"Mmm…" Barbara blinked awake in a daze. When she saw Kael sitting nearby, she sat bolt upright and rubbed her eyes. "Kael, you're back!"
"Yeah," Kael nodded with a half-smile. "Do you want to stay here tonight, or go back to bed? Sleeping in the living room isn't very comfortable—you might catch a cold."
Barbara gave a small nod and then, shyly, offered, "Mr. Kael… would you like a midnight snack? If you're hungry, I can make something."
Seeing her hiding concern behind politeness, Kael smiled. "No need for formality. If there's something you want to ask, just say it."
Barbara flushed a little. "You saw right through me… Mr. Kael—are you and my sister hiding something from me?"
"I'm not in a relationship with your sister, if that's what you mean," Kael said quickly, waving a hand. "Back in Liyue I said a few things jokingly and Tartaglia misunderstood—rumors got stretched. In short: Jean and I are friends and colleagues. If you want real answers, ask Jean."
"That wasn't what I meant!" Barbara protested, wildly gesturing. Secretly, she wouldn't object if Kael ever became family—but she was far too shy to say that aloud. She scurried back to her room, cheeks pink, and closed the door before Kael could tease her further.
Kael shook his head, grinning at how easily flustered she was. For someone so devout and duty-bound, Barbara's innocence was endearing.
Another door creaked open and Ying stepped out. She gave Kael a look that clearly said, You scoundrel.
"You always wear that expression," Kael said, unbothered. "You're one to talk."
"You're defaming my character!" Ying huffed, though she didn't sound entirely convinced. She crossed her arms, then tried to change the topic. "By the way… what do you think of Venti?"
"Venti?" Kael smirked. "A bard who likes to drink and fish. But that's the surface—he's more than he looks."
Ying frowned. "Is he—good?"
"People aren't that simple," Kael said, turning slightly serious. "Someone might be a hero to one person and a villain to another. You have to judge for yourself by watching what they do." He paused. "That said, ask me something practical: what do you need right now?"
Ying's expression hardened. "Mora. I need Mora—fast. I'm poor. Paimon eats like she's sponsored by the Qixing, but I'm the one who must pay!"
Kael chuckled. "You're not the only one who's been strapped for cash at the start. When I first arrived in Teyvat I had almost nothing. I actually considered selling a Vision to survive."
Ying's eyes widened at that. "You considered selling a Vision?!"
"Only thought about it." Kael waved dismissively. "I ended up partnering with Ningguang—Ningguang, the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing. That got my finances sorted. But I won't lecture—you're looking for honest, practical ways to earn Mora now, not stories about how I made my fortune."
Ying's suspicion returned. "Are you… being supported by Ningguang? Are you her—kept man?" Her voice brightened to near accusation, as if that explanation would satisfy her distrust of people who seem too lucky.
Kael laughed. "No. I work with her, and yes, our partnership is mutually beneficial. But the quick answer for you is: help the Adventurers' Guild. Take commissions. High-risk ones pay best."
Ying folded her arms. "The Adventurers' Guild—aren't they tied to the Fatui? I heard the Guild has ties with Snezhnaya."
"That's a misconception," Kael said, correcting her gently. "The Adventurers' Guild is an independent organization with regional branches. Some shady people—Fatui agents—try to use Guild channels sometimes, but local branches answer to the local authorities more than to Snezhnaya. Mondstadt's branch is run in concert with the Knights and the city. Just be careful who you take jobs from and avoid suspicious patrons. If something smells like a Fatui setup, walk away."
Ying muttered, "That explains a lot." She considered the idea. Commission work could give immediate Mora without the politics of selling artifacts or begging.
Paimon—at once hungry and hopeful—buzzed in with a single question: "Do any commissions pay in food?"
"Some do," Kael said dryly. "Most pay in Mora. A few reward meals or accommodations. But the fast route to stable income? Level-appropriate bounties and commission chains. If you're strong and efficient, you can clear dangerous commissions and walk away with enough Mora to keep Paimon fed for months."
Ying's look sharpened with a plan forming. "Okay. We'll try the Adventurers' Guild. But I want something else, too. If we help Mondstadt with the Stormterror problem, Acting Grand Master Jean will owe us a favor. That could get us closer to Barbatos—and maybe lead to clues about my brother."
Kael smiled. "That's exactly the right thought. Mondstadt appreciates those who help them with Stormterror. If you can do that, you'll have friends in the city, and friends give favors."
Ying considered, then nodded. "And what if Stormterror is too much?"
"Then don't fight alone," Kael said. "Use what you've got, look for strategic advantages—terrain, crowd control, allies. And if you must, pull back. Survival first; reputation second. There are always ways to make a danger into an opportunity."
Paimon squealed. "So there's a plan! Paimon likes plans that have food at the end."
Kael reached into his satchel and pulled out a small handful of Mora—enough to give Ying a buffer for supplies and a night's inn. He handed it to her with a faint smile. "This will help you start."
Ying accepted silently, surprise flickering across her face. It wasn't much, but it was enough to get a room and some rations. More importantly, it was a start—and a show of trust.
Before they dispersed, Kael added, "One more thing: if you want faster returns, join up with a local adventuring party. Teams take on riskier contracts that pay far better. If you're concerned about safety, pick members with varied skills—a healer, a ranged fighter, and someone who can tank."
Ying's eyes brightened at the practical advice. "All right. We'll head to the Adventurers' Guild tomorrow."
Paimon zipped up, suddenly full of enthusiasm: "And Paimon will be the morale booster! Food for everyone!"
Kael chuckled and watched them plan, thinking to himself: there were worse companions than these two. Ying's earnestness and Paimon's endless appetite would lead them into trouble—but trouble brought experience, and experience brought Mora.
As Ying and Paimon hurried to prepare for the next day, Kael stayed behind for a moment, sipping tea by the windowsill. Outside, Mondstadt's lamps flickered in the evening wind. He had allies here—unexpected, imperfect, but loyal. That mattered more than any title he held.
He set his cup down and added one final thought aloud, not quite to them and not quite to himself: "If we play this right, Ying will learn to earn, Mondstadt will gain a defender, and we might find a way to your brother. One step at a time."
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