Venti had just returned to Mondstadt when he saw the once-dormant city erupt into chaos. An ominous premonition grew stronger in his heart.
With a wave of his right hand, a gust of wind swept from one end of Mondstadt to the other. Venti vanished from his spot, reappearing moments later behind Favonius Cathedral.
Jean and Kaeya were already there, aware of Venti's true identity. They immediately rushed to greet him.
Venti's composure crumbled. His face flushed crimson as he gritted his teeth, his expression twisted with rage.
"Damn it! Who did this?!"
Jean shook her head. She had questioned every knight on patrol that day, but none had reported any unusual activity.
"Lord Venti, did you... sense nothing either?"
Venti's face darkened. Why had he chosen this moment to visit Liyue?!
Arriving at Rola's desecrated grave, Venti closed his eyes and focused his senses. After a long moment, he snapped his eyes open, his emerald irises blazing with murderous intent. "The Abyss!"
The Abyss's power was vast and its methods bizarre. Even after the immense destruction it had wrought upon Mondstadt and Liyue, Venti needed to consult with the Old Man before taking action.
Venti's greatest fear was that cornering the Abyss would drive it to drag all of Mondstadt and Liyue into the conflict.
The Abyss had repeatedly tested his limits, as if he were some pushover!
Venti transformed into a gust of wind and soared to the highest spire of the Favonius Cathedral. He unleashed a gale that swept through every corner of Mondstadt.
"Jean, no need to trouble yourself. That creature isn't in Mondstadt."
Venti's voice carried on the wind to Jean's ears. She lowered her head in silence, glancing at Kaeya beside her.
Kaeya: "I'll lead a search party outside the city immediately!"
Venti appeared beside Kaeya in an instant. "This was the Abyss's doing. Leave it to me."
Kaeya: "Thank you, Venti!"
If even Venti couldn't retrieve her, then no one could.
Venti vanished in a gust of wind, offering no assurances. He had broken his promises too many times before.
After Venti left, Kaeya slammed his fist into a nearby tree, blood seeping from his knuckles.
His hand throbbed, but the pain was nothing compared to the ache in his heart.
"Damn it! Those Abyss bastards again!"
Why are they so persistent? Even after Rola's gone, they still desecrate her remains!
Jean patted Kaeya's shoulder reassuringly.
"Rola's grave was desecrated within Mondstadt, and her remains stolen. As Acting Grand Master, I was completely unaware of this. I... will personally apologize to Diluc, and the Knight Order will spare no effort to recover Rola's remains!"
Jean placed her right hand over her chest, her voice earnest.
Kaeya covered his right eye, wincing slightly. After a moment, he said to Jean:
"This isn't your fault, Jean. The Abyss is just too cunning..."
Since the last major incident in Mondstadt, the Knight Order had already increased patrols and strengthened defenses at the gates. Jean had done everything within her power; she shouldn't bear the blame for this.
"I'll speak to Diluc myself. With Mondstadt in such turmoil, we need you to maintain order!"
Kaeya could only hope that Venti would succeed in retrieving Rola's remains.
Please, Barbatos!
-
Early morning at Dawn Winery.
After slaying Malice in Liyue and avenging his sister, Diluc ended his journey of pursuit.
Though he had temporarily avenged her, Diluc knew that as long as the Abyss remained, his vengeance would never be truly complete.
The more he learned about it, the clearer its terrifying nature became.
On the continent of Teyvat, the Abyss was an invader, and no one knew the location of its main stronghold.
Against the Abyss, the Seven Nations could only mount passive defenses.
Today marked the 194th day since his sister's sacrifice. Diluc had prepared her favorite foods and a bottle of fruit juice for his visit to her grave.
Since returning to Mondstadt, he visited his sister every other day. Sometimes, when his longing kept him awake at night, he would go to her grave, sitting before it and talking to her as if she were still there.
Speaking his thoughts aloud brought him solace, allowing him to return home and sleep peacefully.
As Diluc packed his things and prepared to leave, Kaeya suddenly entered Dawn Winery.
Diluc was puzzled. Kaeya occasionally visited, but usually in the afternoon. This was the first time he had come so early.
"Diluc."
Diluc, carrying a food box, replied, "I have important matters to attend to today and no time to entertain you. Make yourself at home."
Diluc tried to walk past Kaeya, but Kaeya quickly moved to block his path.
"Are you going to see Rola?"
Diluc's expression darkened. "Is that why you're stopping me?"
"Of course not. There's been... an incident in Mondstadt."
"What kind of incident?"
Hearing that it was serious, Diluc stopped in his tracks.
"Before I tell you about this, I need to confirm something first," Kaeya said.
"When did you become such a fussbudget?" Diluc retorted.
Kaeya didn't argue. He asked earnestly, "If—and I mean if—someone desecrated Rola's tombstone, what would you do?"
Diluc's eyes turned glacial. "Who?!"
Seeing Diluc's reaction, Kaeya knew his current state. As Diluc turned to leave, Kaeya didn't dare stop him this time. He figured it was better to tell him now, so he could prepare himself, rather than let him see it with his own eyes.
"Rola's grave has been dug up," Kaeya said. "Her remains have been stolen..."
Before Kaeya could finish, Diluc, who had already started to leave, suddenly lunged back, his food box crashing to the ground. A plate of potato cakes spilled out, scattering potato chunks across the floor.
"Say that again! What happened to Rola's grave?!" Diluc demanded, his eyes bloodshot, a faint mist of tears shimmering at their edges.
He gripped Kaeya's collar tightly, his entire being radiating the predatory intensity of a lion about to pounce.
Kaeya turned his head away, unable to bear the sight of Diluc's current expression. "It happened in the early hours of this morning," he said. "The Abyss stole Rola's remains. Venti went to investigate at dawn..."
"Grave robbing and corpse theft—such a massive disturbance, and the Knight Order didn't notice a thing?!" Diluc demanded.
Before Kaeya could answer, Diluc already knew the truth. The Abyss's methods were impossibly subtle. If they were determined to steal the body, the Knight Order stood no chance of detecting them.
But if the Knight Order couldn't detect them, what about Venti? As the Anemo Archon, surely he would have noticed something!
Diluc released his grip on Kaeya's collar and stumbled backward several steps, his body drained of strength.
"Are you alright?" Kaeya reached out to steady him, but Diluc dodged his hand and sprinted toward Mondstadt.