Among the Fatui Harbingers, only Il Dottore and Scaramouche showed no surprise at Bella's cooperation.
The others felt nothing but unease.
Aside from La Signora and Childe, whose loyalty to the Tsaritsa was largely unquestioning, most Harbingers carried personal grudges against the rule of Celestia:
Columbina — the annihilation of her clan
Sandrone — Fontaine's prophecy
Pierro — the fall of a nation
Arlecchino — a curse bound to her very existence
Even so, with Celestia incapacitated and the Abyss pressing inward, Teyvat desperately needed a savior.
In their hearts, many still hoped the Cryo Archon would become that figure.
But Dottore and Scaramouche did not share that hope.
Dottore was obsessed with research. Before the world's end—or a new order—Teyvat itself was merely his laboratory.
Scaramouche cared little for the fate of the world. He joined the Fatui for one reason alone: power—power to exact revenge on Inazuma.
He succeeded.
Wandering the Abyss, his strength grew rapidly, earning him the rank of Sixth Harbinger.
"That those two would side with Bella is hardly surprising,"
Arlecchino said with a rare, faint smile.
"Signora will return soon. We intend to take leave of Her Majesty and return to the House of the Hearth."
"Spend some time with the children."
Pierro nodded.
"Go. May the downfall of the Doctor and the Balladeer serve as a warning."
"Do not attempt to block a falling mountain. You may yet survive."
Inazuma — Grand Narukami Shrine
Having taken over the Shuumatsuban's ritual duties, Yae Miko sat properly within the shrine hall.
Her expression grew increasingly grave as she recalled Scaramouche's appearance.
"Why does that brat look so familiar?"
"And why does he hate Ei so much?"
Suddenly—
"Ah!"
Her eyes widened.
"That puppet… wasn't he one Ei created long ago?"
"He's still alive?! And now a Fatui Harbinger?!"
She sucked in a sharp breath.
"I knew something was wrong with him."
"If only Ei had dismantled him back then."
"Now look—he's harvesting Sumeru's dreams, feeding on human consciousness."
"That's practically begging to be erased."
Yae pressed her temples.
Ei was already trying to regain a foothold in Inazuma's governance.
And now this.
"Ei… this one's on you," she muttered.
"I warned you."
Liyue — Aftermath
As Aerin had said, Azhdaha's remaining clarity guided a Millelith soldier to halt his advance.
Seizing the chance, Morax successfully resealed him.
Liyue was informed:
This calamity had been a trial.
Those who trampled others' lives during disaster would be punished without mercy.
The test was brutal.
But when the people learned that Rex Lapis still lived, cheers erupted across the land.
Only after facing an invincible disaster did they truly understand the illusion of pure human rule.
Even the long-standing rift between humans and adepti was finally mended.
The Mountain Cave
Aerin casually carved a cave into the mountainside and placed Nahida inside.
"You are the Geo Archon?"
Nahida peeked up at Morax, astonished.
"Yes," Morax replied.
"I am Morax, the Archon of Liyue."
Then he gestured respectfully toward Aerin.
"This is Lord Aerin, a god who descended from beyond the heavens.
Lady Bennares is his attendant."
Nahida shuddered.
So that's why…
No wonder he had taken her from Sumeru in an instant.
"Nahida."
At the sound of her name, she immediately knelt.
"Nahida greets the divine one."
Bennares studied her curiously.
"So small… and she's truly Sumeru's Archon? The God of Wisdom?"
Morax coughed awkwardly.
"She is the second-generation Archon.
The first—Greater Lord Rukkhadevata—fell resisting the Abyss."
"Oh."
Bennares nodded, then whispered,
"Master… she doesn't look very bright."
Nahida heard it.
Her body trembled.
"Intelligence can be tested," Aerin said calmly.
"And a leader requires more than intelligence alone."
His voice was gentle—but the pressure was immense.
"Nahida," he continued,
"I have a question. Think carefully before answering."
She nodded rapidly.
"Yes. I will answer sincerely."
"Good."
Aerin spoke evenly.
"During Liyue's calamity, some used chaos to loot and kill."
"How should such people be dealt with?"
Nahida relaxed slightly.
This didn't seem difficult.
After thinking, she answered firmly:
"People make mistakes. I believe they should be given a chance to repent."
"Educate them. Guide them. Help them understand their wrongdoing."
Morax inhaled sharply and turned away.
Far away, in the Sanctuary of Surasthana, Nahida's future self felt dread.
That answer… was wrong.
Without knowing Aerin's standards, she would have answered the same.
But now—
She knew.
Judgment
Aerin exhaled slowly.
"That is your answer?"
"If those were Sumeru's people…"
"Could you truly allow their murderers to live?"
"Can your education restore stolen lives?"
"Can you forgive killers on behalf of the victims' families?"
"In nature, death is unavoidable."
"But in human society—murder demands consequence."
The questions struck one after another.
Nahida's mind went blank.
She lowered her head, unable to respond.
Then—
An unseen force lifted her.
Morax stiffened, unable to look.
Nahida was gently set upon a stone platform, restrained by invisible pressure.
She could not move.
Aerin stepped forward, holding a solid wooden ruler.
"You were imprisoned by humans for a reason."
"If you rule Sumeru with such thinking, would you still reason with enemies who slaughter your people?"
"Then let this lesson begin with you."
The strike fell.
Nahida cried out in pain.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
Tears streamed down her face before she lost consciousness.
Morax sucked in a breath.
"She's fainted," Bennares reported after checking.
Aerin waved his hand.
The cave wall filled with rows of wooden rulers.
"When she wakes," he said calmly,
"tell her to reflect."
"If she still doesn't understand—
she won't leave until every one of these is broken."
Aftermath — Nahida's Reflection
Staring at the wall of rulers, Nahida trembled.
Three strikes had already overwhelmed her.
Yet—
He wasn't wrong.
"I had no right… to forgive on others' behalf."
"I wasn't qualified."
Tears fell.
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