After leaving Liyue Harbor, Rola suggested returning to Mondstadt.
Since the day was entirely Rola's, Venti and the others naturally had no objections.
When discussing how to get back to Mondstadt, Rola suddenly turned her bright, sparkling eyes to Venti:
"Lord Barbatos, will you fly me back to Mondstadt? I've never flown before! It must feel amazing!"
Gliding with a Wind Glider didn't count as flying, and Diluc's strictness had given Rola few opportunities to glide from high places.
The moment Rola spoke, Diluc, Lumine, and Paimon all turned to Venti with unspoken warnings in their eyes.
Their unspoken message was clear: You wouldn't dare refuse, would you?
Venti chuckled softly and produced his lyre:
"Are you all ready?"
"Mhm-hmm!"
Rola clenched her fists, the most excited among them all.
"Then let's... set off..."
Venti gently strummed the lyre's strings, and a gentle breeze enveloped the five of them, slowly lifting them into the sky.
Though supported by the wind, the sensation of weightlessness beneath her feet left Rola utterly flustered. After a frantic scramble with her limbs, she finally managed to wrap her arms around her brother Diluc's neck.
With something to hold onto, Rola finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hey, Brother, is it okay if I hold you like this?"
Diluc, carrying his sister in a princess carry, nodded his head slightly. "Rola, look."
Following her brother's gaze downward, Rola took in the breathtaking vista of Liyue. The spot where they had been standing was now so small it was barely visible.
I never realized we'd climbed so high without even noticing.
Rola, who was slightly afraid of heights, tightened her grip around her brother's neck.
After adjusting for a while, Rola gradually relaxed.
Lord Barbatos is here. We couldn't possibly fall, right?
Rola gazed down with interest. This was the first time she had seen Liyue from such a high vantage point, and at this speed, they'd likely reach Mondstadt soon.
She knew Mondstadt like the back of her hand, but she wondered what it would look like from this angle.
Glancing up, Rola noticed Lumine and Paimon watching her with amused smiles.
"Paimon, Lumine, look! Is that Dragonspine over there?!"
Lumine and Paimon glanced perfunctorily at the mountain before turning back to Rola.
"Why are you staring at me like that? Is my face dirty?" Rola wondered aloud, then turned to Diluc. "Brother, is there something on my face?"
"No, Rola. You look beautiful."
"Hehe, of course!"
It wasn't just Lumine and Paimon; Diluc and Venti were also quietly watching Rola.
The scenery remained unchanged, always the same, but some people... they might never be seen again tomorrow.
Venti's speed was swift; they reached Mondstadt in no time.
Seeing the familiar sights of Mondstadt, Rola grew even more excited, her wide eyes darting around:
"Brother, look! I remember there's a Sunsettia Tree on that cliff. I even had a picnic there with Noelle last year!"
"And over there! That little river is full of fish! Hehe, I took Klee there to fish blast once—even Little Klee said the fish there tasted better!"
"Wow, that giant monster hasn't been cleared out yet? Bro, let me tell you, that was the biggest monster I've ever defeated! It's all thanks to Klee, though..."
Rola's voice echoed alone in the high sky.
Diluc knew Rola wasn't just sharing her exciting adventures; more importantly, she wanted to remember everything that had happened in Mondstadt forever.
She didn't want to forget these moments, forget Mondstadt, or forget any of them.
Despite her outwardly carefree demeanor, Rola... must have been deeply terrified of death.
"Lord Barbatos, if I shout loudly from up here, can the people below hear me?"
"It's too far. They won't be able to hear you down there."
"Then can I still shout?"
"Ha ha, of course!"
Rola cleared her throat, gesturing for Paimon to cover her ears, but Paimon shook her head.
Stretching her neck to peer down below, Rola suddenly screamed at the top of her lungs:
"Mondstadt—I, Rola, am back again!"
After shouting, Rola added silently to herself: Though I'll be leaving again soon.
-
Mondstadt, Confinement Room.
Klee wasn't actually confined, but after spending so much time here, it had come to feel more like her own room.
Right now, Little Klee was sprawled over a sheet of white paper, drawing. Her drawing was half-finished: it depicted two adorable girls, one big and one small, smiling as they tossed bombs into a lake.
Both girls radiated warmth. The smaller one was Little Klee, and the identity of the taller girl was obvious.
Though many days had passed, Klee still couldn't forget her dear sister Rola.
She had seen Rola from afar, encased in a giant block of ice. It must have been freezing cold inside.
Rola, just like her, preferred warmth to cold.
Grand Master Jean and the others had buried Rola in the earth. Klee knew Rola wouldn't be coming back.
Rola was gone forever. Klee would never see her again.
Heartbroken, she had cried for hours and hours. But no matter how much she wept, Rola wouldn't appear to comfort her as she used to.
Klee was now coloring her drawing, placing Dodoco in the most prominent spot so she could see it immediately when she took a break.
Knock, knock, knock—
A sudden knock echoed through the Confinement Room. Klee put down her crayons and rushed to open the door.
The moment the door swung open, Rola, who had been waiting outside, immediately scooped up Little Klee and showered her adorable face with kisses.
"Little Klee, Sister Rola's here to go fish blasting with you! Aren't you excited?!"
"Sister Rola! It's Sister Rola!"
Klee's originally sorrowful face instantly lit up with a radiant smile. She excitedly called out for Sister Rola, showering her face with kisses.
She didn't understand why Sister Rola had suddenly appeared, but that didn't matter. Sister Rola was still here, still alive—that was all that mattered to Klee!
Rola tried to put Little Klee down, but the girl clung to her tightly, refusing to let go. With a sigh, Rola resigned herself to carrying her.
"Let's go! Remember what I promised? As soon as we got back, I'd take you fish-blasting—we're going to have a blast!"
Rola carried Little Klee out of the Confinement Room.
They hadn't expected to run into Kaeya right outside.
"Kaeya, I'm taking Klee fish-blasting. Wanna come too?"
Kaeya's eyes widened with shock and elation. Rola was alive? Rola was actually alive?!
After Rola's supposed death, Kaeya's grief had been no less profound than Diluc's. She was the sister he had doted on since childhood—how could he not be heartbroken?
Just as Kaeya moved to step forward, a strong arm restrained him. Diluc leaned in close and whispered, "I'll explain everything later. For now, Rola's asking if you want to join them fish-blasting."
Without hesitation, Kaeya nodded frantically:
"Yes! I'm coming too!"