teyvat's crimson shadow

The following days felt heavy. Caelum moved through the routines of the House of the Hearth as if on autopilot. Missions came and went, each one a blur of calculated violence and cold efficiency. He followed Arlecchino's orders without question, silencing every threat she pointed him toward.

Yet the doubt lingered. Jiayi's final words echoed in the back of his mind, louder with each mission.

---

One evening, Caelum found himself in the quiet corner of the orphanage, sitting by the hearth where the younger children played. Illia sat beside him, tugging on his sleeve.

"You look like a storm cloud," she said, tilting her head.

"Do I?" he replied absentmindedly.

She nodded. "What's wrong? You've been weird ever since you came back from Liyue."

Caelum hesitated. He couldn't tell her the truth—not about Jiayi, not about his doubts. Illia was too young, too innocent for the weight he carried.

"Just tired," he said.

Illia frowned. "You're always tired. Maybe you need a break."

"Maybe," he said, though he knew there was no such thing for someone like him.

Illia leaned against his side, her small hand clutching his. "You know we love you, right? Me, the others... even the scary lady."

Caelum smiled faintly. "You mean Arlecchino?"

"Uh-huh." Illia grinned. "She never says it, but I can tell. She gets that weird look in her eyes when she talks about you—like you're important to her."

Important. The word felt strange, almost foreign.

---

That night, Arlecchino called him into her office.

"I have another mission for you," she said, sliding a dossier across the desk.

Caelum picked it up, flipping through the pages. The target was a diplomat from Mondstadt—a merchant who had been working with the Obscura Order to smuggle artifacts out of Fontaine.

"Why not send a team?" he asked.

"This requires discretion," Arlecchino said. "A team would draw too much attention. You're the only one I trust to handle this."

The praise didn't feel like it should. Instead, it felt like another weight added to his shoulders.

"When do I leave?"

"Tomorrow," she said.

---

The mission took him to the outskirts of Mondstadt, where rolling hills and fields of windwheel asters painted a deceptively peaceful picture. Caelum tracked the merchant to a secluded villa, waiting until nightfall to make his move.

The house was quiet, the guards stationed at the perimeter relaxed and inattentive. Caelum slipped past them with ease, his blade drawn as he entered the villa.

He found the merchant in a study, poring over a stack of documents.

"Who's there?" the man demanded, spinning around.

Caelum stepped into the light, his expression unreadable. "You've been working with the Obscura."

The merchant's face paled. "I—I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't lie to me," Caelum said, his voice cold. "Tell me what you've been smuggling and where it's going."

The merchant stammered, backing away. "I—I can't. They'll kill me."

"And you think I won't?" Caelum advanced, his blade glinting in the moonlight.

The merchant crumbled, falling to his knees. "Please, I don't know much. Just that they're collecting artifacts—powerful ones. They're trying to build something, something to fight the Archons."

"Where?"

"Liyue."

Caelum's grip tightened on his blade. Another mission, another loose end to tie up.

"You won't survive this, will you?" the merchant whispered, his voice trembling. "You're like a puppet—cutting strings for someone else until they cut yours."

Caelum hesitated, just for a moment.

Then he silenced the man.

---

When he returned to the House of the Hearth, Arlecchino was waiting for him.

"Another success," she said, inspecting the report he handed her. "You've done well, as always."

Her praise rang hollow in his ears.

"Why do we keep doing this?" he asked suddenly.

Arlecchino raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"These missions," he said. "Every time, it's the same. We cut down enemies, gather intel, and then there's just… more enemies. More missions. What are we actually accomplishing?"

Arlecchino's expression darkened. "What we're accomplishing, Caelum, is survival. The world doesn't give you anything unless you take it. Every mission you complete, every enemy you eliminate, strengthens the Fatui. Strengthens *us.*"

"And when does it end?"

"It doesn't," she said bluntly. "That's the nature of power. You either fight to keep it, or you lose it."

Caelum looked away, her words hitting harder than he expected.

"Caelum," Arlecchino said, her tone softening. "I know this life isn't easy. But it's the only way to protect what matters. The House of the Hearth is more than just an orphanage—it's a shield. Every mission you complete helps keep it standing."

He nodded, though the weight in his chest didn't lift.

---

Later, as he sat alone in his room, Illia knocked on the door.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

"Sure," he said.

She climbed onto his bed, her doll clutched tightly. "You're sad again."

"I'm fine," he said automatically.

"No, you're not." She frowned, studying him. "Why don't you ever talk about what's bothering you?"

Because I can't, he thought. Instead, he said, "It's just work."

Illia sighed dramatically. "You work too much. You should play with us more. Or maybe find a girlfriend."

Caelum laughed despite himself. "A girlfriend?"

"Yeah!" Illia grinned. "Someone to make you happy. Everyone deserves to be happy, you know."

Her words stayed with him long after she left. Everyone deserves to be happy.

But did he?

---

The weeks passed in a blur of missions, reports, and fleeting moments of quiet. Caelum carried on as he always had, but Illia's words and Jiayi's final warning lingered in the back of his mind. He moved through his duties with precision, yet he couldn't shake the sense of hollowness that seemed to grow with each passing day.

His latest mission had been particularly grueling—a deep infiltration of a suspected rebel cell in Inazuma. The fight had been swift but brutal, leaving Caelum physically unscathed but mentally exhausted.

When he returned to the House of the Hearth, the familiar warmth of the orphanage greeted him, but it felt distant. The children ran up to him as usual, their laughter echoing through the halls, but Caelum's smile was strained.

"You're back!" Illia exclaimed, practically throwing herself into his arms.

"Yeah," he said, patting her head.

"You look tired," she said, frowning.

"I'll be fine," he assured her.

But he wasn't sure he believed it.

---

That night, Arlecchino called him into her office.

"I have another task for you," she said without preamble, sliding a dossier across the desk.

Caelum picked it up, scanning the details. The target was a researcher from Sumeru who had been providing intelligence to the Obscura Order. The mission was straightforward: locate the researcher, extract any useful information, and eliminate them.

"Why is Sumeru involved?" Caelum asked, setting the dossier down.

"The Obscura's reach extends further than we initially thought," Arlecchino said. "They've been recruiting anyone with knowledge of ancient artifacts—scholars, archaeologists, even treasure hunters. This researcher has been working on something dangerous. We need to shut it down before it becomes a threat."

Caelum nodded. "Understood."

---

The journey to Sumeru was uneventful, but the city itself was a stark contrast to the snowy expanses of Snezhnaya. Lush greenery and intricate architecture surrounded him as he navigated the bustling streets.

The researcher, a man named Fadil, was based in a secluded outpost deep within the rainforest. Caelum tracked him there, slipping past the guards stationed around the perimeter.

Fadil was in a small lab, surrounded by books and strange artifacts. He didn't notice Caelum's approach until it was too late.

"Don't move," Caelum said, his blade pressed to the man's throat.

Fadil froze, his hands raised. "Please, I'm just a scholar. I don't know anything about—"

"Save it," Caelum interrupted. "I know you've been working with the Obscura. Tell me what you've been researching."

Fadil hesitated, sweat dripping down his forehead. "I—I was studying the ruins in Liyue. The Obscura hired me to decipher ancient texts. They're looking for something… a weapon."

"A weapon?" Caelum repeated.

"Yes," Fadil said, his voice trembling. "The texts speak of a power that predates the Archons. The Obscura believe it could shift the balance of power in Teyvat."

"Where is it?"

"I don't know," Fadil said quickly. "I only translated fragments of the texts. But the Obscura are gathering resources in Liyue—whatever they're planning, it's happening there."

Caelum frowned, his mind racing. If what Fadil said was true, the Obscura's plans were more dangerous than anyone had realized.

"Please," Fadil begged. "I didn't want to be part of this. They forced me."

Caelum hesitated. Killing Fadil was part of the mission, but the man's terror seemed genuine. For the first time in a long while, Caelum felt a pang of doubt.

He lowered his blade. "Get out of here. And don't let me see you again."

Fadil stared at him in disbelief. "You're letting me go?"

"Don't make me change my mind," Caelum said coldly.

Fadil didn't need to be told twice. He fled, leaving behind his notes and artifacts.

---

When Caelum returned to the House of the Hearth, Arlecchino was waiting for his report.

"The mission was successful," he said, handing over Fadil's notes.

"And the researcher?" Arlecchino asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Dealt with," Caelum lied.

Arlecchino studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. "Good. These notes will be invaluable in countering the Obscura's plans."

As he left her office, Caelum felt a strange mix of relief and guilt. He had lied to Arlecchino for the first time, sparing Fadil's life. It wasn't an act of mercy—it was a choice, a small rebellion against the hollow routine that had consumed him.

But as he returned to his room, he couldn't help but wonder if that choice would come back to haunt him.

---

---

The weight of his choices pressed heavily on Caelum as the days passed. Sparing Fadil wasn't just a lapse in judgment—it was a deliberate act of rebellion. And though Arlecchino hadn't questioned him further, he couldn't shake the feeling that she knew.

His usual routines felt stifling now. Training, missions, and the fleeting moments of quiet with Illia and the other children—everything was overshadowed by the growing doubt in his heart. He couldn't help but question his place in the Fatui, his loyalty to Arlecchino, and even his identity.

What was he fighting for?

What did he want?

---

One evening, while the orphanage was quiet, Caelum found himself in the library. It was one of the few places where he could be alone with his thoughts, surrounded by shelves of dusty books.

He reached for a volume on Teyvat's history, flipping through its pages without any real focus. His mind wandered to the researcher's words: a power that predates the Archons.

"Lost in thought, as usual."

Caelum turned to see Arlecchino standing in the doorway. She didn't often visit the library, and her presence was unnerving.

"Just reading," he said, closing the book.

She stepped closer, her sharp eyes studying him. "You've been distracted lately. Ever since your mission in Sumeru."

"I'm fine," Caelum said, though his voice lacked conviction.

Arlecchino raised an eyebrow. "You've always been a good liar, Caelum. But not to me."

He looked away, his jaw tightening.

"You spared him, didn't you?" she asked, her voice calm but edged with steel.

Caelum's breath hitched. He didn't answer.

Arlecchino sighed. "I should be furious with you. Betrayal isn't something I take lightly. But… I'm not angry. Not yet."

He frowned, confused by her reaction.

"You remind me of myself," she said, sitting in one of the worn chairs. "When I was younger, I believed I could make my own rules. That I could bend the world to my will without consequences. But loyalty is everything, Caelum. Without it, we're nothing."

"Loyalty," he repeated, bitterness creeping into his voice. "Is that all we are to you? Tools to be used and discarded?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Careful."

"I've killed for you," he said, his voice rising. "Followed your orders without question. But what have we really accomplished? What's the point of all this bloodshed?"

Arlecchino's expression hardened. "You think this is about me? About power? Everything I've done—everything you've done—has been for the House of the Hearth. For them."

She gestured vaguely toward the orphanage.

"And what happens when they don't need me anymore?" Caelum asked, his voice shaking. "What happens when I'm no longer useful?"

For the first time, Arlecchino looked genuinely surprised. "You think I'll cast you aside? After everything we've been through?"

He didn't answer, the silence heavy between them.

After a moment, Arlecchino stood. "You're more than a tool, Caelum. You're my family. But if you can't see that—if you don't trust me—then maybe you don't belong here."

She left without another word, leaving Caelum alone with his thoughts.

---

That night, Caelum lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Arlecchino's words had cut deeper than he wanted to admit. He didn't doubt her sincerity, but the cracks in their relationship were undeniable.

The next morning, he made a decision.

---

Caelum approached Illia in the courtyard, where she was playing with some of the younger children.

"Hey," he said, crouching beside her.

"Caelum!" she grinned, her face lighting up.

"I need to talk to you," he said, his tone serious.

Her smile faltered. "What's wrong?"

"I… I think I need to leave for a while."

Her eyes widened. "Leave? Why?"

He hesitated, struggling to find the right words. "I need to figure out who I am. What I want. I can't do that here."

Illia's lower lip trembled. "You're leaving me?"

"No," he said quickly. "I'll come back. I promise. But I need to do this."

She threw her arms around him, clutching him tightly. "You better come back. Or I'll never forgive you."

He hugged her back, his heart aching. "I will. I swear."

---

Before he left, Caelum stood outside Arlecchino's office, debating whether to say goodbye. In the end, he chose silence, slipping out of the House of the Hearth under cover of night.

As he stepped into the cold Snezhnayan air, he felt a strange mix of fear and freedom.

He didn't know where he was going or what he would find. But for the first time, he wasn't following orders. He was walking his own path.

---

The frigid winds of Snezhnaya stung against Caelum's face as he trudged through the snow. The orphanage disappeared behind him, swallowed by the dense forest. Each step away from the House of the Hearth was both a relief and a burden.

For the first time, he was free. But freedom came with uncertainty.

The question of *where* to go loomed over him. Teyvat was vast, its regions teeming with mysteries and dangers. Liyue, with its ancient ruins and tales of gods, seemed like the most logical destination. Fadil's words about a weapon pre-dating the Archons lingered in his mind.

If he was going to find answers about himself, about the world, and about the purpose of all this bloodshed, then Liyue would be the place to start.

---

Traveling alone proved to be more challenging than he had anticipated. Without the resources and support of the Fatui, Caelum was forced to rely on his wits and a few coins he had managed to pocket before leaving.

The snow gave way to rolling hills and wide rivers as he crossed into Mondstadt's outskirts. The air here was warmer, the landscapes bathed in soft sunlight.

He avoided the cities, wary of running into anyone who might recognize him as a former Fatui operative. Instead, he stuck to the countryside, passing through quiet villages and sleeping under the stars.

It was in one such village that Caelum encountered a small group of travelers who spoke of strange occurrences in Liyue: mercenaries disappearing in the wilderness, unusual activity near the ruins, and whispers of a shadowy organization seeking forbidden knowledge.

The Obscura Order.

The name sent a chill down Caelum's spine. He hadn't truly escaped the shadows of his past—they were waiting for him in Liyue.

---

Arriving in Liyue Harbor was a shock to Caelum's senses. The bustling port city was alive with vibrant colors, the scent of spices and sea salt filling the air. Lanterns hung from every corner, casting a warm glow over the cobblestone streets.

He kept his hood up, blending in with the crowds as he wandered through the marketplace. The chatter of merchants and the laughter of children felt worlds away from the cold, disciplined environment of the Fatui.

But even here, he couldn't escape his instincts. His eyes scanned the crowds, noting potential threats and escape routes. He had spent too many years surviving to let his guard down now.

As he moved through the city, he overheard snippets of conversation about recent events:

- "Did you hear? Another team of adventurers vanished near the Chasm. They say the ruins are cursed."

- "I saw some strange folks heading toward Guili Plains. Didn't look like treasure hunters, though."

- "The Ministry of Civil Affairs is keeping it hush-hush, but something's happening in the ruins."

The Chasm. Guili Plains. Ancient ruins.

It was all connected.

---

Determined to learn more, Caelum sought out the city's scholars and archaeologists. He eventually found himself in the Feiyun Commerce Guild, where a young scholar named Yingjie was poring over a stack of scrolls.

"Excuse me," Caelum said, approaching her.

Yingjie looked up, adjusting her glasses. "Yes? Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for information about the ruins near the Chasm," he said. "I heard there have been… disturbances."

Yingjie frowned. "That's putting it mildly. The Chasm has always been a dangerous place, but lately, the activity there has been unusual. Strange lights, tremors, people disappearing… it's as if something is awakening."

"What about the Guili Plains?"

She hesitated. "The Guili Plains are… quieter. But there have been reports of unusual markings appearing on the ruins. Symbols no one can decipher. Some say they're connected to the Obscura Order."

Caelum's stomach tightened at the mention of the Obscura. "Do you know what they're looking for?"

Yingjie shook her head. "No one does. But whatever it is, it's powerful enough to draw attention from both the Ministry and the Fatui. If you're thinking of going there, I'd advise against it."

Caelum gave a faint smile. "Thanks for the warning."

---

Ignoring Yingjie's advice, Caelum set out for the ruins the next day. The journey to the Guili Plains was treacherous, the once-flourishing land now eerily desolate.

As he approached the ruins, the air grew heavier, charged with an unnatural energy. Ancient stone pillars jutted out of the earth, their surfaces etched with glowing symbols.

He wasn't alone.

A group of masked individuals moved through the ruins, their movements deliberate and precise. Obscura agents.

Caelum ducked behind a crumbled pillar, watching them from a distance. They appeared to be searching for something, their attention focused on a large stone tablet at the center of the ruins.

The tablet pulsed with a faint light, its surface covered in intricate carvings. One of the agents touched it, and the air vibrated with an otherworldly hum.

"Step away from that," Caelum said, stepping out of the shadows, his blade at the ready.

The agents turned toward him, their eyes narrowing.

"And who might you be?" one of them sneered.

"Someone who doesn't appreciate you poking around where you don't belong."

The fight was swift and brutal. Caelum moved with precision, taking down the agents one by one. But as the last of them fell, the tablet began to glow brighter, its hum growing louder.

A beam of light shot out from its surface, piercing the sky. Caelum shielded his eyes, but when the light faded, he found himself standing alone in the ruins.

The tablet was gone, and the symbols etched into the stones around him had vanished.

---

As he stood there, the weight of what he had just witnessed sank in. Whatever the Obscura Order was after, it was bigger than he had imagined.

And he was in the middle of it now.

---

The beam of light left the ruins eerily silent, the faint hum of its activation echoing in Caelum's ears. He stood amidst the scattered bodies of the Obscura agents, their masks cracked, their uniforms soaked in dirt and blood. He should've felt victorious—relieved, even—but the emptiness that followed the light's disappearance gnawed at him.

He sheathed his blade and crouched to inspect one of the fallen agents. Their insignia bore an unfamiliar variation of the Obscura symbol, etched with the same glowing patterns he'd seen on the tablet. Whatever group these agents belonged to, they were deeper into the mystery than he was.

"Why was this so important to you?" Caelum muttered to the corpse, his voice dry.

There were no answers, only the oppressive silence of the ruins.

His fingers brushed against the pouch strapped to the agent's waist. Inside, he found fragments of what looked like a map—weathered parchment marked with runes and lines that converged toward a location deep in Liyue's mountainous region.

Caelum folded the map and tucked it into his own pouch. If the Obscura Order had left this behind, it meant they weren't finished yet. And if he wanted to uncover their plans, he would need to stay a step ahead.

The thought made him pause.

What am I even doing?

For years, he had moved like a weapon, pointed and fired at whatever target Arlecchino chose. Now, free from her grasp, he was still hunting. Still chasing. Was this really freedom, or just another leash?

He shook his head. It didn't matter right now. The only way forward was through the fog.

---

The journey to the mountains was grueling. The map led him to a secluded trail near Mt. Tianheng, where the air grew thinner and the trees more sparse. The ruins here were ancient, far older than anything in the Guili Plains. Their architecture bore a style that felt foreign to Liyue—almost alien.

As he approached, Caelum heard voices carried on the wind. He slowed his pace, keeping to the shadows as he crept closer.

A group of figures stood gathered around a massive stone archway, its surface inscribed with glowing runes that pulsed faintly. Among them was a man dressed in ornate robes, his presence commanding. Unlike the other agents, he wore no mask, his face sharp and angular, with eyes that gleamed like molten gold.

"Is the gateway stable?" the man asked, his voice calm but laced with authority.

"It will take time, Herald," one of the agents replied. "The resonance isn't strong enough yet."

The man—*Herald*, as they called him—narrowed his eyes. "It must be completed before the Fatui interfere. We've already wasted enough time."

Caelum frowned. A gateway? To where?

The conversation was cut short as one of the agents turned, their eyes scanning the treeline. "Someone's here."

Damn.

Caelum darted behind a boulder as the agents fanned out, their weapons drawn. He couldn't take them all head-on—not without backup. But retreating wasn't an option, not when he was this close to answers.

He gripped the hilt of his blade, steadying his breath. One step at a time.

The first agent came too close, their footsteps crunching against the gravel. Caelum moved swiftly, disarming them with a twist of his wrist before driving his blade into their shoulder. He dragged the body behind the boulder, silencing their muffled groan with a hand over their mouth.

The others weren't far behind.

---

It was a chaotic skirmish. Caelum used the terrain to his advantage, striking from the shadows and retreating before they could pin him down. The agents were well-trained, but they weren't prepared for his precision or unpredictability.

By the time the last one fell, the Herald stood alone, his expression unreadable.

"You're bold," the man said, his voice carrying an almost amused tone. "But reckless. Do you even know what you're interfering with?"

"Does it matter?" Caelum replied, his blade still drawn. "You're just another obstacle."

The Herald chuckled, a low, resonant sound. "You think this is about us? About power? You're more naive than I thought."

The man raised a hand, and the runes on the archway began to glow brighter. A swirling vortex of light and shadow formed within the stone frame, its energy radiating outward like a beating heart.

Caelum instinctively stepped back, the sheer force of it pressing against his chest.

"This gateway," the Herald said, "isn't just a door. It's a key. A connection to something far greater than you can comprehend."

Caelum gritted his teeth. "Then maybe it's better if it stays closed."

Before the Herald could respond, Caelum lunged, his blade aimed for the man's throat.

But the Herald moved faster than any human should. He sidestepped the attack with ease, his hand catching Caelum's wrist in an iron grip.

"You've got spirit," the Herald said, his voice a mix of mockery and admiration. "But you're still a child playing with swords."

Caelum growled, twisting free and striking again, but each swing was met with the same effortless evasion. The Herald wasn't just fast—he was impossibly precise, as if he could read Caelum's every move before he made it.

"You'll have to do better than that," the Herald said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

With a flick of his wrist, the Herald summoned a blade of pure light, its edge crackling with energy. Caelum barely had time to react as the weapon slashed toward him, forcing him to roll out of the way.

The fight was one-sided. No matter how hard Caelum pushed, the Herald met him with overwhelming skill and power.

But Caelum wasn't fighting to win. He was fighting to buy time.

As the Herald raised his blade for the finishing blow, Caelum threw a dagger at the base of the archway, striking one of the glowing runes.

The vortex flickered, its energy destabilizing.

The Herald's eyes widened. "What have you done?!"

Caelum didn't wait to find out. He sprinted toward the treeline as the gateway began to collapse, the air around it twisting and tearing like a storm.

The last thing he saw before the ruins disappeared behind him was the Herald, standing amidst the chaos, his golden eyes burning with fury.

---

Caelum didn't stop running until the wind had settled and the oppressive hum of the collapsing gateway was a distant memory. His chest heaved, his lungs burning from the exertion as he slumped against a tree trunk. Every instinct screamed at him to keep moving, to not stop, but he couldn't ignore the fatigue weighing down his limbs.

The Herald's words echoed in his mind. *A key. A connection to something far greater.* Whatever the Obscura Order was after, it wasn't just a relic or knowledge—it was a force that could alter the balance of Teyvat.

And now, he had their attention.

---

Caelum made his way back toward the outskirts of Liyue Harbor, taking care to avoid the main roads. The familiar bustle of the city came into view as he crested a hill, the glow of lanterns a warm contrast to the cold shadows that had chased him through the ruins.

He needed answers. Answers he couldn't find alone.

Wary of Fatui informants, Caelum avoided the major inns and instead found a quiet tavern nestled in a side street. The dimly lit establishment was nearly empty, save for a few patrons nursing their drinks. He took a seat in the corner, his hood pulled low over his face.

The barkeep approached, a middle-aged man with a kindly demeanor. "What'll it be, traveler?"

"Something cheap," Caelum muttered, sliding a coin across the counter.

As the barkeep poured his drink, Caelum caught snippets of a conversation from the table behind him.

"—unusual activity near the Chasm again. The Millelith is on high alert."

"Didn't the Qixing send someone to investigate?"

"Yeah, I heard it's one of their top consultants. That girl with the fan—what's her name? Yuheng something?"

Caelum stiffened. *The Qixing.* If they were involved, then things were escalating faster than he anticipated.

---

The next day, Caelum found himself lingering near the Ministry of Civil Affairs, keeping a low profile as he watched the comings and goings of Liyue's officials. If the Qixing were investigating the ruins, their movements would eventually lead him to the answers he sought.

Hours passed before he spotted her.

A woman with amethyst eyes with oval-shaped pupils, and waist-length purple hair,

emerged from the building, flanked by a pair of Millelith guards. She moved with an air of authority, her expression calm and composed as she spoke with the soldiers.

Keqing.

Caelum had heard of the Yuheng of the Qixing during his time with the Fatui. Known for her sharp mind and no-nonsense demeanor, she was a force to be reckoned with.

He followed her discreetly, weaving through the crowded streets as she made her way toward the harbor. She boarded a small, official-looking boat with her guards, and the vessel set off in the direction of the Chasm.

Caelum didn't hesitate. He rented a small fishing skiff from a dockworker, offering a generous amount of Mora to ensure no questions were asked. As he paddled after Keqing's boat, the weight of his decision settled in his chest.

---

The Chasm loomed before him, its massive, gaping maw a stark contrast to the vibrant landscapes of Liyue. The air was thick with tension as Caelum approached the area, now heavily guarded by the Millelith.

Keqing's boat had docked near an outpost, and she was speaking with an older man who appeared to be a captain. Caelum kept his distance, staying hidden among the rocks as he observed.

"…more disappearances near the lower levels," the captain said, his voice carrying over the wind. "Our men are afraid to go any deeper."

Keqing crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "Fear won't solve this problem. If the source of the disturbances lies below, then that's where we need to go."

"With all due respect, Yuheng," the captain said hesitantly, "perhaps we should wait for reinforcements."

"There's no time for that," Keqing replied firmly. "Every moment we delay puts more lives at risk."

Caelum's respect for her grew in that moment. She wasn't one to sit idly by while others suffered. But her determination also made her a target. If the Obscura Order was still active in the Chasm, then she was walking straight into their trap.

He couldn't let that happen.

---

As night fell, Caelum slipped past the Millelith's perimeter and into the Chasm's depths. The air grew colder the further he descended, the darkness pressing in around him. Strange glowing crystals jutted out from the walls, casting an eerie light over the cavernous expanse.

It wasn't long before he heard voices echoing through the tunnels.

"Yuheng, over here!"

Keqing's sharp voice responded. "What is it?"

Caelum crept closer, sticking to the shadows. Keqing and her guards were gathered near an ancient mechanism carved into the stone. It bore the same glowing runes as the archway he had seen in the mountains.

"This… doesn't look like anything from Liyue," one of the guards said nervously.

"That's because it isn't," Keqing replied, her tone grim. "This predates our civilization."

Before she could say more, a low rumble shook the ground. The runes on the mechanism flared to life, and the air filled with a familiar hum.

"No," Caelum whispered, his heart racing.

From the shadows of the cavern, figures emerged—masked agents of the Obscura Order.

Keqing's sword was in her hand instantly, her eyes blazing with determination. "Protect the mechanism! Don't let them get close!"

Caelum watched as chaos erupted, his grip tightening on his blade. He had a choice to make.

He could walk away and let fate take its course.

Or he could step out of the shadows and fight.

---