It felt like power sleeping in the ley—quiet as breath, threading the air.
Venti stood by the Statue of The Seven, eyes half-lidded as the winds whispered. "Didn't think Kairo could plant… whatever this is… right at a statue and then move through it."
He let the breeze crawl across his fingertips, reading it like a score. "The Abyss Order can piggyback on the ley to rip open gates, sure. But this—this isn't quite the same. Close in method, not in melody."
A stray gust tugged his braid. "Convenient for the Traveler, though."
His gaze slid to the frost-blue sentinel standing a little ways off—the Everwinter Shadewalker. Venti's expression went amused, then… curious. It looked like an ice-aspected construct, yet there wasn't an ounce of Cryo resonance in the wind.
"Where did you come from?" he murmured. Definitely tied to Kairo.
He chuckled, shook his head, and bled back into breeze. "Mysteries reveal themselves when the song is ready."
—
Morning in Mondstadt arrived bright and clean. Sunlight rinsed the rooftops, and the wind carried a hint of spring.
Lumine surfaced from sleep with a stretch—so much better than a bedroll under the stars. Warmth pressed against her; she glanced down—
…and froze.
Her blanket had skittered to the floor sometime in the night. She was curled in Kairo's arms, one arm looped around his waist like a koala with no survival shame.
W-what—? Heat climbed her ears to dangerous levels. She carefully eased her arm back, testing each inch like disarming a bomb. The mattress creaked; she held her breath; Kairo kept sleeping, dead to the world.
Lumine slipped free, cheeks hot as ripe peaches, and tiptoed off the bed. She fussed the blanket into harmless shapes, then cracked the curtains. Light spilled in, bathing the little room in honey.
"Mmf—too bright." Paimon peeled off the couch, hair pointing in three directions. "Morning, Lumine."
"Morning," Lumine managed, very composed, very not-remembering-how-she-got-there.
Paimon perked up quickly. "With Kairo's… anchor-thing, we'll never have to sleep outside again. Night travel, teleport home, breakfast at Good Hunter, teleport back—adventuring on easy mode!"
"Not always," Lumine reminded her. "He needs a strong ley point."
"Right, right. Technicalities."
Kairo woke a little later. After quick washes, they slipped through quiet streets to Good Hunter. Sara's eyes went round when they walked in.
"Kairo? Traveler? Didn't you leave for Liyue yesterday morning?"
Paimon grinned. "Came back last night!"
Sara blinked like a cat rained on indoors, then fled to the kitchen. Soon there was roast on the table—crisp edges, juicy center. Paimon made persuasive noises, declared eternal love to the grill, and even packed a second breakfast to go.
Outside, they ducked into a quiet alley. Kairo's will turned; the world smudged; color and scent rewrote themselves. In the next heartbeat, they stood once more before the weathered Statue on the Wolvendom road. The Shadewalker waited where they'd left it—silent as a frozen oath.
"Heehee. I'll never get tired of that," Paimon whispered, practically rubbing her hands together. "Forward, my glacial bodyguard!"
The Shadewalker moved to point, ice-axe resting across a shoulder.
—
At the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, Acting Grand Master Jean worked through the morning's stack of petitions. A knock. A knight slipped in, helmet tucked under one arm.
"Master Jean, I sighted the Traveler and Adventurer Kairo in town. They came out of Good Hunter."
Jean looked up, stunned. "But… we saw them off yesterday."
"Yes, ma'am. I thought I was mistaken, but I watched them clearly. Also… I was on gate duty last night. No one re-entered the city."
Jean's brow drew tight. If they'd reached Springvale by dusk—a fair pace, with Kairo's speed buffs—why come back to Mondstadt to sleep? And how return without her gate watch seeing?
"Visit Good Hunter. Speak with Miss Sara," Jean said quietly. "Bring me what you learn."
The knight hurried off and soon returned, relaying Paimon's cheerful confession that they "came back last night." Jean pressed her knuckles to her temple.
Abyss Gates? Borrowed winds like… She thought of Venti—for a second, an old memory of being carried by song across half the nation. Deep as her respect ran, Barbatos was Barbatos. The Abyss Order had its own doors in the dark.
But Kairo? If he had such means before, why carry sacks from the woods for half a month? None of it added cleanly.
"Keep an eye on their route," she said at last. "No interference. Just observation."
"Understood." The knight bowed and withdrew.
Jean stared out at the sunlit plaza. "What are you, exactly…?"
—
Dawn Winery basked under a clear blue. Vines rustled, chimneys whispered, and the morning smelled of earth and promise.
"Wooow!" Paimon pointed, bright-eyed. "Haven't been here in ages! Think Master Diluc is in? Should we drop in and—"
"Breakfast was ten minutes ago," Lumine said, side-eyeing her. "Focus. Wolvendom's close."
"Please. With Kairo here? And our frosty friend?" Paimon thumbed at the Shadewalker, which had just wordlessly hewed a wandering Slime into two neat regrets. "We're unstoppable!"
"Keep moving," Kairo said with a small smile, eyes drifting over the vineyards before turning away.
On an upper balcony, Diluc watched them pass, teacup paused under his lip. The Traveler. Kairo. Heading for Wolvendom. Escort request? Liyue-bound staging?
His gaze snagged on the figure leading them.
Ice-blue armor. A faceless crown of frozen spines. No elemental signature he recognized—and yet no hostility toward the trio whatsoever.
"What is that?" Diluc murmured, eyes narrowing.
He set the cup down.
Time to find out.
To be continued…
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