A rare torrential rain blanketed Mondstadt, black clouds pressing low over the land.
At the foot of Starsnatch Cliff, a group of people trudged through the downpour in cloaks.
"Come on, kids! Push through! Midsummer Courtyard is just ahead! We're hunting a set of Electro RES artifacts!"
"One, two—one, two—!"
The Adventurers' Guild's hot-blooded adventurers marched forward against the rain, boots sinking into mud as thunder rolled overhead.
Inside Mondstadt, Kaeya stood with arms crossed at the Knights of Favonius headquarters, gazing uneasily toward the Thousand Winds Temple. With one hand, he casually snagged the collar of a Spark Knight who was pattering her way past him.
"Until Acting Grand Master Jean is back, you're not going anywhere."
Klee blinked. "Huh? Isn't it because Acting Grand Master Jean isn't here that Klee should go out and play?"
She paused, then added seriously, "Klee isn't saying bad things about Acting Grand Master Jean!"
She quickly glanced around, making sure that terrifying figure wasn't about to appear from nowhere, then let out a relieved breath.
"It's pouring like this—what would you even do outside?" Kaeya asked.
"Klee invented a new waterproof bomb! I was just going to test it!"
She stretched up on tiptoes, feet dangling in midair.
Kaeya lifted her back over the threshold and into the hall. "Acting Grand Master Jean said that if anything like landslides or floods happens while you're out these days, it'll all be blamed on you."
Klee's face went pale. She grabbed her sleeves and shook her head rapidly. "Klee didn't do anything! Kaeya, you have to testify for me!"
"If you go out, how am I supposed to testify?" Kaeya said solemnly. "You're staying here. Nowhere else."
He was, of course, bluffing.
"Then Klee can go to Good Hunter!" Klee tried to bolt again. "Brother Kaito said he'd play with Klee, and he can even turn the fish and lizards Klee—uh—catches into tasty food!"
"Kaito isn't there either," Kaeya said, hauling her back once more.
"Ugh…"
After a moment of troubled thought, Klee suddenly marched toward the confinement room.
"Then Klee will sit in solitary confinement for a few extra days first! That way, next time Acting Grand Master Jean locks Klee up, it'll cancel out!"
Just then, Lisa emerged from the library. Watching the confinement room door slam shut, she chuckled and stepped to the entrance, shaking her head at the rain.
"Too much rain can really dampen one's mood."
Kaeya frowned. "Do you think Boss Kaito and Acting Grand Master Jean will be alright?"
The rain had lasted all night, and showed no sign of stopping. Cider Lake's water level had risen so much the docks were unusable.
Lisa's eyes curved with amusement. "If there's one thing Jean is good at, it's surviving her own workload. And Kaito… well. He tends to come back with solutions."
Kaeya didn't look reassured. "That's exactly what worries me."
Across the misty streets, at the Goth Grand Hotel, Anastasia felt like she'd narrowly escaped death.
Lady Signora had spared her—for reasons unknown.
"We can't move against Stormterror, and the Holy Lyre is gone. How are we supposed to obtain wind-element power tied to Barbatos?"
She gathered her recently subdued subordinates to plot their next move, faces tight and voices low.
Meanwhile, in Springvale, another group set off toward Stormbearer Mountains, all wearing borrowed rain capes.
"Lumine being a traveler is one thing," Diluc remarked as water ran off his coat in sheets, "but Amber's holding up surprisingly well too. The Knights really do have good talent."
The rain hammered down without mercy.
At the Thousand Winds Temple, beneath the tilted stone archway, the sounds from the tent were completely swallowed by the storm.
The rain lasted a full day and night.
At dawn, the sun rose beyond Starsnatch Cliff, light washing over greenery still heavy with droplets.
Kaito stepped out of camp and stretched. "Finally stopped. Thunder like that's pretty loud."
Jean followed him out, composed again in her dry knight's uniform, expression steady. "You didn't react even once. I thought you didn't hear it."
"I heard it," Kaito said. "I just didn't want to waste attention on something I couldn't control."
Jean didn't argue. She scanned the ruins instead—checking angles, checking cover, checking exits. Duty first.
"Kaito," she said, pointing with her chin, "can your storage space hold a Ruin Guard?"
"You want to take it?"
"Yes. Lisa would appreciate having something like that for research."
"…Alright."
Kaito returned to the basin and stored the completely disabled Ruin Guard.
After packing up camp, they started down.
Jean stepped forward—and suddenly slipped on wet stone.
Kaito caught her by the arm and steadied her. "Careful. It's slick after the rain."
Jean exhaled once, irritation aimed at herself rather than the situation. "It's not the ground. My legs are still fatigued."
Kaito assessed her posture and breathing, then nodded.
"Then we adjust the pace."
He crouched and turned his back, offering a carry like it was the most practical decision in the world.
Jean hesitated—only for a moment—then climbed on, keeping her grip controlled and balanced, like she was riding a mount during a drill rather than being "carried."
"I'll handle vigilance," she said immediately, scanning the tree line.
"Good," Kaito replied. "Call out anything that moves wrong."
Half a day later, a pack of wooden-shield hilichurls rushed them from the slope—drawn by movement and the lingering scent of smoke from the earlier fire.
Kaito set Jean down behind a rock outcrop, pulled out Wolf's Gravestone, and charged back in with a clean, decisive sweep that sent shields flying and bodies tumbling.
When the last one fled, Jean picked up her sword and moved to regroup without wasting a step.
By the time Mondstadt came into view—serene upon Cider Lake beneath a clearing sky—Jean took a slow breath, letting the city's outline settle her.
"Once we're back," she said, voice firm, "I'll report to the headquarters and stabilize the situation. The Knights will need direction after this storm."
Kaito nodded. "And I'll make sure Good Hunter doesn't get turned upside down while we're gone."
They split at the familiar street.
Jean headed for the Knights.
Kaito returned to the restaurant.
Sara was at the door, already halfway through reorganizing supplies after the weather chaos.
"Have the Fatui been around these past few days?" Kaito asked.
"No," Sara replied. "They've been unusually quiet. Without them stirring trouble, order in Mondstadt's actually improved."
"That's good," Kaito said, relieved.
"Though…" Sara hesitated. "Boss, we've got an extra maid in the shop."
"Hired help's fine," Kaito nodded. "I'll discuss wages later."
He assumed Sara had brought someone on to help with serving and cleaning. Rainy days always packed taverns and restaurants.
"Not like that, Boss—"
Before she could finish, a maid-clad knight carrying a tray emerged.
Short silver hair. Doll-like features. No expression—until her eyes widened at the sight of him.
"Boss Kaito."
Noelle set down the tray, dipped into a curtsy, and spoke with brisk determination.
"Boss Kaito, you're back. I've cleaned the tables, organized the supplies, and handled the morning rush."
She paused—then continued, as if reading from a checklist.
"Would you like tea? Full sugar, half sugar, or none?"
Kaito blinked. "Noelle?"
Sara's expression said: your problem now.
"…Sara, the 'maid' isn't Noelle, is it?"
"It is," Sara replied, leaving it to him.
Kaito rubbed his forehead. "Why are you helping out here?"
"To repay a debt," Noelle said firmly. "And to practice real service work under pressure."
"That has nothing to do with the restaurant. Otherwise I'm employing child labor."
"I don't need pay."
"That's even worse."
He held firm—but Noelle surprised him by simply turning away and continuing to work, refusing to debate.
"As long as Boss Kaito sees my results, he'll accept it," she said, more to herself than to him.
"…Kaeya, this is your fault," Kaito muttered.
A familiar voice came from behind. "Noelle?"
"Kaeya?" Kaito turned.
"I heard you were back and came to check on you," Kaeya said lightly. "Jean's already returned to the Knights."
He glanced at Noelle, then back to Kaito.
"Let her stay. If you don't take her in, she'll just help somewhere else. Better here—easier for me to keep an eye on her. And at least you'll make sure she doesn't overwork herself."
Noelle listened intently, then nodded to herself as if the logic had been approved by the acting captain of her heart.
Kaito sighed and took Kaeya upstairs. "Your real reason?"
Kaeya handed him a letter. "From Diluc. Sent from Springvale. For you—or that bard, Venti."
Kaito opened it and nodded. "The location of the third Tear Crystal."
"Where?" Kaeya asked.
"Dadaupa Gorge."
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