With the contract for the heater all but signed, a new, comfortable sense of peace settled over the house. The project was in Ningguang's capable hands now, its future secure. That evening, as the three of them sat in the living room, surrounded by the gentle warmth their own creation provided, Ren knew it was time to address the future.
"Master," he began, looking at Xianyun, "I've been thinking. Now that the heater project is moving forward, I... I'd like to stay in Liyue Harbor for a while longer."
Ganyu, who had been sipping her tea, immediately brightened, her amethyst eyes shining with a hopeful light.
Xianyun looked at him, her expression unsuprised, as if she had been waiting for this. "This one assumed as much. Your affinity for the city is apparent."
"It's not just that," Ren continued, taking a deep breath. He looked at Ganyu, his expression turning serious. "There's something else. Something big sister Ganyu should know."
And so, he told her. He explained what had happened in the workshop, how he had discovered the strange, cool presence within him. He described the effortless way he could shape the Cryo energy, forming a perfect lotus, a flawless crystalfly, even a small, glowing statue of Ganyu herself.
As he spoke, Ganyu listened with a widening, disbelieving gaze. The guilt that had haunted her since the incident—the fear that she had hurt him—slowly transformed into sheer, unadulterated astonishment. Her own power, which had knocked him unconscious, hadn't harmed him; it had... imprinted on him? Gifted him?
When Ren finished, Ganyu was speechless. She looked from Ren to Xianyun and back again, her mind struggling to process the impossible reality. "You... you can use Cryo? Without a Vision?"
Ren nodded, and to demonstrate, he held out his hand. He envisioned the simple, beautiful ice lotus, and a stream of soft, turquoise light flowed from his palm, gracefully weaving itself into the familiar, glowing form. It hovered between them, a silent, breathtaking confirmation of his story.
Ganyu stared at the lotus, an exact replica of her own creation, and a profound, complex wave of emotions washed over her. There was awe at the sheer impossibility of it, but there was something else, too. A deep, resonant connection. His power was an echo of her own. It was a tangible, magical link between them.
"This is... incredible," she whispered, her fingers gently tracing the air near one of the icy petals.
"It is also a significant responsibility," Xianyun interjected, her tone practical and serious. "He has the raw ability, but no formal training. He can create, but he does not yet understand the deeper nature of the power he wields."
It was then that Ganyu's astonishment solidified into a fierce, unwavering resolve. She looked at Ren, not just as her beloved little brother, but as her student, her charge. Her duty was no longer just to protect him from the world, but to help him understand the world that now existed within him.
"Then I will teach him," she declared, her voice ringing with a certainty that left no room for doubt. "Cryo is my element. It is a part of me. I may not understand how he came to possess it, but I understand the power itself. I will teach him control. I will teach him discipline. I will help him master it safely."
Her gaze was full of a protective, nurturing fire. This was a purpose she could embrace with her entire being. She would be his mentor.
Xianyun gave a single, satisfied nod. "This one anticipated such a conclusion. Your dedication to his well-being is commendable, and you are indeed the most logical choice for his instructor in this matter."
She then produced a small, exquisitely crafted object. It was a flat, circular talisman made of dark, polished wood, with an intricate, glowing blue adeptal sigil carved into its surface. It hummed with a quiet, contained power.
"This one cannot remain in the Harbor indefinitely," Xianyun stated, holding the sigil out to Ganyu. "My own research requires the facilities of my workshop. And now, I must also begin research into the nature of Ren's unique affinity. But we must remain in constant contact."
Ganyu took the talisman, its surface cool and smooth to the touch.
"Relying on Millelith messengers is inefficient and not secure," Xianyun explained. "This is a communication sigil. Should you need me, for any reason—an emergency, a question regarding Ren's training, or simply a progress report—you need only channel a small amount of your adeptal energy into it. It will alert me instantaneously, and I will be able to speak with you directly through it, no matter the distance between the mountain and the harbor."
It was a gift of profound trust and utility, a direct line between master and disciple, between the two primary guardians of the most precious child in Liyue. Ganyu clutched the sigil, a wave of gratitude washing over her.
"Thank you, Master," she said, her voice full of emotion.
The plan was set. Xianyun would return to her mountain, to her work and her research. Ren would remain in the Harbor, safe in his home, under the watchful eye of the entire city and the direct tutelage of his big sister. The family would be separated by distance, but they were now more connected than ever, bound by a shared purpose, a new mystery to unravel, and a small, magical sigil that could bridge the miles with a single whisper of power.