caution in confidence

Jing Yuan 10/10HP Energy roll: 6

Lightning envelops The General, golden radiance coursing out and forming larger than life armor. His Guan Dao rises, wooshing as only the air is split... Then, the Lightning Lord follows his motion.

[3 Energy] Jing Yuan 10/10HP uses Lightbringer on all enemies! Overload triggers x 4! -6HP Automaton Spider. Automaton Spider (4.5/20HP). -6HP Automaton Direwolf. Automaton Direwolf (12.5/30HP). -6HP Automaton Hound. Automaton Hound (3.5/19HP). -6HP Automaton Beetle. Automaton Beetle (2.5/22HP).

Sundering stars above, screeching thunder fills the arena, erupting out of the flames that still licked tempered metal. Smoke and cinders burst out, cutting off vision. Soot and wind mean little to an Arbiter-General.

"On my mark!"

[2 Energy] Jing Yuan: 10/10HP uses Rifting Zenith on all enemies. -2HP Automaton Spider. Automaton Spider (2.5/20HP). -2HP Automaton Direwolf. Automaton Direwolf (10.5/30HP). -2HP Automaton Hound. Automaton Hound (1.5/19HP). -2HP Automaton Beetle. Automaton Beetle (0.5/22HP).

A strong gash opens the fog of war, revealing the enemies. Potent lightning surge across the end of his blade, cutting through to make his opening.

"Now, Robin!" He shouts.

Robin 10/10HP uses Wingflip White Noise on Automaton Direwolf (Roll: 2 = Hit! -2HP) (8.5/30).

Angelic graces flutters past him, barraging the large Direwolf, allowing Jing Yuan to find the weakest links within the pack.

[1 Energy] Jing Yuan: 10/10HP uses Normal Attack on Automaton Hound (Roll: 17 = Hit! -1.5HP) Automaton Hound (0/19). [1 Energy] Jing Yuan: 10/10HP uses Normal Attack on Automaton Beetle (Roll: 9 = Hit! -1.5HP) (0/22).

It seems he could take things seriously, his polearm coming down against the robotic dog, crushing it with ease. Pivoting on his heel, the blade is rammed directly though the green light before him. The machine is brought up, then smashed down against the floor, freeing The General's blade of such useless machinery.

"Now, scribe, finish this!"

Across from us sit a pack of slimes and a couple of hilichurls. Weaker opponents, and depending on the capability of the others, easy enough to take down. As each person makes an introduction and an attack, I take note of the skills and the clear competence displayed: some of these people are evidently experienced in war—ah, that man is not in fact a Millelith. I've never heard of a "Xianzhou Luofu" or Cloud Knights, but the way he swings his glaive, and the sheer power in his attacks... okay, there has to be a logical reason why I'm thinking of adepti all of a sudden. Hmm. Oh, he has a spirit like Cyno, although unlike Cyno the spirit appears separate from this Jing Yuan's body and takes up almost the entire room. Well, then. If this man really does exist in real life, they need to meet. The General Mahamatra's reactions to him should be very enlightening.

Roll Energy: 7. Elemental Skill activates! 1 Chisel-Light Mirror active. 1 Dendro Core active. Damage dealt: 3. Energy used: 2. Hydro Slime A: 4/26 HP Roll Charged Attack: 20. Crit! 2 Chisel-Light Mirrors active. 2 Dendro Cores active. Damage dealt: 4. Energy used: 1. Hydro Slime A: 0/26 HP Hydro Slime A has been defeated! Elemental Burst activates! 2 Chisel-Light Mirrors consumed. 4 Dendro Cores active. Damage dealt: 3. Energy used: 2. Hydro Slime B: 4/26 HP. Large Hydro Slime: 10/32 HP. Hilichurl Berserker A: 11/23 HP. Hilichurl Berserker B: 11/23 HP. Large Cryo Slime: 24/27 HP Aggravate activates twice! Damage dealt: 2. Large Hydro Slime: 8/32 HP. Alhaitham: 8/10 HP Roll Normal Attack: 7. Hit! Damage dealt: 1. Energy used: 1. Hydro Slime B: 3/26 HP Roll counter: 1. Miss! Roll Normal Attack: 15. Hit! Damage dealt: 1. Energy used: 1. Hydro Slime B: 2/26 HP Roll counter: 19. Hit! Damage dealt: 1. Alhaitham: 7/10 HP

"Alhaitham, scribe of the Sumeru Akademiya," I offer before launching into my own offensive. Dendro energy blossoms out of me and into my surroundings as I fight, fruiting into cores and zipping across the battlefield with the assistance of my prismatic mirrors. Although this results in me getting myself zapped thanks to the Electro charging the air, I still feel satisfied at my initiative (and at least one of the slimes is gone now, so. There is that). The magician takes advantage of the numerous Dendro Cores and sets them exploding in the monsters' faces to gratifying effect, with Jing-jiāngjūn mopping up the remaining resistance. Of course, things can't end that swiftly, and while Ms. Robin dispenses with praise, several bulky machines enter the battle chamber. They share few, if any, similarities to the constructs I know, a bit more akin to the images of Gardemeks I've seen before. This battle should prove to be a little more difficult, but I suspect that we have this well in hand based on everyone's previous performance, as the singer maintained.

(I can't tell what element she's using, if any. It's none of the seven I'm familiar with.)

"Let's deal with these constructs first, then we can think about watching each other's performances. I'll need your Electro, Kujou-san, Jing-jiāngjūn, and your Pyro, Monsieur Lyney."

Soon, the pale-haired General is calling for me to finish the battle. I meet Ms. Robin's eyes and nod at her; with her coordinating her attacks to follow on the others', I would be wise to make use of her services. "On it."

Roll Energy: 6. Elemental Skill activates! 1 Chisel-Light Mirror active. Burning activates! Damage dealt: 2. Energy used: 2. Automaton Direwolf: 6.5/30 HP Roll Charged Attack: 6. Hit! 2 Chisel-Light Mirrors active. Damage dealt: 1. Energy used: 1. Automaton Direwolf: 5.5/30 HP Elemental Burst activates! 2 Chisel-Light Mirrors consumed. Damage dealt: 3. Energy used: 2. Automaton Spider: 0/20 HP. Automaton Direwolf: 2.5/30 HP Chains of Destruction activates! Roll Self-Exploding Module: 3. Miss! Automaton Spider has been defeated! Roll Normal Attack: 11. Hit! Damage dealt: 1. Energy used: 1. Automaton Direwolf: 1.5/30 HP Roll counter: 3. Hit! Bleed does not activate! Damage dealt: 1.5. Alhaitham: 8.5/10 HP

Unfamiliar as these are, they still Burn the same way, my Dendro reacting to the heat and sparks M. Lyney's left behind to set them on fire. I wrinkle my nose at the acrid scent of scorched metal and mechanisms—hopefully none of these materials give off toxic fumes when incinerated, or else the five of us will be in a world of hurt. The smaller machine, looking like a hand on wheels, explodes after being struck through with my particular field, though fortunately the shrapnel misses our party. All that's left is the bipedal construct, and I manage to whittle it down to barely-functioning scrap. "If you would, Ms. Robin."

Vox Harmonique, Opus Cosmique is active! Wingflip White Noise activates! Roll Normal Attack: 15. Hit! Damage dealt: 2. Automaton Direwolf: 0/30 HP Automaton Direwolf has been defeated!

amidst all the unforeseeable twists — from the untimely clash of the seasons, to the different states of being experienced— one constant remains in the form of alhaitham. unchanged and unwavering. reassuring.

( and to think there was a time when he despited how unalterable the other was ).

somewhat dazedly, kaveh steps away from the taffrail, casting one final look over his shoulder at the distant island. the sight lingers in his mind as he silently gathers himself, determination set on dragging a nearby wooden crate over. with each strained pull, the crate inches closer to where the scribe remains seated.

once positioned to his satisfaction, he carefully settles onto it. silence envelops the pair, broken only by the gentle lapping of waves against the ship's hull. the architect remains still, lost in contemplation.

This is rarely ever a good sign.

I glance at him sideways from my book. If he wants to get philosophical, so be it. "That depends on what you define belief and its requirements. If you think seeing is believing, then we both fulfill that requirement. But we both know that sight can be fooled, and what we see isn't always the objective truth, or even all of the truth. Using all of our senses and examining our experiences through a critical lens, as well as gathering as much information about the situation as we are able, can help us arrive at a more accurate conclusion."

"i'm glad you like it,"  he says, his own semblance of a smile resurfacing. though he would be remiss to sing his own praises, albedo appraises the fit of fabric and nods at another job well done. indeed, he may be an artist just as well as he is an alchemist.   "hm, it quite suits you. your fashion-forward teals, greys and cyans complement each other splendidly."

an anemo mushroom and a cryo whopperflower both walk into a party. the punchline writes itself, but that is neither here nor there. after smoothing out the last leaf on his head, albedo gestures as if to say anemo mushrooms first.

"not at all. please, go ahead."  it wouldn't do to lose his way amidst the twists and turns of the city's streets, after all. who better to lead the way than the local himself?

(I had suspected that my own color scheme would work well with the Anemo Mushroom, so to hear him say the same is rather validating. A passing glance at my reflection in a window confirms my thoughts. This isn't so bad after all; in fact, perhaps I could save this costume for next year's festival, all subsequent ones even. What a tidy solution to the question of what else I might use this for.)

The path to the Akademiya is lit with colorful lanterns shaped in a variety of monsters and elemental beings. As I get closer, I note that the festival itself sprawls out on the grounds around the Akademiya as well as inside. Good, if it gets too stuffy inside, we can always esacpe to the gardens for fresh air while staying within the bounds of the party. Merriment makes the air shimmer and sparkle, the crowd milling about with a lively attitude, and music floats along the evening breeze. Fiddling with my earpieces, I turn the noise cancelling up to an agreeable level such that I can still hear the festival without being overwhelmed, then turn to my companion.

"Shall we?"

Not that he doubted that, given the danger of the task. No sane person would only ask for one escort in such a dangerous place, if they themselves did not have a means of protection. Ah, but he digresses- his task was to guard the scholar for the time being. 

“Then, all the more reason to head out now.” He follows a few steps behind Alhaitham, lacking the urgency but not the speed. If the desert heat made him uncomfortable, he did not let it show, taking in the unfamiliar scenery as they walked. The danger he was hired to confront was not in the sands, though naturally he kept an eye out for anything nonetheless.

The sun setting over the ruin gave it an air of grandeur, to be sure. Certainly, in any lighting the intricacy, its usage of an ancient technology to create what he would call a work of art- it would be impressive. Its ability to withstand the test of time and sands- undisturbed, preserved by only its makers. He could go on, but whatever admiration he had for the structure was that of an outsider seeing something beautiful. Fleeting fascination. It would be nothing compared to what a scholar that sought its knowledge would think.

Luocha arms himself with a crosslike gold pendant in one hand and an elegant white rapier in the other, and I summon the two halves of Foliar Incision, making note of my energy reserves. "Right, then. Let's go."

I dart across the sand towards the entrance, gathering Dendro power within my body. As I draw closer, one construct senses me, then another, and before long the lot of them are converging on my position, just outside the ancient gates. I race closer, waiting for the moment when they all will have crowded in front of and around meーjust a bit moreーa little closerー

3... 2... 1... Release!

vaporize — chenyu vale — alhaitham

His gaze returns to the collection of toys he's been eyeing, now with the newfound knowledge that they were referred to as "dragonflies." That gave him a bit of a clue-in as to how they were intended to function, but he still wasn't entirely sure exactly how that was meant to be accomplished. Freminet offers his acquaintance a nod and a sound of approval, tucking Pers away into his storage tank before he gingerly picks up one of the dragonfly toys, rotating it around in his hands to see if he can figure out how to make it take off before it's explained to him. There was something akin to a propeller on the top, so that had to turn somehow, possibly…

... Oh. I had thought I'd introduced myself last time, but I suppose "ask for Alhaitham" wasn't very evident as to whom I was referring. Well, that mistake will have to be fixed now, it seems. Ah, and he's thanking me for helping him out with the sunscreen, that's rather sweet. "Alhaitham," I reply. "It was the least I could do for anyone stuck in the same situation. The sunscreen looks to have worked well enough, in any case. I don't believe you'd need anything at quite that strength back in your home country, but if you're ever in Sumeru, come see me and I'll get you some." Seems my assessment back then might have been correct, for Freminet is definitely a Fontainian name—but, well, the clues were all pointing in that direction anyway.

And it would be good to earn some of their local currency, if he planned on extending his stay. One does not become a merchant without trading, he notes with some irony. For safety’s sake, and for simplicity, he snaps a picture of the job posting he is taking. Easier than taking notes.

He is to meet a scholar at the edge of the desert and protect him as he studies the aforementioned ruins. He was given a name, Alhaitham, and a description upon further request. 

“Alhaitham, was it?” Luocha offers his hand for a handshake. “I am Luocha, tasked with helping protect you as you study the ruins.”

A fair-haired man in white with an elaborate coffin is not at all what I would think to expect when heading to the rendesvouz point, however, and yet that is precisely the sight that I am greeted with upon his arrival. He offers a name and a handshake as he introduces himself, and I return the handshake with a nod, already gathering details about him into a mental list. While Luocha is a Liyuen name, his features approximate those of a Mondstadter or Fontainian, and his clothing bears a slight resemblance to the priestly garments of the Church of Favonius. An expatriate, perhaps? Then there's the matter of the coffin, a rather ominous choice of supplies. It's far too early to judge, however, what with too little information, and all I can ask for is that he be trustworthy. He seems confortable enough in his abilities, so I suppose it remains to be seen whether he can do his duties.

ah, the seclusion zone. charming little place, is it not? perfectly fitting for cutting edge facilities once cleverly kept secret conjured in only the most prime of conditions to harbor only the most high risk specimens; the crowned achievements only worthy of everything conducted flawlessly between countless shuttles, laboratories that dotted chilled hallways farther than the eye could see, even so far as the illusion of peace cast by the overarching greenhouse. a pristine ruse, no less. something was more than amiss, what with these creatures now accompanying such complications as it were.

my, circumstances must be at an all time awful if a missing book is the most concerning of their troubles. however, to this end, and as one who can hardly stand being parted from his own books for extended periods of time, he relates at the very least. of course, if one were to immediately determine the worth of his complications, the erudite would surmise whatever book the wubbaboo has thus absconded with must contain teachings of only the most principle value. then again, all learnings are of utmost importance, something noteworthy as he casts a sidelong gaze towards the floating creature, only then sparing a moment more to look over the distinct covering of said book.

not of this world.. intriguing. however, not the point in this given moment. he has, of course, assumptions to quash and with that, teachings to instill proper. it isn't wise to accuse without first assessing every possibility. although, as he overlooks his companion swathed in verdant fabrics coupled with... a headpiece that seems to serve a more prominent purpose, he waves off the speculation in full.

"They're seeking stimulation, you say?" So perhaps a bit more childlike in its thought processes than I expected. Actually, now that I think about it, the entire theft of my book was very akin to a game, a little bit like hide-and-seek combined with tag. Now that makes sense. Then another thought comes to mind—is it possible this creature is connected...? As I muse on this, something bumps me from behind, and I turn to find a second little ghost, its expression teary-eyed. Curious and a bit concerned, I reach out to pat its head, and the creature nuzzles into the touch. They really are very cute, I know of several people back home who would be delighted by them. A sweeping glance around the area reveals a few more of the bear-eared poltergeists, tucked away in high corners and phasing in and out of existence. How many of them are there, in here and on the space station as a whole? "Then it must be safe to assume that these 'ghosts' are responsible for the bizarre occurrences happening all over the station, if every other factor has been ruled out, that is." Tilting my head, I turn back to the first ghost. "Would you please give me my book?" I ask, pointing to the tome. I could certainly get it myself, but it gives the little guy something to do. Sure enough, the creature perks up, then floats over and grabs the book, wisping back to my side and handing it to me. "Thank you." I stow my book away and pat the ghost's head as a reward.

"Woo! Woo woo~~"

"You're welcome." I have very little idea what it's saying, but context clues help, I suppose. Strange that the Synesthesia Beacon doesn't translate its speech... perhaps there hasn't been enough contact with this species to establish its language in the database? If so, then it seems I've acquired my own research project on this station, provided no one else has already accomplished such a thing (though to be fair, independent peer review is always important for any scholarly endeavor and raises the chance of the research results being precise and accurate). Already an idea for how to both embark on said project and deal with the antics of these little specters is crystallizing in my mind. Yes, if we can do both, then maybe everyone will be satisfied with the results.

vaporize — chenyu vale — alhaitham

This was Freminet's first visit to Chenyu Vale, and the river flowing through the tea fields and terraced hills was begging to be dived into, but the best he had to settle for was a bamboo raft ride - not that it was a complaint, especially when the rower had a beautiful song to complement the scenery.

It was all a little overwhelming, especially with the amount of people around. He could tell many were tourists just like him, but the locals were also plentiful and friendly. This normally wouldn't be an issue if you weren't Freminet, who liked to keep to himself.

He strolls along the little town, peeking over at stalls and carts selling local delicacies he's never seen with enticing smells that attract lines of hungry customers. It seems the organizers of the tea festival hadn't mapped out the vendors in any which way, and the food stalls were weaved between local artisans selling everything from silkflower summer garments to - oh, is that a Liyuean toy stall?

I linger at the clothing stall a while before deciding to move on; I'll come back later when it's not so crowded. For now, I should get something to eat. Wending my way down the thoroughfare in search of a dumpling stand, I stop when a familiar face catches my eye. Wasn't that the boy who asked me for help with his sunscreen during the island stay? Perhaps I should go say hello. He looks very intrigued by the toy stall... I wonder if he's familiar with Liyuen toys. I stride over, giving a nod to the stall owner.

"Personally, I find the puzzles engaging," I say by way of introduction, picking up one of the carved wooden teas as an example. "They're very well crafted and have some fascinating solutions—I think that half of the fun in them often comes from resetting the puzzle. Of course, if you're not interested in that genre of toy, I've also found that these can be very fun." Setting down the tea puzzle, I pluck one of the flying sticks from the table to show him. "They're called dragonflies, and it takes a bit of practice to figure out how to make them fly, but once you get the hang of it, it's rather exhilarating seeing how far or high you can get them to soar."

roll 1d3+2 for energy, 3.elemental skill: herald of frost [ -2 energy, 1 energy remaining ]qiqi +3hp.

Qiqi activates her adeptal art, and the little ball of Cryo swoops around, knocking into Lady Winter but making no visible effect on her. A small burst of healing on herself, then she readies to fight.

normal attack: ancient sword art [ -1 energy, no energy remaining ] lady winter -2hp. all allies +4hp. counter; qiqi -2hp.

As I watch, Furina passes the Warming Bottle she'd been carrying thus far to the Traveler before throwing her arms out in a clear invitation to attack. "Then hit me!" she shouts, fervent and loud. Taunting the enemy... what exactly does this theatrical woman have in mind? To my curiosity, she takes the season's spear full-force, not shying away from it for a moment; then, further, she summons waves of euphoria, sending them splashing all over the opposing side and us, washing away the burn from my encounter with the deer.

Well, all right then, Lady Brightwater. Showing us the depths of strength beyond the pretty face? I thought you might have it in you. Excellent job.

Roll Energy: 3. Roll Elemental Skill: 4. Hit! 1 Chisel-Light Mirror created! Damage dealt: 3. Energy used: 2. Eira: 55/80 HP Roll counter: 1. Miss! Alhaitham: 10/10 HP Energy remaining: 1.

Roll Normal Attack: 4. Hit! Damage Reduction does not activate! Damage dealt: 1.5. Eira: 53.5/80HP Roll counter: 13. Hit! Damage dealt: 1.5. Alhaitham: 8.5/10 HP Energy remaining: 0.

With that, I throw myself back into the fray, racing for Winter and flashing to her side with "An Elaboration" before swinging at her. My strike connects just as something whistles through the air towards me. I dive out of the way of what turns out to be Winter's spear, and taking a brief moment to breathe, I recenter myself. I lunge again and leave another slash on her, but this time the lowering of the temperature even further gives me pause. Winter rather neatly punishes me for my hesitation, smacking her spear into my ribs and tossing me away. That was... well, entirely warranted.

I tuck and roll, coming to a shivering stop. It won't be long now before I feel the effects of frostbite, I can tell; glancing at my teammates, I notice Qiqi moving a bit more stiffly as well compared to the other two who both benefited from the enflasked seelie. The Traveler will likely have to pass it to one of us next—actually, it looks like we're going to have to play hot samosa with the bottle to prevent us all from succumbing to the extreme cold. Or perhaps I'm already in the process of doing so given my low performance. I had rather thought my experience would carry over here, but fighting in the middle of the desert night is by no means at all the same as fighting in a frozen cavern. Additional data for future reference, I suppose.