The scent of freshly brewed tea and warm dango filled the air, but despite the inviting serenity of the shrine, the group remained guarded. The conversation with Yae Miko had begun with a teasing undertone, but the undercurrent of tension clung to them like the mist curling around the Sacred Sakura.
Yae Miko sat across from them with effortless grace, the glint in her fox-like eyes ever-present. She watched them not just with curiosity—but knowing. Like someone flipping through a book whose ending she had already read.
"So," Noah finally broke the silence, setting his teacup down with a quiet clink, "how exactly do you know so much about us?"
Yae chuckled, folding her hands with a tilt of her head. "Oh, dear Leader, you underestimate how far news travels in a land ruled by eternity."
Noah's eyes narrowed slightly. "Even though Inazuma has been cut off from most outside travel, especially with the Abyss weakening the Leylines across Teyvat?"
Yae's smile didn't fade. "Precisely why the whispers that do arrive are all the more precious. And accurate. The Traveler's footprints are traced in every realm. And I have... many threads tied to interesting people."
Lumine shifted slightly, her eyes narrowing. "You were waiting for us."
"Perceptive, as expected." Yae smiled, her voice silk-wrapped amusement. Then she turned to Noah. "But I must admit, I didn't expect the 'Captain' to be so protective of his companions."
Noah's brow twitched, his calm demeanor not quite hiding the flicker of annoyance.
Kiana nearly choked on her tea. "W-What's that supposed to mean?" Her voice came out sharper than she intended, her eyes narrowing slightly with a flicker of something more than just surprise—something protective.
Elysia leaned forward with a radiant smile, but there was a telling flicker behind her eyes. "Fufu~ Our Captain's just that reliable~ Always rushing into danger with that noble scowl of his. So dashing, isn't he?"
Yae tapped her chin, visibly enjoying herself. "A handsome mystery man, surrounded by strong, beautiful women? If this were a tale in the Yae Publishing House, readers would be demanding a wedding arc."
Kiana huffed, crossing her arms. "Tch. Not like he noticed. In Mondstadt alone, three girls flirted with him during the festival. One of them called him 'hero-san.' And he just stood there blinking like a lost puppy."
Elysia's voice stayed sweet, but her smile turned a shade tighter. "I remember that. He looked more scared of her than the Abyss mage we fought the next day." Her gaze lingered on Noah for a heartbeat too long before she tucked her hair behind her ear.
Lumine gave a quiet snort, but the grin on her lips didn't quite reach her eyes. "To be fair, she did try to feed him a love charm cookie right after."
Kiana scowled, cheeks flushed. "Still. The guy's got all these girls orbiting him and acts like it's a side quest."
Yae clapped her hands together, practically glowing. "Oh, this is delightful. Jealousy wrapped in denial! I adore tangled love stories. Don't tell me—are we approaching a dramatic confession arc next?"
Kiana suddenly leaned forward, cheeks burning. "He carried me out of the ruins in Sumeru when I couldn't even move. He didn't say a word, just... held on like I was something precious."
Elysia's voice lowered, still smiling but her eyes shimmering faintly. "In Liyue, I fell into that abyss fissure. Thought it was over. But he caught my hand without hesitation—even when the ground crumbled beneath him. Said, 'I don't lose people.'"
Lumine nodded, her arms folded but voice softer now. "Fontaine. He shielded me when the opera collapsed. Took a hit meant for me. He just smiled and said, 'You're more important.'"
The air thickened as the girls looked away, the echoes of their memories suddenly heavy between them.
Then, all at once, they turned to Noah with identical glares and flushed faces.
"You're impossible," Kiana muttered.
Elysia huffed. "Completely unaware."
Lumine sighed. "Utterly hopeless."
Noah, utterly lost now, rubbed his forehead. "Can we not make this weird in front of the shrine maiden?"
Kiana, Elysia, and Lumine all puffed their cheeks and crossed their arms in perfect synchronization.
Yae laughed, delighted. "Oh, but it's so entertaining. You really are hopelessly surrounded, aren't you, Captain?"
But the air shifted as Yae leaned forward, her amusement giving way to gravity. "As fun as this is, there's something darker lurking near the Grand Narukami Shrine."
The mood soured instantly. The group straightened, all signs of banter dissolving like dew in sunlight.
Yae's voice lowered. "Whispers. Vanished scouts. Those who returned… didn't come back whole. Something is stirring beneath the sacred soil."
Lumine exchanged a glance with Elysia, both recalling Katheryne's warning from the Guild. Kiana's grip on her bat subtly tightened.
Noah's voice cut through. "And you want us to deal with it."
"A fair trade," Yae replied smoothly. "I provide the knowledge. You deliver the solution. Harmony restored."
Before another word could form, Kiana tensed.
A sharp breath. A shimmer of gold beneath her lashes.
"Why do you hesitate?"
Sirin's voice, oily and sweet, echoed inside her like a whisper scraping across glass.
"Kiana?" Lumine's voice brought her back.
Kiana forced a breath, her fingers brushing the crystal rose at her side. It pulsed with warmth, helping her hold the line. "I'm fine," she lied, smiling too tightly. "Just… tired."
Noah frowned. He didn't believe her—but he respected the space she needed.
He looked back at Yae. "There's more. You're hiding something."
Yae met his gaze, eyes unblinking. "Perhaps. But my motives align with Inazuma's safety. For now, that is all that matters."
She rose slowly, her expression colder now. "Do not take this threat lightly. Inazuma has faced such darkness before. It nearly broke us."
No one spoke for a moment.
Then Noah nodded. "We'll take care of it."
Yae watched them gather themselves, her voice drifting as they turned. "Be wary, Skyfarers. The past rarely stays buried."
As the group descended from the shrine, the air felt heavier. Kiana lingered at the back, fingers brushing the rose again.
The whispers hadn't stopped.
And deep within, Sirin smiled.