"All possibilities…"
Aether turned his head and looked at the Cryo Abyss Mage behind him.
"That ancient god known as Guixu… have you obtained any results from the investigation?"
"Your Highness…"
"As for the exact number of gods he has slain…"
"We… are still unable to determine it."
"Beyond what you already know…"
"Our latest findings only confirm five additional gods."
"…Five more?"
Aether frowned slightly.
At that moment—
A scene surfaced in his mind.
A vast desert.
He walked forward alone.
Step by step—
Until he unearthed a massive stone buried beneath the sands.
Strange, unreadable symbols were carved into it.
He placed his hand upon them.
And in the next instant—
A vision appeared.
A young man holding a sword—
Walking slowly forward.
The perspective shifted several times—
Yet only his side profile and back could be seen.
All around him—
Everything burned.
"…Continue the investigation."
Aether's eyes snapped open.
"Elevate the priority of investigating that ancient god."
"Make it equal to the 'Loom of Fate.'"
"…Now, continue. About the Dragon of the East."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"The unexpected interference in the plan…"
"Came from your blood relative."
At the words "blood relative"—
Aether's pupils contracted.
"Your journey ends here…"
A cold female voice echoed in his mind.
He stepped forward—
And looked down from the cliff.
Below—
Lumine was fighting a group of hilichurls.
"…We will meet again."
"But not here."
"Not now."
Aether gazed at her—
His expression conflicted.
"At the end of the journey… we will reunite, my sister."
"Go witness the truth of this world."
"When that time comes…"
"You will understand me."
He leapt back onto the hand of the Ruin Guard.
And slowly disappeared into the sunset.
The scene ended.
"…That hurts."
Xuehua stared at Aether's expression, her voice tinged with emotion.
"To see your own family right in front of you…"
"And still not be able to meet…"
"But why is Aether investigating Qiu Nian?"
"And even tracking how many gods he's killed?"
She frowned in confusion.
[Qiu Nian: why are you investigating me??]
[So Aether is the leader of the Abyss Order??]
[So they were trying to turn Dvalin into a weapon??]
[This should be Mondstadt arc, Qiu Nian hadn't returned yet]
[His element is white… what even is that??]
[Wait, five more gods?? That's already insane]
[How many gods has he even killed???]
[We know at least two: Cuishen and the God of Obscuration]
[So minimum six??]
[That's ridiculous]
["Before the Abyss engulfs the divine throne, only war remains"]
[Is Aether trying to recruit Qiu Nian to fight Celestia??]
[That actually makes sense]
[What does "Venti reclaiming his crown" mean??]
[This is too cryptic, I can't take it]
After finishing the video—
Xuehua logged back into the game.
And began the Archon Quest:
"We Will Be Reunited."
Within the quest—
They met Dainsleif again.
Inside the ruins—
Beneath a twisted statue—
Lay the corpse of a Treasure Hoarder.
After leaving the ruins—
Lumine and Paimon encountered Dainsleif.
They exchanged information—
And began tracking the Abyss Order together.
During the investigation—
Dainsleif revealed:
Khaenri'ah—
Was a nation without gods.
Not because its gods had died—
Nor because they had left—
But because they had never existed there at all.
Five hundred years ago—
The gods descended together—
And destroyed Khaenri'ah.
They uprooted what was called humanity's pride—
Like weeds—
From the garden of the divine.
The Abyss Order—
And the Ruin Guards—
Were remnants of that fallen nation.
Lumine's first awakening—
Had also occurred during that time.
Aether had awakened earlier than her—
From a fallen star—
And told her:
Khaenri'ah had fallen.
The world itself was changing.
He asked her to leave Teyvat with him.
That was her first awakening—
Five hundred years ago.
But before they could escape—
A mysterious god appeared—
And blocked their path.
Lumine had just awakened—
And knew nothing of Khaenri'ah.
Nothing of this world.
After learning all this—
She decided—
That the next time she met Venti or Zhongli—
She would ask them for answers.
As for Qiu Nian—
He had left Teyvat three thousand years ago—
And had only recently returned.
So he knew nothing about these events.
"…The gods?"
Xuehua frowned deeply.
"Does that include the Seven?"
"Why would they destroy Khaenri'ah?"
"No wonder Aether turned out like that…"
[He said 'the gods,' not necessarily the Seven]
[That's a key detail]
[Wait, aren't gods supposed to love humanity??]
[Then why destroy a human nation??]
[Venti and Zhongli don't seem like they'd do that]
Afterward—
Dainsleif also revealed—
That Ruin Guards were originally called:
Field Tillers.
After defeating the enemies—
He found documents on several Abyss Mages.
Written in a non-common script—
He deciphered them.
And uncovered the Abyss Order's plan:
"The Loom of Fate."
And alongside it—
Another plan of equal importance—
To continue investigating—
The ancient god known as Guixu.
"…Guixu?"
Lumine and Paimon froze.
Why—
Was the Abyss Order investigating Qiu Nian?
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