26: Dispute

"Barbara, huh? Leaving aside her overall strength, she basically has no real combat experience," Kaeya pointed out flatly.

Jean nodded in agreement. As the deaconess and idol of Mondstadt's Church of Favonius, Barbara was rarely, if ever, placed in combat situations. Her primary role was healing, not fighting.

Lin Yi shrugged and added sarcastically, "Exactly. What kind of priest goes out swinging a weapon at enemies anyway? That's just brain-dead behavior."

Saphir narrowed her eyes dangerously at that jab—very clearly aimed at her—and stared daggers at Lin Yi without saying a word.

"Combat experience might be lacking, but I have a way to handle that," Lin Yi said, ignoring the look she gave him. "What I can't help with is real-world fighting instinct. Worst case scenario, we'll assign someone to guard her. We do need Hydro power after all."

That piqued Kaeya's interest. "Oh? You mean that? The thing you did with Noelle and Klee, right?"

Jean and Lisa's eyes lit up too—they clearly knew what he was referring to.

Saphir didn't, and asked directly, "What are you talking about?"

Lin Yi's lips curled into a smirk. "Last time, Diluc and I took Noelle to hunt a Cryo Regisvine. Now that you're here, we've got more options."

Saphir immediately understood. "Boss monsters?"

"Bingo. There are three major leyline-concentrated elemental bosses in Mondstadt: the Cryo Regisvine, the Electro Hypostasis, and the Anemo Hypostasis. Last time, I managed to convince Diluc to help me take down the least dangerous one—the Cryo Regisvine—and the results were excellent. Noelle gained strength at an incredible pace after absorbing its leyline energy."

"And now you want me to take someone to do it again?" Saphir asked.

"Exactly. And this time, I want you to take Lumine as well—she could use a boost."

Hearing her name, Lumine looked surprised but also a little touched. She knew her strength was lacking, and Saphir still taking the time to advocate for her left her feeling deeply grateful.

Lin Yi's next words surprised her even more: "She was already on the list from the start."

Lumine hadn't expected that answer. She'd braced herself for either acceptance or rejection, but not this casual affirmation. That he'd planned for her from the beginning…

"Once we've got Hydro, Cryo, and Pyro covered, dealing with Abyss Mages will be easy," Lin Yi said with an air of finality.

Jean nodded. "The Four Winds Temple operations can't be rushed. Everything must proceed one step at a time."

"Then I'll leave informing Barbara to you, Acting Grand Master," Lin Yi said with a mischievous glint in his eye.

That single sentence caught Jean completely off guard. She froze for a moment before weakly replying, "Maybe… you should go instead? She's a bit… clingy with you."

Lin Yi shot her a dramatic side-eye. It was clear he had no intention of doing that.

Sighing, Jean collected herself. As a member of the Gunnhildr Clan, she couldn't allow herself to look dejected for long.

"Alright then. We set out tomorrow. I'd like to turn in early—I'm pretty exhausted," Saphir declared, bringing the meeting to a close. The backlash from earlier was still wearing on her. She was dizzy, her limbs heavy, and every step felt uncertain.

The meeting dispersed. Lumine was led away by Sara to choose her room.

Lin Yi turned to Saphir once they were alone. "You're really going to stay here at my place?"

Saphir sat up with effort, shaking her head. "No. I need to head to the Goth's Grand Hotel later. I have a meeting with Rosalyne—some matters need settling."

"You want to save her," Lin Yi said—not as a question, but as a statement.

Saphir nodded. "Rosalyne shouldn't die under the light of divine judgment. That wouldn't be justice—for her, for us, or for the Raiden Shogun."

"Her life ended the day Rostam died. What remains is just 'The Lady'—a Harbinger. Dying to the Musou no Hitotachi would be a release," Lin Yi said grimly.

"And I'm not a Harbinger? Should I have died to Stormterror's claws? Or been ripped apart by Andrius in Wolvendom? Should I be buried under the Golden House, or crushed beneath the Jade Chamber at Guyun Stone Forest?" Saphir stood and glared.

"You're twisting the logic." Lin Yi waved her off. "You know as well as I do—Rosalyne lives in pain. You can't change everything, Saphir. She's the Crimson Witch of Flame—burning herself out is the only end she knows."

"No. You're wrong." Saphir's voice was sharp. "None of us have the right to decide what someone else's end should be. She's alive—that means she hasn't given up. You don't understand her."

"I—" Lin Yi tried to retort, but stopped himself. Their positions were fundamentally different. He was a Traveler. She was a Harbinger. Their ideologies would always clash.

"Tell me this then, Lin Yi," Saphir said softly, "if Rosalyne is cornered into a duel with Lumine—an official duel demanded by Inazuma's laws—if she could have walked away but ends up dead anyway, all because of her past… what do I do then?"

Lin Yi was silent for a moment, then asked, "So that's why you took Barbatos' Gnosis, isn't it?"

"You figured it out?" Saphir raised an eyebrow.

"You think anyone else could've convinced you to save Stormterror?" Lin Yi chuckled bitterly. "The only thing that guy could trade for your help was that green chess piece."

Saphir sipped her tea, finally looking a bit more relaxed. "Rosalyne is angry, yes. But deep down, she's not evil. She just needs to be soothed."

Lin Yi narrowed his eyes. "Right. Just like Stormterror. Just like Rosalyne. Everyone has their reasons. But what's next, Saphir? Are you going to tell me Dottore isn't a bad guy either? Just a bit insane?"

Saphir rolled her eyes. "Don't fish for information. What I can say, I will. What I can't… well, you know the rest."

Lin Yi let out a long sigh. "A shame, really. I thought we might make decent allies. Turns out you're just another pain in my ass. Maybe I should take you out right now, while you're still recovering…"

He rested his hand lightly on the Vision at his waist.

Saphir didn't even look at him. "Stop pretending. Even if you did try something, I wouldn't tell you anything. Just worry about Stormterror. That dragon's far trickier than you think—and Barbatos won't be stepping in this time."

Seeing that his theatrics weren't working, Lin Yi gave up with a chuckle. "Alright then. So, now that you have the Anemo Gnosis… what about Zhongli?"

"Already handled," Saphir said with a sly smile. "I sent Tartaglia off chasing Mona while I hold the reins in Liyue. All I have to do now is help him put on a show during the Rite of Parting. After that? You guys can handle the rest."

Lin Yi gave her a thoughtful look. Ah, so she planned to completely slack off for the Liyue arc. Typical Saphir.

He was starting to consider dumping everything on Lumine and going to watch from the sidelines too.

"Anyway, I've said what I needed to say. I'll leave Lumine to you. She doesn't know this world yet. As her guide, I trust you'll help her out."

"Yeah yeah," Lin Yi waved her off. "Just don't forget to bring the people tomorrow."

"I remember." Saphir straightened her clothes, and with a flicker of shadow, vanished.

Lin Yi shook his head in admiration. "Seriously, how the hell does she do that?"

A knock sounded at the door.

Lumine had finished picking her room and returned. Upon getting Lin Yi's response, she stepped in—only to look around and frown.

"Where's Saphir?"

"Paimon doesn't see her either!" the floating mascot added.

Lin Yi poured her a cup of tea, gesturing for her to sit. "She had something to take care of. She left."

"Oh," Lumine nodded. She understood. Saphir had her own matters. She was already grateful for how much she'd helped.

Now that Saphir was gone, Lumine remembered what her brother had said. She hesitated, then asked Lin Yi directly, "Lin Yi… do you know anything about the Fatui?"

Lin Yi's grip on his teacup tightened—but instead of answering, he asked, "Where did you hear about them?"

Lumine hesitated, then decided to cover for Saphir. "Saphir mentioned them. But she wouldn't say much. She told me to ask you."

Lin Yi wasn't fooled. He immediately realized it had to be Aether who'd exposed Saphir's identity—and Lumine was trying to protect her.

"I know more about her than you do," Lin Yi said with a bitter smile. "There's no need to cover for her when you're with me."

"You… know?" Lumine had half a question on her lips, but stopped short.

Paimon, ever innocent, blinked. "Wait, who's Saphir? Do you know her, Lumine?"

Lumine groaned, frustrated by her companion's cluelessness—but realizing she hadn't been that subtle either.

"Yeah," Lin Yi said with a smirk, sipping his tea. "Just some shameless, red-eyed woman with a massive attitude problem."

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