Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds [144]

"Hah…"

Gradually regaining his senses, Ren could hear the sound of heavy breathing mingling with the rhythm of his heartbeat.

The pure white girl from his dream was gone, and his consciousness returned to reality.

Above him, the night sky was dotted with twinkling stars.

It was still the same nameless island, atop the mountain peak.

The once-biting cold wind had turned gentle, brushing softly against his cheek with a ticklish sensation.

"Wait…"

Ren opened his mouth slightly, his eyes flickering with confusion.

The sudden return to awareness left him with an inexplicable sense of loss.

The memory of the melody they had played together under the sunlight in the hall lingered.

Was that angelic girl in pure white a mere dream, or…?

"You're awake?"

A light, lilting voice suddenly sounded in his ear.

Startled, Ren instinctively turned his head.

In the next instant, a small hand pressed against his face, stopping him.

"My partner, please look at me properly."

The elegant and exquisite puppet girl leaned against Ren's shoulder, blinking at him.

As she spoke, she naturally reached out her hand, attempting to poke his cheek.

But back in reality, she quickly realized she couldn't quite reach.

"My partner, bring your face a little closer."

Ren looked at her, his weariness evident, and said,

"Sandrone… of course it's you."

As he spoke, he sat up and casually pulled Sandrone off his shoulder, holding her in his hands.

"My partner, that's much better."

Sandrone gently embraced his fingers, a faint smile on her lips.

Their actions had unknowingly become second nature.

Ren chuckled and glanced around.

As expected, he spotted a familiar figure in the moonlight.

"Keqing?"

He called out softly, testing the waters.

There was no response.

Bathed in moonlight, the girl was fast asleep.

Her lips were slightly pursed, and her delicate brows were faintly furrowed.

"Ren…"

Keqing murmured quietly in her sleep.

Hugging a plush doll tightly, she resembled a small, abandoned kitten, evoking both tenderness and pity.

"…"

Ren instinctively softened his breathing and slowly rose to his feet.

This sleeping Keqing… should we just—

"!"

Sandrone stomped her tiny foot in his hand.

"Shh."

Ignoring her protests, Ren approached Keqing and crouched beside her.

As expected of the "Ke Cat," her sleeping posture was serene and adorable.

"Don't look!"

Sandrone grabbed at his fingers, expressing her displeasure.

"Stop it."

Ren shook his head and placed the puppet girl on his shoulder.

Then, he carefully picked up the sleeping Keqing.

It was far too cold at night to leave the Ke Cat exposed to the elements.

She'll catch a cold, Ren thought, maintaining a façade of complete sincerity.

"Mm…"

Keqing seemed to sense something familiar as her brows gradually relaxed.

The corners of her lips curved ever so slightly into a subtle smile.

"?"

Sandrone's bright eyes glimmered, sensing something amiss.

She could smell a scheme brewing.

"Ren…" Keqing murmured again.

Hearing the faint call, Ren leaned in closer.

What could the sleeping Ke Cat possibly want from him?

"I like…"

Ren's eyes widened slightly.

"…working overtime together."

He let out a wry laugh.

Even in her dreams, she was thinking about work. Classic Keqing.

Wait, wasn't he the one she usually dragged into overtime?

Just as he tried to hear more of what she had to say—

"No."

The Ke Cat blushed faintly, nuzzling against Ren's chest and hiding herself shyly.

She seemed embarrassed even in her sleep.

Ren chuckled softly. A sleeping Keqing was irresistibly endearing.

"Tch."

Sandrone narrowed her eyes, which gleamed with a faint chill.

This woman… she's definitely pretending to sleep.

She must be exposed!

Of course, Sandrone conveniently ignored the fact that she herself had once pretended to sleep as well…

"Let's focus on what's important," Ren said, holding Keqing securely as he looked into the distance.

In the ruins of the desolate, crumbling buildings ahead, the lifeless form of a human dangled from razor-sharp metallic threads, their appearance utterly grotesque.

Under the moonlight, the steel wires gleamed coldly.

The figure's body, twisted and distorted beyond recognition, resembled a puppet manipulated by invisible hands.

It was clear they had endured unspeakable torment before death.

Naturally, the figure was one of the Doctor's segments.

"Did you do this?"

Ren glanced at the elegant, pristine puppet girl perched on his shoulder.

Her handiwork had been brutal.

A little more force, and those wires would've diced the segment into literal slices.

"I don't know~"

Dressed in a simple white gown, Sandrone swung her tiny legs nonchalantly.

Her bright eyes blinked innocently, and her petite face looked the picture of purity.

"Fighting is so unladylike."

"…"

Ren let out a dry laugh, giving her a pointed look.

The oh-so-delicate Harbinger Marionette, huh?

He hadn't even confronted her yet about slacking off in the dream.

"How much of his secrets have you retrieved?"

"Not much, mostly records of human experiments."

Sandrone gestured toward a pile of documents in the distance, clearly uninterested.

Ren walked over and glanced through the stack.

"Research on the Malignant Dragon Syndrome."

"The Sumeru Akademiya… Greater Lord Rukkhadevata… Lesser Lord Kusanali…"

"Catalytic reactions between electro and dendro… hypotheses on reviving decayed juvenile forms to mature states…"

His voice trailed off as he averted his gaze, sighing.

This stuff should probably be saved for someone else.

Most of it was likely useless to him anyway.

"My partner, why stop reading?"

Sandrone teased, her bright eyes glinting with amusement as she poked at his cheek.

"Couldn't understand it."

"Oh… if you want to learn, feel free to ask me~"

Sandrone swung her tiny feet playfully, her tone casual.

Ren shook his head firmly. Spare me, please.

"And what about the modified experimental subject?"

"It dissolved and was reclaimed after the Doctor's death."

Ren nodded, relieved.

His gaze shifted to the black mist lingering among the ruins.

"All that's left now… is Osial's lingering resentment."

---

"..."

- Gardevoir

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