"So… you began traveling to find your brother, who was taken by some unknown god, is that right?"
Jean's voice was calm but tinged with sympathy.
"I understand. No matter what, since you were placed in danger here in Mondstadt, Mondstadt will spare no effort to help you find him.
However… regarding Lord Barbatos, we haven't heard any news of him for a long time. On that point, I'm afraid we can't help."
Jean gave Lumine an apologetic look, but Lumine just waved her hand.
"It's fine. As long as you can help me post a missing person notice, I'll find the Anemo Archon myself."
Off to the side, Lisa propped her chin on one hand, smiling playfully.
"If you want to find the Anemo Archon, why not ask Lady Alice?
She's one of Teyvat's most famous adventurers, and she knows all the Archons of the Seven Nations."
At those words, Lumine's eyes immediately lit up and she turned to Alice with expectation.
Alice put on a mock-modest smile.
"Oh, Lisa's exaggerating! It's just that I happen to be friends with everyone."
Lumine's joy deepened.
"Alice, do you know how to contact the Anemo Archon?"
"That Barbatos fellow? …He has been quiet for a while."
Alice thought for a moment, then said:
"But now that Dvalin's in such a state, he's surely awake. If you want to find him, just pour a bottle of fine wine on the ground.
That guy will be so heartbroken over the waste that he'll fly over at once to scold you."
Jean's expression turned a little awkward, and she coughed lightly.
"Lady Alice, please refrain from speaking ill of Lord Barbatos."
"How is that speaking ill of him?" Alice replied seriously.
"Once, I poured a fine bottle out on the ground in Windrise, and that guy came swooping from who-knows-where to catch it in his mouth.
Then he chased me for an entire afternoon, saying I was wasting perfectly good wine and refusing to give him any."
Jean pretended she hadn't heard that embarrassing bit of history, but Lisa was laughing so hard she nearly fell out of her chair. Among the veteran witches, Alice was always her favorite.
"In any case, there's no need to rush. Barbatos is more anxious than anyone to solve the Dvalin situation.
Even if you don't look for him, he'll find you. Just watch for a mysterious fellow in green, good with a lyre, and fond of wine—that'll be Barbatos without a doubt."
Jean nodded thoughtfully.
Indeed, a green-clad, wine-loving bard had recently appeared in Mondstadt, with a voice and lyre-playing that could melt the hardest heart.
It all fit rather neatly.
Lumine stored the information away, making a mental note to keep an eye out.
"You really don't have to worry. I gave Dvalin a little blast—not too hard, mind you—but it'll keep him recuperating for a good while.
If you're still uneasy, I could head to Stormterror's Lair and give the big guy another tap.
We could have this wrapped up today, what do you think?"
Alice's tone was that of someone watching drama unfold without the slightest intention of stopping it, leaving Jean slightly exasperated.
After a moment's thought, Jean chose to skip past the topic entirely.
"So, Lady Alice, have you come back to take Klee out to play?"
"Pfft… boring," Alice said, curling her lip. Then she added:
"This time, I am taking Klee away, but not to another world, and not for fun.
It's time she learned something worthwhile. I'm taking her to Liyue—for tutoring."
The word tutoring made Lumine shiver for reasons she couldn't quite explain.
"To Liyue… for tutoring? Why? Have you made arrangements with the Geo Archon?" Jean asked, puzzled but already feeling a pang of reluctance.
Yes, Klee caused the occasional explosion, but she was such a good child—hardly ever hurting anyone, apart from the occasional unlucky Bennett.
To Jean, Klee was practically like a daughter.
Given her career trajectory, Jean would likely never marry or have children, and Klee had become a cherished part of her heart.
The thought of Alice taking her away brought a bittersweet ache—and guilt.
If she hadn't been so absorbed in Knights of Favonius affairs, she might have been closer to her sister, and she would have paid more attention to Klee's education.
"What's wrong? Can't bear to part with my little Klee?" Alice teased, smiling gently.
"I have, indeed, made arrangements with Morax—but not for him to teach her.
That guy's only good with a spear, and I don't want Klee growing up to be a muscle-brained brute like him."
Far away in Mount Shu's cave-heaven, Zhongli frowned slightly. His cultivator's senses told him someone was speaking ill of him.
Still, given how many gods he'd suppressed over the ages—Ruotuo Dragon King alone still shouted "Morax, I'll strike you down!" every day—he decided to block it out and return to his cultivation.
Back in the office, Jean could only give a polite but awkward smile at Alice's jab, then asked:
"Then are you planning to take Klee to another immortal?"
Lumine's ears perked up. She loved hearing this sort of gossip about the gods.
Alice sighed.
"I won't hide it from you—Teyvat's borders have been… unstable lately. The great demon gods have been pushing to force their way in. The Hexenzirkel hasn't had a break in ages.
The weaker the borders, the greater the danger to Teyvat.
If things continue, I may not even have time to look after myself. I have to make sure Klee gains the strength to protect herself before disaster strikes."
Lisa sat up straighter, her tone suddenly serious.
"The borders are unstable again? Why haven't I heard about this?"
"Because we didn't plan on telling you, Lisa," Alice said with a helpless smile.
"You're gifted, yes—but you're still too young. The border sees battles between gods on a scale you can't yet match.
Stay in Mondstadt. Mondstadt needs you more than the border does."
Lisa fell silent. In Mondstadt, she was among the strongest—strong enough to subdue even Dvalin, if Jean allowed it.
But compared to the border, where even the weakest beings were top-tier demon god retainers and demon gods roamed freely, she'd be little more than a bystander.
She didn't like it, but she couldn't argue.
"I understand."
Jean exhaled slowly, still reluctant but knowing this was for Klee's safety.
"Please take her, Lady Alice. Klee needs to learn."
Her eyes dimmed slightly as she spoke.
Alice's tone softened.
"Don't be so down, Jean. Once you've settled Mondstadt's affairs, you might be heading there to learn by yourself.
I'd hate to see you hurt when Teyvat is in turmoil—Klee would be heartbroken.
We'll see you in Liyue."
Jean blinked.
"We?"
"Of course! I'm going to learn too," Alice said matter-of-factly.
Lisa froze.
"Lady Alice, didn't you say the border was in upheaval and needed guarding?"
"I only said it was in upheaval—I never said I was guarding it." Alice looked perfectly innocent.
"I didn't mention? Hexenzirkel is on vacation. There's no one at the border now—everyone's back in Teyvat to relax."
Lisa's vision darkened. "The border…"
"Oh, don't worry. That upheaval was days ago," Alice waved casually.
"Yesterday, an otherworldly visitor in Liyue went to the Dark Sea to handle some business—came back with over thirty demon gods captured.
Now they're all hiding, terrified they'll be knocked out and carted off the moment they show their faces.
Morax says that fellow is establishing a sect in Teyvat and wanted more… little animals for the sect grounds, so he just grabbed some.
You should see the demon gods in the Dark Sea now—like turtles in their shells, hiding in the cracks of the earth or at the farthest reaches.
At this rate, the border will be peaceful for a year or two.
So! I'm on vacation. And the moment vacation started, I came back to take Klee to study—see what a responsible mother I am?"
The room fell into a stunned silence.
Because… what?
Just because a sect lacked a few "little animals," someone went out and… casually grabbed a batch of demon gods?
Casually?
Were demon gods… the kind of thing one could just grab casually?
Jean suddenly found herself worrying for Barbatos's safety.
"This is… a bit too—" Lisa began, but Alice cut in with a shrug.
"You think I'm making this up? I was in the Dark Sea fighting a top demon god when that gentleman flew over.
He took one look and said, 'That one's kind of cute,' then smacked it half-dead with a single slap and carried it off.
On my way here just now, I spoke to Morax again—he says that man's already brought back two demon gods far stronger than himself.
All just to give his sect a bit more life."
Jean rubbed her temples, still struggling to believe it. But Alice wouldn't lie about Klee's future, so… every word was probably true.
Liyue… really had someone like that now?
If demon gods were already beyond imagination, then what kind of being could capture them so casually?
Almost without thinking, Jean asked:
"Then you're taking Klee to…"
"To cultivate immortality!"
"???"
Jean stared blankly at Alice. Lisa nearly slammed her face into the desk.
Had they heard that right?
One of Teyvat's most powerful witches… taking her daughter… to become an immortal cultivator?
What connection could there possibly be?
Had magic and cultivation merged while they weren't looking?
Alice, reading their expressions, put her hands on her hips.
"What? You have a problem with me taking Klee to cultivate immortality?"
"…No… no problem at all."
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