"The Pale Princess and the Six Pygmies…"
Lisa perked up a little, leaning against Ryen's chest. She took the book herself so that she wouldn't get in the way of Ryen's eager reading.
"This book seems to come in many volumes. The one Mondstadt has is only a part of it."
"This portion of the story is written in a rather vague manner."
"It speaks of the Land of Night and the Moonlight Forest."
"The source of all sin, the Night Mother, ruled over the Kingdom of Evil. The Night Mother was cruel—without mouth, without heart."
"She kept her eyes wide open at all times, watching over the Land of Night, delivering cruel punishment without any warning."
"She could not bear the moonlight pouring down, for she most despised the radiance from beyond that pierced through the layers of darkness."
"And the Moonlight Forest was the only realm that had escaped the Night Mother's rule."
"Only there could people gaze upon the bright moon."
Lisa paused, then sighed helplessly:
"So tell me, does any of this sound like a fairytale for children?"
"And besides, in this volume there aren't even any clear characters. Apart from barely matching the Night Mother to some sort of wicked queen, the White Princess and the Six Dwarves don't even appear."
Ryen's eyes lit up slightly—he seemed to have realized something.
He hinted meaningfully:
"But all of this… lines up with Teyvat, doesn't it?"
"Moonlight… I recall Venti once spoke of the primordial myths…"
Lisa blinked in surprise, then whispered:
"You mean the three Moon Goddesses?"
"I'm not certain. But I like to imagine these connected beings all together."
Ryen looked at the faint glow spilling from between his fingers. He lowered his head and kissed it softly, then murmured:
"The Night Mother corresponds to Celestia's Sustainer of Heavenly Principles—that much, I should be able to confirm."
"The Night Mother despises all light that comes from beyond. Yesterday, when Aether came, the gem on his chest was white."
"That represents the power system of him and Lumine. I think… it must be light? In your world, you might call it Light Realm Energy?"
"When they traveled to Teyvat, the Sustainer intercepted them.
"Celestia too rejects all outsiders—or rather, rejects all things that do not belong to Teyvat."
Lisa frowned slightly.
"But that doesn't make sense! There are plenty of foreigners in Teyvat!"
"Then what about… the Descenders?"
Ryen said softly.
"Rosalyne once told me the Fatui surmise that Celestia itself is the first Descender. Klee's mother is also a Descender."
"The twins were originally Descenders as well. But now, Aether has been inscribed into this world, becoming a native of Teyvat."
"As of now, the only active Descenders left… are me and Lumine."
Lisa's heart skipped, and she asked worriedly:
"Then doesn't that mean the Sustainer rejects only those Descenders who will never be remembered by Teyvat? Because she herself is a Descender."
"Wouldn't that put you in great danger?"
Ryen chuckled wordlessly, pinching Lisa gently as he teased:
"Say that again—who's in danger?"
Lisa froze for a moment, then recalled Ryen's terrifying power. She could only shake her head helplessly.
"Alright then… I suppose this is just me being overly worried out of care for you, hm?"
"I rather like that explanation."
Ryen let out a quiet chuckle.
"Back to the point—Celestia rejects outsiders and delivers punishment. That's similar to the incident of the Skyfrost Nail long ago. Yet the Moonlight Forest actively seeks to reach out beyond."
"The Moonlight Forest… perhaps that is the Abyss?"
Lisa frowned slightly, puzzled.
"Why couldn't it be Khaenri'ah?"
"Khaenri'ah…"
Ryen shook his head with a wry smile.
"Never mind how long this fairy tale has circulated…"
"Zhongli told me that Khaenri'ah merely allied itself with the Abyss. But to match the Moonlight Forest… Khaenri'ah isn't worthy of that comparison."
Lisa's eyes lit with realization. She spoke softly:
"The Night Mother is Celestia. The Moonlight Forest is the Abyss."
"Celestia fears outsiders—or rather, she fears what exists outside. The Abyss, on the other hand, seeks them out, tainted by that forbidden knowledge."
"Could it be that Celestia fears someone taking her place upon the Second Throne?"
Ryen shrugged.
"That, I can't guarantee. In a sense, perhaps it's possible."
"After all, the First Throne—Phanes—was defeated and expelled by Celestia."
"Speaking of which, I've always been curious. According to primordial myth, Phanes defeated the Seven Sovereign Dragon Kings."
"He created the Four Shades—Time, Physis, and the rest. In the myths, all of them were born of his shadow."
"What kind of power would Celestia need to defeat such beings?"
"Or rather, how could Celestia—who was later wounded into slumber by Khaenri'ah's upheaval—possibly have defeated rulers who already sound terrifying beyond measure?"
"It doesn't quite add up…"
The more Lisa thought about it, the more her head ached. What once seemed like a relatively clear Teyvat…
Now felt like nothing but a pool of muddy water.
"Fearing someone might seize the throne—that makes sense, since she seized it herself."
"But if that's the only reason… it feels childish. I think the likelihood is low."
Ryen shook his head softly.
"I'm more inclined to believe that there are terrifying things out there."
"In the primordial myths, it was said that Phanes—the Primordial One—created a shell around Teyvat, cutting it off from the vast universe, isolating this world as a miniature reflection."
"It seems likely that Phanes, too, sought to separate Teyvat from the outside. In that sense, his actions and Celestia's aren't so different."
"That possibility feels much stronger to me."
Lisa gave a bitter smile, gazing at the sunrise rising beyond the window, whispering:
"It only grows more tangled. Teyvat feels more dangerous than ever."
"If this is truly the case… then Abyss and Celestia can hardly be distinguished as good or evil."
Ryen stretched lazily, then said softly:
"In truth, there is no absolute good or evil. Each has its own standpoint—no need to dwell on it."
"The Pale Princess hasn't even finished collecting her tale yet, so thinking on it now is pointless."
"Whatever Celestia fears, whatever she does—it has little to do with us."
"You don't need to worry. Even if Celestia and the Abyss stir up more trouble… at worst, I'll go deal with it myself."
Ryen lowered his gaze to Lisa, his eyes soft.
"Before I die, you are absolutely safe…"
Lisa sighed.
"Such a kind of love talk… is exactly the kind I don't like."
~~----------------------
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