and with that, we have all screwed up
While catching up at Xinyue Kiosk, Barbara reveals that Mondstadt had been having problems recently. The others believe that they have an idea of what exactly was going on. Only to discover just how wrong they were…
-
Kazuha and Chongyun had been walking through the streets of Liyue together. The sun was down yet the harbor was bustling with people all over. Lights glowed and people talked, some eating at restaurants while some walked through the streets with a friend or two, perhaps even a few couples were about.
Kazuha still remembered the day he first saw Liyue Harbor at night, he was with Chongyun, Yoimiya, and a friend from Mondstadt, Barbara.
After first arriving in Liyue with Beidou, he had spent most of his time with Ningguang to adjust, he had only seen Liyue Harbor after dawn from the Jade Chamber. It was a magnificent sight, but not as magnificent as being down in the city.
It remains one of his favorite memories to this day.
“So,” Chongyun began, “How are you these days?”
Kazuha thought for a moment, “I’ve been well. Beidou went on an expedition recently, she’s set to return in a few weeks' time. Ningguang remains doing her regular duties, what about you?”
“I’ve been alright. I’ve been training with my Aunt Shenhe a bit more, although my Yang energy seems to remain persistent to be a pain.”
“Well, you were able to stray closer to the amplified flaming flower stamen Aether had.”
The amplified flaming flower stamen was the result of a failed potion attempt that occurred while in the Serenitea Pot after a particularly long and nasty fight against Maguu Kenki.
Kazuha and Barbara had been discussing books they had read recently, Yoimiya and Chongyun had been playing chess (they were able to withstand it despite how tired they were), and Aether had been making more potions as they had run out recently.
Everything had been interrupted when Aether had cried out.
Apparently, the butterfly wings had done something as the flaming flower stamen’s heat was now greatly amplified.
How it happened was beyond Kazuha, and it seemed to be the same for everyone else as they had all spent quite a bit of time attempting to process how butterfly wings had done such a thing. Although the failure to process correctly was most likely due to the fact they had spent an entire night dealing with Maguu Kanki, and others beforehand, so they hadn’t gotten much sleep.
“Hm, I suppose.” Chongyun said, considering Kazuha’s statement.
The duo remained in silence for a bit more of the walk, eventually they made it to Xinyue Kiosk where Aether, Barbara, and Yoimiya were waiting.
“Kazuha, Chongyun! Finally!” Yoimiya greeted, “Come sit down!”
After they sat down and ordered, conversation had started. They had been talking before but it was more of light conversation at most. The topic strayed, often someone would bring something up, causing a chain of events to whatever else they discussed.
It went from simple talk about Liyue, to the Qixing, which led to Beidou, then to Inazuma. It continued through the Kamisatos, the Kaedeharas, and to the Naganoharas.
Eventually, it strayed to clans in general and then the Gunnhildr Clan. It got to Mondstadt once their food arrived. Aether had said something about how maybe they should head to Mondstadt as it had been a while and Mondstadt was by the far the least dangerous compared to the other three nations they had explored. (And they were looking for a break from the chaos after that adventure in Sumeru.)
Although Barbara didn’t seem very happy with that.
“I don’t think that’s a very good idea with what’s going on,” She said slightly offhandedly, she had seemed more tired today and so she let it slip.
Aether and the others turned to her, “What do you mean?”
Barbara snapped to attention almost instantly, “I said that out loud?”
Yoimiya nodded to which Barbara seemed to resign herself to her fate, “Oh… Well, recently there have been random… attacks on citizens.”
Everyone at the table eyes’ widened, “Wait, really??” Yoimiya said,
“That sounds like something that we would hear about,” Chongyun said, Kazuha and Aether nodding in agreement.
“The knights have been keeping it on the down low to reduce panic. Or, at least they tried.” She said, “My sister had everyone involved sign a document, making it so they were legally bound to not tell anyone.”
“Let me guess. Someone told,” Aether finished, “And now the city is freaking out.”
Barbara nodded, “Apparently it was Albert.”
“Of course…” Yoimiya muttered angrily while Chongyun’s expression darkened.
“He always finds a way to mess things up, doesn’t he?” He said.
At even the slightest mention of the accursed, ‘Head of the Barbara Fan Club’, Kazuha, Yoimiya, Chongyun, and Aether would all darken, muttering curses or insults under their breaths. On occasion, usually in the Serenitea Pot, they would come up with ideas to ruin Albert’s day. None of them liked him, and Albert was beginning to make it clear that he didn’t like them either.
Something about them getting in the way of him and ‘Barbara-sama’.
(Kazuha, Yoimiya, and Chongyun, who’s family had Inazuman origins, had recoiled in confusion at the Inazuman honorific, before it quickly turned to disgust that such a thing was used by Albert.)
Basically, they all hated him. And they weren’t afraid to make it known.
Barbara eventually moved the conversation back to the original topic, the attacks.
“According to the victims, their attackers wore blood red masks that would cover only their upper face and a pendant with a crudely crossed out Anemo sigil around their necks.” She said, “Everything else just depended on the person.”
Kazuha and Aether shared a look. Did the attackers have something against the wind? Or was it an attack directed towards its Archon?
“Who’s leading the investigation?” Kazuha asked.
Barbara thought for a moment before replying with, “Jean, Kaeya, Diluc, and… Childe.”
Now that was a surprise.
Back then, Diluc joining the Knights was a strange idea, but as Kaeya and Diluc reconciled, he became more prominent in cases despite not outright being a knight.
Now Childe however- they were all aware that Childe and Diluc had entered a relationship, as the two had so nicely (not. They had brought it up randomly.) informed them, (Chongyun almost passed out. Aether did pass out.) but Childe joining the Knights in an investigation was new.
Even after all that had happened, Childe remained a Fatui Harbinger to this day although, at Diluc’s request, he didn’t use his Delusion as often. Still, that didn’t change who exactly he was and so him joining the investigation was very new.
“How come Childe’s in the investigation?” Yoimiya asked, to which Barbara replied,
“Because the Fatui were attacked as well.”