Rarely had Arlecchino regretted granting someone the mercy of a quick end. She wasn't particularly fond of cruelty, not when it wasn't necessary. That didn't mean she wasn't good at it; she absolutely was. She simply didn't take pleasure in deeds that her predecessor would've found exciting.
And yet, at this moment, standing in front of Mondstadt's fortified gates in broad daylight… in this singular moment she wished she could turn back the hands of time, just so she could guide that foolish witch of embers through her delicate ministrations.
'Maybe The Doctor could find a way to bring subjects back to life. I could do it then…' she considered.
Here she stood with two young henchmen at her back, members of her family dutifully serving their illustrious 'father'. They were fully covered, concealed with hooded coats and masks. Underneath were facemasks that subtly changed their features so as to minimize their risk of exposure. Even should they be forced to expose their faces, no one in this small nation were skilled enough to determine their identity. Such were the basics of disguise, something Roselyn should've taken heed of.
She would do the same if it was warranted, but it wasn't. She was here in good faith in her role as the fourth Fatui harbinger, the mortal closest to those god-like individuals holding the top three spots. Her presence here demonstrated Snezhnaya's sincerity. The giftbox chilled with La Signora's own delusion that her 'child' carried in his hand validated that.
The knights held cold expressions, looking at her as if she could pounce on them at any moment.
'It wouldn't even last a second.' She thought. That's how long it'd take to clear out this guarding contingent; that's how weak this nation was on its own. And yet, despite that weakness, Piero's words rang clear in her mind.
'Mondstadt is the beginning and the end, an insignificant collection of narratives that foretell this world's fate.'
She wished the man wasn't always so cryptic. That was actionable intel he was spewing. Then again, because it was actionable, she wasn't typically permitted to operate here. Roselyn was chosen primarily due to her familiarity with the region and – most importantly – inability to truly impact the status quo. She was a peacock, nothing more. Unlike herself, who bore the full power of the crimson moon's legacy, Roselyn was a failed product barely capable beyond her sonorous chirping. The woman couldn't even keep herself alive if it weren't for the delusion she'd been gifted.
Pathetic.
By sending some who only knew how to posture, the upper echelon clearly hoped to minimize their footprint into this critical nation. Oh, how they failed. She would need to take the measure of this unforeseen variable that caused all of this. One thing was for sure, Roselyn was prophesized to succeed. There was no doubt that she'd secure both the anemo and geo gnoses with her political acumen. That she failed so spectacularly without claiming either…
Her attention was drawn to the approaching grandmaster and her entourage. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the three at the back. All else fell out of sight.
A floating silver pixie that bore a strange resemblance to the depictions they had of Asmoday, the Sustainer of the Heavenly Principles. That, combined with her cape which itself resembled the starry tapestry of the abyss. What an enigma she was.
A golden-haired traveler who – to her eyes – felt… empty. His power was weak on its own, but she knew better. Based on the report she received from their spies watching the dragon's lair, his strength soared midway through the fight. She didn't know the mechanisms behind that powerup yet nor how powerful it could make him, but… by their knowledge of how the golden-haired man and his twin were summoned 500 years ago, she had a pretty good idea.
The final one was the mystery, someone completely outside of any prophecies made before the time of her arrival. Unlike the boy who carried a brilliant and welcoming aura, the woman's was… unsettling. It carried a similar quality to her own. But, where her own power was like a divine force of destruction, the anomaly in front of her was like a voracious whirlpool, devouring all that entered her immediate orbit. She could appreciate the level of control it took to restrain the effect; she could empathize. It was also that empathy that warned her of the girl's power.
While she doubted the girl could best her, she may draw her into a stalemate. Arlecchino's years of rich battle experience warned her of that.
Despite taking all that in, it'd truly only taken her a brief instant. She quickly focused her gaze at Jean, who'd finally arrived in front of her.
"Welcome to Mondstadt. Am I to assume you're the new diplomat from Snezhnaya?" Jean stated with a gentle but firm tone.
"That is correct. I am The Knave, fourth of the Fatui harbingers." She noticed a jolt in many.
It seems word of their organization's power structure has spread far. Good. It would make things easier.
"It's an honor to have someone of your illustrious reputation grace our peaceful city. I'm Jean, acting grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius. I hope you'll excuse my rudeness when I don't invite you in. By your presence, I'm sure you've heard of the last diplomat's actions."
Arlecchino waved it off. "It's fine. I understand your concern. In fact, we have a… gift to begin the process of reconciliation. Roselyn's actions were personally motivated, you understand. We hope this-" she gestured to the box, prompting the agent holding it to step forward to pass it to one of Jean's knights. "-greases the wheels for further discussion."
A knight grabbed the box and brought it over to Jean. After a quick check by the former Akademiyan witch they kept in their employ, it was passed over to Jean. When the woman looked at it though, the little knight had the most splendid mixture of emotions.
Revulsion was the first. The lady breathed to calm herself down, which allowed relief to wash in like a much-needed tide. The implications were dawning on her. Truly, while the woman was a savant at managing the disorganized mess that is the windy city, she was a poor diplomat; the woman's face was a mirror to her menagerie of emotions.
"Jean..." The young red-haired nobleman and the Khaenrian knight came to her side, but she waved it away with a hand.
"It's fine. I'm just startled by their ruthlessness is all. This is truly a sincere gesture."
"What do you mean?" The nobleman asked.
"Proof." Arlecchino resonantly stated, loud enough so that all present could hear. "Evidence that La Signora, the eighth harbinger has paid the ultimate price for her egregious crime. Hers was a crime of passion, one spawned independently of our own goals. This is her reward… the only punishment our world offers for one who profanes the gods."
Gasps ring out across the clearing as the weight of their commitment rang clear.
"Now, while I understand your reservations on the matter, I do believe our sincerity here warrants some consideration. We both know that there are sensitive topics to be discussed. Topics, mind you, that are… best fleshed out in private.
Jean, who had now fully regained her regal bearing nodded gravely, "Indeed. You and your two guards will be allowed inside. Please follow me to our headquarters, where we can discuss this further."
It was clear that she and all those present were rattled. Undisciplined whispers broke out amongst their rank, whispers her bodyguards were eagerly listening to.
The Knave was pleased. She'd been prepared for a fight, fruitless as it may be for them. She was always happy to settle matters peacefully though. Doing so here would make re-establishing trust in Fontaine much easier. Archons know that Roselyn's actions undid years of relationship building.
She was also glad Childe was present. His fieldwork would come in handy. Repairing relations wasn't their only reason for being here after all. Whispers spoke of words carried along the wind, of a claim that seemingly defied all sense. They needed to know more.
---
The trip to Jean's office was a quiet affair. Most had been ordered to man their posts. Only a select few vision holders were allowed near and even those were the select few who'd been brought into the truth. Only they could even hope to put up a fight against this woman. Realistically speaking though, all Mondstadters who saw her hand a sinking suspicion that even if they could repel this woman… it would be a pyric victory at best.
She was terror incarnate, a silent glitch in the world's fabric that inspired a sort of primordial fear in all who got too close. Aether felt it especially clear. Gazing on her too long drudged up uncomfortable memories of a past he couldn't remember. A crimson moon hung over the crumbling firmament as a nation of sinners were judged for drowning the world in abyssal mud. Greed, envy, ambition… the bleeding eye of God that saw through the arrogation in the hearts of mankind, condemning them to eternal damnation.
To others, it was only a discomfort at the edge of their senses, likely an intentionally small flaunt of power to better position herself in the coming negotiations. It was unlikely someone as notoriously dangerous as this would be unable to restrain the menace she was flaunting at this moment.
To Aether, she was all his nightmares and more. It was only his iron-clad will that gave him the strength to suppress the boiling fear within him.
Illya was much less impressed. She hadn't seen that crimson moon those 500 years ago and she was reasonably confident in fighting this woman. Their powers were similar, both in quality, quality, and composition. She did pay attention to the way the woman wielded it though. Her own powers acted differently in every world, influenced by the local laws, so it was always helpful to find a local with a comparable powerset to compare with. It helped tune her control within new worlds.
"Are you OK traveler?" Paimon asked, noticing Aether's discomfort.
"I'm fine… it's just… looking at her… it reminds me of a nightmare I've had." He shakily replied.
"A nightmare?"
"Yeah. Last night, I dreamt of a crimson moon presiding over a broken landscape. My sister was pulling me, urging me to escape with her, but…" he paused, transfixed on the memory. "The unknown god stopped us."
"Really? Didn't you tell Paimon a similar story when you woke up? About an unknown god?" Paimon exclaimed.
Aether shook his head. "I can't remember the details. They're all blurry."
"Well, I'm sure you'll remember. We have six other nations to explore after all. Surely, if we find out more about the unknown god, maybe you'll learn more about that crimson moon too."
What Aether – in his addled state – and the babbling, air-headed Paimon didn't realize was that their conversation amidst the silence was heard by all present. The knights listened with interest at the fascinating tale. Kaeya had an especially deep interest in it, having heard something similar before.
The Knave was particularly amused, knowing her own origin. She knew quite a bit about the event they described; she could provide a dissertation on it even. Unfortunately for them, Pierro's instructions were clear. Now is not the time to excessively reveal such information to the traveler. Doing so would be counterproductive.
---
They arrived at a large conference room that seemed to sit a couple dozen people around a grand table. Banners were hung at different corners of the room, each stylized with their own insignias. Large windows illuminated the room from one side, all accented by the decorative green curtains.
"Welcome to our gathering space, the round table. The various companies of the knights meet here to discuss larger matters."
The Knave scanned the room with disinterest. It was humble, despite the clear effort they've taken to elevate the presentation. Rather than the opulence she'd grown accustomed to in Snezhnaya and Fontaine, this place had a more… homely appeal. It's the type of room she'd use for family meetings, rather than political discussions.
She looked at the curtains. "It's a fine space. A warm atmosphere… a gathering table that doesn't distinguish status… and-" she looked at the symbols. "-the coats of arms from the various companies to give weight to the discussions that happen here. There is a wealth of history here. Yes, fine indeed."
"Thank you. We appreciate the praise." Jean commented.
Kaeya pulled out a chair on the left side of the table, the side closest to the door. "Mademoiselle..."
She took the seat without a fuss, not deigning to even glance at him. Her eyes kept their chill. "Your manners are impeccable, thank you."
"Why, you're very welcome."
The others took their seats. Jean took the seat at the opposite side as acting grandmaster. Kaeya took his seat as head of Calvary Company. The Investigation Company seat was empty. Eula, a blue-haired girl dressed in elaborate scouts clothing, took her seat as head of the Reconnaissance Company. Hertha, a ginger haired young woman dressed in basic knights clothing, took her seat as head of logistics. Lisa took her seat as a stand in for 8th company's captain. Diluc took one of the empty seats closest to the Knave. Illya, Paimon, and Aether were asked to stand by the door, a silent acknowledgement of their status as outsiders. While they were honorary knights, the discussion here was Mondstadt's responsibility to bear.
The room was tense. The knights all carried different degrees of visible wariness toward her. Some carried themselves better like Jean with her composed posture or Kaeya with his more relax façade. Others like Hertha, who was taking notes, struggled to keep their composure given the tension of the situation. It wasn't that she wasn't professional, but the stakes here were far higher than ever before. As captain of logistics, she knew more than most how outclassed they were.
Arlecchino broke the silence. "As I mentioned at the gate, I hope our sincere gift… clarifies Snezhnaya's position on this matter. While there is something we seek to gain from the archons of each nation, Roselyn's means were, hmm… unacceptable."
"The act itself or its poor execution?" Diluc asked.
The Knave was unphased by the question, coldly smiling at the redhead. "Come now, it's in poor taste to make such accusations." She said, earning her a scowl from many in the room. "But if you must know, it's a bit of both. Beyond my disappointment with the act itself, its execution left much to be desired. The combination of these is the reason I instruct all our agents to separate emotion from business."
"Excuse my candor." Jean interjected. "But I find it hard to believe you didn't sanction such an operation when our intel suggests you've been undermining several governments across Teyvat. Our sources discovered delusion factories in Inazuma, several hostile mercantile engagements with the Liyue Qixing, and Il Dotore himself verified his own illicit operations in Mondstadt. That's to say, La Signora's actions are not out of character for you."
"I won't speak of these other accusations, but as for Il Dotore's actions in Mondstadt… I've been led to believe that you came to an, hmm… understanding out of gratitude for slaying Ursa the Drake, a notable foe in Mondstadt. Even Signora, the former harbinger, had her men prepared to do the same to your Storm Terror problem."
"Should I take this as admittance that kidnapping children under the guise of recruitment, and experimenting on them is something you endorse?" Jean sternly asked.
"…" The Knave looked at Jean with sharp eyes. Even though her expression hadn't changed, all present felt a sharp rise in the temperature, though the sensation faded a moment later. "The Doctor's operations are his own. If you have concerns, our archons can settle the matter between themselves. You have confirmed your contact with Barbatos with your little publicity stunt. It is… unproductive to air out grievances after events have already transpired.
"But why don't we cut to the chase. We both know we're not here to discuss these."
"The gnosis." Jean stated directly.
"So, you're informed then? That's good. It'll save me the trouble of explaining."
"Yes, humor me if you will." Kaeya spoke up, a smug grin on his face. "Why not just ask Lord Barbatos? Surely, two archons of their illustrious standing can talk it out."
Arlecchino's gave a smug smile of her own, "If you're asking that question then it doesn't seem like you're as prepared for this conversation as you believed. There are many things in this world that must be done under the table. Open and honest conversations rarely happen when the divine is the subject. Whether it be Inazuma's vision hunt decree, Fontaine's prophecy, or even your own god's secrets… the archons do many interesting things with knowledge we mortals could only hope to glimpse. As her trusted subordinates, we only seek to do her will with the knowledge granted to us."
"So, your god is planning something that requires the seven gnoses then, presumably something that needs to remain secret from the other nations." Jean asked.
"It doesn't need to remain secret. It's just in everyone's best interest that it does. To put the ball back in your court… if you'd like to know, why don't you have your archon simply speak to ours? I'm sure she would be willing to entertain him."
"…" The knights were quiet, digesting the Knave's words. There was a lot to unpack, but the general gist was… she wasn't willing to take accountability for Dottore's actions unless their archon was willing to bring the matter to the Tsaritsa's attention. It was also clear that there were games being played behind the scenes that they weren't privy to. Games involving the gods.
"If we're finished trading barbs-" The Knave said, swiveling her head across the room to meet all eyes, "-what is your price? If you know the stakes, our respective positions on the matter, and are still here, I can assume you've agreed to part with the Gnosis, yes?"
"…For the right price." Jean reluctantly acknowledged.
"Very good. Let's begin the negotiation then."
Illya and Aether looked at each other, expressing a plethora of silent emotions. Both were uncomfortable for different reasons.
Aether wanted to act, to do something regarding the vile accusations they'd levied. While he typically liked to stay out of the affairs of the places he travelled to, he also gravely disliked the implication of child abduction and experimentation. That isn't even mentioning the vitriol he felt at the treatment of Venti some days prior. While the perpetrator in question was dead, this discussion made it very clear; she was the tip of that disgusting iceberg.
Illya was much simpler; the Knave had a very punchable face. Every word the woman spoke grated on her gears. She wanted very badly to seize the woman by her throat and promptly throw her out the window. She'd certainly done the same to others like her before. It was only her respect for the knights here and the woman's own dense reservoir of power that kept her from doing so.
Diluc and Kaeya were much more relaxed. The Fatui's disgusting sense of superiority and disregard for people wasn't new to them. Both were fascinated though, each in their own way. Finally, they were getting a glimpse of the truth behind this foul game they'd been playing all these years. To them, that was the biggest prize behind all this, a look behind the curtain.
Needless to say, it was an enlightening experience for all present.
What none realized was that this conversation did not occur in any pre-established timeline. The ripples of Signora's failure that day – an impossibility - cascade across the timeline, crushing possibilities that should've manifested and creating many others. A nation that should've been largely uninvolved in the divine has now glimpsed the coming storm. Such is but one ripple amongst the many that erode history's proper course.