Genshin Impact: A Fool

On a fine day, Heins decided to do something different.

He wanted to accompany Miss Arlecchino in a mission.

Whatever that is. Scouting, intelligence gathering, skirmishes, spying. Well, he preferred fighting. The boy was feeling strong curiosity about the missions she must uphold as a part of Fatui.

So, in a fine day at night, when his training with Arlecchino's trusted agent Raven was about to begin, he requested to meet Arlecchino, knowing that she was free from duties, since she just came back yesterday.

Miss Arlecchino usually visited the House of the Hearth after her mission, hence he knew.

After Arlecchino appeared from the shadow, Little Fool immediately asked her to take him along when she was on a mission. Arlecchino paused, and she immediately kicked him on the face.

Groaning in pain, he did not see her obsidian orbs that glistened with fierce protectiveness and something else. However, Heins did not falter.

A kick in the face? He had been stabbed before, forced to depend on just a patch of leather and his natural healing factor. A kick in the face is not enough.

Heins slowly stood up, his crimson eyes cold and icy and were filled with steely determination, as if there was nothing wrong with his bloody snout,

"Miss... You know I am enough. I am not like others. I am ten, I know, but I... I am anxious to let all of these strength remained unused, merely exerted through these uncommitted battles. I need something, a thing that could make me despair, make me suffer. I... Trust that you could safe me should I stumbled on the cliff and prevent me from falling."

Arlecchino kicked him again. Her obsidian orbs turned angry, "Shut up!"

Arlecchino's eyes flashed with a fury that seemed to set her very soul ablaze, the obsidian orbs glinting with a malevolent light that spoke of a temper as mercurial as it was terrifying. She loomed over Heins, her lithe form trembling with the force of her rage, and for a moment it seemed as though she might strike him again, might unleash the full force of her wrath upon his defiant young face.

But something stopped her, some flicker of reason amidst the tempest of her anger. She took a step back, her chest heaving with the force of her breaths, and fixed Heins with a look that could have curdled milk.

Her voice, when she spoke, was low and dangerous, each word dripping with a venom that made the very air around them seem to shiver.

"You think you are special, little fool?" she spat, her lips curling in a sneer that was as cruel as it was beautiful.

"You think that your so-called strength is enough to earn you a place at my side? You are a child, nothing more. A silly, foolish child playing at being a grown man."

She took another step forward, her heels clicking ominously on the stone floor as she invaded Heins's personal space, her presence as suffocating as it was terrifying.

Her voice dropped to a hiss, low and dangerous in the stillness of the training ground.

"I have seen boys like you before, Fool. Boys who thought they knew everything, who believed that their own strength was enough to carry them through any trial. I have seen them broken, shattered, cast aside like the playthings they were. I will not let that happen to you."

She reached out, her sharp nails digging into the soft flesh of Heins's chin, forcing him to meet her gaze. Her eyes, when he did, were a stormy sea of rage and something else, something darker and more terrifying still.

"I will not let you throw your life away on some half-baked quest for glory. You are mine, Fool - mine to shape, mine to mold, mine to guide to the greatness that I know lies within you. And I will not see that potential wasted on some foolish, suicidal whim."

She released him then, her hand falling away from his face as she turned and began to pace, her heels clicking a staccato rhythm against the stone. She paused, her back to Heins as she spoke once more, her voice heavy with a weight that he could not quite comprehend.

"I will take you with me, Fool. I will give you the chance to prove yourself, to show me the strength and the courage that you claim to possess. But know this - if you come with me, there will be no turning back. You will see things, do things, that will haunt you for the rest of your days. You will be tested in ways that you cannot possibly imagine, and there will be no one there to save you if you should fall."

"I would not let you depend on me, so stop your foolishness, Fool."

She turned to face him then, her eyes glinting with a fierce, almost manic light as she spoke the final words that would seal his fate.

"Think carefully, little fool. Are you ready to walk this path? Are you ready to embrace the darkness and the despair that awaits you?"

She held out a hand to him, a silent challenge, a dare. And in that moment, Heins knew that he had a choice to make - a choice that would determine the course of his life, the very essence of his being. He could take her hand, could step forward into the unknown and embrace the destiny that she had foretold. Or he could turn away, could retreat into the safety and the familiarity of the life he knew.

Heins struggled to remain awake, but he heard every single of her word clearly.

Her kick, uncontrolled by her rage, proves to be too much for him to bear, almost knocking him unconscious. He also did not bother to protect himself, for he knows that Miss Arlecchino was someone he could trust. Even if she stabbed him, it would be fine. Heins, after all, is a little fool, and he could never bear to see her agitated.

He whispered, as he fell into unconscious, "I have no need to prove myself, Miss Arlecchino. I just want... To ensure that my strength is enough... Enough to... Know your name..."

Arlecchino stayed silent, then she waved her hand to signal Raven. Her trusted confidant nodded, knowing what she meant, and disappeared, letting her alone with the unconscious Heins.

As Heins slipped into unconsciousness, his words hung heavy in the air between them, a whispered confession that seemed to echo in the stillness of the training ground.

Arlecchino remained silent, her heart pounding in her chest as she processed the weight of his declaration, the raw and honest vulnerability of his desire to prove himself worthy of knowing her name.

For a long moment, she simply stared down at his prone form, her obsidian eyes searching his face as if trying to discern the truth behind his words.

And then, slowly, almost hesitantly, she sank down to her knees beside him, her heels clicking softly against the stone.

With a gentleness that belied the fierce intensity of her nature, Arlecchino reached out and brushed a lock of Heins's hair back from his forehead, her fingers lingering on the smooth expanse of his skin.

She had seen this boy grow from a mere child into the little man he was now, had watched him struggle and strive and push himself to the very limits of his endurance, all in the hopes of earning her approval, her respect, her...

She shook her head, banishing the thought before it could take root, before it could grow into something more than it ought to be.

Heins was her protege, her ward, the most promising of all the children she had taken under her wing at the House of the Hearth. She had a duty to guide him, to mold him, to shape him into the instrument of the Tsaritsa's will.

And yet, as she looked down at his sleeping face, at the way his long lashes fluttered against his cheeks and his lips parted slightly in a soft, almost imperceptible sigh, Arlecchino felt a strange and unfamiliar warmth bloom in her chest.

A feeling that she had long thought herself incapable of, a tenderness that she had never before allowed herself to acknowledge.

With a tenderness that belied the sharpness of her nails, Arlecchino cupped Heins's cheek in her palm, her thumb brushing lightly over the curve of his jaw.

She had never once doubted his potential, his innate talent, his...

Arlecchino's breath caught in her throat, a sudden tightness constricting her chest as she gazed down at Heins's sleeping face.

In that moment, the fierce and fiery protector of the Tsaritsa's interests, the dreaded Knave of the Fatui, felt a strange and unfamiliar ache, a yearning to shield this boy from the horrors that awaited him on the path he had chosen.

But even as she felt that yearning, that desperate, instinctive urge to protect him from the darkness that she knew all too well, Arlecchino knew that she could not allow herself to indulge it.

For in the world of the Fatui, weakness was punished, and compassion was seen as a sign of weakness. And she, more than anyone, knew the price of such indulgence.

So instead, she leaned down and pressed a soft, almost imperceptible kiss to Heins's forehead, her lips lingering on his skin for a long, drawn-out moment before she pulled away.

And as she did, she whispered a single word, a promise and a warning all in one:

"Sleep now, little fool," she murmured, her voice low and soft and infinitely gentle in the stillness of the night.

"Rest now, while you still can. For when you wake, you will need all the strength and courage you can muster, all the skill and cunning and sheer, unbreakable determination that I have poured into you these long years. You will need it, Fool... because the path ahead is a dark and treacherous one. And I will not always be there to guide you through the shadows."

With that, Arlecchino stood and turned to leave, her heels clicking a staccato rhythm against the stone as she disappeared into the darkness, leaving Heins to dream his dreams in the cool, night-shrouded air.

And as she walked away, she knew that she would keep the truth of her feelings locked away, hidden deep within the cold and empty chambers of her heart. For in the world of the Fatui, love was a weakness... and she would not let it be her downfall.

"Sleep out here. You had been audacious."

However, Arlecchino underestimated this feeling. It screamed at her, scolding her and snarled at her to left her Heins sleeping in the cold forest.

She clenched her fists, reasoning to herself that he deserved it for his audaciousness, but as she did so, her form began to tremble.

She wrestled with her own feeling.

In the end, she walked back to his unconscious form. Her kick was so strong perhaps, that even a wild snow wolf was able to enter his personal space despite his trained survival instinct.

Arlecchino saw red.

She stood over Heins's unconscious form, her body trembling with a rage that seemed to set her very soul ablaze.

The sight of the snow wolf, its matted fur caked with blood and grime, its teeth bared in a vicious snarl as it loomed over her precious ward, sent a surge of white-hot fury coursing through her veins.

How dare this filthy beast presume to lay a paw on what was hers? How dare it threaten the one person she had ever allowed herself to care for, the one life she had sworn to protect and guide at any cost?

"HOW DARE YOU?!"

With a scream that echoed like the howl of a wounded beast, Arlecchino lunged forward, her scythe already singing from its sheath before she had even fully processed the action.

The blade sliced through the air, parting the frigid winter night like a lover's caress, and buried itself deep in the wolf's chest with a sickening crunch of bone and sinew.

The creature let out a yelp of agony, a sound that was abruptly cut off as Arlecchino wrenched the scythe free in a spray of blood, the red-black ichor painting the pristine snow in a grotesque parody of a flower.

She could feel the wolf's hot blood splattering against her skin, could see the life fading from its eyes as she tore into it with a ferocity that bordered on madness.

But even as she dismembered the beast, as she reduced it to a bloody, twitching ruin at her feet, Arlecchino's rage did not abate.

If anything, it only grew, only intensified, until she was screaming like a demon possessed, her voice echoing through the forest like a clarion call to the darkest depths of her own twisted psyche.

Behind her, the blood diremoon pulsed and throbbed, the eerie crimson glow casting her shadow in a horrific parody of a halo.

Her eyes blazed with a malevolent light, the red 'X' across her pupils seeming to burn with the same infernal fire that consumed her heart. In that moment, she was a terrifying sight to behold - a fallen angel, a demon in the guise of a woman, a creature of pure, unadulterated rage and fury.

But even as she stood there, panting and shaking with the force of her temper, Arlecchino knew that she could not let Heins see her like this.

Could not allow him to witness the depths of her madness, the sheer, unbridled lunacy that lurked beneath the surface of her carefully crafted facade.

For if he saw her as she truly was... if he glimpsed the darkness that dwelled within her soul... he might flee, might turn his back on the path she had laid out for him, the glorious destiny that awaited him at her side.

Arlecchino then froze. It was a voice. His voice.

"Miss Arlecchino... You are so beautiful..."

She snapped back to see his half-lidded crimson eyes staring at her, filled with warm and gentleness.

"I always believe... That a warrior such as Miss... Would show their color at a certain circumstance. For Miss... To show such a baleful reaction for my sake... I cannot describe how utterly gorgeous you look, Miss Arlecchino." He said it with difficulty, his consciousness clashing with his subconsciousness.

In the end, his sight darkened, missing the spectacle that was perhaps worth seeing even if he exchanged the rest of his lifespan for a single look.

Arlecchino stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest as she stared down at Heins's now closed eyes. His words, spoken with a voice thick with pain and fading consciousness, struck her like a physical blow, stealing the breath from her lungs and setting her very soul aflame.

Beautiful? She, the dreaded Knave, the Fourth Seat of the Fatui Harbingers, the cold and merciless Arlecchino?

For a long moment, she simply stared at him, her mind reeling as she tried to process the weight of his words.

And then, slowly, almost hesitantly, a flush crept up her neck, painting her pale skin a delicate shade of pink. It was a sight so rare, so utterly foreign, that it seemed to defy belief - but there it was, undeniable and unmistakable, a testament to the power of Heins's innocent, heartfelt praise.

Arlecchino's heart raced, a strange and unfamiliar warmth blooming in her chest as she gazed down at Heins's darkened gaze.

She had seen many things in her long and bloody career, had witnessed the heights of human depravity and the depths of human despair, but never had she witnessed anything quite like this.

Never had she seen such pure, unadulterated adoration, such genuine and heartfelt admiration, directed towards her own person.

It was a humbling experience, one that left Arlecchino feeling strangely vulnerable, strangely exposed. For so long, she had worn her power like a suit of armor, a tangible shield against the slings and arrows of the world.

But now, faced with Heins's innocent praise, she felt that armor begin to crack, to splinter, to crumble away like the walls of a castle made of sand.

And yet, even as she stood there, blushing like a silly girl caught in the throes of her first crush, Arlecchino knew that she could not let herself be swayed by such sentiment.

Could not allow herself to be tempted by the siren song of Heins's adoration, the sweet and honeyed words that flowed so easily from his lips.

For she had a duty, a purpose, a sacred oath to uphold - and she would not allow anything, not even the love of her most precious ward, to stand in the way of that.

So with a strength of will that was truly formidable, Arlecchino pushed down the unfamiliar warmth in her chest, banished the strange and giddy fluttering of her heart.

She leaned down, her face now inches from Heins's own, and spoke to him with a voice that was low and soft and infinitely gentle:

"Hush now, little fool," she murmured, her obsidian eyes shining with a tenderness that she had never before allowed herself to express.

"You are not thinking clearly, not with that head wound of yours. But know this - your words, your faith in me... it means more than you could possibly know. And I swear to you, here and now, that I will not let anything happen to you. Ever."

With that, Arlecchino gathered Heins into her arms, cradling him against her chest like a child. And as she held him, she knew that she would keep the truth of her feelings locked away, hidden deep within the cold and empty chambers of her heart.

But she also knew that she would never forget this moment, this perfect and shining instant of pure and unadulterated connection, forged in the heat of battle and tempered by the strength of Heins's love.

Then, tomorrow morning.

Just another fine day in the House of the Hearth. However, as the still drowsy children gathered around the training ground in the morning to undergo their daily exercise, a shocking announcement was made from their instructor.

Fool would be taken away by Arlecchino for a few days.

The children, such as Lyney and Freminet looked at each other in shock, wondering what sort of... Mistakes did he make. Lynette, on the other hand, had her shoulders slumped, feeling down not being able to watch the foolish yet handsome boy that always lives in his own world.

Other children murmured, their speculations shared to their friends in the orphanage.

The Instructor merely said that it was confidential and the Director firmly said that this was her personal business.

Arlecchino stood before the gathered children of the House of the Hearth, her expression stern and unreadable as always.

She had called for this impromptu assembly, a rare occurrence that had the children whispering and speculating amongst themselves. She saw Lyney and Freminet exchanged puzzled glances, their brows furrowed in concern for their friend Heins, while Lynette kept her gaze downcast, her shoulders slumped in a way that spoke of a heaviness of heart.

The other children murmured their theories to one another, their voices a low and excited buzz that filled the training ground.

Some speculated that Heins had finally pushed too far, that his constant daydreaming and inattention had at last earned him a punishment of the utmost severity.

Others, more optimistic in their nature, hoped that perhaps the Director had finally taken notice of Heins's unique talents, that she was taking him away to receive specialized training, to be groomed for a position of great importance within the Fatui ranks.

But Arlecchino remained silent, her expression inscrutable, as the whispers and rumors swirled around her.

She had not called them here to satisfy their curiosity, but to deliver a message - a message that was, as she put it, "confidential" and "personal business." She would not be drawn into speculation, would not indulge their childish gossiping.

No, she had a purpose, a goal, and she would not be deterred from it.

As the Director began to speak, her voice cut through the murmurings like a knife, sharp and clear and commanding attention.

She spoke of Heins, of course, and the news she imparted sent a shockwave through the assembled children. Fool, their foolish, dreamy friend, was being taken away. But not as punishment, no - but as a matter of "personal business," a task that only she, the Director, could oversee.

The children gasped, their eyes wide with shock and disbelief. Even Lyney and Freminet seemed taken aback, their jaws slack with surprise.

And Lynette... poor Lynette, who had been so disheartened at the thought of not seeing Heins for a time... she felt a sudden, fierce surge of hope.

Could it be? Could the Director truly have taken an interest in Heins, in guiding him towards a brighter future within the ranks of the Fatui?

Children are truly vain. Such a concern was born from mere attraction towards looks...

Arlecchino allowed the shock and speculation to hang in the air for a long moment, letting the children ponder the implications of her announcement.

And then, with a sharp gesture, she silenced them, her gaze sweeping over the assembled crowd with a stern and unyielding intensity.

"Enough," she said, her voice ringing out like a gunshot in the sudden silence. "You will have no more talk of this matter. Fool's absence is a private concern, one that I will not discuss with the likes of you. You have your training to attend to, your duties to uphold - and I expect nothing less than your full attention and dedication. Is that clear?"

The children nodded, their faces a mix of confusion, curiosity, and reluctant acceptance.

They knew better than to question the Director's orders, to pry into matters that were not their concern. So they fell silent, their eyes downcast and their postures attentive, waiting for the instructors to begin the day's lessons.

And as Arlecchino turned to leave, her mind was already drifting to thoughts of Heins, to the time she would spend with him in the coming days.

She knew that the children were right, in their own way - that this was no ordinary matter, no simple punishment or reprimand. No, this was something more, something deeper and more profound... something that only she and Heins could understand.

But those thoughts, like the true nature of her feelings for the boy, would have to wait. For now, she had a role to play, a reputation to uphold - and she would not let anything, not even her own heart, stand in the way of her duties.

No... she was Arlecchino, the Knave, the Fourth Seat of the Fatui Harbingers. And she would see this through, no matter the cost.

Different from his ordinary days, when he would act as a fool when the sun reign, now, he stood in a secret place, a place where Arlecchino and those under her gathered.

Like any Fatui Harbingers, Arlecchino has some sort of a territory on her own, a place where she could do anything and gather her forces.

Here, little Fool, with his crimson eyes icy cold and his charcoal hair dark like the abyss, donned in a tight black jumpsuit and a sword sheathed on his belt, would be filled in with the mission.

Before him, Arlecchino clad in her full operation outfit stood. She wore a cloak that covered her body, but her mask was not donned, not until she truly went on a mission.

Thus, she began to explain the details of the mission, with a merciless and cold tone that's both deadly and unforgiving.. She discard all those superfluous words, for she knew Heins had enough and knew that he would upheld all the teachings of the orphanage.

"Listen well, Fool," she said, her tone brooking no room for distraction or error. "The mission I have in mind requires a delicate hand and a keen mind. It is a matter of diplomacy, of navigating the treacherous waters of political intrigue and negotiation."

Arlecchino paused, her gaze sharpening as she studied Heins's face, searching for any sign of weakness, any flicker of doubt. But she found none, and she nodded, a single, abrupt jerk of her chin, before continuing.

"The Fatui have received intelligence of a matter concerning the nation of Liyue. A matter of great importance, one that could have far-reaching consequences for the balance of power in the world of Teyvat. The Tsaritsa has tasked me with resolving this issue, and I have chosen you to accompany me, to be my eyes and ears in this delicate affair."

She took a step closer to Heins, her voice lowering to a near whisper, a tone of such cold and deadly intent that it sent a shiver down the boy's spine.

"Our goal will be to negotiate a favorable outcome for the Fatui, to secure our interests and ensure that Liyue remains... pliable to our needs. But be warned, Fool - the path of diplomacy is often paved with lies and deceit, with subtle manipulations and hidden agendas."

"You will need to be at your sharpest, your most cunning and perceptive, if you are to aid me in this task."

Arlecchino's eyes narrowed, and she leaned in even closer, her face now mere inches from Heins's own. He could feel the heat of her breath on his skin, could see the way her lips curled into a smile that was more a baring of teeth than anything truly warm or friendly.

"But I have faith in you, little fool," she murmured, her voice a low and deadly purr.

"I have seen the way your mind works, the way you navigate the labyrinthine world of courtly intrigue and political maneuvering. And I know that you will not let me down... will you, Fool?"

Heins asked, his tone indifferent and flat, "Leader, please fill me in with the details. What does this mission entails? Technology? Food? A cooperation perhaps?"

In this place, there was no space for intimate calls. There is a clear hierarchy.

"This mission is not about the mundane matters of technology or resources, Fool," she said, her tone dripping with a faint, underlying disdain. "No, this is a matter of far greater consequence - the delicate balance of power and influence that maintains the stability of the nations of Teyvat."

She began to pace, her cloak swirling around her like a dark cloud. As she walked, she continued, her voice taking on a contemplative edge.

"Liyue, as you may know, is a nation of great wealth and influence. Their control over the spice trade and their vast financial networks give them a level of power that even the Fatui cannot ignore. But lately, there have been... whispers, shall we say. Rumors of dissension in their halls of power, of factions vying for control and influence."

Arlecchino stopped her pacing and turned to face Heins directly, her gaze boring into him with an intensity that was almost physical in its force.

"The Tsaritsa has received reports that a certain faction within Liyue, one with a rather... traditionalist bent, is seeking to undermine the current Archon's authority."

"They seek to impose a more rigid, more zealous interpretation of the nation's laws and customs - one that would have far-reaching and destabilizing consequences for the region."

She let that sink in for a moment before continuing, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial murmur. "The Tsaritsa has tasked me with identifying the key players in this power struggle and... persuading them to see reason."

"To understand the wisdom of maintaining the status quo, of recognizing the Fatui's rightful place as the mediators and guardians of the world's balance."

Arlecchino's smile was a cold, cruel thing as she regarded Heins, her eyes glinting with a predatory light.

"Of course, I expect that this 'persuasion' may require a delicate touch, and a keen eye for the subtleties of social maneuvering. I will need you to attend me as my eyes and ears, to listen for the whispers and read between the lines."

"You will need to navigate the treacherous waters of Liyue's social hierarchy, to navigate the pitfalls and snares of their courtly intrigue."

She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper as she spoke. "I will need you to be the fool, Fool. The naive, wide-eyed outsider who stumbles into secrets and overhears whispered conversations. I will need you to be the face of innocence, the unwitting pawn who can get close to those who would seek to undermine the Tsaritsa's will."

Arlecchino straightened up, her expression hardening into one of steely determination. "I know it is a lot to ask. But I believe you are the one who can rise to the challenge. You have the mind for it, the adaptability and the quick wit. And I know that you will not let me down."

She extended a hand, a habit she developed as she interacted with this little fool, "So, what do you say, my little fool? Are you ready to play your part, to stand at my side and help me steer the fate of nations? Or do you require... further persuasion?"

Heins's indifferent slowly ceased, replaces by a sunny, foolish smile, like how he was in the orphanage, "Hm! Hm! I understand! I listen! I listen to every word said."

Arlecchino watched as Heins's expression shifted, his indifferent mask melting away to reveal the sunny, foolish grin that she had come to associate with him back at the orphanage.

She felt a flicker of something akin to fondness, a rare and fleeting emotion that was quickly suppressed beneath her usual veneer of icy control.

She nodded, a single, sharp jerk of her chin, as Heins affirmed his understanding and willingness to participate in the mission.

It was the response she had been expecting, the confirmation of his loyalty and obedience that she required. And yet, there was a part of her that couldn't help but feel a certain amusement at the way he had so readily embraced his role as the naive, eager-to-please fool.

Arlecchino allowed herself a small, tight smile, a glint of mirth in her eyes as she regarded Heins with a look that was almost affectionate.

Almost.

"I'm glad to hear it, Fool," she said, her tone warming slightly, like the faintest blush of heat in an otherwise frozen landscape.

"I have faith in your abilities, and I know that you will not let me down."

She turned away then, her cloak swirling around her as she began to pace once more, her mind already racing ahead to the challenges and pitfalls that lay ahead. She donned her mask that covered her upper face, a sign that the mission has truly begin.

As she walked, she began to outline the specifics of their plan, her voice taking on a brisk, businesslike tone.

"We will arrive in Liyue under the guise of diplomatic envoys, there to discuss matters of mutual interest and cooperation between the Fatui and the Liyue nation."

"While I engage with the Archon and the upper echelons of their bureaucracy, I will need you to... circulate. Mingle with the locals, both high and low, and keep your ears open for any whispers of dissent or dissatisfaction."

She paused, turning to face Heins with a look of intense, almost feverish focus.

"I will provide you with a list of key individuals to keep an eye on, those who are rumored to be at the heart of this power struggle."

"Your task will be to get close to them, to win their trust and their confidence. And then, my dear fool, you will report back to me with every scrap of information you can glean - every rumor, every hint, every scrap of evidence that might be useful in our endeavors."

Arlecchino's smile turned sharp, a blade glinting in the dim light of the hidden chamber.

"Of course, I expect that this will not always be a simple or easy task. There will be obstacles, and there will be those who seek to thwart our efforts. But I have faith in your abilities, Fool. Faith in your quick wit and your talent for navigating the treacherous waters of social interaction."

She stopped her pacing then, turning to face Heins with a look of stern, unflinching intent. "So, once again - are you ready, my little fool? Ready to play your part in this grand game of power and influence? Ready to stand at my side and help me shape the fate of nations?"

Little Fool, as always, showed a huge smile, "Hehe, of course!"

With that, they set off to Liyue, along with Arlecchino's under cover team.

While she along with some of her trusted confidants would be diplomatic envoys, Heins along with the rest will be disguised as ordinary citizens.

A group of merchant, a family of travelers, or perhaps tourists. As for little Heins, he'll be disguised as a son of two agents, a tall handsome man and an amicable-looking woman.

The journey took a while. The distance between Snezhnaya and Liyue is quite far, having to pass Fontaine, Mondstadt and Sumeru. Arlecchino and the envoys travelled through a splendorous carriage, showing off their status as the Snezhnaya's envoys.

Heins and other agents used several means. Some used a simple carriage, while others rode horses. For Heins and the two agents who will be disguised as his parents, they use a carriage.

After all, Liyue is quite famous for its commerce. For many people to get through every day was not so strange.

Thus, with all the plans laid out, the journey began.

As the journey progressed, Arlecchino found herself stealing glances at Heins from time to time, watching as he chattered animatedly with his "parents" and the other agents disguised as travelers.

There was something endearing about the way he threw himself into the role, his natural foolishness and exuberance making him the very picture of an innocent, carefree child on a journey with his family.

She couldn't help but feel a twinge of something almost like fondness as she observed him, remembering the days when he was just a bright-eyed orphan at the House of the Hearth, always ready with a joke or a silly grin to lighten the sometimes grim atmosphere.

Albeit it was all a facade, it was still something... Wholesome, seeing the extreme contrast of the ice cold boy in his training phase and the sunny, foolish boy in the orphanage.

It was a rare moment of softness from the usually unyielding Arlecchino, a crack in her armor of icy control.

She knew the reason clearly, someone that drew her in like a moth to a flame. But she is Arlecchino, and such a tenderness... Cannot be allowed to grow resplendently in her heart.

As the carriage rolled on, the landscapes of Teyvat flashed by outside the windows - the resplendent sparkling lakes of Fontaine, the lush, green hills and verdant forests of Mondstadt giving way to the towering sand dunes and shimmering oases of Sumeru, before finally descending into the bustling, commerce-driven heart of Liyue.

The city was a riot of color and sound, with merchants hawking their wares in the streets and sailors shouting to each other from the decks of ships in the harbor.

It was a world away from the frozen, snow-swept landscapes of Snezhnaya.

She turned to her companions, her expression hardening into one of steely determination as she spoke.

"We will be arriving in Liyue Harbor shortly. Remember, our primary objective is to establish contact with the Archon's inner circle and begin our diplomatic negotiations. I remind you again, for this is your first time, Fool. I will need you to keep a sharp eye out for any signs of the dissident factions we spoke of, and report back to me with any information you manage to uncover."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the group of agents in the carriage with her, taking in their disguised appearances as merchants, travelers, and a family on holiday.

Her lips curled into a small, satisfied smile. "Well then, commenced."

As the carriage finally rolled to a stop in the heart of Liyue Harbor, Arlecchino stepped out into the bustling street, her cloak billowing behind her.

She took a deep breath of the salty, spice-laden air and turned to face her companions once more, her eyes glinting with a fierce, unyielding light.

With that, she strode off towards the grand palace that dominated the heart of the city, ready to begin the delicate dance of diplomacy and intrigue that would determine the course of their mission.

And as she walked, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and satisfaction at the loyal, capable agents who followed at her heels - and the one foolish, grinning boy who brought a flicker of warmth to even the most frigid of hearts, with his own duty upheld somewhere else.