The Abyss Herald could not withstand the might of the "Judgment of the Raging Sea."
Even with Aether's swift reaction, it was already too late to save his subordinate.
Under the overwhelming radiance of the "Judgment of the Raging Sea," the Abyss Herald's body exploded in an instant, reduced to dust before he could even let out a scream.
The Abyss Mages on either side were already trembling under this terrifying divine might, shrinking back behind Aether.
"Egeria! You—"
Aether turned back in fury, staring at Lora as she held the "Judgment of the Raging Sea."
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Lora, however, wore an utterly innocent expression.
She put away the "Judgment of the Raging Sea" at her side and said, "Although I am no longer the Hydro Archon, I am still the God of Justice and Law. If I just let him go, wouldn't that be terribly embarrassing for me?"
Even if she had not judged the Abyss Herald according to the law, destroying the Abyss was, in itself, the greatest justice in Teyvat.
"Very well, God of Justice. I'll remember what happened today! Let's go!"
Aether chose not to completely tear things apart with Lora and Venti here. He had no confidence in facing two founding Archons head-on without proper preparation.
Only after watching Aether leave with the two Abyss Mages did Lora finally let out a breath. She turned to Venti beside her and said,
"Consider it some payback for Dvalin."
"Thank you, Lora."
Hearing her words, Venti smiled.
"Alright, let's hurry back and steal—ah, no—retrieve the 'Holy Lyre der Himmel,'" Lora said with a laugh.
"The 'Holy Lyre der Himmel' is stored in the basement of the Favonius Cathedral. There are many guards there," Venti explained. "They change shifts at night, so we should go then. Besides, we just fought with the Abyss Order—you should rest a bit more."
He had merely awakened from a five-hundred-year slumber, so his body was fine. But Lora was different—she had died and returned to life. Until they understood what was really going on, Venti did not want her to overdraw her strength.
Knowing Venti was worried about her condition, Lora thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright… then we'll go tonight."
After returning to Mondstadt, Venti somehow produced the bottle of wine he had brought earlier and loudly insisted on drinking together with Lora.
During the meal, Venti sighed with emotion.
"Ever since the Khaenri'ah Cataclysm, it's been so long since we drank like this."
After the Seven Archons of the mortal realm were chosen and ascended to their divine thrones, he—God of Wind and Freedom—had gathered the Seven Gods together in Liyue Harbor. Every Archon had been delighted during those meetings, but now…
That lively atmosphere would never return.
The two of them drank until the sun dipped below the horizon.
After finishing one bottle, no one knew where Venti found several more. In short, the rule was simple: if there was wine, drink—and don't stop until someone was drunk.
As the former god of water, Lora never became intoxicated. Venti, on the other hand, had downed most of the wine himself. His face was flushed red, and he swayed even while standing.
Watching Venti barely able to keep his balance, Lora frowned.
"Are you sure you're okay like this?"
Venti let out a silly laugh.
"Of course I'm fine! I'm the greatest bard in the mortal world. A few bottles of wine won't make me pass out."
"A few bottles?"
Lora raised an eyebrow and instinctively glanced at the ground, where the empty bottles were almost impossible to count.
"Just how much wine do you have, anyway…?"
"All… buried in Windrise!"
Venti answered haltingly. Over the course of a thousand years, he had buried no one knew how many bottles beneath Windrise—far too many to count.
Several black lines dropped across Lora's forehead. She had a bad feeling that tonight's operation was going to go wrong.
The two of them slipped past the nuns of the Favonius Cathedral and the guards outside, quietly making their way into the basement. Taking advantage of the shift change, one Anemo Archon and one former Hydro Archon sneaked into the place where the Anemo Archon's divine relic was enshrined.
What kind of situation was this supposed to be?!
"I've asked Mondstadt's ever-present breeze to stand watch for us," Venti said drunkenly as he stood beside Lora. "Don't worry—no one will come. Just go ahead and take it!"
Lora looked at Venti with deep skepticism, then walked toward the room where the "Holy Lyre der Himmel" was stored.
When she opened the door, an incredibly gentle breeze washed over her. The "Holy Lyre der Himmel" floated in midair above its pedestal, surrounded by verdant wind.
The Anemo Archon's sacred relic radiated a noble bearing—far more dignified than a certain Anemo Archon himself.
Lora stepped forward and took the "Holy Lyre der Himmel."
At that very moment, a crisp, questioning voice rang out from behind her.
"What are you doing?!"
Lora froze and instinctively turned around. She saw Barbara standing at the top of the stairs, looking straight at them.
"Venti?!"
Seeing Barbara appear out of nowhere, Lora hurriedly looked back toward Venti—only to find that he had somehow already collapsed on the floor, completely unconscious.
Seriously? Where was your "ever-present breeze"?
I'm not even asking you to help—can't you at least stand guard?
Get something done for once, Barbatos!!
Clutching the "Holy Lyre der Himmel," Lora rushed over to Venti and grabbed him. Before she could escape, however, Barbara arrived with guards and blocked her path.
"Stop right there! Leave the 'Holy Lyre der Himmel' behind!"
Barbara stared at the instrument in Lora's arms and demanded,
"Who exactly are you people?"
"Well…"
Lora blinked, then glanced at the unconscious Venti beside her. She immediately washed her hands of responsibility.
"He told me to do it! I don't know anything!"
"Huh?"
This time, it was Barbara who froze.
Lora hurriedly continued.
"I'm just a traveler who just arrived in Mondstadt! Everything was his idea! My partner even went off with Acting Grand Master Jean to deal with the dragon disaster! I'm not a suspicious person!"
Sorry, Venti. In a situation like this, it's better for you to take the fall than me.
Lora even put on a pitiful expression.
Seeing her like this, Barbara was completely at a loss. She said firmly,
"Anyway! Give the 'Holy Lyre der Himmel' back to me right now! As for everything else, we'll deal with it after Acting Grand Master Jean returns!"
And just like that, the "Holy Lyre der Himmel," barely warm in her hands, was taken away. Lora and Venti were promptly escorted to the Favonius Cathedral's detention room.
It wasn't until early the next morning that Venti finally woke up from his hangover. Rubbing his head, he looked around and asked,
"Huh? Where are we? And where's the Holy Lyre der Himmel?"