Diluc and the others ran as fast as they could.
After several hours, they finally reached their destination—
The sealed cave.
Without hesitation, Diluc leapt forward and shattered the entrance. Debris scattered as the path opened.
Everyone rushed inside.
"Etoma! Where are you?!"
"Etoma!!"
Venti closed his eyes, feeling the subtle currents of wind. Then, suddenly, he dashed in a specific direction.
"Found her!" he shouted.
Everyone immediately followed.
And then—they saw her.
The girl they had been searching for all this time.
Etoma.
"—!!" A collective gasp echoed through the cave.
Venti was kneeling as Etoma lay half in Venti's arms, her leg still touching the ground. Diluc hurried forward.
Slowly, he knelt before her, gently caressing her cheek as though she might break at the slightest touch.
"Etoma…" his voice trembling.
Then—
her eyelids trembled.
"Etoma!! Can you hear me?!"
"This voice…" she murmured weakly. "Diluc…nii…?"
Her eyes slowly opened.
"Etoma! Thank God… you're okay…"
Diluc couldn't hold back any longer. He pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I'm so glad… you're okay…"
His voice shook as tears streamed down his face.
"Etoma!!!" Paimon flew straight toward her, flailing her arms as tears spilled from her eyes. "You made Paimon worry, you know!"
"Pai…mon…?"
"Ah—Traveler! Quick, water!" Paimon called, turning toward Lumine.
Lumine stepped forward, summoning a bottle of water from her storage space. With Diluc's help, she carefully gave Etoma a drink.
The others gathered around, kneeling beside her.
"Everyone… you found… me… heh…" Etoma forced a weak laugh.
Eula couldn't hold herself back any longer.
"Venti… right? May I?"
Venti nodded and gently passed Etoma to her.
"Eula-nee…"
"Etoma… I finally found you…" Eula embraced her tightly, tears falling onto Etoma's shoulder."Do you know how much I worried? Please don't disappear like that again… hic*…"
"I… made everyone worry… I'm sorry…" Etoma said weakly.
"No! You're not the one who should apologize!" Amber said firmly, clenching her fists.
"Etoma," Kaeya began, hesitating for a moment before continuing, his expression turning serious. "About those citizens who shouted at you… someone was orchestrating it from behind the scenes."
"…The shouting… I see…" Etoma replied quietly from Eula's arms.
"That's right!" Paimon added, puffing up. "When we get back, Paimon and Traveler will help you find that mastermind. How dare they treat you like this! They'll definitely pay for it!"
Etoma let out a faint chuckle. "Hehe… I'd like to see that…"
Seeing her smile, the tension in the group eased.
"In any case," Diluc said, standing, "Etoma is safe. But we need to return to Mondstadt as soon as possible. Whoever is behind this may already be waiting."
He turned to Eula.
"Let me carry her. You can go ahead."
Eula hesitated, unwilling to let Etoma go so soon.
"Diluc," Kaeya chimed in lightly, "why not let me carry her instead? Your strength might be more useful up ahead."
Diluc shot him a glare.
"Everyone… don't worry… I can walk…" Etoma said weakly. "Eula-nee… could you put me down?"
"No! Don't push yourself!" Eula refused instantly.
"As expected, let me—"
"No, I will—"
"Geez… everyone's so selfish, aren't they?~" Venti finally spoke, a playful smile on his face. With a soft giggle, he summoned his lyre.
"In moments like this… the best solution is simple." He strummed lightly.
"Let the wind! carry us~"
A powerful gust surged through the cave. One by one, they were lifted off the ground—
and then—
whoosh!
They were swept into the sky.
"W-whoa?!"
High above, the group drifted through the air—
Lumine desperately holding down her skirt, Paimon spun uncontrollably, Kaeya somehow remained composed midair, stroking his chin, Diluc's gaze never left Etoma, Eula held her even tighter, and Venti laughed as he guided them toward Mondstadt.
.
Not long after, they arrived just outside the city. The journey had taken only minutes. But what awaited them was far from relief.
Outside Mondstadt's gates, hilichurls and mitachurls swarmed the area. The Knights of Favonius were struggling to hold them back.
Seeing this, the group immediately rushed forward, leaving Eula—still carrying Etoma—and Venti behind.
"It's Master Diluc and Captain Kaeya!" a knight shouted.
Other knights turned, hope lighting their faces.
"We're saved!"
Diluc summoned his claymore, flames engulfing its blade as he charged into the enemy ranks.
Boom—!
Kaeya and Lumine followed, cutting down hilichurls as they advanced toward the gate. Just as the tide began to turn—
A portal opened nearby. An Abyss Mage emerged. The group instantly shifted their focus and rushed toward it.
Panicking, the mage raised its elemental shield and commanded the remaining monsters to attack.
But that wasn't all. Another portal opened. A massive Lawachurl stepped out.
With a roar, it swung its enormous club—but the group dodged with ease, counterattacking from all sides.
Under their combined assault, the creature quickly fell. Now only the Abyss Mage and a few scattered enemies remained.
The mage lashed out with elemental attacks, but they were effortlessly dodged—and even deflected.
Moments later, the battlefield fell silent. Its shield shattered, the Abyss Mage collapsed onto the ground.
"Kgh! Don't think this is over! The Abyss Order will—" Before it could finish—
Diluc cut it down. The mage dissolved into nothing.
"Hmph." Diluc scoffed.
"We… won?" a knight muttered in disbelief.
"We won!!!"
Cheers erupted across the field. Knights rushed toward the group, voices overlapping in excitement.
"Master Diluc! You're incredible! Why not join the Knights of Favonius?"
"Captain Kaeya, as expected of you!"
"Isn't that the Honorary Knight?! That technique was amazing!"
Lumine and Kaeya smiled at the praise. Diluc simply crossed his arms, silent as ever.
From a distance, Eula approached slowly, still carrying Etoma, with Venti trailing behind.
"The battle's over… let's go," she said quietly.
For a moment, everything seemed peaceful. The knights had won.
Or so they thought. Then—
BAM—!
A heavy impact shook the ground.
A figure had descended. Dust scattered around its towering form. The group's attention snapped toward it. It stood between Eula and the others.
As the dust settled, its appearance became clear.
A towering figure, over two meters tall. A loose robe draped over its body, more like a hood and cape, barely concealing a muscular frame clad in black-and-yellow armor. Its mask—sharp and skull-like—glowed faintly yellow.
Slowly—
its gaze shifted.
Toward Eula.
No—
toward the one she carried.
Etoma.
.
.