Just then, Cael heard a familiar voice echo in his ear.
"Azhdaha has a problem. Come at once."
—Zhongli.
Azhdaha?
Cael froze.
The seal is loosening already?!
That shouldn't be happening yet—there should still be a long time left!
"Lord Agarest?" Seele noticed Cael spacing out and looked at him in confusion.
Cael glanced at her apologetically.
"Sorry. Something urgent just came up. I won't have time to tour your village after all."
"If it's important, go," Black Seele said calmly.
The others all looked a little regretful, but no one tried to stop him.
"Please attend to your matters, Lord Agarest," Mei said respectfully.
"We'll take care of things here in the village."
Cael nodded.
Dark elemental power surged—and in the blink of an eye, he vanished from where he stood, as if he'd never been there at all.
The sight left Kiana, Bronya, and Mei stunned.
"That really was the Dark element…" Bronya murmured softly.
"Lord Agarest truly has returned."
Seele stared at the spot where Cael had disappeared, suddenly feeling as if something was missing.
"You're relying on him too much lately," Black Seele remarked flatly.
Seele lowered her head.
"…I can't help it."
Black Seele looked at her with faint exasperation.
"Then get stronger. I can tell—he wants that for you."
"Don't let his words about you beating those three go to your head. That strength comes from the Vision. Without it, you'd barely manage a draw with the dumbest-looking one."
"Dig deeper into your own power. We'll become stronger."
...
Seele nodded gently after hearing that.
"Thank you… Seele."
Kiana suddenly scooped her up in a hug.
"Seele! Welcome home!!"
"Welcome back," Mei said with a smile. "Everyone's missed you."
Bronya wrapped an arm around Seele's shoulders and guided her toward the village.
"Let's go back. Give everyone a surprise."
...
...
"Morax!! Today, our thousand-year grudge will finally be settled!!"
Zhongli stood with his arms crossed, calmly facing the suppressed Azhdaha.
Azhdaha's expression was manic, her gaze locked onto Zhongli as if she wanted to tear him apart.
Zhongli ignored her, glancing sideways instead.
"Old friend," he said quietly.
"You're here."
Dark elemental energy rippled, and Cael appeared behind him.
Zhongli studied him.
"You're recovering quickly."
He could tell—Cael's Dark Archon power had already returned to nearly a tenth of its former strength.
Cael nodded, briefly checking his own recovery status.
9.38%.
"I asked Venti about Azhdaha's situation," Cael said, looking toward the small girl sealed within.
"But why did her seal suddenly loosen?"
He frowned slightly.
This is nothing like the game.
She's… way too refined-looking.
Ridiculously cute, even.
"Zhongli," Cael leaned closer, lowering his voice,
"I heard Azhdaha was supposed to be terrifying. What's with this form?"
Zhongli gave him a look that said everything.
"Ahem… good craftsmanship, past me," Cael coughed awkwardly.
"You were the one who insisted I shape her like this," Zhongli replied calmly.
"This has nothing to do with me."
...
The moment Azhdaha saw Cael standing beside Zhongli, she froze—
Then exploded in rage.
"Agarest!! Are you betraying me too?!"
Chaotic corruption surged violently within her.
Cael sighed.
"I'm not the Agarest I used to be. I've returned to the starting point."
"What… do you mean?" Azhdaha faltered.
Zhongli spoke slowly.
"Agarest perished five hundred years ago in the Khaenri'ah war. He lost most of his divine power—and his memories."
Azhdaha froze.
Then she burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha! So even the mighty Dark Archon can fall! Then what—are you here to finish me off?"
Zhongli let out a quiet sigh and turned to Cael.
"…Old friend. I'll leave it to you."
Cael blinked.
"Me? What am I supposed to do?"
"Kill her," Zhongli said calmly,
"or redeem her with the Dark element. In your current state, you can do either."
Left with no choice, Cael stepped forward.
Azhdaha panicked as he approached.
"Agarest!! You're really siding with Morax against me?!"
Her small face twisted with fear and confusion.
Cael looked at her quietly.
"For now, it's just foul language. You haven't harmed anyone. You haven't broken the contract yet."
"You can still be saved."
With that, he stepped into the seal.
"Wait!! Agarest! Don't do anything stupid! If you kill me, I'll haunt you even as a ghost!!"
She screamed toward Zhongli,
"Morax! What a cruel heart you have!!"
Zhongli smiled faintly and nodded.
Azhdaha: !!!!!!
Cael reached out and placed his hand gently on her head.
"Ultra-Black Flash Spiral Dark Suppression Absorption!"
In an instant, the chaotic darkness surrounding Azhdaha was completely drawn into Cael.
Her vision swam briefly—
Then clarity returned.
Comfort.
Lucidity.
The ancient contract between Morax and Agarest, along with countless memories, resurfaced within her.
Cael felt the small body in front of him go limp, collapsing softly into his arms.
The chaotic aura dissipated, replaced by pure, tranquil adeptal energy.
It worked.
He flashed Zhongli an OK sign.
Zhongli nodded in return.
What Cael had done was simple—he absorbed the corruption afflicting Azhdaha.
It had little effect on him. If anything, it was… beneficial.
"Mm…"
Azhdaha slowly opened her eyes.
Short blue hair.
An elegant dress.
The first thing she saw was Cael's face.
"Agarest…" she murmured with a gentle smile, burying her head against his chest.
"It's been a long time."
A chill ran down Cael's spine.
Don't tell me… my past self even went after Azhdaha?!
I flirted with Mondstadt's and Liyue's protectors—and even their familiars—right in front of them?!
Then what about Inazuma…
"…No, that shouldn't be possible," he muttered to himself.
"When I died, Yae Miko was still tiny—and not exactly sharp yet."
"And besides… except for Yae Miko, everyone else should already be dead, right?"