Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Days later, outside the Jade Chamber, Kaeya was fiddling with a coin, rolling it between his fingers as he leaned against the wall beside the entrance.

He was staying in the shade; dawn had just passed, and the sun was already growing intense—as it always is in Liyue at this time of year.

Jean emerged from the nearby doorway, a look of concern on her face and papers in hand.

“A tough crowd?” Kaeya asked, pocketing the coin and stepping toward his superior.

“Yes... I’m shocked by the Qixing’s greed. They wouldn't stop shouting in there—everyone was terrified and furious at the thought of losing money. I tried to negotiate, but it was impossible. It seems they simply don't trust us.”

The two colleagues began to walk away from the entrance.

“I told them about the Grand Master—that he’s doing everything he can to catch the thief—but they claimed we were making empty promises with no results. I think I only made them angrier; when I tried to offer free wheat and supplies for the crew repairing the harbor, they just shouted me down.”

Jean gazed at the horizon as she spoke, her brow furrowed. The situation weighed heavily on her mind. Various aspects of daily life in Mondstadt depended on Liyue; for instance, many of the knights' weapons were forged from ores imported from Liyue.

Kaeya crossed his arms; this situation was undoubtedly beyond their control. Were they really left with no choice but to wait for word from Varka on whether he had even managed to catch a glimpse of her? “Forgive me for interrupting your conversation, but…” The door opened again, revealing a woman with white hair dressed in expensive gold-colored attire. “I, for one, would like to negotiate with you.”

“Lady Ningguang…” Jean turned to look at her, trying to compose her usual expression and mask the stress she was under.

“My apologies for the commotion earlier. That is precisely why I dislike holding meetings in the Jade Chamber, but unfortunately, there was no other option…” As she spoke, she slowly approached her two visitors, holding her traditional tobacco pipe in her right hand.

She continued speaking once she had drawn closer to them. “That thief is cunning, without a doubt… But I already have someone who is even more so.”

“Is this person some sort of spy working for you?” Kaeya asked.

Ningguang offered a soft, confident smile—one that bordered on flirtatious.

“She doesn’t work for me—at least, not entirely. She usually operates independently. You could say we’re partners… In fact, I believe the Hero of Liyue has already told you about her.”

Jean searched her memory until a name came to mind.

“Yelan.”

“Exactly…” Ningguang crossed her arms, still holding her pipe. “She informed me today that she spotted the girl we’re looking for near the underground mines last night. Apparently, she was on her way to Sumeru.”

“Then we weren’t mistaken; she’ll likely be able to meet up with Varka soon,” Jean replied, turning to look at Kaeya; both appeared somewhat relieved by the news.

“…I doubt that will be enough.” Ningguang remarked, once again capturing the attention of the other two present. "Don't get me wrong—from what I gather, Varka is quite a formidable man. We’ve all heard tales of him and his exploits. However, does he truly have experience tracking down thieves, as opposed to simply confronting them?"

Jean fell silent, her gaze dropping to the floor. That very question had already crossed her mind; she might well need to send someone to assist Varka, yet she couldn't think of the right person for the job.

She was well aware of Diluc’s experience in tracking and investigating thieves; however, he was essential to maintaining Mondstadt’s economy, which was currently in such a precarious state. She also considered Lohen, but while he was skilled at interrogations, he lacked significant experience in tracking down thieves. Finally, she thought of herself and Kaeya—but Mondstadt needed leaders to follow. If either of them were to leave, it would be like leaving the nation blind.

Ningguang noticed Jean’s concern and offered a faint smile—one that was both confident and reassuring.

"Yelan would be more than willing to assist Varka with this investigation."

With that, she once again commanded the full attention of the Dandelion Knight and the Cavalry Captain.

"In fact, she is already on the trail. As I mentioned, she is a fiercely independent woman, though... honestly, I worry. We don't know the extent of the thief's power, only that she is capable of destroying an entire port. If she were to clash with Yelan... I doubt my colleague would win." Ningguang turned her face away to gaze out at the paradise offered by the Jade Chamber.

Jean and Kaeya turned...they understood what the leader of the Qixing was referring to.

Varka could beat the thief in a fight, but they weren't sure if he could track her down; Yelan could find her, but they didn't know if she could defeat her in combat.

Pairing the two of them up was a good idea, yet they had never even spoken to one another. Who knew if they would make a good team?

Still, they didn't have many options.

"Understood. I’ll let Varka know that reinforcements are on the way."

"Perfect." With that, Ningguang turned and headed back toward the Jade Chamber. "I’ll also let Yelan know she’ll have the Grandmaster’s support," she said as she walked away.

Before opening the door again, she paused and—without turning back to look at her visitors—said, "By the way, we will need that resource support for the harbor reconstruction team."

"We’ll send it over this very day," Jean replied.

Ningguang smiled to herself and stepped back into the Jade Chamber.

———————

Meanwhile, the expedition had finished crossing the Sumeru desert and had reached the tropical zone. It was afternoon, and they were making their way toward the city of the Nation of Wisdom.

The expedition’s formation was divided into three sections, with Varka at the very front. He was not mounted on his steed; his cold-blooded horse was currently carrying two wounded men and a load of supplies.

Don't get the wrong idea—the Grandmaster loved his palfrey and the impressive figure he cut while riding it—but several horses had been injured during the expedition and were unable to carry riders for the time being. Varka simply couldn't bring himself to ride back to Mondstadt while his wounded men were forced to walk. At the center of the formation were the pack animals, guarded on all sides to prevent their supplies from being stolen.

The third and final section of the formation consisted of the knights who had been drinking heavily the night before—among them, a certain trio Varka had previously disciplined back in Nod Krai.

"Samiel’s Wall is really impressive; it reminded me a lot of the wall in Mondstadt," remarked the black-haired, blue-eyed youth. He rode his own horse while chatting with his two companions, who were forced to share a single mount.

"Yeah, you're right. Though ours are better," replied a green-haired youth who looked a bit more hungover than the rest; he was the one sitting at the rear of the shared horse.

To get his two friends' attention, the third youth—the one actually controlling the horse he shared with the green-haired companion—raised his voice. "Hey, Winfried, Ekbert." His friends turned to look at him. "Do you remember the list of traits the thief had?"

"Yeah—don't you, Leifhelm?" asked Winfried, the black-haired youth, addressing his brown-haired companion.

"Obviously I do, too," Leifhelm replied.

"I don't," said Ekbert, who was still nursing a hangover.

Both of them ignored him and continued their conversation.

"It’s just... I noticed that the list of traits she mentioned last night was the same one she gave us that time."

Winfried thought for a few seconds, then his expression shifted to one of surprise as he let out a quiet "Oh!"

Ekbert, the only one who didn't understand what they were referring to, looked up.

"What do you mean by 'that time'?" The dark-haired young man turned to look at him to explain. “Early in the expedition, Ludi Harpastum rolled around, and we were all sad because it was going to be the first time we spent the festival away from Mondstadt. So, the Grandmaster let us take the day off to drink, and we all overdid it. You and most of the others were sprawled on the ground; only a few of us were left awake alongside Master Varka.” The boy began scratching the back of his neck while gazing at the sky. “I don’t quite remember how I ended up asking the Grandmaster so many personal questions, but I do recall asking him what his ideal girl would be like.”

Ekbert looked at him in disbelief at first, but then a laugh began to bubble up—one he tried to stifle by covering his mouth with his hand.

“So, are you telling me Master Varka is using us to find his ideal girl?” asked the green-haired youth, turning to look at his friend Leifhelm.

“Not literally; I’m just saying that, coincidentally, the thief seems to fit the other list the Grandmaster gave us perfectly.”

“Talking about me?” inquired the deepest voice in the area.

Varka appeared out of nowhere, carrying a couple of bags in his hands.

The group of friends stared at Varka as if he were a ghost. Ekbert even let out a small yelp.

“G-G-Grandmaster… We didn’t notice you arrive,” said Leifhelm.

“That must be because you drank so much last night.” Varka fixed an angry-dad glare on the green-haired boy. “Especially you, Ekbert…” Ekbert finally reacted and lowered his head. The other two looked...

...startled to realize that Varka apparently hadn't overheard the entire conversation.

“S-Sorry, Grandmaster…” Ekbert said.

Varka sighed; he knew he wasn't exactly in the best position to criticize others for overindulging, but in his defense, he had been restraining himself throughout the expedition to avoid causing conflict with his comrades—at least most of the time.

“Anyway, my steed is tired of carrying two wounded knights and so many bags, so I thought I’d lighten the load a bit by giving this to your horse, Winfried.” Varka changed the subject, turning to look at the dark-haired man.

“N-No problem, Grandmaster!” Winfried replied, trying to appear as confident as possible.

Varka handed over the bags and returned to the front, leaving the group of friends alone once more.

Back at the lead, the Grandmaster took out the map Mika had left him to check if he was on the right path, but his mind was elsewhere. He was still puzzled by Venti’s letter. That bard was the one who had sent the letters; perhaps he had been busy or in a rush, which explained why his own note had been so brief. Regardless, he would heed his Archon’s words and help anyone wearing a red cloak—if he happened to come across such a person at all.

As for the thief… what more could he say, other than that he had no idea how to find her? What if the girl wasn't even heading to Sumeru? There was no way to know.

Varka felt like he was walking in the dark, yet he didn't blame Jean or Venti for his situation; they were likely in the same boat.

________________

Meanwhile, in the tropical region of Sumeru, there was you. You were lying on the grass in Avidya Forest, beneath the shade of a massive tree, putting the finishing touches on a red cloak.

You had been using the fabric as an improvised blanket over the past few nights. You hadn't been able to do much with it at first because you simply couldn't make sense of the sewing manual you’d bought. Fortunately, something finally clicked in your brain this morning.

You walked over to the nearby river and tried on your creation. You looked good. The cloak was a bit oversized, casting a slight shadow over your face—an effect that, from your perspective, looked incredibly cool and mysterious. It also kept the glow of your Geo Vision hidden.

You smiled with satisfaction, even though the hem was longer on one side than the other due to your poor measurements.

It still smelled faintly of Mondstadt, but surely no one would notice.

You were just minutes away from Sumeru City. Your plan was to sell the chocolates you’d finished making that morning so you could buy the hygiene products you needed, then see if you had enough left over for a meal. If not, you could always just grab a few apples.

You picked up your basket full of chocolates and headed toward the city.

______________________

You smiled when you realized who your first customers would be.

A group of children was playing tag at the docks; three of them were already tired and had flopped onto the ground, while the others kept playing. It was just the start of the afternoon, and their parents were nowhere to be seen. Seizing the opportunity, you approached them, stepping out of the shadows like a villain from a fairy tale.

"Hey, kids," you said, catching the attention of the three sitting on the ground. You pulled your basket out from under your cloak again; it was still full of the chocolate you had made earlier that morning and the night before. There were also containers of water filled with ice to keep your goods at the perfect temperature.

“Do you want some chocolate?” You took a sample out of your basket.

Two of the children were immediately frightened and backed away.

“... No... We can’t accept sweets from strangers...” the tallest one replied, while another child hid behind his friend.

The third member of the small group was the only one who stepped forward and tasted the sample.

“Hey,” he said, turning to look at his friends while he chewed. “This is actually good.”

“Hey!” The boy who had been acting as a human shield started scolding his friend. “Mom told us we couldn't accept sweets from just anyone who offered them!” To drive his point home, he pointed at you and continued his lecture. “Look at her! She looks and smells like a foreigner; she’s even wearing a cloak that hides her face. I wouldn't be surprised if she was planning to kidnap us and sell us off.”

“What? No!” You were taken aback. “Have you never seen a foreign vendor before?”

Even as you complained, you started doing the math in your head and realized it made sense for children from the Nation of Wisdom to be more wary of strangers than those from the Nation of Freedom.

“Well, sure, but you can't trust anyone these days with a global threat on the loose,” the tallest boy replied, leaving a brief silence in the air.

“... Huh?” You let out a sound of surprise.

“Oh! Don't mention her—just the thought of...”

“Thinking about her scares me,” said the boy who was still hiding behind his tall friend.

“Are you talking about the thief? What would she be doing in Sumeru?!” replied the boy who had tasted the sample.

“I don’t know, but it’s still dangerous.”

This meant the news had reached all of Teyvat, yet they didn't know what you looked like yet; if they did, the boys surely would have reported you by now.

While you were thinking, the boy standing closest to you grabbed a few more samples and shoved them straight into his friends' mouths.

“Shut up. If she were the thief, she’d just try to rob us instead of trying to convince us to buy her product.”

It wasn't the soundest logic in the world, but you let it slide since it worked in your favor.

“Hey! I didn’t…” The boy who had been acting as a human shield started chewing involuntarily. “Huh, it actually tastes pretty good…”

In the end, you managed to sell quite a few chocolates, but you also had to check the city’s notice boards to see just how much they knew about you. As it turned out, you were in luck; the only notes regarding you were based on various eyewitness accounts claiming to have seen you, but these were likely panic-induced reactions, as most of the descriptions didn't match your actual appearance. Still, you might want to alter your look a bit to avoid getting caught.

___________________________________________________

When Varka’s expedition finally arrived at Sumeru City, they left their horses on the outskirts and set up camp nearby. It was late afternoon, but thanks to the trees, the heat wasn't nearly as grueling as it had been in the desert. Varka stopped right at the city entrance and began giving instructions to the group.

“Alright, we’re splitting up now. We’ll organize ourselves just like always.” Varka placed his hands on his hips. “Group A will get water, Group B will get food for us and the horses, and I’ll head to the Adventurers' Guild to announce our arrival. Understood?”

“Yes, Grandmaster!” everyone replied.

On the way to the guild, he noticed there wasn't a single child in sight. That was strange; the last time he’d visited, it was common to see them playing in the streets. He simply assumed the school had assigned them a lot of homework or something similar.

At the same time, he scanned the area for someone matching the description of the thief they were looking for, but found no one who fit the bill.

“Good afternoon, Katheryne!” Varka called out as he approached the guild.

The young woman turned to look at him and smiled. “Varka! Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild—what a pleasant surprise.”

Varka gave a small smile. “Haha, I just came to register the expedition's visit.”

“Of course, just a moment.” Katheryne pulled some papers and a quill pen from beneath the counter. “Please sign here and list who is with you and the reason for your visit.”

Varka nodded with a grunt of acknowledgment and began filling out the forms, having to bend his entire torso forward to reach Katheryne’s counter.

“Anything new?” he asked as he wrote.

“Well, I was planning to tell you once you finished writing, but yes. There’s a letter here from Acting Grand Master Jean, and some Mora has been sent for your supplies.”

Varka looked up for a moment. “How much Mora?” Katheryne’s expression shifted to a more composed look as she told him the amount.

The Grandmaster was concerned; it was about a third of what he usually received. This change was undoubtedly due to the crisis Mondstadt was facing.

“Looks like I’ll have to take on a few commissions, then?” Varka handed over the completed paperwork, stowed away the letter and the Mora he had been sent, and straightened up, crossing his arms. “Any monsters to defeat that pay a hefty sum in Mora?” He flashed a confident smile as he awaited Katheryne’s reply.

“Well, yes, but... Actually, there is something more urgent we need help with.” Katheryne pulled some sheets of paper from a drawer. “I assume you’re already aware of the situation regarding the thief, aren't you?”

Varka looked surprised, but the spark in his eyes quickly faded. He let his arms drop to his sides. “Does the commission have something to do with her?”

“Yes. You see, we had no idea what she actually looked like because we had received so many conflicting physical descriptions from various witnesses. We suspect that, in their panic, people often confused her with other individuals or even with bushes.” Katheryne handed the papers to Varka, and he began to look them over. “However, we recently received this. It was sent by the leader of the Liyue Qixing. She mentioned that an associate of hers managed to track down the thief and that she would soon be arriving in Sumeru City; she also provided us with numerous copies of this list, detailing all the physical characteristics they had identified.”

Varka read through one of the sheets as he listened. It matched the initial description he had received from Jean perfectly.

He would have much preferred things to be otherwise; he couldn't believe that the girl described as his ideal type happened to be some sort of global threat.

“Do you need someone to put this copy up on all the city’s notice boards?” he asked.

Katheryne nodded. “Exactly. We also need to take down the old notices.”

“Count on me; I’ll get it done today.” With that, Varka turned and started to walk away. “Have a nice day!”

“You too, Grandmaster!”

Varka took longer than expected—so long, in fact, that dusk had already begun to fall. He was making his way up the city ramp toward the Sumeru Akademiya, having been told the last notice board was up there. As he climbed, he read through Jean’s letter.

“So, they’re sending me some reinforcements...”

He thought it was a good idea. Although he didn't have many details on where or when he would meet this ‘Yelan,’ he trusted Jean’s judgment. Besides, he knew a few things about his new partner—like the fact that she held a Hydro Vision and hailed from Liyue.

Incidentally, he still hadn't spotted any children.

Then again, that was only true a moment ago; he suddenly began to hear the giggles of several young children.

He liked the sound of children laughing. It might sound a bit odd, but seeing close-knit, healthy communities put him at ease, and watching the little ones have time to play and have fun was a sign of just that.

He slowly approached the end of the ramp and came upon a lovely scene. Many children were playing alongside their parents, while others had gathered around a figure he couldn't quite make out amidst the crowd. And out of nowhere—as if he had stumbled into a trap—a scent wafted to him, sending a strange jolt through his entire body.

He could smell the breeze of Mondstadt. It was a scent he could never forget; one that instantly made him feel like he was back home.

Involuntarily, he moved toward the crowd, trying to find the source of what had made him lower his guard for that split second.

He ended up standing behind someone crouching down, wrapped in a red cloak. The person had the voice of a woman who was helping a small child choose which kind of chocolate to buy.

Finally, Varka snapped out of it, realizing his actions and noticing that his shadow was completely blocking the evening light from the woman in front of him. She seemed to notice it too and turned to look at him.

There was a brief, awkward silence filled with eye contact, and Varka finally realized something he had been overlooking. He saw the red cloak and remembered Venti’s letter.

“If you run into Little Red Riding Hood herself, help her out! She’s a friend of mine :D”

________________

When you noticed the massive size of the man standing behind you, you nearly let out a startled cry. You managed to compose yourself, though you found yourself staring at him in surprise for a moment too long.

You snapped back to reality and turned your attention to the child you were helping. Still crouching at his eye level, you handed him the chocolates along with his change.

“Thanks for your purchase. Remember to share some with your parents, okay?” you said. The boy nodded happily, shouted “Yes!” and ran back to his family.

You stood up and turned around to look at the giant man again. He had already stepped back a few paces.

You let out an “Umm…” to fill the awkward silence. The guy seemed to be deep in thought. You figured he might be trying to picture your face, since you were keeping it hidden in the shadow of your cloak’s hood—effectively avoiding eye contact, too.

You were just about to ask if he’d like some chocolate when he spoke up first.

“Uhh… This might sound a bit strange, since we haven’t met before, but do you know a bard named Venti?”

You started connecting the dots. The man standing before you was over two meters tall, wore Mondstadt-style clothing and armor that looked like that of the Knights of Favonius, and—if you glanced at his left side—you could spot his Anemo Vision. All those traits fit perfectly with the name everyone in Mondstadt knew.

Your eyes widened in surprise.

“Are you Grand Master Varka?”

The man in question snapped back to his usual self; the awkwardness vanished from his face, and he let out a short but powerful laugh—a sound you felt resonate right through your chest.

“That’s me! I see Venti told you about me.”

You wondered just how much he’d been told about you. Did he know you were the thief? In any case, it was best to ask indirectly.

“Oh… Ummm…” You weren’t the type to stammer when nervous, but having a man like Varka standing right there made you feel… different. “Just how much did Venti tell you about me?”

“Oh, well, not much, really—but enough, I think.” Varka placed his hands on his hips. “He calls you ‘Little Red Riding Hood’; ​​he told me you were a friend of his.”

...and that he would help you with whatever you needed.”

You raised your eyebrows slightly; Venti hadn't been lying when he said he had connections. That was the least of your concerns, though. Could you really confess to him that you were the thief? Just to be safe, you decided to keep that secret to yourself for the time being and not reveal your face yet.

Besides—"Knight of Boreas"? "The Titan of the Knights of Favonius"? "Knight of the North Wind"? It all sounded too perfect, and nothing in life is perfect. There had to be a downside to him.

“It would help me a lot if you bought one of my chocolates,” you said, holding out your basket.

Varka looked a bit incredulous. “Oh... Is that all? No monster or anything chasing you?”

Well, the entire continent was, but you weren't about to say that.

“Not at all; I’m just a chocolatier.” Seeing that Varka wasn't picking one up himself, you grabbed one for him. “When I went to Mondstadt, I had the chance to make chocolates using their liquor... Sadly, I’ve run out of those, but I still have some made with the alcohol I got here in Sumeru. They’re freshly made!” You offered Varka a sample. “Venti told me you were also a dru- I mean, a fan of alcohol.”

The conversation had taken a more casual turn; your muscles were no longer tense, and he seemed much more relaxed as well.

“Liquor-infused chocolates?” His face lit up. “Let me try one.”

Varka took the sample you offered, savored it for a few seconds, and then you saw his eyebrows shoot up.

“Hey, this is the best chocolate I’ve tasted in ages!” “It’s a shame you don’t have more of the kind you made in Mondstadt; I would have paid anything for it.”

Varka was smiling now, and you offered a faint smile in return, remaining composed.

“I hear that a lot,” you said, crossing your arms and flashing a small, confident, proud smile.

These were the moments where you didn't feel like you were putting on an act. You truly cherished them.

“Hmm... To be honest, I’m a bit short on Mora, but for one of those little bags of chocolate, I can make an exception.”

Without further ado, you handed him the bag, stated the price, and he paid.

“Well, thank you for your purchase, Grandmaster.”

Varka felt a pleasant shiver when you addressed him by his title.

“Thank you,” he said, stowing away his new purchase. “So... are you sure you don’t need help with anything else, miss?”

You thought for a moment; you would have liked to take advantage of his help, but you were still deeply wary of him. You considered whether there was anything you could actually ask of him that wouldn't jeopardize your goal.

Varka watched you patiently with a smile on his face, his hands resting on his hips.

“Umm... This might sound a bit strange, but do you happen to have a spare map? I need to get to Natlan, but I’m not really sure how to get there.” That request seemed to please Varka.

“You asked the right person!” Varka pulled a map from inside his coat. “I have a guy on my expedition who’s an expert at making maps.” He offered the paper to you, and you took it. “He is just a kid yet, but he’s really brilliant; thanks to him, I never got lost once.” All his words were full of confidence and happiness.

He sounded like a proud father; it amused you, and you smiled faintly. “He sounds like a real prodigy. You’re lucky to have someone like that on your team,” you said, glancing at the map you’d been offered.

“I know.” Varka’s face now seemed to light up the room more than the lamps did. You began tucking the paper inside your cloak. “Well, miss, do you need help with anything else?” he asked one last time.

“No, that was all I needed. Thank you very much.”

“No need for thanks; a friend of Venti’s is a friend of mine,” he replied, turning to leave. “Have a lovely night, and good luck with your expedition.”

Although Varka had been more than willing to help a friend of his Archon, he now felt relieved realizing he’d have more free time to take on guild commissions and earn Mora.

“You too. Have a nice night,” you replied, your expression neutral.

That was it; both knew you would likely never see each other again, and went their separate ways.

Varka walked over to the last remaining notice board—located just a few meters away from the crowd and you—and began posting the final copy of the physical description. He had planned to stick around a bit longer to ensure his Archon’s friend didn't actually need anything else. He found the situation odd; he knew Venti wouldn't ask for a favor out of the blue only for nothing to actually come of it.

He was standing alone in a dimly lit area when, suddenly, he sensed someone’s presence right beside him.

Without turning his head, he glanced sideways and spotted a Hydro Vision on the person's outfit.

Varka then turned his gaze back to what he was holding.

“…You.”

“You must be the reinforcements…” Varka said, still trying to put up the copy he was holding on the notice board.

“Do you know her?” asked the elegant female voice of the woman standing beside him. She was dressed in ordinary Sumeru attire that kept her camouflaged within the crowd, yet her face didn't look like it belonged to the region.

“Who?” Varka finished sticking up the paper and straightened his posture.

“The chocolatier.”

Varka turned his gaze toward the black-haired woman with the Hydro Vision. She was watching the crowd—specifically, the person she had just mentioned.

“No, I don’t know her. She’s just a friend of a friend,” Varka replied, now looking in the same direction.

You were just finishing selling some chocolates to the children, unaware of the two people talking about you.

“She is the one we’re looking for,” the elegant woman said.

Varka was incredulous for a moment.

“Miss Yelan, right?” Varka asked, trying to confirm his companion's name.

“That’s right. Let’s skip the introductions; we all know who you are, Grand Master,” the black-haired woman said, never taking her eyes off the target.

“Well, Miss Yelan, how can you be sure she’s the one we’re looking for? The only physical traits of the thief we know about concern her build, and that cloak literally makes it impossible to confirm what she looks like,” Varka asked, crossing his arms and furrowing his brows.

“I’ve been tracking her for a while; believe me, it’s her.” Yelan turned to look at Varka.

They locked eyes in a cold, steady gaze.

“Miss Jean sent me to assist you because I already know how she moves. The best thing we can do is follow her a little longer so we can capture her, but I’ll need your help because she’s sure to put up a fight."

Varka was certainly confused; why would Venti be friends with a thief like her? Perhaps the chocolatier had lied when she said she knew Venti... In any case, it would be best to question her directly.

"Agreed. We just have to wait until she’s alone, right?" Varka asked, his eyes still fixed on Yelan.

"Yes, exactly," she replied, turning her gaze back to the target.

However, you were no longer there.

Both of them noticed your absence immediately, and alarm bells went off in their minds.

Simultaneously and without a word, they both plunged into the crowd to search for you. Varka began asking people about you, but it seemed as though you had simply vanished.

"Grandmaster!" Yelan shouted, catching his attention. She was standing by the massive green glass doors leading into the Sumeru Akademiya. "She’s here!"

Unfortunately, some guards also noticed Yelan’s presence at the entrance.

"Hey! Foreigners aren't allowed to enter the Sumeru Akademiya at this hour!" ...shouted one of them as they approached Yelan. Unfortunately for them, Varka was much faster; he managed to get inside and shut the building's doors before they could get close enough. Normally, having guards to help capture a target would be useful, but in this case, they had no idea what your abilities were or if they might end up injured because of you.

Jean would be furious with him when she saw the complaint filed regarding the Knights of Favonius's misconduct in Sumeru.

The guards' groans could be heard from the other side of the door, but that certainly didn't stop the Grand Master and the spy. Once inside, they both caught a fleeting glimpse of your red cape turning a corner down one of the hallways. Yelan surged ahead, using her Elemental Skill to try and catch up to you; Varka kept pace by relying mostly on sheer leg strength to run, while using a touch of Anemo energy on his feet to propel himself forward. They both reached the corridor and paused, bracing for a potential ambush, only to watch you exit through a doorway leading outside. You then used your Geo ability to jam the door shut, packing the opening solid with giant boulders to ensure no one could follow.

“Leave this to me!” Varka shouted without breaking stride.

While still running toward the door, he drew his two greatswords and unleashed a cross-shaped strike to shatter the rocks. The impact kicked up a cloud of dust, forcing Yelan to squint for a moment. Then, the dust cleared—swept away by the force of Varka’s Anemo energy—revealing that some of the boulders still remained. Varka frowned, frustrated that he had underestimated the strength required for the task. He knew that if he unleashed a single, full-power blow, the building might... ...falling; consequently, he began striking key areas multiple times with moderate force. The entire scene—from the first blow until he finally managed to clear the rocks—took 12 seconds.

Varka and Yelan held a certain advantage, as both were much faster than you, but the time lost caused them to lose sight of you.

“There!” Yelan shouted, pointing at you.

You had jumped and deployed your glider—an illegal move for a foreigner without prior permission—knowing you’d eventually be caught if you stuck to the only available path. You thought the cover of darkness might hide you, but you had underestimated Yelan’s keen eye.

Yelan drew her bow and pulled back the string, nocking an arrow and aiming it right at you.

Varka turned to look at her, somewhat astonished and horrified by her idea.

“You want to shoot her? We need to interrogate her!” the Grand Master remarked, suddenly seeing a hint of Lohen in his colleague. Naturally, he wouldn't order Yelan to stop; she had been assigned to him as an equal.

“No, I’ll just hit her glider. That way, it’ll be easier to catch her,” Yelan said, respecting Varka enough to hear his opinion before releasing the arrow.

“But there’s still a good chance she’ll be badly hurt, or run away, when she falls!”

Slightly annoyed but willing to concede the point, Yelan lowered her weapon.

“What do you suggest?” she asked. Varka braced himself, crouching slightly as he began to channel a massive amount of Anemo energy into his feet.

“I’ll catch her.” With that, he launched himself forward in a massive leap, propelled by his elemental power.

___________________________________

You were already celebrating your escape, convinced they couldn't possibly catch you. However, you sensed a strange presence behind you, accompanied by a sudden breeze; out of nowhere, you felt the weight of a bear slamming into you like a cannonball.

You let out a high-pitched squeal, just like a rat whose tail has been stepped on. 

“Gotcha!” the bear shouted.

You quickly recognized the voice of the “beast” behind you; it belonged to a certain blond man whom, just hours ago, you thought you’d never see again.

Because whatever was behind you had wrapped its arms around your back—reaching over yours and encircling your upper torso—your glider collapsed completely, rendering it useless. Varka deployed his own to support you both, but since he was carrying you, he couldn't extend his arms out to the sides, robbing him of the balance he needed. Now at the mercy of the wind, both were hurtled at full speed toward a large nearby tree.

You both cried out upon seeing your impending fate; however, Varka fell silent sooner, using his own body to shield you. He held you even tighter and shifted your positions, placing himself in front of you to ensure he took the brunt of the impact. Furthermore, despite lacking mastery over the elements, he channeled what little Anemo power he could into his back to soften the blow.

The plan worked—more or less—as Varka managed to prevent either of you from getting injured, though the Grand Master did let out a sharp gasp of pain. However, you both began to fall again, plummeting from the point of impact on the tree down toward the ground. This time, it was you who saved the day; before your descent could pick up speed, you summoned a structure that shot up from the earth, catching you both.

You began to feel conflicted. This man—sent by the bard who saved your life—had offered to help you with anything, bought you chocolates, then tried to capture you alongside the spy you thought you’d left behind in Liyue, and now, he had just saved your life. It certainly didn't make much sense.

Varka was no better off. He didn't distrust his Archon at all, but if you really were the thief, what was he supposed to do? Listen to Venti and help you, or capture you and put an end to the conflict plaguing Mondstadt and half of Teyvat?

Why did it seem like, whenever a political issue arose, Varka ended up completely overwhelmed?

The Grand Master was still holding you, but he was a bit dazed from the blow and his racing thoughts, so you were the first to start getting up. You moved one of the arms that was holding you—partly because you disliked physical contact with strangers, and partly because his arm was so heavy it kept you from moving freely—and then you turned to look at him. He was slowly opening his eyes; he moved the arm you had shifted to his back, beginning to rub the spot where it hurt.

You two locked eyes in an awkward moment, which you quickly broke by glancing at the spot the Grand Master was rubbing.

Varka was the one to break the silence. "Uh... Are you alright, miss?" he asked as he started to sit up.

You stopped him, placing both hands on his shoulders to force him to lie back down. "Don't get up; you might have broken something."

"Haha, nothing to worry about—I’ve got strong bones." His laugh and comment made you feel a twinge of pity for him. It sounded painful.

"Just lie down..."

You insisted, and this time, he listened.

You remembered that you were both still on the massive platform you had created, so you made it begin to lower you slowly toward solid ground.

As you descended, neither of you knew how to start the conversation, so you simply looked down at the platform floor, watching it move like an elevator. Varka was staring at you. The cloak didn't fully cover you now, revealing a bit of your figure since you were wearing tight clothing. You noticed this and pulled the cloak back around yourself—mostly because of the cold. However, Varka now knew that you did indeed match the physical description on the list.

“So... You are the thief,” the Grand Master stated.

That comment sent a shiver of terror through your body. You glanced behind you, only to realize that Varka had silently stood up completely, blocking out the moonlight. You felt his shadow engulfing you and noticed the colder look in his eyes.

He wasn't the kind of man you could beat in a fight, so you would have to be cleverer if you wanted to get out of this situation.

You noticed Varka slowly bracing himself for a potential fight. He wasn't holding any weapons or using elemental magic, but you could tell by the tension in his muscles. You broke into a nervous sweat and simply decided to say what you thought was your best option.

“... I’m not the person you’re looking for.” Varka raised his eyebrows slightly at the statement. “I’m not the thief; I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and they thought I was the one who destroyed the cargo.”

You lied—but what would happen if you didn't? You would be handed over and end up back in Fontaine's prison. You didn't like lying, but right now, the cause justified it.

You stood up slowly; you didn't match the Grand Master's height, but at least you felt that your stance conveyed confidence in what you were saying.

Varka seemed to waver in his earlier conviction, and his silhouette appeared less intimidating as a result. "Huh? And what about the harbor? It was littered with rocks formed from elemental power, and you possess a Geo Vision."

"I did do that... but it was because, when I arrived in Liyue, word got out that the woman who had destroyed the cargo was on the same ship as me. I was being chased and attacked because they thought I was the one they were looking for. I was just trying to protect myself, and my elemental power got a little out of control..." you said, trying to maintain the most confident expression possible. 

As much as you disliked eye contact, you held his gaze to appear more trustworthy.

It sounded reasonable to Varka. He couldn't imagine Venti protecting a thief who seemed to threaten Teyvat's entire economy; it made more sense that he was concerned about a girl who had been mistaken for that thief. Even so, he still didn't fully trust you. Let's just hope Barbatos doesn't take offense when he sees that his devoted follower doubted his word.

“Could you tell me a characteristic of Venti?” I ask, just to rule out the idea that you lied when you said you knew the bard.

“Uh… Guy with braids, dressed in green… Umm… He plays beautiful music.”

To be honest, one of the reasons Varka still didn't want to believe you was the lingering frustration of realizing the real thief might still be out there, free. The Grand Master let his guard down for a moment, looking at the floor and clenching his fists in frustration. He was truly powerless when it came to politics.

The blond man turned his gaze back to you. "Do you know where the thief went?" Varka asked, his expression still serious. You could no longer bear the tension of his gaze, so you looked away. “No, I don’t know…” Varka lowered his eyes again as you crossed your arms. An idea occurred to you. “But I have an idea of ​​where she went.” That recaptured the Grand Master’s attention, a spark of interest lighting up his eyes. You turned your face slightly toward the Grand Master and, without making eye contact, explained. “She’s likely on her way to Natlan or Snezhnaya. It makes sense; she’s a wanted woman in Liyue, Fontaine, Sumeru, and Mondstadt. She’d probably head for a nation where people are less on the lookout for her.”

Varka released the frustration he had been clenching in his fists, realizing there was still a chance to capture the thief—even if it meant a delay in returning home. Still, searching an entire nation sounded like a complicated mission. Fortunately, he had an ally in Miss Yelan, who could assist him given her extensive experience in this field. It would likely just be the two of them; he didn't want to keep his expedition wandering all over Teyvat any longer. They deserved to go home.

“All right, I’ll speak to Miss Yelan about the situation. Thank you very much for the information; it’s a huge help.” Varka wasn’t smiling, but he sounded sincere when ...expressed her gratitude. That made you feel a bit guilty.

“Oh, no problem…” With that, the platform you had created had already deposited them onto solid ground.

You were somewhat surprised that he believed you so easily; it likely had something to do with the fact that you were friends with Venti.

Your thoughts were interrupted when you realized that Yelan most likely wouldn't buy your lie. You needed to leave as quickly as possible.

“Umm… I should get going now,” you said, brushing the dust off your cape.

“Huh? But you said you were heading to Natlan too, didn't you?” You froze slightly at Varka’s comment. “Don't you want to come with us? We can drop you off at your destination.”

“Uhh…” You cursed yourself internally for having told him where you were going back when you were both in the city. “No, thanks; I can go on my own.” To avoid further conversation, you started to walk away—a rather bad idea, given that the blow had taken its toll and your bones ached a bit as you moved.

Varka was about to stop you; however, a third voice intervened.

“It seems you’re already interrogating her, Grand Master.” Yelan had caught up with them. Both men turned to look at her simultaneously; this time, Varka hadn't detected her presence due to the barrage of thoughts occupying his mind. “Or rather, it looks like you’re negotiating…” Yelan didn't look happy; her expression wasn't neutral but rather slightly tense, her brows furrowed.

She slowly approached the two of them. Varka tried to explain himself. “Miss Yelan, I’m glad you found us,” the blond man said, attempting to defuse the tension. “I was just talking to the young lady… The young lady… Ummm.” He cursed himself internally for the slip-up, and his face went pale.

“You don’t even know her name, do you?” Yelan asked. She walked past Varka and headed straight toward you. You noticed a navy-blue light beginning to form in her right hand.

You stared at her in momentary terror, but quickly regained your composure upon realizing you could easily defeat her—provided Varka didn’t join forces with her.

Varka was already worried; he wanted to tell her that you were a friend of his Archon and that she ought to help you, but he couldn't simply go around revealing his friend's secret identity.

“Yelan, I’ve spoken with her; she’s trustworthy. She told me she isn’t the thief and that it was all a misunderstanding.” The Grand Master tried to press the point, stepping closer to Yelan and preparing to prevent any potential confrontation. He knew he sounded somewhat unconvincing, but he tried to maintain an air of utmost seriousness and confidence so Yelan would see he was telling the truth.

“What are you talking about, Grand Master?” Yelan didn’t turn her head this time; she kept her predatory gaze fixed on you. “I was there during the incident; I saw her leaving the ship carrying some rather important crates.”

“Yelan, come on… We were both assigned to this case together, weren't we? Trust my word.”

“It seems you are the one not trusting mine,” Yelan exclaimed. She didn’t shout, yet the intensity of her words made her strong disagreement unmistakable. Even you couldn't help but feel a certain respect for her. “We must capture her, interrogate her, and take her to Fontaine, where she will stand proper trial.” Without even tearing your gaze away from Yelan, you could see Varka come to a halt a few paces behind her, to her right. You saw him hesitate for a moment, second-guessing his own words as he looked at his comrade. Then, he turned his eyes toward you.

“...You’re right...” the Grand Master finally replied, summoning one of his greatswords while fixing his gaze on you. Yelan finally shifted her eyes away from you, noticing that Varka had rested his weapon on his left shoulder; he clearly didn't think he would need to use the second one.

You cursed inwardly; there was no way in hell you could beat those two in a fight. You took a combat stance anyway, scanning your surroundings for a possible escape route.

Yelan finally revealed the nature of the strange light in her hand, showing that she had created a thread using her Hydro ability. She was trying to anticipate your first move with that intense, penetrating gaze of hers. Because of this, she failed to notice Varka driving his weapon into the ground right behind her.

Yelan reacted when she heard the sound of metal striking the earth, but it was too late; Varka struck her on the head with his elbow, leaving her nearly unconscious. She was forced to dispel the thread between her hands and brace herself on her knees to keep from collapsing to the ground. Your eyes widened and your brows shot up as you slightly lowered your combat stance.

“I’m sorry, Miss Yelan...” Varka whispered, using a quick yet gentle kick to knock his—now former—comrade off balance. He caught her before she could hit the ground hard.

Yelan’s vision was becoming increasingly blurred, and that It was evident from the way she struggled to keep her eyes open. Varka knelt and gently laid her down on the grass.

“She’ll be fine; she’ll regain consciousness in less than ten minutes, and there are no monsters nearby,” the Grand Master said—just as the woman’s face twisted with confusion and frustration before she drifted into a deep sleep.

Afterward, Varka stood up and turned to look at you.

You lowered your guard, though you still wore the look of surprise from moments ago. You gazed at the unconscious woman; you might have felt a twinge of pity for her, had she not tried to capture you just moments earlier.

You raised your eyes and unexpectedly met Varka’s gaze; he had been watching you intently all along without you realizing it. Eye contact lasted only a couple of seconds before you both looked away simultaneously. However, you noticed an expression on his face that suggested he was somewhat embarrassed by his actions.

“…Uh… I know striking a lady isn’t exactly the behavior of a knight…” Varka began scratching the back of his neck, looking a bit nervous. “But honestly, there was no other choice, was there?”

You felt a pang of sympathy seeing his expression; he looked genuinely ashamed of the decision he had made.

“Yeah, there was no other way,” you replied somewhat curtly—though that was only because you were still struggling to process what had just happened and what might come next. Wouldn't this cause major trouble for Varka? Could you now head to Natlan in peace? You felt a genuine sense of guilt for having lied to a man who had trusted you as if he’d known you your whole life. Deep down, you wondered what kind of favor Venti had done for this man to make him take the requests so seriously. “Well… We need to leave. I’m sure Miss Yelan won’t take long to wake up,” Varka said as he walked back to his greatsword, which was still embedded in the ground. He picked it up and made it vanish. After a moment’s thought, you walked toward him. Varka also began to lead the way.

You were about to ask where you were going, but you stopped dead in your tracks when you found yourself beside Miss Yelan; you gazed at her with a hint of concern now. Varka stopped too when he no longer heard your footsteps behind him. He turned to look at you, concerned. “…Is everything alright?”

“It gets very cold at night,” you said in a near-whisper. Varka realized what you meant as you started to take off your red cape.

“I’ll do it,” he said, stopping you. Before you could reply, you watched him remove the armor from his shoulder and then take off his bluish coat. He draped it over Yelan and then put the metal piece of his attire back on. “I have a high tolerance for the cold; it’s better if I give her my coat.”

Finally, you saw a smile on his face again—a small, gentle one for the moment, but a good sign nonetheless.

With that, Varka resumed leading the way, and you simply followed him.

“We’re going to Natlan, right?” you asked, positioning yourself about two steps behind him and to his right.

“Yes, but first I need to leave instructions for my knights regarding what to do.” He turned his head toward you without changing his pace. “I’ll also tell them Miss Yelan’s location so they can come and pick her up.”

“That’s good…” you replied in a near-whisper. Obviously, you didn't like that woman; however, you weren't the type of person to wish the worst on anyone who crossed your path. You only truly hated a select few individuals.

“Yes… Well, let’s pick up the pace; as I said, she won’t take long to wake up, and I’m sure she’ll know where we’re going.” Varka turned his gaze forward again and broke into a faster trot. You followed, though somewhat clumsily. The impact against the tree was still taking its toll; every time the soles of your boots hit the ground, you could feel your bones vibrate.

Varka could detect the irregularity in your gait simply by the sound of your footsteps.

“Can you keep up?” he asked without slowing down, and in your mind, you screamed no.

“Yes,” you replied.

Varka seemed satisfied with that answer, and the two of you kept moving forward.

---------------------

You both moved forward until the camp’s torches came into view in the distance.

The Grand Master stopped, and so did you. Varka stroked his chin, lost in thought as he watched his knights talking amongst themselves and arranging their supplies in designated areas.

“Is everything alright?” you asked, noticing his pensive expression.

“Uh… Yes. It’s just… I think it would be best if you stayed here for a moment while I explain to them that I’m leaving without them.”

You understood what he meant. It would look very strange if a girl—one matching the description of the thief—suddenly appeared out of nowhere and the Grand Master left with her. They might accuse him of treason, right?

That thought made you feel guilty about your decision all over again. Yet, you still believed it was the right one.

You couldn't afford to trust him—at least, not completely. In fact, you needed to be ready in case he decided to betray you—in case he was actually planning to approach the camp and send his knights against you now that he had you trusting him.

“Alright, I’ll wait for you here,” you replied calmly, crossing your arms. Secretly, you were scouting out the best escape route, just in case.

“Perfect. I’ll be back faster than the way wind can blow,” Varka replied, heading toward the camp.

But before he’d even moved three meters away, he stopped and turned back to look at you. You stared at him, wondering what he was about to say.

“I almost forgot...” He turned his whole body back toward you. “What’s your name?”

You stared at him, somewhat surprised by the question. You certainly hadn't expected something so casual, nor had you mentally prepared for it. The last time someone had asked for your name was back in prison.

Your mouth tried to form an answer, but your mind hadn't finished processing the information. You began to stammer out meaningless vowels.

Varka could sense your distrust of him—ever since he’d offered to take you to Natlan, or even back when you first met in Sumeru. It seemed you were constantly running away from the possibility of asking for help or allowing yourself to be vulnerable around him.

“...If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine.” At that, you fell silent; his comment had left you speechless with confusion. The two of you were about to embark on a rather long expedition, so you needed to trust each other for things to go smoothly. If you weren't going to take the first step, he was going to do it himself.

“If you like, I can just call you ‘Miss,’ or you can pick a nickname. That might be the most fair option, since everyone always calls me ‘Grand Master’—haha!” He flashed a wide smile, one bright enough to light up the night.

“Umm…” You paused for a moment, admiring that smile. “…‘Little Red Riding Hood.’” You answered without much thought; it was simply the first thing that popped into your mind.

“Oh? … Oh! That’s how Venti called you, isn’t it? Is that some sort of code name or something?” he asked, raising his eyebrows slightly.

“No, it’s nothing like that; he just called me that out of nowhere.” You replied, looking away to avoid making eye contact again.

“Well, that works just fine… Although, it is a little bit long, isn’t it? Is it okay if I just change it to ‘Little red’?” he asked, and you, while avoiding eye contact, you nodded. Varka responded with a last smile.

Varka turned back around. “I really need to head to the camp now.” He started moving without wasting a moment. “If Yelan shows up, run straight to where I am.”

Perhaps… You had been a bit too quick to think he would betray you.