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After arriving at the Northern Gatehouse a little past noon, and receiving the cordial, if not slightly stunned, greetings from Officer Yinjun and the other prominent Millileth personels under his command, Artoria and the rest of her retinue were invited for a midday meal within the fort's mess hall. The garrison had prepared a simple but robust Liyuen meal: thick, savory beef stew with potatoes and carrots, and fragrant, slightly oily fried rice studded with egg and vegetables.
It was a feast comparable to the rations the knights were used to on their march, rations that were meticulously prepared by dozens of Artoria's household staffs who were currently housed inside the Tower of Beginnings in her inner realm of Avalon.
Artoria's little family, in particular, made a quit scene inside the military mess hall as they ate with a gusto that thoroughly amazed the Liyuen soldiers who served them. They watched in astonishment as the small, seemingly delicate family—an otherworldly gorgeous and sophisticated lady, and her four adorable children—put away enough food to comfortably feed a platoon of soldiers!
Jean, ever the polite one, ate with measured elegance, even as she finished her fourth serving of stew.
Barbara and Venti, both attacked their bowls with cheerful abandon, their faces soon smeared with small particles of rice and stains coming from the savory stew.
Little Benny, the ever-growing boy, matched them mouthful for mouthful. His chubby cheeks working furiously as he continued to stuff himself silly with pieces of carrots and potatoes!
Artoria herself, with her divine metabolism, ate her fair share, a quiet smile on her face as she watched her four adorable children enjoy their hearty meal.
After the meal, the Knights from Mondstadt were granted two hours of rest within the fortified perimeter of the garrison. They found spots in the barracks and the courtyards, cleaning their gear and quietly discussing amongst themselves the incredible display of power they had witnessed from their grandmaster earlier that morning.
While her knights rested, Artoria decided to take the opportunity for a small tour.
She took her children, along with Crepus, Varka, Melisa and lastly Little Lisa, for a walk through the small but bustling merchant village that had sprung up in the shadow of the fort. Captain Yuan stayed with the Knights and was currently having a conversation with officer Yinjun.
The small but bustling settlement found in the foot of the Northern Gatehouse was a natural pit stop for travelers and merchants who enter and exit Liyue from the Stone Gate, a place to trade news, buy supplies, and to find a brief period of respite from the dangers of the road.
The village was a riot of color and sound. Merchants hawked their wares from stalls—shimmering silks from the finest manufacturers in Liyue, jars of fragrant spices, fresh produce from nearby farms, and caged glaze lilies whose petals glowed faintly even in the daylight.
The air was thick with the smells of cooking oil, incense, and the press of humanity. It was a world away from the open, windswept avenues of Mondstadt.
Crepus, ever the diligent merchant at heart, pointed out the different goods, explaining their origins and estimated market values to Varka, who was forced to listen with rapt attention, even though that the young man clearly didn't like anything that is remotely related to math or numbers!
Crepus in the other hand, disagree with the lamentations of the Grandmaster's squire. Crepus believed that being the one squire personally trained by the Grandmaster herself, Varka must learn how to be a leader, and for Crepus, knowledge on how the economy works is a vital skill for a true leader!
Melisa and her adorable little genius of a daughter, Lisa, however, were immediately drawn to the small stall of a calligrapher. The old man, with a long, wispy beard and ink-stained fingers, was creating beautiful, flowing characters on scrolls of rice paper. Lisa was utterly mesmerized, watching the way the brush danced across the page. She tugged on her mother's sleeve, her eyes wide.
Artoria simply watched, a warm, amused smile on her face as she saw her self-proclaimed niece's fascination with the written arts of Liyue.
Meanwhile, her children were drawn to a small teashop with a cheerful red and gold sign that read, "Pop's Tea."
They were all currently seated inside the humble establishment. The establishment's owner, an elderly man named Pops Zhou was a very accommodating man. He was from Qingce Village and came in this little settlement next to the Northern Gatehouse just about a year ago to sell tea to travelers.
Normally, its the young who often gets out of Qingce Village to explore the world or get a job somewhere in Liyue, while the old and retired folks stay behind to live out the rest of their lives in peace. It was the opposite for Pops who wanted to get out and meet travelers and to hear their stories.
"The best tea this side of the Dihua Marsh!" the old man declared with a toothy grin as he served them their orders.
"Leaves from Qiaoying Village, picked at dawn, and brewed with the purest mountain water!"
The cups were small, delicate structures of porcelain, and the liquid within was a pale, shimmering green. Steam that was fragrant and slightly grassy, curled up from the surface.
Artoria took a sip, her expression thoughtful.
It was unlike the honey-infused black tea or the chamomile brews she favored back in Mondstadt. This was cleaner, more delicate, with a subtle, lingering sweetness after the initial bitter note.
It was pleasant, but... expensive. The price list, carved into a wooden plank on the wall, listed a single serving at 1,000 Mora. She might have a near infinite supply of Mora thanks to her enslaved Holy Grail, but she knew a rip-off when she saw one. Still, the experience was part of the journey!
Her children, however, were not impressed.
Jean took a polite, tiny sip and set her cup down, her face a mask of diplomatic neutrality.
Barbara tasted it and immediately made a face, puckering her lips. "It tastes like grass!" she whispered loudly.
Benny, following her sister's lead, scrunched up his nose and pushed the cup away.
Venti, however, was the most enthusiastic of the bunch. He had seen the beautiful amber color of the beverage and, in his innocent child mind, associated it with his favorite drink, apple juice, particularly the ones made from his mother's orchards. He grabbed the small cup, threw his head back, and gulped the entire contents in one go!
The result was immediate and disastrous.
His face contorted in a perfect mixture of betrayal and disgust. His cute little eyes began water. The poor little boy, completely unused to the bitter taste of real tea, promptly spat out the entire mouthful of lukewarm green tea directly into the surprised face of old Pops Zhou!
A deathly silence fell over the small shop. Pops stood there, his face dripping with green tea, as droplets began dripping away from the end of his long white beard.
Artoria was mortified!
"Oh, for the love of the Seven!" she gasped, her composure momentarily shattered.
She shot up from her seat, snatching a clean napkin from the table. "Venti! Oh, I am so, so sorry, Master Zhou!"
Venti, realizing his monumental mistake, burst into tears. "I'm sorry Mama!" he wailed. "I thought it was apple juice!"
Artoria was frantically dabbing at the old man's face with the napkin, while at the same time trying to console her sobbing, juice-addicted son. She reached into a small pouch at her belt, ready to offer a massive sum in compensation.
"Please, sir, allow me to pay for the cleaning, for your robes, for the distress! Thirty thousand Mora! No, fifty!"
Pops Zhou, however, just stood there for a moment, then threw his head back and let out a hearty, booming laugh. The sound was so unexpected and genuine that it momentarily stunned Artoria.
Wiping a bit of tea from his eyes with the back of his hand, he waved away her offer.
"Hohoho! Fifty thousand Mora for a little spit? Honorable Grandmaster, you will bankrupt yourself with such generosity!" He chuckled, looking at the tear-streaked, remorseful face of Venti.
He then reached out and took off Venti's little green cap and ruffled his soft little hair, earning a soft giggle from the adorable little boy.
"Don't you worry, little master. This old man has had experienced worse things than a bit of tea thrown at him! In fact," he leaned in conspiratorially, his eyes twinkling, "it's the most exciting thing that's happened all week! To be visited by the legendary Lioness of Mondstadt and her wonderful, spirited family! I should be the one paying you for the honor of visiting my small humble shop!"
Artoria relaxed, a genuine smile replacing her panicked expression. She saw then what she had sensed earlier—a good heart in a man who simply craved a bit of adventure in his twilight years. "You are too kind, Master Zhou."
"Not at all, not at all," Pops said, refilling their cups, this time with water for the children.
"You see, most of the Liyue big-shots who pass through here... the Qixing's agents, the local gentry, the merchants with their coin purses and their stuffy airs... they never even look at an old man like me. They see a teashop, not the person running it. But you... you came in here like a real family. You laughed, your little ones made a mess," he winked at Venti, "it feels...all natural and real."
Artoria's gaze softened. The old man's words resonated with her own journey from kingship to motherhood. She understood the desire for authenticity over pomp.
The little family spent a good half an hour inside the shop with Artoria regaling the old man with some stories about her homeland (some of them were even real). Venti even sang a short tune about an apple tree as a form of apology for what he did, earning a loud applause from the teashop owner.
Melisa and her daughter even went inside the shop to check on Artoria, all the while showing them an intricately made silk ribbon from a nearby stall which captured the children's attention.
When it was finally time for them to leave, Artoria gave the old teashop owner a warm smile. While Pops Zhou was busy showing Jean and Lisa how to brew a proper cup of tea. Artoria then discreetly conjured two small bags. One was filled with exactly 30,000 mora, while the other was something else.
She had prepared it earlier that morning inside Avalon—a small, perfectly ripe golden delicious apple from her personal orchard. She had infused it with a tiny sliver of her power, not enough to be a Noble Phantasm, but enough to ensure it would stay forever fresh and crisp, and lastly imbued it with a restorative quality that could soothe aches and invigorate the spirit. She was initially planning to give it to one of the Qixing, but now she found an even more worthy recipient.
She placed the apple on the counter, along with a simple, folded letter. The letter read:
Master Zhou, For your kindness and for sharing a little of your life with a traveling family. May this fruit bring you as much warmth as your tea brought us. Your friend, A.
She wasn't sure if he would recognize the initial, but that didn't matter.
As she ushered her children out, Pops returned to the counter and saw the two bags containing a large sum of mora and an immaculate golden apple with a small letter attached to them.
He ignored the hefty bag of mora and instead picked up the gleaming golden-colored fruit, its weight perfect in his palm, its skin a perfect, unblemished gold.
He read the note and a broad, genuine smile spread across his wrinkled face. He carefully pocketed the letter and took a bite of the apple. The crunch was impossibly loud in the quiet shop. The flavor that exploded in his mouth was sweet and sharp, more vivid than any apple or fruit he had ever tasted. He felt a pleasant unexplained warmth spread throughout his old, aching joints.
He let out a contented sigh as he looked out towards the doorway at the departing figures of the Grandmaster and her family. He took another bite as a lone genuine tear of joy traced down a path through the drying tea stain on his old wrinkled cheek.
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By late afternoon, the diplomatic caravan was ready to depart.
The Millileth garrison, under Officer Yinjun's command, gave them a send-off that was both warm and impeccably professional. Hundreds of Millileth soldiers stood in formation and at rapt attention, their halberds held high, as a final gesture of respect. Yinjun himself gave a crisp salute.
"Safe travels, Grandmaster Gunnhildr," he said, his voice clear and carrying. "Liyue Harbor awaits your arrival. The Qixing have been notified of your... decisive actions at the Stone Gate. They are most eager to meet you."
Artoria gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. "May your watch be ever vigilant, Officer Yinjun."
With that, the procession began to move once more, leaving the fort and passing through its small village. A sea of people, both merchants and travelers alike, watched as the caravan of the beautiful grandmaster and her entourage started their journey once more deep towards the land of Liyue. Their next destination was the Wangshu Inn, a journey of about forty miles southwards.
The landscape transformed almost immediately. The imposing cliffs of the Stone Gate gave way to the open, rolling marshy plains of Bishui. The terrain was a tapestry of greens and golds, dotted with clusters of hardy trees and bisected by the sparkling, sinuous threads of rivers and streams. The very air changed; it grew warmer and thicker, filled with the scent of damp earth, wildflowers, and something else… something ancient, mineralic, and profoundly still. This was the scent of Geo, the very essence of this land.
The road was well-trodden but unpaved, a ribbon of packed dirt winding through the plains.
Artoria found the change of scenery invigorating. Mondstadt was a land of wind and open sky, a place of ethereal beauty and constant motion. Liyue in comparison, was its opposite—a place of deep roots, of enduring stone, of history written into the very landscape itself.
It was a nation that had borne the brunt of the Archon War with a ferocity that Mondstadt had been spared. She could feel it in the ley lines here, a deep, resonant hum of power that was both heavy and grounding.
As they rode, she found herself recalling her instructions to her men before they had departed Mondstadt.
"You are not just knights on a mission," she had told them, her gaze sweeping over her assembled honor guard. "You are ambassadors. Every word you speak, every action you take, will be a reflection of Mondstadt. I expect you to conduct yourselves with the highest honor and discipline."
She had emphasized the gravity of their situation.
"We will be watched. The Qixing have eyes everywhere. The Fatui have a growing presence here in Liyue, with their Northland Bank now operating in Liyue Harbor. Do not be fooled by their businesslike facade; they are vipers. Fontaine undoubtedly has its own observers prowling around. Even Inazuma may have agents seeking intelligence. We will show them the strength of Mondstadt, yes, but also its wisdom, its integrity, and its unwavering commitment to freedom."
The knowledge of the Fatui's presence was a constant, low-level thrum of concern at the back of her mind. She had established the Wind Wheel Bank precisely to counter their brand of economic warfare, but their insidious influence was a difficult thing to wholly contain. Here, on this foreign land, they would be even more brazen. She had to ensure her delegation gave them nothing to exploit!
The journey through the Dihua Marsh was long but beautiful. They passed farmers tending to their fields of rice and other crops, who would stop their work to stare at the impressive foreign procession. Artoria riding at the helm of the procession would met their gazes, offering a slight, regal nod that never failed to elicit looks of awe and murmurs of respect.
As the sun began to set, the caravan neared through the first statue of the seven in Liyue that was situated just across a sturdy wooden bridge that crosses over one of the mending routes of the great Bishui River. The statue, a grand, majestic sculpture of a tall hooded man in flowing Liyuen style robes, seated on a magnificent stone throne and holding a glowing golden cube was a sight to behold.
It was the statue of the Geo Archon, the Lord of Liyue and oldest of the Seven Archons, Rex Lapis.
The caravan temporarily stopped to admire the statue and to give their respects. They observe at a distance as their Grandmaster and her family drew closer towards the statue of Liyue's sovereign deity.
They knew this was no ordinary moment, this was their Anemo Archon meeting one of her divine colleagues for the first time in years, albeit through a statue. They were currently witnessing a secret dialogue between gods.
Artoria dismounted her horse Dunn Stallion, with her children following behind her. She walked towards the statue with a face filled not with awe but of profound respect.
Artoria's eyes glowed with divine resonance as she gazed upon the image of her fellow Archon, the God of Contracts. She had known him as Morax, the Prime of the Adepti, in the fragmented memories of her past life as a gamer. She had fought with him, or rather, a facet of him, in the challenges of her game. To see him honored here, in this land he had bled for, was a profound experience.
"Who is that, Mama?" Little Benny asked, his chubby finger pointing at the statue. "Is he some sort of grandmaster like you?"
"He is anemperor, Benny," Artoria replied gently, her eyes still on the statue. "A very old and powerful emperor. He is the ruler of this land as well as its Archon."
"Just like Lady Barbatos mama?" Little Barbara peeked from behind her looking at the statue with wonder.
Her little daughter is already showing signs of religious devotion after that one funny incident that occured inside their mansion months ago wherein she questioned Barbatos existence and even going as far as stating that she hated the deity for trying to steal her Mama's job!
This somewhat almost broke Artoria's heart after hearing how much her little song bird hated Barbatos which was secretly her archon name!
It took hours of convincing her little princess that Barbatos wasn't there to take her job but rather was there to help her occasionally run the country.
Barbara then believed her after Artoria told her that she and Barbatos are very very close friends. It was a half truth, a necessary little white lie to maintain her family's happy and peaceful existence, for now. She still believed that her children were still too young to know about the divine truth about their mother.
It also didn't help that Elspeth, the rest of the household staff and even the occasionally visiting Cardinal Theron began telling her innocent daughter about how Barbatos was actually a woman and that she's very close to her and all of her siblings. Barbara believed this and began to idolize the Anemo Archon, not knowing that the very same goddess that she began to idolized was currently her mother all along!
"That is right sweetheart," Artoria gave a little giggle. "He is just like Lady Barbatos. Both are very important." She then placed her left arm around her little daughter's shoulder, her left hand gently rubbing Barbara's arm.
"Can I sing a song for him, Mama?" Venti asked with a bright smile. The little godling and former Archon kept looking at the statue of the god. He didn't know why but he somehow had a feeling that he had seen this person somewhere before. He quickly dismissed the thought and then shrugged his shoulders, thinking that he probably just misidentified the god with some apple farmer working in their orchard that he and Bennett would occasionally prank on!
"I want to compose a poem about big stone men sitting on chairs and how broke they actually are!"
Artoria had to force herself not to laugh out loud after hearing her youngest son blatantly insulted one of the most powerful gods in Teyvat!
She quickly looked behind her to check if any of her own knights had heard Venti's little outburst. Thankfully none of them did, for they were all currently stationed a few meters away, giving their Archon some private moments with her children.
Artoria let out a sigh of relief. It was moments like this that made her think that raising a child that was once an all power deity and now with a soul of a hyperactive galactic explorer inside his tiny little body can be a handful!
"Perhaps later, my little breeze," Artoria replied, ruffling her son's hat. "For now, let's pay our respects. The Lord of Geo values solemnity."
Venti pouted but nodded, following his Mama's words. He had a lot of questions in his mind, foremost of them is whether or nor the Geo dude uses a sword or a spear in battle.
Is he a saber or a lancer? He can't even picture the Geo Lord fighting at all! For him the Geo lord probably just sits all day on a chair while waiting for people to worship him, he concluded!
Jean, who was quietly observing the statue the entire time, finally spoke. "He looks... tired, Mama." Her small voice carried a surprising weight of insight.
Artoria looked at her eldest, her heart swelling with pride on how much wiser she had grown. Jean had always been perceptive, seeing beyond the surface of things.
"He does, doesn't he? He has watched over this land for a very, very long time. That is a heavy burden to carry."
"But you carry Mondstadt, Mama, and you don't look tired at all," Jean countered, her brow furrowed in thought. "You look... strong."
Artoria knelt down, bringing herself to her daughter's eye level. She placed her hands on Jean's shoulders. Her expression softened as the rest of her children gathered around them forming a circle.
"I have a secret," she whispered conspiratorially, a twinkle in her jade eyes.
"My strength comes from all of you. Every laugh, every hug, every story we share... that is what keeps me from getting tired." She then pulled them into a group hug, her arms wrapping around her precious little ones, her treasures, earning her happy giggles from all four of them.
They stayed like that for a moment, a small, happy island of warmth and love in the shadow of the ancient, stone god. Artoria looked over their heads and gaze towards the statue of Rex Lapis. A wave of empathy washed over her. She, too, knew the loneliness of sovereignty, the crushing weight of a crown. But she had been given a second chance, a chance to trade her throne for a hearth. She wondered if the Geo Archon, in his long, silent vigil, ever longed for the same. For a family. For simple, mortal joys.
She gently released her children and stood up. "Alright, my little knights. We still have a long way to go before we can rest. Now, back inside the carriage all of you, I'm sure Dvalin and Fou already missed the four of you!"
"Yehey Fou! I'm gonna comb his long fluffy tail and make it even more prettier with ribbons!" Gleefully shouted Barbara as she ran towards their carriage with Venti and Benny following her from behind.
Artoria let out a simple warm chuckle. Her little Phantasmal Custodian, the little murder machine that she created and molded from a creature of untold power had somewhat found his way towards her daughter Barbara days ago while she was playing in the Tower's vast surrounding gardens.
Fou immediately took a liking towards her daughter and to the rest of her children, promptly following them wherever they go inside the Tower. Her children in turn, got a new fluffy companion who somewhat developed a sort of rivalry with Dvalin. The two are often seen squeaking amongst themselves, trying to outperform one another for the title of most beloved mascot!
Artoria's concern now is who's gonna take care of the Tower especially the chambers that contained the gnosis and the Holy Grail? Maybe she can try summoning a servant, probably one of her own knights of the round table? Or she could just make another Phantasmal creature? Probably a pudgy and chunky white flying unicorn this time?
As her three youngest children raced towards the carriages, Jean however decided to stay.
"Mama, can I ride with you instead?" She asked with a hopeful tone. "Please? I want to ride on top of Dunn Stallion with you!"
Artoria smiled at her daughter's request, her heart swelling with love for her responsible eldest. "Of course, my little lion. Come here."
She gently lifted Jean onto Dun Stallion's broad back, seating her securely in front of the saddle. Jean's small hands gripped the horse's mane, her face a mixture of awe and pride at being so high up, so close to her mother.
As they resumed their journey, Artoria kept one arm securely around her daughter, her other holding the reins. Jean leaned back against her, a small, contented sigh escaping her lips as the little girl felt loved and safe.
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They traveled for another two hours as the sun slowly began its descent, painting the vast Liyuen sky in hues of orange, pink, and deep purple. The shadows of the distant mountains stretched across the plains like long, slender fingers. The air grew cooler, carrying the scent of night-blooming flowers.
Artoria had decided to retreat inside her carriage and back to her inner realm after an hour of riding along with Jean in order to have supper.
A small group of her household staff then came out from one of the three other carriages carrying with them hot meals that they then proceeded to distribute to the honor guards and other members of the caravan.
After her dinner, Artoria then decided to step outside her realm once more, riding Dunn Stallion again, this time without Jean who was currently inside the Tower playing with her younger siblings and their two fluffy companions. She wanted to feel the evening Liyuen air on her face and see the stars that hang above this new land.
By the time the silhouette of the Wangshu Inn finally appeared on the horizon, it was already eight in the evening.
The sight was breathtaking.
In the game, it had been a beautiful structure, but in person, it was something else entirely. The entire ancient wooden structure was built around a giant imposing, ancient tree, its gnarled trunk thicker than a house and its canopy a sprawling silhouette against the moonlit sky. The entire building seemed to glow, its numerous red and gold lanterns casting a warm, inviting light that shimmered on the surface of the rivers and marshes below. It was not just an inn; it was a beacon, a sanctuary of light and warmth in the vast, quiet darkness of the plain.
A large, wooden elevator on the south side of the building moved up and down with a quiet, rhythmic creaking, ferrying people and goods to the upper floors. The sheer scale of it was greater than she had imagined, a bustling little community perched high in the branches of a colossal tree.
Numerous people could be seen milling around the entrance area at the ground level, their forms dark against the bright lights of the inn. Their attention quickly turned to her grand procession as it rumbled to a halt in the open space outside.
Artoria then sent Crepus, Captain Yuan, and Varka, along with a few of her honor guards, to the reception area to finalize their pre-arranged accommodations. She gave them specific instructions. "Tell Master Huai'an and his wife that there is no need for a large welcome feast. We have already dined."
Her family and close friends had eaten a quiet supper an hour ago inside the Tower of Beginnings, while her household staff had distributed hot travel meals to her knights during the journey. " Tell them we only seek rest and accomodations for the night and for the next three days."
As her loyal retainers marched towards the building, Artoria couldn't help herself but think of the inn's owners and the very nature of the institution itself. Crepus had made the arrangements months ago, speaking with a man named Huai'an and his wife, Verr Goldet. Travelers' reports had painted them as a cordial, friendly young couple, with Verr Goldet allegedly hailing from Mondstadt.
Artoria knew better. Her knowledge from her past life as a gamer was a distinct advantage here. Huai'an and Verr Goldet were no simple innkeepers. They were agents, likely working directly for the Liyue Qixing, or more specifically, for its most enigmatic member, the current Tianquan and the likely predecessor of Ningguang, LadyMei Zhu.
An inn on one of Liyue's busiest trade routes was the perfect intelligence-gathering hub, a place where secrets were traded as freely as mora. Furthermore, the Wangshu Inn had a more crucial, and more secret, purpose: it was the base of operations for the last remaining Yaksha, the Conqueror of Demons, General Alatus. Xiao. The inn's staff were likely trained to assist him in his tireless, solitary war against the malevolent forces that plagued Liyue.
The last of the Yaksha. Artoria's thoughts drifted back to the book she had read to her children the night before. The burden of karma. The endless slaughter, the madness that consumed his brethren. To live for millennia with such a weight... she could scarcely fathom the depth of that suffering.
A quiet, maternal instinct, one that extended beyond her own children, stirred within her. She felt a pang of empathy for this lone tormented guardian.
After about twenty minutes of waiting, Crepus and the others returned, their faces composed but their eyes holding a flicker of curiosity.
"All is settled, Grandmaster," Crepus reported. "The accommodations are prepared for the next three days, as requested. The innkeepers... they seem very eager to please you. They have assigned us their largest suite."
Artoria nodded. "Excellent."
She then instructed twenty of her men from her honor guard who were not on watch to assist her household staff with unloading the luggages from the carriages.
She and her now-sleepy children were personally escorted by the inn's head staff towards the elevator. As they approached the lift, Jean, Barbara, Bennett, and even a weary and tired Venti couldn't help but stare with wide-eyed wonder.
The elevator was a marvel of Liyuen engineering, a sturdy wooden cage suspended by thick, woven ropes and massive counterweights, moving with a steady, creaking rhythm. To the children who had spent most of their lives inside their grand mansion and orchards with occasional visits to the city and the nearby gentle hills, this rising platform felt like a magical ascent into the clouds!
The ride, short as it was, temporarily dispelled the drowsiness that began clinging to the Gunnhildr children. They peered over the railing, gasping in delight as the ground receded and the inn, illuminated by the numerous lantern lights, revealing its true, sprawling structure.
At the very top, they were greeted by the innkeeper and his wife. Huai'an was a tall, slender man with a kind face and a calm demeanor, dressed in simple but well-made Liyuen attire. Verr Goldet was a striking woman, her hair the same color as those of the autumn leaves, her amber eyes sharp and observant. She had an air of quiet competence around her. As the rumors had suggested, she was beautiful, but Artoria noted the subtle way she stood, the way her eyes constantly scanned the surroundings—no, this was not a simple innkeeper's wife, nor a woman from Mondstadt.
The couple, together with a small army of attentive staff, gave the noble Gunnhildr family a welcome that was befitting a visiting royal family. There were deep bows, respectful greetings, and an overwhelming sense of deference that made Artoria slightly uncomfortable, though she hid it well.
"Grandmaster Artoria Pendragon Gunnhildr, it is the highest honor to welcome you and your esteemed family to our humble inn," Huai'an said, his voice smooth and sincere. "Your quarters have been prepared. We hope they will be to your liking."
"The honor is ours," Artoria replied with a regal nod. "Your reputation precedes you, Master Huai'an. The care you have taken in maintaining this wonderful establishment is very much appreciated."
Verr Goldet stepped forward, her smile polite but her gaze analytical. "Please, allow us to escort you. If you require anything at all, at any hour, you need only ask. No request is too small especially coming from the most well known Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius."
After some more pleasantries, the couple personally led Artoria and her children away from the main reception area and down a polished wooden corridor towards their private quarters.
The room that awaited them was the largest in the inn, a palatial suite that occupied a significant portion of the inn's upper floor. The space was a masterpiece of Liyuen design. The floor was made of dark, gleaming wood, polished to a mirror sheen. Richly woven silk tapestries depicting scenes of Liyuen mountains and rivers adorned the walls. Ornate wooden screens with delicate lattice work partitioned the space, creating intimate areas within the larger room.
The main feature, however, was a stunning balcony that offered a breathtaking panoramic view of the moonlit Bishui Plain and the distant, mist-shrouded peaks of Jueyun Karst.
Three enormous king-sized beds, each piled high with silk pillows and covered in the finest, softest-looking quilts, were arranged side-by-side in the center of the room. It was a thoughtful touch, one that acknowledged the children's desire to stay close to their mother.
As per the security arrangements, two of her honor guards had taken their positions outside the main door, standing as silent, vigilant statues. Six more were patrolling the hallway, and the rooms adjacent to her suite had been reserved for her closest companions: Melisa and her daughter Lisa were just next door, with Crepus, Captain Yuan, Elspeth, and Varka in the surrounding rooms.
Once the innkeepers had taken their leave with a final bow, Artoria turned her full attention to her children, the mantle of Grandmaster and Archon melting away to reveal nothing but a loving mother.
"Alright, my little cubs," she said, her voice soft. "Time to wash up and change into your night clothes."
There was a chorus of sleepy groans.
"But Mama, I'm not tired," Barbara mumbled, even as she stifled a yawn.
"I want to see the stars from the balcony!" Bennett insisted, rubbing his eyes.
"Patience my little ones," Artoria chuckled, gently guiding a yawning Jean towards a small, ornate screen that hid a basin and a pitcher of clean water. She washed each of their faces in turn, the cool water helping to rouse them slightly before the final descent into sleep.
Once they were changed into their sleepwear—a set of matching sky-blue pajamas she had knitted for them herself—she tucked them into the large conjoined beds. They snuggled down, the sheer comfort of the silken quilts and the soft pillows making them sigh contentedly.
"Mama, can you tell us a story?" Jean asked, her eyes already half-closed.
"Of course," Artoria replied, pulling a small, well-worn chair between the three beds. She didn't need a book. She knew this one by heart.
She began to tell them a story, not of gods and wars, but of a small, lost star that fell from the sky and was guided home by the whispers of the wind and the steady light of the moon. Her voice was a soothing melody, a gentle current that carried them gently towards the shores of the dream world.
Barbara was the first to succumb, her breathing becoming soft and even. Bennett followed soon after, clutching a small, fluffy pillow. Venti, who had been listening with rapt attention, finally let out a soft snore, his head lolling to the side.
Artoria paused, her gaze resting on Jean, who was fighting sleep with all her might.
"The little star found its way home, Jean," Artoria whispered, reaching out to smooth a stray strand of blond hair from her daughter's forehead.
"It was safe. And it was loved. Just like you."
Finally, even Jean's determination wavered. Her eyes fluttered shut, and a peaceful smile settled on her lips.
Artoria watched them for a long moment, her heart so full it felt as if it might burst. These small, perfect beings were her kingdom, her purpose, her everything. The complexities of diplomacy, the machinations of gods, the threats of ancient evils—it all faded into insignificance in the quiet sanctuary of this room.
She leaned over and kissed each of their foreheads, a silent promise, a sacred benediction. "Sleep well, my beloved angels. Dream nothing of happiness and always remember that Mama loves each and every one of you with all my heart."
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With her children fast asleep and safe, Artoria rosed from her chair, she rose and walked out of her chambers, pausing only to give a quiet nod to her honor guards.
She then made her way towardsnthe inn's uppermost balcony just at the end of the hallway. The doors leading to it was left slightly ajar by one of the inn's staff. It was the same balcony overlooking the entire Bishui Plain from their room but more open and public, a perfect place for quiet contemplation.
The night air was cool and carried the damp, earthy scent of the marshes and the distant, spicy fragrance of Qingce flowers. The moon, a perfect silver orb, hung in the vast, star-dusted sky illuminated the vast wet lands of the Dihua Marsh below. The entire landscape before her was a masterpiece of light and shadow, the rivers glimmering like poured mercury as they wound through the dark plains. It was beautiful, peaceful, and yet...
And yet, Artoria could feel the undercurrent of sorrow that permeated throughout this land. It was a deep, ancient grief, woven into the very fabric of the ley lines. It was the echo of a cataclysmic war, the lingering pain of fallen gods, and the relentless, silent burden of those who had survived.
She thought of Rex Lapis and the remaining adepti that roamed the land. They had built this nation upon a foundation of contracts, of order, and of endurance.
They had weathered the storms of the Archon War and the Cataclysm, watched their closest companions fall one after another, and then shouldered the responsibility of guiding humanity for millennia. The cost of such longevity, she imagined, must be immense. A loneliness so profound it would crush any lesser spirit.
Her empathy extended further, to the lone warrior who acted as this land's silent guardian. The last Yaksha. The one being who was probably watching her since her arrival in this inn.
She pictured him in her mind—a young, tormented figure, forever fighting a battle against the darkness, both external and internal. To be the sole survivor of your brethren, to carry the weight of all their deaths and the karmic debt of your own endless slaughter... it was a fate she wouldn't wish upon her worst enemy.
She stood there for nearly an hour, a solitary, luminous figure against the backdrop of the Liyuen night, lost in thought and occasionally humming a mysterious tune, a diluted version of the her Song of the Faey. She was not just the Grandmaster of a foreign Order nor the secret divine sovereign of a nation. She was a mother, a queen, and a goddess. And in this quiet moment, she felt the weight of all those roles, and the love that gave them meaning.
Finally, with a soft sigh, she decided it was time to retire. But as she turned to leave, a thought occurred to her—a small, simple gesture, especially towards her unseen observer that had been watching her from the shadows since she entered this building.
She reached into the pocket of her tunic, a small pocket space connected to the larder inside her Tower in Avalon, and carefully withdrew a small, porcelain plate.
On it sat a perfectly crafted piece of Almond Tofu, its surface smooth and white like a polished gem. But this was no ordinary offering. She had glazed it with a delicate honey sauce, but not just any honey. It was the golden apple blossom honey from her own orchards, a honey with a faint, sweet scent that reminded one of home, of warmth, and of peace.
It was a simple offering, not one from a queen to a subject, but from one soul to another. A gesture of understanding, a silent acknowledgement to the one who carried a heavy burden for countless centuries.
She placed the plate on the wooden railing of the balcony, its pale form almost glowing in the moonlight. She didn't look around, didn't try to seek out the presence she knew was there. She simply left the gift, a quiet offering in the vast silence of the night, and with a small, knowing smile on her face, she turned and walked back towards her room.
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Five minutes after Artoria had departed, a figure materialized on the balcony as if emerging from the very shadows themselves. There was no sound, no disturbance in the air. He just simply appeared.
The figure had the appearance of a teenage boy, with dark, medium-length hair that had subtle teal undertones reflected in the moonlight. His skin was as pale as moonlight on snow, and his eyes were a startling pair of luminous gold that held pupils like a bird of prey. A red eyeshadow, sharp and defined, accentuated his golden eyes, and a small, purple diamond marking adorned his forehead. A green tattoo of intricate, swirling patterns snaked around his right arm, a visible sign of the power he commanded and the price he paid for it.
This was Xiao. The Conqueror of Demons. The Vigilant Yaksha. The last of Rex Lapis's five mightiest generals.
He stood still, a sentinel in the night, his gaze however was fixed on the small, elegant plate left on the railing. He was utterly perplexed.
Earlier that day, he had sensed it—a strange shift in the wind that blew down from the Stone Gate. It carried with it an alien scent, the clean, fresh aroma of Cecilia flowers, a bloom that should only be found in the high cliffs of Mondstadt.
For two years, the Bishui plains and its surrounding regions had been plagued by a resurgence of demonic activities, the land's very soul was tainted by the lingering essences of dark gods who were vanquished millennia ago. The sudden appearance of this pure, life-affirming scent amidst the spiritual decay was an anomaly, a puzzle he couldn't ignore.
He hadn't needed to wait long. A great caravan, escorted by a small army of knights in armor so polished it reflected the torchlight, had arrived at the inn. He had heard the whispers from the innkeepers, the murmurs among the staff: that an important personage from Mondstadt was invited by the Qixing to witness this year's Rite of Descension, was to stay here for about 3 days. Normally, such mortal affairs were beneath his notice. But then he saw her.
He had seen the beautiful, blond-haired woman step out from one of the carriages with four young children trailing in her wake.
In that instant, something had shifted within him, a deep, forgotten chord struck within his ancient spirit.
He couldn't name it, couldn't explain it. There was an aura about her, a mysterious, profound warmth that she seemed to keep carefully restrained, as if it were a power too vast to be casually unleashed. But what had truly captivated him was the very essence of her presence. It reminded him of something... of a melody that had saved him sometime ago.
Nearly two years ago, at the height of his battle with the encroaching darkness, when the voices of the dead he'd slain were becoming an unbearable deafening chorus in his mind and his own spirit was on the verge of fracturing, he had heard it.
A melody, so ancient and so pure, carried on by the wind all the way from Mondstadt. It was not a song of power, but of peace. It had cut through the noise of his suffering, a brief, shining moment of respite that had pulled him back from the precipice of madness. He had never been able to identify its source, a beautiful, enchanting melody that haunted him until this very day.
This woman... this Grandmaster... her very being carried the same essence as that life-saving melody!
He knew it with a certainty that defied logic. He had to understand. So he had watched her from the shadows, certain that a mortal woman could never perceive him.
She had simply stood there, gazing out at the vast expanse of the night sky, occasionally humming a soft tune that was achingly similar to the melody he remembered.
And now... this. A plate of Almond Tofu. His favorite food. Left for him. Deliberately. The sheer impossibility of it staggered him. How could she know?! Who was she?!
His internal debate was brief. He was a being of endless battle, sustained by little more than willpower and the occasional offerings. The plate before him was not just food; it was a direct message from an impossible enigma. With a flicker of movement too fast for the eye to follow, he was before the railing. He picked up the small, intricately carved porcelain spoon and took a tentative spoonful.
The moment the Almond Tofu touched his tongue, his world, for a brief, fleeting second, was silent.
The flavor was exquisite. The tofu itself was silkier and more delicate than any he had ever tasted, melting in his mouth with a purity that spoke of an almost sacred preparation!
But it was the glaze that shattered him. The honey was sweet, yes, but woven into its golden sweetness was a faint, crisp, impossibly familiar tang of apple. Beneath the flavors, something more profound was happening. A warm, gentle energy spread through him, not the explosive power of a catalyst, but a soothing, restorative balm.
For millennia, his being had been a battlefield, a storm of karmic debt and the violent echoes of countless slaughter. That energy, however, did not fight the storm. It didn't erase it. It simply... quieted it. The cacophony of voices in his head, a constant torment, receded to a dull, manageable whisper. The ever-present tension in his limbs, the readiness for a fight that never truly ended, eased for the first time in what felt like an eternity.
It was a single, perfect note of peace in a lifetime of discord.
He stood there, motionless, spoon held halfway to his lips, completely stunned. This was no simple offering. This was a miracle. A single, perfect act of grace from a woman he didn't know, a woman who knew things about him she had no right to know.
He consumed the rest of the offering with a reverence he usually reserved only for prayers towards his Lord Rex Lapis.
When the plate was clean, he did not vanish. He remained, hidden in the deepest shadow of the balcony, his golden eyes fixed on the door to the Grandmaster's quarters. The questions burned in him, but for the first time in centuries, they were not accompanied by the familiar sting of aggravation. They were accompanied by something else. Something fragile and long-forgotten.
Hope.
"Thank you.", Xiao silently offered amidst the cool breeze of the night.
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The next day came and the morning light, soft and golden, filtered through the silk screens of the suite, gently waking the Gunnhildr children.
The unfamiliar scents of the inn—polished wood, incense, and the morning mist from the plains—was a call to a new adventure in itself!
They dressed quickly in the fine Liyuen garments that were already prepared and tailored specifically for them weeks ago before the start of their journey. Even their usually practical mother, Artoria, had chosen a more formal attire befitting her station, a beautiful, high-collared Liyuen gown of deep blue and silver, intricately embroidered with the wind wheel crest of Mondstadt.
She was rocking the traditional Liyuen attire and was overall the personification of beauty and splendor itself!
Artoria had originally planned a quiet breakfast inside her room inside her tower in Avalon. However, as per arrangements with Huai'an and Verr Goldet, the inn had prepared a grand executive Liyuen breakfast at the main dining hall located a floor below their rooms. To refuse such a gesture would be an insult, and so Artoria acquiesced, leading her small family down to the dining area.
The main hall was spacious and elegant, with large windows that looked out over the bustling rivers below. The tables were laden with a feast that would make a Liyuen noble proud. There were delicate bamboo shoot soups, platters of Jueyun Chili chicken, glistening almond tofu, steaming baskets of Moon pie and countless other dishes. Yet, the entire small army of inn staffs and even the innkeepers themselves pause as they were utterly stunned by the sight that greeted them.
Most of them already had seen the beautiful Grandmaster last night in her usual formal diplomatic clothing, but now seeing her in her full Liyuen attire was like seeing a goddess came to life from one of the ancient scrolls!
She was the very image of regality, and with her four children in tow, the sight of them all was like a scene from a celestial painting. If they didn't know any better, they could have easily identify her as a member of the Liyue Qixing, hell, even Lady Rong Mei's beauty, the current Tianxuan of the Qixing, and considered to be one of, if not the most beautiful woman in all Liyue Harbor pales in comparison to this goddess of a woman before them who had cordially graced their humble inn!
The innkeeper's wife, Verr Goldet, was the first to recover. She stepped forward, her professional smile momentarily replaced by genuine awe. "Grandmaster Gunnhildr... you honor us with your presence once again. Please, be seated."
Artoria gave a gracious nod. "The preparation is most appreciated, Lady Goldet."
They were seated at a large table with the best view of the river. The children, after a brief period of wide-eyed wonder at the sheer variety of food, attacked the meal with the unbridled enthusiasm only children could muster!
Artoria watched them with an amused smile, taking a more measured approach herself. The food was exquisite, a testament to the skill of the inn's chefs. Even Venti, who was still somewhat skeptical of anything that wasn't apple-based, was happily devouring plate after plate of Moon Pie.
The staff watched in stunned silence and then in quiet amusement, as the Gunnhildr family, who looked like they belonged on the cover of a royal portrait, ate with the hearty appetites of group of farmers after a long day's work!
They had already been told that the food must be prepared for about 20 people, but as they watch the small family eat, the inn's head chef realized that the initial estimation was not enough! So he quickly ordered the kitchen to prepare more, especially after seeing how Jean and especially Barbara were both on their second helping of the Jueyun Chili Chicken while Artoria was slowly savoring her third bowl of the delicious seaweed soup.
The rest of the Mondstadt crew joined in after a few minutes, with Melisa arriving with a still sleepy Lisa on tow, while Crepus along with a very energetic Varka and a very professional Captain Yuan joined them for the feast.
After the sumptuous breakfast, Artoria decided it was time for a little exploration. She declined offers for a guided tour from Verr Goldet, preferring to experience the inn with her children in tow.
"Alright, my little adventurers," she announced, her voice filled with cheer. "Let's see what this inn has to offer!"
Their first stop was the upper balcony just off the main reception area, the one they had seen from below the night before. It was a wide, open-air space with a railing carved from fragrant cedar wood.
The view was breathtaking.
To the north, they could see all the way back to the distant, misty silhouette of Mt. Qingce. To the west, the jagged, otherworldly peaks of Jueyun Karst pierced the sky, their tops wreathed in clouds that glowed with a faint, ethereal light. Below them, the entirety of Dihua Marsh spread out like a vast, green-and-brown tapestry, crisscrossed by the glittering threads of the Bishui River and its tributaries.
"Wow..." Jean breathed, her usual reserve forgotten in the face of such majesty. She quickly retrieved her small, exquisitely crafted camera from her satchel—a gift from her mother on her last birthday—and began to snap pictures, the soft click of the shutter a counterpoint to the whisper of the wind.
"It's so beautiful!" Lisa exclaimed, her own camera—also gifted to her by her 'Auntie Ria' along with a complete volume set of illustrated encyclopedia from Sumeru—already in hand. She was pointing it towards the distant mountains, her mind already working, trying to identify the specific geological formations she had only read about in books.
"Look, Jean! That's a classic example of a Karst landscape! The differential erosion of the limestone and dolomite is clearly visible!"
While her eldest and her niece were busy with their photography, Artoria smiled and turned to her younger ones, who were more interested in the immediate surroundings. Barbara and Bennett were leaning on the railing, their small faces pressed against the cool wood, pointing at boats sailing along the river far below.
"Mama, look! A liyuen boat!" Bennett squealed, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Can we go on a boat?"
"Maybe later, my little explorer," Artoria chuckled, ruffling his hair.
Barbara, however, was more interested in the people. She watched as a group of adventurers, their gear worn and their faces tired, disembarked from a small barge at the docks below, greeted by staff from the inn.
"Mama, why do they look so tired and sad?"
Artoria followed her daughter's gaze. "They're likely returning from a long and difficult journey, my songbird. The road can be a hard place. The inn in turn, is a sanctuary for them, a place for them to rest and heal before they set out again."
After they had their fill of the panoramic view, Artoria led them down a wide, winding staircase to the lower levels, where the docks and the small, bustling mercantile area of the inn were located. The air here was livelier, filled with the calls of merchants haggling with dockworkers, the creak of ropes, and the splashing of water. The scent of fish, river mud, and cooking spices mingled into a uniquely Liyuen perfume.
They were observing a group of fishermen unloading their catch of shimmering Bitter Pufferfish from their boat when a sudden, sharp commotion erupted from a small stall a short distance away.
"This is an outrage! An absolute outrage! I've been robbed!"
The voice belonged to a portly, florid-faced merchant, dressed in robes of fine silk that were stretched tight across his ample belly. He was pacing back and forth in front of a table laden with exotic goods, his face a mask of apoplectic fury. On the table sat two heavy, iron-bound chests, their lids open, revealing a small fortune in Mora. But the merchant was frantically patting down his ornate belt, his face growing even redder.
"It was here! My small purse! Five thousand Mora! Gone!" He whirled around, pointing a plump, accusatory finger at two weary-looking mercenaries standing guard by the chests.
"You two lumps of granite! I hired you to protect my assets, not to fall asleep at the post! I'll have your hides for this!"
The mercenaries, a man with a scarred face and a woman with a stern gaze, stiffened but did not retaliate. "We did not move from this spot, Master Hong," the woman said, her voice flat. "No one came near the table."
"I don't believe you! Incompetent, the lot of you! And you!" the merchant snarled, turning his fury on a young, terrified-looking inn employee who was standing nearby with a tray of tea.
"You! You were just here! Did you see anything? Or were you too busy daydreaming to notice a thief cutting my purse from my belt?!"
"I... I'm sorry, Master Hong," the boy stammered, shrinking back. "I saw nothing."
The merchant was about to launch into another tirade when Artoria's gaze shifted from the flamboyant display of anger towards something else.
Her divine senses, ever-present and ever-aware, had pinpointed the source of the discord.
She saw what no one else did: a small, wiry figure, half-hidden behind a stack of empty crates near the edge of the dock, trying to silently slip away towards the southern end of the plain, towards the cover of the tall, reedy grasses that grew along the riverbank.
To her eyes, the figure was clearly a child, a scrawny one with long, unkempt hair that looked as if it had never known a comb, and clothes that were little more than tattered rags. In their small, grimy hands, they clutched a small, leather pouch.
A wave of profound sorrow, sharp and unwelcome, washed over Artoria. She saw not a crime, but a desperate act born of hunger and fear.
In her mind's eye, she saw a thousand similar faces from the battlefields of old Camelot, to the hundreds of homeless of the United Kingdom. Children who had been forgotten by the world, forced to steal a crust of bread or a copper coin just to see the next sunrise.
"How awful," she murmured, the words barely audible, a soft sigh of empathy lost in the merchant's bluster.
Jean, ever attuned to her mother's subtle shifts in mood, looked up at her. "Mama? What is it?"
Artoria placed a gentle hand on her daughter's shoulder, her expression now serene and unreadable to anyone but her own children. "Nothing for you to worry about, my dear. Just a moment of unpleasantness."
She then turned her full attention to the scene. The merchant, Master Hong, was now berating the dockworkers, demanding they form a search party to find the "vicious cutpurse." His two mercenaries looked on, their expressions a mixture of embarrassment and barely concealed contempt for their employer. A small crowd had begun to gather, drawn by the shouting.
Artoria knew she had to intervene.
Left unchecked, the merchant's fury would likely lead to a brutal response if, by some misfortune, the child was found. Her intervention, however, had to be delicate. She was a foreign dignitary, a guest in this land. To overstep her bounds could cause a diplomatic incident.
But she was also a mother and a goddess. And she could not just stand by.
"Perhaps I can be of some assistance," Artoria said, her beautiful voice cutting through the merchant's tirade with the calm authority of a ringing bell.
All eyes turned to her. The merchant's anger faltered, replaced by utter sheer surprise as he took in the sight of the regal, beautiful woman and her children. He recognized her immediately—the visiting Grandmaster of Mondstadt. His bluster deflated like a punctured balloon!
"Grandmaster Gunnhildr! I... I apologize for this unsightly scene," he sputtered, attempting a clumsy bow. "A simple misunderstanding. No need for you to trouble yourself!"
"On the contrary," Artoria said, her tone pleasant but firm. "A theft is a serious matter. Justice must be served. But so too must there be understanding." She turned her gaze to the young inn employee, who was still trembling.
"You there young man. Come here."
The boy hesitantly approached, head bowed.
"What is your name?" Artoria asked gently.
"Li, Grandmaster," he whispered.
"Li," Artoria repeated with a warm smile. "Tell me, did you notice anything unusual just before Master Hong discovered his purse was missing?"
The boy thought for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. "There was... a cat, Grandmaster. A scruffy ginger cat. It darted out from under the dock and spooked one of the carrier pigeons that was resting nearby. The pigeon flew up suddenly, and... well, everyone was looking at the bird."
Artoria's smile widened slightly. A perfect, plausible misdirection. "I see. And which direction did this cat go?"
"It... it ran off that way, towards the reeds," Li said, pointing south, the exact direction Artoria had seen the child flee.
"Fascinating," Artoria mused aloud. She then looked at the two mercenaries. "You two. You claim no one approached the table correct?"
"That is correct, Grandmaster," the woman replied, her posture now ramrod straight.
"And yet, a masterful thief seems to have slipped through your defenses," Artoria said, her gaze becoming sharper, more analytical.
"This was no simple snatch-and-run. Notice how the merchant's belt was not cut, nor torn. The buckle has been unfastened. That requires skill, and a delicate touch. This was not the work of some common street rat. It was the work of a professional. Or perhaps... something more mundane."
She let her words hang in the air, then gestured elegantly towards the southern reeds. She then told the young attendant Li to towards the direction of the reeds and told him to search the area.
While everyone's distracted, Artoria use her magic to subtly conjure up a scattered pile of Mora and placed them behind the reeds. She made it looked like the money has been dropped by the thief when they made their escape!
"It seems our 'cat' has already left a trail," Artoria said, her eyes fixed on the reeds. "Perhaps in its haste, it dropped some of its prize."
The crowd murmured, and the merchant's eyes widened with greed. "MY MORA!"
Before anyone could stop him, he waddled towards the reeds, followed by his two mercenaries and a few curious onlookers. They parted the tall grasses, and sure enough, there on the ground, glinting in the sunlight, was a small pile of Mora coins, about 3000 worth.
"IT'S MINE! The thief must have dropped it!" the merchant cried out, already on his knees, greedily scooping up the coins.
"This is only a fraction, though! They must have the rest hidden nearby!"
As the merchant and his guards were distracted with their futile search of the reeds, a small, almost imperceptible motion from the corner of her eye caught Artoria's attention.
The scrawny child, realizing their pursuers were occupied, had seized the opportunity. They slipped out from behind a different set of crates on the opposite side of the dock and scurried away, melting into the marsh reeds behind the Wangshu Inn. The pouch was still clutched in their hand.
Artoria watched the child as it disappear, a small, sad smile touching her lips.
Justice, of a sort, had been served.
The merchant's greed had been sated with the coins she had provided, a portion of the original sum. The child, meanwhile, had escaped with a smaller prize, but a prize nonetheless. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it was a humane one. It gave the child a chance, a sliver of hope.
She had seen the child's face for a fleeting moment, even from a distance. It was a face etched with hunger and fear, a face far too young to know such hardships and desperations.
Artoria continued to look towards the direction where the child had escaped. Her very heart and soul urging her to do something. Something more.
"Poor dear child." She softly uttered.
(End of Chapter)
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Qingce Village
- At the northernmost point of Liyue, hidden between the hills and the bamboo forests sits Qingce Village. White rolling clouds that sit in the valleys between the mountains are embellished with row upon row of crescent-moon water paddies. When the wind blows, the ripples in the water give off an array of colors.
- Qingce Village is a tranquil village nestled at the foot of Mt. Qingce, with clear waters and terraced fields of flowers. Many of its younger residents have moved away in search of more exciting locales, so it has become known as a retirement spot for the elderly.
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Qiaoying Village
- When the gentle spring sun and winds caress the mountains of Chenyu, there will the rich fragrance of tea be accompanied by the dance of the Spiritscent Flower, drifting together through peaceful streets…
- Qiaoying Village is famous throughout Teyvat for its tea, which is sold in Liyue Harbor and exported to other nations. A special cauldron in the village, said to be an adeptal mechanism, is used to roast tea leaves, giving them their unique aroma and flavor. People believe that the land and waters of Chenyu Vale were blessed by the adepti, which helped create the ideal environment for tea leaf cultivation, and significant quantities of tea trees are planted around the village for their leaves.
- The adepti, particularly Fujin, were responsible for the good growing conditions of the vale, having planted the first tea tree in the region.
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