The Balladeer lay motionless in the snow—beaten within an inch of his life, but not killed.
Raiden Ei lowered her weapon and turned away.
In the end, he was still something she had created.
She didn't care to finish him off; as long as he lived, that was enough.
Her gaze shifted toward the witch who had tried to divine her identity earlier.
The girl—Mona—was now kneeling, gasping for breath, tears streaming down her face.
Beside her, Lumine, Paimon, and Eula were frantically supporting her, completely bewildered.
A moment ago, she'd been perfectly fine— so how did her eyes suddenly become… like this?
"I'm sorry! I was wrong!"
Realizing that something had gone terribly wrong with her vision, Mona cried out toward the empty sky.
She knew what had happened.
Her attempt to spy on that terrifying "Second Seat" Harbinger had been noticed.
The punishment had been swift—her sight, sealed away.
He could've just killed her on the spot.
The fact she was still alive… was practically merciful.
"Oh?" Raiden Ei asked coolly. "And tell me—what exactly were you wrong about?"
She assumed the apology was meant for her.
"I shouldn't have used astrology to divine that Harbinger's fate!"
Mona's voice trembled with tears.
She didn't even fully understand what had happened, only that her eyes refused to open— and even if they could, she probably wouldn't see a thing.
For a diviner, this was nothing short of a living nightmare.
Would she have to beg forgiveness in person just to regain her sight?
Ei frowned slightly.
So the apology hadn't been directed at her—but at Su Ran.
She knelt briefly and examined Mona's condition.
"Your eyes… they're ruined?"
Her words made everyone freeze—Lumine, Eula, and Paimon alike.
"Just because she used astrology… on that Harbinger?"
Eula's heart pounded.
So that was the kind of power the Second Seat possessed— to seal someone's eyes across space simply for looking at him?
That wasn't a "technique."
That was divine authority.
"Miss Ei," Lumine said quickly, "could you maybe take Mona to Su Ran?
She can apologize properly—he might lift the curse!"
Even for Lumine, this was terrifying.
She hadn't known Su Ran could do something like this.
But she also remembered—he'd never struck her as unreasonable.
If Mona apologized sincerely, maybe he'd forgive her.
Ei hesitated, then extended her hand.
Mona flinched hard, thinking she was about to be struck.
But Ei merely rested a palm on her head, channeling Electro energy.
A moment later, the Archon's brow furrowed.
"…I can't undo it."
Even she couldn't repair what had been done.
That meant the only option left—was to bring Mona to him.
"Y-you can't fix it either?" Mona stammered, horrified.
"Then what kind of monster did I provoke!?"
"His strength surpasses mine," Ei said matter-of-factly.
"It's only natural that he can do things I cannot."
After all, even the power Su Ran had granted to Childe was enough to rival a genuine god.
Compared to that…
Ei saw no shame in admitting it.
"I'm doomed…"
Mona's voice quivered to a whisper, her face pale as snow.
She'd offended someone more terrifying than the Raiden Shogun.
How could the Second Seat possibly be this strong!?
"It's not that bad!" Paimon said quickly. "Just go apologize!
If that doesn't work… I'll, uh… beg for you too!"
Ei didn't bother to answer.
She simply grabbed Mona by the arm— and took off into the air, lightning trailing behind them as they flew toward Liyue.
Eula stood frozen, mouth slightly open.
"That… that woman can fly?"
Who flies without wind gliders!?
"She's Su Ran's follower," Paimon explained confidently.
"Super strong!"
She didn't know Ei's true identity, but anyone who followed Su Ran had to be close to Archon-level strength, right?
Even Childe possessed near-godlike power.
"Su Ran?" Eula asked curiously.
"Who's that?"
"The Second Seat of the Fatui Harbingers, of course!" Paimon said cheerfully, as if she'd just said 'Oh, that's my next-door neighbor.'
Eula was not cheerful.
A subordinate strong enough to maul another Harbinger— and these girls were on first-name terms with her boss?
Who were these people!?
"Ahem," Lumine said quickly, noticing Eula's wary gaze.
"I'm an Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius.
You know—the one who purified Dvalin a while back."
Eula blinked, taken aback.
If she was that Honorary Knight, then… that did explain a lot.
"You're that Honorary Knight?"
Then there was nothing to worry about— except one thing still bothered her.
"But how did you end up acquainted with a Fatui Harbinger?
Especially the Second Seat?"
The higher-ranked Harbingers were monsters— even the top four were said to rival gods themselves.
Lumine scratched her cheek awkwardly, then puffed up with a little smug pride.
"Ahaha… it's a long story…"
And with that, she began recounting how Su Ran had once asked her to travel to Inazuma and rescue someone on his behalf.
"Honestly, it's such a hassle~ Every time I go somewhere new, I end up being dragged into someone's errands!
I haven't even reached Inazuma yet, and I've already accepted a quest there!"
Her tone was half-exasperated, half-showing-off.
If she weren't such a cute girl, someone would probably have punched her for that smug face by now.
"But that's obviously a trap," Eula said, frowning.
"The Second Seat doesn't need your help.
If he really couldn't beat a god, he could at least escape.
And now he's just… vacationing in Liyue?"
She couldn't believe someone could be that naïve.
Was this the "Honorary Knight" that Acting Grand Master Jean had so much faith in?
"B-but he paid a sixty-thousand Mora deposit!" Lumine protested.
That shut Eula up for half a second.
"He paid you?"
"Uh-huh! And after I saw him one-shot an Archon-level being…
I didn't dare give the deposit back!"
Paimon crossed her arms smugly beside her.
"So obviously, we have connections, okay?
We're basically on good terms with a Fatui Harbinger!"
Eula sighed, utterly speechless.
A Harbinger's follower beating another Harbinger half to death… a blinded astrologist being carried off by a literal god… and now this cheerful pair claiming to be "friends" with the Second Seat?
Mondstadt suddenly felt like a very small place indeed.
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