Xia Zhi's room.
Unusually quiet.
Until Shenhe reached out and picked up the Silence Orb on the nightstand.
"Boss..."
"Hmm?"
"Senior hasn't come to see you yet?"
"You mean in the real world?"
"Yeah."
"She hasn't."
"Senior really is a bit too reserved."
"Haha."
"Boss, you could go to her instead."
"Mm. But there's no need to rush. Even though Ganyu's entered that... special phase, it's not like she's desperate or anything."
"True, but because of what happened in the dream, Senior has to get up every morning to wash her sheets and clothes. It's kind of a hassle for her."
"Fair point."
"So you should help her resolve it quickly. That way, I'll have it easier too."
"Is it that exhausting for you right now?"
"I'm dead tired."
"Want me to help you recover?"
"No thanks, or else we'll end up... again..."
"Alright, alright. Let's sleep."
"Yeah. Sleep."
--
That night, it was the usual late-night gaming session at the internet café.
Because Furina, Focalors, and Zhongli had joined the team, Xia Zhi took Shenhe and Ganyu out to gather materials.
He led the way with the compass in hand.
Shenhe and Ganyu walked just ahead, whispering something to each other.
Whatever it was, Ganyu's face remained completely flushed the whole time.
The next morning, Xia Zhi woke up in bed, picked up the small square device on the nightstand, and lit it up to check the time.
7:05 a.m. Still early.
Only then did he notice a new friend request on his phone.
The username was [Nahida].
Technically, that was his little sister.
Xia Zhi tapped the screen and accepted the request.
A few seconds later, a message popped up.
[Nahida]: Good morning, Brother Xia Zhi! It's me, Nahida!
[Xia Zhi]: Good morning to you too, Nahida!
[Xia Zhi]: Had breakfast yet?
[Nahida]: Not yet. It'll be delivered later.
[Xia Zhi]: Not going out today?
[Nahida]: I usually don't go out. I just stay in and read.
[Xia Zhi]: You should get out more. Take a trip sometime if you can.
[Nahida]: I can't really run around freely.
[Xia Zhi]: It's fine. Just gather a few more sages, teach them properly, and have them help out. You know Morax, right? He used to have nothing to do all day and just wandered the streets. You should learn from him—don't overwork yourself.
[Nahida]: Mm.
[Xia Zhi]: If anything ever comes up, you can go to your sister, or come to me. As long as it's nothing too serious, I should be able to help.
[Nahida]: Okay. Thank you, Brother Xia Zhi.
Xia Zhi put down his phone.
This little sister still seemed a bit reserved, not very confident.
Probably had a lot to do with those five hundred years of isolation.
Her kind of reclusiveness wasn't quite the same as Ei's, Xia Zhen's little sister.
After all, Nahida was still just a child.
He should really pay more attention to her mental health when he gets the chance.
--
Nahida put down her phone and stared into space for a few minutes before receiving another message.
[Xia Zhen]: Nahida, about what I said last night—it was a misunderstanding! Don't let your sister fool you! Listen, here's what really happened...
Nahida looked at the massive wall of text from her sister Baal and smiled slightly.
[Nahida]: I know, Sister Baal. I didn't take it seriously.
[Xia Zhen]: That's a relief!
Just then, a new message popped up—this time from her older sister.
[Xia Ci]: Good morning. Did you say hi to your Brother Xia Zhi yet?
[Nahida]: I just did. Brother Xia Zhi even said that if anything ever happens, I can go to him. As long as it's not too serious, he should be able to help.
[Xia Ci]: Mm. That's good.
Nahida paused, then started typing again.
[Nahida]: Sister, when Brother Xia Zhi says "nothing too serious," what level of seriousness is he talking about?
[Xia Ci]: He probably means something like... defeating Celestia and destroying the world.
???
Nahida stared at her screen, reading her sister's explanation—
And once again fell into silence.
-----
Morning.
The window of the hovercar was open, and the gently warm breeze brushed against their faces.
Diona and Charlotte leaned against the window, gazing down at the beautiful scenery below.
Vast swaths of green grapevines clung to wooden trellises, unfurling their tender new leaves. In the morning light, the dewdrops on the vines sparkled like translucent pearls.
Charlotte's eyes lit up with curiosity. "What a huge vineyard!"
Diona, with a serious expression, said solemnly, "Let me tell you, this is the most evil place in all of Mondstadt—Dawn Winery!"
Charlotte chuckled at that and asked, "That luxurious estate in the middle of the vineyard must be the home of Master Diluc, right?"
Diona nodded. "Yup. Ugh, you know that guy too?"
Charlotte lifted the kamera hanging around her neck and began snapping photos of the scenery below. "Mondstadt wine is famous—even in Fontaine, there are many shops that sell it. As a journalist, I've done a few pieces on the wine industry, so I've studied and learned quite a bit in this field."
"Oh…"
Diona's eyes remained fixed on the luxurious estate.
"Anyway, I'll take down Dawn Winery one day."
"Mhm, I honestly think your cocktails taste better than any wine I've had from Mondstadt."
"Right?!"
"When that day comes, I'll do an exclusive interview with you—give you a full-page spread in the paper."
"Deal!"
Charlotte took plenty of photos before finally putting her kamera away, satisfied.
She looked up at the rising sun and said, "Looks like today's going to be another sunny day."
Diona glanced up as well, then turned her gaze back to the evil estate. "Yeah, sunny."
"Hey, Diona, have you noticed something?"
"What?"
"We've been traveling for more than ten days now, and the weather's been perfect every single day—not a single drop of rain!"
"Huh. You're right."
"It's kind of strange, don't you think? Usually, there should be a couple light showers in early spring, no?"
"Not necessarily. In Mondstadt, good weather is pretty common—it's great for fishing or hunting outdoors."
"Fontaine's different. We get rain all the time. Usually those brief little drizzles."
"That's the Hydro Dragon crying!"
"That's just a legend!"
Diona thought for a moment. "Could it be your Hydro Archon? In Mondstadt, the weather is said to be shaped by Barbatos himself."
"Maybe. In any case, if we're traveling, I'd prefer it not to rain. May Lady Furina bless us!"
"You mean, may Lord Barbatos bless us—this is Mondstadt, after all."
"Oh, right! May Lord Barbatos bless us!"
----
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