The Cryo Archon sat in contemplation. The Zapolyarny Palace was silent, with no one daring to disturb her at this moment. Below her, Rosalyne stood respectfully, awaiting her judgment.
After a long while, she seemed to have guessed Lora's true identity, yet she did not expose it. Instead, she said calmly, "If you faced her and still managed to return alive, that alone was an act of her mercy. The Anemo Archon's Gnosis is no longer of concern. Go to Liyue Harbor and retrieve the Geo Archon's Gnosis. Tartaglia has already gone ahead—he does not know of the contract I formed with the Geo Archon. Simply proceed according to plan. Even she cannot take the Geo Archon's Gnosis."
"Yes!" Rosalyne nodded without hesitation.
When the Cryo Archon made her contract with Zhongli, she had already accounted for this possibility, wary of unforeseen complications.
That was why the contract's final condition was clear: it would only be considered fulfilled once the Geo Archon's Gnosis was delivered into the Cryo Archon's hands.
So long as that outcome had not been achieved, the contract remained in effect—and the God of Contracts himself would ensure that it was carried through to completion.
"Your Majesty," Rosalyne suddenly asked, "may I know… who exactly is she?"
Moments earlier, the Cryo Archon had said that her survival was owed to the other party's mercy. What kind of god could warrant such words from the Cryo Archon herself?
The Cryo Archon fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "If my judgment is correct, the one who stopped you was Egeria, the former Hydro Archon of Fontaine."
"Egeria? But… wasn't she dead?" Rosalyne exclaimed in shock, staring at the Cryo Archon in disbelief.
"Egeria's status is unique, and her authority immense. Her life and death may not conform to our understanding. Even I have never met her. Do not provoke her. Aside from the matter of the Gnosis, we should have no other conflicts with her. Remember this well—unless absolutely necessary, never make an enemy of such an ancient god," the Cryo Archon warned.
"I understand," Rosalyne replied. The person she revered most was the Cryo Archon herself. Since she had spoken so decisively, Rosalyne had no reason to disobey.
...
"Wow! So this is Liyue Harbor!"
Lora stood atop a high mountain together with Lumine and Paimon, gazing out at the bustling harbor in the distance.
Great ships came and went, merchants flowed without end, and wealth from all corners of the world converged here. Rex Lapis, Morax—the God of War, the God of Contracts, the God of Precious Metals—was Liyue's Archon.
Lora stared at Liyue Harbor, her excitement impossible to hide.
So this is Liyue Harbor!
"Let's hurry inside! I can't wait to see the most prosperous city in the whole world!" Paimon said excitedly to Lumine and Lora, clenching her fists with anticipation.
Lora frowned slightly and stepped back behind Paimon. "You two go on ahead. I'll come find you later."
"Huh?" Both Lumine and Paimon were caught off guard. Paimon turned back, puzzled. "Why, Lora? Why aren't you coming with us?"
Lora glanced back at the road they had traveled. "I dropped something on the way. I'll go back and look for it."
"Then I'll go with you," Lumine said at once.
"No, no!" Lora shook her head. "The Rite of Descension in Liyue is about to begin. It's the only chance all year to see the Geo Archon—you absolutely can't miss it! Take Paimon inside first. I'll catch up soon. Don't worry."
"Well… all right. But make sure you come quickly!" Lumine frowned in thought for a moment, then finally agreed. Lora was right—the Rite of Descension was something that could not be missed.
"Lora, be careful! Don't let anything happen to you!" Paimon said seriously. "If you run into Hilichurls or something, just run! Once you reach Liyue Harbor, you'll be safe—the Millelith are really strong!"
"Got it! I've still got my Vision, so don't worry about me," Lora replied with a smile, patting the glass bead at her waist.
She watched as Lumine and Paimon headed toward Liyue Harbor. Only after they were far enough away did the smile fade from her face. She turned slightly to the side and said, "You've been following me this whole time. You can come out and talk now, can't you?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, a flash of dark green light flickered beside her. A gust of wind swept through, and a green-haired youth—slightly shorter than her—appeared at her side.
Lora turned to face him, her smile returning. "Well then, if I'm not mistaken, you must be the famed Yaksha adeptus of Liyue Harbor—the Demon-Subduing Great Sage, Adeptus Xiao. I've heard so much about you. Please, allow me to pay my respects!"
She performed a traditional Liyue salute toward Xiao.
Xiao shifted aside almost instinctively, his expression stiff and uncomfortable. He frowned at her. "You're not human."
"Oh, of course I'm not an ordinary human! I have a Vision, you know," Lora said with a laugh, twisting her waist slightly to show the ornament.
Xiao replied sternly, "Your Vision isn't real. I can't sense any elemental power from it. But from you, I feel an extremely dense Hydro aura. You… are not human."
Surprised that Xiao could perceive the true nature of the glass bead, Lora's smile froze for a brief instant—then widened even further. "As expected of the Demon-Subduing Great Sage. Your insight is sharp indeed! I was just saying this glass bead isn't all that reliable…"
"The Yaksha must obey the Emperor's will and guard Liyue for eternity," Xiao declared, fixing his gaze on her. "Outsider, state your purpose for coming to Liyue!"
To Xiao, Lora did not seem malicious—but her power felt dangerously overwhelming. Her Hydro energy was far too abundant. If she were a monster capable of assuming human form, that alone would make her a grave threat.
Understanding Xiao's duty, Lora did not take offense. "Oh, I'm not here for anything major," she said lightly. "I mainly came to find Morax—"
"You must not speak the Emperor's name directly!" Xiao suddenly drew his Primordial Jade Winged-Spear, glaring at her so intensely that it seemed he would strike her down if she uttered that name again.
Lora: "..."
Devotees of the Emperor are terrifying.
"Calm down! Little Xiao!" Lora waved her hands, trying to soothe him.
"Little Xiao?" Xiao frowned, clearly unsettled by the way she addressed him.
"Mm! To be fair, you're actually younger than me. And I really did come looking for Mora— the Emperor," Lora said, almost blurting out Morax's name again. Seeing Xiao's grip tighten around the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear, she hurriedly corrected herself and used his title instead.