The chaos on Yujing Terrace was slowly, painstakingly, brought under control. The Millelith, under Keqing's sharp, decisive command, formed a secure perimeter, while a visibly composed Ningguang directed the sealing of the area around the fallen Exuvia. The initial wave of panic and grief among the dignitaries began to subside, replaced by a grim, heavy uncertainty.
Ganyu, her face still pale with a grief so profound it seemed to hollow out her very being, had moved to stand beside Ren. Her eyes were fixed on the lifeless form of the god she had revered and served for millennia, but her hand rested protectively on her brother's shoulder, a silent, unwavering anchor in a world that had just been turned upside down.
Ren, still holding Lumine's hand, knew he had to solidify his gambit. He had stopped the initial accusation, but he needed to officially integrate the Traveler into their circle, to shield her from any further suspicion.
"Come on," he said softly to Lumine, and began to lead her through the somber, whispering crowd, directly towards the center of Liyue's power: Ningguang.
Ganyu and Keqing, seeing his determined path, fell in step beside him, a silent, powerful entourage.
They reached the temporary command post Ningguang had established near the shattered altar. The Tianquan looked up as they approached, her amber eyes sharp and assessing, her gaze immediately falling on the outlander Ren was so determinedly protecting.
"Lady Ningguang," Ren began, his voice clear and formal, "there is someone you should meet."
He gently nudged Lumine forward. Lumine, though still reeling from the shocking events, understood the role she needed to play. She stepped forward and gave a respectful, if slightly bewildered, bow.
"My name is Lumine," she said, her voice steady. "I am a traveler. I was recently in Mondstadt, where I was able to assist the Knights of Favonius in resolving their Stormterror crisis." She looked at Ningguang, her golden eyes honest and direct. "For my efforts, the Acting Grand Master, Jean, granted me the title of Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius."
The declaration hung in the air, a significant, powerful statement. She wasn't just some random outlander; she was a recognized hero of a neighboring, allied nation.
Ren immediately stepped forward, adding his own, crucial testimony. "I can vouch for her, Lady Ningguang," he said, his voice ringing with an unshakeable sincerity. "I was there. I saw what she did. She flew into the storm and fought the dragon herself. Without her, Mondstadt would have suffered far greater damage. She is a person of great honor and strength."
Keqing, who had been listening with a grim, thoughtful expression, added her own official confirmation. "It is true," she stated, her voice crisp and authoritative. "I was also a witness to the Traveler's actions. The reports of her bravery are not exaggerated. She is an ally to Mondstadt, and therefore, should be considered a friend to Liyue."
Ganyu simply nods, having also been there.
The united front was absolute. The most trusted and influential figures in Liyue—were personally vouching for this stranger.
Ningguang looked from Ren's earnest face, to Keqing's firm nod, to Ganyu's sorrowful but certain expression. She then looked at Lumine, at the quiet, undeniable power that seemed to radiate from the golden-haired girl.
Her sharp, calculating mind processed the new information. The suspicion that had naturally fallen upon the unknown outlander was now completely and utterly dismantled. To accuse Lumine now would be to question the judgment of her own Qixing, of an adeptus, and of the brilliant child who had already proven his worth to Liyue tenfold.
The political calculus was simple. Lumine was not a suspect. She was an asset.
A slow, deliberate nod was Ningguang's reply. "An Honorary Knight of Favonius," she mused, her gaze on Lumine now one of intrigued assessment rather than suspicion. "Then you are indeed an honored guest in our city, though I deeply regret the tragic circumstances under which we are formally introduced."
She turned her gaze back to the sealed-off area, her expression turning grim once more. "The situation is… complex. The death of an Archon is an unprecedented event. Liyue is entering a time of great uncertainty."
She looked back at the group. "For now, no one is to leave the city. The Qixing will be conducting a thorough investigation. Honorary Knight Lumine," she said, her tone now one of official command, "you are free to go. However, you are to remain within the Harbor, and you will make yourself available for a more… formal interview at a later time."
The dismissal was also a reprieve. Lumine had been officially cleared of any immediate suspicion. She had not been arrested. She was not a fugitive.
She looked at Ren, a flicker of profound, unspoken gratitude in her golden eyes. She knew, with an absolute certainty, that this small, strange, and powerful boy had just saved her, redirecting the entire course of her journey with a few, brave words.
The story had been altered. The game had changed. The Traveler was not on the run from the law; she was now a person of interest, under the informal but unassailable protection of Liyue's newest, and most unlikely, political powerhouse: Ren and his family.