They had expected Elliot to give them an order to hunt down some rogue god, yet instead, he was sending them... fishing!?
"Your Majesty, are you really asking the five of us to go catch fish?" Bosacius asked in disbelief.
"Yes. Was I not clear enough?" Elliot replied calmly.
"No, no—we'll go right away."
"Just walk there at a normal pace, and return the same way. Don't rush. Be back before sunset."
It was only noon, with plenty of time left before evening. Elliot intended to let them unwind outdoors for a while. As their superior, joining them himself would only make them feel restrained. They needed to relax freely, without worrying about his presence.
Still puzzled, the five Yaksha descended Tianheng Mountain, strolling leisurely toward the northwest.
"Do you all feel it too? This god... he's not like the other gods," Indarias said as they walked.
"So it's not just me," Bonanus replied, sounding relieved to find someone who felt the same.
"He's too calm. It puts me at ease somehow... like even if the sky were to fall, he'd stay perfectly composed," Indarias said thoughtfully.
"In times like these, when the world is torn apart by war, such composure is rare. Watching him sip tea earlier—I almost wondered if the war had already ended," Menogias added.
"He's not the War God people talk about, and no one seems to know his name. This is the first I've heard that Liyue has a Dark Night Sovereign," Bonanus murmured.
"He doesn't seem to care about such things at all. It's like... nothing in this world can hold his attention," Indarias said quietly.
As they continued walking toward the stream, the Yaksha chatted idly. Their lighthearted conversation slowly eased their minds, helping them adapt—if only a little—to this new, peaceful life.
Before long, they reached the clear waters of the stream. Following Elliot's instructions, they refrained from using elemental power or weapons, relying solely on their hands to catch fish.
At first, the five Yaksha treated it as a trivial task.
But soon, they realized how difficult it actually was. The slippery fish darted away faster than they expected, and even when one was caught, it would often slip right out of their grasp. Frustrated, they began to focus in earnest.
"Got one!"
After a while, while everyone else was still struggling, the youngest—Alatus—caught the first fish.
"Alatus, how did you do that!? You didn't cheat, did you?" Bosacius rushed over, staring in disbelief.
"No," Alatus replied with a shake of his head.
"Amazing, Alatus! You're the first one to catch one!" Bonanus said with an impressed smile.
"I never thought Alatus would be the first among us. How embarrassing," Menogias said with a small laugh.
"Bosacius, as the eldest, how can you lose to the youngest?" Indarias teased, grinning mischievously.
"Ahhh, stop it! I'll catch one, just you wait! Alatus, let's settle this—see who catches more!" Bosacius pointed all four hands at Alatus, issuing a dramatic challenge.
"Quick! Before he agrees, take it back! Otherwise, if you lose, the embarrassment will be unbearable!" Indarias said with mock seriousness, clearly egging him on.
"Who's going to lose? Don't forget I've got four hands! I, Bosacius, am a master at fishing!"
Predictably, Bosacius took the bait, proudly giving himself four thumbs up.
The sight sent everyone into laughter.
The darkness that had imprisoned them for so long...
At this very moment—finally gave way to light.
Alatus stared wide-eyed at his four companions. They were all laughing freely.
A faint spark of light flickered in his once-dim eyes.
Having long fallen into despair, he had long since given up hope of ever seeing light again.
Yet now, that very light he thought he'd never know... had finally reached him.
Unconsciously, he smiled—for the first time in centuries. Two clear tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Alatus... are you smiling?"
Bonanus, who had been laughing, froze as she noticed the change. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Hearing her words, the others stopped what they were doing and turned toward Alatus.
He stood there, still smiling faintly, tears glistening as they slid down his face.
Seeing that, the others' faces softened, each showing a gentle, warm smile.
Alatus was the youngest among the Yaksha. Because of his delicate appearance, the Dream God had often singled him out for cruel punishment.
That god had broken him, shaping him into an obedient puppet who followed every command without question.
Over time, Alatus had locked away his emotions completely. Even his companions could not reach the heart buried deep within him.
He had always been like ice—cold, expressionless, distant.
This was the first time any of them had ever seen such an expression on his face.
"Alatus, the darkness of the past is over now," Menogias said softly.
"Embrace the light, Alatus. The Sovereign is someone worthy of trust," Bonanus added.
"Let's stand by him together," Indarias said gently, "and become the victors remembered by history."
"Hey, Alatus," Bosacius chimed in with a grin, "don't get too full of yourself just because you caught one fish ahead of me! I, Bosacius, won't lose—I've got four hands!"