Shao Yun remembered the task Amber had entrusted him with earlier. Seeing that the moment was right, he decided to strike up a conversation with Collei.
"You're Collei, right?" Shao Yun asked.
Collei tensed at being addressed directly, but still answered, "Yes, I'm Collei. Do you… need something?"
Shao Yun pulled a letter from his Legend of the East satchel and handed it to her. "This is a letter Amber asked me to deliver to you…"
The instant Collei heard "Amber," her spirits lifted at once. She rushed closer, her voice urgent.
"Is it really from Amber? Are you sure? It's not just someone with the same name?"
Seeing her suddenly so close, Shao Yun felt a slight jolt of panic. He stepped back two paces, raising a hand to calm her.
"Easy, Collei. Amber heard that Sumeru's Eleazar has been worsening lately. She was worried about you, so she asked me to bring you this medicine as well."
He produced the vial Amber had entrusted to him and passed it over along with the letter.
A glimmer of joy crossed Collei's eyes. She clutched the items with gratitude, murmuring thanks again and again.
"Thank you… thank you so much."
Unable to wait, she turned to tear open the envelope—but when her gaze flicked back to Shao Yun, she quickly turned away, shielding the letter with her back so he couldn't see.
Carefully, she opened it and spread the paper.
Though she didn't know many words, she struggled through the lines. As she read, a smile slowly bloomed on her face.
Feeling Amber's concern warmed her heart.
When she finished, she pressed the letter tightly to her chest, closed her eyes, and whispered dreamily, 'Amber…'
At that moment, Shao Yun noticed a faint scent of citrus drifting in the air, elusive and strange.
Where's that coming from? he wondered. The medicine? But it's blue… doesn't look like it has citrus at all.
He cleared his throat gently. "Ahem, by the way… earlier, between you and Tighnari, there was something I didn't quite understand. Could you share a bit about it?"
Collei blinked, startled, and turned back to him. "Huh? Share what?"
As she spoke, she instinctively tucked the letter behind her.
Shao Yun quickly realized the misunderstanding. He raised his hands in explanation. "No, no, I don't mean the letter. I meant the talk about the Withering outbreak… and what Amber mentioned about Eleazar worsening."
Relieved, Collei tucked the letter into her pocket and began recalling.
"Ah… about three or four months ago, the Withering suddenly erupted everywhere. Gandharva Ville was almost consumed."
"Master later told me that it wasn't just here. Seventy percent of all Sumeru was invaded by the Withering at the time."
She let out a long breath, her expression easing. "Luckily, the disaster passed as quickly as it came. Gandharva Ville wasn't lost."
"The only problem was… Eleazar worsened after that."
Shao Yun frowned. "Tighnari said you almost died. What exactly happened?"
Collei closed her eyes, recalling the dreadful moment.
"Oh… when the Withering spread near here, I saw everyone rushing in without hesitation to rescue the trapped. I panicked too. Even though I had Eleazar, I didn't think—I just charged in."
"I remember… before I collapsed, I had dragged someone out of that cursed place. I think he was from Fontaine."
Shao Yun's head snapped up. "Wait. From Fontaine?"
Collei hesitated. The memory was hazy in the chaos. "I… I'm not entirely sure. I just recall he wore a very distinct black top hat, a black coat with a white undershirt…"
She thought harder, then suddenly brightened. "Ah! And he had a mustache—curved like an arch right above his lip. Very striking. That's why I thought he must be from Fontaine."
As she spoke, she traced her own upper lip with a finger, mimicking the mustache's curve, utterly serious in her recollection.
Shao Yun's face drained of color. Cold sweat slid down his back.
That wasn't some man from Fontaine. That was the devil.
If all Fontainians looked like him, Furina would've fled with a bucket ages ago. And if she hadn't—when every last Fontainian dissolved into the sea in terror, Furina wouldn't have wept; she would've rejoiced, thankful to escape the devil's grasp alive.
But Collei noticed none of his terror, continuing earnestly.
"I remember seeing him standing there alone in that terrifying Withering zone. And he had no Vision! So I thought he must have wandered in by accident.
I grabbed his hand and dragged him toward Gandharva Ville. As soon as I pulled him out… I collapsed."
At that, Shao Yun actually exhaled with relief. At least she hadn't spoken with the devil.
So, he was just there… watching death itself.
But Collei's next words froze his blood.
She clapped her hands, suddenly remembering. "Oh right! One more thing! Right before I fainted, I think he shoved something into my hand.
"I vaguely heard him say it was a gift. Payment, maybe."
"When I woke up, I was in bed. Master was caring for me, my body covered in bandages—but I was still clutching a small picture frame."
"Master said I'd been near death. Yet even then, I never let go of that frame."
She paused, then went on. "He thought I'd be bedridden half a year. But to his surprise, I was completely fine the very next day. Even my Eleazar symptoms eased."
Looking at the diseased marks on her arm, her voice softened with regret. "If not for these stubborn scales, I'd think I'd been cured entirely."
Shao Yun's mind reeled. Plague. A picture frame. Recovery.
The images strung together—pointing to the same nightmare: Armadillo Town's great plague.
His unease spiked. He blurted, "Where's that picture frame? I need to see it for myself!"
Collei pointed outside. "Usually, when people thank the rangers, they bring gifts. We return most. But that man disappeared. So, I left the frame on my desk."
Shao Yun stiffened. His tone sharpened. "Paimon, watch over Lumine. I have to confirm something."
Seeing his grim face, Paimon nodded quickly. "Got it."
Turning back to Collei, he asked tensely, "Collei, would you mind showing me the frame?"
She nodded. "Of course. Follow me."
…
Collei led Shao Yun to her treehouse, pulling aside the leafy curtain door.
She pointed to the desk's corner. "It's over there."
The little frame sat waiting. Its wooden edges worn with age.
Shao Yun looked at the photograph inside—of the Man with a Top Hat. The figure radiated primal fear. He didn't need an expression; his mere presence chilled Shao Yun's spine.
"No way…" Shao Yun muttered.
…
Zhongli's voice echoed faintly. "It grows stronger. You know this."