[Lumine]: "Kevin's actions only make sense if he's obsessed with her."
[Keqing]: "Forcing apart Kiana and Mei… How cruel."
[Nahida]: "He's the villain! Cold-blooded! Heartless!"
[Lumine]: "…And disturbingly single-minded."
[Ganyu]: "Could this… actually win Mei's heart?"
[Furina]: "What if he doesn't love her?"
[Nahida]: "Impossible."
[Lumine]: "Impossible."
[Paimon]: "No other explanation fits!"
---
Plane of Euthymia
Raiden Ei studied the chat, brow furrowed.
Kevin's motives eluded her.
First, sacrificing a city to test Mei.
Now, tearing her from Kiana.
If mere possession was his goal—why this hollow indifference afterward?
[Raiden Ei]: "But… he wasn't always like this."
---
The chat froze.
Memories flooded back:
—Kevin's laughter under sunset skies
—His eyes soft as Mei spoke of stars
That boy was gone.
[Nahida]: "Even gods erode. He's only human."
[Raiden Ei]: "What eroded him?"
[Nahida]: "…"
Silence swallowed the chat.
The question—long buried—now sprouted thorns in every mind.
---
World Serpent Base
Weeks since Changkong City. Kevin watched Mei's progress from shadows.
Jackal (kneeling): "Lord. Raiden Mei's Honkai energy stabilizes. She controls her Herrscher power fully—true 'Emergence'."
Kevin: "Hn."
A whisper. A ghost of acknowledgment.
Jackal: "K423 recovered by Far East Branch. Failed her 'Eclosion'. Next Honkai eruption approaches… Shall we test Raiden Mei's worthiness during it?"
"Worthiness" — the word finally stirred him.
Kevin: "Let her go."
Jackal: "By your will."
Training Grounds
Jackal found Mei Yi sheathing her sword.
Jackal (clapping): "Marvelous exertion, Herrscher!"
Mei Yi (cold): "I said: no disturbances."
Raven (materializing): "Business, Jackal."
Jackal (sighing): "Spoilsport~ Very well. Raiden Mei—time to earn your place."
She offered the Wand of Underworld.
Mei Yi: "Purpose?"
Jackal (smirking): "All in good time."
Alarms blared—Honkai eruption detected.
---
Teyvat's Frustration
Paimon (stomping): "Argh! What's Kevin's game?! He drags Mei into World Serpent then ignores her?! And that Jackal woman—"
Lumine (handing chicken): "Odd. Jackal worships Kevin. If he loved Mei, she'd treat her differently."
Paimon (chewing angrily): "Exactly! He's using her like a tool! Why?!"
Across nations, theories clashed in the chat:
[Kujou Sara]: "The Almighty tests her resolve!"
[Yae Miko]: "Or he's emotionally stunted after centuries."
[Zhongli]: "Every action serves his 'Stigma Plan'. Mei is likely a means, not an end."
Until—
[Xiangling]: "Just asked Ying'er! She said: 'Men never cherish what they get.'"