At the city gate.
"So... how are we getting to Liyue? By carriage? I wonder if one will be enough."
After Kiana and Wendy had both arrived at the city gate, Lumine asked Kaito this.
Although she was by herself, Kaito's group was quite large.
"Hm? A carriage? We don't need one."
Waving his hand at Lumine, Kaito indicated that a carriage wasn't necessary.
Don't need one?
Oh, right...
There's Wendy...
And Kiana...
After a moment of surprise, Lumine understood what Kaito meant.
With Wendy and Kiana around, why would they need a carriage?
In fact, forget Liyue; they wouldn't need any form of transportation to go anywhere in Teyvat.
"So, are we leaving now?"
Wendy said, looking at Kaito.
"Are you guys ready?" Kaito asked Lumine.
As long as she and Paimon were ready, they could leave at any time.
"Is it going to be like last time? Will we just whoosh and be in Liyue?"
Paimon still had a vivid memory of when Wendy took them to the Stormbearer Mountains.
More importantly, this way she wouldn't have to suffer on the road.
After getting used to city life in Mondstadt, she really didn't want to go back to eating and sleeping in the wild like before.
"Of course," Kaito nodded.
"Then let's go now."
As soon as she heard it would be just like last time, Paimon couldn't wait. She wanted to get to the nation of Liyue as quickly as possible.
"We're ready, Kaito."
After glancing helplessly at Paimon, Lumine confirmed they were ready.
"Then let's go."
As Wendy's words fell, Lumine immediately felt herself enveloped by a fierce gust of wind. Everything around her flashed by like a revolving lantern, and she could faintly hear Paimon's screams.
"Aaaahhh—"
"Alright, we're here, Kai."
"Mm."
Standing on the ground with unsteady feet, Lumine hadn't quite recovered yet. She only vaguely heard what seemed to be a conversation between Kaito and Wendy.
"Are we... here?"
After composing herself a bit, Lumine looked at the unfamiliar surroundings and asked.
"Isn't this place all mountains? Is this what Liyue is like?"
After looking around and seeing nothing but mountain after mountain, Paimon was clearly very disappointed.
She had been so excited for Liyue, but this was the result.
"We still need to walk a bit further."
Kaito pointed down the road ahead.
They were currently at the foot of Mt. Tianheng, so they still had to walk forward to reach Liyue Harbor.
Of course, he could have had Wendy fly them directly into Liyue Harbor.
But he felt that would be a bit too conspicuous, so they stopped at the foot of Mt. Tianheng.
Even so, their group still looked quite unusual.
Putting aside the configuration of three women, one man, and one flying pet, just Kiana and Wendy alone looked extraordinary—not at all like ordinary people.
"Kaito, have you been to Liyue before?"
Sensing that Kaito seemed very familiar with the area, Lumine asked.
I've been here in the game... and Wendy has been here too...
After thinking this to himself, Kaito said aloud, "No, but I've looked at a map, so I know a little."
"I see. Well, let's go then."
Without thinking much more of it, Lumine also wanted to see what this nation called Liyue was like.
Speaking of which...
Kiana hasn't said a word...
It couldn't be because of me, could it?
As they walked forward, Lumine suddenly realized that Kiana had been silent the whole time, which made her wonder if she was the reason.
After all, that incident Aether had encountered forced her to consider it.
But even with this suspicion, she wasn't prepared to say anything yet.
She planned to talk to Kiana later, when Kaito wasn't around or when it was just the two of them. The time wasn't right yet.
Liyue Harbor.
"Wow, it's so lively!"
As the group walked through the streets of Liyue, Paimon's cries of amazement never ceased.
And with her constant exclamations, her eyes darted around, as if everything in her surroundings could capture her attention.
Hm...
Morax...
As they walked, Kaito suddenly sensed the aura of Morax coming from a shop nearby.
"Kai, let's go check it out."
Just then, Kiana, who had been silent all this time, suddenly grabbed Kaito's hand and pointed to a nearby shop.
Did Kiana not eat breakfast?
Lumine, walking behind them, couldn't help but wonder this as she was surprised to see Kiana suddenly pull Kaito toward what looked like an eatery.
"Yay, we're going to eat! I'm a little hungry after coming all the way from Mondstadt."
Seeing that they were going to eat, Paimon forgot about everything else around her and immediately followed behind Kaito and Kiana.
This Paimon...
Didn't she just eat?
And it took no time at all to get here from Mondstadt...
Following them, Lumine silently grumbled to herself about Paimon.
If they weren't in such a public place, she really would have given Paimon a piece of her mind.
"Mr. Zhongli is as... as ever."
Halfway through his sentence, Childe, who was sitting across from Zhongli, suddenly froze.
This Anemo Archon...
She's not going to ask to borrow Mora from me again, is she?
You still haven't paid back the last loan...
Seeing that familiar figure walk in, Childe couldn't help but think this.
But thoughts were one thing; he would never dare say it out loud. Otherwise, La Signora's fate would likely be his own today.
But just as he reluctantly put on a smile, ready to greet them, they completely ignored him and walked toward another spot.
Phew...
Looks like I'm not involved this time...
Silently watching them walk past, Childe couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
Whatever happened was fine, as long as the Anemo Archon didn't come looking for him. He really didn't want to face her again.
"Kai, wait for me! Why are you walking so fast?"
Just then, the Anemo Archon suddenly said this, stunning Childe, who had just breathed his sigh of relief. He even wondered if he was hallucinating.
Kai?
Who is she talking to?
And...
Why that tone of voice?
What's going on???
Needless to say, Childe was shocked.
"I see you want to hold Kai's hand too, huh?"
As Childe reeled in shock, a girl up ahead, who was holding someone's hand, turned back and said this to the Anemo Archon.
Who is she?
He subconsciously looked at the girl who had spoken and noticed she was clearly different.
More importantly, who was the person whose hand she was holding?
What was his relationship with the Anemo Archon?
Why would the almighty Anemo Archon speak to him like that?
______
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