"Dangerous...?"
Qin Yu gazed at the girl who had turned her face away under the moonlight, a smile inadvertently revealing itself.
What a cute reaction.
"What are you smiling at?" Keqing asked fiercely.
"I thought of something happy."
Qin Yu pondered with a serious expression, then spread his hands.
"Someone cares about me, shouldn't I be happy?"
"You... what are you suddenly talking about caring...!"
Keqing's small hands fidgeted, and even her speech became unnatural.
When had she ever said she cared about Qin Yu?
"Eh..."
Qin Yu blinked his eyes, suppressing a smile.
"You're still laughing!"
Keqing lowered her head and bit her lip lightly.
It's, it's nothing like that!
She suddenly felt her face getting hot and wanted to cover it.
But what if Qin Yu noticed something was wrong...!
In fact, he already had.
"Feeling better?"
Qin Yu smiled and sat down beside Keqing.
It seemed Keqing wasn't in a hurry to descend the mountain.
"Too close."
Keqing subconsciously tugged at the hem of her skirt and said with a puffed-out cheek.
Saying so, she shifted her body a little to the side.
"..."
Qin Yu watched Keqing lean closer, the corners of his lips curving upwards.
"Is there anything you want to ask?"
He supported himself with his hands, looking up at the starry sky, and murmured.
Keqing puffed out her cheeks, remaining silent.
"Would you like me to play a song for you?"
Qin Yu took out his lyre and gently plucked the strings with his fingertips.
A pleasant melody rang out, stirring the heart.
Keqing's long eyelashes fluttered slightly as she turned her head to look at Qin Yu.
In her beautiful eyes, a flicker of anticipation was shining.
She couldn't help but ask fiercely,
"You were with her just now too...!"
"Didn't you fall asleep?"
Qin Yu asked with a look of confusion.
"!"
Keqing's delicate body trembled, unable to speak for a long time.
Oops, I forgot about that!
"I, I mean..."
Facing Qin Yu's suspicious gaze, Keqing's small mouth parted, about to explain.
Suddenly, she noticed something and said in surprise,
"Qin Yu, behind you."
"?"
Qin Yu smiled, not taking it to heart.
Such a blunt way to change the subject.
"Look quickly!"
Keqing nudged Qin Yu, urging him to turn around.
"Alright, alright, let me see what it is... hmm?"
Qin Yu responded casually, but then froze.
A soft, azure shadow floated quietly and landed on Qin Yu's shoulder.
"A suspicious-looking Elemental Sprite?"
He exclaimed softly, a strange look on his face.
A guess suddenly became clear in his mind.
Could it be that Columbia sent you.
"Probably not..."
Qin Yu muttered subconsciously and raised his hand.
His fingertip touched the little Elemental Sprite.
The next moment—
A distant and strange sensation surged from his heart.
"This is!"
Qin Yu's eyes widened.
His vision seemed to have crossed a vast expanse of space.
He had arrived in an unfamiliar land.
Where snow covered everything in absolute tranquility.
That was the domain ruled by the Cryo Archon.
...
In the capital of Snezhnaya.
Within the dignified and solemn Cathedral of Her Majesty the Tsaritsa.
A maiden's song echoed, melodious and moving.
In the deepest part of the serene and cold sanctum.
A girl with pale skin and downcast eyes, her waist-length hair gently retracted her hand.
She wore a velvet mask, her posture graceful.
The third of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers, Columbina, the "Marionette".
In her embrace, her lyre glowed.
The lyre, once a pair, was now only half.
As for where the other half was now...
"You've arrived."
A faint smile played on the maiden's lips as she murmured softly.
The song ended, and she gently descended the stairs.
Outside the cathedral, the Snezhnayan aurora shimmered, a magnificent sight.
At the bottom of the stairs, Mirror Maidens stood in respectful attendance.
"Long time no see, Columbina."
From the shadows, a blue-haired man slowly emerged.
He wore a beak-like mask and bowed slightly.
"Or rather, we meet again so soon."
The second of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers, Dottore, the "Regrator".
"Dottore... you look so young today."
Columbina walked to the window, her voice soft as she smiled.
It was a greeting as if nothing were out of the ordinary.
"Hmph, you know why."
Dottore smiled slightly, but there was no mirth in his eyes.
The maiden's casual remark was far from a simple greeting.
She was subtly mocking him.
His segments were damaged, and his data was stolen.
Most importantly, the experiment had failed.
This was the first major setback Dottore had encountered since joining Her Majesty's service.
They both knew what means had been employed behind the scenes.
But...
"Heh, I didn't expect you to have an accomplice."
"That young man is truly surprising."
Dottore's gaze was cold, his words carrying a deeper meaning.
The strike that severed the dream by Qin Yu was powerful.
And Dottore had a hunch.
That strike was not his full power.
"I know what you're thinking."
The maiden murmured softly.
She suddenly turned around, facing Dottore.
"You were interrupted, weren't you, as you tried to project your complete consciousness."
As soon as she spoke—
Rumble!
The sky above the frozen land outside the cathedral suddenly changed color.
Piercing thunder tore through the aurora, roaring and howling.
In an instant, the heavens raged with divine power.
Crack!
Ice and frost condensed between heaven and earth.
"Your Majesty."
Inside the cathedral, the Mirror Maidens bowed in unison.
"!"
Dottore's eyes narrowed, hatred flickering within them.
He knew the forces clashing in the sky.
That was the power of a true god.
"The Electro Archon of Inazuma, how could she...!"
Could it be because of that young man in the dream?!
"You and I, by chance, have angered a god."
The maiden chuckled and walked past Dottore.
She was not interested in the conflicts between gods.
"Where are you going?"
The maiden stopped, "Naturally, to Inazuma."
"Have you already decided on the candidate?"
Dottore pondered for a moment, then asked with a frown.
"Candidate?"
The maiden murmured and shook her head.
"This game has been in motion for a long time."
"The final candidate for the 'Ascension' still needs to be personally decided by Her Majesty the Tsaritsa."
Ascension, the process by which a pawn transforms into the most powerful piece.
Its existence determined the outcome of the game.
He would agree.
The maiden walked out of the cathedral, thinking to herself.
"Right?"
A melodious voice crossed space.
Finally, it echoed in Qin Yu's ears.
"Ascension..."
Qin Yu whispered.
In his eyes, a flash of light, brilliant as the golden sun, flickered past.