Cloud Retainer's domain was annoying, but not hard. Divya was a lot more captivated by how beautiful the place looked, both within and outside the domain. The flowing waters and the pool at the center of the clearing outside the domain was pure and clean. While Lumine and Paimon tried to find dishes to offer to the adeptus, the brunette stayed back near the table admiring the scenery.

It's so...beautiful...

Jueyen Kharst had been tiring, so she was grateful that Cloud Retainer's mountain was quiet and peaceful. She also stayed back near the water because her body had become feverish. Trying to stay conscious, she splashed some of the blue liquid onto her face, releasing a quiet sigh of relief when the coolness melted into her being.

The blonde had noticed something was increasingly wrong with her friend, but even after insisting that she should go back to Wangshu Inn, the woman had denied her.

That made it all the more prudent for her to quickly finish these tasks and get them to rest.

Traversing through the domain itself wasn't too hard, and the beautiful deep blues of the sky were enchanting to look at. The pain in the brunette's body faded, although only slightly. It was rejuvenating.

Lumine quickly found a couple of recipes that the Adeptus might have liked and began to cook them over the fire. The scent was overwhelming. Everything was overwhelming. Divya wasn't sure how long it would be before her body would shut down.

Shit. Should i go back to Mondstadt so that Venti can help me? But I promised Lumine I'd accompany her...

A soft metallic clink awoke her from her thoughts. Divya gazed beyond the pool of cool water to the cliffs, before she sighed quietly. It seems like Lumine had already offered the food to Cloud Retainer, causing the seal on the entrance to her domain to open up. She pushed herself up, steadying herself against the tree before walking towards Lumine.

"You look really sick...are you sure you want to come with us? You look like you need to see a doctor as soon as possible..." Lumine said quietly, staring at the brunette's pale, sweaty complexion in worry.

"It's fine...I am just going to walk with you is all..." Divya said softly, trying and miraculously succeeding in hiding how painful her entire body felt right now.

Lumine and Paimon looked at each other, their worry easily transmitting between each other.

"Okay, but Paimon says you should go to a doctor immediately Divya!"

"Of course"

"One knows not why you have come, though the sincerity of your offering is clear...Hence you shall be granted an opportunity. Find your way through mine abode, and you shall receive an audience with the adeptus whom you seek"

...Was Cloud Retainer making it easy for me??

Divya was pretty sure that the domain consisted of floating mechanisms that were activated based on puzzles Lumine had to solve. Not to mention the hilichurls and slimes. She was pretty sure there were a number of them in the domain, considering how much Aditya had ranted about the tedious nature of the domain.

...So then why were almost all the mechanisms already activated?

"Wow! Paimon thinks this Cloud Retainer is a nice Adeptus!"

...See? Even the ever-dense Paimon had noticed it. Lumine was wary about this sudden nice gesture, considering the other adepti had threated to kill or imprison them before Divya had spoken up.

Despite her caution, Divya was much more relaxed within the domain. For some reason, it was so much easier to breathe in here than out in Jueyun Kharst. The glow of the deep blues within the domain soothed her hurting head, the Adeptal energy somehow - in some insane, archaic way - easing her body pain. How? She didn't know yet - she would probably have to look up some books in any library around her for it - but at this point in time she was grateful.

She didn't feel too queasy, just slightly nauseous. Her body pain had eased, and so did her difficulty in breathing.

The trio walked (well- Paimon floated but let's ignore that-) across the transparent golden bridged, the runes and symbols on them making it seem so much more mystical than it would have been on a screen. Divya marveled every single step she took, the golden light beneath her feet making everything seem so dream-like.

Finally, they stood in front of Cloud Retainer. Her illuminated beast form was so much more bigger than any of them had anticipated. With almost swan-like grace, she had turquoise and blue plumage, her feathers decorated in golden marks.

"One is most impressed. The path that leads through this abode defies those of ordinary abilities-"

...But there weren't even any hilichurls or slimes?!?

"The one before you is the adeptus, Cloud Retainer. Now, speak of the matter which brings you here"

Divya took a soft breath, before beginning to explain everything. Unlike the rest of the adepti however, Cloud Retainer immediately interrupted her.

"Wait, child. Why are you in Jueyun Kharst?"

The brunette blinked at the sudden interruption.

"...I am sorry?"

"Your body is not suited for this level of elemental energy. Why are you torturing yourself so?"

"....Torturing?"

The adeptus sighed tiredly, like a mother who's kids had spilled their cereal all over the table for the fifteenth time already. The perfectionist in Divya cried silently - she did not like hearing such disappointing sighs about her when she already knew about some things.

"Little one, your body is destroying itself from the inside out"

"....."

"....."

"....."

What?

"You are not coming with us after this. Stay here. After this, I'll get a doctor for you" Lumine said sternly when the three of them climbed up the stairs of Wangshuu Inn.

Divya sighed tiredly but nodded. The bombshell dropped by Cloud Retainer had scared Lumine and Paimon shitless, with the latter sobbing and clinging onto the brunette and the former demanding explanations. The brunette was somewhat grateful for the Adeptus, but she had a lot of questions.

What did it mean her body was destroying itself from the inside-out? Was elemental energy THAT potent? How was she getting affected so much - or more specifically, why was she getting affected so much?

In spite of her thoughts, Divya was also aware of the fact that they had reached the balcony of Wangshuu Inn. Paimon had been silent, hovering around her like a scared little child. The brunette patted her head, looking around for any sign of her favorite character- Xiao.

"To the blind, everything may not be as it appears"

The trio gasped in unison at the low murmur, spinning around to see the young male adeptus standing at the edge of the balcony. Divya's soft brown eyes widened in surprise, her irises practically sparkling in excitement.

OH MY GOD HE'S SO MUCH PRETTIER IN PERSON WHAT THE HELL-?!

His eyes were pretty. His hair was pretty. His tattoos were pretty. EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM WAS PRETTY?!

"Why do you insist on getting involved with the world of demons and adepti? You're breaking the rules too often"

Xiao crossed his arms, gazing cooly at the three before his gaze drifted momentarily to the brunette. Those golden orbs narrowed slightly, his black slitted pupils enlarging as he took in her figure. The eighteen-year-old shivered slightly at the intensity of his piercing stare and a small shiver ran up her back.

...I forgot how intimidating he was made out to be...

"Mortal souls are not as robust as those of the adepti, nor can your blood carry this level of adeptal energy"

Not once had the adeptus looked away from Divya, his eyes narrowing further the more he spoke.

...Is he referring to my current state?

"It's for your own good. Leave no-"

"Just one moment, please" Divya interrupted him before he could finish. Internally, she screamed at herself, hating the fact that she interrupted XIAO from speaking.

Xiao's eyebrows arched softly, as though he was in equal measure shocked and impressed regarding the fact that she had the guts to interrupt an adeptus from speaking.

"We must inform you of something. Moon Carver has sent us to inform you of something."

"Moon Carver?" The name got the yaksha's attention, as he shifted his body to face them once more, ready to listen.

Lumine heaved a sigh of relief, and immediately began to explain the incident that happened during the Rite of Descension. As her explanation continued, those cold amber eyes started to shake very slightly. Xiao stiffened up minutely, and although none of the trio could see it, his finger tips trembled.

"Rex Lapis...how could this be...?" a soft murmur escaped his lips. Divya flinched slightly at the raw pain that had leaked through into his voice.

"I...can't imagine it. Though times have changes, I have never imagined a Liyue without him. The ruling Qixing... just what role have they played in this?"

Xiao looked into the distance, the wind blowing through his hair as he stared listlessly into the wide Liyue plains. His voice had taken on his normal, cold tone - but his eyes never once lost that hint of pain.

"I will seek Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper and Cloud Retainer. It is time they too, make their decision" He finally spoke up, turning back to look at the three.

"Will the adepti take over his role in Liyue?" Lumine posed a question, though her voice was softer than normal. She probably sympathized with Xiao to an extent.

"Adepti do not turn on their responsibilities. I have my own reasons to not want to be tainted by the mortal realm but... responsibilities are responsibilities. Our God is the God of Contracts after all"

The yaksha turned to face Divya once again, his amber eyes narrowing as he looked as though he was staring into the depths of her soul.

"You. Leave this instant. Never return to seek me or any of the other Adepti out. Your body has been tainted enough"

Again with this... I would leave if I knew how!! The brunette yelled within her mind. She would love to go back home to Earth and just rest, but she had to figure out how.

Not acknowledging her slight irritation, Xiao continued.

"Do NOT come into contact with any vision bearers under any circumstances. You will continue to remain in agony if you do so"

With each passing word, Lumine and Paimon both grew pale. The former shot a half-hearted glare at the brunette, her worry more palpable than her irritation. At this point, Divya would be lucky if the blonde didn't tie her up to a chair in their room, given how these adepti loved scaring her.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the brunette ended up sitting in the room in Wangshuu Inn, Sighing tiredly. Lumine and Paimon went ahead to meet up with Childe - which reminded her, she needs to warn the blonde about the Harbinger.

And..perhaps she should consider talking to her about Aether. After all, she had decided to just screw over the plot line, so she might as well spill the beans.

If there was a plus point in any of this, it was that her body pain and nausea were subsiding, slowly but surely.

The brunette however, couldn't just sit still. Too many things were on her mind, too many things to worry and fret about, too many things to fear.

Am I...dying?

God, she didn't want to die. Divya didn't want to die. She wanted to go home. She wanted to see her parents. She wanted to see her friends. She wanted to see her cousin. She didn't want to be here. She didn't want to be in Teyvat.

She didn't want to hear about how her body was consuming itself from the inside out because of that damn elemental energy.

She didn't want to hear about how her very existence was rejecting the existence of Teyvat.

She didn't want to hear and remember how she was practically and alien in this world.

She didn't want to be coughing up blood every second she breathed.