Spare Me

Invasion- Uh... Entering Lairs

"The Abyss Order... Enemies of the human race. Even the underground networks rarely come across any information on them. With that said, it was a bit of a hassle, but I managed to dig up a few clues," Diluc cut to the chase when morning came.

They all had the option to rest and delay next steps to tomorrow, but decided it was much too risky. Diluc, in the meantime, went through some of his connections to easily access some important information.

"Really? That quickly? You really are well connected, Master Diluc," Venti admired Diluc with shining eyes, wondering if he could do the same thing by using the wind to carry messages like wine orders- I mean, important information.

Yeah. That's right. No premium wine or anything involved.

"Come to think of it, Mr. Big Anemo God — why exactly do you need the help of mere humans...?" Paimon asked as she held her dual daggers. 

Kaori had asked Paimon if she preferred any other weapons, but the fairy gleefully pointed out the daggers looked like Kaori's dual katanas, ending the matter fairly quickly.

"Ahh... How do I put it... "The Seven" as people now know them, were once known as "The Seven Archons." Each archon presides over their own part of Teyvat. That is the role the archons play." 

Venti smiled slightly as he continued, "Only in performing this duty can we attain power, but I don't like the idea of "ruling" Mondstadt — and I don't feel Mondstadt would really like it either."

Jean nodded as she recalled some words she heard before. "Go forth and establish a city of freedom without rule." We have not forgotten Barbatos' wish for Mondstadt.

"Jean... You're such a devotee! Maybe someone got a little too free and is just too lazy to care..." Paimon coughed meaningfully as she hid her daggers, sitting down on Kaori's head with a smug expression.

"Ahh... However it may have come to be... I haven't been back to Mondstadt for an extended period of time. Without a doubt, I am now the weakest archon among The Seven!" Venti sighed slightly as he looked at his ruined Holy Lyre, obscuring it away.

"Hey, that's why you're the god of freedom!" Lumine smiled sympathetically, and Venti grinned.

"Oh, such a humble god... Is it a blessing, or a curse? But we digress. Let's get back to the topic at hand: the common enemy of all mankind. We have tracked the Abyss Mage to the vicinity of the winery," Diluc sighed, leading the way towards where the clues had led him.

They took down the Abyss Mage fairly quickly, especially with all five of them working simultaneously. Paimon mainly was on the sidelines, but she even experimented slashing at the enemy once- funnily enough, the Abyss Mage screamed and ran around like crazy, trying to get away from the fairy.

"Huh? What's this... After the Abyss Mage was defeated, a certain energy dispersed from its body... It seems that energy was being used to cut off the connection between me and Dvalin," Venti murmured before turning to Lumine and Kaori.