Meraki

Part 3 Chapter 4: Embers of Snezhnaya

Aether and Signora made their way to the center of the room, while Sying and Venti stood next to the Shogun to watch the duel. Aether gripped his sword nervously. It was his first time against a member of the Fatui without backup.

A lesson on Harbinger power and elegance? Hah, as you wish." Signora said, summoning her catalyst and sending Cryo shards at her opponent. A few of them hit Aether's right arm as he created a Geo shield. 

Once the attack had stopped, Aether went in for one of his own. As his sword came down, it was blocked by a cube of ice. By infusing Electro into his weapon, Aether was able to break the cube and jump over some ice spikes Signora sent at him. As the traveler backed away, the Harbinger appeared in front of him and pushed him back with a wave of Cryo. Once his feet hit the ground, Aether sent out an Anemo twister and Signora threw a giant Cryo spear. Thankfully, Aether managed to avoid most of her attack, but he still received some injuries. Once Signora dropped out of the Anemo twister, a wheel of ice hit Aether from behind, sending him flying across the room. That somehow gave the Traveler the idea to just stop avoiding her attacks and fight the Harbinger at close range. And for whatever reason, it was working. Aether figured that since she was a catalyst user, her moves were powerful from farther away. And he was right. he was actually putting up a fight against Signora. Soon, she surrounded herself in a Cryo cocoon. 

"Harbinger power has become burdensome. I will manifest my destiny anew. Await my emergence and tremble, Traveler. You have reason to be afraid." Signora spoke, as Aether attacked with Electro infused slashes. He backed away when he realized his attacks were not doing anything. As he did so, the cocoon shattered in a burst of Pyro. Small Pyro crystal flies flew toward Signora, the source of the intense heat.

"She had this much power all along?" Aether gasped quietly. He had barely figured out how to beat her before, this was a whole other level.

"I am the Crimson Witch of Embers: Rosalyne Kruzchka-Lohefalter. In fires of sin and retribution, your soul will be incinerated!" The Harbinger declared. 

She sent a wave of fire at the Traveler, and he rolled out of the way. He hit her by sending out three Electro waves before dodging another Pyro wave. Although, the next one hit Aether directly, sending him onto the floor. As he tried to stand, Pyro crystal flies made a dome around him. Aether created a Geo shield and got away from the flaming insects. Aether landed a few more hits on Signora before large fireballs rained down from above. The Traveler avoided her attack and sent an Anemo twister. Signora got hit, but she managed to control the twister and infuse Pyro into it. Aether created a Geo wall to avoid taking damage. Once she stopped spinning, the Traveler lunged forward with an Electro infused sword. The elemental reaction caused Signora to fall to the floor, back to her normal self. Aether had won. He put his sword away and faced the Harbinger, getting ready to offer to help her up. The Shogun walked over to the two with her sword drawn. She went past Aether and toward Signora. "I am a Snezhnayan diplomat. You know what happens if you lay a finger on me." She stood up, stumbling away as the door behind her opened to reveal an out of breath Luna. Her eyes were drawn to the scene in front of her and the small child found herself moving forward.

"Leave her alone!" Luna yelled as the Electro Archon advanced. "That's my mother!" Signora's eyes widened as Scaramouche entered the room.

"Luna, stop!" Scaramouche called out, running toward the girl.

"My sweet little Luna." Signora breathed. Scaramouche shielded Luna with his back as the Shogun swung her sword and stopped right in front of them. A burst of Electro followed, and Signora fell to the ground. Scaramouche looked up in surprise, and Luna ran to her mother. She fell to her knees and felt blood stick to her hands. The girl let out a scream of despair and sadness making Aether feel guilty. His sister had figured out she was adopted, and he was part of the reason why her mother was dead.

"You are all enemies of eternity." The Shogun stated, making Scaramouche stand in front of Luna protectively. "But since Aether is the victor, I acknowledge his honor. Therefore, I shall allow you all to leave Tenshukaku alive." With that, Sying, Venti, Aether, Scaramouche, and Luna left the building. No words were exchanged between them, seeing what just happened. Luna was clutching Signora's mask and trying to wipe away her tears. When the group made it out, Kazuha, Gorou, and some Resistance members arrived at the entrance. Sying heard the sound of Electro and turned around to see The Shogun swinging her sword toward him. The Nova Archon backed away as Scaramouche blocked the sword with his scythe. The Harbinger felt a gust of wind temporarily surround his weapon and with it, he was able to deflect the Shogun's attack. He had a smirk on his face, as if he was challenging her. The Resistance took that opportunity to charge, and the group charged as well. Aether jumped up into the air, covering his sword in Electro while Sying lunged toward the Archon with a Nova infused polearm. Venti stood from afar and prepared to fire an arrow, while Luna and Scaramouche began their attack. The Shogun focused her attention on the Traveler and the Nova Archon and sent them to the Plane of Euthymia. "So, we meet again."

"Hello there, Ei." Sying growled. "Did you miss me?"