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[outofoffice]

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[leaveofabsence]

[ But after a somewhat thoughtful pause ]

But do you intend to live the rest of your days out in Teyvat?

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Well, yes . . .

[ A halting, trepidatious pause ]

--Don't you?

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I believe I do. At least for the coming centuries. And certainly when it is time for me to find my final resting place.

But the stories you speak of -- if they are to be spread across the stars, then we cannot depend on unexpected events such as...

[ And he points to Imeeji around them ]

To do the work for us.

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. . .

So you'd like to follow in the Traveler's footsteps, then? To journey across many worlds and share your stories?

[leaveofabsence]

[ Now it is his turn to reach for Venti - cradling his cheeks in his hands so that he is looking up at him. ]

I am not certain. This place has made me uncertain of many things.

But it is something that I have been thinking of. Nothing set in stone.

But it seems that such a thing might upset you...

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[ Ahhh, how different it is now from when Barbatos was the one with wanderlust, roaming every possible corner of the world.

"Nothing set in stone" indeed . . . ]

No.

[ Leaning into those hands. ]

I simply wish for the opportunity to go with you.

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Who better to tell the tales of Teyvat than its self-proclaimed greatest bard?

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Hehe . . .

[ He slumps forward until he has Zhongli locked in an embrace. A little clingy, perhaps, but he figures he's allowed every now and then. ]

It's about time this bonehead got out and traveled . . .

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Yes, I do believe I am quite overdue.

But I do wish for things to settle before setting out.

[ Or explode. Really. Who knows what's going to happen?

A hand comes up to pet Venti between his wings ]

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[ Who knows what's going to happen? That seems like the twins' problem to work out. ]

Of course. But things will be okay.

I've been telling you for millennia that humans can manage fine without us.

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[ Perhaps with just a little pouting: ]

I had to be completely sure.

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[ The satisfaction of an "I told you so" 3000 years in the making . . .

Pets his hair~ ]

Mmmhmm, of course you did.

[leaveofabsence]

They had never lived without an Archon before. And I needed to know what role would the Adepti play in shaping the future of Liyue.

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Humans are more adaptable than anyone. Even if they struggle and fail over and over, they'll keep trying until they succeed. Even when facing the divine.

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That has only proven itself to be true. Both in Teyvat and here.

And yet.

Even still---



Perhaps I longed for the kind of world that the original Seven tried to create. One where the gods guided humanity instead of serving their current Archon.

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Hah . . .


I suppose that is another lost opportunity to mourn.

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I fear if we think about it for too long we will never be able to unbury ourselves from the grief.

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. . .

[ Reaching up to brush some of the hair back from Zhongli's eyes ]

Perhaps we'd be better served by looking toward the future.

[leaveofabsence]

Perhaps we would.

So tell me.

What is the future that Barbatos envisions? Hmmmm.

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Maybe I want to hear your guesses before I spill all of my cards~

[leaveofabsence]

[ He is contemplative for quite a long time. ]




I cannot imagine that you would wander too far from Mondstadt - with or without your gnosis. You have as much pride of your people as I do of mine.

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Yes and no.

Distance is no problem at all -- especially for the wind.

Time, though . . .

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Time...?

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The winds always blow back to Mondstadt, for me.

To leave it for a time is certainly no problem, but . . . no journey like that could last forever.

[leaveofabsence]

Then if fate permits, might I take you on a short venture? One that I vow to be swifter than even your shortest nap.