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< 1 >
His father's blood still coated his hands when the new Ragnvindr shoved his Vision into his brother's hands, clattering against the Cryo Vision that had manifested just moments ago in response to the rage-filled grief, guilt and fear that Kaeya experienced upon seeing his father's body and the blood on his brother's hands.
The lethal Delusion was clutched so tightly in Diluc's other fist that the edge had cut his fingers and his blood was mixing with the sticky mess left by his father's death.
A swift look around the gathered audience of sobbing servants and a handful of Knights told him what was necessary. His voice was hoarse with grief and rage but he pitched it loud enough for the audience. "My brother, Kaeya Alberich Ragnvindr, is the master here now. You will obey him as you would our father." He bared his teeth in a plain threat. "I will find those responsible for our father's murder."
His bloody hand left streaks on Kaeya's cheek and his voice dropped to a quiet murmur. "I'll write when I can. Trust no-one because someone knew our route and travel times for the enemy to be waiting for us."
"A Knight? Really?"
He flicked his eyes towards the Springvale patrol."Kaeya, there are two among that lot who never come so far from the city normally. I doubt Varka is involved, or Jean… but the rest? Be careful because rot isn't always on the surface."
Kaeya nodded. His original life had taught him cynicism and politics from the cradle. "Stay safe, Diluc. Take Aria with you; I'll use The Bastard."
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< 2 >
It took three months for Diluc to feel fully informed about Delusions and the mad scientist who invented them; about the Fatui generally; and about the Harbingers.
He was in Sumeru, crouched over the wreckage of a human life, fastidiously wiping the evidence of what he had done onto a piece of the officer's shirt. "Thanks," he told the sobbing, broken creature. "That was what I was looking for."
He dropped the cloth onto the body and walked away. Behind him, the man shrieked as flames erupted, burning the evidence until it was ash.
Now then… How was he going to persuade the Fatui to give him access to his target…?
<>
Kaeya received at least one letter a fortnight from Diluc. Threaded through the florid descriptions of Liyue and then Sumeru was the cipher they'd learned from Father, Elzer and Adelinde, spelling out a bloody trail of intel ripped from the flesh of Snezhnayan soldiers. In early August, the letter came with confirmation.
ǁ The Tenth is undercover in the Knights. Be careful and leave no trail when you find him ǁ
Kaeya grinned and handed the letter to Adelaide and Elzer to read while he penned a response and a promise.
<>
A mile away from a burned-out Fatui camp, Diluc looked up at the sudden ruckus as a distinctively bright red-yellow-turquoise parrot barrelled down through the trees, uncaring of the disruption he caused to the nesting birds nearby. "Gods you are such a bastard," he murmured lovingly to the thoroughly evil creature, which pecked viciously (affectionately!) at his fingers for the crime of taking the offered letter before he permitted Diluc to pet him.
(Diluc loved The Bastard; he was such a stubbornly ill-tempered, psychotic creature. He was also very self-aware and took blatant pleasure in his malevolence)
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< 3 >
Killing Fatui in their fortified camps spread across six nations was satisfying. Killing patrols on the highways of their own nation pleased him on a fundamental level. He already knew Snezhnayan learned from his father's business partners when he was a kid. Now he learned to mimic the heavy accent of the northern woodsmen, and how to present as no more than an ordinary hunter. He used the larger towns for cover when he needed to hide out for a while.
He was somewhere in the Northern Bloodfrost when an Abyssal rift burst from an old pine and a monstrous creature spilled out of it. It was adorned with a pair of short, blood-red horns protruding from stringy gore-soaked hair, malevolent solid-black eyes with white slit pupils, bloody claws and thick leathery hide. It was panting, battered and bloody and black-red ichor was leaking from fresh wounds.
It rolled over and stared at the sky as though it had never seen it before. Diluc sighed. There was only one response to an Abyssal beast and that was to end the thing before it could spread corruption.
He summoned his zweihänder but before he broke cover, the creature dragged itself to its feet, mumbling what sounded like a litany of complaints as it shivered uncontrollably.
Moments later, it collapsed into a tiny bipedal being with ragged midnight blue butterfly wings speckled with pale gold that looked like stars. They were splashed at the edges with ripples of oceanic grey-blue and greenish-white reminiscent of waves breaking on a beach
It wrapped its arms around its ribs as it shivered, and looked right at Diluc's hiding place.
"Cé tú féin?"
He had no idea what the creature said but he could guess. He moved out of cover and offered a nod despite the sword held ready in his hand. "What are you?"
The creature stared at the sword and heaved a sigh. He gestured with his left hand, trailing Hydro to draw a sigil then pressed his hand to his throat. " Síoga; Jak-Jax."
"Luc. Do you need help?"
The Hydro sigil flared against his throat. "…where is this?"
"Somewhere in the north east of Snezhnaya."
"Oh. What year is it?" The response won a horrified look followed by a distraught sob. "So long…?" It had been almost a decade since he was stolen away to the Abyss. His family would think him long dead!
Diluc sighed again. He couldn't kill the being. Whatever it was, it had clearly suffered horribly and was making no attempt to attack. Instead it was grieving. He hadn't known Abyssal creatures could do that.
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< 4 >
Feeling deep sympathy for a being so obviously horribly abused, not to mention being time-lost on top of it, Diluc brought Jak-Jax to his temporary camp in a cave and fed him as much roasted potatoes and stew as he could stomach. When the tears began, he simply sighed and lifted the tiny thing onto his chest and laid beside the fire so that Jax could have warmth and comfort without any pressure to talk about 'feelings'.
Over a few days trapped by a convenient snowstorm which hid any tracks Diluc had left for his pursuers, the pair shared much of their life stories.
Jak-Jax was a vilenjak and his name was the last syllable of his species-name and part of his true-name. The females of his kind were tall and beautiful in their human forms but the males could adopt any animal form. He'd been hunting in wolf-form when Abyssal beings saw him shapechange. That made him too interesting to ignore, so they trapped him and stole him away.
In the infinite expanse of time he'd spent in the hands of some sort of deranged Abyss Order scientists, they'd infused him with a demonic spirit. The assumption had been that the demon would take possession of his body – but Jax was a stubborn creature and refused to lie down and die, particularly if it meant that the Abyss would gain access to a vilenjak's powers and knowledge of where his family lived.
The spirit tried to devour its host and Jax fought back. Both were crippled by their circumstances and neither could gain an upper hand on the metaphysical battlefield. Exhausted, they chose to communicate and each learned that the other was enslaved too. With a mutual desire for freedom and revenge, the natural step was to agree to share what they had so they could both win. Unfortunately, combined with the corruption inherent in the Abyss and the mad-science used to infuse them, their decision to meld fully left them irrevocably blended into a symbiotic entity.
Jax learned to manifest the spirit's combat adaptations, and they used their shared hatred to slaughter and consume their captors and make their escape.
<>
Jak-jax had no particular opinion about the Fatui, but he was happy to help his new friend's vendetta because family meant everything to him.
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< 5 >
ǁ I met a faerie who was kidnapped by the Abyss Order a decade ago. He's about ten inches tall and has butterfly wings. His kind are shapeshifters and he figured out how to kinda spread himself over me like a shell and then change shape to disguise me too! Currently I'm a Fatui recruit in the Fifth Legion… ǁ
ǁ What the actual fuck!?
Varka has taken most of the Knights on an expedition to Nod-Krai so there are far less eyes now… ǁ
ǁ My shell will become the Eleventh on July 21. Jax is a talented performer and a gifted liar and I don't know that I could have gotten this far without him… ǁ
ǁ Congratulations on your promotion, Tartaglia; you even got into The Bard's Tales.
The Tenth and two clerks died in an avalanche on Dragonspine. Tragically, they landed almost on top of a lawachurl nest and the beasts ripped them apart and ate them before a rescue party could reach them. They definitely didn't survive that.
They allegedly went into the mountains on an investigation. Albedo said that nothing they were assigned to required them to be on Dragonspine, so he went digging and found all sorts of incriminating evidence hidden in their office.
I accepted a formal apology from the Knights on behalf of the Clan and a substantial ex gratia payment, and Jean used the whole mess as an excuse to deport the Fatui from all of Mond and revoke all the diplomatic agreements… ǁ
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< 6 >
The Director was spitting nails after the Fatui were kicked out of Mondstadt, and deported from every camp, base and facility in the nation, including the ones Dottore thought were hidden. How in hell had Eroch screwed up so badly that he got killed? Why had the idiot kept evidence in his office?
(Notably, the Knights had not deported the two Snezhnayan families who lived and worked in the city or the polycule and their workers who were Eiklundr tenants and operated an orchard east of Windrise)
There was nothing he could do about it now. The omens showed that the Anemo Archon had awoken. The Abyss Order had been contracted to worsen the corruption of Barbatos' pet dragon – hopefully that would keep the deity on-field where he could be targeted.
Unfortunately, the original plan to send Rosalyne to steal the Gnosis wasn't going to work if she couldn't even enter the nation in the present political climate.
Hm. Tartaglia might manage it though; the boy was a hopeless diplomat but he had a knack for survival and lacked Rosalyne's overweening pride so he might be able to move around unnoticed without strutting about with his insignia on display. Pierro couldn't even tell the boy who he was looking for; no doubt Barbatos would have chosen a different avatar to the one he used the last time he was active in the world in the same way that Morax often took a new mortal form.
Signora would have to deal with Morax's contract herself.
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< 7 >
Tartaglia reached Liyue Harbour on a trade ship wearing the simple, durable garb of a Snezhnayan hunter and escorting a massive crate of high quality furs to support his cover. Supplied with a substantial budget, the plan was that he'd buy a wagon and carthorse at the stables to get his goods to Mondstadt. From there, he'd be on his own and would have to find a way to identify the Archon who hadn't been seen for centuries.
"Not having eyes on us will make this so much less painful," Diluc murmured once they had a wagon and a placid horse.
"The road goes past your home, doesn’t it? We can stop there and give you some time with your kin at least."
<>
Adelinde offered hospitality to the trader, who'd managed to nod off on the wagon seat and hadn't woken until the horse ambled to a halt by the stables, apparently having smelled the sweet hay.
"Ma'am," the young redhead said, setting down his teacup with a sweet smile. "Don't panic, please…" He closed his eyes and breathed a deep sigh. Something… terrible… seemed to fall away, leaving Master Diluc in the seat in his place.
Wide-eyed with shock, she pressed trembling fingers to her lips, only now noticing the tiny flying creature as it fluttered up to sit on the Master's shoulder.
"Adelinde!" Diluc smiled, pleased to be in his own skin at last. He rose to hug the woman who'd been his mother in every sense but the biological. "It's alright, I promise. Come and sit…" The flying creature fluttered over to the teapot and shifted back into his human shape to pour a cup laced with spirits from a hip-flask which he slid across to the lady.
While Diluc provided a report to Adelinde, followed by a long, hot bath in his own body, which was a pleasure so long denied that he'd almost forgotten it, Aria carried a note to Kaeya, summoning him to a family meeting tonight.
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< 8 >
"Thank you for saving my brother's sanity," Kaeya told Jax with genuine gratitude.
The faerie snickered from his seat on the arm of Diluc's chair. "You're welcome Kaeya, but honestly I don't think his sanity has anything to do with me. I was infected with a demon that was also a captive and we agreed to blend so that together we had the strength and skill to slaughter them all and escape."
The Knight blinked. "Uh…?"
Jax shrugged, his smile undimmed. "The Abyss corrupts, Kaeya, no matter what. There is no point trying to resist what will happen anyway; the trick is to find a means of surviving it as a more-or-less independent entity. Otherwise, one becomes little more than a puppet dancing to its tune.
"Fortunately for us, the scientists were trying to meld sentient Abyssal beings with surface people to create infiltrator vessels, and so two extremely unwilling participants decided to join forces and fight back; but the combination of me and Ollpheist, mad science and corruption, we ended up symbiotically melded. Ollpheist's rage gave us claws and armour so we slaughtered our torturers and every other thing we could find until we eventually found a portal – which spat us out almost at Diluc's feet. Ollpheist needs destruction and so we offered to help Diluc's crusade because we don’t care about the Fatui but family means everything to my folk. We get to kill and help Diluc's quest for revenge; and also protect my kin by not being where we might lose control and harm them."
"They learned to wrap around me like a shell and change my shape to fit their human form. They made the oath to the Archon and Tartaglia serves her will but I made no oath at all and so I can work on finding a way to reach my target in a way that lets us all survive it."
"Can I see it?"
"Tartaglia?" Jax checked. At the nod, he let go of his faerie-form and something dark and terrible slid up Diluc's arm and spread across his body until the Ragnvindr was coated in Abyssal energy seeming to compress the larger human into the lithe form of Tartaglia as though Diluc had never been in that chair.
"Ugh… that's oddly horrible."
Tartaglia nodded agreeably. "I expect you were feeling Ollpheist wrapping around him. The biesy are spirits of rage and fury and primordial chaos. We are a blend of two entirely different and otherwise opposed and incompatible beings. Survival demanded our melding and one cannot survive without the other now, but that means that the Harbingers can only sense hunger and fury that feels like Abyssal corruption – not our component parts. Equally, Jax has priorities that Ollpheist does not and vice versa. We hunt and kill for Ollpheist's sake, and help Diluc to satisfy Jax's need for hearth and home. We don't have a term for the creature that we are now; probably every other entity from na doimhneachtaí to an tsúil would consider us an abomination."
Tartaglia separated himself again, as slowly as possible so that Kaeya could see it happen. It looked as though he was peeling away like pulling gum off the skin – a sort of stretching until the two things were separate. Then he shifted into the form of a grey wolf and flopped over Diluc's feet.
Diluc leaned down to scratch behind the animal's ears. "Tartaglia was sent to find Barbatos and acquire his Gnosis. Zero doesn't know what his current form looks like but assumes it is different to the one he used last time he was active. Your shenanigans and the deportation of the Fatui mean that the 'diplomat' that was meant to come here isn't suited to the task. So Tartaglia is going to sell furs imported from Snezhnaya in the city, and will then spend time hunting which will give him time to explore, hunt down a god, and feed Ollpheist's needs."
The wolf turned back into the tiny form of Jax and cuddled Diluc's knee affectionately. "The only thing we know is that the Fatui helped some local bad guys to contract with the Abyss Order to ensure that a dragon got corrupted. The hope is that concern for his dragon will keep Barbatos in play for long enough."
Kaeya frowned. "Do you know who made a deal with the Abyss Order?"
Jax shrugged "Some greedy nobles, I think. I wasn't actually told, but from context I think the payoff is that the Order gets a corrupted point-and-shoot dragon and the bad guys get Mondstadt."
"How did you hear that?" Diluc asked, now stroking the bright cinnamon-copper curls with a gentle finger.
"A beetle sat in on a meeting between Zero and Eight. Bugs are good for sneaking around because no-one really notices them if you're careful, but they're not great at hearing human language."
"Are there any limits to your shapeshifting?"
"Not really. Males of my kind can take any animal form although we often have preferences. Usually, only our females can take human forms but biesy can possess any sort of creature so we learned to do humans too. They're really no more complicated than any other mammal."
"Huh. Well the nobles are probably Clan Lawrence; they're about as venal as it's possible to get and also just about as stupid too. They're so unpopular that there's quite a lot of cousin-marriage going on due to a lack of willing people of 'sufficient nobility'. Plus their demesne is in the north west and they're meant to be vassals to the Dragon of the East just as Ragnvindr are vassals to Boreas, the Wolf of the North."
"…who came up with these compass points? Brightcrown is in the north west and this is the south west!"
"Probably the Archon was drunk," Kaeya said cynically. "It is well known that he likes wine when he's awake."
Diluc tugged at the curls under his hand. "Maybe I should be seen to be home and spend time at Angel's Share. That'll give us another option for identifying Barbatos."
"Can Jax be Tartaglia without you?"
"Sure," Jax piped up, nuzzling into the petting. "I used a male version of my sister Agnodike's human form to craft Tartaglia when we were learning how to incorporate Diluc."
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< 9 >
Saving Dvalin turned out to be a whole quest.
Diluc spent almost every evening mixing drinks in the tavern in the hope of identifying the Archon while Kaeya and the Knights ran around striving to break the Abyss Order's hold upon Dvalin which, as they learned, had been festering for centuries ever since the battle with Durin and had been exacerbated by the Abyssal incursion into his lair.
Trader Jack obtained a temporary trading licence and sold his furs in the market. Being entirely willing to take dangerous commissions out in the wilderness, he fell in with the Adventurer's Guild and set off in pursuit of the more difficult bounties. Eventually, his wandering route came upon the path that circled Brightcrown where Kaeya, Diluc, a knight called Jean and Kaeya's drinking buddy Venti were camped on the edge of Stormterror's domain searching for a way to cleanse the corruption.
Tartaglia planned to join up with them later.
First though… Jax slipped through foliage that bordered the Lawrence estate, noting the gardeners working on the flower beds. The house was a manor, somewhat similar to Dawn Winery in style but it was much larger and appeared to have been extended in recent decades.
A butterfly fluttered up to an open window and slipped inside, shifting into the form of a mouse to map the interior and seek any hiding places and secret passages.
<>
Jax pulled a rolled up sheet of parchment from his Pocket and handed it to Kaeya. "Interior layout; I've marked the safe-rooms and three secret passages although I'm sure there're a couple more I missed; and each bedroom that had adult clothes in the closets."
Kaeya grinned, slow and wicked. "Thanks!"
"There are two active nurseries and I saw four toddlers and three older pre-teens. Ideally, you'll plan to keep them out of the way."
Kaeya lifted a graceful brow. Jax had outright told him that he'd joined Diluc's crusade for two reasons – and one of those was for love of family. Seriously, he nodded. "I will do all I can, Jax."
"What's going on?" Venti asked curiously.
"Pest clearance," Jax said cheerfully. He liked Venti; the bard was talented and fun and deeply sarcastic if one paid proper attention.
(To the faerie's magical senses, Venti was a beacon of Anemo. Jax was hoping the Archon would be obliging once his dragon was saved)
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< 10 >
"How could Mond forget the dragon that is their Archon's friend?" Jax asked, honestly confused. "He wasn't hiding from humans like my people do! He's in the history books!"
"Humans forget quite quickly," Venti explained, tucking an arm around the faerie as they cuddled beneath the Windrise Tree. "At any one time, there are at most three, maybe four, generations of a family alive and if the elders don't pass on the stories they know to the younger ones, the knowledge is lost when they die. We bards preserve stories through our songs but they're quite short and are set to music so a lot of detail is lost in cutting out what there isn't room to say or in making the words fit the music. And of course songs fall out of fashion too, so older tales are forgotten even by us, eventually."
Jax pouted. The concept of forgetting a majestic being like Dvalin was just wrong. "Do you know the oldest tales of Dvalin, Venti?"
"Some of them. I expect there are others I never knew. A guy can only learn so much, you know!"
Jax grinned. He adored Venti. "Will you tell me the stories you know? Do you think Dvalin would tell me more once we've restored him?"
"Yes and probably. He quite likes people when he's aware enough to know what he's doing."
Jax decided that, no matter what, he was going to find a way to record important things so that they couldn't be easily forgotten by stupid humans.
Teyvat was full of tales that were remembered by very few people simply because no-one bothered to write them down in a format that made them accessible to ordinary people. Maybe there was a different way to bard than singing popular songs in taverns…
He'd talk to Venti about it. He was certain the Archon would be able to advise him.
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< 11 >
Dvalin was saved when the group – extended by the addition of a star-travelling youth and his flying companion – battled him to the point of exhaustion and shattered the corrupted crystals that kept re-poisoning his blood.
Aether and jax joined forces to absorb the poison from Dvalin's body because the combination of Aether's pure energy and Ollpheist gave them the best chance of completely eradicating the pockets of toxicity.
<>
Dvalin slept beneath the Windrise Tree, exhausted by his travails and the long battle humans had fought to save him – to help him understand that the Abyss had lied; that Venti had not abandoned him; that, although people had forgotten over the long years since their dragon had last been among them, they had no desire to see him harmed or suffering; and that this particular group of people were willing to face corruption if, in the end, it meant that Dvalin was free.
Tucked into his friend's forelegs, Venti slept peacefully. The Archon was unaware that his injuries were healing steadily because Ollpheist was consuming the corrosive poisons that had infected him and Jax had summoned pure Hydro and was bathing away the residue, which let the power contained in the sacred site regenerate the damage.
<>
Elsewhere, following Jax's map, a pair of brothers crept through the Lawrence manor, collecting evidence from hidden cubbyholes and safes. As much as they wanted to slaughter the clan and remove the threat to the nation, they knew that justice must be seen to be done.
For one thing, the children didn't deserve to suffer either the sight of their dead kin or the ostracism and blame they would face if there were no viable adult targets.
They had no desire to cause distress to Eula either; the Knight had done nothing to deserve being tarred by her bloodline – it wasn't as though she could choose her kin.
No; it was far better to deliver the evidence to Albedo for a thorough investigation. Eula was a scary lady; neither Ragnvindr wanted to attract her malevolent approach to vengeance.
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< 12 >
Venti woke to find his wounds healed and Jax curled up asleep in his lap.
Despite having every opportunity to steal the Gnosis, the Harbinger had done no such thing.
Dvalin was awake already, and feeling very much better. "Who is this little one?"
"His name is Jak-Jax. He's a Snezhnayan faerie who was captured by the Abyss Order years ago and managed to escape. He helped us to restore you."
The dragon nodded. He remembered fighting the shapeshifter, who, wielding weapons made of Hydro and Electro, had chosen to keep Dvalin's attention while the others tried to break the corruption's hold. "He wants to learn your story, Dvalin. His desire is to preserve the histories that humans so easily forget."
"He is very small. I can barely see him against you; and you're already tiny."
Venti pouted, amused. "He can take a human-size or wear the seeming of any animal so, presumably, he could be as big as a horse if he chose."
"I will hunt and bring meat for you both." The huge dragon leaped into the air, letting a convenient updraft lift him.
"Is he really better?" Jax asked quietly, not stirring from his snuggled position.
(Venti felt delightful to a winged-faerie. Jax could hardly bear to peel himself away)
"He will be," Venti smiled down at the little one. "He and I are very grateful to you and the others for all your help. This whole thing would have been a lot harder without you, Jean and Aether, and the Ragnvindr boys' willingness to fight a dragon."
Jax grinned. "It is clear that those two are siblings! I think that much crazy can only run in families!"
"The Ragnvindr have always been like that though." Venti pressed a kiss to the red curls. "The first one was the Dawn Knight who fought alongside Venessa and Jean's ancestor a thousand years ago to overthrow the Aristocracy…"
Jax had a thoroughly enjoyable morning listening to tales of Mond from the lips of one who'd seen it in person and, later, roasting boar and apples for the three of them.
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< 13 >
Diluc had reached out to the agents assigned to La Signora as soon as Trader Jack reached the Harbour because, if the Tsaritsa wanted the Gnoses, then he would do his best to thwart the Harbingers' progress.
(Except Tartaglia's of course; they still had a role to play and a Harbinger to execute and that would be easier with access to resources, the Fatui, and the Palace)
<>
The spy was very much in position to hear the Lady's unending complaints that she hadn't been permitted to seize the Gnosis from the dirty little rat in Mond and that Tartaglia of all worthless creatures would have that honour – assuming he could even find the rodent-Archon in the first place.
She was further frustrated that her original plan to step in and receive the Geo Gnosis directly from Morax's grateful hands under the anticipated distressed gaze of the undeserving brat had also been blocked, all because Ten had screwed up. The unfairness galled her.
It made her whiny and demanding and generally nastier than usual. Fortunately, Alek delighted in fomenting chaos.
As soon as she was out harassing her other agents, Signora's pet sent a mage-message to Diluc before reverting to his assigned task of being brainlessly pretty arm candy only valuable for his talented fingers and tongue, and for his exquisite taste in jewellery.
<>
Diluc dispatched Aria to Landa with instructions to mobilise his unit of demagogues, saboteurs and agents provocateurs.
Little Tia came north to stay with Auntie Addie.
<>
Over the span of several weeks, Signora endured harassment and vast provocation from the Qixing who threw nonsensical bureaucracy around like confetti but which she still had to deal with.
Even more irritatingly, the Millelith seemed able to identify her agents with ease. Whenever the agents approached areas with even the tiniest governmental or religious import, they were brusquely sent away or arrested. Unable to explain why her agents were in such locations, La Signora couldn't get their arrests overthrown and so she had an ever-reducing number of people available.
(She had no intention of wasting her funds on the monumental bail demanded by the Millelith)
Twice, they arrested her Sweet Alek as he browsed the shops on trumped up charges of shoplifting! Alek barely understood the concept, let alone how to commit the crime!
(Not-even-slightly-sweet Alek was terrible at guarding against pickpockets. That meant that his magpie teammate could grab the shiny things along with his coded notes before the guards reached him each time, which meant embarrassment for the Millelith, the Qixing and La Signora for the low price of a few hours sitting around while Beauteous Rosalyne did battle with Liyue's grandees and law enforcement, and lost hours of plotting time on each occasion – and ultimately he would have a share of a growing nest-egg when Erdene fenced their stash of trinkets the next time she visited the Curatorium
Rosalyne lost more hours after that while Alek bathed her with her favourite relaxing oils and soaps and provided a luxurious massage in apology for his inadvertent part in her having to deal with such awful people)
(Alek loved his job!)
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< 14 >
The ruin guard facility blew up when Treasure Hoarders broke in and successfully aggravated the highly dangerous and heavily armed constructs.
(Bao'er delighted in spinning tales of treasure to be looted to the worst of her fellows, not least because they always claimed that the 'brilliant plan' was theirs and so absolved her of any involvement in the culling of the gangs)
Il Dottore pitched a fit at the loss of resources and research, including the segment stationed there.
Because she was the Harbinger with oversight for Liyue at present, Signora received formal censure and was ordered to get a grip on the fractious local factions.
(Her remaining personnel made sure they stayed well clear of the tantrum that followed that missive. Only Alek hovered close at hand, plying her with care and attention, which cemented him as her favourite for as long as he stayed young and beautiful)
<>
Pantalone sent a scathing letter demanding that Signora deal with the huge increase in loan defaulters. She had been given temporary control of the Liyue branch, he told her; it was therefore her job to ensure that business stayed on track. He would hate to find himself wishing that Tartaglia had been sent to Liyue, but that was how it was starting to look – at least he wouldn't be charging huge bills for operas, trinkets and clothes to the project's discretionary fund!
(The spies were delighted. At this rate Signora would have a heart attack before the mission was complete. Alek was administering hand and foot massages daily just to keep her stress down)
<>
Unlike that fool Tartaglia, La Signora, Eighth of Her Majesty's Harbingers, had no need to battle a god to prove her worth. She needed only to summon one to fulfill Morax's contract.
Unfortunately, she did require more personnel than she now had because, other than her Sweet Alek, she only had three left – and she could hardly send Alek to track down defaulters as Pantalone demanded!
She swallowed her pride and settled the bail demanded by the Millelith. The salvaged troops were properly grateful for their freedom after weeks of prison food and a complete lack of privacy, but they were also disgusting so she gave them half a day to bathe and eat before she provided them with a list of targets and dispatched them to hunt debtors.
With her colleagues' complaints silenced for the moment, Rosalyne turned her attention to the acquisition of the Gnosis.
Surely a person of her calibre would be able to breach the seals on some ancient prison-domain…
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< 15 >
The squad of Millelith elites accompanied by Lady Keqing and Mistress Yelan intercepted Rosalyne on her way to the Bank.
"La Signora of the Tsaritsa's Harbingers," Keqing proclaimed loudly, "Please come with us. It is necessary to bring you to protective custody as a matter of urgency!"
"What?"
"Your release of Osial did not go unnoticed, you know. There are a great many angry citizens who have lost family and their livelihoods to your actions and I doubt you want to test your power against the lynch mobs currently looking for you."
La Signora stared at the loathsome lowborn women and their peasant militia. "That can wait. I have an appointment to attend."
"No, it cannot. This is the only priority and I must warn you that Liyue will not accept responsibility if you suffer the consequences of your actions by refusing our aid now.'
Behind the Yuheng and her people, Rosalyne could see crowds filling the path up to the Bank; no doubt there were more on the other route, which would cut off her escape if it came to that. That… really was a lot of people – and unfortunately her remit did not include mass murder in the heart of the Harbour.
Surely Morax would understand the delay in her attendance in the circumstances. With an irritated huff at the sheer inconvenience of it all, she permitted the Yuheng to transport her to whatever place the Qixing deemed suitable for a diplomat of her station.
<>
Landa and Erdene delighted in spinning the outrageous tale of the Snezhnayan Harbinger who'd brought disaster upon the jewel in Liyue's crown – and, once started, the rumours gained momentum with every retelling.
The trick was emphasising the innocence of ordinary expatriate Snezhnayans who lived and worked in Liyue and who were blameless in the plots of powerful people. Fortunately the demagogues were very good at redirecting the baying packs to ensure they stayed on track while Bao'er's team guarded homes and businesses just in case.
<>
Rosalyne immediately regretted not asking questions and instead reacting to the immediacy of the threat.
She was – politely – installed in an obvious prison cell. The door was open – she had diplomatic immunity and was free to leave if she chose – and there was a basic clean bed with freshly laundered cotton sheets, and a selection of Liyuen clothes and books. The cell was one of several, all empty and clean, and the communal bathing facility was hers alone. But there were no attendants and no bath, only shower heads concreted into the tiles; and the quality of cloth was definitely subpar.
Unfortunately, neither of her escorts would respond positively to complaints and she was forced to acknowledge that even this was an improvement on being lynched by a peasant mob.
There was no company either, and it occurred to her to wonder if Alek was alright. As sweet as he was, Alek wasn't the brightest spark and lacked any sort of cutthroat instincts that would let him survive civil unrest – but all she could do right now was wish him well.
As soon as she was alone, she reached for the connection to the Jester.
<>
Alek had stocked up on supplies in advance of Rosalyne enacting her plan and now simply locked up to wait out the storm. The apartment building was, naturally, one of the best in the city and had excellent private security in the lobby, which was an added layer of protection for an archetypal blond Snezhnayan despite the lack of physical bulk that most of Teyvat associated with his people.
Responsibly, he packed a trunk of Signora's favourite belongings so that, if necessary, she could simply pick up and go, because Sweet Alek was thoughtful like that, but failed to include toiletries because Sweet Alek was also just about as empty-headed as humanly possible.
(He included the massage oils though, because those always led to other delightful activities, and a guy had to look after the important things)
.
< 16 >
"Tartaglia!" The Director was tired, irritated and thoroughly frustrated by the way matters had been handled in Liyue. The whole mission was over budget and now this!
Tartaglia sounded sleepy when he responded. "Director? Is there a problem?"
"I need you to get to Liyue Harbour as quickly as possible. La Signora completed the bulk of her mission but is now in protective custody and unable to meet with Morax to receive his Gnosis."
Well that woke him up! "She's been arrested?"
"No. The Qixing have her in protective custody because the citizens have formed lynch mobs and are actively hunting for her. The Bank has closed for now and the staff used the on-site teleportation circle to evacuate to Snezhnaya and report to me. It seems that only her personal team are still in the Harbour – if they haven't been killed."
"Tsaritsa's Name!" Tartaglia was impressed. He hadn't known it was possible to screw up this badly! "I'll get moving now, sir. Where am I to meet Lord Morax?"
"He works as a consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour under the name Zhongli. While you get dressed, I'll pen a formal letter of introduction and send it to your current location."
"Am I to do anything to aid Signora, sir?"
"No. Let her enjoy the Qixing's mercy for a while longer. Perhaps that will instil some useful lessons."
The Director was definitely annoyed, Jax thought, grinning at the Director's tone once the connection closed. He went to wake Diluc and update him. His brother was going to love this.
<>
Diluc could hardly breathe through the laughter.
He couldn't have hoped for a better outcome – other than the Gnosis staying with Morax, of course. But, given the clear implication of a willing handover, which inevitably would involve a contract of some sort, instead Tartaglia would have both favour and leverage that might prove useful in the future.
He made a note to provide generous bonuses to his teams.
<>
Jax stored the Director's letter in his Pocket and shifted into a peregrine falcon for its speed. Hopefully he wouldn't encounter larger airborne predators if he stayed over the marsh, or could out-fly anything willing to chase him…
<>
The Harbour was as busy as it was when Trader Jack passed through on the way to Mondstadt a few months ago.
Now, though, the mood felt angry and volatile, like overheated nitro-glycerine, and the majority of dockworkers were engaged in repairing the decking and clearing debris.
What the hell had Signora done!?
«This is tinder awaiting a spark» Ollpheist murmured, tasting the air excitedly. «It would take no effort at all to ignite the rage and let the city burn»
«Let's not» Jax suggested fondly. «Assuming this is Signora's work, anything more will be a breach of the contract. Diluc will no doubt have his people on hand to fan the flames when Her Ladyship is released. It'll be interesting to see if she's adaptable enough to survive»
Jax was very glad he'd decided to be something other than a Snezhnayan for this visit; the reference to lynch mobs definitely wasn't hyperbolic.
Exercising caution, he stayed in hawk-form until he identified the funeral parlour, where he perched on a window sill while one batch of mourners exited a rear door and another group entered through the front.
How many people had the wretched woman slain in the course of her dramatics?
It was early evening when the last mourners left, and another hour or so before the staff were able to get away for the night.
Zhongli was quite obvious to Jax's demon-enhanced senses – Geo vibrated through his aura in a far greater concentration than was normal for a Vision-bearer. Jax fluttered from the sill and returned to Tartaglia's form.
"Master Zhongli," he called quietly, "Might I have a word?"
"Hm?" Zhongli turned to see a young man, tall and slim with fair skin and bright hair that encompassed copper, cinnamon and gold. The combination, all representative of wealth, was delightful.
"My name is Tartaglia, Master Zhongli " He offered a hand to shake, and drew a sealed envelope from his pocket. "My introduction, sir."
The letter, sealed by the Fatui's Director, was fairly short and comprised an sincere apology for the 'unfortunate delay' in concluding this phase of the contract, and introduced 'Tartaglia, our Eleventh' who was the 'replacement to take custody of the Geo Gnosis if you are satisfied with the Harbour's performance during the test'.
"I see. Perhaps you would join me for dinner, Master Tartaglia? We can obtain a private room to discuss matters further."
"That sounds delightful." Tartaglia hadn't had a chance to sample much of Liyuen cuisine while wearing the guise of Trader Jack. Together, they turned toward the heart of the city. "What's the food like here? I only tried the stalls near the docks on a previous trip due to lack of time…"
<>
Dinner was accompanied by pleasant discourse about the differences in ingredients between Snezhnaya and Liyue and the vastly different recipes for otherwise similar dishes. By the time dessert was served, they had moved on to differences in theatrical and musical styles, and Tartaglia invited Zhongli to call him Jack.
"It’s a personal name, Zhongli, just as yours is. There's no need for my work identity tonight!"
It was almost a pity that the evening had to end.
Zhongli sighed, relaxing over the last of their pot of tea. Really, he couldn't have asked for a more pleasant end to his role as Liyue's Archon. Tartaglia had been delightful company. He made a note to write to the Director to thank him for sending the young man to the Harbour.
Prompted by the waitress clearing the plates, he remembered one final matter that needed attention. For the last time, he summoned sufficient mora to cover the bill and a generous tip. After tonight, he would have to manage his available funds just like any ordinary person must.
(He didn't want to have to borrow mora from a bank after all!)
Tartaglia observed this with a gracefully raised brow. "Before we proceed, have you retained sufficient mora for your needs until your next pay cheque?"
"…oh. I did not think of that. Thank you, Tartaglia, for the reminder." This was an acceptable use of the Gnosis, he decided. After all, ordinary people set aside funds during their working lives to support themselves in retirement; he should do likewise.
He flexed the power of the Gnosis and deposited the mora in his Teapot for now, making a note to find time in the next few days to calculate the appropriate division so as to avoid the mora running out too quickly.
Then he reached into his chest and drew Celestia's Chain free of his body.
For a moment, he reflected on the long years he'd borne it. He felt light, almost floating free of his body. It was the strangest sensation he'd ever experienced.
He reached out and offered it to the Tsaritsa's envoy. "The contract is fulfilled. That which thou seeketh is now bestowed unto thee, for my promise is solid as stone."
The Gnosis settled into the young man's palm and Zhongli gasped at the sharp sensation as the metaphysical Chain snapped. He clutched at his chest, feeling empty and weak for a brief, unpleasant moment…
Without the Gnosis blocking its flow, natural Geo poured back into his body as though a plug had been removed, far more than the limitations imposed by the device that had constrained him for far too long.
Tartaglia was watching him with a strange mixture of worry and amazement. "Does it hurt," he asked, as gentle as if comforting a child. "It seemed to but… you have so much more power now!" He sounded envious. "Let me escort you home, Master Zhongli. I think you may find your body is harder to manage for a few days until you are used to this change. You will need time and practice to reacclimate lest you hurt people accidentally."
Again, Zhongli felt gratitude to Tartaglia for his company tonight. Such consideration was unexpected but welcome. "Thank you," he murmured, realising that even his normal speech could damage his surroundings if he wasn't careful; it had been millennia since the vibrations created in the process of speaking could tear a being asunder. "I believe you are correct. I would appreciate your assistance, Master Tartaglia."
<>
The walk to his home was quiet. Zhongli was concentrating on getting one foot in front of the other without breaking the stairs or tripping, and Tartaglia was focused on ensuring that they looked like a pair of drunks to a casual observer. That scandal would be much easier to live down than the accidental betrayal of the Archon's retirement plan!
(The internal discussion with Ollpheist was an amusing debate predicting how much accidental damage might be caused if the ex-Archon was startled by a moth, a rat or a large dog)
All in all, Jax had had a wonderful day.
.
< 17 >
"Did you steal it?"
Jax blinked at Venti, who'd manifested out of a gust of wind the moment the faerie returned to his natural form behind the Winery bottling plant. The Archon was vibrating with outrage.
"Uh… steal what?" He had no idea what he might have taken.
"Morax's Gnosis! I can feel it so I know you have it!"
"Oh! No, of course not! I was asked to collect it after a colleague botched the landing so to speak."
Venti relaxed suddenly, much to Ollpheist's disappointment. "The old rock made a contract, didn't he?"
Jax grinned cheerfully. "I can neither confirm nor deny the existence of any such arrangement, Venti."
"Are you going to steal mine?"
"Do you want me to? I wasn't intending to behave like a bandit unless you'd like that. I was going to talk to you about it over a bottle of Diluc's best like the properly respectful vilenjak my mother raised. I was hoping you'd feel obliging given I helped save Dvalin."
The bard grinned. "I like that plan. To the tavern!"
<>
Over quite a lot of bottles of Ruby Reserve, Venti plumbed the depths of oblique allegory and committed poetic malfeasance to such an extent that Jax was left both extremely drunk and completely bewildered.
(He was an apprentice bard for Barbatos' sake! He was quite good at risque limericks and singing – not whatever this was!)
Considerately, Diluc poured the pair into the bed in Angels Share's attic to sleep it off before they were arrested for being drunk and extremely disorderly.
(Even the boosted poison resistance that Ollpheist gifted to their symbiosis couldn't keep up with Venti on a bender)
<>
The biesy had been a fae species once upon a time, as driven by emotion as all cineál síoga were. Grief and hatred of the ruling Power that had blithely destroyed so many entirely innocent, uninvolved lives without a care during its war against the Natlantean Dragonlords had made it easy for the Abyss to lure the grieving survivors of a ravaged people into the Dark.
All it had to do was offer sanctuary and a chance at revenge.
Embittered by their losses, unjust and undeserved as they were, it had been easy to let negative emotions fester and poison their essence until it warped, redefined and reshaped their nature. The biesy still remembered that history, and their festering hate kept them enslaved to the Abyss.
Thus had been the existence of the remnants of the biesy for uncounted millennia, until some deranged Abyss Order scientist captured one of them and forced it into a different species of faerie.
Jak-Jax had been very young – barely a juvenile – when he was kidnapped, tortured and, ultimately, fed to a demon. The youngling was courageous and stubborn though; and the bies hadn't expected to have to fight for possession of the body and hadn't realised that its involuntary host was a faerie until they agreed to a cessation of hostilities in favour of discussion because they both understood that the true enemy was outside the body that had become their battleground. They agreed wholeheartedly that the enemy had to be eradicated, and the metaphysical fight for control was only exhausting both of them.
The bies didn't have a name or much of a sense of self until it blended with Jax; independence was something else lost when the tribe embraced the Dark. He happily adopted the word his host used for lack of his original name, and thus became Ollpheist.
(Why would he object to such a designation? It was what all the biesy had become after all. Only Jax had offered a true chance for something better than the festering hell)
Ollpheist was, in a sense, reborn for a second time when he melded with Jax. The twin gifts of memories of family and a happy childhood, and almost-alien barely-remembered emotions that went beyond hatred, rage and the consuming hunger for destruction allowed Ollpheist to regain a little of what he once was – and he likewise freely shared himself with his host.
Jax was angry enough at his and their circumstances that the bies could teach the juvenile to focus his rage until he could channel Ollpheist's Abyssal power to form weapons and armour with which to destroy their tormentors and everything else that stood between them and freedom.
Jax gave himself over to the bies' destructive frenzy while Ollpheist did his best to shield the youngling from both Abyssal corruption and his darkness. It would be wrong to ruin an innocent who deserved none of what he had endured.
(That notion had shocked Ollpheist. He hadn't known he was still capable of moral choice)
<>
While their body curled up against Venti and slept off the wine, the bies considered Venti's abuse of the very concept of poetic obfuscation.
Very obviously, the bard was passing on essential information that he couldn't otherwise disclose. Perhaps he had to be completely blitzed out of his mind to thwart the tattle-tale function of the eavesdropping Gnosis. Even in that state he had to speak in twisty verbal gymnastics around the point and hope the listener was capable of translating gibberish.
Luckily, the Abyss was full of gibberish, and Ollpheist's very existence defied the Rules that strangled the bard's freedom.
Venti's message ultimately meant that he couldn't just give away the cursed leash. It had to be won in some way.
…and he was geased against revealing the many truths of the world that had been literally buried by the Above despite the Temple of Space and the trove of information therein that was, tauntingly, sited within his borders.
What an unholy bitch.
With the advantage of a great deal of knowledge of the Abyssal Truths as a direct result of millennia of servitude Ollpheist translated Venti's clues and formed the outline of a plan – a performance to satisfy the unholy star-demon while hiding the extent of their knowledge.
.
< 18 >
Jax woke to a thundering headache, a roiling stomach and Ollpheist excitedly explaining what he'd learned from Venti. The bies had an outline for a dramatic Gnosis heist.
The unfortunate faerie groaned piteously. «Please brother… just let me die!»
Ollpheist chuckled darkly. «No. Your suffering is amusing. Pay attention Jax. This is important…!»
<>
Tartaglia re-absorbed Diluc to prevent Venti hearing the plan. There was no need to give the sky-demon advance warning.
Tartaglia quite liked the persona of Trader Jack and wanted to keep the guise for future use so it was necessary to disguise his distinctive features. He donned a Pyro Agent's uniform and stealth kit because it completely concealed him but didn't bother with a rifle because he'd never learned how to fire one.
<>
The rain was heavy enough to keep sensible people indoors when Diluc, Venti and Aether met at Andrius' arena for the weekly trial against Andrius' so that the Traveller could earn materials that would help him improve his abilities and Diluc could collect similar components towards Kaeya's birthday present.
The three were battered and bruised by the gruelling fight but pleased with their success when a pyro-themed Fatuus materialised right in front of Venti and punched him so hard the bard was flung back into the arena wall. "Run little bard," the man growled, his voice distorted by his mask. "Feicfimid conas a fheidhmíonn an dia is laige inniu." He stalked forward, the prowl of a hunting beast, obviously enjoying the drama.
Venti shook off the shock of the attack, eyes wide with surprise, then scrambled hurriedly up the wall and fled into the woods.
Behind him, the Fatuus roared with gleeful laughter, then leaped for the wall in hot pursuit.
"What the fuck…?" Aether demanded.
Beside him, Diluc pocketed the prizes won from the Wolf King. "We'd better follow. Venti might need help because that was Tartaglia, the Eleventh."
"A Harbinger? Like the one that tried to destroy Liyue Harbour? Kaeya told me about that! Didn't they also kill the Geo Archon?"
"The one in Liyue was the Eighth. And I don't know if they murdered Lord Morax, although it seems unlikely; he was the strongest of all of them, after all, and a Harbinger's power is not equal to that of a god capable of reshaping the land to suit his desires."
The pair followed the blatant Electro-charged puddles along the rain-soaked forest paths until they found Venti, breathless and wracked by the Electro that was sparking along his limbs, cornered in a room of an ancient ruin where he'd obviously tried to hide.
"It's time to relieve you of that burdensome trinket," Tartaglia declared ominously, reaching a gloved hand toward the bard's chest. Visibly, his fingers sank through cloth, skin and bone. "I win; you lose." Venti gasped in pain as the man's fist withdrew, something glowing with power in his grip.
"Thanks," he carolled cheerfully. "I hope that didn't hurt too badly!"
In a dramatic flash of Electro, he vanished, leaving Diluc and Aether to rush forward to catch Venti as his eyes rolled back and he collapsed.
"Aether; go to the Ordo and alert them. Tell them everything. I'll get Venti to the Winery so he can rest."
<>
Jax was at the Winery when Diluc arrived with Venti limp in his arms. The faerie's brow lifted and a malicious grin curved his lips. "Gasp! Oh no! Is Venti badly hurt, Diluc?"
"The Eleventh Harbinger ambushed us right after the trial against Andrius, hunted Barbatos, and snatched the Gnosis from his chest, Jax. He passed out."
"Oh my stars! Mayhaps 'tis true that Barbatos was the weakest Archon for verily Morax did not weaken to such an extent!" He waved his arms dramatically and mimed a swoon, and cackled when Venti opened one eye to glare at the evil little sprite.
"Really?" Diluc immediately dropped Venti, who landed on his arse with a startled squawk. "I refuse to believe that our Archon is weaker than Liyue's, so it must be that our Archon is taking advantage of an innocent mortal. Such despicable behaviour!"
Once the laughter died down, Diluc fetched an almost priceless bottle of wine – shamelessly stolen from the cellar that contained Kaeya's inheritance – and poured glasses for his companions and a mere mouthful for himself. He raised his glass in a toast. "Congratulations on your freedom, Venti. Today is certainly something to celebrate."
Venti shook his head, smiling widely. His eyes were sparkling without any of the sadness that so often marred the beautiful green. "The congratulations belong to you two. Thank you, both of you." He hesitated. "Where is it now?"
"Ollpheist is holding both of them, Venti. Right now, they're effectively in the Abyss."
The slender shoulders sagged in sudden relief and Venti gulped another mouthful. "Thank you, Ollpheist. I will always be grateful to you both."
.
< 19 >
Diluc had decided that stranding Alek in Inazuma was unnecessarily risky. The limited news that had made it out in recent months suggested that the nation was on the verge of civil war. If that was true, a foreigner would be an ideal scapegoat for whatever sins either side wanted to commit – and Alek would be without any backup because Erdene had no way to follow him. Any intel or call for help would be weeks out of date at best by the time it reached Diluc and far too late if there was urgency. It would be better to ditch La Signora when she left Liyue.
Landa's team were firmly embedded in the Fatui and treasure hoarders in Liyue. They would stay in position because that gave them links into Northland Bank and eyes on the Qixing.
Alek and Erdene would go to Sumeru as soon as they could extricate themselves because the madcap agent embedded in Dottore's service had reported that a great deal of the bastard's attention was focused on the Akademiya.
<>
Signora spent several days in safe custody while the people of the Harbour calmed down before the need for home comforts overwhelmed her. Mistress Yelan obligingly escorted her to her apartment where she found Alek, safe and sound and, surprisingly sensibly, securely behind locked doors.
Sweet Alek was overjoyed to see his beautiful Mistress safe and well – if in dire need of pampering – but he was very obviously terrified by the mood of the Harbour. He hadn't known that a whole city could become hostile so quickly! He did his very best, though, to provide Rosalyne with the care and attention she needed. It was sweet of him, but his tension communicated itself to her very clearly.
The Jester spoke to Rosalyne the very next morning to confirm the existing plan that she was to join the Balladeer in Inazuma. Her ship was due to leave on the evening tide.
"What of Morax's Gnosis, Director?"
"Tartaglia collected it a few days ago. He will bring it to Her Majesty as soon as he is finished in Mond."
(Rosalyne knew better than to say the words burning on her tongue – but Archons she wanted to scream!)
There was an issue, however. If he was this nervous in Liyue Harbour, Alek would be hopeless in Inazuma where the aggression against non-natives was not limited to glares and whispers but was often very personal and physical. Regretfully, Rosalyne decided it would be better to send Alek home to Snezhnaya rather than put both of them through unnecessary stress.
Alek acquiesced without protest, of course; her wish was always his pleasure to obey and he knew he was very rattled right now. Rosalyne provided a blank cheque so that Alek could close up the apartment, settle any bills and arrange transport to get himself and their belongings to her mansion in Snezhnograd.
Sweet Alek was such a darling! He'd even packed her favourite things.
(She would be rather less pleased to realise, far too late, that there were no toiletries other than jars of her favourite massage oils)
<>
Alek returned to the apartment after a fond farewell to Beauteous Rosalyne as she boarded her ship to find his partner waiting.
"She gave me a blank cheque," he said, grinning. "I am to settle the bills, pack up and ship everything, including myself, to the Snezhnograd mansion. She took her agents to Inazuma so this should be easy."
"We have a generous operating budget; we'll spend that and cash in the cheque for a profit before we leave the Harbour. I'll write to our employer while you start packing and sort out what needs paying…
<>
The cargo ship Golden Dawn docked a few days later and La Signora's goods were loaded under the watchful eye of a big man in a Fatui sergeant's uniform who would oversee delivery to the mansion in a few weeks' time once the ship had wound its way through every major port.
Alek and Erdene were delighted to catch up with their teammate, who was on his way to reassignment under Tartaglia.
Petrus would deliver Alek's crate of things to the team's base in Nasha Town and would leave word for Marguerite to sell the stashes of goods stolen in Liyue and from La Signora's jewellery boxes…
<>
The Knights' hunt for Tartaglia found no trace of the Harbinger, to the derision of Master Diluc who was hosting Venti while he recovered from his 'terrible experience'.
(…and trying to keep the incorrigible drunkard out of the wine cellars)
Diluc told Kaeya the truth, of course. His brother already knew about Tartaglia and therefore knew there was something else going on as soon as the Traveller delivered the news to Headquarters.
<>
Trader Jack completed his final commission and bid a fond farewell to his host and the wonderful friends he'd made during the months in Mond. He loaded his wagon with the pelts he was shipping to Snezhnaya, and settled onto the seat alongside Aether who was at last on his way to Liyue to find a ship that could get him to Inazuma.
Jax decided to introduce the Traveller to his good friend Zhongli. He was sure the pair would get on wonderfully and that Zhongli's wealth of esoteric knowledge would reach eager ears.
He was missing Diluc already. They'd literally shared the same shoes for so long that being truly apart was frightening but the separation was necessary to maintain the story they'd built in Mond,
Tartaglia had a ready-made team waiting to join him when he got to Nod-Krai because Diluc trusted his operatives to look after his partner.
<>
Jax was delighted to see Aether and Zhongli fall into friendship as though they'd known each other for a lifetime.
Over lunch, while Aether and Paimon were off chasing commissions, he provided an update regarding Venti's situation. He rather thought the bard would appreciate a visit from his old friend now that they were both free to travel. "Perhaps," he suggested slyly "You would both enjoy accompanying Aether on his journey for a time."
(Jax liked to meddle for the benefit of those he loved. He'd never hidden the extent of his devotion to those he claimed as family)
< 20 >
The new assignment to direct service under Tartaglia, who had left Diluc behind in Mond, was a fascinating opportunity. For one thing, it would give them a chance to meet up with Jian who was undercover in Il Dottore's cadre of unprincipled madmen. For another, it would give Marguerite direct access to a massive amount of information.
(It would give the agents an opportunity to assess the Fifth's security)
<>
When his ship docked in Nod-Krai for a few days, Tartaglia found his two new specialists waiting for him. He'd never officially met them, but he knew them well thanks to Diluc, who'd offered them to Jax in his stead because he was deeply worried for Jax who needed to have his people close at hand.
<>
The successful delivery of two Gnoses by Tartaglia was the high point of the Tsaritsa's gambit against the injustice and malice of the Rules that bound Teyvat.
After that, though, the costs kept mounting until even the most loyal of people began to question the Fatui's direction and leadership.
(Quietly, because that sort of seditious speech was asking for trouble)
In just a few short months, La Signora was dead in Tenshukaku and a traitor had absconded with the Electro Gnosis. In Sumeru, it took the sacrifice of his clones for Il Dottore to be able to retrieve Electro and win Dendro.
In Fontaine, they lost Tartaglia to the Void when the Harbinger chose to confront the All-devouring Narwhal because no-one else could. That selflessness, despite the ridiculous miscarriage of justice that preceded it – that made a public farce of the Archon and her court because even the dullest mind could see that a man could not commit crimes years before he was even born – combined with the Knave's efforts to defy Fate allowed Arlecchino to deliver the Hydro Gnosis.
(It allowed Marguerite in her new guise as Tartaglia's lawyer, to sue the government of Fontaine for the ridiculous miscarriage of justice and the reputational damage done to an innocent man
It was fortunate that Marguerite had brass balls and could keep a straight face because even by her standards, the second half of that statement was ridiculous)
Tartaglia's return two weeks later, was a great relief, but the Eleventh was in an awful state and completely unfit for service because, for him, it had been more than a year of unrelieved combat, wielding his Delusion and his transformation continually.
(Dottore had no explanation for how he'd survived other than blind stubbornness. He was almost impressed)
On medical leave while he recuperated, Tartaglia was firmly forbidden from fighting for any reason other than self-defence, and dispatched to Mondstadt on the basis that it was the nation where he was least likely to get into trouble.
<>
Petrus knocked on the Winery door, his prosthetic arm firmly around his Harbinger's waist. The wide-eyed fright his appearance engendered in the maid was amusing, but not so much as Master Diluc's surprise as Tartaglia staggered forward a step and literally fell into his arms.
With the solid comfort of Diluc's presence, Ollpheist was finally able to let go of his control of their body which was the only way he could keep Jax from disintegrating under the renewed trauma – they'd survived the Void because Jax had been unconscious for almost all of it.
By the time the first exhausted, incoherent explanation was done, Venti was wrapped around the young faerie. If comfort would help, neither Diluc nor Venti would deny it.
Jax sank into the arms of his family and began to heal while Ollpheist took a well-deserved nap and Petrus slid into the shadows to hunt.
(There, in the shadowy spaces between buildings, in the ruins and caves and lairs, Diluc's agent found Rosaria and Kaeya and swiftly fell in with a people he could comfortably call kin)
<>
Capitano sacrificed himself in Natlan.
That loss was almost unbearable, both personally and for the blow to morale, until word spread, carried by the sudden flow of Natlani visitors to the lands beyond their borders, that the heroic Captain had chosen to save Natlan, the leylines and thousands of souls.
He died a hero.
And at the same time, he struck the first direct blow against the Rules.
< 21 >
For years, Nod-Krai had been a brewing storm that devoured resources and personnel. The ungrateful population refused to submit to Snezhnaya and instead clung to their independence despite all they'd gain under Snezhnayan rule.
In their rejection of Snezhnaya, the islanders stood united, despite the propaganda.
(The islanders had been watching the Fatui for years, and the Curatorium had spies in all sorts of places. They knew that what they'd 'gain' was exorbitant taxes, conscription, devastation of holy sites and exploitation natural resources – and they wanted none of it)
The Wild Hunt, however, cared nothing for diplomacy or what politics a person espoused. They cared only for blood and chaos and power, even if Rerir had higher ambitions.
The price of Abyssal power was blatantly obvious to even the greediest Kraians. If Rerir and his mindless horde were examples of what awaited the Kraians, the islanders wanted none of that either. The Wild Hunt successfully united the disparate factions because everyone acknowledged that they were the greater threat.
The might of Snezhnaya, represented by the coloniser-Harbinger Sandrone and the Company that served her will, turned their strength to beating the enemy back into the Abyss alongside Nod-Krai's own heroes.
The positive relationship created by those actions won allies and direct support when Il Dottore showed his true colours and made his bid for godhood by stealing the Trilunar Authority.
<>
Nod-Krai was hosting several interesting visitors when Dottore made his move. The (in)famous Traveller had finally reached the borderland from Natlan, deeply confused by conflicted feelings about the Fatui in general. On the one hand, he adored his Archon-friends and loathed Tartaglia, Dottore and Signora; but on the other he had liked and admired Capitano, respected Arlecchino; and empathised deeply with the Wanderer who'd been groomed and manipulated for centuries and arguably couldn't be blamed for most of his many sins because he had been ruthlessly shaped into the tool they wielded.
(It was blatantly obvious to Aether that, left to choose his path, the homunculus was a very different person)
It was terribly confusing.
Then Sandrone sacrificed herself to save Aether. That action was undeniably selfless, no matter that it also won time for Pulonia to complete its task; and Columbina turned out to be the moon goddess beloved of the Kraians. The Traveller had no idea what to think about that.
Fortunately, he didn't have much time to think at all because a lot of angry, vengeful, powerful people wanted Dottore dead and gone and were very motivated to achieve it.
(It was pleasing to see Wanderer gain a measure of vengeance. Aether hoped that the fight would provide a little peace for his friend's tormented soul)
<>
In the aftermath, having learned from Arlecchino that Tartaglia was also in Nod-Krai helping with the evacuation – and that he'd been directly banned from fighting by the Tsaritsa herself because he was still recuperating from battling the Narwhal – Aether gave some serious thought to what he'd actually witnessed the day Venti's Gnosis was taken.
In the light of the newer experiences of the Harbingers gained over the past couple of years, the information gleaned of the actual direction of the Tsaritsa's plans, and what he now knew of the Rules, he reached a different interpretation of those events.
He'd been at Ochkanatlan. He knew that the Archons were effectively enslaved via the Gnoses to the will of the entity that ruled Teyvat and destroyed nations without mercy or any concern for innocent lives caught in the crossfire.
(…had stolen his sister and stripped his wings without any cause at all)
It was somewhat unpalatable to realise that everything he thought he saw was a performance intended to ensure that there would be an unimpeachable witness who would declare loudly and bitterly to every other Gnosis-holder he could find that Venti's had been snatched from his chest by a wicked Harbinger wielding a heretical Delusion.
Aether had done exactly as expected – and no doubt that had saved Venti and Mond from heavenly retaliation.
< 22 >
Tartaglia was at The Flagship in Nasha Town when Aether tracked him down. The Eleventh was in an Electrohammer's uniform jacket and trousers, drinking beer in the company of the largest man Aether had ever seen, possibly including Varka and Capitano, and pretending not to see and hear a squad of soldiers get drunk while mourning the loss of their Harbinger.
(Technically, Tartaglia should reprimand them for the lack of appropriate discipline but he intended to ignore that unless they forced him to acknowledge them. They had the right to grieve; he certainly wasn't going to stop them)
Equally, no-one wanted to spot a senior officer in their favourite bar. It was much better that they see men wearing Arlecchino's insignia than another Harbinger.
"Hi," Aether slid into a seat between Tartaglia and his soldier. "Can we talk?"
Tartaglia blinked. He hadn't expected Aether to ever want to speak to him after Mond. "Sure. But keep your voice down; no-one here needs to know who I am."
A brow lifted. "I can't imagine why you think I could disclose that given all I know for sure is that you aren't who you appeared to be."
"Have you been attempting diplomacy?" Petrus asked, mockingly. "Boss, you know that's on the no-no list."
Aether choked on unsubtle laughter. "No-no list…? Are you five?"
Tartaglia pouted. "I'm not allowed to do anything that might cause a fight, on Her Majesty's orders."
"Are you improving? I heard afterwards that you were gone for a worrying long time."
"Over a year…" He sighed. "I'm mending; a lot of the damage is psychological and that just takes time and massive amounts of repression, but I'm fine physically."
"I need to get into Snezhnaya."
"It's not a closed nation, Aether; you can get on a ship here to Westport. The highway goes straight to Snezhnograd and the palace is unmissable."
The Traveller smiled slyly. "I thought it might be nice to have a guide, particularly one cunning and courageous enough to do what you did for Venti." The smile widened into a bright grin. "I brought some friends with me. Would you like to step into my Teapot?"
< 23 >
The inside of the pocket-realm resembled a miniature Mond! Jax spent a happy few minutes gazing about delightedly – and then he spotted some of his favourite people – Venti, Diluc, Zhongli and Kaeya. The faerie squealed and barrelled across the field as fast as his wings could carry him to throw himself into Diluc's arms.
"Ah." Aether cackled. "So that's who he is."
Beside him the huge soldier lifted a brow. "Share with the class, Mr Aether."
"It took me until yesterday to be sure that the scene I saw the day Tartaglia seized Barbatos' Gnosis was designed to ensure that 'the famous Traveller' bore witness to the theft. It seems that excitement can make a faerie forget that not everyone nearby knows who he is under the skin."
A massive paw was offered to shake. "I'm Petrus and that's whatever-name-suits-the-moment. Where's your flying friend?"
"Paimon? Hanging out with Aino and gorging on cake. How do you know about her?"
The man chuckled. "I am a Harbinger's SIC; it's my job to know things."
"You knew about Jax though. I know he's very careful to keep Tartaglia separate."
"He is…" Petrus hesitated. "Let's just say that most of what the world sees is an illusion, yeah? If he trusts you he'll tell you more. But please keep what you know a secret from your companion; she lacks discretion."
Aether nodded agreeably. He adored Paimon, but she'd never grasped even the concept of inside-thoughts and keeping secrets.
<>
Trust came over a private picnic lunch on one of the other islands.
"Tartaglia doesn't really exist," Jax explained. "Diluc helped me so I decided to help him. We became a recruit to infiltrate the Fatui and eventually was made a Harbinger and given the name Tartaglia. I made the oath so Diluc was free to search for a way to get to Dottore. By then, Kaeya had killed the Tenth and the Fatui were banned from Mond, so Tartaglia was sent for the Gnosis because I wasn't prideful like Signora.
"But Diluc stayed in Mond after you left?"
"We had to keep the fiction going, Aether, but Tartaglia had to go home. If I'd been allowed to fight Dottore here, I'd have absorbed Diluc and brought him with me so that he could be part of it. But he'll just have to enjoy the knowledge that Dottore was declared a traitor and was executed with Her Majesty's full permission."
"So what now for Tartaglia?"
"I still have a few weeks of medical leave in Mond. You can travel with us if you like."
"Why do you keep switching to we/us?"
"Tartaglia is three people; me and Ollpheist plus Diluc. 'Us' is when Diluc's with us."
Aether pouted. "You're never less than a confusing pain in the arse, you know that? Who's Ollpheist?"
"Thanks! He's my other half. I was captured by Abyss Order scientists long ago. They tried to replace me with a demonic spirit because they were trying to create infiltrator vessels that could serve the Abyss on the surface. We fought. Then we talked and discovered that neither of us had chosen this. So we merged into a single symbiotic entity, I learned to use Ollpheist's power to form weapons and armour, and we slaughtered all of them until we found a way to the surface. We broke out right by Diluc."
"Holy fucking gods! Um… can I see Ollpheist?"
"Sure! Don't scream."
With that warning, Jax manifested his transformation – and Aether suddenly understood where Tartaglia's bloodthirsty reputation came from. The manifestation emanated rage and hate and a hunger as deep as the Abyss. But even as a monstrous creature, massively larger than Jax, Ollpheist looked fae. Ignoring the horns, claws, threatening fangs and eerie eyes, their battle-form had the suggestion of high cheekbones, pointed ears and an almost catlike tilt to the eyes.
"Hello." Aether would be damned before he showed fear – or condemned a being trapped in a difficult situation. "I'm glad to meet you, Ollpheist."
The demon blinked, surprised. "Are you insane?"
Aether laughed. "Entirely likely so, yes. But that's okay. I'm in good company after all."
A reluctant grin tugged at the demon's lips. "That you are, Aether Starborn."
< 24 >
Snezhnaya lay ahead; another step on the road to finding his sister, although he was beginning to believe that perhaps Lumine was lost to him in a fundamental way beyond the physical. Having seen Ollpheist, he dreaded to think what she might have become.
He wouldn't give up. Whatever she was now, she was still his twin, the other half of his soul.
He could hear Diluc getting loud and commanding as he ordered whoever was at the other end of the magical connection to help with the evacuation of civilians and to hunt for any lost children.
He sighed. Another day, another disaster in Sumeru.
At least he had friends he could rely on – and, given Tartaglia's massive grin and Venti's bouncing, they were very willing to lend themselves to his cause.
<>