"Do you wish to know the truth, my companion?"
"Then go meet her."
The doll girl named Sandrone said with a serious expression.
She extended her small hand to Qin Yu, extending an invitation.
"Truth?"
Qin Yu tilted his face up, gazing at the night sky.
The world around his ears was stripped of sound.
The myriad stars had long vanished, leaving only a dreamlike, colorful expanse.
Beautiful, and mysterious.
The third of the Fatui Harbingers, "The Knave."
It was she who had created this place with her song.
What, then, was her objective…
"A miraculous ability."
Qin Yu moved his hands, the sensation of reality still present.
Was this place reality, or a dream?
The doll girl on his shoulder did not respond.
"Sandrone?"
Qin Yu instinctively turned his head, his expression shifting slightly.
The doll girl who had been resting on his shoulder was also gone.
This world seemed to have been left with him alone.
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
Qin Yu took a deep breath and murmured.
As if in response, the master of the space…
The singing began anew, and the world transformed.
"This is…"
Qin Yu's eyes widened, filled with shock.
Darkness swallowed the dreamscape, the sky appearing on the verge of collapse.
It was a world-ending catastrophe, hidden deep within a memory, that had already occurred.
In the face of such devastation, everything seemed so insignificant.
So insignificant that it made one question the reality of the world.
Life extinguished, civilization overturned.
Qin Yu stood frozen, gazing at the despair this world had endured.
"…"
The singing grew ever more mournful.
Amidst the catastrophe, a spirit maiden fled.
Unlike her companions, whose forms were dissolving under a curse.
She retained a captivating form, her figure exquisite.
She was the last survivor of the spirit race.
Suddenly, she noticed Qin Yu.
"I… I couldn't save everyone."
An ethereal voice rang out, the spirit maiden trembling.
She reached out, as if to grasp Qin Yu.
But the collapsing, sinking earth had already separated the two forever.
"Wait, who are you!"
Qin Yu shouted, affected by the spirit maiden's profound sorrow.
What had happened in this dream world!
Before he could press further.
Everything before his eyes dissolved into nothingness.
The humming song sounded behind him.
Someone was watching him quietly.
"I'm sorry for letting you witness my painful memories."
Behind Qin Yu, she murmured.
It was the same voice as the spirit maiden in the dream.
As the words left her lips, the melody began again.
"!"
Qin Yu crouched down, clutching his head tightly.
His face turned pale, etched with agony.
He began to realize that the song was affecting his consciousness.
If this continued…
"No!"
Qin Yu roared, concentrating his will to resist.
To steal his consciousness, was that a joke!
"Crack—"
A sharp purple light flared in Qin Yu's eyes.
Accompanied by the roar of thunder, a corner of the mysterious space unfurled above him.
It was the blessing given to him by the witch.
[Combat Talent: Divine Transformation · Eye of the Wicked Omen]
Qin Yu remained lucid in the end, successfully activating his talent.
The song in his ears could no longer affect him in the slightest.
"An unexpectedly powerful will."
The ethereal voice let out a surprised "Oh?"
She was not surprised by the power of a god.
But Qin Yu's ability to remain lucid amidst the song was proof enough of his extraordinary nature.
It even resonated with her deepest memories…
As she fell into silent contemplation.
"Huu… A first meeting."
Qin Yu slowly stood up and turned behind him.
There, a woman in a white dress stood not far away.
Her smooth hair cascaded down to her waist, her skin as pale as ashes, her eyes downcast.
She was gently plucking at the strings of a lyre, humming an unknown melody.
"You guessed who I am?"
The pale maiden stopped humming and smiled.
Around her, the dream quietly returned to normal.
As if the world-ending catastrophe had merely been a dream.
Qin Yu sighed softly, his gaze wary.
"You let me enter here. What is your objective?"
"The third of the Fatui Harbingers…"
"The Knave."
The pale maiden raised her perfect face upon hearing his words.
Qin Yu paused slightly.
He then noticed that the maiden was wearing a velvet mask.
And her gently closed eyes had never opened.
Languid, tranquil, like an angel who had lost her wings.
Despite her beauty, she could hum such a sorrowful tune.
Qin Yu recalled the spirit maiden he had just seen.
The figures of the two women gradually merged.
"I know you have many questions."
"But where should I begin to explain?"
The maiden lightly plucked the strings of the lyre in her hand and sighed.
Whether it was the dream of the catastrophe, or…
What had transpired during her meeting with Qin Yu had exceeded her expectations.
After a moment of thought, the maiden shook her head slightly.
With a gentle smile, she said softly.
"Although I would love to chat with you for a while longer."
"It seems, however, that a certain sister is growing impatient."
"She will explain everything to you."
The maiden waved her hand, her form gradually disappearing.
"Explain yourself, Knave!"
Purple light flickered in Qin Yu's eyes as he moved to pursue her.
"Just call me Columbia."
The maiden shook her head with a smile and lightly raised a finger.
"And by the way, you mustn't speak of what you saw in the dream."
"This is our little secret…"
Her ethereal voice echoed as the maiden vanished.
I look forward to our true encounter.
Qin Yu…
"You!"
Qin Yu pursued, but found nothing.
Just as he was about to focus his senses on his surroundings.
"My companion, what have you seen?"
Someone patted his shoulder.
"You are…"
Qin Yu pointed at her, his eyes wide with surprise.
Such a large Sandrone.
She had reappeared not in her doll form!
Her true self stood before Qin Yu, lively and well.
"My companion, you can't even recognize me?"
The maiden let out a soft hmph, as if displeased.
If she had known…
She should have asked Sister Columbia to beat Qin Yu up.