Knock, knock, knock.
"Coming, coming!"
Click.
"Ah, Sister Lumine and Sister Fischl are here!"
Bathed in the warm orange sunlight, Lumine smiled and waved at Klee, who had opened the door.
"Good afternoon, Klee. We're here," Lumine said.
"Hiroshi! Paimon wants delicious food!"
A shimmering streak of light zipped past Klee as Paimon dashed toward the kitchen, where Hiroshi was busy cooking.
"Sister Lumine, Sister Fischl, come inside quickly," Klee urged, grabbing their hands and leading them into the house with a cheerful bounce.
"Good afternoon, Lumine, Amy," greeted Ruri Gokou, who was setting the table with Qiqi.
"Good afternoon, Ruri," Lumine replied, plopping onto a chair with a sigh. Propping her chin in her hands, she let out a wistful breath and took the juice Ruri handed her, drinking it in one gulp.
"I thought Mona might have some information about my brother," Lumine said, a note of disappointment in her voice. "But it turns out Mona can't even return home and has to settle in Mondstadt. I don't know when she'll be able to fulfill her promise of divination."
"Lumine..."
Sitting beside her, Ruri gently held Lumine's hand. "Don't worry. Your brother will be fine. You know this better than anyone. If you keep searching, you'll find him one day. We'll all help you."
"Mm." Lumine nodded softly, a determined smile forming on her lips. "I believe I'll find him someday."
"My Augen der Verurteilung sees your destiny clearly."
Fischl suddenly extended her hand, summoning Oz. "Last night, as my familiar and I patrolled the three thousand worlds, we witnessed a great shadow descending from the heavens and a mysterious figure approaching Mondstadt."
"Through my Midnight Garden, I saw a fate intertwined with yours, Lumine. My Verurteilung has already locked onto this destiny. Tomorrow morning, you and I shall witness it together."
"Ahem."
Oz landed on the table and cleared his throat. "My lady means that during her patrol, we briefly saw a man in foreign attire. Though fleeting, his aura felt somewhat similar to Miss Lumine's. Judging by his direction, he's headed for Mondstadt. My lady wishes to invite Miss Lumine to join her in seeking this mysterious figure tomorrow."
"Really?!" Lumine's hands clasped Fischl's as she pulled her into a hug. "Fischl, thank you so much! I thought this trip would be a waste."
"Amy, what's this great shadow you mentioned?" Hiroshi asked, setting down a plate of food as Paimon, cheeks puffed with food, floated nearby.
"About that..."
Oz fluffed his feathers before responding. "Recently, my lady has been waking from her dreams in the dead of night, standing by the window in her nightgown and gazing at the stars. She claims to sense an ominous presence descending from the skies."
"Hiroshi," Oz continued solemnly, "Though my lady's feelings may lack concrete evidence, they are rarely wrong. Please exercise caution."
"Understood. Thank you for the warning, Oz." Hiroshi nodded. "I'll be careful."
"Alright, let's eat before the food gets cold," Hiroshi suggested.
"Oh! Paimon wants lots of food!"
"Klee, too!"
"Hmph. Even the Prinzessin der Verurteilung shall partake..."
The house buzzed with cheerful chatter as warm light filled the room. Outside, the stars shimmered brightly.
The silver moon hung high in the sky, but a massive shadow loomed faintly at its center. In the celestial expanse, divine wills stirred, awakened by the whispers of the stars. Endless streams of information were organized and funneled toward the apex of these divine minds.
"Is the one from Snezhnaya growing impatient?"
"Heh, considering that one witnessed Khaenri'ah's fate, it's unsurprising. Their actions align with their ideals."
"Foolishness! As the Cryo Archon and one of the Seven, she shirks her duties! What of the mission entrusted to us by Celestia?"
"If not for the Dendro Archon's fall 500 years ago, her excesses would never have gone unchecked!"
"Enough!"
A commanding voice silenced the heated discussion. Absorbing the latest developments on Teyvat, the leading divine will made a decision.
"The Cryo Archon poses no immediate threat to us. Her ambitions will inevitably draw the ire of others, including the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles. Though weakened, the Sustainer remains bound to her role."
"Snezhnaya's plight mirrors that of Khaenri'ah 500 years ago. Even if the Cryo Archon exploits our vulnerabilities, she will face reckoning when her plans near fruition. Celestia will awaken then."
"Our priority remains the restoration of the damage caused by Khaenri'ah and the preparation of a new Dendro Archon. When the Sustainer clashes with Snezhnaya, we shall bury her ambitions and restore the Seven."
As the top divine will finished, another asked respectfully, "And what of the unexpected outlander in Mondstadt?"
"No matter."
The apex will scanned Mondstadt, briefly locking onto Venti, who was drinking at Angel's Share. Satisfied, it withdrew its gaze.
"That outlander already draws the Sustainer's attention. We need not interfere. Perhaps a new Sustainer will emerge from among them."
"As for Snezhnaya's harbinger seeking the truth of the world... let him. His fate is sealed."
"Let us return to slumber and repair the damage wrought by Khaenri'ah."
The divine will's final pronouncement echoed as the faint island in the sky vanished once more.
Late into the night, as stars adorned the heavens, meteor showers rained down on Mondstadt and Liyue, painting the sky with a fleeting brilliance.
Boom!
A flash of white light briefly illuminated Hiroshi's estate as a meteor disintegrated into dust. Inside his room, a gentle breeze swayed the curtains. The room was empty; Hiroshi had spent another night training in his practice dimension.
In the adjacent room, Klee and Qiqi slept soundly, their arms wrapped around each other. Beneath the bed, Yuan and Bebe opened their eyes briefly, exchanged a glance, then rolled over and drifted back to sleep.
Above Liyue, the night sky rumbled with unceasing thunder.