Thanks to Xiangling and Kael working side by side, a full table of delicious dishes was soon ready.
Everyone took their seats, except for Mona, who was still missing.
Xiangling stood at the bottom of the stairs and called upward. "Mona, dinner's ready!"
After a moment, Mona finally came down, looking stiff and uncomfortable.
Hmph.
She would never skip a good meal, no matter how flustered she was.
Everyone picked up their chopsticks. Amber immediately grabbed the Stir-Fried Filet she had ordered and popped a piece into her mouth.
"This meat has that smoky wok flavor, but it's still tender. And there's a sweet richness in the sauce… what did you put in the thickening mix?"
"I simmered some seafood with seasonings in soy sauce, then used it to stir-fry the meat."
It was Kael's homemade Teyvat-style seafood sauce.
Mona's eyes widened as she scanned the dishes, each one vibrant and fragrant. She reached for the plate closest to her.
It was filled with small scarlet fish pieces sprinkled with chopped scallions, bright red and green like it had been painted.
"P–p–ptoo!"
Mona grabbed the water cup beside her and downed three full glasses.
"What is that?! It's way too spicy!"
Kael suddenly realized what she'd eaten. It was the spicy fish jerky he had made specifically for Barbara as a snack.
"Sorry, sorry. I added a lot of Jueyun Chili to that one. It wasn't meant for you guys."
He took the plate back to the kitchen.
Tonight, Xiangling didn't experiment with any strange ingredients. Instead, she cooked with the true skill of Wanmin Restaurant's finest chef.
Amber and Mona were both eating so joyfully that tears ran down their chins, leaving them speechless.
After dinner, Amber kept her promise and didn't cling to Kael.
She simply kissed him on the cheek and said, "I'm heading back. Talk to her properly, okay?"
With Mona and Xiangling staying behind to clean up, Kael picked up the carefully packed spicy fish jerky and headed toward the Church of Favonius.
Barbara's corruption had risen earlier, which meant she'd been hurt deeply today.
Knowing her near-blind devotion to the Anemo Archon Barbatos, Kael was certain that whenever Barbara felt lost, she would come here to pray.
He pushed open the cathedral doors.
Under the stone statue of the Anemo Archon, he saw a figure dressed in white.
Kael walked toward her quietly.
As he got closer, he finally noticed Barbara's trembling shoulders, shaking with every soft breath.
Hm?
Barbara was crying?
---
"When I see Kael, I always want more. Greed is a selfish desire and the root of all sin. As your devoted follower, I shouldn't have such thoughts. Please forgive me, Lord Barbatos."
Tears kept falling from her eyes, one after another.
She hated herself for being like this, but she couldn't stop it.
She didn't know what to do anymore.
"Lord Barbatos, you once gave me salvation. Please forgive me again and guide me."
Just as her prayer ended, she heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Hm? Barbara? What's wrong?"
Barbara spun around. The motion scattered a trail of tears across the floor.
Her tear-stained face lit up in surprise. "Kael!"
Was this the Archon's guidance?
Once again, the wind had sent salvation right to her side…
Barbara's voice had been so soft while she prayed that Kael only caught the last few words, something like "Please forgive me."
Just as he suspected, she had come to the cathedral to seek comfort again.
He only hoped she would never learn the Anemo Archon's real identity.
Barbara, a devoted deaconess, held a pure and unwavering faith. In her eyes, the Anemo Archon was a supreme, flawless god.
If she ever discovered that the great Lord Barbatos spent most of his days wandering around lazily, mooching off free drinks and meals…
Her faith would shatter instantly.
Kael stepped closer and brushed away the tears on her cheeks with his thumb.
"Why are you crying again? Did something happen this afternoon?"
He almost asked if something had happened to Jean, but with Barbara's fragile state and her rising corruption, he forced himself to swallow the question.
Barbara's expression softened into a bright, innocent smile, and the shadows around her seemed to vanish.
She leaned her cheek into his hand and whispered, "It's okay now… everything's okay… thank the Anemo Archon…"
[Corruption -5. Barbara's Corruption: 40.]
…?
What did Venti have to do with any of this?
Barbara wouldn't think he was the reason Kael showed up… right?
Sometimes he truly couldn't figure out what went on inside her little head.