Chapter 55 — Kael: "I'm Not, I Didn't, Don't Talk Nonsense!"
Kael had no intention of awakening the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles just yet.
As the new Heavenly Principle and a being capable of purifying the Abyss, Kael knew that when the time came, the Sustainer would recognize his authority. Earning her cooperation wouldn't be difficult — but the timing had to be perfect.
Right now, his power still wasn't enough.
He had reached a level comparable to the Seven Archons, yes — but only just. If he were to measure himself, he would say he stood roughly at Barbatos' peak in strength.
That might sound impressive, but when compared to the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, it was still a massive gap.
Even Morax, the strongest among the Seven, could not rival her. So what chance did he have at his current level?
Kael clenched his fist.
He needed to continue evolving — absorbing more of the Abyss's power, mastering the balance between light and corruption. Until he could stand as an equal to the Sustainer, awakening her would only cause unnecessary trouble.
And there was another problem.
Summoning her into the world would come with a heavy price — one he wasn't prepared to pay.
Besides…
Traveling around Teyvat with the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles floating beside him?
That would be absurd.
The moment the Fatui or Abyss Order realized who was following him, both factions would probably collapse into chaos.
No, for now, Kael needed to remain subtle — and that meant playing the long game.
Still, he couldn't help but smirk.
"Ying, huh… The Traveler."
That girl was proving to be quite interesting.
She had the ability to purify Abyssal energy, something even Archons struggled to do. If she could be added to the group chat one day, she'd be a perfect field agent.
After all, when it came to exploring Teyvat, no one was more efficient than the Traveler.
Give her a quest marker, an exclamation point, or even a random NPC asking for help, and she'd run across an entire nation just to complete it.
She was, without question, the most reliable "mission grinder" in the world.
Kael was certain of it — Ying could become one of his most valuable assets.
However, he couldn't invite her yet.
If Ying joined and accidentally revealed the existence of the group chat to her brother, Aether, things could get messy.
Her brother had already fallen to the Abyss. And while he still retained his sanity and free will, Kael knew all too well what kind of corruption was festering inside him.
Aether's mind was a battlefield — one torn between vengeance and longing.
And his only weakness was Ying.
That made him unpredictable… dangerous.
For now, it was best to keep the Traveler out of the chat — at least until Kael could assess the situation more clearly.
Still… teasing her a little wouldn't hurt.
---
The Traveler and the Wind
As the violent vortex of wind finally dispersed, Lumine — known locally as Ying — exhaled deeply, sweat glistening on her brow.
"Hah… finally, it's gone."
Paimon floated beside her, her tiny hands pressed against her chest. "That was crazy! Traveler, you just wiped out an entire Hilichurl camp in one move!"
Ying frowned. "That wasn't my power…" She turned her gaze toward the two figures watching from a distance — a blonde girl in priestess attire, and a tall man radiating calm confidence.
The man's eyes…
For some reason, they felt familiar.
Before she could think further, the girl — Barbara — suddenly ran up to her, eyes shining.
"E-Excuse me! Are you… Lord Barbatos?!"
Ying froze. "...What?"
Paimon blinked. "Barbatos? You mean Mondstadt's Anemo Archon? No, no! Ying's not the Wind Archon — she's the Traveler! Super strong, super brave, and super humble!"
Then she puffed up proudly. "And I'm her best companion — Paimon!"
Kael and Barbara couldn't help but chuckle, and even the chat group erupted in amusement.
Ying sighed helplessly. "I'm not Barbatos. Let's clear that up right now."
---
Barbara blinked, her excitement fading into embarrassment. "O-oh… I'm sorry for the misunderstanding."
"No harm done," Ying replied kindly. Then, curiously, she asked, "Are you looking for the Wind Archon too?"
Barbara clasped her hands together. "Yes! I'm Barbara, Deaconess of the Church of Favonius." She gestured to Kael. "And this is Mr. Kael — a traveler from another world. We're investigating the monster outbreaks near Mondstadt."
Paimon's eyes widened. "Wait! You're from another world too?!"
Kael smiled faintly. "That's right. Though, unlike you, I didn't exactly fall from the sky."
For a moment, Paimon stared at him, tilting her head in confusion. Something about him felt familiar — like she had met him long ago, somewhere she couldn't remember.
Ying's expression grew serious. "Then, Kael… have you seen a white-haired god since you arrived? Someone who appeared suddenly — and took my brother away."
Kael's brow furrowed. "A white-haired god…?"
He shook his head. "No. I haven't seen anyone like that."
He wasn't lying — he truly hadn't encountered the Sustainer since arriving. She was still sealed away, far above the skies of Teyvat.
---
[Group Chat Feed]
Keqing: "Wait a minute, I think I've seen a white-haired god before."
Ningguang: "What a coincidence. So have I."
Venti: "Haha~ Same here!"
Diluc: "This is getting suspicious."
Jean: "Kael… you wouldn't happen to have kidnapped the Traveler's brother, would you?"
Kael: "WHAT?! Jean! No! Don't start rumors like that! I've only been in Teyvat for two months! Also — do I look like someone who dyes his hair white and kidnaps siblings?!"
Zhongli: "Based on universal rationality, Kael does not possess the power to capture the Traveler's brother."
Kael: "Pfft… That's true, but Zhongli, did you have to phrase it like that? It hurts!"
Diluc: "Is the Traveler's brother really that powerful? Comparable to the Archons?"
Zhongli: "Perhaps. While his full capabilities are uncertain, it's safe to say Kael would not defeat him alone."
Kael: "...Zhongli. You could at least pretend to have some faith in me."
Kael: "Also! Just because someone's brother is a good person doesn't mean he's good! Look at Kaeya — he's definitely plotting something."
Diluc: "Agreed."
---
Kael rubbed his temples, sighing deeply.
So basically… everyone already knew he was the group leader but just decided to humor him.
"Great," he muttered. "I'm surrounded by comedians."
Still, one name stood out in his mind — Keqing.
He would definitely have a talk with her later. Preferably one involving long explanations and mild psychological trauma.
---
"So that's how it is…" Ying nodded thoughtfully. Then her golden eyes met his. "Kael, be careful. The gods of this world don't seem to welcome outsiders. The one who took my brother… she wasn't just powerful — she was terrifying. Because of her, I lost my strength."
Kael's expression softened. "I see. Then, we share a common enemy."
The wind picked up, stirring his coat. "Rest assured, Ying. When the time comes — I'll help you find your brother."
Ying's eyes widened slightly, then she smiled. "Thank you."
From the distance, Paimon hovered near Barbara, whispering just loud enough for Kael to hear, "He's kinda suspicious, don't you think?"
Kael pretended not to notice.
If only she knew how right she was.