Liyue Harbor.
In familiar surroundings, Zhongli listened to Storyteller Tian recount Liyue's history, occasionally taking a sip of warm tea from his cup.
"Zhongli, Zhongli! So you're really here! That's great! We have a very, very urgent matter we need your help with!"
Paimon's voice preceded her arrival, reaching Zhongli's ears before she even appeared.
Zhongli gestured for silence, rose, and motioned for Lumine and Paimon to speak outside.
"You two seem quite distressed. Have you encountered some trouble?"
Lumine briefly explained Rola's situation to Zhongli, then relayed Venti's request.
"I see. This matter isn't difficult. Since that fellow has such intentions, we should lend him a hand."
Lumine bowed deeply to Zhongli.
"Thank you so much, Zhongli!"
"No need for such formality. Since it's urgent, let's depart immediately."
Paimon quickly reminded them, "Zhongli, we need to wait for the bard to arrive! Ah, I forgot we didn't agree on a meeting place..."
Zhongli chuckled softly.
"No need. He's already here. Just follow me closely."
Leading Lumine and Paimon, Zhongli guided them out of Liyue Harbor to the foot of the Geo Archon's Statue of The Seven outside the city walls.
Venti, who had been waiting there, immediately stepped forward to greet them.
"Old Man, thanks for your help this time! I'll treat you to dinner later."
Zhongli's expression immediately darkened.
Lumine cleared her throat to smooth things over. "Ahem, let's get down to business first..."
Diluc turned to Zhongli and knelt on one knee. "Diluc of Mondstadt, I thank you, Geo Archon, for your assistance." He was well-versed in Liyue's customs for addressing deities.
Zhongli helped Diluc to his feet. "There's no need for such formality, young friend. However, I must ask you to keep my true identity a secret."
Diluc nodded firmly.
Venti produced the Jade Ring and looked at Zhongli. "Old Man, could you please reshape her physical body?"
Zhongli nodded slightly. With a wave of his right hand, numerous Geo Crystals materialized from thin air. They rapidly coalesced, compressed, and molded into a lifelike figure, completing the transformation in mere moments.
Instantly, a living, breathing Rola appeared, fully clothed.
Paimon stomped her feet excitedly. "Rola! It's Rola! Traveler, look!"
Lumine quickly covered Paimon's mouth, unsure whether speaking might disrupt Zhongli's process. It was best for Paimon to remain silent for now.
Diluc was visibly moved, though he maintained his composure, his eyes fixed intently on Rola.
Venti carefully extracted Rola's soul from the Jade Ring, using his divine power to slowly solidify it before gently placing it into her newly formed body.
Everyone present, except for Paimon, heard the faint but distinct sound of a heartbeat, followed by the gradual emergence of breath.
Diluc gripped the hem of his cloak tightly, Lumine watched with rapt attention, and Paimon's small face contorted with shock.
-
Player World.
[Haha, the last day! So that's what it meant, hahahahaha!]
[Whatever, I'm not the only one getting stabbed in the feels. I'm going to do my quests now. It's the last day, after all. I need to spend it properly with my Rola!]
[Just being able to see Rola in the game again is enough for me. At least I know her departure won't be painful anymore...]
[Heh, upstairs, you've probably forgotten what Venti said. Being devoured by the Abyss is excruciatingly painful, and Rola... her soul is only ten percent intact now!]
[Stop cutting! The kid's about to lose it...]
Chen Xiyao was already starting to pout, just one trigger away from tears.
The live stream chat was flooded with teasing comments.
"Heh, you people. I bet you're all crying your eyes out behind your screens, yet you still have the nerve to mock me?"
Just as she retorted, Rola woke up on the screen.
When Chen Xiyao heard Rola collapse into Diluc's arms and burst into tears, she couldn't hold back any longer.
"Waaah! Damn it, I'm not crying! I just got sand in my eyes! Waaah~"
-
Teyvat, beneath the Statue of The Seven.
Rola opened her eyes, her gaze filled with confusion and fear, like a wounded animal warily scanning her surroundings. Only when she recognized familiar faces did the terror in her eyes gradually subside.
Finally, her gaze landed on Diluc. The moment their eyes met, as if overwhelmed by unspeakable sorrow, she threw herself into his arms and burst into tears.
"Waaah!"
Diluc, his eyes red and tear-streaked, wrapped his arms tightly around his younger sister.
"Don't cry, Rola. Brother's here. Lord Barbatos is here too, along with Rex Lapis of Liyue, Lumine, and Paimon. Don't be afraid. It's over now. No one will ever hurt you again!"
But Diluc's words offered no comfort. Rola clung to him, sobbing uncontrollably. Her cries grew louder, each wail piercing the air with heartrending grief.
Paimon, swept up in the overwhelming emotion, began to cry too.
Lumine quietly wiped away her tears.
Venti tilted his head back, gazing absently at the clouds.
Zhongli shook his head and slipped away silently.
After crying for a long while, Rola's emotions gradually stabilized.
"Brother, it hurt so much, it was unbearable! It felt like so many things were biting me. I wanted to fight back, but I couldn't. I wanted to die, but I couldn't even do that! Waaah, Brother~"
"I thought I'd be stuck like that forever, tormented forever... Waaah, Brother, I'm finally with you again!"
Rola kept pouring out her experiences, detailing every moment of agony, her tears falling drop by drop.
Diluc held Rola tightly, his own tears flowing even faster and more profusely than hers, his eyes blazing crimson.
Each tear Rola shed felt like a sharp knife carving out a piece of his heart.
This is the little sister I've cherished since she was a child! Why must she endure such agony?!
Lumine, her eyes bloodshot, sat down on a nearby rock, her hatred for Malice and the Abyss burning even more fiercely.
Even little Paimon clenched her tiny fists and swung them fiercely at the empty air.
The surrounding wind grew unusually turbulent, and Barbatos' murderous intent deepened once more.
-
Player World.
Chen Xiyao was sobbing uncontrollably, a mountain of crumpled tissues piling up on the table.
The comments section was flooded with wails of grief.
The usual playful teasing of the streamer had vanished completely.
[Don't cry, Rola! If you cry, I'll cry too...]
[Damn it! Playing this game has actually cured my years-long dry eye condition!]
[You monsters! You absolute monsters! How could you hurt such a little angel like Rola? The Abyss is a bunch of beasts!]
[Diluc's about to lose it! That look in his eyes... it scares even me...]
[Mihoyo, you damned bastards! Another day, another round of curses for you!]
[Waaaaah, my heart aches!]
[I'm over forty years old and still playing this game. Rola really reminds me of my own daughter... I'm crying so hard!]
[Father-in-law, Father-in-law! Look at me! Do you need more tissues? I can bring you a pack right away!]