The blast still trembled across the stone of Mondstadt's walls when Jean Gunnhildr lifted her head.
Inside the Acting Grand Master's office, paperwork halted mid-signature. The quill froze between her fingers as another faint rumble rolled through the sky, rattling her windowpanes.
That wasn't thunder.
Jean crossed the room in three crisp steps and pushed open the shutters. Cider Lake shimmered in the distance beneath a mild afternoon sun, serene and blue, as if it hadn't just tried to jump out of its own basin a minute ago.
A breath later—
"Acting Grand Master!"
A patrol captain burst into the room, helm tucked under one arm, chest rising sharply from the sprint. "Northwest of Cider Lake—massive explosion! Loud enough to shake the walls. Possibly a monster attack. I've already dispatched scouts."
Jean's eyes narrowed. "How large?"
"Large enough my ears are still ringing," he answered, not exaggerating.
Jean didn't hesitate. "Raise the city's alert level. Mobilize all available knights. Dispatch two more teams to Cider Lake—confirm the situation."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The captain rushed off.
Jean remained by the window a moment longer, gaze steady, mind already racing.
Cider Lake…
Who or what could produce a blast like that?
She turned, cloak sweeping sharply behind her as she strode out of the office.
Mondstadt had been peaceful lately. Too peaceful.
Something had changed.
Cider Lake Shore
Klee stood frozen, small shoulders trembling, tiny hands fisted around Kael Arclight's sleeve. Her face scrunched up like a deflated pastry.
"Kael… Kael, what do we do? ( T_T ) The lake exploded so much… the Knights are definitely coming. I just got back from confinement, and now—now—now I'm going right back in!"
She wailed internally, feet stamping.
Kael stared at the lake's surface—which was still collapsing from the last boom!—and exhaled slowly.
This was… honestly impressive. In the worst possible way.
"Klee," he said, voice calm despite the chaos crashing around them, "breathe. Worst case, they put you in confinement again. For you, that's basically… going home."
Klee: "That's not comforting at all! (｀Д´*)"
Kael smothered a laugh. His nerves were knotted, stomach tense, but someone here needed to be level-headed and it clearly wasn't going to be the tiny demolitionist attached to his arm.
Klee dragged her foot through the dirt, shoulders drooping. "But… but Klee finally had someone to play bombs with… and if Klee gets locked up again, what if Kael is gone when she comes out…?"
Ah.
So that was the real fear.
Kael's chest tightened a little. He crouched, meeting her eyes. "Klee. You can find me at the Adventurers' Guild anytime. I'm there every day. When you're out, we'll take commissions together."
Her ears perked up. "Really?"
"Really. You make the bombs, I tune them. Division of labor."
He paused. "Preferably not near city borders next time."
Klee's eyes sparkled instantly. "We can explode fish! And rocks! And fish again!"
Fish seemed to be a priority for her.
"Let's just start with commissions," Kael replied.
The Consequences Set In
Far off, the city alarm horns blared—sharp and escalating.
Klee flinched. "Ah! See?! They heard it! We're doomed!"
"Mm. Kind of unavoidable when you launch the lake into orbit."
Klee: "Kael! (╥﹏╥) Don't tease me now!"
Kael rubbed her head, softening. "Go back to the city on your own. Walk straight to Jean and admit what you did. If you're honest, confinement will be shorter."
Klee's lips wobbled. But she nodded. "Klee will… go confess…"
Then she suddenly grabbed his sleeve again.
"Kael!"
He blinked. "What now?"
"You have to wait for Klee! You can't leave! You can't run away! You—you—you have to stay in Mondstadt!" Her eyes were wide, glistening. "When Klee comes out, Klee will—Klee will introduce you to Mama!"
Kael stared. "Why…?"
Klee puffed out her chest proudly. "Because after that you can become Klee's papa! Then Klee will have endless bombs forever!"
Kael choked on air.
"…Are you trying to bribe me into staying with the promise of… family?"
Klee tilted her head. "Is that what 'draw cake' means? People always say that when Klee tells them her future plans."
Kael pinched the bridge of his nose. "Klee. That's not how—never mind."
But she wasn't done.
She leaned in, big eyes shining like stars. "It's not fake! Mama is super nice! And if Kael becomes part of the family, then Klee and Kael can make super bombs every day!"
Her enthusiasm was nuclear.
Kael sighed, though his lips twitched. It was ridiculous. It was cute. It was… warm.
The first person in this world who'd grabbed his hand without hesitation, who treated him like something important.
"Klee," he said softly, "I'm not going anywhere."
Her face lit up—bright, explosive, beautiful.
"Really?!"
"Really."
"Yay! (^o^)/ Klee will go get confined now!"
"That is… the strangest happy sentence I've ever heard."
But before Kael could say more—
A familiar blue system panel flickered into existence before him.
Only he could see it.
The letters carved themselves across the glowing surface, crisp and cold.
And Kael felt his pulse tighten.
Another choice.
Another push from the universe that refused to leave him alone.
A new mission had arrived.