-

The banquet continued, but the energy had shifted. Conversations carried on, yet there was a lingering weight in the air, a silent acknowledgment that something had just changed.

Yoshika had barely touched her drink. Her mind replayed Wanderer's words over and over.

"Celestia isn't just watching anymore. They're acting."

It wasn't news to her-not entirely. She had always known that Celestia's presence loomed over Teyvat like an unspoken threat. But if Wanderer, someone who had no reason to involve himself in Snezhnaya's affairs, had come all this way to warn her...

She needed to think.

She needed to breathe.

Furina, ever perceptive despite her theatrics, seemed to sense Yoshika's restlessness. As soon as the opportunity arose, she took Yoshika's hand and pulled her away from the crowd, leading her through the estate's quiet gardens.

The moon was high, casting silver light over the stone pathways and the still waters of the koi pond. The distant sound of the banquet faded behind them.

Yoshika exhaled slowly, letting the crisp night air cool her thoughts.

Furina, on the other hand, was watching her closely.

"You're thinking too much," Furina finally said, folding her arms. "Which is my thing, by the way. You're supposed to be the one who stands there looking elegant and unreadable while I spiral dramatically."

Yoshika huffed a quiet laugh. "So now we have roles?"

"Obviously," Furina said with a flourish. "And right now, you're ruining mine."

Yoshika shook her head, but her expression softened. "I'm just... processing."

Furina leaned against the stone railing, tapping her fingers thoughtfully. "Do you believe him?"

Yoshika didn't answer immediately. She gazed at the water, watching the way the moon's reflection shimmered with the ripples.

"I think he believes it," she said at last. "And that's enough for me to take it seriously."

Furina tilted her head. "Celestia has always been a mystery, even to me. They grant Visions, shape history from the heavens, and yet... no one knows what they want." She sighed. "Even when I was playing the role of a god, Celestia never interfered. But if they're moving now..."

"It means something's changed," Yoshika finished.

Furina was silent for a moment, her blue eyes thoughtful. Then, in a rare moment of sincerity, she reached out and took Yoshika's hand.

"We'll figure it out," she said, voice quieter than usual. "Together."

Yoshika looked down at their joined hands.

Furina's touch was warm, grounding. It wasn't often that someone reached for her first.

She squeezed back.

"Together," she agreed.

The moment lingered, soft and unspoken.

Then, of course, Furina ruined it.

"Besides," she huffed, flipping her hair, "I refuse to let some mystical divine beings ruin my grand return to Fontaine's spotlight! Honestly, the audacity-"

Yoshika laughed. For the first time that night, the weight in her chest eased.

For now, that was enough.

-
𝖠𝖭 𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖾: 𝖥𝖨𝖭𝖠𝖫𝖫𝖸 𝖲𝖮𝖬𝖤 𝖥𝖴𝖱𝖨𝖲𝖧𝖨𝖪𝖠 𝖬𝖮𝖬𝖤𝖭𝖳🙏