Paimon walked over to Lumine, and together they sorted through everything that had just happened.
In the end, there was still too little information, and many pieces couldn't be connected or figured out.
"If we can't figure it out, then let's not think about it for now."
Paimon saw that Lumine was still a bit down and comforted her:
"Our journey won't end. It's time to move! Let's leave this annoying place and return to the sunlit surface first."
"If your brother wants you to 'reach the end'... fine, then you'll reach it for him to see!"
"Traveler, let's go!"
Paimon held out her small hand to Lumine, and Lumine placed her hand on hers:
"Let's go, Paimon, but before we go..."
Lumine turned back and completely destroyed the partially damaged Anemo God statue.
---
Snezhnaya.
Anqi returned with Signora, and on the way, they met the Captain.
A ship carried two Harbingers, Anqi, and two Gnoses.
After Xiao's incident, the Captain compensated Liyue for a lot of things in his own name on Anqi's behalf, which made Anqi feel very guilty.
Because the Captain used his own belongings for compensation.
As he put it:
"Anqi is my subordinate; I am naturally responsible for the mistakes she makes."
However, Anqi was also lectured by the Captain afterward.
Upon returning to Snezhnaya, Anqi immediately took the small items she had people purchase in Mondstadt and Liyue back home.
Anqi is the fourth child in her family.
Big brother Ajax goes without saying; she also has an older brother and an older sister above her, and Anton, Tonia, and Teucer below her.
Still some distance from home, Anqi had the two Fatui soldiers helping carry the boxes put them down, and she and Ailina carried them the rest of the way.
"Sir, are these all gifts you prepared for your younger siblings?"
Ailina looked at the cute toys in the box, her eyes sparkling.
At this time, Anqi was not wearing her mask, and her face showed a gentleness rarely seen.
"This Cyclops is for my youngest brother, Teucer; he really likes this. This instrument is for Tonia; she's loved music since she was little. And this, this weapon is for Anton; while it's not great, its appearance is very nice, and kids his age should all like it. Below are some clothes, both Liyue and Mondstadt styles, all thickened."
Anqi was speaking when she noticed Ailina looking at her with a strange expression.
"What's wrong?"
"I just didn't expect you, Lady, to speak so much at once."
"This is where I grew up. Every part of this place is familiar to me. Every brick, every tile, every blade of grass and tree gives me a very intimate feeling. Only here, only when I'm with my family, do I truly relax."
Anqi looked at the snow-covered houses, revealing a smile she had never shown before.
"Let's go, let's go in together. Remember, don't call me 'Lady' inside; just call me by my name."
"Yes, Anqi."
"Relax, just treat it like your own home."
Ailina nodded gently. She was an orphan, raised in the House of the Hearth, and had experienced two generations of servants, stumbling her way here.
The feeling of home...
She had truly never experienced it.
---
Pushing open the door, Anqi saw Tonia and Anton sitting around the fireplace.
"Sis, you're back!"
"Sister!"
Seeing Anqi, Tonia excitedly ran over and hugged her leg.
Anton was a bit more reserved, but it was clear he was very happy.
"Alright, alright, you're both so big, still clinging to me."
Anqi caressed Tonia's small head and pulled away Tonia, who was clinging to her like an octopus.
"Look, I brought you all gifts."
Anqi took an instrument from the box and handed it to Tonia.
"Anton, this is for you."
Anton received a longsword with a very ornate design.
Both of their eyes sparkled, and Anqi felt relieved seeing this; it seemed she had chosen correctly.
After Tonia and Anton put away their gifts, they quickly moved two chairs over for Anqi and Ailina to sit down.
"Sis, I'll go make you dinner right away."
"No rush."
Anqi held Tonia back: "Where are the others in the family? Why is it just you and Anton?"
"Dad and Mom went out. I'll go call them right now!"
Anton volunteered, trotting out.
Tonia, on the other hand, puffed out her cheeks and complained: "Sis, Teucer left us a note saying he went to Liyue to find brother. By the time we found out, the ship he boarded had already departed, and there were no more ships going to Liyue afterward. Mom and Dad have been really worried about this!"
Teucer went to Liyue?
How could that kid be so bold?!
Anqi wasn't too worried. Her brother was in Liyue, and this was part of the plot anyway.
However, speaking of her brother, she seemed to have forgotten something...
What was it?
Oh, right, her big brother was still in jail in Liyue!
How could she forget about that?!
No, she had to have her Liyue alias release him, otherwise, who would Teucer find when he got there?
As Anqi was thinking these thoughts, the door opened again.
"Xiaoqi, you're back!"
Anqi's mother was a very beautiful woman with a good complexion:
"Come, let Mom see if you've lost weight..."
Anqi was handled up and down by her mother, her face a bit embarrassed:
"Oh, Mom, there's someone here."
Anqi's mother then noticed Ailina, who was sitting alone to the side and hadn't spoken.
"Oh dear, look at my eyes, I didn't even see you. Come, child, sit closer, warm yourself by the fire; it's too cold sitting far away."
Ailina was startled by Anqi's mother's enthusiasm and, flattered, sat a bit closer.
This was the mother of Lady Anqi and Sir Childe; how could she possibly deserve such treatment?
Anqi's mother stared at Ailina with sparkling eyes, leaning in to whisper in her ear:
"Child, what did you eat to grow up so well? Tell Auntie secretly, and Auntie will make some for Anqi to supplement her diet later."
Ailina's pretty face flushed.
Anqi, meanwhile, kept coughing, then suddenly saw her father standing behind her, smiling at her. As if she had found a savior, she immediately loudly redirected her mother's increasingly off-topic conversation:
"Dad, come quickly and try on the clothes I bought for you all!"
Anqi's mother's attention was indeed diverted, and she stopped pestering Ailina.
Ailina looked at Anqi's mother, who was picking out clothes, and Anqi's father, who was smiling, as well as Anton and Tonia, who were curiously looking at the clothes with wide eyes. Listening to their laughter, she couldn't help but smile too.
This, it seemed, was quite nice...
---
On the other side.
Rosalyne presented the two Gnoses to the Tsaritsa and received her commendation, walking out of the Tsaritsa's palace with a triumphant expression.
"Oh, look who it is, our great hero has returned."
Seeing the person in front of her, Rosalyne averted her eyes, not even wanting to look:
"Good dogs don't block the way!"
"Heh heh, I should be the one saying that."
Rosalyne looked back, then snorted disdainfully: "I've already applied to the Tsaritsa to go to Inazuma. The Raiden Shogun's Gnosis, I will definitely take it!"
"Oh?" Balladeer unexpectedly looked up at Rosalyne:
"Heh, it seems the success in the previous two nations has given you a lot of confidence."
Rosalyne remained arrogant:
"You don't need to concern yourself with this matter."
Rosalyne walked around Balladeer, stepping away with elegant strides.
From behind, Balladeer's sarcastic voice came:
"We're colleagues, so don't say I didn't warn you. When you get to Inazuma, put away your self-righteous pride. It wouldn't be fun if you died in Inazuma, heh heh."
"Hmph, what a load of nonsense!"
.
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_