Jueyun Karst. The abode of the Adepti. Barely anyone would walk into this domain, or at the very least, anyone sane wouldn't. The adepti were proud beings, and trespassing on their territory without their permission was something they wouldn't take lightly.

Unfortunately, it was what the trio of travelers were going to do anyway. Lumine felt wary. Everyone in Liyue, including Childe seemed to hold the Adepti in high regards with both fear and respect. If any of the rumors she had heard were true, then meeting the illuminated beasts would probably turn sour if she weren't careful.

Other than that, the blonde had to admit that the landscape, especially now during the evening glow, looked extremely beautiful. The tall peaks pierced through the clouds, the orange glow scattering through the rocks as it danced like glittering gems.

Unlike Mondstadt that had large trees, shading travelers from the light that would work to exhaust them, Liyue's mountains broke the light and diffused it to the grounds below gracing those that sought out hope.

"I think this is the place" Divya's voice seemed to just....fit in. It was as if Jueyun Karst, the immortal home of the Adepti was welcoming her warmly.

She definitely seems otherworldly!! thought the nineteen-year-old, looking at the brunette that walked beside her.

"And who might we be? Those that dare enter Jueyun Karst?" A booming voice echoed throughout the ground.

It wasn't a humane voice, though not a cruel one either. Simply a cold one, that still had a line of mercy within them.

Turning, eyes widened at the side of a large deer, with ears that fanned out larger than normal. The antlers glowed a fiery orange, the same color as the eyes of the adeptus. Orange markings surrounded the glowing orbs of light, reaching from the eyes down to the neck, and all the way throughout the body.

"We were sent here." Lumine spoke up, refraining from showing the Sigil of Permission like Divya had asked her to.

"We would only like to inform you of recent events that has occurred in Liyue, and the danger we are being subjected to" Divya spoke up after, catching the attention of the adeptus.

He stepped forward staring down at the brunette who calmly gazed back up.

"And who might you be, to claim to hold information that even the mighty and illuminated adepti do not possess?" he asked, a hint of anger seeping into his voice.

Golden eyes met brown ones, and the blonde nodded. She had to wait. Only when matters grew worse would she show the Sigil. She understood why her friend had asked her as such.

Instead of tying the adepti down by the sigil, if they had at least the slightest chance of gaining their trust naturally, it would be a lot more convenient for them in the future, should they visit the City of Contracts again.

"I am only a traveler, Protector of Liyue, but the reason we are here is of grave importance. Only the Adepti can aid us, so please, give us a chance to voice out our worries. If then, you believe our worries redundant and useless, we will immediately leave Jueyun Karst and not return without your permission."

His ears twitched, and the adeptus in the form of a deer seemed to be content with what Divya said.

"You speak with respect and know of our protection. Very well. He before you is the mighty and illuminated adeptus, Moon Carver. Speak, Travelers. What business have you here?"

Lumine and Paimon let out a breath they didn't know they held, before giving the brunette a wide smile.

It is a good thing that Paimon agreed with our plan of not showing the Sigil. If all goes well, we can gain the trust of the adeptus naturally.

"Actually..." Paimon started to explain, before the thundering sound of boots clashing against the uneven rocks interrupted her.

All four of them turned to see the Millelith pointing at the two women and yelling:

"They're the assassins!! They dared flee here to Jueyun Karst?!"

Seriously, who taught these people etiquette? Do they not know basic manners? Really, pointing to someone in front of an Adeptus? thought the brunette in mild irritation.

"Sir, we've already stepped too far into Jueyun Karst ourselves...."

"We...argh there's no choice! Apprehending the assassin is top priority! We must press on!"

"....disturbing our borders. See them gone. One will not have interruption" Moon Carver, now thoroughly irritated, spoke to Lumine, who nodded.

Summoning her sword, she jumped down and raced towards the guards, who very soon appeared to be poorly trained in comparison to the star-born traveler.

I mean, that makes sense. She has more than 500 years of experience, and them probably 10-20 years, so they are literally nothing compared to her.

Even if she has lost her memories, muscle memory will always be intact

"One has seen you unmoving. Do you dare disobey the word of an adeptus?"

"Forgive me, but I do not know how to fight. If I try to help my friend, I will be a burden, and we won't be able to accomplish your instructions"

A strange expression took over Moon Carver's face. The majestic deer turned silent for a moment, before shifting to stand in front of her. The brunette blinked, confused at his actions before hearing him speak again.

"Weak. And yet you still dared enter Jueyun Karst? How foolish"

The eighteen-year-old sweat-dropped at his words, a certain Anemo Yaksha entering her mind the moment those words registered. She frowned slightly at the harsh critique.

I know I'm useless but damn, no need to go that far

"We've digressed. State your purpose, travelers" Lumine and Paimon returned, and began to explain the situation.

....Let's just say Paimon now had an entirely new set of people to add to her 'don't piss them off' list.

Divya was severely doubting Zhongli's motives right now. The blonde and the brunette had to sit and listen to this short-tempered illuminated beast and for what? For the guy to have a dramatic reveal where he'd be like, 'heyo wassup i'm not dead and i'm stupidly giving away my gnosis'?

Haah....Poor Adepti. How did they deal with a man as unpredictable as that?

"The mind knows its answer. Though one must consult with one's fellows, lest the mind be misguided. Go, Carry with you a message"

"Who should we seek?" Lumine asked, mentally preparing to traverse through the rather tough plains of the abode of the adepti.

"Mountain Shaper and Cloud Retainer can be found here. There also exists a Conqueror of Demons, a Guardian Yaksha. Go to Wangshu Inn"

Dear lord have mercy, this guy won't stop yammering about us being messengers of the Adepti- Divya decided that she wasn't going to intervene between the groveling thief and Lumine, staying far away from them as possible.

Being 'adepti messengers' sounded good and all, but it was starting to get on her nerves. Just a week ago she didn't even think Teyvat existed and now she's been promoted to being an 'Esteemed messenger of the Adepti'. The brunette immediately stepped out of this one, shaking her head when Lumine and Paimon turned to her to ask if she wanted to join them in searching for the thief's brother.

Her head was starting to pound anyway. It hurt quite a lot, and she was starting to feel dizzy. The moment the blonde and the pixie went out of sight, she sagged to the ground, leaning against the tree and trying her best to block out the pain.

"Oh!! Mighty adeptal messenger!! Are you communicating with the Mighty adepti?? Please, tell them that this lowly and humble Li Ding begs for forgiveness-"

Shut up idiot!! My head is hurting more now!!

Divya gritted her teeth, trying to twist politely away from the man as the headache grew in intensity. She was shaking, her body feeling heavy and her stomach churning. She really was going to vomit if she wasn't careful.

Thankfully, the traveler returned with his brother, and the two went on their merry way.

The brunette had managed to stand before her friends arrived with the man, but she was dangerously close to just collapsing back on the ground. God knows how Lumine hadn't noticed, but she was grateful that she didn't.

"Who dares trespass on my mountain? Who is it that frees the thief from his incarceration?"

I can't yell at Mountain Shaper but still- my head-!!

Head pounding, the eighteen-year-old had to squint her eyes slightly to see the ruby swan-like adeptus that was perched imperiously on the cliff near the waterfall.

"Foolish mortal, come forth and receive your punishment at once!!"

The illuminated beast had descended in front of them, and it was only then the three of them realized that the tallest female could easily meet eye-to-eye with the adeptus.

Eye-to-eye contact.

A sign of defiance.

Perhaps Mountain Shaper also noticed this, because his already angry gaze grew harsher. Before any of them could say anything, a bright burst of red, gold and black light shot out of the crane and into the sky.

Paimon shrieked and went to hide behind the two women who covered their eyes and crouched a bit towards the ground.

The sudden flash cleared, and so did those weird black flecks that had surrounded the adeptus, blocking them from viewing him. Once their gaze cleared, the three gaped uselessly at the sight in front of them.

NO ONE MENTIONED ANYTHING ABOUT MOUNTAIN SHAPER HAVING A HUMAN-LIKE APPEARANCE?!?!

I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS-- THIS-----

THIS BEAUTY!?!?

In place of the crane stood an imperiously tall human male, around 6'4. His skin was a rich umber, warm and dark like the rays of the setting sun. His long, straight copper hair was tied up into a high ponytail with black ribbons. His eyes were a fiery scarlet, lined with an elegant eyeliner the same shade as his hair. His outfit was distinctly similar to that of what Xiao would have worn, but with two sleeves, and a golden cape that resembled the wings he held in his adeptal form. If one looked closely, one could make it scarlet tattoos curling along the edge of the collar of his clothes along his collar bone.

HOW DOES SUCH A CHARACTER LOOK SO GOOD?!?! WHY DO I NOT KNOW OF THIS?!?

"You intrude upon the sanctity of Mt. Hulao, you destroy the amber of my mountain, and you free a thief whose freedom was not yours to give. The thieves' ignorance was an affront to the adepti....but your actions are an abomination of the highest order-!!!" Mountain Shaper's voice had shifted too, raising a little more whilst still remaining rich and deep.

That voice, along with that glare was now pronouncedly harsher and more cut-throat.

"We were sent by Moon Carver, mighty Adeptus. We have an urgent message from him for you" Divya quickly spoke, pulling Paimon towards her before she could speak. The little girl was also clearly terrified of the prospect of angering him.

"Moon Carver...trusted a mere mortal as his messenger?" The man- adeptus, was clearly unconvinced, for he had crossed his arms and stared down at the three ferociously. It almost looked like he was trying to discern something from the very depths of their soul.

"Yes. Please believe us, we speak the truth. How could we lie about meeting an adeptus, when even encountering one is a monumental blessing for us mortals?"

Lumine warily glanced at the brunette. Wasn't she laying it a little thick?

"Hmm..."

It's working?!?!? The blonde thought, flabbergasted at the fact that the adeptus was ACTUALLY CONSIDERING HER WORDS.

The handsome being's furrowed eyebrows had relaxed slightly and his eyes grew thoughtful. A few seconds later, he nodded.

"Very well. Since you bear Moon Carver's protection, one shall listen to what you have to say, then One Shall verify the truth thereof. You would be wise to say the truth, for Liyue is not so far that one would easily be deceived."

Nodding quickly, Lumine began to explain everything that had transpired and once again, they were stuck with an angry adeptus who seemed torn between crushing the Qixing and crying bitter tears for the supposed loss of his archon.

Finally, the trio made their way to Cloud Retainer's domain. And perhaps, if Divya hadn't been in so much pain, she would have already noticed the tell-tale signs of the course of Teyvat's history being changed by her appearance.