"If such are the rewards, then their magnitude borders on the terrifying."
Arlecchino let out a slow, awe-filled breath. Even though the mantle belonged to Liyue rather than Snezhnaya, genuine joy warmed her chest.
Liyue and Snezhnaya were bound in a pact of blood and iron, standing shoulder to shoulder through life and death.
Having three allies elevated to a realm where they could physically suppress the Heavenly Principles meant that when the final reckoning arrived, victory was practically assured.
With the Heavenly Principles contained, whatever lesser gods remained loyal to Celestia would face a united front.
It would simply come down to numbers, and the alliance held far more divine combatants.
Factoring in their Master Staves, firearms, modern munitions, and reality-altering treasures, Arlecchino felt that losing such a war would be an impossible disgrace.
"By that calculation, does our war against the heavens carry an eighty percent certainty of triumph?"
Arlecchino turned an eager, hopeful gaze toward her Archon.
The Tsaritsa curled her lips with a faint, dismissive scoff.
"Eighty percent? It is absolute certainty."
"You must adjust your perspective, Arlecchino. The Heavenly Principles are no longer an insurmountable obstacle."
"Our true horizon lies beyond the skies of Teyvat, reaching outward into the Sea of Quanta."
"In an unvarnished clash of arms, Celestia cannot overcome Zhongli and the others once their administrator permissions take root."
"If you measure raw military force, our divine combatants vastly outnumber hers."
"Celestia is no longer the true crisis. Our genuine dilemma is how to subdue her without extinguishing her life."
"The Heavenly Principles functions as the planetary custodian of Teyvat. Slaying her outright risks destabilizing the fundamental leylines of our homeland."
"Our optimal path is total suppression."
"Yet at present, aside from Ryen, no soul commands the finesse to neutralize her without ending her existence."
"Still, time is on our side; we can refine our methods at leisure."
Arlecchino blinked in sheer wonder.
Barely four months had passed since she last knelt before the Cryo Archon, yet the ancient shadow of Celestia that had tormented their court for five centuries had been reduced to a trivial detail, brushed aside with effortless confidence.
From every possible angle, the boundless laws of this universe were breathtakingly absurd.
"I share this truth not to breed complacency," the Tsaritsa noted, her tone sharpening slightly as she caught Arlecchino's wandering thoughts.
"The Heavenly Principles is unworthy of being our stumbling block."
"Yet we must never slacken our stride. This universe is the grand stage where all nations will contend in the eras ahead."
"Boundless as these lands are and steadfast as our alliance remains, healthy competition is essential."
"Exploring new frontiers, mastering fresh modules, and raising grand monuments will determine the standing of our people."
"You must master the laws of this realm with utmost haste. Once the cataclysm concludes, accelerate our expansion, funnel its wealth back into our homeland, and pull Snezhnaya onto equal footing with Liyue."
"Furthermore, urban construction remains our foremost strategic priority."
"Liyue can claim administrative authority, and so can Snezhnaya. Therefore, observe the trials they weather with acute focus."
"Once administrative permissions rest in our hands, Snezhnaya will possess an unshakeable, impregnable sanctuary within this cosmos."
"Whether our civilians migrate here permanently or visit for commerce, our sovereign soil will be absolute."
Arlecchino grasped the overarching blueprint, feeling the immense weight settling upon her shoulders.
Rising to her feet, she bowed with crisp, unwavering discipline.
"I understand, Your Majesty. I shall proceed into the districts immediately, studying their defensive engineering and observing their protocols to prepare for our own campaign."
Seeing her eagerness, the Tsaritsa offered a warm, approving smile, nodding gently.
"Return by afternoon to rest."
Arlecchino inclined her head.
"Understood. To prevent Phantom incursions."
"Not solely for that reason," the Tsaritsa replied softly, the cold demeanor melting into rare, maternal tenderness that brought a sudden warmth to Arlecchino's heart.
"You endured a grueling overland march, cut through hostile beasts, and kept your nerves stretched taut for weeks."
"Rest properly in this realm. The beds crafted from this world's timber possess remarkable properties for restoring mental vitality."
Arlecchino paused, a quiet wave of emotion touching her eyes.
"At once, Your Majesty!"
Watching Arlecchino depart, the Tsaritsa turned to Rosalyne to review the progression quotas of their remaining staves.
With their ledgers updated, they dispersed to their private quarters to sleep.
Preserving their endurance was essential for the battles yet to come.
Across the avenue from Snezhnaya's peaceful quarters, an entirely different atmosphere gripped the Khaenri'ahn outpost.
A thick, suffocating gloom hung over the stone hall.
The surviving officers sat as still as statues, scarcely daring to draw breath, looking for all the world like frightened quails.
The reason was painfully clear.
Their prince was in a foul temper.
"Curse that puppet! And curse Lumine! What is so magnificent about hoarding a few extra sticks?!"
Aether slammed his palm onto the cedar table, his voice laced with venomous irritation.
"I am her elder brother! That wretched girl possesses an entire chest of staves she barely touches; would it kill her to hand one over to me?!"
Throughout the previous night's engagement, the allied commanders had maxed out their weapon proficiencies in rapid succession.
To Lumine and the senior circle, their only complaint was lacking enough staves to absorb the ocean of experience.
Aether, however, had suffered the opposite humiliation.
His weapon progression had capped within the opening hours.
He held a solitary Advanced Wand; the rest of his inventory consisted of entry-level apprentice tools that he refused to waste time leveling.
Watching everyone else swap to fresh staves the moment their bars filled, Aether had stood upon the battlements in hollow, aimless frustration.
Worse still, the prime kill zone he had carefully secured had been stolen right out from under his nose by Scaramouche.
The more he brooded, the hotter his temper flared.
"Prancing around with a handful of wands like they rule the cosmos! They will taste humble pie soon enough!"
Aether scoffed, turning a sharp glare toward his retainers.
"What is the progression status of our division's weapons?"
Endis stepped forward nervously, keeping his head low.
"Your Highness, every Advanced Wand in our armory has reached maximum proficiency. We await only Tomes of Arcana to ascend them to the master tier."
"Which simply proves our inventory is pathetic!" Aether snapped, narrowing his eyes at his aide.
"The other courts spent the entire night cycling through weapons, while our troops finished in the blink of an eye. Do you consider that an accomplishment to be proud of?"
Endis swallowed hard, shrinking into his collar.
His prince had been thoroughly provoked by Princess Lumine; crossing him right now was sheer folly.
Aether was bitterly dissatisfied with Khaenri'ah's weapon reserves.
Once the forty-nine-day cataclysm ended, the Wizardry module would be relegated to routine military harvesting while the leadership turned their attention toward fresh systems.
Every other court would stride into the future with Master Staves, while Khaenri'ah scraped by with a tiny handful.
The humiliation was unbearable.
For a nation preparing to migrate its entire surviving population into this world, lagging behind every court in modded development was an unacceptable disgrace.
Others might hold their tongues, but Lumine would mock him relentlessly.
Being overshadowed by his sister was a fate he refused to endure.
Drawing in a deep, sharp breath, Aether barked his command.
"Endis, select one hundred scouts immediately and dispatch them through the portal to the New Continent. Accelerate their pace and barter with every single wizard tower marked upon our survey maps."
"Requisition every advanced wand they hold in stock."
"Every man must return before twilight falls!"
Endis hesitated for a fraction of a second, but catching the storm brewing in Aether's golden eyes, he bowed his head without protest.
"By your command!"
Aether pushed his chair back, sweeping his cloak over his shoulder.
"Dismissed. Those assigned to perimeter maintenance, report to the walls; rotate the garrison through mandatory sleep shifts. If any fool invites Phantoms through negligence, he can swat them with his bare hands."
Without waiting for an answer, Aether strode out of the hall.
The Khaenri'ahn officers let out a collective, ragged breath.
An enraged Aether carried suffocating pressure.
An officer leaned toward Endis, muttering with a strained grimace, "Lord Endis, does it feel to you as though His Highness has grown increasingly quick to anger lately?"
Endis sighed softly, rubbing his temples.
"Consider Her Highness..."
"If you were saddled with a twin sister across several millennia who spent every waking moment scorning you, ridiculing your plans, and trading barbs across the table, your temper would fray just as easily."
The retainers cleared their throats, quietly abandoning the topic.
The prince was normally an unshakeable, calculating monarch, but that composure shattered whenever Lumine walked into the room.
A family feud between royal twins was far above their station.
One was their prince and future king; the other was their princess and Ryen's favored partner.
Common soldiers had no business meddling in royal squabbles; ducking their heads was the only sensible path.
"Bury the discussion," Endis instructed in a firm whisper. "If word reaches His Highness that you gossiped about the royal family behind his back, you will find no mercy."
"Mobilize one hundred scouts who know the western coast. Gather the trading emeralds and depart for the New Continent."
"We must return before sunset."
"His Highness is entirely correct: the Wizardry module will soon pass to routine labor, and our standing depends on securing those staves."
The retainers nodded with professional discipline, setting out to fulfill their orders.
Lumine was blissfully oblivious to her brother's mounting rage.
Had she known, she would merely have savored the triumph, adding a few sharp jabs over tea.
To Lumine's mind, irritating Aether and spending quiet afternoons with Ryen yielded identical, boundless joy.
Across the district within the City Lord Manor, Ryen stepped through the double doors, his partners trailing behind him.
Just as expected, Klee and the young girls were already awake.
They sat obediently in the grand parlor, kicking their small legs and staring out the window with wide, longing eyes.
The moment Ryen stepped across the threshold, their faces lit up like morning blossoms.
Klee sprang from the sofa, her short legs pumping across the carpet as she threw herself straight into his arms.
"Big Brother Ryen! You came back! Klee missed you so much!"
Ryen caught her with an affectionate laugh, swinging her high into the air before burying his face against her cheek, leaving warm kisses across her forehead.
"A whole night without my sweet Klee; I thought my heart would break. Let me hold you."
"It tickles! Big Brother Ryen!"
Klee giggled, her amber eyes curving into radiant crescents.
Nahida, Diona, and Yaoyao scampered over, and Ryen scooped them up, balancing them across his arms and shoulders as he showered each of them with gentle affection.
For Ryen, the sweetest reward after exhausting labor was returning home to hold his precious daughters.
It was a joy infinitely superior to any worldly luxury.
The girls had grown accustomed to falling asleep to his soft lullabies and opening their eyes to find him smiling at their bedside.
Having him absent through the dark hours had left them deeply unsettled.
Klee had barely spared a glance for her treasured bombs all morning.
"Missing them so terribly after a single evening; what will you do when a campaign keeps you away for a full week?"
Lisa leaned against the doorframe, watching the spectacle with a teasing, sultry smile.
Ryen looked up, his cheeks dotted with tiny, enthusiastic kisses.
He paused in genuine contemplation before letting out a mournful sigh.
"You raise a terrifying point. Missing bedtime last night was painful enough."
"If I were separated from my sweet daughters for an entire week, I would surely wither away."