-Windrise-
The following morning, Aether and the others arrived at Windrise, only to find a small camp with a letter addressed to Aether and the rest of the group. It was from Sekai.
The letter began with an apology. Sekai admitted that his outburst had been immature and that he should have handled things better. He understood that, as an unknown entity wielding great power, it was natural for others to be wary of him. Because of that, he sought their forgiveness.
He also expressed his gratitude for their hospitality during his stay and bid them farewell. At the end of the letter, he left instructions for Aether to continue on his journey to Liyue—Sekai would be waiting for him somewhere along the way.
Though they wanted to see Sekai again, they had no idea where exactly he planned to meet Aether and Paimon. With their own responsibilities keeping them occupied, they couldn't accompany Aether on his journey to Liyue. There was a sense of regret, especially for Lisa, who believed she could have prevented this situation from escalating.
Before parting ways, they left messages for Aether to pass on to Sekai and wished him well on his journey.
-Near Wangshu Inn-
After traveling for some time, Aether and Paimon reached a Statue of The Seven near Wangshu Inn.
Aether placed his hand on the statue, and a surge of power coursed through him. A golden glow enveloped his body, and when it faded, he could feel a newfound energy within him.
Paimon: "Whoa! Looks like you can wield multiple elements just like Sekai! You two really are special!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind her.
Sekai: "Oh? And what's that I hear about how special I am?"
Paimon: "Gah! Sekai?! Can you stop sneaking up on Paimon like that?! You're gonna give Paimon a heart attack!"
Aether: "Sekai! Glad you joined us. By the way, I have a message from everyone."
After listening to their words, Sekai let out a sigh and scratched the back of his head.
Sekai: "I really was a jerk, huh?"
Aether: "Not really… After all, forcing someone to reveal their secrets isn't right either."
Paimon: "Yeah, yeah! So it's not totally your fault! Cheer up, Sekai!"
Sekai looked at both of them before suddenly pulling them into a tight hug.
Sekai: "Thanks, guys. You don't know how much I appreciate you two."
Aether and Paimon smiled.
Aether & Paimon: "You're welcome!"
Sekai released Aether but continued hugging Paimon like a plush toy, patting her head.
Sekai: "So, what were you two talking about just now?"
Paimon: "Oh, right! Listen to this, Sekai! Aether touched the Statue of The Seven, and—boom!—he suddenly gained the power of Geo! Just like you, he can wield multiple elements! Now you're not alone anymore!"
Aether: "Yeah, look!"He extended his hand."Starfell Sword!"
A meteorite-shaped Geo construct rose from the ground.
Paimon and Sekai widened their eyes before breaking into applause.
Sekai: "Not bad, not bad! You're getting the hang of it already!"
Aether chuckled, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.
Aether: "Heh… Sekai, why don't you try touching the statue too? Maybe you can gain the power of Geo as well!"
Sekai thought for a moment before nodding. As soon as he placed his hand on the statue, a soft vibration spread through the ground. His wristwatch began blinking with a brown light. He looked down and saw that the Earth symbol had changed to a deep brown color.
Sekai: "Sekai—Earth Power!"
A surge of energy engulfed him, and when it faded, his jacket had turned brown, while his pants remained black. The symbol on the back of his jacket had changed to the Geo element emblem.
Sekai: "Earth Gauntlet!"
The ground beneath him rumbled as Geo energy wrapped around both of his hands, forming solid, rock-like gauntlets. He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his new power.
Sekai: "Looks like your theory was right, Aether. Maybe it has something to do with how both of us aren't from this world."
Aether: "That means… my sister might have this ability too! Maybe that's why she was taken!"
Paimon: "Whoa, whoa! Calm down, Aether!"
Sekai placed a reassuring hand on Aether's shoulder.
Sekai: "Yeah, we'll find your sister. And together, we'll travel from one world to another—just like you said, right?"
Aether took a deep breath and nodded.
Aether: "Yeah… You're right. Our journey is just beginning. There's still a long way ahead."
Paimon: "And Paimon and Sekai will always be by your side! Right, Sekai?"
Sekai grinned. "Of course! You've been there for me when I was down, so I'll do my best to be there for you too."
He extended his fist toward them.
Aether and Paimon smiled and bumped their fists against his.
-Somewhere on Liyue-
Sekai summoned his hoverbike and gestured for Aether to hop on the back, while Paimon took her usual spot in front of him. As they rode toward Liyue, Sekai gave Aether some tips on how to ride the hoverbike. Meanwhile, Paimon enjoyed the view, marveling at the changing landscape.
As the sun started to set, they decided to set up camp for the night. Rather than using a regular tent, Sekai created an Earth Igloo with his newfound Geo abilities.
Paimon: "Whoa! That's so cool!"
Aether helped Sekai prepare dinner, while Paimon eagerly admired the igloo's structure. After they ate, they sat around the campfire.
Paimon: "Sekai! Sing for us, like you did during our mission with Eula!"
Sekai pondered for a moment before nodding. He used his Triple Split ability, summoning his alternate forms: Cyclone and Earth.
Earth raised an earth wall with a gritty surface to dampen the noise, ensuring they wouldn't attract unwanted attention. Then, Sekai tranced a set of musical instruments—Cyclone took the electric guitar, Earth played the drums, and Solar stood at the center with a microphone.
Paimon and Aether watched in amazement as Sekai elevated the ground slightly, forming a small performance stage.
Sekai (Solar): "Thanks for coming to Sekai's small concert! Are you ready for a song?!"
Aether & Paimon: "Yeah!!"
Sekai (Solar): "Alright! Cyclone, Earth—start the music!"
With that, he began singing "Gurenge"—the opening song of Demon Slayer.
Aether & Paimon: "Encore! Encore!"
Sekai chuckled and sighed.
Sekai: "Fine, just one more. I'll sing the song from our mission with Eula."
This time, he performed "Sugar Song to Bitter Step" from Blood Blockade Battlefront.
After the concert, they sipped warm milk and retreated into the Earth Igloo for the night.
-The Next Morning-
The group woke up early, enjoying a simple breakfast before setting off again.
As they traveled, Sekai handed Aether a chance to ride the hoverbike, sitting behind him and offering occasional tips. To his surprise, Aether picked it up quickly, maneuvering the bike with ease despite keeping a slow pace.
By midday, they finally reached the outskirts of Liyue Harbor.
Sekai: "Whoa… is that Liyue? Looks even cooler in person!"
Aether: "We made it. Come on, let's go."
The group dismounted the hoverbike, and Sekai dismissed it with a flick of his hand. The moment their feet hit solid ground, Paimon excitedly floated ahead, leading the way toward the grand city before them.
-Liyue Harbor-
The bustling port city was alive with the chatter of merchants, the scent of exotic spices, and the glimmering sight of golden rooftops reflecting the afternoon sun.
Sekai: "Man, this place is something else!"
Aether: "Yeah, the architecture, the people, even their clothing—everything feels so unique."
Paimon: "If we're gonna meet the Geo Archon, this is our best chance all year! Good thing Venti told us about it, or we would've missed the Rite of Descension!"
Aether: "Do we know exactly when it is?"
Paimon put a hand to her head, thinking hard.
Paimon: "Uhh… Might be today… or tomorrow? Well, since we're already here, let's ask around!"
Before they moved, she added an interesting tidbit:
Paimon: "Oh, right! The Geo Archon, Morax—did you know that Mora, the currency we use, is named after him? But people outside Liyue shouldn't call him that. The locals refer to him as Rex Lapis, so we should too!"
Nodding, they started asking around.
Their first stop was a shopkeeper named Linlang.
Linlang: "The Rite of Descension? Oh, yeah! That's today! Every year, Rex Lapis bestows his divine guidance on how to govern Liyue. Last year, it was the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing who had the honor of seeking his wisdom."
Sekai & Aether: "The Liyue Qixing?"
Paimon: "Oh! Paimon knows this one! Mondstadt is all about freedom, but Liyue is built on contracts. The Liyue Qixing are the seven leaders of the city's biggest enterprises—they're the ones who manage everything here!"
Linlang chuckled.
Linlang: "That's what outsiders say. But true control over Liyue has always belonged to Rex Lapis. The Qixing are just mortals, while he is an Archon. Unlike Mondstadt, where your Archon is nowhere to be seen, Rex Lapis has always been with us. Stay in Liyue long enough, and you'll see."
Her words carried a deep pride in Liyue's traditions, but Sekai couldn't shake the feeling that such reliance on a god was… different from what he was used to.
They continued their search, speaking with various locals. Guanhai didn't have much insight—he simply lamented missing the previous Rite of Descension. Bolai, a merchant, spoke more about Ningguang, one of the Qixing, and how Rex Lapis was the oldest of the Archons. But mostly, he focused on his business ventures.
Eventually, they were directed to Yujing Terrace for the best view of the event.
-Yujing Terrace-
Standing at the terrace's edge, Paimon clapped her hands together.
Paimon: "This is the best time to make a wish, you know? Since Rex Lapis is giving his divine guidance, it's said that wishes made today have a better chance of coming true!"
Aether's eyes softened. He stepped forward and silently made his wish.
Sekai: "What did you wish for?"
Aether: "To see my sister again."
Sekai paused, then closed his eyes and made his own wish.
"Please, let me not run into another unreasonable woman."
The moment was short-lived, however, as the crowd grew restless.
Paimon: "Whoa! Look at all the people! We need to get to the front! We can't see anything from back here!"
Weaving through the crowd, they found themselves standing near the heart of the gathering. That's when Sekai noticed a striking woman standing on the elevated stage.
She was tall, elegant, and commanding. Her crimson eyes held an air of wisdom, and her long, straight hair cascaded down, partially tied in an elaborate bun. A delicate hairpin adorned her head, and her high-collared white qipao shimmered under the daylight. A Geo Vision rested on her left midriff, and claw-like guards decorated her fingers.
She raised a hand, her voice carrying over the murmuring crowd.
???: "The hour is upon us."
With a graceful motion, she summoned her Geo energy, preparing to begin the ceremony. But before anything could proceed—
A massive dragon-like figure came hurtling from the sky.
The impact sent a shockwave through the terrace, dust and debris scattering in all directions. When the dust settled, the truth hit them like a hammer to the chest.
Rex Lapis—the Geo Archon—lay before them, lifeless.
Gasps and screams erupted from the crowd.
Sekai: "What the—?!"
The elegant woman's eyes widened as she turned to the stunned audience.
???: "Rex Lapis has been killed! Seal the exits!"
At her command, the Millelith, Liyue's guards, swarmed the terrace, blocking all paths of escape.
Paimon: "W-Wha… What's going on?! Did she just say… the Geo Archon is DEAD?!"
As the reality of the situation sank in, the Millelith began detaining those who had been closest to the scene.
Paimon: "Oh no, they're rounding up suspects! Wait… We were right next to it—are we suspects?!"
Sekai:"Paimon, panicking will only make us look guiltier."
Paimon: "Paimon is freaking out! The killer could still be here! What if we get caught?!"
The guards drew closer. There was no time to argue.
Aether: "We can't let them catch us!"
Acting quickly, Sekai grabbed both Aether and Paimon.
Sekai: "Hold on—Solar Leap!"
In a flash of golden energy, the three of them vanished, reappearing just outside the guards' encirclement. The sudden movement caught the Millelith off guard.
Guard: "What the—?! They're getting away!"
Wasting no time, they sprinted toward the city's exit. But before they could escape, more Millelith reinforcements blocked the path.
Guard: "There they are! Arrest them!"
Sekai: "Tch! Looks like we need another leap!"
Just as he prepared to use Solar Leap again, a voice called out.
???: "Hey, hold still."
Out of nowhere, a mysterious Hydro user appeared, swiftly taking down the nearby guards with graceful yet calculated movements.
More Millelith rushed toward them.
???: "No time to talk. Follow me."
Exchanging quick glances, they had no choice but to trust their mysterious savior. And so, they ran.