Beidou got the answer she wanted. There was no reason to keep holding Kael and Mona on the ship.
The moment Mona woke up, she and Kael were escorted off the Alcor by the crew.
"Ugh…"
She was free again, yet she didn't feel the slightest bit happy.
Right before leaving, she'd checked Beidou's star chart.
It had merged into Kael's completely.
Their fates were already tangled together.
"Another one…"
Kael pulled out the Sacrificial Fragments from his coat and handed it to her.
"Don't sigh. Beidou gave this to you."
Before parting, Beidou had passed the catalyst — originally meant for Ningguang — to Kael.
"This one's for Mona. Consider it my apology for the misunderstanding."
She fully expected to see Mona plenty of times in the future anyway. There was no need to make things awkward over something so small and put Kael in a difficult spot.
Mona accepted the Sacrificial Fragments, feeling a little better.
Well… fine.
She'd already seen it in the stars — Kael and that woman would always be intertwined.
No matter what Mona did, she couldn't change the flow of fate.
At least she got her hands on a rare ancient tome.
Although considering she'd gotten it by losing Kael to another woman, it wasn't exactly a joyful prize.
---
Kael and Mona returned to Wanmin Restaurant.
The moment they walked in, Xiangling rushed over.
She grabbed Mona by the shoulders and looked her up and down.
"Mona, are you okay?"
She had overheard everything last night between Kael and the Alcor, and she'd been worrying ever since.
Seeing Xiangling's anxious face, Mona swept her hair back and flashed a smug little grin.
"Good to know someone actually cares about me."
"Of course I care! You're basically my sister-in-law."
Mona brightened instantly at that title. She answered without thinking, "Since you're being so sweet, I'll help taste-test your dishes today."
Xiangling's eyes sparkled. "Really?!"
Even though Kael would be the one representing Wanmin Restaurant in the Master Chef Competition this year, creating new dishes was still Xiangling's biggest passion.
And having someone volunteer as a taste-tester was always a blessing.
Mona regretted her words immediately, but seeing Xiangling's excitement, she could only swallow it and nod.
Kael flicked Xiangling lightly on the head.
"Don't bully Mona too much."
Xiangling stuck out her tongue. "I'd never bully my sister-in-law. Don't worry, big brother. I'll make the best food for her!"
Left-and-right "sister-in-law" completely melted Mona's mood. She happily linked arms with Xiangling and dragged her toward the kitchen.
"Come on, come on. Sister-in-law will help you taste-test!"
Kael shook his head at the sight of the two getting along so well.
Mona really was too soft-hearted. Xiangling only needed to butter her up a little to win her over.
Once he made sure Mona was safely back at Wanmin Restaurant, Kael prepared to return to Mondstadt.
He pulled up the map and teleported straight to the waypoint outside Mondstadt City.
The moment he approached the gates, two Knights of Favonius on duty spotted him.
"Traveler! Haven't seen you in days. My little sister said she wanted to stop by your meat shop yesterday, but it's been closed."
Kael hadn't expected anyone to remember that half-open, half-closed shop of his.
He chuckled. "I was traveling in Liyue recently. It'll be a while before I reopen."
The other knight laughed. "Come on, she doesn't miss the meat shop. She misses the Traveler. All the girls in Mondstadt have been waiting for you."
While Kael chatted with the knights, a little girl in bright red hopped excitedly toward the gate.
"Hey, Boar King Brother~!"
Klee's eyes sparkled the moment she saw him. She sprinted across the square on her tiny legs.
She tilted her head back, beaming. "Boar King Brother, you're back home~"
Kael rubbed her head helplessly. "You really gonna keep calling me that?"
Klee grinned mischievously.
"You promised you'd get me Snowboar King meat. If you don't keep your promise, Klee has to keep reminding you~"
Kael pinched her cheeks gently.
"So you're doing it on purpose?"
Klee quickly pushed his hands away, rubbing her now-red cheeks, lips puffed into a pout.
"It's because Boar King Brother broke his promise."
Kael's heart softened instantly at her little sulky expression.
"Alright, alright. I'll get you the Snowboar King as soon as I can, okay?"
"Okay~~!"
Klee bounced happily in place.
"Did you see Amber at the Knights of Favonius earlier?" Kael asked.
"Amber? She went to Liyue."
"…What?"
Kael stared. "When?"
"Hmm… I think she told Klee two days ago."
Klee tugged on his pants. "Are you going to Liyue to find Amber? Can Klee go too?"
She stared up at him with big teary eyes.
"Klee's bored in Mondstadt… No one plays with Klee… Klee wants to go to Liyue too…"
How was anyone supposed to say no to that face?
But if he took Klee without warning, Jean would worry herself sick.
Seeing him hesitate, Klee pleaded even harder.
"Please, Boar King Brother? Please take me~ take me~"
Kael thought it over and finally nodded. "Alright. But only for one day. I'll bring you back tomorrow, deal?"
Klee cheered and spun in circles around him.
"Yay! Thank you, Boar King Brother~!"
Amber had already headed to Liyue. If she'd left two days ago, she would arrive today.
Kael didn't want her making such a long trip just to miss him.
He crouched down, ready to place Klee into the Serenitea Pot before teleporting.
Right then—
[Host, emergency event detected!!!]
Kael froze mid-motion.
"What? There should still be ten days left on the cooldown."
[Host, check your Pain Value panel. Now.]
The System's voice was faster than usual. For the first time, Kael heard panic in it.
He opened his panel.
"Everything looks normal. A lot of Pain Values dropped recently, so what's—"