The departure of the Liyue delegation was a grand affair. A long, well-guarded caravan of heavy carts, laden with gleaming new heaters and refrigerators, stood ready at the northern gates of the harbor. The contingent was impressive: a full squad of elite Millelith warriors, their armor polished and their polearms gleaming; several sharp-eyed Qixing administrators tasked with the logistical details of the trade agreement; and at its head, a trio of women whose combined power and influence could shake the very foundations of Teyvat.
Keqing, in her formal diplomatic attire, looked every bit the decisive leader, her amethyst eyes scanning every detail, ensuring the caravan was ready. Ganyu, a soft but determined look on her face, stayed close to Ren's side, her presence a silent, unwavering promise of protection. And then there was Yelan. She moved with a fluid, almost predatory grace, her exotic, dark blue qipao and the mysterious fur-collared coat draped over her shoulders giving her an air of enigmatic danger. Her piercing, cyan eyes seemed to see everything at once, missing no detail.
Ren, walking between his three powerful guardians, felt a strange mixture of excitement and profound security. He was heading into the heart of the storm, but he was surrounded by a fortress of Liyue's finest.
The journey was long but uneventful. They traveled the main trade roads, the reputation of the delegation's leaders and the sheer force of their Millelith escort ensuring that no Hilichurl or treasure hoarder was foolish enough to trouble them.
After several days of travel, the landscape began to change. The tall, jagged, amber-colored peaks of Liyue gave way to rolling green hills and wide, open plains. The air grew lighter, sweeter, carrying the scent of dandelions and sun-warmed grass. In the distance, a great, walled city, nestled on an island in the middle of a sparkling lake, rose to meet them.
Mondstadt, the City of Freedom.
As their grand caravan approached the stone bridge leading to the city gates, they saw a small welcoming party waiting for them. It was not the grand, formal reception one might expect for a delegation of this importance, a subtle sign of the city's strained resources under the Stormterror crisis.
The group was led by a tall, handsome man with a confident, almost roguish, smirk on his face. He had dark, tanned skin, a stylish eyepatch covering his right eye, and a cascade of dark blue hair. He was dressed in the flamboyant but practical uniform of the Knights of Favonius. This was Kaeya, the Cavalry Captain.
He stepped forward as the Liyue caravan came to a halt, his visible eye a striking, star-like periwinkle that seemed to dance with a mixture of charm and cunning.
"Welcome, esteemed guests from Liyue," Kaeya's voice was as smooth and cool as the wine he no doubt favored. "On behalf of the Acting Grand Master, Jean, and all of Mondstadt, I bid you welcome. We are most grateful that you have made this long and arduous journey."
Keqing stepped forward, her expression polite but all business. "Captain Kaeya. It is an honor. We are here to finalize the trade agreement and to personally deliver the first shipment of goods, as requested by Acting Grand Master Jean."
Kaeya's charming smile widened. "Ah, yes. The legendary new inventions. The whole city is buzzing with anticipation. Your 'heater,' I believe? A most welcome concept for our notoriously chilly nights." His gaze then swept over the rest of the delegation, lingering for a moment on the quiet power of Ganyu and the enigmatic danger of Yelan, before finally coming to rest on Ren.
His visible eye widened slightly in surprise, his practiced, charming facade faltering for a fraction of a second. "And who is this little one? Not a new Qixing prodigy, I hope? We have enough trouble with our own little sparks here in Mondstadt."
Ganyu's hand instinctively came to rest on Ren's shoulder, her expression turning coolly protective.
Before she could speak, Ren stepped forward and gave a polite bow. "My name is Ren, sir. I'm the inventor of the devices. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Kaeya stared, completely taken aback. This small, ridiculously cute child was the genius behind the technology that had all of Liyue buzzing? A slow, intrigued smirk spread across his face. This delegation was already proving to be far more interesting than he had anticipated.
"An inventor?" he mused, crouching down to Ren's level, his tone a mixture of playful disbelief and genuine curiosity. "Well now, that is a surprise. You must be quite the clever little spark indeed. I look forward to seeing your creations in action."
He stood up, his gaze returning to Keqing, his charming, professional mask firmly back in place. "Your lodgings have been prepared, and the Acting Grand Master is eager to meet with you all. If you would please follow me, I will escort you into the city."
As they crossed the great stone bridge and passed under the towering gates of Mondstadt, Ren's heart pounded with a sense of surreal, dreamlike wonder. He was here. He was walking the familiar stone streets, seeing the iconic windmill, hearing the distant, beautiful music of the bards.
He was no longer a player looking at a screen. He was a character who had just stepped onto the stage, right as the curtain was about to rise on the first act of a very, very big story.