One day later, at a port in Snezhnaya.
"Go back now, Little Sister. I'll return as soon as my mission in Snezhnaya is finished. While I'm gone, remember to visit Mom and Dad often and take good care of Teucer..."
Angie listened to Tartaglia's nagging as she draped his Harbinger cloak over his shoulders.
"Snezhnaya's climate is cold year-round. Take this off when you reach a warmer place. Don't push yourself in Fontaine, prioritize your safety above all else. I'll take care of things at home—you don't need to worry."
After Tartaglia boarded the ship bound for Fontaine, Angie waved goodbye.
Standing at the ship's most prominent spot, Tartaglia shouted back, "Go home, Little Sister! I'll bring you all souvenirs when I return!"
Angie nodded firmly. She didn't leave, instead standing at the port and watching the ship until it vanished completely from sight.
"Goodbye, Brother," Angie murmured softly, so quietly that even Ailina, who was standing right behind her, couldn't hear.
"Sigh, let's go home, Ailina."
Angie didn't look back. This parting, barring any unforeseen circumstances, would likely be their last.
The fight yesterday wasn't because Angie wanted to beat up Tartaglia. It was her way of saying goodbye in the way her Brother liked best. After the battle, neither of them had a single scratch.
But that idiot had been too hung up on his worries to truly enjoy the fight...
-
Player World.
With the New Year fast approaching, the players remained on high alert, remembering their previous disastrous experience during the Lantern Rite.
This time, there were no preemptive apologies or compensations, and the Lantern Rite activities were perfectly ordinary.
While relieved, the players couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment.
Last year's Lantern Rite had been spent in tears. This year, there were no knives, no sacrifices, performances on stage, and Hu Tao singing...
Yet, despite the festive atmosphere, a subtle undercurrent of melancholy persisted in their hearts.
-
Liyue.
Lumine and Paimon had been in Liyue for quite some time, participating in many of the special activities organized for the Lantern Rite festival and indulging in the city's culinary delights.
The Kaiyang Martial Summit had recently concluded, and as its champion, Lumine's fame had soared to unprecedented heights. Children even approached her for autographs.
Paimon, too, basked in the reflected glory.
This Lantern Rite was free of monsters and worries. Lumine and Paimon frequently wore bright smiles throughout the festival, their hearts, scarred by their journey, finding healing amidst the festivities.
-
During Liyue's Lantern Rite, in Fontaine...
The news Charlotte brought from Liyue had already spread throughout Fontaine's streets and alleys. When Fontainians learned that even Lady Furina's bodyguard, Fidelle, had only secured seventh place at the Summit, their curiosity about the long-renowned yet rarely seen Traveler intensified.
Though Lumine had yet to arrive in Fontaine, the Fontainians already knew quite a bit about her.
While preparing exquisite meals for Lady Furina, Fidelle had also been investigating the Prophecy of Fontaine.
For reasons unknown, the Prophecy, which had long faded from Fontainian life, had recently resurfaced in the public consciousness. This had noticeably affected Lady Furina's mood.
Whenever the subject was raised, Lady Furina would confidently declare that she had already resolved everything, that no one needed to interfere, and that everyone simply needed to trust her!
But after serving Lady Furina for so long, Fidelle understood many things.
Lady Furina was definitely hiding something from her!
Since Lady Furina wouldn't speak of it, Fidelle wouldn't ask.
Moreover, a Fatui Harbinger had recently arrived in Fontaine—the last-ranked "Childe" Tartaglia.
On the surface, he claimed to be resolving the Fontaine Northland Bank's debt issues, but Fidelle suspected he had ulterior motives.
Tartaglia had repeatedly sought her out for sparring matches, but she had consistently refused.
If they weren't in Fontaine, Fidelle might have indulged him in a bit of fun. But now, she had more pressing matters to attend to: investigating the Prophecy,baking cakes, preparing gourmet meals, baking more cakes, protecting Lady Furina, and keeping her entertained while baking even more cakes...
She simply didn't have time for pointless sparring matches with Tartaglia.
Rumor had it that the Harbinger had later approached Clorinde. Fidelle wondered if Clorinde had accepted his challenge.
-
Palais Mermonia, kitchen.
"Fidelle~"
Furina's voice drifted in from outside the door. Fidelle placed the half-finished cupcakes in the oven to bake, wiped her hands, and went to open the door.
"Lady Furina, they'll be ready to eat in just a little while."
"Mhm, I know. I was bored outside, so I came to check on you."
Wearing an apron, Fidelle's usually aloof demeanor softened into that of a domestic housewife.
Furina sat at the dining table, her right hand propping up her small head, quietly watching Fidelle cook.
Unconsciously, a sweet smile bloomed on her lips.
"Fidelle, can I have an extra cupcake today?"
"No, Lady Furina. Too many cupcakes aren't good for you."
Just as Furina's face was about to cloud over with disappointment, Fidelle's voice rang out:
"I've prepared a different dessert for you today, Lady Furina. You can have a bit more of this one."
Furina's cloudy mood instantly cleared:
"Wow! Did you invent this dessert yourself, Fidelle? I absolutely must be the first to try it!"
"Please be patient a little longer, Lady Furina. It will be ready soon."
-
Liyue.
After celebrating the Lantern Rite, Lumine and Paimon prepared to depart for Fontaine.
Their first stop was Caravan Ribat in Sumeru, where they met Dehya.
After bidding farewell to Dehya, the pair ventured into the desert, intending to cross it and reach Fontaine.
Lumine and Paimon had never explored the northwestern corner of the Sumeru Desert, meaning they hadn't unlocked any Teleport Waypoints in that area.
Left with no choice, they made their way to the nearest unlocked Teleport Waypoint and trudged wearily through the desert.
As for why they didn't take the Chenyu Vale route...
Simply put, that area's map hadn't been unlocked yet.
From Lumine's perspective, no one had told her that Chenyu Vale was a viable path to Fontaine.
After three grueling days, Lumine and Paimon finally reached the desert's edge and beheld the nation of water: Fontaine!
-
Player World
The Fontaine update had garnered immense anticipation.
However, leading up to the major update, players received no information about the new map.
Lacking any understanding of the plot, the Genshin Impact development team had no idea how to create a proper preview and simply didn't bother with a map trailer.
This only fueled players' excitement for the updated game!
After Lumine and Paimon arrived in Fontaine, players finally got their first glimpse of the region's overall landscape.
At the edge of the desert, the land dipped sharply, revealing a vast, endless sea teeming with sails.
Fontaine's terrain was also strikingly elevated, with waterfalls cascading from the heights into the sea below.
[Is this Fontaine?!]
[It's a desert here, but just beyond is the sea...]
[So beautiful!!!]
[Since Fontaine is the nation of water, does that mean we can finally dive underwater here?!]