Chapter Text
Inside the headquarters of the Fatui Harbingers, three maidens sat near a circular table, each possessing a small teacup.
The puppet maiden, arms crossed, complained about the light-blue-haired doctor, her sapphire eyes dancing between her two companions until momentarily stopping at the woman to her right.
There sat a cross-legged maiden, her left palm neatly resting on her lap while the other held her teacup. She had short, layered white hair with dark accents beneath, kept neat and precise. She wore a tailored black-and-white outfit with red details, structured like a formal uniform rather than clothing meant for comfort. Gloves covered her hands. Her expression was composed and unreadable, framed by sharp features and red, X-shaped pupils that never seemed to soften as they gazed at the sapphire-eyed puppet.
Noticing the bleak reaction, the puppet redirected her gaze to the left, toward the seated girl. She had dark hair that faded into deep pink at the ends, styled into two thick sections that fell down the front while the rest flowed behind her. A white, wing-shaped headpiece sat behind her head—six wings, feather-like in design.
She wore a white and light-blue outfit composed of layered, flowing fabric, semi-translucent toward the edges. The garment had wide, draped sleeves and a structured bodice with ornamental details at the chest, including a central blue, gem-like accent, with four feathered wings sprouting from it.
The black-haired girl faced the beige-haired maiden with a gentle smile. She sat in a composed manner, her hands softly resting on her lap, as the tea in front of her grew colder simply by her presence. Her closed eyes were wrapped in white, semi-translucent fabric with a zig-zag design.
Seeing the lack of reactions from both of her companions, the sapphire-eyed girl abruptly stood, the chair falling to the ground as she slammed the table. “Columbina! Arlecchino, why are neither of you giving any comments? Is my voice really so boring that neither of you have any desire to communicate, or have you both lost the capability of speaking?”
The girl shouting had ash-blond hair styled in a short bob, with long strands falling along the sides of her face. A white headpiece shaped like a stylized flower rested at the back of her head. She wore a layered outfit in black, white, and gold, with red accents. The dress had a fitted bodice with a high collar and ornamental patterns at the chest, extending into a flared skirt with decorative panels. The sleeves were long and slightly flared at the wrists, paired with white gloves. Her legs were covered in white stockings and dark shoes with gold trim. Attached to the lower back of her outfit was a dark-and-gold, key-shaped mechanical device, integrated into her, rotating slowly around its axis.
Placing the teacup on the glass table and letting go of the handle, the Knave blinked once. “There was nothing informative to add.” she spoke in a melancholic voice as she lowered her palm to rest on her lap.
The damselette spoke gently, slightly tilting her head to the right, her hand unmoving even as tea slightly spilled onto the table from when the sapphire-eyed girl had slammed it. “I didn’t want to interrupt your passionate speech,” Columbina said softly, her left ponytail faintly falling to the side.
At her words, Sandrone’s eyebrow furrowed as she raised and slammed her left foot onto the ground. “Columbina!! If I didn’t know better, I’d think my logic core was malfunctioning! How was anything I said passionate?” the puppet girl inquired, raising her left hand and snapping her fingers.
At that command, the large humanoid puppet knelt down and raised the fallen chair, then took a few steps back, allowing its creator to sit.
Turning her head back to its original position, the black-haired girl kept her focus on her agitated companion.“You spoke about Dottore for thirty minutes. Isn’t that passion?” Her voice was as sweet as a lullaby, her soft, angelic expression unchanging.
The Knave shifted her red X-shaped pupils toward the moon goddess. With a stoic expression, she spoke. “That wasn’t passion. It was contempt.” Her voice lacking any life as she moved her left hand toward the handle of her teacup, bringing it closer to herself, as if expecting a reaction from an acquaintance.
At that cue, the ash-blonde-haired girl slammed her right palm on the table.“At least one of you possesses the cognitive scope to understand.”
Crossing her left leg over her right and moving the back of her palm near her cheek, her elbow resting against the chair, she continued.“Either way, after I generously saved his subordinates from poisonous gas. And after all that? He left, while I was still stuck cleaning after his mess.” Her voice rose in pitch with each word.
Throwing her hand away from her cheek and standing up, Sandrone paced around the table as she continued her rant.“‘Waste of time,’ he said. ‘I have more important things to do,’ he said.” She spoke in a poor imitation of his voice. Slamming her right foot into the ground, her hands resting at her sides, fists clenched tightly, she snapped, “The nerve! He wasted my time!”
Clenching her jaw, the sapphire-eyed girl glanced at the table. Seeing the full cup of tea near Columbina, she hastily stepped forward, picking up the cup and hurling it at the wall.A soft crack echoed as the cup struck the surface, shattering completely, tea slowly dripping down the wall.
The black-haired girl faintly lowered her head toward the table. In a light voice, she muttered, “My tea…” Slowly turning her head toward the now-seated puppet girl, a soft smile resting on her lips, she inquired, “Can I get another cup?”
With crossed arms, Sandrone glanced at the slowly dripping tea.“Tsk. Such a waste of a good batch of tea. I should just unscrew Dottore’s midbrain.”
Turning her attention to her blind companion, she continued, “And why would I do that? It’s not like you were drinking it in the first place.” She said sharply, her left palm resting against her cheek.
Not moving from her position, the dark-haired girl spoke with a soft, unmoving smile. “It’s good etiquette,” Columbina said gently, her voice as soft as the wind, yet as beautiful as the moon.
Raising an eyebrow, Sandrone glanced at the Moon Maiden, a small smirk curving its way onto her mouth.“Columbina, lecturing on etiquette? My hearing processors must be malfunctioning. Alas, you’re correct.” Removing her palm from her cheek, she weakly pointed her index finger at the puppet behind her, then at Columbina.
As the large puppet began to move, the black-haired girl abruptly stood. The moment her feet lightly touched the ground, a small trace of residual energy appeared at the point of contact, dispersing almost immediately. “It’s time…” she said absentmindedly, her voice lunar and hypnotic. With each step she took, residual energy appeared and vanished just as quickly.
Gently placing the teacup on the table, the Knave uncrossed her legs and stood.“We must return to our duties,” the white-haired girl said calmly, pushing the chair into the table before beginning to follow Columbina.
Angrily standing, Sandrone marched in front of the black-haired girl—forcing her to stop—crossing her hands.“Columbina! What is the meaning of this? You still haven’t said why you wanted me to arrange this tea party. Or has your memory core finally begun to rust?”
Stepping closer to the beige-haired girl, the faint smile still plastered on her face, Columbina said, “Oh, I almost forgot. I’ll be returning home today—Frost Moon. I wanted one last farewell… a tea party.”The moon maiden slowly approached the puppet girl, her voice as delicate as lunar shine.“No matter how far separated we are, we will always be friends, right?”
Still crossing her hands, the sapphire-eyed girl lifted her nose in the air and began, “Who wou—”
She stopped her snarky comment when she felt two hands wrap around her. Momentarily stunned, her arms slowly fell to her sides. Opening her eyes, she saw Columbina hugging her. After a moment of stillness, her hand twitched, hesitantly moving her right hand upward.
Alas, it was too late; the black-haired girl released her.
“Goodbye, Sandrone,” she said softly, turning toward Arlecchino and extending her hands as she slowly approached the fourth-ranked Harbinger.
Noticing this, the Knave faintly moved her right palm in front of her, the left hand firmly placed behind her. “Apologies, but not even my children are allowed to embrace me.”Turning her right palm sideways and extending it toward Columbina, she added,“ It would be crass not to show my farewell.”
The moon maiden tilted her head slightly until realizing, then faintly lowered it toward the hand. Although she could not see it, she felt its presence. Extending her own petite hand, she shook it gently.
Both women retracted their hands— Knave pushing hers behind her back, Columbina allowing hers to float to her side.Turning, the black-haired girl walked toward the exit, her movement slow, as if gravity it self did not apply to her.
The puppet girl watched her friend leave, her eyes softening before dropping to the ground. “I’ll… miss… you too, Columbina,” she whispered. Her key-shaped mechanical device slowed as the blind girl left the room, and with her, the beautiful humming disappeared, leaving only the silent motor sound echoing in the quiet room.
*****
The moon maiden walked through Zapolyarny Palace, small traces of residual energy appearing and vanishing beneath each step. Her soft humming bounced off the cold walls, creating faint echoes as she made her way toward the exit of the Cryo Archon’s palace.
“All three moons in one place. It’s a rare occasion indeed.”
The black-haired girl stopped and turned toward the slowly approaching man, a light-cyan full-moon orb and a red waning-crescent orb orbiting around him.
The man wore a half-mask that covered his upper face, light-blue hair—
“You don’t need that.”
Creeping closer to the maiden, the cyan-haired man smiled faintly, his crimson eyes hidden behind the mask. “As punctual as ever, Columbina. I needed you for my newest experiment,” he spoke in a clinical voice, both hands resting behind him, crossed.
The Damselette tilted her head slightly, a left bang falling closer to her chest, her usual unreadable smile still plastered on her face. “…No,” she said flatly, without hesitation.
Returning her head to its original position, she turned away and continued walking.
At that, the doctor’s smile faded, his head slowly following the retreating girl. Before long, his right hand drifted toward his mask as he released a soft sigh. He shook his head faintly. “Non-scholars truly don’t understand the majesty of my work,” he whispered to himself.
Releasing the mask and lowering his hand, Dottore extended his palm toward the black-haired girl. “…It wasn’t a request.” Coldness saturated his voice as the two lunar orbs shone brighter.
The black-haired girl’s humming faltered as the palace fell unnaturally quiet, residual energy gathering near her feet.
Before Columbina could react, a thin wall of energy appeared in front of her—then to her left, right, above, and behind—fully trapping her within an energy cube. For the first time, her smile shifted, surprise and confusion flickering across her face.
Hearing the echo of footsteps drawing closer, she turned toward the perpetrator, her mouth slightly open as pale palms pressed against the barrier before her.
“Confused?” the cyan-haired man said dryly. “I suppose even gods are perplexed when their own power is used against them.” Retracting his hand, he crossed his arms.
Stopping near the trapped lunar maiden, Dottore lowered his head slightly, gazing directly at the confused girl. “You possess the pleasure of being part of my experiment. Hopefully, you won’t die,” he said clinically, a faint smirk curving onto his lips.
In the next instant, both Harbingers vanished, leaving nothing behind but a cold wall, the space around it wrapped in silence.
Behind the site of the incident—from where Columbina had walked—stood a large puppet, holding a white feathered cloak. Noticing that the doctor and the Damselette had disappeared, the puppet turned and walked away, returning to inform its mistress.
*****
Slamming the doors open—and forcing the screws to snap—the impact threw them inward, crashing into the laboratory and revealing the puppet maiden and the Knave standing just outside the entrance.
The ash-haired girl stormed into the laboratory, one hand on her hip, the other pointing at the levitating doctor. “Dottore! What are you doing?! Did you forget that we Harbingers aren’t allowed to fight among ourselves? Do I really need to unscrew your brain?!”
Slowly walking inside, her heels struck sharply against the stone floor, creating echoes that bounced around the room. One hand was crossed behind her back, while the other extended to the side, palm facing upward as red energy manifested above it. “Doctor, have you betrayed us? Explain.” The white-haired woman’s X-shaped pupils glared at the cyan-haired man.
Drifting his gaze away from his machine and toward his two companions, a sly smirk formed on his lips.“Haven’t you heard?”He descended slowly, ruby eyes locking onto the fourth-ranked Harbinger. “Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa, granted me permission to do as I please—so long as the experiment succeeds,” he said dryly.
Stopping in her tracks, Sandrone clicked her tongue. “In what way,” she said, drifting her hand and pointing at Columbina, “is that fool needed for your experiment?” The puppet girl stepped closer, her tone sharp and snarky.
Landing on the floor, Dottore turned his attention fully toward the agitated ash-haired girl. “Is there truly a point in telling you?” His voice lacked any trace of empathy. “We already know the answer— even she is beginning to realize it.”
He tilted his head slightly toward Columbina, a bang obscuring part of his vision. “That Lady Tsaritsa only invited Damselette for her power,” he continued, stating it as simple fact.
At the doctor’s words, the black-haired girl’s head drooped downward, her lips remaining faintly pressed into a straight line. “I… I only wanted a home… a place to belong,” she said softly.
Allowing the crimson energy to dissipate from her palm, the Knave raised her right index finger near her mouth. Her gaze flicked toward the trapped maiden, then back to the doctor. “And what exactly does your experiment intend to accomplish?” she asked plainly, lowering her hand.
Dottore’s smirk widened as he turned back toward his machine, taking several steps closer. The two lunar orbs orbiting him began to swell before drifting slowly into the device. He glanced back toward the Marionette and the Knave.
“To control the power of the Abyss.”
Both Sandrone’s and Arlecchino’s eyes widened.
Pointing toward the doctor, Sandrone began, “Pulonia att—”
Arlecchino threw her right hand outward, crimson energy engulfing her palm.“I wo—”
“That won’t do.”
Before either could act, both Harbinger maidens froze in place, as though time itself had stopped around them.
Turning her head toward her friends, the moon maiden could only whisper, “Sandrone… Arlecchino…”
The machine glowed bright blue and red as lightning burst forth, striking the laboratory walls—then suddenly stopped. Silence engulfed the room.
The Damselette scanned the space, as if expecting something more to happen, yet finding nothing.
Then she felt it.
Her own power was being drawn away—no, more accurately, connected to the machine.For the first time in five hundred years, dread seeped into her heart.
Crack.
Dottore turned his head sharply to the left, a wide smile forming as a fracture appeared in space itself, like shattered glass. Shards fell downward, vanishing before touching the ground.
The light-blue-haired man stepped closer, hands clasped behind his back, crimson eyes studying the phenomenon—already devising new experiments.
Then, something fell from the rift.
Its form was warped and uneven, its body fractured by glowing seams. Portions of it drifted out of alignment before snapping back into place as it moved.
Yet before the doctor could examine it further, the creature dissipated into countless particles. Moments later, the crack in space sealed itself, leaving only a faint glow behind.
But it was enough.
The mere appearance of a new species—one that resembled nothing found in Teyvat—was enough. Creatures that did not belong in this world.
A single moment ignited a new hunger within Dottore’s heart.
Were they sentient?
Could they feel pain? Emotions?
Did they possess organs?
How did their biology function?
All he could hear was his heart pounding louder and louder. His hunger for knowledge was unrestrained—his desire to understand beings that should not exist in Teyv-
His thoughts were interrupted.
A red line tore across the air above. He lifted his head as the line fractured into three diamond-shaped forms.
“…No…” the black-haired girl whispered, sensing a presence that did not belong to the mortal realm.
From the center diamond emerged a tall, slender, white-haired woman with amber eyes. She wore a white coat lined with red over a celestial-patterned bodysuit. Her hands were blackened at the fingertips, the coloration creeping upward and shifting between pale white and pitch black as red squares flickered across her skin. A large golden halo hovered behind her.
Her yellow eyes glared at the light-blue-haired man.“The Abyss is not power to be wielded by gods—let alone mortals. Those who dare will be punished by Divine Principles.” The goddess spoke in a cold, absolute voice.
Dottore’s crimson eyes flicked across the being before him, as if he were observing a rare specimen—one never discovered nor recorded in history.
“Can I assume you’re one of the Shades?” he said curiously, tilting his head slightly to the right as his gaze drifted behind her. “Presumably… Space?”
“A mortal knows of our existence?” She paused, her expression unchanged.
“Those who transgress will be erased.” Her words carried no emotion as she extended her right hand, a red square forming beneath Dottore’s feet—who noticed just in time and evaded.
Landing several steps away from his original position, Dottore glanced back at where he had stood, only to find the red geo-like square dissipating into nothing. He turned his head toward the goddess of space. “So be it,” he said dryly.
Extending his right hand, Dottore raised his index finger toward the air. In response, two inverted lunar orbs emerged from the device, breaking free and beginning to orbit him once more.
As the battle between the Goddess of Space and the false Moon God began, Columbina could only hear the destruction it brought. Her eyes, still covered by white fabric, followed the clash through sound alone, until her attention slowly drifted toward her frozen companions—the Shade’s words echoing in her mind. “Everyone…” she softly muttered to herself.
Tilting her head upward toward the sky, she extended her right hand, her index finger brushing against the energy barrier.“I guess…”Her hand slowly descended toward her lap. “I won’t be going home today…” she weakly whispered.
Her left hand faintly touched her chest as she extended her right palm toward the machine, widening her pale fingers as far as they could go. A small, light-blue energy sphere manifested between them.
Taking a deep breath, she slowly rose to her feet—her stance fragile. The black-haired girl pushed her palm farther away until the blue sphere vanished from her hand. In the next moment, a light-blue portal appeared directly behind the machine.
In the midst of the clash between blue Hydro blasts and red Geo constructs, both Asmoday and Dottore halted, turning toward the unexpected disturbance. At the same time, the two lunar orbs orbiting the doctor began to glow brighter.
Quickly refocusing on the fight, the Goddess of Space extended her right hand further, her Geo attack steadily overpowering Dottore’s assault.
Crack.
Asmoday felt it.
Her red Geo square fractured, the crack slowly extending toward her as the doctor’s Hydro blast intensified—empowered by something new. To her surprise, it completely overwhelmed the Shade’s attack.
Bang.
A small explosion erupted as Asmoday was struck. When the dust settled, it revealed an unscathed white-haired woman—much to the doctor’s joy and displeasure alike.
Yet the Shade was not looking at Dottore.
She stared straight past him.
Noticing this, the cyan-haired man turned his head over his shoulder to see what had drawn her attention.
The once light-blue portal was shifting colors—oscillating between deep crimson and pale blue. As the portal struggled between the two hues, both the lunar orbs and Columbina began to faintly glow.
Then the space around the laboratory started to fracture.
Cracks spread in every direction, to everyone’s shock.
Dottore turned his head to the left as the first rupture appeared. From it fell a small, bunny-eared robot wearing what looked like a shark costume.
Crack.
He snapped his gaze upward as a massive fissure opened above him, water pouring out and rushing toward the floor. Reacting instantly, Dottore formed a compact Hydro sphere around himself, the torrent splashing harmlessly across the cold stone.
Crack.
Another rupture opened beside him, and a massive Ethereal creature burst through—towering, four-armed, with a single orb where its head should have been. To the doctor’s frustration, it dissipated into countless particles almost immediately.
More and more fractures tore through space, flooding the laboratory with creatures and artifacts never before seen—things that did not belong to Teyvat.
To his exhilaration, the two lunar orbs grew blindingly bright, illuminating half the room—until they abruptly stopped.
Behind the machine, the portal darkened completely, turning a deep, violent purple.
Then the red-eyed man felt it. A powerful pull—no, not toward the machine, but toward the spatial portal itself.
His floating body drifted unwillingly toward it. Dottore thrust his right hand in the opposite direction, but his arm refused to move.
“This world won’t control m—”
Before he could finish, a red Geo square slammed into his stomach, hurling him closer to the portal.
Forcing his momentum to halt midair, Dottore glared at the Goddess of Space. She returned the look with a blank expression.
Raising her hand, she pointed directly at him.
Dozens of red Geo squares materialized and launched toward the doctor. At the same time, a crimson linear sigil formed beneath her, splitting into diamond shapes before she vanished into it.
“This isn—”
His words were drowned out as the Geo constructs struck him, flinging him violently into the plum-colored portal.
The lunar orbs broke formation, shooting out of the laboratory entirely.
The moment they vanished, both the Knave and the Marionette were unfrozen.
Sandrone’s arm remained extended toward where Dottore had stood—until she felt it: a violent pull toward the machine, which began to crack under the strain.
Arlecchino, her hand still raised, manifested a crimson scythe. Feeling the force tugging them forward, she drove the blade into the floor and seized the hem of Sandrone’s dress with her free hand.
The ground gave way. Both Harbingers lost their footing and were dragged toward the portal. The deep red scythe scraped violently across the floor, carving into the stone as it struggled to anchor itself. Noticing it wasn’t enough, the Knave unfurled six wings—three on each side—halting their momentum completely.
Sensing Arlecchino’s power, the moon maiden softly smiled as her legs finally gave out beneath her. She struck the floor of the energy prison, then leaned her right hand against the cyan-colored barrier before turning her head toward the two Harbingers. “…Goodbye,” she softly said, before fainting.
The energy square hastily dissolved, forcing the black-haired girl into the purple portal. Following her were fragments of the machine, shattered into countless pieces.
As Columbina and the experimental technology fell straight into the dimensional rift, the cracks in space rapidly sealed themselves. Moments later, the rift closed completely—sending both Harbingers crashing onto the floor and leaving behind a half-destroyed laboratory.
*****
In a random alley, a small, violent purple rift formed. From it, a light-haired man was flung outward—the rift vanishing the moment he collided with the stone wall. The force of the impact left small cracks in the masonry as he fell onto all fours.
Taking deep breaths, Dottore glared at the ground. Small fractures spread across his raven mask before it shattered into multiple pieces. “That wasn’t the result I expected…” the man said between heavy breaths, his crimson eyes following the fragments as they fell.
Quickly recollecting himself, the doctor forced strength into his right hand and pushed himself to his feet. He paused, glancing around the area, finding dark walls on both sides and, ahead of him, a source of light.
Crossing his hands behind his back, he walked toward the light. His gaze occasionally drifted across the surroundings—from graffiti-covered walls to unfamiliar objects inside trash bins he had never seen before. “This place isn’t Teyvat?” he silently mused, refocusing forward as the light seeped into his red eyes.
“Eh-nuh?”
A small rabbit-eared construct suddenly appeared in front of the doctor, causing him to halt and examine it. ‘This creature appears similar to the one that fell from a spatial rift…’ he thought, a sly smirk forming on his lips.
Slightly kneeling, he extended his right hand toward the small being, his white coat softly brushing against the ground. His ruby eyes sharpened with each centimeter his hand drew closer.
“Eous! I told you not to run!”
Before the doctor could make contact, the construct hastily fled, its screen-like eyes widening at the voice.
Mildly annoyed, Dottore straightened, brushing the edge of his coat before clasping his hands behind his back. His crimson gaze locked onto a small girl with dark blue hair. ‘A local,’ he thought, deciding to approach.
He took soft, calculated steps toward the girl as she scolded the creature named Eous. Dottore’s gaze wandered—until it froze, his eyes catching sight of artifacts he had never encountered before.
His ruby eyes leapt from buildings of architectural styles unlike anything in Teyvat to metal machines with wheels that traveled at remarkable speeds—some even resembling devices used by the Pyro Archon for traversal.
Following one such vehicle with his eyes, he paused upon noticing a sentient being formed entirely of machinery: humanoid in shape, yet unmistakably metal. “Their appearance resembles automatons and puppets, yet they act with sentient consciousness—similar to a marionette.”
Continuing his observation, Dottore focused on people bearing animal traits—then another, and another. Slowly turning his head, his gaze lingered on each individual, carefully studying their features. “There are far more individuals with animal traits here… many undiscovered species. Fascinating,” he muttered.
Turning her attention toward the mysterious man, the blue-haired girl stepped closer to him. “Um, what are you muttering to yourself, mister?” she cursorily asked, her right hand tucked behind her back while her left index finger hovered near her mouth.
Hearing her voice, Dottore refocused on the girl, lowering his head slightly to glance at the child. “Apologies, child. But could you tell me what this place is, exactly?” he asked in a dry voice.
The blue-haired girl tilted her head to the left. “Huh? How do you not know that? Are you cosplaying or something?” Raising an eyebrow at her own question, she studied the man’s clothing more closely.
The cyan-haired man slipped his right hand into his coat pocket. “Cosplay? I’m certain you possess the wrong impression of me.” He withdrew his hand, now holding a badge the girl didn’t recognize. “I’m just a simple doctor. Now, may you answer my inquiry?”
Playfully narrowing her eyes, the girl took a few steps closer until the badge nearly touched her emerald-colored eye. Then, abruptly stepping back, she cheerfully widened her eyes. “We’re in Eridu!” she announced, extending her hands outward.
The doctor returned the badge to his pocket, then lifted his hand near his mouth. Eridu… It’s not a name documented in Teyvat’s history. Another world? I need further proof before reaching a conclusion, he thought, his hand slowly lowering back to his side.
“Tell me, child—what are those creatures?” Dottore clinically asked, raising an eyebrow as the girl suddenly extended her hand toward him, palm facing upward. “Hm?”
Placing her left hand on her hip, she crossed her eyes slightly as a sly smile formed on her lips. “If you’re gonna ask more questions, unc, pay up,” she said dramatically, rubbing her thumb against her index and middle fingers.
The doctor’s ruby eyes followed the motion of her fingers before drifting back to her face. “Unc? Are you extorting me for information?” he inquired, tilting his head ever so slightly.
In response, the green-eyed girl smugly nodded, her short blue hair swaying. “Well, I don’t know if you’re cosplaying—your costume looks expensive—or something. Plus, knowledge doesn’t come for free,” she said with a pleased expression, lifting her eyelids to properly examine the man.
Seeing her expression and hearing her tone, Dottore smirked. “You’re braver than most children.” Extending his left hand toward her, metal coins appeared seemingly from thin air—unnoticed by the girl. “Alas, you’re correct. Knowledge comes at a price.” He placed Teyvat’s currency into her palm.
Feeling the weight in her hand, the blue-haired girl’s eyes widened with joy—before her expression dropped into confusion. “What’s this? Are you trolling me?” She glanced back at the man, baffled. “You know I need dennies, not…” She briefly inspected her palm. “…this.” She handed the currency back.
His crimson eyes lingered on the blue-haired girl. ‘“Unc,” “trolling”—these words don’t exist in Teyvat. Are they fabricated? Or does an entirely different vocabulary exist here?’ He faintly shook his head. ‘No. We are communicating regularly. Presumably, new words have simply been added.’
Grasping the money and slipping it into his coat pocket, Dottore thought inwardly, ‘It appears that Mora is not legal currency in this nation.’
“Would this suffice?” he asked, withdrawing a small yellow rock.
Seeing the golden material, the blue-haired girl skeptically glanced around before shooting a look back at the red-eyed man. “Is this real gold?” she asked, narrowing her green pupils.
Dottore nodded. “Of course,” he replied indifferently. His gaze shifted past her, studying the living artifact behind the girl—it froze under his stare and quickly hid behind her.
“Yay! After losing my 50/50, I can finally get a C6 character in my gacha!” the green-eyed girl cheered, stars practically sparkling in her eyes as she stuffed the gold into her pocket. ‘Even if that doctor is a villain, he’ll be released someday—and I’ll get him at C6!’ the girl thought inwardly.
Turning back to the stranger, she extended her right hand. “I’m Belle Arna. What’s your name, mister?”
Refocusing on her, Dottore’s red eyes lingered on the offered hand before he slowly extended his own. “You may call me Zandik.” He faintly touched her hand, then withdrew. “Now—let us continue with my questions.”
Glancing behind the girl, the doctor spoke again. “Tell me—what is that construct? What purpose does it serve, and how is it created?” His crimson eyes locked onto the nervous-looking construct.
Belle scratched the back of her head. “How do you not know…” Recalling that he had, in fact, paid, she continued, “Well, this is a Bangboo. Its original purpose was to guide people through the Hollows.” Kneeling down, she patted the Bangboo before continuing. “But nowadays, people mostly use them to help out.”
Stopping her petting, she slowly began walking toward the nearest bench, Eous ever so diligently following straight behind her. “There are many different types of Bangboo—combat ones, and ones used for guiding in Hollows. So how they’re created varies.”
Noticing the girl move away, Dottore followed at a slow pace, his eyes drifting across the city—until they stopped on the massive black bubble in the distance. “What are these Hollows, precisely?”
The blue-haired girl’s eyes widened slightly before she slowly turned her head over her shoulder to look at the red-eyed man. Noticing where his gaze was fixed, she pointed toward Hollow Zero. “Hollows are like big, broken bubbles—space, time… and if you stay there too long, you might get corrupted and turn into a scary monster, called an Ethereal.” Her voice steadily dropped in volume as a chill ran through her.
Seeing her gesture toward the black sphere ahead, he lowered his head slightly to look at her. “What is known about these Ethereals?” he asked in a dry voice, his gaze briefly shifting toward the different kinds of Bangboo nearby.
“They’re what Hollows make,” the girl said simply, her hand lowering to her side. “People, animals, machines… if something stays inside too long, it turns into one. Some keep their old abilities. None remain… living.” She quickly shook her head, forcing her cheerful smile back into place, and continued walking.
Walking close behind her, his crimson gaze returned to the Hollow, his right index finger resting near his mouth. ‘So the creatures that fell from the rift were “Ethereals.” In simple terms, they cannot exist outside a Hollow.’ Lowering his hand, a wide smile curved across his face. ‘Fascinating creatures—bound to a single environment.’
‘Humans, animals, machines…’ His red eyes wandered from human to Thiren to automaton. ‘Do they all possess similar biology after they “corrupt”? Or does each retain a distinct structure and set of organs? Do they possess organs at all—or are they composed of an entirely different form of matter?’ Lowering his finger completely, his attention returned to the distant Hollow.
Then, shifting his gaze away from it and toward a nearby figure with animal traits, he asked, “Tell me—why are there so many humans with animal traits?” His eyes drifted slowly across people with cat, dog, tiger, and shark features, each one examined with careful precision.
Flopping onto the bench, Belle followed his gaze. “You mean Thirens? They just… are. As long as anyone remembers, there’ve been tons of different species—some more animal, others more human.” The Bangboo hopped onto the bench beside her, settling in.
The doctor remained standing, unmoving, his stare lingering—not on the person themselves, but on their animal features. ‘Is their biology closer to humans or animals? Or entirely separate from both? His smile widened the longer his thoughts spiraled.
Belle grimaced the moment she noticed it. ‘This guy is weird,’ she thought, averting her eyes as her legs swung back and forth, waiting for another question.
Then she noticed it.
A Bangboo lay a few steps away. ‘Looks like it malfunctioned.’ Standing abruptly, Belle walked over and knelt beside the fallen Bangboo, pressing a small panel on its side before giving it a quick shake. After a brief whirr, it jolted upright.
Turning around, the Bangboo muttered, “Nah-eh,” hastily thanking the blue-haired girl before toddling off toward its owner.
Following the little creature with her emerald eyes, Belle sighed softly—then turned back, only to find Dottore sharply studying her, his gaze flicking between her and the departing Bangboo.
With his hands clasped behind his back, the doctor fixed his attention on her. “What exactly did you do?” His eyes drifted slowly after the retreating Bangboo—more precisely, to the parts that had been handled by the green-eyed girl. ‘This kind of technology seems far more advanced than anything in Teyvat.’
Hopping back onto the bench, the green-eyed girl waved her wrist dismissively. “Oh, that? In simple words—its rendering vision glitched and it auto-shut down. I just fixed it.”She leaned back, resting both hands behind her head against the bench. “Just so you know—not everyone can do that.”
Seeing the overconfident expression on the girl’s face, he mused aloud. “Is that so? You must be highly intelligent.” His tone was faintly sarcastic, as if testing the child’s capabilities.
Removing her hands from behind her back, she sat up straight, puffing out her chest, her left hand resting over it. “Of course I am. Helios Academy only allows the best of the best, and I got in with a special scholarship—which makes me even better,” she smugly said, her eyelids fully closed.
Taking a step back and tilting his head slightly to the left, he asked, “Helios Academy? Is that a renowned scholarly institution?” His dry voice contrasted with his sharp gaze as he analyzed her clothes, pausing on a strange badge stitched onto her left sleeve.
“Yeah! It’s the most advanced school and research institution for Ether- and Hollow-related studies.”Glancing up at the sky, her smile faltered slightly. “It’s getting late… I still need to tell Wise to go home.” Jumping to her feet, she gave the cyan-haired man one last glance. “Hey, mister—you get one last question for today.”
Closing his eyes, the doctor remained silent for a moment. ‘Last query… How are Hollows manifested? Their origins? How many species of Thirens exist? Do Visions exist here? If not, what power system governs this world? What other nations are there? What are those puppets—and how are they manufactured?’ He considered each thought carefully before settling on a single question.
Opening his eyes, Dottore glanced down at the girl below him. “Tell me, child—what gods exist in this world?”
Raising an eyebrow, Belle tilted her head to the left, then quickly straightened it again, focusing back on him. “Gods? If you’re not religious, then none.” She muttered softly under her breath, “I knew you were a cosplayer.”
At that response, Dottore’s eyes widened just slightly. ‘No gods? This world truly differs from Teyvat. Or perhaps they simply haven’t discovered any deities.’ Letting his gaze settle back on the standing girl, a sly smile curved onto his lips, his ruby eyes narrowing faintly. “Hypothetically speaking—if you could, would you seek power equal to a god’s? Or even become one?”
Helping Eous climb down, Belle slowly turned back toward him with a gremlin-like grin. “Well, duh. If I had that kind of power, I could force Wise to do all the chores.” Her shoulders dropped as she sighed. “But unfor—”
Before she could finish, the city plunged into darkness. All electrical devices malfunctioned—walking Bangboos collapsed onto the ground, and moving vehicles abruptly shut down, crashing into one another or into nearby buildings.
Rushing toward Eous, Belle knelt to check on it before pulling out her phone and pressing the power button. The screen remained black.
Screams tore through the streets. Metal shrieked. The ground lurched beneath Belle as something heavy slammed into a nearby block. A blinding light ignited in the sky. The air trembled. A massive, circular rift tore open directly above Eridu.
Purple lines flared brilliantly as objects began falling from it—slowly at first, then faster, igniting as they burned through the sky. Some plunged straight into Hollow Zero. Others punched through Eridu’s buildings with a shriek of tearing metal and shattering concrete.
Ignoring the panicked civilians, Dottore couldn’t suppress a smirk, his gaze fixed skyward as fragments of his machine rained down upon the city. “It seems my experiment has yet to conclude.”
Lifting Eous into her arms, the blue-haired girl turned toward the doctor—only to find the space where he had stood empty, as if he had never been there at all.
In that same moment, the rift above Eridu sealed shut, leaving scorched buildings in its wake as electricity gradually returned to the city.
*****
In a forest just beside Eridu, on a narrow cliff overlooking the city, sat a gray-haired boy. His right eye was glued to the telescope as he traced the constellations one by one, breath slow and steady in the cold night air.“Sad that Belle didn’t make it… Boötes is one of her favourites,” the boy softly muttered to himself, his voice nearly swallowed by the wind as he lingered on the familiar stars.
Then—something fractured.
A small crack split through his view, sharp and unnatural, slicing across the constellation. Wise blinked once. Removing his right eye from the telescope’s glass, he brushed his fingers against the lens, as if dust might explain it. He leaned back in, this time pressing his left eye to the glass, pulling the side lever to zoom further.
His breath hitched.
His emerald-coloured eye widened, then blinked once—twice. In front of his vision was a mysterious circular hole in the sky, its edges glowing purple, completely eclipsing the stars behind it.
The gray-haired boy gulped, his left hand slowly pressing against his chest as his heartbeat quickened—part fear of the unknown, part awe at witnessing a phenomenon he couldn’t explain.
Hastily pulling the lever to its furthest setting, Wise studied the anomaly until he noticed fragments falling from it, streaking toward Eridu. Rotating the telescope to track them, he realized that one object was descending slower than the others—yet he couldn’t clearly identify any of them.
Then it hit him.
Shoving the telescope aside, Wise reached into his pocket and pulled out his mobile device, thumb pressing the power button. The screen flickered to life. ‘I need to call the teacher before—’ he thought.
The screen went black. At the same moment, the entire city below plunged into darkness.
Wise snapped his head toward Eridu, green eyes widening by the second, mouth slightly parted as he stared at the shadow swallowing his home.
Then, at the edge of his vision, faint red sparks appeared—one by one. His gaze slowly rose, his body frozen like stone as more lights descended from the sky. He straightened unconsciously, breath growing uneven as the falling objects drew closer, his heart pounding louder with every second.
The first struck the eastern side of Eridu. There was no deafening explosion—no roar—only a sudden bloom of darkness. The second vanished straight into Hollow Zero. Then more followed, each impact leaving brief flames and curling smoke that climbed into the night sky.
And then—almost mockingly—the city lights flickered back to life.
Neon illuminated the streets once more, brighter than Wise remembered, as if nothing had happened at all. And only then, as if the glow itself had flipped a switch in his mind, did his thoughts rush back.
“Belle… Teacher…” he whispered.
Spinning around, Wise began his descent down the mountain, in the quickest path.
His breathing grew ragged as he moved, feet slipping over roots and stones, eyes darting between looming trees and sharp bushes he barely avoided. Then—too late—his foot clipped a loose rock.
His eyes widened as he lost his balance, arms flailing instinctively until his feet struck grass and his knees buckled.
Wise raised his hands to shield his face as his body rolled down the short slope. Thankfully, the cliff wasn’t steep.
Twisting his body to slow himself, he slid the rest of the way down, momentum gradually bleeding off until he finally came to a stop.
He pushed himself up, palms pressing into the cool grass, rising too quickly—only to stumble as his vision blurred. Shaking his head, he steadied himself and stood again, this time on firmer footing.
Turning back toward the city, Wise stared. Ashy smoke still rose into the air. And now, it was thicker than before.
Not wasting another second, the gray-haired child spun around and rushed toward the forest, descending the cliff—this time watching the ground far more carefully, the area faintly illuminated by the half-corrupted moon above.
Reaching the treeline in haste, Wise extended his left hand and brushed his palm against a tree trunk, using it to slow his momentum as he entered the forest. Towering trees loomed overhead, their canopies obscuring the ground beneath.
The gray-haired boy’s eyes darted between the trunks, his head lifted high, mouth parted as uneven breaths escaped him—hah… hah—the adrenaline finally catching up as his pace slowed, until he came to a complete stop.
He planted his left hand against another tree, his right hand pressing firmly into his thigh. Huffing deep breaths, his head dipped, gaze settling on the muddy ground below.
After a few seconds, Wise slowly lifted his head, emerald eyes fixing on the path ahead.
'Belle… I hope you’re safe,' he thought, releasing his grip on the trunk.
Withdrawing his right hand, the gray-haired boy continued down the mountain, his eyes wandering from trees to bushes, then to small uneven hills scattered along the way.
Before he realized it, he had emerged from the forest. Moonlight spilled across the open grass, bathing the clearing in pale silver. Wise slowed to a stop, catching his breath, both hands resting heavily on his thighs.
Breathing hard, he glanced upward, spotting a small hill with trees blocking his route.
Why did I choose such a far place to stargaze… he thought, his head turning slightly to the left—where, only a few meters away, a steep drop marked a dangerously close cliff.
Shaking his head, the gray-haired boy released his stance and straightened, blinking once at the hill ahead. Closing his eyes, he drew in a deep breath, his legs faintly trembling.
When he reopened them, his emerald eyes reflected the moon’s corrupted glow. Determination settled over his expression. He took one step forward—
—and froze.
Wise’s eyes widened instantly. His hands, his legs—his entire body locked in place. He tried to move his left leg. Nothing. His right hand wouldn’t respond either. He opened his mouth to speak, but it wouldn’t budge. Even his head refused to turn—not as if something restrained him physically, but as though his body had simply stopped listening.
'Why isn’t my body responding?!' he thought, green pupils flicking wildly as he searched, unsuccessfully, for the source of his paralysis.
Then he felt it.
A faint touch pressed against his back.
From the point of contact, a thin yellow line burst forth. Wise’s eyes widened further as glowing lines spread across his left hand, crawling over his skin.
His vision flared—first blue, then rapidly shifting into a brilliant gold—
—and pain slammed into his body.
He wanted to scream, but his mouth wouldn’t open. He wanted to move, but his limbs remained unresponsive.
Then, just as suddenly, the pain vanished.
The yellow lines continued to glow, bathing the surrounding area in light.
And then—he heard it.
Stop, child.
The voice was soft—nearly silent, like wind brushing past his ear. Wise’s eyes snapped toward it.
There hovered a human-shaped figure, translucent and strained, as though reality itself were pushing against its form. It shouldn’t have existed. And yet, it was there—reaching for him anyway.
Drifting with the wind, the being moved slowly upward. Wise’s golden-hued eyes followed as it floated past his right hand and ascended toward the sky.
Hold tight—and don’t let go.
The whisper came once more.
Then a black blur tore straight through the apparition and shot toward the gray-haired boy.
Before Wise could process what was happening, something struck him hard in the stomach. Acting on instinct—and the voice’s warning—he wrapped his arms around the unknown figure and pulled it tight against his chest, squeezing his eyes shut as they slammed into the ground.
The impact sent them bouncing—rolling violently down the incline, stone and dirt ripping past as they tumbled further into the dark.
Pain exploded through his body—sharp and overwhelming—but the gray-haired boy clenched his teeth, ignoring it, tears faintly slipping down his cheeks. He forced his eyes open, vision spinning as the world twisted around him—black, deep-pink hair obscuring his view of the outside world. Their rolling slowed as they neared the edge of a much larger cliff.
Gritting his teeth, Wise felt his strength draining away. His eye implants flickered, their golden hue fading as the yellow lines pulsed in and out, unstable—then dying altogether as the ground finally gave way.
Both Wise and the mysterious being plunged over the edge.
Reacting on instinct alone, the gray-haired boy shot out his arm and caught hold of a thick branch jutting from the cliffside. His right hand clenched around it desperately, while his left wrapped around the being’s wrist.
He dared a glance downward—and his throat tightened at the distance below. His now jade-coloured eyes drifted to the being he was holding. “A… girl?” he softly whispered.
Slowly lifting his gaze toward the sky, Wise furrowed his brows. “How am I alive?” He turned his head back toward the girl. “From that speed, I should’ve died… right?” He softly shook his head as memories from just before impact returned. ‘Do those yellow lines have something to do with my increased endurance?’
Shaking his head again, he felt strain shoot through his right arm as it stretched under their combined weight, his breath hitching. Wise hastily turned his gaze back to the branch. ‘I can’t hold out much longer,’ he inwardly thought, his green eyes darting around the mountainside—until they locked onto a small, yet sturdy-looking ledge.
Unbeknownst to him, the black-haired girl stirred. Her head twitched faintly. Then, slowly, it lifted—turning toward the one holding her wrist.
Wise exhaled a shaky breath of relief.‘She’s lighter than she looks… hopefully, I can throw her.’ Slowly, his legs swung forth and back, gaining momentum, their bodies faintly swaying with each movement.
Then a sharp cracking sound echoed through the air.
His green eyes snapped back to the branch. Wise gulped. “Ooooooh…”
Snap.
The branch broke loose.
“Ahhhhhhhhh!” the gray-haired boy screamed as both bodies dropped—gravity pulling Wise faster than her.
Realizing he was moments from impact, Wise squeezed his eyes shut. ‘I’m sorry, Belle.’
But the impact never came.
His momentum slowed—until it completely froze, suspended midair.
Confused, Wise felt something solid beneath his grip. Slowly, hesitantly, he opened his eyes.
Above of him hovered the black-haired girl.
Two semi-transparent wings had unfurled from her back—layered, feather-like shapes glowing with faint light as they stirred the air. Her long black hair swayed gently, streaked with soft pink, while the transparent fabric that once covered her eyes drifted away.
Startled, Wise released her wrist and fell backward onto the ground with a dull thud, landing hard on his backside. His mouth hung open as he stared, emerald eyes tracing her form—from the white dress that flowed unnaturally still, to the unfamiliar patterns woven into it, and finally to her face.
Her eyelids trembled, faint lashes brushing against her skin as they parted inch by inch.Luminous lavender eyes emerged, glowing softly. Beneath her faintly lit pupils rested a delicate waxing crescent—pale and unmistakable.
She descended slowly to the ground. A faint orb of pale light lingered near her feet as they touched the earth, a crescent-shaped glow briefly etching itself into the soil before fading.
Noticing this, the gray-haired boy unconsciously crawled backward, his right hand gripping the ground as his left foot pushed him further away. In the back of his mind, an uneasy feeling sprouted—and grew the longer he gazed at her.
The black-haired girl’s lunar eyes drifted to her right wrist, then slowly swept across the surroundings—from the sheer cliff to the towering forest trees, then to the grass beneath her feet.
Her gaze wandered, memorizing the scenery, until it lifted toward the dark sky, stars faintly reflecting in her lavender eyes.
Lowering her vision from the stars to the mountains, then to the ground, her gaze finally settled on the child lying before her. Her lunar eyes studied him unhurriedly—from his clothing, to his hair, and finally his face.
Locking her gaze onto Wise, she regarded him with a blank expression. Her right hand lifted into view, palm faintly outstretched, her eyes shifting between her wrist and the boy—as if weighing something unseen. As though deciding the fate of the child before her.
Caught off guard, Wise stared at her silhouette, her semi-transparent wings reflecting the moonlit sky as they blended seamlessly with her form. Gazing up at her—black and deep-pink hair swaying softly in the wind, twin tails resting near her chest—the Boötes constellation shone brightly just above her.
Wise could muster only one word. “Angel,” he whispered, the unease within him deepening as a faint chill ran down his spine.
Hearing the word, Columbina lowered her hand. Her lavender eyes studied him further—his strange clothing, unlike anything she knew, the injuries scattered across his body: small tears in fabric revealing cuts and bruises, a cut along his cheek.
Then she noticed the wounds beginning to glow with a golden-yellow hue, glimmering faintly under the moonlight before vanishing—leaving healed skin behind. No scars. No blood. Only torn cloth, as if the injuries had never existed.
She tilted her head slightly, her expression unchanged, as her gaze traveled across the gray-haired boy—until it halted.
Slowly, she raised her head.
Moonlight reflected within her eyes as her focus drifted higher—past the fractured white moon above Earth, past its corruption, to something far beyond.
In the distant void behind the moon, space itself fractured.
A vast crack opened soundlessly.
From it emerged a massive frost-blue celestial body, its surface veined with cold light and ancient patterns.
It halted the instant it fully emerged.
Then, without warning, it began to move—slowly at first — unmistakably on a trajectory toward Earth.