After the meal, Xiao intended to settle the bill, but Lora stopped him, saying it wasn't necessary. She asked Wangshu Inn to send the invoice directly to the Jade Chamber.
Seeing Xiao's surprised expression, Lora laughed.
"Oh, don't look so shocked. I'm Ningguang's honored guest now. The Jade Chamber is flush with Mora—this is pocket change to them."
"I see."
Xiao didn't know what Lora had experienced in Liyue Harbor, but hearing that she was already Ningguang's honored guest told him enough. Clearly, she had been doing quite well for herself. That realization put him much more at ease.
Xiao bade Lora farewell and left Wangshu Inn, continuing his work of cleansing the remnants of the fallen gods scattered across Liyue.
Watching him go, Lora lowered her head and spoke to Qiqi, who was still holding her coconut milk.
"Qiqi, let's keep moving."
"Okay." Qiqi nodded, took a sip of coconut milk, and said seriously, "Let's go!"
The two set out from Wangshu Inn and continued north along the road. After passing through Dihua Marsh, they entered the lands of Qingce Village.
Qingce Village was vast. Unlike the reduced scale seen in the game for various reasons, the real Qingce Village had the size and scope a true village should possess.
Standing at the entrance to the village road, Lora stretched and sighed with feeling.
"Ah—after walking for days, we've finally arrived."
Qiqi adjusted the straps of her herb basket.
"Qiqi is going to gather herbs. Sister, what about you? Why did you come to Qingce Village?"
"Me?" Lora thought for a moment. "I came to see an old acquaintance."
"An old acquaintance?"
Qiqi didn't quite understand the term. To her, no one could really be called that. In her memories, there were only a few people she knew at all.
"It means someone I met a very, very long time ago,"
Lora explained gently.
Qiqi nodded, half-understanding.
"Oh, I see! Then… Sister, go meet your old acquaintance. I'll go gather herbs!"
"Wait!"
Lora called out as Qiqi was about to leave. She raised her hand, drawing in the surrounding Hydro energy, and condensed it into a clear, crystalline blue gem in her palm.
"Take this crystal."
Lora fastened it onto Qiqi, making sure it was secure and wouldn't fall off during normal movement.
"Sister, what is this?"
Qiqi asked blankly, watching her actions.
"This will let me find you,"
Lora said after a moment's thought.
"You could say it's… my gaze. Once I'm finished here, I can use it to locate you. So make sure you keep it with you, all right?"
"Mm! I will!"
Qiqi nodded solemnly.
Lora watched Qiqi walk off with her medicine basket, keeping her eyes on her until she disappeared completely from sight.
"All right," Lora murmured. "Next, it's time to see Rhodeia."
As for this follower who had fled from Fontaine to this place five hundred years ago, Lora felt no particular affection toward her. She had come only because Rhodeia was a follower of the Hydro Archon, Egeria.
Nothing more.
Lora walked to the edge of a stream and crouched down, placing her hand into the gently flowing water.
As the water murmured on, her power gradually spread, dissolving into the current. Her consciousness rode the flow, rapidly expanding through all of Qingce Village's waterways, until every drop of water became part of her sight.
As her power spread through the village's hydro veins, all manner of aquatic creatures dwelling there bowed in reverence to this sacred force. Some weaker Hydro Eidolons that had come here from Fontaine sensed it and burst into joyful excitement, hurrying toward the source of the power.
Before long, Lora pinpointed Rhodeia's location.
At the same time, Rhodeia sensed the force emerging from the water. She beat her wings and demanded sharply, "Who is spying from the shadows?"
Lora didn't answer. Instead, she immediately withdrew her power. Now that she knew where Rhodeia was, there was no need to continue expending her limited strength. She dried the water from her hand and followed the stream onward.
Along the way, many small Hydro Eidolons leapt out of the stream, conveying their thoughts to her. Some had followed Rhodeia from Fontaine five hundred years ago and settled here together, while others had been born during the centuries since.
Sensing their feelings, Lora raised her hand above the stream, soothing them.
"Be good, children. There's no need to be anxious. I've returned," she said softly. "I will take you back to your homeland. This I promise."
Her gaze was steady and solemn.
"I swear it in the name of the god Egeria."
Hearing her words, the Hydro Eidolons erupted into cheers, splashing and dancing through the stream in delight. Some even invited Lora to join them.
"All right, all right,"
Lora said with a helpless sigh.
"I still have someone to see."
She looked at them quietly. They had lost their god for five hundred years—such joy at her return was only natural.
Once they learned the purpose of her journey, the Hydro Eidolons didn't try to stop her. Some even volunteered to lead the way.
Guided by them, Lora arrived at Rhodeia's dwelling.
It was a lake hidden deep among the mountains. At its center lay a small island carved with intricate patterns. Rhodeia resided in the depths of the surrounding waters.
Standing at the shore, Lora spoke in a low, steady voice.
"Rhodeia, I've come."
The moment the words left her lips, the lake churned violently. A blue figure burst from the depths, soaring into the air before landing in front of Lora.
"You… no—y-you… It's you! You've returned?"
Rhodeia stared at her, shock filling her voice. She instinctively moved to bow, then froze. "No… that's impossible. You clearly fell five hundred years ago."
"I was resurrected, Rhodeia,"
Lora said calmly.
"Resurrected…"
Rhodeia gazed at her, doubt written plainly across her face.
Lora raised her hand and released her power. The authority of the Hydro Archon, Egeria, descended upon the land. In an instant, the lake slipped free of Rhodeia's control and came under Lora's command. The surrounding Hydro energy surged and boiled, gathering around Lora in joyous celebration.
"I am the Queen of Many Waters, Many Lands, Many Peoples, and Many Laws," she declared.
"Egeria, the Hydro Archon."