When Chen Xiyao saw Rola's remains explode into a blood mist, she didn't cry. She was simply shocked—shocked that Mihoyo would even desecrate Rola's remains. After fleeing to Inazuma, they still returned to destroy her body.
When she saw Diluc collapsing amidst the raging winds, she was overcome with emotion, tears streaming down her face.
Though she often teased him as "Old Man," her love for Master Diluc was genuine. His life had been tragically unfair: orphaned in childhood, estranged from his only true brother, forced to witness his beloved sister—whom he had raised himself—murdered by the Abyss right before his eyes, her corpse taken away, and now, not even her complete remains could be found...
The mere thought of it filled her with despair.
"Waaah, my Master Diluc, my Rola..."
[Rola's remains... just like that?]
[Holy shit, Mihoyo really went there!]
[Damn, no wonder it's rated 16+. This is brutal—corpses, blood mist...]
[Aaaah, I want my Rola back! Aaaah!]
[If I clear the Abyss dozens of times, would that count as revenge for Rola?!]
[Last time Qingge sacrificed herself, I couldn't sleep for days. The same thing happened when Rola died before. I bet it'll be the same this time...]
Diluc gripped the sphere tightly, his gaze locked on Venti's emerald eyes.
He saw intense hatred burning in the Anemo Archon's gaze. The gale whipped across Diluc's face, carrying away the tears clinging to his jaw.
Venti extended his hand to Diluc. Diluc wiped the tears from his face with one hand and grasped Venti's outstretched hand.
Gradually calming down, Diluc lowered his gaze to the sphere in his hand, then looked back at Venti.
"I have nothing left to care for in this world. No matter how vast or unfathomable the Abyss may be, I will tear a piece of flesh from them. They treated my sister so cruelly, and I will not let them escape unscathed!"
"Venti, don't stop me..."
Venti didn't answer Diluc directly. Instead, he lifted everyone into the air with a gentle breeze and used the wind to wipe away the tears from their eyes.
Even in his furious state, the Anemo Archon remained gentle with his people.
Lumine gripped her longsword tightly. She had witnessed the deaths of her two friends with her own eyes, and now she couldn't even protect their bodies.
At first, Lumine had believed that with enough power, she could avenge them. But then she saw the helplessness in Venti and Zhongli's eyes. Were they not powerful enough?
Even if she had arrived at her full strength, could she have saved Rola and Qingge, or even avenged them?
A faint pyro glow flickered along the blade of Unrelenting Will, as if Rola were trying to comfort her, telling her it would be alright.
Touching the blade of Unrelenting Will, Lumine felt a faint warmth emanating from its icy surface, and her heart inexplicably calmed.
In that moment, she found her answer.
Yes! She could do it!
If she didn't believe in herself, who else would?
As long as she wiped out the Abyss before they made their move, everything would be fine!
Lumine walked over to Diluc and handed him the still-glowing sword.
"Rola's soul... it seems to be reacting."
She sensed that Rola's unusual behavior wasn't just about her own well-being, but more importantly, about Master Diluc, who was now on the verge of collapse.
Among everyone present, he was likely the most desperate.
Diluc took the sword, his trembling hand gently touching the blade. Instantly, the extinguished Vision at his waist—Rola's Vision—rekindled with light.
At the same moment, a voice echoed in Diluc's mind: "I hope everyone in Mondstadt won't grieve my departure. I wish Lumine will travel through all Seven Nations with the sword I gave her!"
Diluc's reason returned in an instant, his gaze transforming.
"Rola! Rola!"
Lumine, still gripping the sword's hilt, heard Rola's voice as well.
These were the wishes of the people she had heard when facing Ei in Inazuma—Rola's wishes!
"Brother, don't be sad. I'm already gone. If my body is gone, so be it. I'm with Lumine... and I'm very happy..."
Unlike before, there was an additional sentence besides Rola's wishes.
This sentence was clearly meant for Diluc.
Rola's final words gradually faded until they were completely inaudible, and the Vision that had just lit up slowly dimmed.
Hearing his sister's voice again, Diluc's tears involuntarily streamed down his face.
Since his sister's departure, he had shed more tears than in the previous twenty years combined. Even when their father passed away, he hadn't been this devastated.
Diluc sobbed softly. Lumine sighed and turned to see Venti standing nearby, unnoticed until now.
Venti's hand rested on the sword hilt, yet Lumine hadn't sensed his presence at all.
His expression was deeply sorrowful.
Long ago, he had transferred a fragment of Rola's soul into the sword. He knew this fragment couldn't possibly retain consciousness, as the soul fragment within the sword was far too small and would continue to diminish over time until it vanished completely.
The fact that this fragment of Rola's soul, which should have been devoid of consciousness, had twice reignited her Vision left Venti in utter disbelief.
And then, Rola had even managed to comfort her brother in the end...
Was it truly the power of human wishes that was so extraordinary, or was this a unique characteristic of a Pure Soul?
Venti couldn't say for sure, but one thing was undeniable: Rola was truly exceptional.
Eula, Amber, and Rosaria returned to Mondstadt first, as the city was still unaware of the events unfolding here. Before they left, Venti asked them to keep his identity a secret. He still wanted to maintain his disguise.
Diluc wept for a long time, clutching his greatsword. Lumine and Paimon sat quietly beside him.
Venti told Lumine to give Diluc some time to compose himself. Lumine nodded and moved a little farther away.
She knew Diluc needed space right now, but...
Her gaze kept returning to the sword in his hands. She couldn't bring herself to leave.
It wasn't that she didn't trust Master Diluc... well, she actually was a little worried.
The sword Unrelenting Will carried Rola's soul. Diluc had just heard his sister's voice, her comforting words.
Lumine understood what this sword meant to Master Diluc.
But the sword was hers. It contained the souls of Qingge and Rola, and she intended to travel the Seven Nations with them—a wish Rola had cherished.
Paimon sat quietly beside Lumine, the little darling neither crying nor speaking. She silently pulled out a flatbread Yuna had given her and began to eat.
For Paimon, when she was deeply saddened, eating something incredibly delicious always helped ease the pain.
Yet for some reason, the flatbread tasted unusually salty and bitter today.