11 Unexpected Meeting.. - Chapter 11

2 Weeks Later...

Two weeks zoomed by since Osial got taken down with a bang, thanks to Ningguang ditching the Jade Chamber into it.

Lumine and Paimon, meanwhile, found themselves in a bit of a pickle, still on the hunt for Gojo but no closer to finding him than when they started.

Madara, on the other hand, was off on his own adventure. Still hanging around Sumeru, he decided it was time to make a trip to the desert.

His mission wasn't for battle or glory, though. Nope, he was on a courier quest, of all things, tasked with delivering a letter from Nilou to Dehya.

Imagine that, Madara turning into a delivery guy. But hey, when duty calls, even the mighty have to answer.

Now, in Fontaine, Byakuya's been bumping into Arlecchino here and there. She's like a bee to a flower, trying her best to loop him into the Fatui.

But Byakuya? He's having none of it. Despite her charm offensive and whatever persuasive tricks she pulls out of her pockets, he just keeps handing her those polite, but firm refusals.

So, yeah, not a lot of earth-shattering stuff happening, but the everyone's caught up in their own little dramas.

IN LIYUE...

Lumine and Paimon now are basically playing detective, being on a hunt for Gojo because they really could use his help.

Before the whole showdown with Osial, they decided to check the corpse of Geo Archon, Exuvia, which was just chilling in the Golden House.

But, Childe aka Tartaglia, the 11th Fatui Harbinger, jumps out of nowhere.

Childe was there on a mission of his own, aiming to swipe the Geo Gnosis tucked away inside Exuvia.

Lumine did her best to protect for the Exuvia's corpse. She even got a bit of an edge and pushed Childe off somewhat, but man, Childe wasn't having any of it.

He switched on his Foul Legacy mode, and just like that, he was zipping around quicker than you could say "sneaky Hydro dude."

Childe, being, well, Childe, darted straight for the body, thinking he's about to hit the jackpot by snagging the Gnosis.

But guess what? No Gnosis to be found inside the corpse. Imagine the look on his face, right?

It's right after this little anticlimax that he went full dramatic and unleashed Osial.

(Paimon) : "Paimon's got this brilliant idea: Why not hit up Northland Bank? Childe is a Snezhnayan, right? And that bank's straight outta Snezhnaya too!" Paimon pipes up, connecting the dots in her unique, Paimon-style logic.

Lumine thinks it over and figures, hey, why not? If there's even a slim chance it could put a pin in Childe's chaos-making spree, it's worth a shot.

So, they decide that's their next move, setting their sights on the Northland Bank to see if they can cool down whatever wild plans Childe's cooking up.

As they're heading to the bank, Lumine and Paimon start to notice there's an extra set of footsteps tagging along.

They turn around and — surprise, surprise — it's Gojo!

(Paimon) : Paimon, never one to hold back, goes, "Hey! Where were you when we needed you the most?! There was this massive sea serpent attacking Liyue, you know?!" She's clearly not pleased about his timing.

(Gojo) : Gojo just gives them this laid-back, almost sheepish grin. "Sorry, sorry. I kinda took a little trip away from Liyue, was on a hunt for my little brother. But turns out he's like a needle in a haystack. Anyway, I'm back now! Looks like I'm sticking with you folks wherever you're headed next."

(Paimon) : Paimon's all business and jumps straight to the point, "We're off to Northland Bank now! The Traveler had a showdown with Childe, a Fatui Harbinger! He came to Golden House to snatch the Gnosis, but the body didn't have it. Given he's from Snezhnaya, you wouldn't happen to know a thing or two about him, would you, Gojo?" She's buzzing with questions, eager for any details Gojo might have.

(Mizu as Gojo) : He just gives a casual shrug, not seeming too fazed by the whole Fatui Harbinger talk, "Oh, a Fatui harbinger in Liyue? That's interesting... And about him, I only have my eyes on strong enemies. So basically, nothing much I know about him." He seems more laid back than ever, not really caught up in the whole ordeal.

As they walked into Northland Bank, the scene was totally not what they were expecting.

Right there, in the flesh, were Childe and La Signora, another Fatui Harbinger, and she was actually holding the Geo Gnosis.

Then there was Zhongli, just chatting with them like it was a regular day in Liyue. Talk about a surprise!

(Paimon) : Paimon, always quick to react, was buzzing with anxiety. "There are two Fatui Harbingers here! What are we gonna do?!" She exclaimed, clearly taken aback by the turn of events.

Lumine, ever the warrior, didn't waste a moment. She slipped right into her battle stance, ready to face whatever was coming.

Despite the unexpected meeting, she knew they had to be prepared for anything with the Fatui around.

(Zhongli) : Zhongli turned his attention towards them, demeanor as composed and formal as ever. "Ah, you have arrived. We have concluded our discussions here," he stated, his voice carrying the elegance and calm authority characteristic of him.

(Paimon) : Paimon almost surprised, blurted out, "Wait, you're the Geo Archon, Zhongli?!"

(Lumine) : Absorbing the revelation with a mix of surprise and contemplation, chimed in more calmly, "I had my suspicions, but this... I didn't see it coming."

So there I was, stepping into the room, and even with my blindfold on, I could 'see' her clear as day - La Signora.

(Mizu as Gojo) : Couldn't resist cracking a smile, "Oh! It's you, fair lady! It's me! Don't you remember?!" I said, laying it on thick just for the fun of it.

From her vibe, I could tell she was fuming. Couldn't help but remember how I threw a wrench in her plans to snatch Venti's Gnosis. Ah, good times.

(La Signora) : As soon as she spotted me, Signora was ready to bolt. "You! Let's go, Childe! We must get away from this person as soon as we-" Slipping my blindfold just enough to peek with one eye, I froze them in their tracks.

She couldn't even finish her sentence before they tried to make a run for it. They literally couldn't move a muscle.

(Mizu as Gojo) : "Now I shall interrogate you both," I announced, flipping the switch to serious mode.

There's no way I'd let this opportunity slip by to dig up some dirt, especially from them.

IN MONDSTADT...

Meanwhile, back in Mondstadt, a man was walking around, blending in yet standing out just a bit.

He had this cool, composed vibe going on, with brown eyes that seemed to take in everything and nothing all at once.

His hair was mostly brown but had this interesting stripe of white.

His outfit wasn't too flashy but had an air of understated style.

A dress shirt and pants combo, pretty standard, but then he topped it off with a scarf and a long coat that really pulled the look together.

The scarf, pants, and shoes were all black, making a nice contrast with his white shirt and inner coat.

The gray coat added an extra layer of cool, especially with those black stripes in the front and sprinkled on the inner fabric.

Oh, and he wore glasses, which just added to his thoughtful, possibly scholarly vibe.

Just another day for him, wandering through Mondstadt, probably lost in thought or on some personal quest.

Despite his well-built frame, the guy was walking with a cane.

But honestly, watching him move, you wouldn't think he needed it much; it was like he was just strolling, completely at ease.

The cane seemed more like a stylish accessory than a necessity, adding a bit of distinguished charm to his whole vibe.

Just as he was smoothly navigating the streets, bam, someone bumped right into him.

(Venti) : And who else could it be but Venti, looking a bit tipsy and giggling, "Ah, sorry! I'm kinda drunk right now- Hic!" Classic Venti for you, blending in with Mondstadt's locals by being a drunkard.

(???) : This man, with his cane and cool aura, could only let out a sigh, taking in the sight of the god of wind in his merry state. "It's okay, you should get some rest," he advised, probably figuring it was best to just go with the flow.

(Venti) : Venti, with a grin and slightly blurry eyes, looked up at him and hiccuped, "Woah.. You've got some good face, don't you, mister? Hic! How about this bard play a song or two for you?" There he was, giggling away, totally unfazed.

But the guy wasn't having any of it. He was all business and maybe a bit too sober for impromptu concerts.

(???) : "I refuse. When you're sober, I will gladly take your invitation. I have something to do," he said, cutting the interaction short.

With that, he just walked away, leaving Venti in his merry, slightly confused state.

No songs for today, it seems, at least not until the offer comes from a less tipsy Anemo Archon.

Just as he's about to blend back into the crowd and carry on with whatever he had planned, he gets approached by someone else

(Fischl) : "Halt! I, Prinzessin der Verurteilun, grace your arrival within our domain! Who thou might be?" Yep, that's Fischl for you, always on a whole other level with her 8th grade syndrome, diving deep into her fantasy world.

Welt couldn't help but crack a smile at the spectacle. Fischl's commitment to her role was something else, after all.

(Welt) : "My name is Welt Yang. I'm from Liyue. I'm here for something," he replied, keeping it simple and sweet.

He wasn't about to dive into her theatrics, but couldn't deny the charm in her dramatics. Mondstadt's characters were definitely proving to be an interesting bunch.

(Fischl) : "Something? In these lands, we art renowned far and wide for nought but the exquisite nectar of the gods—our wines. Shouldst thou be a seeker of matters pertaining to commerce or quests of great import, thou must seek an audience with the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, Jean. She, the beacon of righteousness and order, presideth over all such affairs within this domain," Fischl declares in a fantastical speech.

(Welt) : "I see. Jean, is it? I'll remember that. Thanks a lot. Should I let anyone know if I'm planning to visit her formally?" Welt asks, his curiosity piqued, navigating the conversation with ease despite Fischl's dramatic flair.

(Fischl) : "Ah, seek out Kaeya, the one who watches over Mondstadt's gates and the cavalry captain. Yet, fear not, for any of the guardians adorned in the attire of the Knights may serve as heralds to thy request. Convey thy intentions unto them, and they shall guide thee to the Acting Grand Master Jean with due haste." With a grand wave of her hand, she solidified her guidance.

(Welt) : "Ah, I see. Thank you so much. Though it isn't much, here's something to reward you." Welt graciously offered her a bar of wrapped chocolate, but he noticed the puzzled look crossing Fischl's face as she examined the unfamiliar item.

Handing it to her, he noticed the puzzled look that crossed her face. Clearly, this was her first encounter with such a treat.

(Welt) : "Oh, all you need to do is just unwrap this, and you can eat it. It's sweet," he explained, noticing her confusion.

Fischl, intrigued by this mysterious gift from him, cautiously took the chocolate.

(Fischl) : Her eyes, alight with curiosity, darted between the wrapped bar and Welt, "A treasured sweet from thou? I shall partake in this offering with the utmost gratitude," she replied, her voice tinged with excitement.

Despite rocking a youthful look, Welt's got a knack for dealing with the younger crowd. He really knows his way around them.

IN SUMERU...

So there Madara was, trekking across the Sumeru desert, on a mission to find Dehya and deliver a letter from Nilou.

All was going well until he stumbled upon an unexpected welcome.

Six bandits had him completely surrounded, looking like they just stepped out of a "how to be a cliché bandit" handbook.

One of them, clearly the ringleader with a confidence that outshined his common sense, stepped forward.

(Leader) : "You know this road is owned by us, right?! Pay up or leave all your belongings here! Kekekeke~" he cackled, waving his knife around like it was supposed to scare Madara.

Madara could only sigh at the sheer foolishness of it all. Here he was, bothered by bandits when he had far more important things to do.