Lin Mo recalled the place where they had confirmed their relationship and couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile.
Teyvat was a vast continent with so many romantic spots for a confession.
Yet, Alice had chosen the most oppressive, most awe-inspiring location—right beneath the thundercloud vortex of Seirai Island.
Lin Mo had wondered about it afterwards.
Why had Alice chosen to pierce that thin veil between them in that very place?
It was precisely because of that breathtaking celestial phenomenon.
It made them feel the insignificance of mortal beings.
So, for Alice,
that was the place where she was most likely to let go of the "lifespan" barrier that stood between them.
Thinking of this, a warm feeling spread through Lin Mo's heart.
"No wonder that girl... was looking forward to going to Seirai Island so eagerly. It was all premeditated..." Just as Lin Mo finished this thought,
his hand suddenly trembled.
Because...
The projected image before him once again showed Alice's figure.
The location displayed was Starsnatch Cliff.
The scene was still accompanied by billowing smoke.
Clearly, another Ruin Guard had been destroyed.
However, the image didn't show just two people.
But three.
It was the young Klee, and the young woman, the refined Jean.
Klee was holding Jean's hand, running happily up to Alice, asking sweetly, "Mommy, Sister Jean says she can take Klee to find lizards with strange patterns! Can Klee go play?"
"Go ahead."
Alice smiled gently.
Jean, looking at Alice's gentle smile tinged with a trace of bitterness,
seemed to sense the turmoil in her heart.
So, she thoughtfully said, "Ms. Alice, I will take good care of Klee. When she's had enough fun, I can take her back to Mondstadt first."
"Mmm, thank you."
Alice nodded with a smile.
She knew Jean was giving her space to calm her heart, to have a moment of peace at Starsnatch Cliff under the beautiful night sky.
So, Alice reminded Klee, "Klee, don't cause any trouble for Sister Jean, okay?"
"Klee won't cause trouble~"
Klee shook her little head.
The next moment, she eagerly pulled Jean, deployed her Wind Glider, and soared towards the sloping green fields of Starsnatch Cliff.
"Hey~ Klee, slow down!"
"Hehe~ Sister Jean, you fly so slow~"
...
As the sounds of their play grew fainter,
the smile on Alice's lips gradually faded.
She walked to the edge of the cliff, slowly sat down, and tilted her head to gaze at the star-filled sky.
A long time passed. Lin Mo could see that Alice's eyes seemed slightly reddened.
...
"Lin Mo... it's only been three years..."
"I seem... to be having trouble holding on..."
"I don't know why..."
"I... I just can't help thinking of you..."
Alice spoke to herself.
Tears, as if held back for too long, burst forth like a broken dam, streaming from the corners of her eyes. She cried until her face was wet with tears.
Watching this scene, Lin Mo felt an intense, wrenching pain in his heart.
In the image,
Alice's shoulders still trembled slightly.
"I've been very good..."
"Ever since you left... I... I haven't caused any more trouble."
"All these years after returning from the journey, I didn't really mean to cause trouble..."
"It's just... you were always with Klee. If I didn't stir up a little trouble, you wouldn't come to scold me..."
"You're gone... and I've lost all interest in爆破试验 (explosive experiments) too."
"Recently, Varka invited me to join the expedition."
"Of course I know what they're worried about. I'll go."
"After all... only if I leave Mondstadt can everyone live in peace..."
Lin Mo kept his eyes fixed on the projected image.
He watched Alice sitting alone by Starsnatch Cliff, confiding in the starry sky for a long, long time...
So long that he didn't even notice when Alice finally left Starsnatch Cliff.
"Alice..."
Lin Mo clenched his fist tightly.
He had made a decision in his heart.
He would keep his promise!
Fulfill the vow he made that day under the thunderous clouds of Seirai Island—I swear, I will not let your youth be filled with regret.
The next moment.
Lin Mo rapidly switched through the projected images, hoping to catch another glimpse of Alice.
But...
Clearly, Alice had already left Mondstadt, joining Grand Master Varka and a contingent of the Knights' elite on their expedition.
Half an hour passed...
An hour passed...
Lin Mo did not see Alice again.
However, in the projections, he saw many familiar companions.
Amber, newly joined the Knights and serving as the Outrider, naturally appeared most frequently in the projections.
And Eula, who would occasionally visit Dragonspine.
The Darknight Hero, who resolved countless crises in Mondstadt only to vanish without a trace, leaving no clues—Diluc Ragnvindr.
The adventurer Bennett, who ventured everywhere but often returned injured.
Razor, who frequently wandered around Wolvendom.
One familiar figure after another appeared in the projected images.
But there was no sign of Alice.
Lin Mo didn't know how many times he switched the view.
But the next moment, he once again saw that red-haired figure he longed for in his heart.
In the image, Alice seemed to be resting against the wreckage of a Ruin Guard.
And at that moment.
"Ms. Alice~! There's a letter for you from Mondstadt!" A Knight of Favonius was seen running anxiously towards her.
"Hmm? A letter for me?"
Alice smiled and took it.
Upon seeing the rose seal on the envelope,
Lin Mo recognized it immediately.
It was a letter sent by the Witch of the Purple Rose, Lisa.
Then, Alice slowly unfolded the letter.
From Lin Mo's angle, he could just make out the contents.
"Alice, long time no see, I miss you dearly."
"By my count, it's been a year since you last returned to Mondstadt, hasn't it?"
"Don't worry, with me here, your little Klee is having a very happy time every day."
"The reason I'm writing is to ask, if you're not too busy over there, would you like to come back to Mondstadt for a visit?"
"You must be curious why I'm asking you to return to this place filled with memories, right?"
"But I'd like to keep you in suspense for now. The reason... I won't tell you just yet."
"I promise, if you come back, you definitely won't be disappointed."
"Your restless longing, it is time to踏上归途了 (set foot on the journey home)."
"Missing you."
"—Your gentlest little sister, Lisa"
"Longing... it is time to踏上归途了 (set foot on the journey home)..."
Alice's hand trembled slightly.
Although Lisa hadn't stated it explicitly,
Alice probably already understood the reason Lisa was asking her to return.
Lin Mo quickly checked the date of this letter.
The day Lisa sent the letter was the very same day Osial reawakened at Liyue Harbor.
The time for the letter to travel to the Sea of Ashes, and for Alice to return to Mondstadt...
"Could it be... Alice has already returned!?" Lin Mo's pupils dilated slightly.
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T/N:
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