boredandelusive

[boredandelusive]

Before It’s Too Late - XVIII (18)

And this marks the end of the story, it’s been fun writing this, albeit long, and considering I started this when I first came to college, and now I’m a sophomore, some time has passed. I hope you all enjoyed the story.

As she began to wake up, Lumine could see Paimon hovering with worry. "What's wrong, Paimon?" There must be something going on that has the pixie worried like this, but it seems it was something overly concerning.

"It's Laila, she's not doing well, and right now Paimon thinks you might be in danger," Paimon says as the blonde sat up from the couch. There was a moment of silence between the two before the floating pixie continued. "Paimon thinks we should stay here and wait for Nahida to come back."

Lumine thinks to herself for a moment before looking at the ring on her finger. Even now, with her black fingertips, she couldn't help but feel worry about the situation. Laila was the youngest, but being burdened with this sense of responsibility couldn't be easy for anyone. There was something to note, however, from when Lumine and Paimon first met Laila, she was here on a mission. "Her time is running out, though. Shouldn't we do something about that?"

"Paimon doesn't know if there's something we can do about it. That's why we're waiting for the archons to do something that can help her," the pixie responds and floats to the window. All they had to do was wait.

The archons were in Mondstadt now, considering their gateway to Celestia strayed into the land of freedom. Of the three archways, Barbatos focused some of his power to reignite the sigils hidden. Each of the words shone white before a blinding light came from the arch. The Anemo Archon was the first to step through, followed by the others.

The golden doors closed behind them, now walking the path which led to Celestia's front doors. For Barbatos, being there was a feeling of despair because of Celestia's sleep and unanswered questions. For some archons, however, there were mixed feelings about going back to such a place again.

Most of the structure looked lost to decay, except for the doors that led inside Celestia. Just as they were going to open the doors, they swung open from the other side. Darkness shrouded the Seven's visions, leaving them unable to see what was going on. It wasn't until minutes later that flowers began falling from above that they knew something was wrong.

Sounds of mixed crying and laughter could be heard before the darkness cleared. In front of them were golems made only out of trees, looking anything less than pleasing. "Snap out of it," the pyro archon yells to the others in the midst of fear. "We're here to kill the witch so we can help Laila." It seemed more like a reminder for them to not lose their heads, but the sight of a creator turning into such a creature drove each of the archons in different emotional directions.

There was the sound of laughter which rang throughout Celestia, just enough to catch each of their attentions yet again. Just above them, a light filled the room, showing the witch in the room. The sight of a woman with a body made of black moss, a crown of red spider lilies, and a dress made of decaying flowers.

Archons were not created to show fear, they were created to be perfect soldiers in a war that wouldn't yet happen. Yet in this moment, all of that went out the window. The sight of one of the three Creators turning into such a creature of destruction was mortifying, but not without a sense of pity.

The floating castle's structure started to crumble as deeper cracks formed in the wall, leaving their footing unstable. The archons began summoning their elemental power, an aura forming around each of them. Each of their abilities were aimed at the witch, yet none of them came close. Laughter could still be heard throughout the halls.

"We need to hit her all at once. Singular elements won't work against a creator, let alone a witch," Nahida warns them, which the others nodded before holding their hands out with the gnosis hovering in their hold. The seven gnoses grew brighter as a large ball of power grew above them.

The witch's laughter grew quiet, now becoming curious as to what went on. The growing ball of power above the Archons shaped itself into a familiar face. Within the midst of quietness grew the sound of a wailing woman. The witch in front of the archons begins to cry as if it were a baby.

Mayla could be seen in the growing light from the archon's power, stripping away most of the witch's outline. "Sister," the voice came out scratchy and hoarse, as if her voice was stripped away violently. "You're here," she says in surprise, starting to reach her hand out to the ever-growing power.

The brightness of the gnoses began to dim, but the formed power above the Seven remained intact. A hand formed from the light, which Mayla reached out to touch. However, the moment the two beings connected, the windows shattered as Celestia started to cave in. Harsh winds shoved the Archons around the main hall as a sea of darkness flushed out of the windows and descended from Celestia.

The ground shook below them violently, just before the floating palace crumbled to the ground. Each of the Archons fell, but at the same moment, Mayla's body fell with them. "Barbatos, catch her!" The Tsaritsa yelled to the bard, which he acted quickly to catch the fallen Sister's former body.

Each of them glanced up to the destroyed palace, once again mixed feelings shared between the Seven. "Does this mean we've destroyed the second sister as a witch?" Ei asks next, though she didn't know if their plan was successful or not.

"I think so," Morax could see the ground of Teyvat getting closer, which he set an immediate plan in motion. His hand glowed with the geo sigil, and seconds later, the squeal of a horse could be heard. A carriage with two horses hovered below them, catching each of the Seven.

"And what is all this?" The Pyro archon asked as she'd gotten situated in the carriage which Morax summoned.

"Something from my previous role before I became archon," he says with ease, not paying much attention to the others. "There is a story behind each of us that one another isn't aware of, after all."

As the carriage and horses descended to Teyvat, they landed in the open field of Cape Oath, causing the horses to disappear as well. The sight of the middle sister's statue being cracked identically to Carin's confirmed Mayla's death.

The clouds above them grew dark, covering the sun into an eternal night. The sounds of a woman's screech covered across Cape Oath as a demented blonde figure rushed toward the seven archons. It didn't take long for Morax to recognize the figure as Lumine, who everyone had thought was safe in Sumeru. "Nahida," he says, wanting more context.

"She was asleep when I left her in Paimon's care. Maybe it was her sister that called out to her before she turned into a witch?" She didn't know, but she knew she didn't have the time to theorize. The screeching persisted, hurting their ears as Laila moved toward Barbatos, her hands extended toward her former older sister.

The Archons tried to pool any remaining power they had from their gnoses, but there was none left. Everything they acquired from Celestia had been used up, and now Celestia had fallen. Elemental power didn't work against a witch, their previous battle had confirmed that. "Let me," a voice rang through their heads.

Istaroth took control of each of their bodies, moving them as one as she controlled time on the current witch. Freezing Laila in place, she held the spell, though she knew it wouldn't last long. "Mother called to her familiar some time ago, he should be getting here soon," though the Shade didn't know much about Laila past what she'd been raised on, she knew she heard her call out a name: Faleon.

Within the sky of darkness pierced a bright light, followed by the sight of a dragon closely resembling Morax, though it wasn't him. The moment the dragon landed, Istaroth focused her consciousness into one vessel: Nahida. A moment passed as the dragon shifted themselves into a human composed of pale white skin and hair, but dragon horns stemming from the temples of the head.

"Faleon, you're here," Istaroth greets, which he nodded before turning toward Laila. "Do you have the grief seeds?" She asked next, causing the man to look confused.

"She is a witch, is she not?" His hearty voice asked first, but he was going off from an initial view and not a deeper look.

"Not yet, fortunately. Look at her ring. It is not shattered, meaning she is not a witch yet, but she will be if we don't do something to help her. I believe, in this stage, she is a doppel," the shade answers next, keeping an eye on her spell. "My spell won't hold much longer. Help her, please. Teyvat will fall if she dies."

Without another word, Faleon reached toward Laila's hand, solely focusing on the ring. A grief seed sprouted in his hand, which he held to her ring. The darkness in the sky began to clear up, and Lumine's body now hovered in the air. He held a grief seed long enough that there was no longer a taint in her soul gem, meaning Laila lived.

Istaroth removed her spell from her mother's body, leaving Lumine to descend to the ground. Paimon was nowhere in sight, bringing concern to Barbatos and Morax. "Where is the floating pixie? The one that never leaves Laila's side?"

"Right here," she panted out, quickly flying to the Archons. "She was there one second then flew out the door by the next," Paimon sounded out of breath, which opposed the fact she flies to get around. "From Sumeru straight to here," she says before flying down to Lumine's side.

Quickly nudging the blonde, Paimon's worry grew when she didn't get a response. "Lumine? Lumine!" Tears began streaking her face out of fear, but Istaroth knew why she still hadn't responded yet. Waving her hand over the blonde, her time spell lifted, which Lumine's eyes opened seconds later. "Lumine! You had Paimon worried sick!"

"It wasn't intentional, Paimon," seeing as it was Lumine answering her, Faleon gently took the ring from her finger and held it in his hand. "My head hurts," she says as she sits up on the plane of grass. Looking at her hands, she could see the black residue once at her fingertips was no more.

Upon a second glance, she couldn't see the ring on her finger anymore, which she quickly searched for it. "It's right here," Faleon says as he holds up the ring in his hand. "Where is her body? The sooner the two reconnect, the quicker this can go," he says, which Istaroth hesitated before turning toward the statue.

The shade placed her hand on Laila statue's core, causing her physical body to appear. Faleon connected the ring onto her finger, meaning Laila's conscious was now with her body once again. Immediately, Laila woke up in her body, clearly shaken up. "Where is she? Where is Mayla?"

"Your Grace, you shouldn't worry about that right now," the Tsaritsa helped her up, but it seemed like that wasn't enough to convince her. "You need rest.”

"Where is my sister?" Laila repeated, knowing that her current feeling of dread needed clarification. "Is this Cape Oath?" She only noticed the terrain due to the distance from Mondstadt. Her eyes searched around for some indication that her sister was alive, something to give her genuine hope that she wasn't too late.

It wasn't until her eyes landed on her sister's body that she realized she had failed. The mission Esmera assigned her to... saving her sister... she failed. When she looked toward the statue next, she could see the cracks across Carin and Mayla resembling one another, causing tears to stream from her eyes.

"Your Grace," Lumine rushed to the woman's side, helping her to stand from the grass. Even now, her star vessel didn't know what to say, so she instead let the Creator grieve, as she could not do so the first time around. There was a loose line of sight to Laila's ring, but she could see there wasn't any taint left, not as there once was.

Wind began to howl around the group, harsh winds that Barbatos could not control. Sunlight began to blind everyone except for Faleon, who grew a sense of dread. "Laila, don't do what I think you're about to do," he knew she was a woman of her word, but considering she hadn't said anything recently, there was some speculation about what she had planned.

"They don't deserve it. They don't deserve to know anymore," this solidified his thoughts: she was going to erase all knowledge of the Three Sisters from history in all realms of Teyvat. Red mist flowed from her body as her power grew substantially. Lumine had to let go of Laila because she couldn't handle being so close to a source of raw power anymore.

The first wave of red mist covered all of Teyvat, causing the skies to run red, but there were some notable changes already. The statue of the Three Sisters turned to dust, which carried on the wind into the ocean. It was going to be the first half of her burial, but she still had something else in mind.

The wind grew harsh once more when a second pulse of her power covered Teyvat. Even the archons felt pain from her power, which erased all knowledge of the Three Sisters. Across libraries, any books mentioning their names or information faded to nothing. Some of the great historians in Liyue had their memories wiped of anything related to the Creators. Only the Shining Shades would remember her, as they were her direct creations.

In Sumeru, the Irminsul's knowledge of the Sisters was erased completely. Any documents written by the Akedemiya's students disappeared. Within seconds, there was nothing left, not even a thought pertaining to the Sisters had existed. However, within a sudden flash, both waves of power returned to Laila, just before a wave of gold mist covered the world.

The former floating palace was remade in the image of a different castle, something she remembered seeing in a story. One final wave returned the Archons to their assigned regions with no knowledge of the Sisters. Lumine was the only one who would remember anything about them, as Paimon would be the one to forget as well.

Everything was as it should be. Humans would have nothing to forget, or to remember, about the Three Sisters.

Laila had one last thing she wanted to do, just to give her sisters a final burial and to move on. In her eyes, she had no reason for her to stay in this world, to have the skin as a show of her divinity. Faleon still clung to his mistress, a magical girl to a familiar, even as she strolled through Liyue Harbor.

With the ring on her finger, Laila walked into the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, though Hu Tao noticed her immediately. "Welcome to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor! Do you want to be sent off quickly, or did you want to set up a reservation?" She asked in an overjoyed tone, always the passionate one about her work.

"What's the earliest time you have? I want to give my sisters a proper burial," Laila says honestly, noting the passion within the woman's voice.

"Tonight, up on Wuwang Hill. What's your preferred form of burial?" Hu Tao asks next, noting her request.

"Cremation, for the three of us," she says honestly, causing her to look at Laila with surprise.

"Alright, 8 PM at Wuwang Hill. Would you like for me to hold on to their bodies or do you prefer to bring them yourself?" It seemed like that was the final question she needed to ask, but Hu Tao already had her theories.

"They will be delivered in a few minutes," though, Laila thought that was the end of the conversation. The director had one last thing to ask.

"Won't it be unsafe? With you being an adeptus, your death could cause damage to its surroundings," Hu Tao didn't mean to offend when she asked, but it was genuine. If an adeptus died, let alone a lesser god, then it could petrify anyone around them.

"It will be fine, but thank you for expressing your concern," the Sister finally leaves, meaning now she only had to wait. Some part of her wanted the archons by her side, but she didn't feel the need for them to be at her funeral. Even though her soul gem was cleansed of what had plagued her, she couldn't handle them being there after failing to spread their stories.

Soon enough, time passed until it was time for the final send-off. Laila and Faleon walked up the path to the top of Wuwang Hill, which Laila had given him her ring. "You're right on time," Hu Tao greeted them at the top of the mountain, just before leading them to an area decorated with sticks and grieving plaques. "I left some space for you, considering you indirectly said the funeral would be for you as well."

"Thank you, Hu Tao," she walks closer to the stick pit, though she spun around to give Faleon her ring. "Hold on to that for me," she says before walking back over. This would've been the last time she saw her sisters, and both of them looked as they did when they were alive, even Carin.

They each were dressed in formal clothing, robes made of satin, each with a slightly distinctive color palette. Once she stepped into the stick pit, she laid beside Mayla, just as she once stood beside her in the statues. "As I lay these spirits to rest, let the afterlife accept their souls so they may reunite as they once were," Hu Tao says before she moves close to the stick pit, using her vision to start the fire.

Blazes of orange and red overtook her vision, though sparkles of white floated from the fire and danced into the sky. Faleon knew this was not Laila's end, but still, he let her get the closure. "Thank you, Director," he says as he looks along the fire, still holding her ring in hand. There wasn't any taint, and the ring wasn't hollowed out, meaning she was still alive.

"Anytime," she says as she stands near the fire, wanting to stay until it went out. A portal opened behind the familiar, which he looked at the fire one last time before stepping through.

"Lumine, Paimon still doesn't understand what you're talking around. The only creator is the Primordial One, and they haven't been around for thousands of years," Paimon says as she stops floating in front of Lumine.

"But there were three. There were Three Sisters who made Teyvat. This isn't right," she knew there was something off, and it must've been because Lumine was one of the Sister's star vessel. Something had changed, but she didn't know why.

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[boredandelusive]

24.

♞

The curtains opened again, but because the band was previously tuned, there was no need for them to do it again. "My Neighbour TOTORO" was the first song in the second half of the performance. The strings led the beginning of the song, Kiara leading her section before the double basses continued with the melody.

The crash of a symbol introduced everyone to the song before the violas picked up the melody and led the song. The smooth transition from viola to violin was easy, but the buildup of the first half of the song with a giddy melody left Kiara unable to control her happiness.

As the trumpets led into the slower second half of the song, the piano, and strings held the audience's attention. Only when the french horns brought back that same giddy melody did the violins have runs that resonated in the audience.

As the song came to a triumphant close, the applause rang in Kiara's ears, helping to clear away any anxiety about the end of the show. The next song to play was "Ashitaka and San" which began with a heavenly sound before the music passed into the piano. Some of the strings followed the piano's melody, then passed to the flutes.

The balance within the song and making sure one musical line never overcame another gave the song a heavenly feeling. When the orchestra grew quiet to let the winds play, the strings followed behind, leaving the sweet tone to never falter. Just as the melody passed between instruments, there was never a climax to the song.

As the piano began the music, the piano ended the song. "A Journey (A Dream of Flight)/Nahoko (The Encounter)" was the first song to play in The Wind Rises soundtrack. The music began with a quiet instrument, one played only enough for the acoustics to carry the sound. Once the orchestra moved to the climax, a bouncier tone could be heard, yet the song was short.

"Caproni (An Aeronautical Designer's Dream)" had a marching feel to it, almost as though it was a march in the sky. Never a dull moment as the sound kept the fullness of the orchestra, not even when the song ended. The only indication the song transitioned into "The Falcon Project" was the next song starting with violin.

The counter-rhythm between violins played a daunting tone, but by the third repeat, more of the strings joined in with the sound. A free-floating spirit is shown flying within the fields on the projector while Kiara was one of the few violins bringing in the other instruments. Unlike the previous march of a song, a sense of freedom could be heard within the music.

With a grand finish, the song came to a close, but within the midst of that silence, "A Journey (The Wedding)" began with the mandolin, courtesy of Kiara's playing. The second violinist played the counter-melody, and the soft song gave way to an emotion nearly indescribable. Despite the title, the song felt more like a life sentence as there wasn't anything celebratory in the notes.

A sense of urgency rose as "The Refuge" was the next song to play. The sight of a train derailing because of an earthquake is shown on the screen while the orchestra's fluctuations ripple through the Opera House. While the cellos and double-basses kept a low-sounding worry while the rest followed with tragedy.

At the final peak of the story, a last resounding worry plays through before the song's end. "Nahoko (I Miss You)" began with the piano, a call and response between the piano and the orchestra. While there wasn't a sense of urgency like in the last song, there was still a sense of negative emotion. While the uneven rhythms went in tandem with the woman waiting anxiously for her train to stop.

Kiara's violin reflected the same anxiousness as the woman who rushed to get back to the man she waited for. The expression on her face could be read by anyone; maybe she had someone she wanted to rush back into his arms, but she still wasn't sure if she could let herself do that again.

"Castorp (The Magic Mountain)" connected with "Nahoko (I Miss You)" as the strings connected the beginning. Knowing there was a window of time before Kiara had to switch to the mandolin again, she set the violin on the stand and picked up the secondary. Even as she led the second half of the song, there was still raw emotion in how she played the music.

"Nahoko (An Unexpected Meeting)" left little time for applause as the song started with the strings. As the clarinet came in to play solo, soon the other clarinets came in to unite as one. When the piano joined, Kiara joined in again with the mandolin as the harmony to the song. As there was a part that lie in suspension, it was just enough time for Kiara to switch over to violin again.

When the other instruments followed in a fluttery tone, the sound of a cymbal crashed as the violins led the peak while the orchestra backed the musical tone. While there was a bounciness to be heard, Kiara knew only certain listeners would hear otherwise. Toward the end of the song, however, the violins led in a section solo before the melody passed through to another instrument.

A leaning feeling could be heard when the song ended on a note only leading to the next piece. The final song in The Wind Rises suite was "A Journey (Kingdom of Dreams)". Because this was the song in the selection, there was a final resolution that could be heard as the ending to the movie wasn't sad or happy.

There was a piano-only part that helped to lead toward the peak, but Kiara played just to be the ghosting notes in certain phrases before the orchestra grew quiet. Her instrument alone led the rest into the height of the song, giving the playful and bouncy tone one last time before this election was over.

There was time for the audience to clap, and though it wasn't the end of the performance, there was still some time between pieces. "Merry-Go-Round of Life" was the next large song they played with the piano starting the musical score. While the music played, Kiara relaxed her fingers and readied for her first notes.

The cellos cleared the way for her to play her solo part. As she played, the piano played the harmony and backing before the rest of the instruments followed suit in her lead. This was a song she had been so nervous about, even after the revisions with the rest of the orchestra. What parts of her solo she didn't play, the flutes and clarinets picked up with ease.

In their revised version, she plucked her strings, yet in the original version, her musical part was much longer. At the ear of the pianist, the dragged suspension led to a nimble afterparty, a burst of joy that rushed before recollecting oneself. With the violin and cello communication, she glanced between her friends as the song wound to the height of the piece.

Though the conductor did not put his wand down, Kiara, Milton, Katie-Marie, and Maralyn took control of leading the band. Three singular notes resonated before the orchestra picked up where they left off and into a flowery transition to an exciting resolution where only violin and cello played. As the song ended the final note played throughout the opera house, and recurring rounds of applause rang in Kiara's ears.

"Symphonic Poem NAUSICAÄ (from NAUSICAÄ of the Valley of the Wind)" was the next large piece, beginning with a sense of justice to be heard in the notes. From the light strumming of a viola behind them, the piano began with a somber melody. The volume only rose when the string players helped to exude a fluttery wind.

Kiara led the violins into playing the melody as if discovering a forgotten sight. Only after this did the horned instruments join in to boost what was already there. For a musical moment to last only as long as it could, there was a passing between the flute and cello before the music was handed to the oboe and bassoon.

In this smaller part of the poem, winds played with cellos following before the flutes handed the melody to the violin and viola. During this section of the song, the feeling slowed down enough to express dread to anyone listening. Though the pace picked up, the screen showed sights of the main character rushing to a destination.

As the music eased up and the sounds of relaxation played through the house, the next movement suggested ease would be the permanent feeling for the rest of the song. As this song came to an end, the final suite of the performance, "Princess Mononoke Suite" began with the sound of the bass drum.

There was a feel as though the song had just begun, but the climb to the first height paced for a beautiful underside. The tone changed, giving way to worry as there wasn't a sense of urgency but a sense of danger, but this only graced the audience with the ease of the aftermath. As the piano communicated with the rest of the orchestra, the violin spoke again, giving a somber tone to a building realization in the music.

This was the height of the song for the rest of the song to finish out softly. "Cave of Mind" was a tribute to the first half of the performance, specifically with the Castle in the Sky suite of the first half. Even if it wasn't properly expressed, there was a rise in the music's concern, but the chords that progressed led to a revelation.

The brass communicated what the strings and winds couldn't, but the passing between both instruments gave a feeling of flourishing grief. The song was not as long as the others, but "The Legend of Ashitaka" was next on the list. Beginning with Kiara's melody given to the cellist before the piano picked up the support.

Because it was originally their performance, the group agreed on one song for the four to play without the orchestra. Just the four of them played and filled what the orchestra wasn't able to fill. Plucking strings between their instruments while the piano played until the cello brought the climax of the song.

Because this was the end of their performance, the conductor stepped off the podium and let the four move to the front of the stage. Taking their final bow, the audience roared in response, giving a standing ovation. Kiara and the others signaled to the orchestra players, each of them taking a bow. One of the stage crew members ushered the musicians off stage as most of the audience started leaving the Opera House.

"Go, Spencer. Talk to her now, because she packs everything up quickly," Mia says before pointing him to the backstage area and dressing rooms for the main performers. Watching as Reid rushed away, the older sister smiled before shaking her head.

♞

Just as Kiara grabbed her change of clothes, someone knocked on the door. Even after the performance was over, Spencer was still in the audience, and she still had mixed feelings about what happened to him a month ago. Taking off her heels, she walked over to the door and opened it. Even if her brain knew he would be coming, the heart was a fickle thing.

She moved out of the way to let him in before closing the door behind him. "You have until I'm done with everything in here to explain yourself," Kiara couldn't bring herself to look at him, so busying herself while Spencer spoke would've been enough.

"I'm sorry about those things I said to you and I never meant anything I said that night, Kiara. I knew I couldn't say it before then, but I can say it now. I... I do love you, Kiara. Even when I said I didn't love you, it was a lie," he knew he had to be careful with his words, even if they were the only two in the dressing room.

Through her silence, Spencer continued with anything he needed to say. "That night I broke up with you, someone was watching you through the cameras installed in your house. She told me I had three days to break up with you, and I couldn't tell anyone or she would hurt you," even if coming clean about the situation wasn't the best way to go, putting the situation might help some.

"And in the past month, you didn't think to tell me anything about what happened?" She asks slowly after she finished changing her clothes.

"Hotch and the others agreed that you and I be placed in witness protection, and I couldn't communicate at all. I would've told you, but by the time I got out, your performance was the following week," watching as Kiara moved from behind the veil, she put the dress in the clothing bag before grabbing her instrument and setting it in the case. She purposefully avoided eye contact, not out of spite, but to protect herself, as if she couldn't handle looking Spencer in the eyes one more time.

"Look at me, Kiara. Look at me," grabbing her wrist, Spencer turned Kiara around to face him, yet the tears in her eyes spoke enough. "I know the things I said were hurtful, and I never meant any of it, but I do love you," his grip on her wrist loosened, sliding his hands into her own. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you, Kiara?"

"You could take me out to dinner. I'm hungry after this performance," she says truthfully as she wipes away the tears that didn't fall. "But I'll only go to my favorite restaurant."

"And I will be the one to take you there. Come on," Spencer knew he still had a long way to go before he and Kiara could get back to how they were, but this was a start.

[boredandelusive]

23.

More time has passed than I thought, but since I'm on spring break from college, I can at least upload this part and the next before I go back. Shit has been hectic, and though I'm not sure when the next chapter will be that I upload besides the second half of her performance, I think it's a start. Enjoy these fluffy moments... Link to the playlist here.

♞

Even if she didn't want to see his face in the crowd, she still had a performance to get through and her unresolved feelings will not impede that. Taking her seat as the first violinist, the oboe played a note, signaling the rest of the band to tune to that note. As the note rang through the building, anyone in the crowd immediately went silent to not interrupt the performance.

"Hana-Bi" was the first song to play, and the piano began the tune with the orchestra following behind. A visual in the background followed streaks of light. As the piano stopped playing, the musical dynamics never faltered, even as the tune expressed an emotion that couldn't be said.

As the piano had a solo with the first seatings in the instrumental arrangements, the cello and double bass quieted down. Kiara and Milton were the only two who played at this moment, the piano following the violin. Even as her nerves grew, her fingers remained unchanging, and when her solo was over, the sound of the other instruments plucking their strings with the piano gave a feeling of walking on clouds.

When the piano played solo for a bit, the rest of the orchestra followed behind with the climax of the song. The difference in playing speed to sound like the song went too fast was purposeful, yet the other instruments caught up in time for the resolution of the song. When the first song finished, there was an immediate shift to "Doves and the Boy/The Girl Who Fell from the Sky."

Trumpet and Cornet began the song to sound like angels playing over a crowd. The rest of the instruments followed suit, the percussion both leading and following. As the piano brought in the next movement, double reed instruments had a supporting part before the violins began the next movement in the heartfelt song. The sound of the cymbals crashing with the rest of the orchestra following into the music went in tandem with the visual of a floating castle caught in the cloud.

Cellos led the sound before the strings ushered the climax, yet each instrument played could be heard as the support to another. Even if the song's end led to an upbeat march, the feeling wouldn't be forgotten. "A Street Brawl/The Chase/Floating with the Crystal" was the next selection to play as the snare led the band in tempo.

The orchestra's sound grew fuller as the song moved to a faster tempo, resembling a march. This was not the end, however, as the next movement had more action from the brass instruments. The song's final climax led to fast-fingered trills within the violins as the brass instruments led the piece.

What brought the song to a close was the violins, bringing the sound to a relaxing tone as if whisking through a forest to a side of paradise. "Memories of Gondoa" had a lighthearted sound from the flutes and violins playing together. Because the song is shorter than the others, "The Crisis/Disheartened Pazu" followed with an urgent tone in the beginning.

The oboe brought the tone of worry into the music, with the first violins leading the music. Because there was a false sense of relief, the song's end gave a quiet hand into "Robot Soldier/Resurrection-Rescue." A more demanding and action-packed song followed, giving way to the strings and snare leading the audience to a climax of a march-like ending.

"Gran'ma Dola" started with an immediate tone, like someone snuck around, but still had the power to it. The straightforward piece left a feeling of no discussion, but when the orchestra quieted for the oboe/bassoon solo, the rest of the instruments came with a forceful tone. The violin used a feeling of compassion before the song's tempo sped up to give the audience an edge.

"The Castle of Time" was led with violin and the other strings coming in after the solo. The leading tone within the song was picked up by the flutes leading the next section before giving the melody to the violins. A climb to the height of the song felt like discovering something new before the resolve faded to the next song.

"Innocent" began with the piano playing a solo while the rest of the orchestra quieted down. Once the rest of the string instruments followed the cues, the tone of the song would bring tears to anyone who listened. What followed the cello/piano moved to a part with Kiara, specifically making her lead the trio section in the song. Even though this song had an entire orchestra to follow, the four of the group only played.

"The Eternal Tree of Life" transitioned the end from piano to vibraphone with flutes following the percussion before the rest of the accompaniment followed. The song was short, even if the feeling lasted forever. This song concluded the "Castle in the Sky" suite, leaving the audience room to clap as one section of the performance finished.

"The Legend of Ashitaka" was one of the few songs that weren't in a set like the previous songs. Timpani began the tune, followed only by the low strings, before clarinets came in to alleviate the warning in the song. As the orchestra built its sound, three seconds of silence passed before the strings led to the music.

The rising and fall of each note swayed the music of trees in a light wind before the French horns, cornet, and piano ushered in the next movement. The experience brought joy to Kiara's face, washing away any final feeling of regret. Even as the music quieted down to let the oboe's part show out, the cornet followed and brought the climax of the song to an astounding volume that echoes from the walls.

From one instrument to another, the call and response from one section to another with cymbals crashing led to a beautiful resolve. The next song, "On a Clear Day/A Town with an Ocean View" began with an exploring feeling as if arriving somewhere beautiful and quiet.

When the rest of the orchestra joined in, the fluttering sounds of the flutes mimicking birds paved to a sound unmatched. The sight of a child on a broomstick flying into town showed on the screen before showing her coming into town for the first time. The second half of the music began with a volume suddenly diminished to half the value.

While the piano and flute responded to the brass's call, the music connected once again to give a fluttering feeling to the audience's call. Kiara's small solo in the song only played with the bassoon responding and the second violins being the background. The climax of the song led to a galloping point in the song before the feeling switched to that of a waltz.

The song leaves on a high note, transitioning to "Madness" without time to clap for the previous song. A sense of urgency returns in the music, led by the piano with the supporting parts in the rest of the orchestra. Even with the frantic notes being played with precision and accuracy, the flutes were not silenced with their runs.

Tempo never slowed down as the eerie feeling only remained without a breath of relief. A call from the piano to the strings only increased any feelings of rush, yet there was still no sense of relief found. Sharp notes from the violins mimic the footsteps of people rushing away from an imaginary situation. The song comes to a brash end, leaving the audience on a cliffhanger.

As the audience claps from the previous song, "One Summer's Day" began with the piano and the strings leading the song. Even as the smooth tone never changed in the music, there wasn't a moment that grew to fill the room, leaving the audience to lean forward to hear the music better. Only toward the end did an adventurous tone arise from the sound.

"Princess Mononoke" followed immediately after as the piano-led yet another song. Where Kiara's accompanied solo to the other instruments, leaning into the touch of her strings. The rest of the sound followed her lead, inviting the cello and double basses to support the sound. Though her part in the song came to an end, she passed the melody onto the flutes, but their part was quick to return it.

Winding up the music to the climax, the notes flying from the fingers of the violin and flute players were nothing to ignore. As the piano closed out the song, the curtains drew to a close. "We will now have a thirty-minute intermission," a voice announced overhead. Even though the show was only halfway through, the past hour felt magical.

Behind the curtains, Kiara stood from her seat and placed her violin down. Regrouping with the others, she met Milton, Katie-Marie, and Maralyn. "That was amazing!" Maralyn cheered, and Kiara and Katie-Marie laughed out of their anxiety. "I mean, hearing the songs in practice is one thing, but connecting it with the acoustics of the room made it sound heavenly."

"I forget you're a music major," Milton says as the group moves to the wings of the stage. "I was so scared I would mess up and everyone would hear the parts I messed up back in practice," he says as he flexes his fingers. "But then it was like muscle memory."

"I'm surprised the flutist was okay with you taking some of her solos in the songs she was supposed to play in," Katie-Marie pointed out, yet Kiara shook her head. "Also, was that your older sister in the crowd?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?" She asks next, yet when Katie-Marie pointed to the person behind her, she watched as Mia approached the group. "We'll give you some time," she says as the others move away from the sisters.

"Kiara, that was amazing! I told you there is nothing to worry about," Mia says as she grabs Kiara's hands and held them close.

"There was nothing to worry about. What is Spencer doing here? I didn't tell him about my performance." even though the two weren't an item anymore, she still had anxiety about him being in the Opera House. "And I didn't think you knew him well enough to tell him about tonight."

"That's because I didn't tell him about tonight. You might've forgotten if you told some girls in the BAU, but I know Garcia enough to tell you she would've been the one to tell the others. For now, focus on your performance, and don't worry about Spencer. I'm sure he's only here to apologize."

"You act like this is something to sweep under the rug, Mia. I'm not sure I'm ready to talk to him again," no matter how much Kiara convinced herself that she would do fine without him, it was obvious she couldn't let go so easily. Seeing his face after the things he'd said last time without apologizing once and then showing up at a performance she didn't mention...?

"Will you relax? Most guys who break off the relationship don't come crawling back asking for a second chance, especially not someone you were gushing to me for hours on end. When your performance is over, will you at least give him a chance? You might not like it, but you need to listen to the man first before you push him away?" Mia knew how her sister would get, not only because she was stubborn, but convincing herself to not listen to her heart took time.

"I might, but there had better be a good reason for him saying everything he did and showing up after that," even if Kiara didn't realize it now, she was still willing to give Spencer one chance, and that was all he would need. "Intermission ends in five minutes. I need to get back to the stage and grab my second instrument."

Mia watched as Kiara moved away and toward the stage again. "At least listen to what he says! Don't judge him without hearing everything first!" Even if Kiara didn't say anything in response, a sister's intuition told her she would be okay, even if it didn't seem like it now.

[boredandelusive]

Before It’s Too Late - XVII (17).

In midst of everything that happened over the break from when I last updated to now, and the first three weeks of school, I forgot to finish writing the chapter and then I ran it through the editor I use. It shouldn’t have taken me so long, but I’ve been writing Demon Slayer stories.

"Welcome to Sumeru, Lumine and Paimon," Kathryne greeted the two, which Paimon waved at the commissioner. "There is someone that wants to meet you both," she says before moving from behind the booth.

"You're stepping out of the Adventurer's guild booth?" Paimon asked dumbly, which the woman nodded before turning to face the two.

"Just to greet you to the person who wants to meet you," she says vaguely, which the three turned the corner into a cafe. "She'll be right in there, and she's been expecting you for quite some time," Kathryne says before gesturing to the door, causing Lumine to glance at Paimon before walking inside.

"I've been waiting for you two," a child-like figure says as she turns to the blond walking through the doors. "Lumine, Paimon, Laila," the girl says casually, yet it caught them off guard.

"Nahida, I presume? Lesser Lord Kusanali," Laila asks the child, which she nods before signaling the two to come over. "You knew I would come to Sumeru next, didn't you?" Knowing much had changed between the event from 500 years ago to now, the child in front of her being the archon of the nation.

"Yes, I would've guessed, but Your Grace, you're unstable now, aren't you?" Nahida's eyes looked at the ring on Lumine's finger. "There's too much darkness in your soul from trying to help your sister, isn't there?" The woman's silence seemed to be more of an answer than what she wanted to admit. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Not unless you had a grief seed," her head dropped, and it was then she realized just how much she'd changed in a few months since meeting Lumine and Paimon back in Mondstadt. Watching as Nahida got up from her seat, she moved to the door. "Where are you going?"

"Somewhere you need to come with me. There are too many eyes and ears here," that was enough to warrant Laila and Paimon to follow her. Once the three left the cafe, Nahida moved closer to the Akademiya. "The Irminsul is the system of knowledge for Sumeru, but as you know, it holds information for all of Teyvat, too."

"You think there might be something in there on how to mimic a grief seed? They only come from witches, and there aren't any witches in Teyvat," Laila denies the idea, but two of Nahida's hands reach to grab Lumine's.

"There is a witch in Teyvat, and you are close to being the second. I know you have been avoiding Celestia, but Mayla is no longer the sister she once was. The knowledge capsules we have might be enough to save you, but please, Your Grace, let me help." It felt like her words didn't reach, almost as though there was a barrier between the two.

Looking down toward the same hands that Nahida held with two of her hands, Laila watched as darkness crept onto her fingertips. Glancing at her surroundings, Laila watched as the people of Sumeru turned to face her, yet their blank expressions gave her a sense of uneasiness. "What are you doing to my mind, Nahida?"

"I'm not doing anything but trying to help you! In order to help you, you need to see the truth of the world, and not through your eyes, but through everyone else's." it sounded unreal, yet the skies around them distorted for a moment. "So please come with me to the Irminsul and try to find a cure for you."

"Alright, but can you at least explain everything that just happened?" Though Nahida was instructed not to, she nodded before turning away, letting Laila follow her.

"Paimon, while Laila is in a dream, please make sure she doesn't leave this room. I need to converse with the Archons and see what their next plan of action is." Nahida has a plan with the others, but she would need to reach out to them first.

"You didn't explain what happened to reality," Paimon points out in worry, yet it seems like the archon's calmness was masking something else.

"That's because I don't know what happened. This isn't like with the Scarlet King where forbidden knowledge is back, this is something which directly affected Teyvat and its residents. My messages have already been sent to the other archons, so I will be off now."

"Stay safe, Nahida," Paimon waves the archon away.

Meanwhile, 6 of the current archons stood in front of two ice-covered doors, yet a slow swing open revealed a woman, probably a worker of the Tsaritsa. "Her Majesty is waiting for you in the conference room." Pushing the heavy doors open wide enough, the woman did a headcount of the people that came in. "Right this way."

Leading all of them into a singular room, the Cryo Archon sat at the head of the table. "Please come and sit down." behind them was Laila's body in a tube full of preservation fluid, and though the site was a bit unsettling, each of them moved to their labeled chairs.

"Nahida, you were the one that called this meeting, but why is a Creator the topic of conversation?" Venti asked as all the archons looked at the childlike archon first.

"I'm sure you've seen it earlier, but when our reality distorted, that was because of Laila," the dendro archon says first before looking at the preserved body next. "And I'm sure you can see that her fingers are blackened out because something is wrong."

"And you know what's wrong with her?" Zhongli questioned as he glanced towards Laila's preserved state next.

"Yes, I do. However, before I say anything on Laila's case, I will point out something else. Mayla, the middle creator sister of the three, has already gone through everything Laila will go through if we don't save her in time. In this room, only two archons truly remained from the Archon War. What sparked the archon war, however, was the death of Carin, the first sister. The Scrying Witch of the Stars."

That name seemed to make the others react in confusion, but Zhongli and Venti tensed up. "Judging by their reactions, both Rex Lapis and Barbatos know what I'm talking about. The first witch that came to Teyvat was Carin, but Laila stepped up to kill her so she couldn't harm the citizens of Teyvat. The second sister stayed behind while the youngest left, and because of that, Mayla's soul gem became clouded." Through all of this explanation, the Cryo Archon didn't see the need to bring up the common information.

"Is there a point to all of this that you're not getting to, Kusanali?" There was no need for any of them to use their human names, considering all archons were now in the room.

"Unlike Mayla, who has already turned into a witch and is currently being confined to Celestia, Laila is savable. The Irminsul records all data ever spoken, heard, or written in all of Teyvat. In one of their conversations as they were first creating life, Carin spoke of how they've created ties with this world. If all three of the Creator Sisters fall, Teyvat ceases to exist." The information Nahida obtained wasn't easy to get to, but everything in the Irminsul was true. Nothing could be falsified.

"Interesting." the balance of this world held upon a thread so close to snapping was not information to be taken lightly. "You mentioned a soul gem, something that houses the pure soul of the Creators. Is there anything that could reverse the darkness clouding Laila's soul gem?"

"There would be, had it not been for the Tsaritsa collecting them from the Archons by somewhat forceful means." All eyes shot to the Cryo Archon, though she narrowed her own at Nahida. "The gnoses that were given to the victors of the Archon War hold some power of the Creators. That power within the gnoses are what can stop witches that come to our world hoping to destroy it. Despite that, she plans on bringing down Celestia. Each of the Archons would need their individual gnosis to band together and purify Laila's soul gem."

"How would you know such a fate would happen? Bringing down Celestia is my goal, and I won’t let anyone or anything hinder my plans." Regardless of the circumstances, it seemed like the Tsaritsa's mind would not change so easily. "If Laila is in trouble, and she is our saving grace of the land, I would do anything to save Teyvat."

"Good," a voice behind them says, and though it wasn't Laila within the unconscious body, Istaroth still kept her eyes and ears on everything going on. "You'll need this, Ei," she says before waving her hand towards the former Electro Archon. Ei could feel something like a warm light shining over her, and as she looked at her hand and focused, a ball of electro energy surged.

"Please save my mom before it's too late for her," those were the last words of the Shining Shade before Laila's preserved body went back into its unconscious state.

"How do you use the gnosis to defeat a Creator? I don't think the gnoses have ever been used to harm instead of help." though Focalors had her own questions, she had to dial it back enough to get answers one at a time.

"It's a short process, but I will need to bring Lumine here and remove the ring from her finger and put Laila back into her body. It's a give-and-take system with our gnosis. Give elemental power, receive our Creator's magic in return." Nahida's connection with the Irminsul was the reason she had more knowledge about the Sisters than the other archons.

"And this would only be enough to save Laila? In case it wasn't made obvious, none of the three told us about this tactic with the gnoses which you're telling us," as Barbatos was one of the two who remained from the war, he was the second-most knowledgeable in the room.

"That was only the case because the Sisters knew better than to mention anything about the gnoses until after the war. And in case you might've forgotten, Laila left before the Archon War began, Carin's death sparked her leave, and Mayla did her best to serve as the singular Creator for centuries. There wasn't anyone to tell us things like this." Zhongli says next.

As the others held a conversation, Nahida formed a table-length blueprint of Celestia, specifically of Mayla roaming the destructed city in the sky. "If Mayla destroys Celestia and breaks free, Teyvat will be destroyed and Laila will try to save her before saving herself. We need to... kill the witch before we save Laila."

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[boredandelusive]

Before It’s Too Late - XVI (16).

I switched majors. Music is my minor now, but Chemistry is my major now. It makes more sense for me to go into a major that makes more money than the other. Chemists as a base amount of money make more than music professors as a whole. Just gotta set myself up for the future now, even if I don’t necessarily like it. It’s finals week, but I should be back to uploading fairly regularly. Hope you enjoy!

"I had not realized it was your job to spit lies about the past, Istaroth," Tsaritsa seemed unpleased by the voice of the Elder God at her side. "To say that Mayla was too weak to step in place of Carin or Laila with interaction sounds false."

"But it is the truth, Tsaritsa. If you do not believe the words I say, you are more than welcome to go to Celestia and see for yourself. If I had to assume, I would think Mayla's weakness in power and strength may be the reason Celestia grew corrupt." Istaroth explained, stepping in front of the archon.

"The reason Celestia grew corrupt is that the Shining Shades of the Sisters did not do their job," the woman spat, though the Shade shook her head. "And as many times as you try to deny it, you have not once put an effort in to interact with the people of Tevyat. Dare I say that you act more like Mayla's Shining Shade than Laila's."

"If you had a better reach on everything that occurred in the Archon War, you would know that I have been sealed away for centuries, but even then, I have interacted with humanity. If you know your history at all, you would know about the people of Enkanomiya. All other gods, including yourself, had never payed attention to such a nation falling into the ocean. I was the one who ensured the people would be safe. You have no right to tell me how I interact with the people of this world." There weren't many times that Istaroth would go to this harsh tone of words.

"Now I see just how similar you are to your mother. Should I ask how Mayla would cause Celestia's corruption, or are you going to hold out information about that?" Though the Cryo Archon had her reasons for hating Celestia as a whole, she needed to know why things turned out the way they did.

"I'm not sure if you are old enough to remember the cause of the Archon War," Istaroth starts, though the Tsaritsa tilted her head.

"The death of Carin, the Sister over the Stars," that was common knowledge to any of the gods that remained, though it was also known to historians. The more intricate details were left out, and it would only be known by those who told the true story of Carin's death.

"Yes, but were you there to witness what happened in full? Were you there to witness Laila's leave, and the words she said? If you were there to witness everything in retrospect, then I can tell you everything that happened afterwards." Istaroth knew there was only so much history passed down between gods, leaving a lot to be forgotten.

"Frostbite..." the Tsaritsa said randomly, causing Istaroth to look at Laila's fingers. Everything from the tips of the fingers to the knuckles was covered in black. By the first appearance, it would look like frostbite, but it was not the same.

"This is not frostbite, I fear. Laila's body has never been so sensitive, not to cold." There was only so much Istaroth could guess, though she knew now was not the time to question things. "There is something else at play, and I need to go investigate it."

"Here I thought you were supposed to protect Laila's body, but your leave would suggest otherwise," the cryo archon had things in play that the Shining Shade wasn't aware of, and though Istaroth could put in the time to find out, there wasn't enough time.

"Do not think for a second that you will have complete access to Laila's body. There are others who look after her body in my absence." Soon following her words, Istaroth left her body to be unconscious. Before Laila's body could slump to the ground, the Tsaritsa caught her body. It would be rude of an archon to disrespect such actions.

"So you're heading to Sumeru next? The land of wisdom," Miko says, yet her tone made it sound like a resented question. "It's to the left of Liyue, specifically their Mining Ground, better known as the Chasm. The Dendro Archon, Lesser Lord Kusanali, hasn't been seen in over five hundred years. A lot of her people think she is just the legacy of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata."

"Then what happened to the Greater Lord of Sumeru?" Lumine asked, causing Yae to turn to the Sacred Sakura.

"The Cataclysm of 500 years ago caused a lot of our gods to disappear, having new archons to take their place. By now, the only original archons from the Archon War are Morax and Barbatos." The answer wasn't as startling, but now something felt wrong. Holding her head in pain, Lumine's finger burned. "What's the matter?"

"Lumine!" Paimon's voice rose, hoping whatever it was would disappear. Instead, the blonde fell to her knees. Darkness clouded her vision, and yet she could still see the things around her. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Laila, are you not going to join us by creating the first of our statues?" Carin asked as she glanced to the youngest sister, though she tilted her head.

"Don't tell me you want to make the statues and put some of your essence into them? Causing a vital source of cleansing the darkness of your Soul Gems to be left in this world is a very dangerous and ignorant move." Laila says with ease, though it solidified her standing on not joining them.

"Do you really hold such little faith in your creations that you would not place trust in them?" Mayla asked in an almost offended tone. "You were the one that drew humanity and all creatures with your hand."

"And the same gods I created have fear about erosion. I wasn't even aware of such a thing until I had watched Aerala pass away from erosion. Time moves on, and though Istaroth is still too young to understand her duties as a shining shade, if that means that humanity could go on without remembering everything, I want to avoid a future where I am forgotten. These statues don't have to contain your life-force." Her tone had a harsher judgement than how she would speak to her sisters normally.

"Now that makes it sound like there is something else behind your words. Do you know something about the future that you are hiding from us?" Carin was the sister of the future, and she was sure the stars she put in the sky showed the right fate. The only time she wouldn't know something about herself was the drawback of her wish.

"You both remember when I told you about the premonitions I would get as a human, right? Even now, after my wish, my powers have only gotten stronger. I have seen both of your deaths. The cracks in your sculptures on this statue cannot be fixed. Putting some of your essence into these statues, and with both of your ideas to settle for Teyvat, will lead to your deaths." Laila's eyes watered, and yet her sisters did not fully listen to her words.

"Laila, you know as well as I do, your premonitions do not always come true. There is still the chance that something could go wrong, yes, but there is an even bigger chance that something better would happen! Everything will be fine. You know this as well as I do." Mayla’s attempts to bring solace to her sister's vision could only go so far, especially because she knew there were times Laila's vision was incorrect.

"Even then, I will not put a sliver of my essence into the statues. You both can, but I don't want to bring anything to chance." Laila left her two siblings alone, and though both sisters were deeply saddened by her leave.

Lumine's vision cleared up, yet she still had an ever-growing headache she couldn't get rid of. "Traveler?" Paimon's voice sounded distant, yet there was the sound of something else. If Lumine couldn't place it immediately, she would think it was the sound of laughter. Pained laughter, as if whoever was laughing did not want to laugh.

As the blonde's head lifted, darkened eyes stared straight, not the golden eyes of the renowned traveler. A pain in her chest grew where one's soul would be, would've been. That's when it clicked to her that this pain was not her own, and not of her own soul. "Lumine, what's the matter?" Now even Miko sounded serious, far past the coy tone she wore.

Holding her hand out, the ring adorned on her finger burned. As Laila's darkened soul gem formed. The sight of the darkened soul gem was unsettling, and though Paimon didn't know what it meant, Miko understood immediately. Because the kitsune was the Head Shrine Maiden, she moved to pull out her Gohei, tapping the blackened soul gem.

The two shide began glowing, though the glow quickly grew to darkness. In the same instance, some of the taint within Laila's soul gem had disappeared. The sign of Lumine's pain had dissipated quickly, though Paimon helped to her to stand up. “Your Grace?”

“I may need to get back to my body sooner than I would like to admit. Faleon still has not come back to me, and Mayla is mere seconds away from being a witch.” Laila was still the youngest sister of the three. She had not fully reached the same level of maturity Carin and Mayla had. That was the reason Guuji Yae suspected Laila was avoiding the fate the stars had not written.

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[boredandelusive]

Before It’s Too Late - XV (15).

I’m gonna be honest, never be a music major in college with a minor in education unless you are going to stick with it. There’s 4 weeks in the semester left, then I pick up my job back home, so my uploading schedule should be better. 

Waking up the next morning, Lumine and Paimon left the abode, though there was a look of concern on Ayaka's face. She must've been waiting for them to wake up. "Good, you're here. I'm assuming neither of you have seen Thoma, have you?" Though Ayaka tried her best not to show it, she was worried for her friend.

"No, we just left the abode. Has something happened?" Paimon asked, now sharing the same look of worry on her face as the Kamisato did. "You don't think something happened to him, do you?"

"There had been news of Thoma being arrested, and though I don't want to believe it, I haven't seen him all morning. There's supposed to be a hundredth celebration of visions being seized. If Thoma was arrested, then he might be the one at the ceremony. Lumine, Paimon, I know this might be a stretch of an ask, but can you save my friend?" Lowering her fan from her face, Ayaka's eyes clouded with tears.

"I can do my best," Lumine says before leaving the abode with Paimon. "That must be what all the commotion is at the statue," she mutters, which the pixie nodded before following behind the blonde. The two rush to the sight, only to see Ayaka's fears being confirmed. Thoma was tied up with two guards behind him.

A woman dressed in warrior clothing stood at the foot of the statue. Turning toward the man, she held her hand out, calling to the vision on Thoma's belt. However, Laila grabbed it before it could reach the Raiden Shogun. "Capable of wielding elemental power without a vision... it seems you are the exception to eternity."

"And taking people's vision isn't considered tyranny, right?" Laila asked as she looked at the Pyro vision in hand. Truthfully, she had not expected something like this to come out of one of her archons, but this was to be expected. There was a reason Inazuma was a closed nation, and now she could see why.

"You will be inlaid upon this statue," the puppet threatens as a sword rises from her chest. Cutting a slash into space, the reality behind them cracked like glass. This must've been a plane of consciousness, and as it formed around her, Laila glanced around. If this is where Inazuma's archon lived and did not interact with her people enough, Laila was going to be livid.

The surrounding scenery formed, which looked like an abandoned and darker form of Inazuma. The shrine pillars looked old and cracked, let alone the blood moon behind her. "Ei, Beelzebul, but you are not Makoto, more of her twin, her shadow." Tilting her head at the sight, Laila noticed there was something different.

Of course, the archon grew confused by how this woman knew her name, but the longer Ei looked at the woman, the more her suspicion grew. When Makoto and her friends were still alive during the archon war, she would tell stories of the Creators. Of course, there were miniscule details of what they would wear, what they created, and how they created Teyvat. That much was common knowledge.

"It's not possible, not after all these years," Ei whispered, but a glance at the woman's finger told her everything she needed to know. "Laila...?" Though she didn't want to say the wrong name, the information that Carin's death started the archon war was the truth.

"Ei. Why do you think it's a good idea to take a person's vision, especially if they are given by Celestia? I need to hear you say your answer," Laila says as she takes steps closer to the archon. "Why is it you take a human's ambition, then mock them by putting said ambition into stone? What do you gain from doing that, Ei?" There was a tone of malice in her words, much darker than the stories told of Laila's kindness.

There weren't many times that a god would be truly pissed, but this one made it to the top. "Your Grace... I did it to pursue eternity. A nation without change was a nation without loss, where someone would not have to experience the pain that evolution brings." This was the first time where a god's sympathy was nonexistent.

"But are you also aware that the same evolution you are quick to avoid will be what brings better change? I left this world because I abandoned it, but that doesn't mean I didn't check in on Teyvat. If there's one thing I noticed is that humanity will always mess up, but they clean up behind their messes. By preventing themselves from gaining knowledge of their mistake, do you know what happens if a child never learns from their mistakes?" Laila asked, though the closer she stepped, Ei trembled before falling to her knees.

"They never learn from their mistakes... Your Grace, I never meant to offend you," bowing in a formal apology, Laila scoffed before turning away. "I wanted to ensure that my people would not feel pain the way I felt it, and the only wait to avoid that pain was by taking away the one thing that could cause emotional pain."

"Was that your decision to make for all of Inazuma, Beelzebul?" She asked slowly, to which the archon lifted her head, though only enough to look at Laila's feet. "Was it your decision to make?"

"No, Your Grace, it wasn't. Is there anything I can do to earn your forgiveness?" Of course, Ei would've done anything to please the higher powers, even if what she was doing was wrong. She wanted to get closer to the Heavenly Principles by any means necessary. It was such a shame she couldn't see that those Principles had been outdated since the Archon War.

"Whenever we leave this Plane of Existence, you will order your men to return all visions to their original bearers. Stripping humans of their hopes, their ambitions is not acceptable. You will get rid of the puppets you have created, including the one you let rule Inazuma. If this is your way of ruling people as an Archon, do you think you are truly worthy of such a power?" There was a growing pain in Laila's chest, one she could ignore only for now.

"No, Your Grace, I am not worthy of a power given by your hand," she bows her head, though Laila placed a hand on the crown of Ei's head. "Your Grace?"

"If you think it was okay to put your nation through such actions, then how about you experience human life without a puppet to use as a shell?" Instantly, Ei's power as an archon started draining from her body, no doubt leaving her in a weakened state. "If you will accept this," Laila says as an electro vision forms in her hand. "And you interact with your people more, I will give you back your power of an archon."

"I will do my best, Your Grace." There was a breath of relief in her voice, which Ei accepted the conduit vision in her hand. This feeling of darkness, of fear... this was the first time in a while she had felt something so bone-chilling.

As the Plane of Consciousness faded back into reality, the former archon stood up. "By order of Her Grace, the Vision Hunt Decree is abolished." Simple as that... everything was over. "Effective immediately; all visions are ordered to be returned to their owners." She demands, looking at Laila for appraisal.

However, the Creator's eyes did not meet her own. Laila walked over to Thoma, removing his bonds. The crowd showed obvious confusion, though Paimon, Laila, and Thoma left before anything else could be said.

"Your Majesty, we have her," two of her beloved soldiers announce as they rush into the throne room. "It was hidden with one of the hypostasis, so it was difficult to retrieve her." The agent says as the three knelt to their knees.

"You have done well, soldiers. Each of you will be rewarded for your actions," her voice carries through the room. The agent and two vanguard breathe a sigh of relief and stood up. The first of her three Harbingers stood at her side. Signaling one of them to lean in, the Tsaritsa whispered, "Ensure they do not leave the palace alive. I do not want word of Laila's body in Snezhnaya to spread."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Il Dottore answers, moving from the sides of her throne and down the steps.

"Give me and our creator the room to ourselves, will you?" It didn't sound like a request, so much of a demand. Of all things the Tsaritsa wanted, her dream of getting Laila's body made her feel amazing. Standing up from her throne, a bed of ice lifted the Creator's body off the ground.

"How beautiful you are, Laila... such a shame you are not in your body," she whispered as she moved out of the throne room with the bed of ice following her. "Many things have changed since you've left, and I believe it's your leave that changed Celestia."

"Tsaritsa, why have you been so insistent with trying to get Mother's body?" The voice did not startle her, as this was to be expected. Where Laila could not be, one of her Shining Shades would be in her place.

"Because I want her to be where she belongs. The Fall of Celestia will be an unforgettable event in all of Teyvat's history." She says, though Istaroth stood up from the bed of ice, still trying to save their mother's vessel. "And I want Laila to watch. Since the death of the oldest sister, Mayla has done nothing but sit on her throne and not interact with the humans of this world." By Tsaritsa's brain, this was how things were. This was not the case at all.

"How about we take a walk and discuss everything that really happened since Carin's death? I think your interpretation of history is incorrect." Istaroth suggests, which the archon hesitates before agreeing.

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[boredandelusive]

Before It’s Too Late - XIV (14).

I know that my absence has no true solid reasoning, however, midterms were coming up, and being a music major meant that I could not focus on my writing. I apologize, and hopefully, once homecoming is over next week, I can have a bit more time to write and finish this series so I can move onto the other stories I have not completed. This college thing is stressful, however, my birthday is tomorrow. Let’s hope I get some time to myself outside of practice.

"Traveler!" Mona yelled, and though she didn't expect an answer, the blonde stopped in her place and looked around. "Lumine... Laila? You can't go up there! There's something- no, someone- waiting up there!" The astrologist knew whatever it was, it couldn't have been anything good.

"Mona, the astrologist," Laila whispers, though in the next moment, the Sister appeared in front of Mona and out of the Scry Glass. "Why do you tell me to not go to Celestia? Mayla is there, and I need to check on her." Watching Mona shake her head at the thought, she cast another divination over her Scry Glass.

Much like the moment before, the room shrouded over with darkness, the sound of crying being the only thing heard. The sight of a witch with a wilted flower crown hovered in front of Laila's face, though the divination quickly ended. "Do you know how soon this would come true?" Knowing the younger sister only had so long before Mayla would inevitably turn into a witch, she needed to know the time frame to not assume the worst.

"I don't... I have found nothing," Mona says, though the woman kept most of her composure.

"I need you to think, Mona. There is a reason I gave you the abilities of hydromancy without a vision. You are among the few humans in Teyvat that can read the future. I need you to look into that immediately. If my sister turns into a witch, and there is nothing I can do to change it, then Teyvat falls." The moments passed, even without her knowledge, and what she thought was helping her sister might've only made things worse.

"If I find anything in my divinations, how will I contact you again?" She asks, which Laila held her hands together for a moment. As a small communication device formed in her hands, she gave it to Mona. "I still believe that, for the time being, you shouldn't go to Celestia. If that darkness still lingers, Your Grace, I worry you might get hurt."

"Though I appreciate your concerns, Mona, there are a lot of things in this world which could not hurt me. However, I will take your word on it and not go to Celestia right away. Thank you for the warning, Mona Megistus," disappearing in an instant, the astrologist's worries didn't disappear immediately.

Once Laila got back to Inazuma, the nighttime skies from above illuminated with the moon. Though Aria has long since passed, even her glow in the sky never fails to touch my heart,' Laila thinks before stepping away from the front of Lumine's consciousness. "Lumine, I leave this to you now. There may be other things going on while you get a meeting with the Shogun."

"I understand, but Your Grace, if there is something wrong, you can let me know," being left out was something the blonde had gotten used to, but even how, it felt as though the darkness that lingered only grew. "How is your sister doing?"

"I'm not sure because the Mondstadt Astrologist stopped me from going up there. For all I know, Celestia could fall at any minute," giving a truthful answer, Lumine stopped in front of Kimore Teahouse and walked inside. Closing the door behind her, a dim glow shone from her hand before the sight of a soul gem formed.

By now, most of her soul gem was tainted, though neither Lumine nor Paimon knew the reason. "Your Grace, I don't mean to upset you, but the black stuff in your soul gem has grown." Paimon held her hands together in worry, unable to take her eyes off the pulsing light.

"Usually, the taint progression speed would never grow to be this fast. I guess, since I've been working on removing the seal over your powers, the magic I put into it must drain me more than I realized." She thought for a moment, and after everything she's been stressing about recently, focusing on the seal had more of an impact.

Still, there were other things that made it difficult to get things done, including how little hope she had felt since she arrived in Teyvat. There was another part of a soul gem she had told no one, and it was how much such an item relied on hope. If someone were to give up hope quickly, their soul gem could turn into a grief seed.

"If trying to restore my powers is taking such a toll on you, then why haven't you stopped trying to restore them?" Lumine felt a burden on her heart, and though it was not one caused by her actions, she still felt responsible.

"Because if I don't restore your powers, you no longer are the star vessel I made you to be. With your full power, you could handle most of mine, making you a safe place to escape to if I need so. However, as I'm sure you've felt since my arrival, you are not at the levels you once were. You are not as fast, as strong, as agile as you were before your powers were sealed away. If I don't remove that burden, knowing the Tsaritsa is trying to get my body, then all of this would have been for nothing."

Even as the creator spoke about how her efforts were not in vain, the taint in her soul gem only grew. Her words carried despair about how much she couldn't bear to lose another sister. That feeling of failure to save someone so dear to her was the reason her hope dimmed. "While you were not in control of your body, Lumine, I had listened to a storyteller speak about the times when my sisters and I created Teyvat, and how we helped to lead the people." She starts as Lumine moves to sit down.

Had it not been for Ayaka reserving them a room for the night, there wouldn't be a safe place to put the Tea Pot for sleep. As the three enter the adeptus realm, Laila's weariness finally caught up with her. "The storyteller said something about how I abandoned this world, leaving my sister to be the one looking after everything," continuing her explanation. There was some time, she thought to herself.

"The last thing the storyteller had said was how some people never gave up hope about my return, and how I would descend from Celestia in the robes I once wore. Apparently, it was enough to give some people hope while others ridiculed the idea. It seems their focus must have been on my so much they wouldn't think of Mayla or Carin." The thought that she might've been the reason humans abandoned her sister.

"Laila, don't think like that. I'm sure it's not your fault. Some people just have more faith in the one that created humanity," Paimon suggested, though Lumine shook her head.

"Not unless people had forgotten how well you three worked together to make Teyvat in its likeness, but even then, there have to be those who worship your sisters," the blonde tried keeping an open mind where the Sister did not. That was the difference between them, yet because of such a realization, there wasn't much to do. "Your Grace, even if I tried to convince people to celebrate all three of you, do you honestly think that would work?"

There weren't many times Lumine would speak her mind, and not because of her lack of talking. It's because she hadn't fully adapted to a new world. "Maybe little by little, but right now, there are too many things that have my attention. The Tsaritsa has been trying to get my body and possibly bring it back to Snezhnaya. Mayla is moment away from becoming a witch. I now have to find two people to replace two current Archons while Guizhong takes over the mantle of Geo Archon." Now realizing how many things were going on in the background, Paimon looked at the soul gem as the light pulsed.

"Laila, we can figure everything out. Paimon is sure of it. You don't have to do everything alone," those were supposed to be assuring words, though it meant other people would try bearing the burden of her role alone. It was up to her to save Teyvat, up to her to save her sister, up to her to complete her mission and go back. "I just have to take things one at a time, but I'll be fine, Paimon, Lumine. I'll have everything under control once I'm sure there is a solution to all of this."

"Just don't overwork yourself, please, Your Grace. It's getting pretty late, so we should get some sleep," Lumine says as she pulled out the Tea Pot from her backpack and set it onto the table before warping inside.

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[boredandelusive]

Before It’s Too Late - XIII (13).

I won’t say much, but college has been hectic. I can try getting a chapter out next monday, but it might be moved to every other monday.

"Now that we've gotten onto Narukami Island, where do we go now?" Paimon asked with her arms crossed behind her back, trying to think of something to do.

"If I'm not mistaken, there should be a certain kitsune at the Grand Narukami Shrine. Before we do any of that, however, that statue in the distance caught my attention. I need you to go over there so I can see what it is." Laila says, which Lumine nods in response before moving away from the beach.

"Do you think we could go to that statue in the distance? It sticks out like a sore thumb," Paimon asked as she tugged on Lumine's arm, which the blonde nodded in response. "I don't get it, if this nation is closed, and it's because of the Raiden Shogun... what's the point of the Outlander Affair Agency?"

"It's only available to those that make it into Inazuma," Lumine answers as the two started walking into town, though there was the sound of a dispute ahead.

"What happened to our emergency rations? You know we need them this month, and we can't afford to miss them," a civilian shouted at the soldier, who seemed to be out of it. "You used to give each of us emergency rations, but now you're not feeling up to it?" He shouted at the man.

"I do not know what you're talking about," he sounds half dead when he speaks, but the man rubs the back of his head, as if trying to remember what the civilian spoke about.

"He's lost his vision, and as such, his aspirations. My guess is it would be in the statue, seeing as he's not the only one who has lost their aspirations. When the Elder Gods first came to me about Visions, they were not sure of the reason to give such an item out. However, I was the one that gave them the idea to put it with a person's aspirations. If their goal fits the description of a specified element, they would get that vision. To see people severed from their aspirations at the hands of a being I created brings me no joy whatsoever." Laila says truthfully.

"Paimon, are you hungry?" Lumine asked randomly, which the pixie nodded quickly. "After all of that, I want to get something nice to eat, either that or I'll make it myself," she says as she walks around town, thinking about dinner.

"There you are," Thoma says as he noticed the pair approaching the statue. "I didn't know you made it into Ritou, and there was a woman who would've helped you cross into Ritou," noticing something different about the blonde. The man crossed his arms and thought for a moment.

"It took a bit of convincing, but he let me into Narukami Island. I thought you said you could get me a meeting with the Raiden Shogun," though she didn't mean for her voice to appear harsh, there was a reason to go to Narukami Island, to meet the archon, to find her brother.

"And I'm working on it, trust me. Is there something you notice about the statue? Anything peculiar?" Thoma asked, though it sounded more like he was looking for something.

"Those things in the statue, they're visions, right?" Lumine asked, which he nodded in response. "All of these are from the Vision Hunt Decree..." she trailed off.

"As Mondstadt is the City of Freedom, Liyue being the City of Contracts, Inazuma is the Nation of Eternity. The most powerful ruler and deity, the Raiden Shogun's idea of eternity, is the unchanging will to rule over Inazuma. The shogun wants to keep the Nation in stasis, allowing time to flow without disturbance... But it could also be the meaning behind a person's Vision." He mumbled the last bit, though Lumine turned her attention to the statue once more.

Part of the many things Thoma has heard about the Traveler was their sudden changes in personality, but being able to go back to normal as if nothing happened. Even now, he could feel a shift in the air, and it wasn't a pleasant change. "Thoma, if you can get me a meeting with the Raiden Shogun, I will bring the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree to an end. Are you able to do that, or not?"

"I can do it, but it will take all the connections I have to get it done. My Lady wants to meet you, if you don't mind," he says as he walks toward the Kamisato Estate, which was still a distance away from Inazuma City.

"By all means, lead the way."

"My Lady, I brought the Traveler, as expected," Thoma called out, which a shy chuckle answered.

"Thank you, Thoma. Traveler, if you would not mind, can you tell me your name?" She asks, which the blonde hesitated for a moment, trying to think of reasons she would ask such a question.

"Lumine... why do you ask?" Laila watched as Ayaka stepped from behind the screen with a fan covering her face. Though there wasn't a reaction to the sight of her face, both of them noticed the faint shine of a ring.

"Did you know there was a legend? A story behind the ring you wear. Ever since the event five hundred years ago, people have hoped that our creator would be back, that Laila would come back to Teyvat. Though none of the gods had really spoken about it, there was a story about the death of Carin, the Sister over the stars. That same story has said that Mayla has never once descended from Celestia, leaving the youngest, Laila, to be the one who could return." Ayaka says before kneeling in front of Lumine, watching Thoma do the same.

"I know  what you are thinking, Ayaka. And though I have no intentions to start a rebellion, much as you wish," Laila says as she places her hands on the crowns of their heads, she stops for a moment. "I need to have a conversation with the Raiden Shogun, and once I do, then I will handle things from there. However, there is something I must check in on, first."

As both of them stood up, Laila turned away to step outside, watching as the clouds dimmed and turned to rain. "Istaroth, you do not have to come to me, but tell me, did my body make it to He on time?" She asked aloud, though upon not getting a response, the woman closed her eyes and held her hands to her face.

From the palm of her hands, she could see the hydro hypostasis, or where it would be if He were there. Seeing nothing, the sight of three fatui members walking away carrying her body made her think for a moment. Watching as a cloud of dust shrouded over her body, Guizhong encased Laila's body into the ground, covering her under a case of concrete.

"Your Grace, where do you want me to move your body?" Guizhong asked into the device, which Laila moved her hands away to answer the call. "I must warn you that there isn't much time before the Fatui try breaking the wall of concrete."

"Since putting me with the hypostasis seems pointless, this may sound contradictory to my wishes, but I need you to let them take my body. If the Tsaritsa won't leave this matter alone, giving her what she wants, a false sense of security. The next Fatui that comes after my body, if she doesn't send a harbinger to retrieve it, let them bring my body back to Snezhnaya. I cannot continue to focus on two things at once." Laila says before putting away the device.

Once she stepped back into the Kamisato Residence, Ayaka could tell the woman was visibly worried. "There is a bit of an issue I can resolve on my own, which is why I will task the two of you to getting me a meeting with the Raiden Shogun by any means necessary. There is one last place I have to go, which I hope can be avoided, though."

"Of course, Your Grace. If there is ever anything you need of me, you can let me know," she says before bowing her head, which Laila nodded before leaving the Estate once again. "Paimon, stay with Ayaka and Thoma. You know you can't follow me to Celestia," she says truthfully, which the pixie nodded before leaving her side.

Back in Mondstadt, a certain astrologist looked over the books in her house, deciding of which one to read before picking up the book about the Sisters, those who created Teyvat. Stepping away from the bookshelf, Mona glanced outside and toward Celestia, hoping any of her divinations would give her information about the future to come.

Sitting down at her desk, the woman cast hydromancy to look into her Scry Glass, though something interesting happened instead. With the idea of the Sisters in mind, the Glass panned to Lumine's face alone, not showing anything relative to location.

"Why would the Traveler's face be the one that shows in the Scry Glass?" She asked to herself, though in the next instant, darkness shrouded her room, causing a bit of panic. "What is this..." she trailed off, standing up from her seat, only to hear something like a maniacal laugh. The sight of a witch covered the room, though in the next moment, the darkness disappeared.

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[boredandelusive]

22.

♞

As Kiara got home, she set her things down and locked the door behind her. "Mia," she called before hearing the water shut off.

"Be out in a minute," her sister called from the bathroom. "You're home early. Isn't your performance tomorrow?" Mia asked as she shuffled through the hallway toward her room.

"Yeah, and tomorrow, I'll have to be there the entire day. Once you get done, can you do me a favor and find something on Tracie Maddox? Her name is familiar, and she was the one that reached out to my band and me for the Chicago Orchestra performance." Kiara said, as she stepped into the kitchen to grab a glass of water.

As she heard her sister rush to the living room, Kiara sat on the couch and rubbed her hands and wrists. It was the best she could do to try relaxing her nerves about tomorrow. "Worried about tomorrow?" Mia asked softly, and her sister nodded in response.

"I'm worried about messing up. If I see anyone from the BAU there, it might make things difficult for my performance." Kiara rambled on, though her sister caught the slip in her words.

"Are you worried about the BAU showing up, or are you worried about Spencer showing up?" She pressed, catching Kiara's attention. "You forget, I worked with them for six years."

"Just because that's part of the reason I'm panicking doesn't mean that's the entire reason! Besides, Spencer doesn't even know about the performance," she says, though her voice died down in disappointment toward the end.

"Because you never grew the confidence to tell him, did you? Besides, Garcia probably blabbed about it by accident. She has a nasty habit of doing that. If he's not there, play your heart out, and if he is, do the same as if he wasn't. I know you scan the crowd to see if you see someone familiar, but don't do any of that tonight."

"I'll try not to, but until then, can you help me relax by figuring out where that name is from?" Kiara says as she sits down and pulls out her phone to look at the news. Of course, some part of her still... forget it.

"Okay, Tracie Maddox is the sister of Maria Maddox. She went to your college. She was one of the few that died in the dorm fire at your college. You said you were there, right?" Mia asked as she looked at her sister, expecting her answer to be yes.

"Yeah, but my memory isn't the best. The only thing I remember from that night is getting drunk," Kiara says in response. "I remember seeing the dorm on fire, but I didn't go in at all. M&M had a sister? Really? She hardly ever talked about her, and close as we were, not hearing about her is a shocker."

"It's a good thing you didn't try going into the building, or you would be dead with her. If Tracie Maddox is connected to anything recently, and by the way she's acting, it seems a bit like stalker behavior," she thought aloud, though it caught her sister's attention. "What? Look at it from all angles."

"You think I might have a stalker?" Though she tried her best not to sound offended, Kiara couldn't imagine someone spending all their time focused on her alone. Even in relationships, sometimes the significant other wasn't the center of attention.

"If not a stalker, then most likely someone who has gone down a list of people. From the ones you've listed so far, the only few people left that aren't dead yet are the ones in your band. If you were there at the dorm fire, you might be on Tracie's list." It sounded more like Mia already knew who the unsub was.

"You think it's Tracie Maddox after me?" Kiara asked, though her sister nodded in response.

"Think about it, Kiara. If Maria died and you were there, she might've felt like you should've helped her. It's the same hatred you would hold if someone killed me and no one did anything about it. It's understandable, but it isn't justifiable. But you know this means that the woman might be at your performance, even if you don't know what she looks like." Mia reminds, though it now puts another level of fear into the woman.

"She might be at my performance..."

"If Tracie knows any better, she won't. I talked to Emily and Penelope earlier. They said they were going to go to your performance. If Hotch and the others follow suit, including Spencer, then you have nothing to worry about. Stress is not good for the joints. Go relax for the night, get some actual rest." Mia says, causing her sister to grunt in defeat before looking at her phone.

"Don't treat me like a child," Kiara says, before walking to her room, intending to sleep the rest of her night away.

"Kiara, do me a favor," she calls, making Kia stop in her tracks. "Relax. I know this is stressful. If your audience won't know, it's stressful until you convey it in your music. Should anything go wrong, you know I will always protect you." it was normal of her older sister to say something to make her feel better. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Kia responds, barely above a whisper.

♞

Once Kiara arrived at the Opera House, she walked into the building in her concert attire. "Hey," Mitch greeted her, and she cracked a smile in return. "Is that your way of trying to calm your nerves about performing?"

"This is the first time I'll perform violin, let alone to a sold-out show. Over 1600 seats and someone will be in each one of them. It's a mix of emotions," she says truthfully, which he chuckled before walking her to the stage. "It's a sight, isn't it? An Opera House like this accepted us, let alone with the Chicago Symphony."

"And to think we might be here again for another performance in the future. There's a couple of dressing rooms for you to stay in right now." Mitch says before leaving her to the room. Opening the door, she closed it behind herself and set her things down before going to the dressing room.

♞

Looking at the calendar, Penelope shot up from her seat and rushed toward the conference room, which Emily noticed her first. "Ready to go?" She squealed, though her colleagues looked at her with confusion. "Oh, I forgot. She didn't say anything about it."

"About what?" Spencer asked, though JJ looked at Garcia for a moment.

"Kiara has a performance today, a performance at the Harrison Opera House. It's at 7, and it's 3:30 now, so we didn't want to be late. It's a good thing we bought extra tickets," JJ answers before pulling out 8 other tickets, each one for her teammates.

"Then we have a performance to get to," Rossi smirked, which Hotch nodded, though Reid was confused about one thing.

"Why didn't she say anything about it?" He mumbled to himself, though Emily heard his words and pat his back.

"She was nervous that if something went wrong at her performance, she didn't want you to be there. A bit of anxiety, but after everything you both have been through, I think it would be good for you to see her again." She consoled him as they left the conference room and went down the stairs.

♞

As the time rolled by, 5:30 PM rolled around quickly. Kiara had just gotten done practicing, giving her hands some time to relax. Turning back to the dressing room, she finally put her performance dress on, adjusting the sleeves, fidgeting with her hair, something to help ease her nerves.

Though she had only told some of the BAU and her family members about her performance, she told them so long ago they had probably forgotten. Stepping out onto the stage, though the curtains were not drawn, Kiara put her music onto the stands and helped some of the orchestra players set the stage.

"You must be Kiara, right? You're the first violin, and from what I hear, you'll be the one with most of the solos in the songs," the man concluded, which Kiara nodded in response as she set some stands into place.

"It was mostly made for 4 people, but with the accompaniment I heard from the orchestra within the past week, it'll fit right in." she gave a small smile before turning toward the edge of the stage. Going down the stairs, she looked at everything from the back row.

Stepping out of the auditorium, she moved toward the front table and grabbed a program, though she already knew the order of songs. There must have been a reason she was so antsy, and even if the show started in fifteen minutes, there must have been more of a reason than that. Looking up and toward the door, she saw Mia walk through, bringing a sense of relief. "You made it."

"How could I miss my favorite sister's performance?" She asked as the two went in for a hug. "Besides, I knew you would be antsy about performing, so I wanted you to relax," Mia says as she wrapped an arm around her sister and walked her to the auditorium. "And I know you've probably eaten already, but just in case, I brought you some of mom's homemade..." she trailed off as she opened the lid of the container.

"Seafood Spaghetti! Mia, I swear..." she trails off as she takes the container of food from her hands. "I didn't think anyone kept the recipe after mom died..." Kiara beams as she walks onto the stage with Mia following her.

"Then thank your little cousin. She was the one that held onto the recipes in the family, and when I told her about your performance tonight... well, you know how Amirah can be," Mia says as she sits next to her sister, admiring her dress. "I didn't think you had this anymore. I haven't seen you wear it since her funeral."

"I know, and honestly, I was more than hesitant to wear it. The same way I was hesitant to wear this, but I wore it anyway," Kiara answers as she showed her sister the necklace she wore, the one that held a photo of her mom, Mia, and herself together. It was the last photo she had before her mother passed.

While Kiara continued to eat the food, Mia looked toward her instrument, noticing something on the back of the violin. "Is that the violin I'd gotten you for Christmas 9 years ago?" Mia asked, and her sister nods in response.

"You told me it cost you three paychecks, so I held onto it." looking at the time, she could see it was 6:40, meaning her performance time was almost ready.

"It was 5 thousand dollars. I would hope you held onto it. Come on, your showtime is soon, so I'll get into my seat now," Mia says as she stood up from beside her sister, patting her head for good measure and walking away from Kiara.

"Hey, it's almost showtime," Maralyn says as she passed Kiara, though she noticed how on edge she was. "You've got this, and we have one of the best accompaniments in the world. If you feel nervous, don't worry, we're all on stage with you," she assured, which the woman nodded before walking toward the others.

"So, we're not supposed to go onto the stage yet, not until they call our names," Maralyn says, which Kiara nods before setting her instrument down. "They go from lowest to highest, and because Milton is the one on piano, he goes first. Then, once we're all there, Milton starts off the first song, and the rest fall in."

"Sounds easy enough, huh?" Kiara whispers to herself, though the three knew she was still nervous. "I just have a feeling that things might get better tonight," she grips the case of her instrument.

"...As I'm sure a lot of you are not aware, this performance was supposed to be a group of four friends. However, as the executive of the Chicago Symphony, when a member of the group reached out to me, I couldn't resist. I would like to introduce those four people now who made it into the Harrison Opera House with no help, and those who will lead the symphony tonight." A woman's voice rang out, which caught their attention.

"On the piano, Milton Gomez," as the man walked out onto the stage, he waved to the crowd and sat on the pianist bench. "The lead double bass, Katie-Marie Brown," the blonde woman walked onto the stage next, waving to the crowd. "On Cello, we have Maralyn Anderson," the woman called out as the ginger woman walked onto the stage, waving as well. "And finally, our soloist on violin, Kiara Davis," now was her time.

As she walked onto the stage, she waved to the crowd. The first person her eyes caught was Mia, and she smiled. Although, sitting a couple of seats down was none other than Spencer Reid.

[boredandelusive]

Before It’s Too Late - XII (12).

I am in college, and because I hadn’t said anything about it, there were gaps in the schedule for when I upload. I am in marching band, and because of it, I won’t have as much time to write the stories I want to. If you can hold a bit of patience with me, the next chapter should be ready next monday.

"Gimel, ensure that my body makes it across the way to He. Watatsumi Island would be a better place to leave it," forming a pen in her hand, Laila wrote something on the other palm of her hand. Once the message was created, she took the note off her palm and gave it to Gimel. "The next place I go to is Inazuma, please try to ensure nothing happens to you."

Watching as the hypostasis chirped in response, he hovered off toward the sea, keeping Laila's body safe. "Your Grace, if I may-," Guizhong says suddenly, though the creator cleared her throat.

"Call me Laila, please. Hearing that title makes me feel unworthy of it because I left Teyvat, and my sister included." She says, though she looks concerned when she says it. "And now... if I can't save her, this world falls apart. Though, looking upon this world, I see that I never should have left." There was a pause in her words, though Laila looked at her ring.

Just half of her soul gem was covered in taint, and though it was normal for magical girls to keep grief seeds, if she didn't have one, and she couldn't save herself in time... Laila didn't want to think like that. "Whatever it is you need of me, Laila, I will do my best to fulfill," she was still a loyal god to the one who created her, the one which saved her life.

"Then I will need one other thing from you. Once Lumine and Paimon get back from Mondstadt, I am going to give you something. I need you to monitor the Fatui. When I remade your body, you have gained the ability to connect your senses to dirt and dust. If you hear or see anything related to the Fatui trying to take my body, I'll need you to tell me." Laila says as she held her hand in front of her, creating something from dust.

"This is what I'll use to communicate to you?" Guizhong asked, which the creator hummed in response. "I will protect it with my life, Laila," she says truthfully, which the god hummed in response.

"Istaroth!" she calls out, though seemingly no one responds. Moments later, a singular strike of lightning comes down near them, though Laila did not react. "It has been a while, hasn't it?" Laila asks softly, causing the elder god to kneel at the voice.

"Yes, ma'am, it has. Though I am more than thrilled to see your return, I must ask if there is a reason you have called upon me specifically." Istaroth, Laila's shining shade, the first of the Four Shining Shades of Teyvat, was the one who overlooked everything with humanity.

"There is a reason I've called you here, Istaroth. Tsaritsa plans on doing something, and though I am aware enough of her plans to bring down Celestia to reveal the true sky, she has also started sending her minions to retrieve my body. I will need you and Guizhong to work together and alert me if something happens to my physical body." Laila starts, though she moved closer to the envoy as if to say something quieter.

"If you have to, take control of my body. You know, it will be your primary objective to ensure my body does not land in Beria's hands. Be aware of anything that may happen, because you know how obsessive she gets. Figure out her plan, report it back to me. Once the Traveler comes back from Mondstadt, I leave for Inazuma. I still need to speak with Ei about her actions, and I will still need to find three archons to fit their positions."

"Laila!" a distant voice called out, causing her to look in the distance.

"Your Grace, this may be a bit of a request, but can you ensure my daughter does not get herself into harm?" Istaroth asks of her creator, which the woman nods in response.

"No harm will come to Paimon, I assure you of that. I'll see you soon, Istaroth," she says before watching the shining shade disperse to the wind. "Guizhong, once I meet up with Lumine, please try to prevent Tsaritsa from getting my body. I don't know what her plan is yet, and if you find out, let me know."

"I will." As the woman took her ring off, she watched as a geo slime bounced to her side and created a rock shield on its head. "Until we meet again, Your Grace," she says before walking away, looking at the device in her hand.

"Lumine," Laila calls out as a geo slime bounced to her, catching her attention. Kneeling down on the creature, she took the ring from the rock shield and slipped it onto her finger. Hiding the ring under her gloved finger, she went back and boarded the Alcor.

The ride to Inazuma wasn't too long. As the moment they docked, a man walked up to them. "You sure kept me waiting, Captain. And it appears as though we have some honored guests with us."

"Shush!" Paimon hushed immediately, though Beidou placed her hands on her hips.

"Lumine, this is Thoma, a trade partner I've gotten to know recently. Thoma, this is Lumine, and I'm sure you have heard enough about her." She introduced them both, though she turned to them next. "If you run into any problems here, talk to Thoma. Just let me know if he tries to pull any moves on you. I'll deal with him personally the next time."

As Lumine nodded in response, Beidou looked back to the Alcor, thinking for a moment. "If everything's settled, I'll be going. I wouldn't want to be caught with my sails down here. I have a wanted fugitive on board, after all." Waving goodbye to them both, she went back to the ship before leaving the docks.

"The first thing we'll need to do is go to the Inspector. With the Sakoku Decree in place, nothing gets past. Once we're done here, we'll go to the Outlander Affairs Agency, which we can get something to help you stay in Ritou for a while." Thoma made it sound like this wasn't the first time he's done this, though Lumine looked at him with furrowed eyebrows. "What's with the look on your face?"

"Why is it that Inazuma is a closed nation? And what is the Sakoku Decree?" Lumine asked out of the blue, catching him off guard. "Thoma, was it?" Laila asked, seeing as Paimon only just caught onto why she asked that question.

"That's a good question, and unfortunately, I don't know the reason for it." He wasn't the one closest to the Electro Archon, or her shadow, rather. There were other things on Laila's mind, but she needed to understand things.

"Then while Paimon and I are here, we'll figure that out," she says before letting Lumine take control of her body again. Looking at the floating pixie, she shrugged and shook her head, unknowing why Laila would come out suddenly. Though the man felt concerned about such a question, he kept his thoughts to himself.

"I have to say, judging by how you carry yourself, the rumors about you are true." Thoma says as the two continued walking, though they stopped in front of another building.

"What rumors?" Lumine didn't want anymore information about Laila getting out, though if an entire nation knew about her return, there wasn't a reason to hide the ring.

"About you defeating a dragon, about you saving a nation from a sealed god, though the 'how' is unclear. Being an outlander in a closed nation alone is an achievement." Thoma says before crossing his arms. "Whatever your intent may be to speak with the Raiden Shogun, nothing is set in stone, and you may cross paths with her. I can get you an audience with her, but it'll cost everything."

"Thoma, I can find a way into Ritou on my own, but from there, are you sure you can get me a way to meet the Shogun?" Lumine asked, which Thoma nodded in assurance. "And what do you mean by "cost everything"? You will be okay, right?"

"If my plan goes well, then you won't have to worry about me," he says truthfully, though both of them still shared worry. As the conversation ended there, Laila took control of Lumine's body once more. "What are you planning on doing?"

"Saving you time," she says as she walked down to the guard between Ritou and Narukami Island.

"Halt, who goes there?" he asks in a stern tone, though Laila moved her hands behind her back. "Traveler, it's you. Unless you have a Traveling Permit, you may not go between Ritou and Narukami Island freely."

"Actually, I thought I just gave you my Traveling Permit," behind her back, her psychic powers reached into his mind. "See? It's right there in your hands." She pointed out, causing the man to look at the "note" in his hand.

"You're right. My apologies for that. Use this as a bridge between Narukami Island and Ritou." He moved out of the way, his eyes still glowing pink as Laila passed by him. As the two made it across the beach, the moment they stepped into Narukami Island, she moved her hands from behind her before letting Lumine take control of her body once more.

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TAGLIST - @sheepispink @karmawonders​ @lilqi​ @atsukawolfcat​ @magica-ren​

[boredandelusive]

Quick Author’s Note

For those that read His Dominant, Her Submissive, or any of my other stories, I will say this now. I am in college, just s I was over the summer, I am in college. If I have not uploaded anything to the stories which needs to be updated, it is because I am in college that not many things will get done. I am in marching band, which means a lot of late night time I might have has vanished.

If you’re willing to be patient with me, I can try to have a HDHS chapter out before Sunday.

[boredandelusive]

Before It’s Too Late - XI (11).

Yesterday, I know I was supposed to upload, but I moved out of the dorms and back home. No, unfortunately, this won't last, as I have to go back in almost two weeks. In the meantime, I'm working on next week's chapter, and yes, the story is closer to finishing now that I've gotten closer to Inazuma, although there are still a lot of things to get done. I'm thinking of posting this to Ao3, so it would join with the other stories I have planned with Laila.

As a few days passed, Laila would look to the sky, ensuring Celestia had not fallen. Her sister was still in stasis, and though her familiar had not yet come, Laila knew time was limited. "How are we supposed to get to Inazuma? That's the next stop on your journey to find the Seven, isn't it?" Paimon asked, which Lumine nodded in response.

"If you wish to continue your journey to find the Seven, I fear it may be difficult. Inazuma is currently closed as a nation," Zhongli says honestly, though it catches Laila's attention.

"And what do you mean by closed, Zhongli?" She asked immediately, causing him to turn back to Lumine. "Why would a nation be closed, especially if I have given specific instructions to let the people of Teyvat live among one another?" If he wanted to keep his skin, he knew it would be best to give an answer.

"The nation has been closed by order of its deity. The Electro Archon, Baal — and just as the people of Liyue preferred to call me Rex Lapis, she too goes by another name among locals in Inazuma." Zhongli explained, though Laila hummed for a moment.

"You mean Beelzebul, right? Not the Archon, but the shadow of a sister. I am more than aware of what happened to her 500 years ago," though most of the gods had forgotten, or were no longer alive, the gnosis gave a contract to hear Celestia and its orders. It also gave a direct line of communication to the Creator Sisters. When it first told Laila of an Archon's death, she could feel which it was, though Baal was not the only one to die.

This was one of the reasons she could feel something off about the timeline, yet Mayla was in too weak of a condition to answer her questions. "Paimon remembers hearing something about how the situation in Inazuma was intense down at the wharf. Do you know anything about it?" The pixie asked, though Zhongli once again knew the answer.

"It's because of visions," he says as he walked between them both, looking over at the people in Yujing Terrace. "When faced with circumstances beyond their control, humans often bemoan their lack of power. However, if a person shoes true strength of will at a desperate and fateful moment in their life, the gods will look upon them with favor. This is what visions are, magical foci given upon those who have been acknowledged by the gods." Zhongli controlled.

"That's what the people of Teyvat believe," Paimon adds in agreement.

"But starting some time last year, the Raiden Shogun began the "Vision Hunt Decree." An order to seize all visions and inlay them upon the statue of the Omnipresent God." the skies grew dark as Laila heard such words, though Zhongli continued. "It is most likely because they are divine blessings, they should be under the sole dominion of divinity."

"Is that so?" Laila asked slowly as the storm raged in her anger. However, just as quickly as the storm began, it ended. She did not want to put fear into the heart of her creations, even if it meant she would need to "talk" with the Raiden Shogun.

"The Anemo Archon is the God of Freedom, the Geo Archon over Contracts, and the Electro Archon over Eternity. It seems she has finally eliminated any unstable elements that could pose as a threat to her eternal realm. Even as I have "passed away," this will only strengthen her resolve to pursue eternity. She must have said such a message to her people, "Seven ideals for seven gods, and of these, Eternity is nearest unto Heaven." Though I only know so much, should you have the chance to ask her, she will most likely reveal more."

"Thank you, Zhongli." Lumine knew to step away from the conversation, which Paimon floated behind her. "Traveler, since we have come up to this point, a trusted consultant tells me there is someone in Mondstadt who can help to find your sibling. However, I will not join you if you find him. When you are ready to go to Inazuma, you would only need to call out my name, and I would answer."

"Of course, but can I ask why you will not join us when I look for my brother?" Lumine questioned as she moved down the stairs and glanced at her ring once more.

"Because the next time I see him, I will end his life. If he is trying to restore a nation that Celestia destroyed, causing a Cataclysm, his efforts in restoring such a nation are useless. If he destroys anything else my sisters and I have built, I can't have someone like that stay on Teyvat. Besides, there are some other things I need to complete as soon as possible." Laila says truthfully, which Lumine nods sadly. "There is a reason I am letting you go to find him. If you can get through to him, then I do not need to take his life."

"Thank you, Your Grace," she says before taking the ring off and moving toward Three-Round Knockout. As Guizhong continued drinking tea after Zhongli left her an hour ago, Lumine approached them. "Guizhong, can you do me a favor and look after this ring? There is someone I need to find, and I have to do it alone."

"Be safe, Traveler," she says as she waved to them both, watching as they left. "Your Grace?" She asked to the ring, expecting some sort of answer.

"Don't worry, Guizhong, I can hear you. There is somewhere I need you to take me so I can retrieve my body. Put my ring on your finger so you don't lose it," she says, which the woman nods in response. "Do you know where the Jueyun Stone Forest is, or was that after your supposed death?"

"Jueyun Stone Forest? What part of Liyue is that in?" Her answer told Laila enough information to know where the woman's mind was. The Archon War lasted around 2000 years, though she only died 3700 years ago, meaning a lot of battles occurred without her knowledge.

"I'll show you, if you let me take control over your body, but it would be hard to explain, as your supposed death happened fairly early in the Archon War." Laila knew that seeing was better than believing, and she needed to get things done soon. As the youngest, she knew there wasn't much time before her sister would become corrupt.

"Anything you need, Your Grace," she says before bowing her head. As Guizhong's head lifted, Laila was now in control of the woman's body. "You said the location was Jueyun Stone Forest?"

"During the Archon War, Morax sealed many gods under his spears, though two lie in the ocean. I'm sure you remember Osial and Beisht, don't you?" Laila asked as she walked out of Liyue Harbor, going to the docks.

"I remember I used to sit with them and have tea, mostly to discuss locations like Dihua Marsh, or I would bring them gifts." Guizhong answers honestly, though as the two went to the shoals of Liyue, two cryo slimes bounced at their sides. "Slimes come to you?"

"Quite naturally, yes. Even when I lived in Lumine's body, slimes, crystalflies, any animal instinctively come to me." As the slimes led the woman to the water's edge, they moved in front of her, creating an ice bridge for them. "I feel as though you have some questions for me. While we are here now, you can ask them, Guizhong."

"Your Grace, whenever your sister became a witch, and you announced you would not be coming back, were you aware that this started the Archon War?" Such a question caused her to think for a moment, though Laila continued to walk behind the slimes.

"It wasn't until after I received Teyvat's file that I realized my leave caused the Archon War in the first place. Admittedly, I was called to another mission, but I had clarified that I didn't care what came from my actions. I just did not expect my older sister to be the one to stay behind in this world." Laila says truthfully, though she hummed for a moment. "I just did not expect to hear the thousands of cries from gods and adepti from a war which lasted over a thousand years."

"Did Celestia tell you at all that the Seven had been chosen?" Though Guizhong wanted to know more about the creator's actions, there were only so many questions she could ask in general.

"Truthfully, no. I had not even realized Khaenri'ah had been destroyed by Celestia, either. I suspect it has something to do with my sister, though I have no clue as of now. Sometime soon, before I am assigned another mission, I will need to rewrite the laws of this world." Hearing the youngest sister say something so heavily as though it were nothing made the goddess of dust worried, though her faith remained unwearied.

Just as Guizhong was about to say something, the slimes moved to the sands of the Jueyun Stone Forest, bouncing for appraisals. Reaching to pet the creature, Laila took the slimes in hand and walked toward the hypostasis in question. "If all is well, which I still need to make sure Gimel is alright, then once the Traveler comes back, we can get to Inazuma to continue her journey."

"Your Grace... I do not mean to alarm you, but I feel a darkness following you. It is not like ones I have seen in the Archon War, but it lingers with you," Guizhong says out of the blue, catching her attention immediately.

"... I know, and unfortunately, I do not yet have something to get rid of it. That is why I came back to Teyvat." as the two approached the Geo Hypostasis, Gimel was cautious of the person approaching. "Gimel, it's me, don't worry. What's the matter?"

As the hypostases could not talk, the creature hovered for a moment before a small insignia came to her from a pillar. At first, such an item was not recognizable, though Laila quickly realized what and who it was. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me," she whispered to herself before looking around. "Gimel, do you still have my body?"

A secondary pillar rose from the ground, showing her body was still safe and not in the Fatui's hands. "What sort of insignia is that? I don't think I've seen it before," Guizhong was curious, but in the end, knew whatever went on must have been serious.

"Do you remember Beria, the god over frost and not snow?" Laila asked, though the god shook her head in response. "That is understandable, but she is now considered Tsaritsa, the queen of Snezhnaya, and the Cryo Archon. If she sent her army to retrieve my body, she has a plan. The last thing I need to deal with right now is her."

TAGLIST - @sheepispink @karmawonders @lilqi @atsukawolfcat @magica-ren

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[boredandelusive]

Before It’s Too Late - X (10).

I didn’t want chapter 9 to be too long of the flashback, so I split it into two chapters. Hopefully you like what I have in the story, reblogs and comments are suggested! If you would like to join the taglist, leave a comment saying so and I will add you.

CW: resurrection, de-th of a witch.

"I can't let you go any farther," Laila says harshly, which makes the witch stop moving. Turning to the warrior near her face, The Scrying Witch of the Stars reached a hand out to her sister. It wasn't an attack, but Laila took her hand. "I'm sorry this happened to you, Carin."

Instead of getting words back, her former sister let one last tear drop before her fate. Aiming above the witch, Laila fired a singular shot, raining magic arrows on The Scrying Witch. As the witch reduced to nothing, a grief seed fell slowly, catching her attention and reaching to grab it.

As the youngest moved back to Celestia, she clutched the grief seed to her chest and pushed the doors open. The thousands of gods looked to her for clarification, as none of them had seen a witch before. Not even the oldest of the gods knew the stories of witches and magical girls, as they didn't want such information in an innocent world.

"Carin is dead," she announced sadly, though as she spoke, Laila looked to Mayla, trying to see the emotion on her face. When she watched her face drop, both of them looked toward the gods. Most of them wept in one another's arms, but it brought a painful realization to all of them.

"Have any of you decided who holds the title of Higher Gods?" Laila had a feeling of the answer, but Mayla asked anyway. If Carin's last words were right, which would sting of an answer, neither of the sisters would take no for an answer.

"No, Your Graces, we have not chosen yet-," a god cut off by Laila's sound of surprise.

"We hold banquets like this every ten thousand years. In the time I asked you to choose your Higher Gods, seven people didn't come to mind? Okay," she says before turning to her older sister. "I'm out. You're more than welcome to join me, but I'm leaving Teyvat," she says as a portal opens behind her.

"Laila, I'm sure this world is not worth abandoning just yet," Mayla countered, though the youngest looked wearily at the older.

"We've held ten banquets total. At the 7th one, I asked the gods to think of seven people who they could trust enough to become Higher Gods, Archons. Why is it still after thirty thousand years there has not been a decision? I can't accept that, so until further notice, I have no reason to stay here," she says before walking through the portal.

As the others came out of the extensive memory, she thought to herself before looking to the adepti and the Qixing. "Do you understand some of the reason I left?" Laila asked as she moved away from the table and toward the tree behind them. "Of all the years I gave the gods and adepti chances to choose their Higher Gods, which you know as Archons, hearing none of them still had made their choice made me disappointed." She starts as she moved away from the tree and toward the group again.

"Even now, I see Liyue will be fine without its archon. However, Celestia still requires there to be Seven. Seven gods to sit on seven thrones, so while the adepti are here, I have but a question to ask the Tianquan. If you refuse, I have another person in mind." Laila says as she seps toward the woman, though the adepti didn't know what to expect of it.

"Whatever the question is, I am more than willing to answer it," she says with a bowed head, though Laila hummed and move closer toward her.

"In place of Morax, would you be willing to become the next Geo Archon? I'll need an honest answer in the next few minutes, Ningguang. If not, I have a second option in mind," she admits, though the adepti went into an uproar.

"Surely, Your Grace, you would think better than to give a human such a worthy title of Archon," Cloud Retainer interrupted, though she lifted a hand to silence them all.

"Though I appreciate such an offer, I can't help but feel like I'm unworthy of such a title." She says truthfully, causing the woman to hum at her words.

"Onto Plan B, then," she whispers to herself as she moved toward the lake. Hovering her hand over the water, droplets rose into her hand. Dust gathered behind Laila, just before the ground opened up. Keeping her focus, a coffin formed of dirt opened halfway, revealing a beautiful young woman.

"It couldn't be... could it?" Ganyu was the first to step forward, seeing as she recognized the woman's face first. "Guizhong... After all these years," she whispered as she watched in awe of Laila's actions. As the dirt receded into the earth once more, the sleeping beauty stayed in a preserved state until the creator moved toward her.

Guizhong stirred in her supposed sleep, waking up quickly after. "Where... am I?"

"Nantianmen, only 2000 years after the Archon War's end," watching as visible confusion racked her brain, Laila pointed to those behind her. "I'm sure you remember the other adepti, don't you?" It seems the information didn't reach her brain at first, as the last time she'd seen Xiao, he was still under the rule of the malevolent god who controlled him.

"Guizhong," Ganyu rushed to the woman, hugging her instantly. "I thought you had died in battle," she whispered, though she looked to the woman behind her. "How...?"

"Guizhong, do you remember how you were moment away from death in the battle almost 3000 years ago?" Laila asked as she moved toward the two. "Do you remember how you prayed to me one last time, saying my name in hopes I would hear your words?" Hearing those words, Guizhong turned around toward Lumine's face.

"Your Grace?" She asked softly, which Laila nodded in response. Watching as tears dropped from her eyes, she continued. "I always had hope that you would return once again," Guizhong says truthfully, though she glanced toward the other women.

"You asked that I protect Morax through the next battles, and I did just that," she starts, though the Yuheng stepped forward next.

"Recently, Rex Lapis passed away. He died in a divine trial, and the Rite of Descension didn't go as planned. Once we figured out the Fatui were behind it, the Fatui raised Osial. We and the adepti worked together to defeat him," Keqing says calmly, though worry grew on Guizhong's face.

"Jean, if you can, talk to Barbatos. I will need to speak with him and the other archons soon." as the woman began her journey back to Mondstadt, Laila looked at Guizhong. "There is someone I need you to meet. Ningguang, adepti, If I require anything else from you, I will let you all know. Walk with me, Guizhong. There is much to discuss."

"From the stories I'd heard about you, you look much different from how artists drew you," Guizhong says softly, causing a growing smile on her face.

"This is not my real body, Guizhong. My real body is with Gimel, the Geo Hypostasis. I trust all of my creations, and I know this one is one that can keep it safe. This is my star vessel, Lumine. Floating next to me is Paimon," she says as the floating child waves enthusiastically at her.  

"This is Liyue Harbor? I am glad to see how much it has changed," she smiles as she watches people pass by her. As the three approached Three-Round Knockout, the familiar structure of a man sat in one of the seats, sipping a cup of tea.

"Zhongli, I have someone for you to meet," Laila says, catching his attention. As he turned around, Guizhong and Morax locked eyes.

"It's not possible," he trailed off, though Laila hummed before moving to sit down. "Guizhong... you're alive."

"You go by Zhongli, now?" She asks with a small smile, moving to hug him. "I know you remember seeing my death, and I'm sure you have a lot of questions, but she is better at explaining than I am." Guizhong says as she moves to sit at the table. When Zhongli does the same, Laila waits a moment for the storyteller to finish their stories.

"When Guizhong was dying, she made a final prayer to me. She did not pray to Mayla, but I heard the prayer. She wished for me to protect you during the Archon War, that you would be one of the gods that live. While I granted you protection, I did not let her die. Because I made Guizhong the goddess of dust, I turned her body into dust and kept her in preservation water." Laila explained, which Zhongli continued looking at his former lover.

"A woman had told me of the passing of the Geo Archon, yet you sit here in front of me," Guizhong noted, though he hummed in response.

"Before you think the words, Guizhong, he did not abandon his people, but he put them to a test. Now he feels Liyue no longer needs an archon, and though while that may be the case, I brought you back because you are useful to me now. When I need you both, I will send for you." As she moves away from the table, Paimon taps Laila's shoulder.

"Your Grace, is something wrong?" The pixie asked, though she stopped for a moment. Looking at her hands, she let Lumine take control of her body once more.

"Lumine, I have done all I needed to at the moment, but I advise you to be aware of your surroundings. I've had the feeling we were being followed, and even then, I am still not sure." If someone were following them, it would be difficult to figure it out. When people passed by, and their thoughts were blended together, Laila couldn't figure out who and why they followed.

@sheepispink @atsukawolfcat @karmawonders @lilqi​ @magica-ren​

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[boredandelusive]

I kind of suck at tagging, so I made this infographic to help make it easier.

[boredandelusive]

Before It's Too Late - IX (9).

Little reminder: If you would like to join the taglist, you are more than welcome to comment as such. I've gained a little attention from those who enjoy SAGAU content, but feel obligated to comment and reblog.

CW: Angst, slight cliffhanger

"What was with that look back there, Signora?" Childe asked as both of them stepped off their boats and into the docks of Snezhnaya, knowing they had somewhere specific to go.

"Childe, don't tell me you are such a fool you did not recognize the Creator's ring on the Traveler's finger," Signora glanced at the man, though he scoffed.

"I noticed, but just as I was about to ask her more about it, you made me leave. Even then, I had my own suspicions when Lumine and I fought at the Golden House." He says in annoyance.

"Any sort of suspicions you have about her will be brought up once we confide in the Tsaritsa. Until then, Childe, it would be best to keep your mouth quiet. You may spew out nonsense before you say any truth."

"La Signora, Tartaglia, what brings you to me at this hour?" The Tsaritsa asked as she watched two of her loyal Harbingers walk to her throne.

"We have Morax's gnosis, as per the contract between you both." Signora says and holds it out to the Archon. She took it from the woman, not moving an inch.

"Is that all from you both?" She asked as she observed the object in her hand, then smiled at the gnosis in return.

"Not all, Tsaritsa. The Traveler you've come to despise... we think she might have Creator Sister Laila's ring, the true ring." Hearing those words from Childe's mouth caught her attention, making the woman place the gnosis on the table beside her throne.

"Impossible," she interjects, causing the two to grow confused. "If Laila were here, she would be the first to embrace us once more, just as she had when she created humanity. She would not shroud away from her Archons," the Tsaritsa sounded like she denied the idea of Laila not reuniting with her very creations.

"We thought so, too, for a time. However, when I fought the Traveler at the golden house, she pulled out this weird-looking weapon. It tore through my Foul Legacy Transformation with a singular blast. When I released Osial from under Morax's spears, a singular shot killed him in an instant." Childe continued, making her stand from her throne.

"If that is the case, then I will task you, along with the other Harbingers, to bring her back here. I will know it when I see her," moving away from her throne, she dismissed them both and left the room.

"Laila, when you meet with the Qixing and the Adepti, what are you going to tell them?" Paimon asked as she floated around Lumine mindlessly. "Are you gonna tell them about your sister?"

"I'll have no choice but to. If they allow Faleon to come and bring what I need, then I would not need their help. My sister gets weaker by the second, and if she turns into a witch before she could give her power to me, which insures Teyvat would not fall, then humans die out in months. There is a reason I've also called upon the Acting Grandmaster from Mondstadt." Laila explains as the two leave Liyue Harbor.

"And the plan is to meet them all today?" Lumine asked next, which the creator hummed in response. "I wish you the best of luck." Though the traveler had not forgotten her brother in the mix of this, she knew the fate of Teyvat could help them reunite.

As Laila once again took over Lumine's body, she looked at the sky for a moment. Once she could see the sun setting, she began walking toward the designated meeting place. Seeing as Nantianmen was in the adeptal bode, no one passed through, out of respect. It also meant the statue of the Three were nearby.

Hearing the flapping of wings, Laila sat down at the stone table first before seeing the adepti sit down. "If you would kindly give the Liyue Qixing a moment, they had to bring the Acting Grandmaster with them," she says as a floating tea pot hovered in front of them. "Tea, anyone?"

Watching as Xiao appeared, Laila thought for a moment. "They'll be here in two minutes, and then I will explain everything. I owe you that much," she says and stands up from the seat. Hearing as the adepti stayed quiet, Madame Ping arrived with the three Qixing, Jean included.

"Now that you've all arrived, I will start by explaining what a soul gem is. It is tied to everything, including the reason I left." As she opened her hand, a small crystal formed, something that looked foreign to them all. "This soul gem is inside my ring, and if it gets destroyed, I die."

As she set it on the table, she continued. "However, there is more to this little thing than meets the eye. If you'll notice, a soul gem shines as a sign of purity, that the person who owns it still has hope. If a soul gem grows tainted, a grief seed is the one thing that clears it." Seeing the looks of confusion on their faces, she continued.

"Because of this, I am a magical girl, someone who fights a never-ending battle against witches, creatures of despair. This soul gem is the opposite of a grief seed, which comes from a witch. My sisters and I are magical girls, and before we created Teyvat, we fought side-by-side." She says before calming down enough.

"Your Grace, if it is a difficult topic for you, you don't have to tell us." Ganyu noticed her uneasiness, but she shook her head.

"When the three of us first created Teyvat, we had the intent of creating seven acolytes to sit in the thrones of Celestia. If anything happened to us, these seven would have enough power to deal with witches together. When it came time to choose the Archons, every single god I had created wanted to be an Archon. Not out of power, but because it gives a direct link to us." She continued.

"Almost 1000 years before the Archon War, I suspected something to be wrong with my sister. Each time I asked about her, she denied anything of being wrong. I can't remember the day, but when I checked on her after she made an abnormally large star, she turned into a witch. I had to put an end to her before she could destroy Tevyat. That is the reason I left." Laila says before looking at the adepti.

"If that's the case, why have you returned now, of all times?" Keqing asked skeptically, seeing as though she couldn't quite believe Laila yet.

"Because Mayla is going through the same thing. Her soul gem is tainted enough that if I free her from the preservation chamber she's in, she may very well turn into a witch that could destroy this universe. Mayla created the ground, the crops, the first to show how to harvest. I'm sure within the past few centuries, not as many plants have bloomed as once before. If she does, most cooking ingredients become unusable." It was a lot to say at the moment, so she kept quiet for the moment.

"Your Grace, Mondstadt has an ongoing festival in the Divine's names," Jean points out, which Laila nods in response. "Surely, those have helped a bit with your sister's gem, wouldn't it?" If she heard that her efforts didn't help, and how they were useless, but she shook her head.

"They helped, but only for a short time. Teyvat was once a singular nation, not divided like it is now. If you wanted to help, all the nations would need to hold a festival together. Even then, if that worked, it wouldn't hold for long." it hurt to admit the truth, but if Mayla didn't have long, Teyvat would crumble when she turns into a witch.

"If I may, can I ask what you plan to do next?" Xiao spoke up, though the question left her quiet for a moment.

"I still plan to leave. Truthfully, I grew dissatisfied with this world. Maybe I expected too much, but until I have a reason to continue looking over Teyvat and the others connected, I don't see a reason to stay here." She thought aloud, which the faces of everyone dampened with sadness. "Then again, if my travels through Teyvat proves it has changed since the start of the Archon War, I might change my mind."

"If we were to move the statue to Liyue Harbor," Ningguang starts, which Laila hums.

"Geo and Dendro slimes. Many people underestimate their strength, but though the adepti cannot lift the statues, the slimes can. They were meant to be the original guides of Teyvat, and as such, they will follow you wherever you lead them to," Laila answers before looking at the sky again. "None of you have seen a witch, have you? Not up close."

"I believe it is safe to say we have not," Jean adds next, making the woman hum for a moment.

"Would you like to? By my abilities, I can share memories with anyone I choose to. I should remind you, just in case, that this is a memory. I know it was never fully discussed, the truth behind my sister's death. That day was the reason I left, but it was also the reason the Archon War began."

The world around them was covered in a temporary darkness, followed immediately by the sun above them.

"Carin? Come on, I thought we were supposed to visit the gods again. They should've chosen who the higher gods are by now." Laila says as she sees her sister putting stars into the sky again. "Why do you work on the stars at this hour?"

"Laila... do you honestly think the thousands of gods you've created could choose only 7 to follow us?" Those words weren't something Carin would usually say, though her youngest sister noticed how slow her movements have gotten.

"I don't get it... What's wrong?" Laila asked as she stepped closer to her sister, though she could tell something was wrong. "Sister, is something the matter?"

"Laila, please extend my apologies to Mayla and to the gods who wait for us." As Carin set her soul gem on the table, Laila rushed to the sight of the tainted gem, deflating at the sight.

Using her abilities, Laila conjured a hammer to destroy Carin. Raising her arms, black mist seeped out of the tainted gem. Turning behind her, Laila watched as her sister's body fell to the ground. The sound of crying rang out through Celestia. The growing size of a witch tore through the architecture of the castle as the day grew to night.

Just as the banquet of gods approached the gates, the skies above turned into a cloudy night. The sound of marching soldiers in front of them caught the gods' attention, though further sight proved 2D soldiers marched down the stairs of Celestia. Such a sight could've been considered a march to execution.

The floating stars around the witch formed into red spider lilies, a beautiful march to an execution. But even then, what was beautiful never lasts. Laughter broke the silence as the soldiers around her started attacking the gods. An impenetrable shield protected the gods, though Laila pursued the witch toward Teyvat. 

Unrealistic tears fell from the eyes of the witch, as if she cried as her soldiers tried killing the gods, though her efforts were in vain. "In here, quickly," Mayla's voice demanded of the gods, all of them listening without a second thought. 

"Sister, please!" Laila called out, though the witch showed no effort to stop. The tears that fell from the witch's eyes burned the bridge behind her, severing the stairs from the floating heaven. 

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[boredandelusive]

Before It’s Too Late - VIII (8).

Slamming his polearm to the ground, it cracked from immense pressure. Without stable footing, Lumine fell to the floor underneath, her head hitting chunks of rocks as she fell. Though she was tough enough to get up, the traveler was weak and felt disoriented as she stood once more. "Leave this one to me. I do not have the patience for Childe right now."

As Lumine withdrew her consciousness, Laila gained control of her body as she watched Tartaglia's descent to the lower level. However, the creator was still a magical girl, and summoning weapons was the easiest to do.

A staff formed in her hands. It had the form of a crescent moon with three pairs of wings. Yet in the middle of the staff's top, a golden crystal laid with seven smaller crystals below it. Laila aimed it at Childe, though not intending to kill, and fired it. A single blast tore away Foul Legacy, leaving the man weak and panting on the ground.

"It appears I could not hold up my Foul Legacy Transformation against you. It turns out Signora overestimated you, Traveler. However, this would mean I have to move onto Plan B. I am going to release a god from under Morax's spears to draw him out." Childe says, though she shook his head.

"That wouldn't work, especially if you think he's still alive, Childe." Laila said bluntly, though she could tell Lumine was close to resuming control again. "But even then, which god do you plan to release?" She asked cautiously.

"Osial, Overlord of the Vortex. So now, Traveler, I must ask you this: will you stay in Liyue Harbor and watch the precious city fall, or will you run away and save yourself?" Sigils of Permission hovered around him like a halo, drawing upon the supposed fallen god of the vortex.

Unnatural clouds formed in the skies, calling upon the god that was sealed to enact his last chance of vengeance. Osial, the serpent god of the vortex, broke the surface of the sea. Rushing out of the Golden House, Lumine looked overhead to see the Jade Chamber passing by them. "Laila, how do we get up there?"

"Quickly? I can give you my wings for a moment, but only for a moment." She says, causing Lumine to glance at her back. She half-expected to see her own wings, though the white ones were foreign to her. Paimon held onto Lumine to make sure she wouldn't be blown away.

As the two arrived at the Jade Chamber's plaza, she looked at Ningguang for clarification. However, as the Traveler's temporary wings faded, the adepti stepped forward and toward the two. "I thought the adepti, and the Qixing were fighting? What are the adepti doing here?" Paimon asked in surprise at the sight before them.

"When faced with a calamity of such magnitude, we have agreed to put our differences aside for now and unite against this common enemy." Ningguang explains, though Moon Carver scoffed at her words.

"How are you planning on defending Liyue? Just seeing the Overlord of the Vortex makes Paimon nauseous," the pixie states truthfully. "So will the power of the Qixing, Millelith, and Adepti gathered here be enough to stop that god?"

"We've come to the conclusions, and no, not necessarily," Ningguang says.

"Isn't there a way to deal with it? Surely there must be," Paimon says in a panicked tone, though Madame Ping stepped forward and toward Lumine.

"In the time since the Archon War, one has upgraded the Guizhong Ballista. Though it was a powerful machine before, the upgraded ballista is a war machine like you would never believe," Cloud Retainer suggested, causing Ningguang to nod in response.

"Then we will use the upgraded Ballista to fight off the god." The woman hovered in the air, using her vision to conjure solid ground. From her efforts, three versions of the Guizhong Ballista formed, aiming directly for the god.

Cloud Retainer, Mountain Shaper, and Moon Carver moved to their respective weaponry, charging adeptal power into the attacks. "Traveler, ensure there are no distractions so we may take down Osial once more," Moon Carver says.

The battle had been prolonged by the Fatui trying to destroy the Ballista, but in the end, Osial's ultimate power fell strikes of water enough to destroy such machinery. "The Guizhong Ballista has been destroyed. Without it, retaliation will be difficult." Cloud Retainer knew the outcomes would not be in their favor.

"But we cannot give another inch, no matter what," Ganyu says desperately, causing Lumine to look at the god behind her. "I think now would be the part I step in," Laila says to the traveler, which she nodded.

"It can't be." Xiao was the first to recognize Laila's power, as it was the single thing that kept him going throughout the Archon War. He, along with many other adeptus, believed that when the Archon War was over and the Seven were chosen, that their god would come back and embrace them again. "Your Grace, is it really you?"

"Admittedly, I had planned to keep my return a secret... and as much as I loathe what I will have to do," she whispered the next part to herself. Putting away Lumine's weapon, a tree branch formed in her hand.

However, as her weapon formed in her hand, a crystal rose came to life at the tip of the weapon. A singular string connected to the stick, forming it into a bow. As she aimed the shot, the rose burned with light, something identical to a pulsing heart. Aiming the shot above Osial, she fired the shot, causing hailing arrows of magic to crush the Overlord of the Vortex.

The god disappeared, leaving the waters to still. "I know I was not the most discreet with my return," Laila starts as she puts the bow away, causing the Jade Chamber to float back over Liyue. "However, I had a feeling the adepti sensed me when the Traveler came into their abodes. Am I right?"

"One did not want to reveal the knowledge if it were not true, but now one needs to ask: why did you return?" Mountain Shaper asked, causing Laila to stop for a moment before looking toward Celestia.

"The same reason I left. Should any of you be curious as to why I left, I will explain it at another time. In two weeks, I will call upon you all, including those of the Qixing. Both Mondstadt and Liyue's divine beings will be invited, but only if you'll want to go. Until then, there are still things I need to work on with Lumine and Paimon," she says honestly before her ring's light dimmed to nothing.

"Lumine, since we're done here, Paimon thinks we should go back to Liyue Harbor," Paimon knew now how to keep her mouth shut. Better to not reveal much to anyone.

"Traveler, if you do not mind, once you're done with your business, can you meet me back at the Jade Chamber again? There are some last-minute things I wish to discuss with you," Ningguang says, causing the blonde to nod before leaving the plaza once more.

"Ms. Laila, are you alright? Paimon hasn't heard a peep from you," the pixie says as the two walk to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. However, silence was all that was heard by Laila, considering she had to conserve as much of her energy as possible.

"Paimon, maybe she needs a bit more rest before she's ready to speak again," Lumine says as she approached the woman. "Do you know where Zhongli is?"

"He's at Northland Bank, said he has someone to meet there," the woman shrugged, causing them both to turn back to the city.

"What do you think Childe's been doing since he released Osial? Paimon is gonna give him a piece of her mind!" She placed her hands on her hips to prove her seriousness, which Lumine giggles.

"Don't worry, you're not the only one," she admits as the two go up the stairs and into the Bank. “I have a lot of words to say to him myself,” she says. However, Lumine noticed the meeting in front of them.

"Oh, look, it's you." Signora said uninterestedly before turning back to Zhongli again. "Yet still, for someone like Morax to stage his death, watch it play out, yet leave Liyue defenseless against a god... it seems like you would enjoy that, wouldn't you, Morax?" She asked, though he stayed silent.

"Don't count me out! You both have been deceiving me from the start. Still, wouldn't you find it awkward to see one another after Liyue was nearly wiped off the map?" Childe asked in a playful tone, though Lumine rolled her eyes.

"Should've known better than to trust a Fatui Harbinger," Paimon said with her arms crossed.

"Don't take it to heart, we just have different views, is all. Besides, don't you at least feel a little bad for me? Signora and Zhongli tricked me!" He whined like a child, though Lumine shook her head.

"All because he's the former Geo Archon and you couldn't piece that together?" The blonde said, though Signora scoffed.

"Childe, shouldn't you be happy that you caused chaos? You nearly got Liyue off the map, and yet you're whining?" The woman mocked, though she looked over at Zhongli. "If this is all said and done, Morax, the gnosis," she demands with a hand out.

"The contract is fulfilled." As the object hovered to her, she grinned and held it in her hand.

"Why give the gnosis to the Fatui? It's the Fatui!" Paimon asked in surprise, though Zhongli turned his head toward them both.

"I do not give it for free. I give it as agreed upon the contract, for it is a matter between the Tsaritsa and I." He doesn't explain any of his actions, and it appears he had little choice.

"But the whole faking death thing... was all of that necessary?" Lumine started, which Paimon had the same questions as she.

"Don't you think you went a bit too far with that whole fake death thing?! Everyone prepared the ceremony for you when splat, this big dragon falls out of the sky and all of Liyue goes into an uproar!"

"Adding more to the pot bound to boil over, causing chaos across his beloved city... I bet that's what you wanted to see. Am I right?" Signora asked coyly, though Zhongli turned to them both.

"Allow me to explain. As you know, I've dwelt upon this world for more than six thousand years. I've witnessed the founding of Liyue with the adepti three thousand seven hundred years ago. Even the strongest of boulders will erode with the passing of time. I convinced myself that cracks had not formed and the end of my time had not yet come." Zhongli continued, though Lumine placed her hands on her hips.

"It wasn't until I heard a merchant speak to one of his workers, "you've done your duty. Go home and call it a day," that I realized I might have already done the same, even if my consciousness had not done the same. However, as I considered stepping down, I realized many things within Liyue Harbor were ready for my departure. Was such a city prepared to enter its next age?"

"So this whole thing was a script to you, Zhongli? You intentionally set everything by your plan, and you've watched as it plays out?" Lumine asked, which he sighed before nodding in response. "On a list of ways I thought the archons would interact with their people, this was not on the list."

"However, I just had one question for you, Traveler. Since you were on the Jade Chamber, why don't you tell me which of the adepti knew how to fire such a shot that killed Osial immediately?" Signora walked up to the two, though Lumine stayed defensive.

"The Guizhong Ballista-," she started, though the white-haired woman scoffed at her answer.

"I'm not talking about the Guizhong Ballista. The singular shot that killed Osial is a Creator's move, specifically Laila. Which of the adepti knew such a trick, let alone had the power to pull something like it off?" She pressured, though Lumine tried her best to not reveal any answers.

"The strength of the adepti is nearly unmatched. I wouldn't hold it past them." Looking into Signora's eyes, it seems the eighth harbinger already had her answer. Moving away from Lumine, the woman glanced to Tartaglia.

"Come, Childe. We must gather an audience before the Tsaritsa to let her know of the gnosis' possession." Watching as Signora moved to the door and left, Childe followed behind like a dreadful child who didn't want to go with her.

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[boredandelusive]

Before It’s Too Late - VII (7).

Hey, not much of a note but content warning for fighting (non-graphic).

As the two arrived back in Liyue, this time with Lumine controlling her body instead of Laila. Seeing Paimon floating near Zhongli, once she spot the blonde, the pixie floated toward her. "Your Grace, Paimon is sorry. She really tried to keep Mr. Zhongli busy," she apologized, catching her attention.

"What happened?" Lumine asked, as she hadn't moved to the table yet.

"Well, Mr. Zhongli kept asking about where you two were, and Paimon kept having to change the topic. Paimon thinks she might've let out too much, but once Mr. Zhongli stopped asking questions, he seemed satisfied with himself. Come on, we shouldn't keep him waiting."

As the blonde moved to sit next to Zhongli, she could feel his eyes on her. "Can I help you with something, Mr. Zhongli?" By now, she had a feeling Zhongli knew the truth.

"In all the time I've roamed Teyvat, the idea of Our Creator coming back has never crossed my mind," he reminisced on the times long before the archon war.

"And in all the times I was not on Teyvat, I never expected to see Zhongli live life like this." she muttered in response, causing him to look at the ring on her finger.

"Why did you leave the first time, Your Grace?" Rex Lapis asked finally, which she crossed her arms in thought. Her face remained indifferent, more like she was in deep thought about something.

"Before the Archon War, we three created Celestia, more importantly, we created the thrones of Celestia for the Archons. I don't think you realize how much energy it takes to create stars, let alone creating everything within the sky. Let's take a walk once we're done eating here, alright?"

As the three were done eating at Three-Round Knockout, Laila got up from the seat with Zhongli doing the same. "Why don't we take a walk around Liyue Harbor and Yujing Terrace?" She offers, causing him to nod in response. "Let me tell you a little story while we walk."

"Why did you leave Teyvat in the first place?" He asked as the two passed multiple people, each either having conversations or doing their own job.

"Because I considered all the gods a failure. When the seven seats of the Archons were created in Celestia, we had hoped you would come to a peaceful resolution where you would hold a bit of our power. As magical girls, our power can destroy witches, those which are born from soul gems tainted with despair." Holding her hand out, her soul gem materialized in her hand, catching his attention.

"That little gem in your hand is a soul gem?" He asks, which she nods in response.

"When I was still human, I made a contract, a wish. My wish... I can't remember what it was. My soul ejected from my body and turned into this. Much like the sun and moon, the two should never overlap. This is what Mayla's soul gem looks like," she says as she replicates her sister's.

"I faintly remember the stories you would tell me, and about how they should never grow tainted. However, you never once mentioned the consequences." Zhongli could remember the times when he was a baby dragon, and all the stories she told of her journeys.

"Should you ever want to find out what a witch looks like, then neglect the statue of my sisters and I in Nantianmen. You would find out soon enough. However, if you would let me, I could show you what one looks like." Laila offered a hand to him, which he accepted.

Placing said hand on his cheek, she ran her thumb over his temple, transmitting the memory of a specific fight. The truth of what happened to Carin was never discussed, but now he watched it with his own eyes.

The sight of an innocent-looking witch stood before him, paper-looking stars on strings hung in front, looking like a demented child's nursery. He could hear crying, of a woman's wailing. The longer he pushed into the memory, the clearer he could see the situation. Three figures of full moons danced around the witch, orbiting like stars around the sun.

However, before the former archon could see farther, Laila pulled her hand away. "Because Carin created the stars, it became her passion, the reflexion of who she is now. When she became a witch, it remained the same. Mayla created the plant life, the ground, and all there is to it. I created the people, the animals, everything as I wanted it to be... almost."

As she continued walking, both of them made their way to Yujing Terrace where the Rite of Descension first took place. "When I came back to Teyvat to help my sister, I did not expect to see the death of my creation in Liyue. However, seeing as you had taken over the Rite of Descension instead of it being my sister, I could not choose if I should be mad at you or grieve of your loss."

"There was a year after the Archon War Mayla did not show up for Liyue's Rite of Descension. When the people panicked, I showed up instead. Ever since then, until recently, I have continued to show up." Zhongli answers truthfully, causing Laila to cross her arms again, this time still looking a little annoyed.

"Have you been to Celestia within the past few hundred years? Have you seen the unexplainable change to the place that originally acted as a haven?" Laila asked next as she walked down the stairs and away from Yujing Terrace. "Have you seen the thorns that grow in my sister's agony?"

"No, Your Grace, I have not," he answers yet again, causing her to stop and place a hand on her head. "I was not aware that your sister has suffered in agony for over 500 years," he says while she continues moving.

"Zhongli, while I cannot lie and say I am not pleased to see you, I am disappointed in you. I would've hoped that the oldest of the original seven archons would've remembered to keep the tradition of visiting our statues, so neither of them turn into witches. It seems I was wrong," she whispered the last bit to herself.

Admittedly, there weren't a lot of things that would make Zhongli cry, but hearing his creator call him a disappointment topped the list. "I will admit, Zhongli, that since you're no longer the Geo Archon, I have another person to step in. However, as you know her well, you might not like me if I told you." She says as the three continued. Paimon kept quiet, however, because she didn't want to come between such an important talk.

"Then is there anything I can do to assist you? If you will allow me, can I accompany you on your journey?" His voice dripped with desperation, though she shook her head yet again.

"You have already chosen your life to live as a mortal. Go through that life, Zhongli. Besides, I have other things to worry about with the Traveler. Until then, go to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. The adepti decide now to act, so I will not have much time before I have to go quiet once more." Laila says as she twirls the ring on her finger.

Taking off the traveler's glove, she put the ring on her finger first before putting the glove back on. "I hope you will allow me to see you again, Your Grace," he says before walking away from the two. Allowing Lumine to take control of her body, the blonde looked at Paimon in confusion.

"It's a long story, but Mr. Zhongli knows you have the Creator Sister Laila with you. Since most of the Millelith are guarding the Exuvia, Lady Ningguang gave us the go-ahead to get to the Golden House! Come on," Paimon leads Lumine to the building.

"First thing we'll have to do is check on the Exuvia," Lumine says, though a quick survey of the room proved someone was here before they arrived. All the guarding Millelith were on the ground, knocked unconscious.

Rushing toward the body of Rex Lapis, the two stopped once they heard a familiar voice. "You've already fulfilled your task as guides, so why do you still linger here? Haven't you already seen enough trouble for today?" Hearing the voice caught both of them off guard.

"If you were Fatui, the Tsaritsa would've compensated you heavily for finding the Exuvia. But now, you're just an obstacle in my way," he seethed, though the blonde only smirked at his words.

"Looks like I was just in time, then. Though how did you find out it was here?" Lumine asked truthfully, though she didn't expect to get an answer out of him.

"Don't you think that trying to stop me now would be wasted effort? Stopping the Mora mints, hiding away the Exuvia... the Qixing are really pulling out all the stops this time." Childe didn't seem too phased by her questions, and though it annoyed her, she digressed.

"This was one of your plans all along? Taking the gnosis from inside the Exuvia?" Paimon asked next.

"As one of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers, it's my duty to see the will of the Tsaritsa fulfilled. She will get that what she desires," realizing Childe would be pointless to speak to, Lumine drew her blade. Holding it at her side, she stepped toward him. "Already in a fighting mood? I won't kill you, Traveler, but I will play along for the thrill of battle."

Watching as he stepped toward the middle of the golden house, Lumine's sword glowed and morphed into that of a jade cutter. Though she wanted to ask Laila about the new weapon, she knew now is not the right time.

Their battle was a swift one, although Lumine had not yet had control over the recent abilities she gained. Being flung by one of Childe's blasts, she fell to the ground in pain. "Not bad. Your swordsmanship is quite impressive. That's as bout as far as you'll get," he lunges toward the two, giving Lumine little time to react.

Using her stored anemo abilities, she could hold him off, though he still gained the advantage. Focusing on keeping him off, geo crystals knocked Childe off his balance, creating smoke where he stood.

However, that smoke quickly cleared, as it gave the Harbinger enough time to get to the Exuvia. "Didn't think you had that card up your sleeve, but this should've been expected." Reaching his hand into Morax's chest, he summoned his power to take the gnosis.

Instead, his hand held nothing, meaning the gnosis was not in the Exuvia. "You... you beat me to it, didn't you?" Feeling the anger that rushed through his body, he moved back to the middle of the golden house. Water surrounded his body as he transformed into his ultimate state of power: Foul Legacy. "This is going to cost you, Traveler."

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