After receiving the flowers from Venti, Lumine prepared to return to Fontaine.
Venti also planned to seek out Rukkhadevata, naturally bringing Zhongli and Ei along. Forbidden Knowledge and the Abyss, though distinct in form, shared a common origin beyond the world, both bringing corruption and destruction.
Chu Xi's situation wasn't merely a Sumeru problem; it concerned all of Teyvat.
Before heading to Fontaine, Lumine entered the Serenitea Pot. After waiting a long while, Paimon was the first to awaken.
Upon waking, Paimon noticed Fidelle lying beside her. The little one spotted Fidelle's missing right hand and immediately understood that something must have happened during her unconsciousness.
Not seeing Chu Xi, Paimon grew deeply worried.
Without disturbing Fidelle, she quietly floated out of the room.
Outside the house, Paimon searched around and spotted Lumine standing before a warehouse. Paimon knew this warehouse well—it was specially built by Chu Xi and stocked with her favorite black beverages.
Paimon quickened her pace and flew to Lumine's side. "Lumine, what happened?"
Lumine was lost in thought and hadn't even noticed Paimon's arrival. It wasn't until Paimon spoke that she realized her companion had awakened.
"Paimon, are you alright?" Lumine asked worriedly.
Paimon's face was pale. "I'm fine, Lumine. But what happened? Why is Fidelle's hand... And how's Chu Xi?"
At the mention of Chu Xi, Lumine fell silent, her silence fueling Paimon's growing sense of dread.
Tears welled up in Paimon's large, beautiful eyes. "Lumine... Chu Xi, she..."
"We tried our best, Paimon," Lumine said softly. "Chu Xi's consciousness has been completely overtaken by Forbidden Knowledge..."
"Is she... dead?" Paimon whispered.
Lumine hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "No. Her power is immense. She wounded Rukkhadevata, and Fidelle's hand was destroyed by her. We couldn't capture her. She escaped in the end."
Hearing that Chu Xi had escaped, Paimon let out a long sigh of relief.
She escaped... That's good, that's good! There's still a chance!
"How's Fidelle?" Lumine asked. "Has she woken up?"
"I'm awake."
The voice wasn't Paimon's, but Fidelle's, who had just emerged from the house.
Fidelle's complexion had improved significantly, and the pain in her severed hand had subsided.
She silently approached Lumine and Paimon. "Thank you."
Lumine: "You're welcome. You came here because of us too..."
Fidelle interrupted: "I wanted to come myself."
Lumine: "You also possess a Pure Soul. Did you notice anything unusual during this process?"
Lumine knew Pure Souls were special, but she couldn't quite articulate what made them so. Recalling what Rukkhadevata had said earlier—that Silaya might still have a hidden trump card—she wondered if Fidelle, as another Pure Soul, might know something.
"I... I'm sorry, I didn't sense anything out of the ordinary."
Hearing Fidelle's reply, Lumine felt a pang of disappointment, though she had anticipated this outcome.
Lumine: "Let's head back to Fontaine."
Fidelle hesitated, her words catching in her throat. Lumine asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
"My right arm... could we trouble the Electro Archon to help repair it again? If I return like this, Lady Furina and Lady Focalors will surely worry."
Fidelle felt a bit embarrassed, but she prioritized Lady Furina's peace of mind over her own reservations about bothering the Electro Archon again.
Lumine agreed. It made sense to go to Inazuma first and then return to Fontaine, rather than going back to Fontaine and then traveling to Inazuma.
"Then let's go."
-
Lumine, accompanied by Fidelle and Paimon, teleported to Inazuma's Tenshukaku, only to be informed that Ei wasn't there and had instead gone to the Grand Narukami Shrine.
The trio teleported again, this time to the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Ei was indeed there, along with Yae Miko. The two were engaged in conversation beneath the Sacred Sakura Tree.
"Oh, it's you three," Yae Miko greeted them with a gentle smile. "It's been a while since you last visited the Grand Narukami Shrine. This must be Fidelle, right? Hmm... what's with your arm...?"
Yae Miko's smile faded slightly, her expression shifting to curiosity.
She knew about Ei creating puppet bodies for Fontaine's Hydro Archon and Pure Soul. Among all the nations the Traveler had journeyed through, Fontaine remained the only one to preserve their Pure Soul. Yae Miko envied this greatly.
But... it had only been a few days since the puppet body was completed. What had happened to Fidelle's arm?
Ei, equally surprised, turned an inquiring gaze toward Fidelle.
"Let me explain," Lumine offered.
Lumine recounted everything that had transpired over the past few days to Ei and Yae Miko. After hearing the full account, Yae Miko frowned.
"Such a thing has happened... And Chu Xi, that little one too..."
Lumine: "Chu Xi's condition is very unstable. Rukkhadevata and Venti are trying to find a solution. We came here to ask Ei to help Fidelle get a new arm."
Ei: "No problem, a trivial matter."
Ei left immediately after speaking. Yae Miko shook her head. "She's always been like this. Come, have a seat."
Yae Miko led them to seats at the side.
Paimon noticed the fully intact kitchen in the back, still there and seemingly well-maintained.
"Yae Miko, do you still use this kitchen?"
Yae Miko: "Yes, though I'm usually the only one who uses it."
Does Yae Miko even cook? Paimon wondered. If she does, I bet her cooking is unreliable at best.
Fidelle glanced at the small kitchen Paimon had pointed out and remembered Lady Furina and Lady Focalors back in Fontaine. It had been over a day since she left Fontaine, and she'd forgotten to bake Lady Furina's favorite little cakes before leaving...
Recalling their last gathering, Lady Focalors had clearly enjoyed the cakes as well.
Fidelle suddenly felt an urge to return to Fontaine as soon as possible.
Yae Miko: "I've heard your cooking is quite delicious. Would you be willing to show us your skills? Consider it payment for Ei crafting your new arm."
Fidelle nodded in agreement.
Even with only one hand, she could still create culinary masterpieces.
"Very well," Yae Miko said. "I'll help you."
Fidelle entered the small kitchen, followed by Lumine and Paimon.
"What would you like to eat?"
"Cake and fried tofu," Yae Miko replied.
Fidelle turned to Paimon and Lumine.
"Eh? There's food for us too? Then I want Sweet Madame!" Paimon exclaimed.
"I'll have what Paimon's having," Lumine added.
Except for the cake, the dishes weren't too complicated. As for the cake... Fidelle had made it countless times before. Although the kitchen utensils here differed from those in Fontaine, the variations weren't significant enough to cause any issues.
Yae Miko and Lumine provided the ingredients, and everyone pitched in to help.
Yae Miko occasionally watched Fidelle's movements intently, that familiar sense of déjà vu causing her to drift into a daze several times.
Ei had been gone for over two hours. As the saying goes, it's better to be lucky than early. When she returned, she found Lumine carrying the last dish out of the kitchen.
Fidelle hadn't just made the dishes requested by the group; since Yae Miko had said it would count as payment, she had to take it seriously.
She had prepared a feast—several dishes, each in generous portions!