossed coincidentally. Lord Tartaglia tried to stop him, he used his most powerful form, but in the end, he lost...But it's not just that he's lost, he's been completely brutalized, and now he's at death's door..." said the Agent, stressing even more.
"What do you mean by 'death's door'?" asked Arlecchino.
"Practically all his bones are broken, he's lost quite a lot of blood, his face disfigured, bruises, lacerations and burns all over his body. I took Lord Tartaglia into one of the few remaining Fatui Bases in Liyue for medical treatment, but his situation is quite dire."
Arlecchino and Lyney were analyzing all the information they just heard, their faces remained perfectly calm. While everything the Agent had reported was indeed concerning, panicking wasn't going to help them.
However, it surprised the head of the House of the Hearth that Tartaglia was defeated. He may have been the weakest and the most reckless, but he was still a Harbinger. Meaning whoever the culprit was stronger than Tartaglia, and raised his threat level even more.
"Well, it's good that you've taken over the care of Tartaglia, but the question is, who is the culprit behind all of this? Do you have any idea who he is, or what he looks like?" asked Arlecchino, a hand on her hip.
"Yes, and I think you know very well who it is...It's the Traveler..." he said timidly as if the Agent was afraid that Aether would appear behind him just by saying his name to kill him like the rest of his comrades.
"What?!" Lyney voiced out his shock while Arlecchino's eyes widened slightly, not expecting this
"Yes, it's the Traveler..."
"Are you talking about the same Traveler who defeated Signora and hailed as the Hero of Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma and Sumeru?" Arlecchino questioned, even though she had a hard time believing the Agent.
"Yes...The same person..."
"Are you sure of yourself? Maybe you left very quickly out of fear and didn't take the time to look?" Lyney worried slightly.
"No, it's definitely him, I watched the whole fight. His physical description matches up while accompanied by some kind of flying fairy with him, and even Lord Tartaglia confirmed that because he called him by his name and the name of his fairy."
Lyney didn't know what to say, he knew what the Traveler looked like as did everyone else in the Fatui because he was well known. After all, not anyone could do the impossible and save four nations from such dire threats. Everyone knew of the Traveler's prowess and his exploits that made him a legend among Teyvat.
However, to hear about the heroic Traveler and the culprit that slaughtered so many Fatui were the same person shocked Lyney. Everything the Agent had reported made no sense and didn't fit the Traveler's profile at all. The Traveler and Lord Tartaglia were friends, so beating him to near death, and ruthlessly slaughtering people wasn't in the Traveler's nature to do so.
Arlecchino was taken back by this newfound information. A multitude of questions flooded her thoughts, yet she was unable to answer a single one of them. Something only the Traveler himself could only answer. What the Pyro Agent reported made no sense, and drastically changed her plans on meeting him so he could help save Fontaine.
"There's more I remember, ...The Traveler wasn't even at his best, he defeated Lord Tartaglia with such amazing power, speed, and grace I had never seen before. And what's more, he walked away, sparing Lord Tartaglia's life, finding him not worth killing, and…" the Agent hesitated to finish his report.
"And what?"
"He used Lord Tartaglia as a…sparring partner in preparation to face off with you, Father!"
Arlecchino and Lyney's eyes widened not expecting to hear something so…absurd and audacious. The Traveler had beaten Tartaglia to near death. A Harbinger despite being the weakest, still possesses great strength and combat prowess being used as a stepping stone of all things.
The Knave had no intention of fighting the Traveler to begin with. However, it seemed it couldn't be helped if the Traveler would force her hand. While she was confident in her abilities, after all she wasn't ranked 4th among the Fatui Harbingers for nothing. The problem was that she had no idea how strong Aether was now as he had become a wild card.
However, she knew what to do, and she knew that she could always count on her son, Lyney, to help her succeed. As for right now, Arlecchino was going to send her next instructions to the Pyro Agent. To make sure that Tartaglia was well-cared for, and if he recovered quickly enough, she would question him regarding everything that had transpired with the Traveler.
"Listen, thank you for your report. Now, the main priority is that Tartaglia doesn't suffer from his injuries and dies. We've already lost Signora, we can't afford to lose another Harbinger. Escort him to Fontaine, we'll put him in intensive care and have our best medically trained personal watching over him around the clock. You'll leave with a squad coming directly from the House of the Hearth."
"Thank you, Father...Good day to you." said the still fearful subordinate.
"Thank you, you too."
The Fatui Pyro Agent left the room with great urgency, as if he had seen a ghost, still stricken with fear after what he had witnessed Arlecchino sighed in front of Lyney who looked at her with folded arms, waiting for the 4th Harbinger's decision on the situation.
"I wasn't expecting this kind of information, but it seems that the person we least suspected behind the massacre was the culprit. What are you going to do Father?" asked Lyney, noticing Arlecchino's perplexity.
"We have to locate the Traveler. Only he can answer on why he would make such a daring and reckless strike against the Fatui. Granted, the Fatui has gone against the Traveler numerous times, but what he has done is unprecedented."
"Yes, I find that quite incomprehensible, especially given his prestige and reputation, he's mentioned by many as the Hero of Teyvat, so I don't know what could have happened for him to do this."
"Indeed Lyney, something must have changed, and I'd like to know why. However, I have a feeling that Lady Furina will try to win him over to her cause if he ever arrives in Fontaine."
"He mentioned that he'd be prepared if he ever came to fight you, so he'll probably arrive in Fontaine soon." added Lyney.
"You're right, so we know where he'll be going. Tartaglia fought the Traveler in Chenyu Vale, he'll likely be arriving that way, and not via Romaritime Harbour as we first thought."
"Yes, and by the way, I'm still amazed that Lord Tartaglia was beaten so easily and horribly. I don't want the Traveler to fight you, Father." Lyney said, his face looking concerned, which the Knave could understand why.
"Bien sûr, there's always a way for both parties to get what they want, you just have to find the right compromise, you just have to know what the Traveler really wants when he arrives."
"I see, so what's your plan of action to resolve this?" asked the magician, knowing full well that The Knave was already analyzing the situation for the best possible outcome.
Arlecchino thought for a few seconds, a hand on her chin, before looking at Lyney, and approaching him, putting a hand on his shoulder. The magician knew that when his "Father" did this, it meant that she attached great importance to this mission and that she knew that only a person she trusted like him could achieve the best results.
"Lyney, I will give you a mission, and I hope you succeed. I want you and Lynette to meet the Traveler."
Lyney was rather surprised by the order, his facial expression showing incomprehension.
"May I ask why? I mean, if Lord Tartaglia was defeated so easily, Lynette and I wouldn't stand a chance against him."
"You didn't listen carefully, I didn't tell you to fight, I told you to meet him, in other words, to talk to him. We want to know why he's acting so brutally towards the Fatui. To find out if it's possible to stop him from killing more so we have no more unnecessary deaths."
"I see, you want us to become his friend." Lyney started to realize it now while the Knave nodded her head.
"In fact, you're the best person for this mission, people like you and socialize with you a lot. I think it'll be a good way of finding out if you're ready to take over soon."
"I can see why you want us to do this, but what if the Traveler isn't in the mood for a friendly conversation? I'm afraid that going against the Traveler will be inevitable."
"So it's up to you to choose the right words, but I know you'll do it. You've always succeeded in everything you've done, so you're not going to fail now."
"Well, then why does Lynette have to come with me? You know she's not the chatty type, and I don't want to put her in unnecessary danger." Lyney looked worried over his sister's safety.
"You're both known to work together as partners when you're performing, so separating you could create suspicion. What's more, to make the situation easier, I'll make sure you're there to promote your next show by selling magic pockets. But above all, Lynette can counteract your impulsiveness or go off topic because if you're too friendly, people might suspect something, which is why you complement each other. And the fact that there's a woman accompanying you could make the Traveler a bit more cordial, after all Lynette could help you in that area..." added Arlecchino, having planned everything.
"I see...Wait, you want Lynette to seduce the Traveler!?" exclaimed Lyney, feeling protective for his sister.
"No, but he might find it suspicious that you're asking him so many questions, and if Lynette tried to appear more respectful, that might calm things down," Arlecchino answered, aware that Lyney would always do everything to protect his family.
"I understand..." Lyney tried to reassure himself.
"Good, now go to Lumidouce Harbor since that is probably where the Traveler will arrive. He'll need someone to converse with regarding Fontaine which falls to you, Lyney."
"We'll be on our way this afternoon."
"Lyney, I'm trusting you with this task, so don't let me down." asked Arlecchino solemnly.
"No, everything will be done properly, I won't let you down," said Lyney, bowing slightly before straightening up, gazing into Arlecchino's eyes, which showed that she trusted him.
"Merci. I'll make sure you have a boat by early afternoon."
"All right, then. Bonne journée à vous, Father."
"A toi aussi, Lyney." replied Arlecchino before seeing her son leave her office to tell Lynette and Fréminet about his latest mission.
Arlecchino sat back down at her desk, sipping her cup of coffee again, not expecting this kind of information and wondering what the Traveler's motives might be.
If Lyney and Lynette could reason with him so that she could have a proper discussion with him, it would be for the best because even if she didn't show it, she was quite surprised to hear that a man like him was behind the massacre.
She didn't know what had happened in Mondstadt as there were no Fatui left in the Anemo Archon's nation to report on events, as they had all been killed. According to the Steambird, she had read that it was the Abyss. However, just because she wasn't aware of the situation didn't mean she wasn't wary of the Traveler, expecting the Fontaine nation to be shaken up in one way or another.
"Well, I never thought I'd find out about all this today...I hope it doesn't lead to any disastrous consequences..."