"What a terrifying power… I just don't know how many more of these the genius can make."
Even with the amber stone merely resting in his palm, Childe could feel the dreadful force contained within it.
The energy was unbelievably stable, wrapped only in a shell of elemental energy— yet it showed no signs of leaking or bursting out.
"With this, maybe even I could defeat her!"
He was thinking of Arlecchino.
Among the Fatui Harbingers, she ranked near the top in raw strength.
Childe had no desire to face her— the woman was a lunatic, one who seemed liable to tear him apart at any moment.
On the surface, she looked like a doting "parent," but the blood on her hands far surpassed that of many Harbingers.
"In fact, she and the Captain might be the only ones who wouldn't refuse a duel with me."
The others? That was another matter.
Scaramouche had no patience for sparring.
Some were little more than wealthy patrons or politicians.
Others were researchers.
As for "the Girl"…
Her origins were shrouded in mystery, and her behavior incomprehensible.
She wasn't a warrior—
but her power was undeniable.
Best to avoid her altogether.
"My dear siblings… I do wish I could return and see you soon."
At the moment, the Geo Archon's Gnosis remained out of reach.
His mission in Liyue was far from over.
Yet Morax had vanished without a trace.
Childe had thought the Rite of Descension would be his one chance to act.
But if even then the Archon failed to appear— that was going too far.
With no other choice, he placed his hopes on the outlander Traveler.
She was not a Harbinger; the Qixing would not view her with the same suspicion.
If the adepti could be drawn into the search, then perhaps Morax's whereabouts could be uncovered.
But until then, he had to keep his connection with the Traveler intact.
In the Tenshukaku of Inazuma, Kamisato Ayaka tidied her room as usual.
Afterward, she opened the window and gazed blankly at the night sky.
It had been ten days since Lord Su Ran had left.
She… missed him.
Never in her life had Ayaka thought she would harbor such feelings.
To serve a god was already more blessing than she had ever dreamed of.
How could she treat it as something ordinary?
"Lord Su Ran… when will you return?"
Over time, she had grown used to life within the dreamscape, and the resistance in her heart had begun to fade.
For the most part, daily life was unchanged.
Inazuma's people, stripped of life and death, suffered no pain or loss— indeed, no harm at all.
Here, true equality was realized for almost everyone.
Ayaka raised her eyes to the stars.
The skies of the dream were more beautiful, more fantastical than reality's— a sight she could never behold outside.
But while she was lost in reverie, a lithe shadow was moving swiftly across the rooftops of Tenshukaku.
Using the cover of darkness, she easily evaded the patrols.
Most of the guards were ordinary humans.
Even if some were fit and well-trained, they could never compare to someone who bore a Vision, and who knew how to conceal themselves with elemental skill.
The woman weaving her way across the palace rooftops soon noticed Ayaka, standing by the window and gazing at the stars.
After watching for a moment, she marked her as a target.
Ayaka's vision suddenly darkened.
A sharp pain struck the back of her neck.
Before she could react, threads of silk wrapped tightly around her body.
Her instincts told her immediately: she was being kidnapped.
"Who are you?!"
She cried out.
The kidnapper: …
Seriously? I hit her that hard and she's still conscious?
Another sharp chop to the back of Ayaka's neck.
"Tch—! That hurts…"
The kidnapper: …
Still not out cold?
Somewhat impressed by Ayaka's resilience, she gave up on knocking her out.
Instead, she removed the hood meant to cover her head, rolled it into a ball, and shoved it into Ayaka's mouth.
With her sight restored, Ayaka finally saw her abductor clearly: a short-haired beauty.
"Sorry, little one. This wasn't my first choice.
But you're the only one I could get my hands on."
With that, she hoisted Ayaka over her shoulder and leapt out the window.
The sounds of hurried footsteps echoed all around, making her frown.
She vaulted straight from the Tenshukaku's upper floor.
"…Whew. That took more effort than I thought."
Back at her hideout, Yelan stripped off her gloves and tossed them onto the bed.
She had been in Inazuma for days now, long enough to gather a few scraps of information.
Not all of the missing Liyueans had been found, but several had been.
From their accounts, she had learned one crucial fact:
Inazuma had become a cage.
People could enter— but no one could leave.
So that was why none of the missing ever returned.
Not because they chose to stay… but because escape was impossible.
The cause remained unknown.
And with her cover at risk, she couldn't simply approach Yae Miko to demand answers.
All she could do was move in the shadows.
It was, after all, her specialty.
Now, in the corner of the room, a girl with wide, shining eyes watched her curiously.
Yelan stepped closer and patted Ayaka's head.
"I can take the gag out.
But you have to promise not to scream.
Can you do that?"
Ayaka nodded obediently.
The cloth was removed.
Still calm, still quiet.
Yelan gave an approving nod.
Knows how to read the situation…
Not a "hero," perhaps— but at least a beauty.
"Name?"
Ayaka hesitated briefly, then told the truth.
"…Kamisato Ayaka."
"The eldest daughter of the Kamisato Clan?"
Yelan's brows rose.
So the one she had snatched was none other than Inazuma's White Heron Princess.
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