The Chasm, Liyue.
At the edge of the luminous caverns where Lumenstone glowed faintly, three Abyss Heralds of different elements stood motionless near a vast crater.
Behind them lay another Herald, bound tightly in chains of deep violet.
Beside it, a portal shimmered with the colors of the night sky.
A masked figure stepped out from the portal—Aether, disguised as an Abyssal envoy.
Removing the mask, his face was cold and expressionless.
He turned to glance at the fallen Herald.
The Pyro Herald at his side immediately understood.
Without a word, he grabbed the Hydro Herald by the arm and dragged him back through the portal network.
"I don't want this happening again."
"Anything related to me—big or small—you report it immediately."
"Fail once more, and end yourselves."
His tone was calm but sharp enough to freeze the air.
Someone had dared to threaten his sister to control him—
and this cowardly Herald, fearing death, had failed to deliver word to him in time.
Unforgivable.
"Your Highness… about your blood relative…"
The Electro Herald beside him spoke nervously.
Aether's eyes softened slightly. "She's fine."
"Gather information on that person—the one who interfered. I want everything on them."
"Yes, Your Highness," the Herald replied, bowing deeply.
"Do you wish to mobilize—"
"No."
Aether shook his head. "The Heralds stationed in The Chasm were completely purified."
"Whoever that was… he might be another Descender. Your methods are useless against him."
"Just collect intel. I'll handle the rest."
The Heralds exchanged uneasy glances.
They knew they stood no chance against someone who could purify the Abyss.
Such a being was their natural nemesis.
"Your Highness," the Cryo Herald spoke up.
"Should the experiment continue? If that Descender notices us…"
His eyes drifted upward, uncertain.
Liyue now had a new Descender walking its soil.
Could they really afford to meddle in The Chasm?
"Continue," Aether said evenly.
"Even if there's only a ten-thousandth chance of success."
"But none of you Herald-class will move. Let the lower ranks handle it."
"When the results are ready, report to me."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Relieved, the Heralds bowed.
Better to send the lesser ones to die than confront a Descender themselves.
Fighting one would be suicide.
Aether's gaze drifted toward the bottomless pit below The Chasm.
He turned away, walking toward the closing rift.
Now was not the time to meet that "Sabertooth Tiger."
The man's words had been half-threat, half-warning—
but he hadn't attacked.
That meant, for now, they were not enemies.
At least, not yet.
A new Descender in Teyvat, he thought silently.
Let's hope you won't stand against the Abyss. If you do… then you'll be my enemy.
As the Abyss Prince vanished, and the portal's glow faded,
the remaining two Heralds looked at each other.
"What now? Do we send protection for His Highness's blood relative?"
"No. She knows nothing of the truth. If we reveal ourselves, it'll only complicate things."
"Then what do we do?"
"Tell Yuan Shang to return to Liyue. Have it investigate this… new Descender."
"You think it'll dare?"
A brief pause—then laughter echoed through the cavern.
"Of course it will."
Their laughter faded into the darkness as the starlit portal reopened and swallowed their forms.
At the same time, in Liyue Harbor.
Taro had just returned home and was preparing to take Goya to the Jade Chamber.
He stopped mid-step, eyes flickering toward the horizon.
The Abyss Herald he'd marked—gone cold.
The portal network beneath The Chasm had been activated six times.
Five signatures total—four Heralds, and one more… Aether.
The moment the portal opened, Taro understood the situation.
He'd simply returned a little late, missing Aether's visit to his sister by a safe margin.
No matter.
He already had the coordinates to Aether's base.
Maybe later, he'd take Eiru there for a little trip—
hopefully without scaring the boy speechless.
"Tsk, tsk."
"So, even the Abyss isn't united."
"That so-called prince looks more like a glorified errand boy."
"Let's hope they don't use him up—or worse, sacrifice him."
Most of the Heralds under Aether's command were once Khaenri'ahns turned by the Abyss.
But not everyone in the Abyss Order came from Khaenri'ah.
Even before the nation's fall,
there had been Hilichurls and Heralds born from older, darker civilizations.
The curse of undying wasn't Khaenri'ah's alone.
"Sir?"
Goya tilted her head. "Did something happen?"
"…Nothing."
Taro shook his head. "Just remembered something amusing."
He gestured casually.
"Yingda, come here. I've got a job for you."
Yingda's eyes lit up. She dashed over eagerly.
"Sir, what do you need me to do? A fight?"
"No."
Taro shook his head and pointed toward Lumine and Paimon,
who had just arrived at the doors of Wanmin Restaurant.
"See those two?"
"Huh?"
Yingda tilted her head, studying them.
"Ordinary girl, nothing special. But that floating one… odd."
"Kind of reminds me of Beryl."
"Are you planning to recruit them, sir?"
Taro sighed. "Not everything's about recruiting, Yingda."
Goya shot Yingda a glare and tapped her forehead with her fan.
"You're supposed to be his secretary. Gathering intel is your job."
"You know nothing about those two—what have you been doing all this time?"
"If the boss asks you for a report and you answer 'I don't know,' what good are you?"
"…"
Yingda mumbled under her breath, sulking.
"I mean, I'm good for keeping his bed warm, aren't I?"
Her eyes darted away guiltily.
Lately she'd been too busy sparring with Huoliya
and trying to "win over" her teacher to pay attention to anything else.
How could she know about every stranger in town?
Huoliya hid a smile behind her hand and took the chance to stab deeper.
"Yingda, as his secretary, you really are unqualified."
"The girl's a Descender—her name's Lumine. She helped Mondstadt resolve the Dragon Calamity."
"The floating one's Paimon, her companion. They're searching for the Traveler's missing brother—another Descender."
"Their origins are unknown, likely tied to Celestia itself."
"Surely you've heard the boss mention them before?"
"…"
Yingda froze, wide-eyed.
Even Huoliya knew their background—and she didn't?
Her position as secretary was doomed.
"S-Sir, I—"
(End of Chapter)
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