Dreams from the Stars Above

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

ACT TWO ; PART TWO
"Meeting The Consultant"

"You've finally returned. How was your journey to Jueyun Karst?" Childe asked, seeing the group.

("You're explaining everything to Childe," Ryu said while on their way to see the harbinger.

"Do I have to?" Lumine groaned.

"We did most of the talking with the adepti, you deal with the damn harbinger," he told her.

"Fine...")

Lumine explained everything.

"I see," Childe said. "Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, Cloud Retainer, Conqueror of Demons... Some of these names have never come up in the intel the Fatui gets hold of. As a returning gift, I too have information for you."

Lumine nudged Ryu. She already knew about the holographic terminal, so she was signaling for Ryu to write everything down or record it.

He subtly moved the recording menu to where his hand was resting against his other arm (he has his arms crossed) and tapped the record button.

"Regarding the archon's passing... The Liyue Qixing's response really has given me food for thought... They've announced that, as the true killer has not yet been found, they are not allowing anyone to pay their respects to the Exuvia. They've even gone so far as to try and cut off information... But with the Rite of Descension and all, even the Qixing isn't able to keep a lid on things."

"Exuvia?" Paimon asked.

"It's common knowledge in Liyue that Rex Lapis is also an adeptus. The Geo Archon is also the God of Contracts, and is also known as —"

"The Exuvia, Prime of the Adepti," Childe and Kaveh said in unison, though Kaveh's voice was a mere whisper, a stark contrast to his usual volume.

'Huh? I didn't know about that until Childe said it. How... Why did I say it alongside him?' Kaveh thought in surprise. He hadn't bothered to learn much about Liyue's history, since he wasn't really interested in it. So how..?

He shrugged it off. 'Whatever, it's probably just something Alhaitham mentioned at some point.'

"Hey Ryu, you heard Kaveh whisper along, right?" Azrael whispered, leaning next to the dragon's ear by the slightest.

"Just barely," he replied. "Take note of it. I can't do anything right now, since our dear harbinger is right in front of us."

Childe continued, unknowing to Kaveh's whisper, "The mighty and illuminated adepti of today all signed contracts to protect Liyue back then."

"Which is why they are so focused on Liyue's well-being," Lumine realized.

The harbinger nodded. "Naturally. They both have the responsibility and the aptitude for the job. If the ruling Qixing became unable to perform their duty properly, the adepti have the right to take corrective action. The Geo Archon's spirit has risen, so why would the Qixing hide his vessel? Truly suspicious."

"I agree, something's not right," Lumine said. "This makes things difficult for us too."

"Oh! Right! He's the whole reason we came here!" Paimon remembered. "If the Liyue Qixing has locked up Exuvia and won't let anyone near..."

"Then our quest is over or suspended for an indefinite amount of time," Ryu completed with a smile.

"Oh? You have a quest to finish? What is that, pray tell?" Childe asked.

"None of your business," the blonde traveller said with a glare. Kaveh slightly moved away from Lumine.

'Her glare's probably sharper than mine when Alhaitham buys another ugly furniture,' he thought to himself. 'Ugh, he better not buy another one while I'm gone!'