Following the instructions, Collei turned off the lights in her small wooden hut and aimed the projector at the blank wall. She held the steaming cup of milk tea Amber had sent—the aroma alone was intoxicating.
As the countdown flickered on the wall, Amber suddenly jumped into view.
"Hehe! Did I scare you? It's me—Amber! How do I look? This is the brand-new Knights of Favonius uniform!"
In the projection, the girl had traded her old red scouting outfit for a sleek, silver-trimmed battle skirt. It instantly transformed her from a spunky girl into a mature, dignified knight.
"She's changed so much..." Collei whispered, wide-eyed. When they first met, Amber was full of restless energy, her slender frame much like Collei's own. Now, she stood with a refined air, a longsword at her hip and a shortbow slung across her back, looking ten years older and a hundred times more capable.
Then, a man appeared in the frame. He had silver-white hair and a face that radiated a gentle, protective warmth.
Su Han.
In the current era, one might not know what their own Archon looked like, but everyone knew Su Han. Merchants across the continent whispered his name, and even Master Tighnari often lamented that if Sumeru had his help, the nation wouldn't be in such turmoil.
In the recording, Amber turned to him. "Big Brother Su Han, I'll leave the rest to you!"
"Of course," Su Han smiled. "Haki cultivation is simple once you understand the three core distinctions..."
As Su Han demonstrated the techniques, Collei's world was turned upside down. She saw Armament Haki bypass elemental defenses, Observation Haki track enemies from miles away or even see seconds into the future, and the sheer crushing weight of Conqueror's Haki.
"This is the power that declared war on Snezhnaya," Collei realized. It was beyond anything she had ever imagined.
The video ended with Amber poking her tongue out playfully. "Get all that? I'll send you more tips later! Keep this a secret, okay? It's our special promise!"
Collei clutched the warm tea, her heart racing. "I'll start training tomorrow." She knew this was the most precious gift she would ever receive—a path to strength that could finally help her protect those she loved.
[The Morning at the World Tree]
The next morning, Amber awoke in Mondstadt, stretching her limbs before hopping off her vine-woven bed. She spent a few extra minutes on her hair and a touch of light makeup—advice she'd taken from Lisa.
If you're around the man you like, the librarian had teased, you should look your best. Amber wanted Su Han to stop seeing her as a child, and her new, mature style was working. As she joined the breakfast table, she saw the usual crowd: Klee messy with pumpkin porridge, Ningguang and Keqing eating refined delicacies, and the Shogun devouring high-calorie sweets.
"The Mid-Tier Elves hatch today, don't they?" Jean asked.
"They should be a powerful race," Lisa added. "If the lower-tier sprites are already this useful, the mid-tier ones should be comparable to the Black Shadow soldiers."
Su Han finished his porridge. "They've been fueled by three demon gods and the concentrated ley lines of the World Tree. If they aren't strong, it would be a waste of ten million points."
[The "Flying Lizard" Incident]
Since the spatial mirrors were limited, the group flew toward the World Tree. As they approached the massive terraces, Klee suddenly pointed at a high branch.
"Big Brother! Look! It's that big flying lizard! He must be here to break the Tree Mother! Klee won't let him!"
Before Su Han could process what she said, the "Little Spark" whipped out a massive, one-meter-wide Jumpy Dumpty and hurled it with all her might.
"Wait—Klee, no!"
BOOM—!!!
A massive pillar of fire erupted on the terrace. Dvalin, who had been enjoying the most peaceful sleep of his life, let out a pained, indignant shriek. Venti said it was safe here! Why am I being bombed again?!
"Klee! Don't just blow things up!" Su Han scolded as they landed.
"But the flying lizard was a bad guy!" Klee pouted, tears forming. "He fought Big Brother before!"
"Dvalin was being controlled then," Su Han explained. "He's a friend now. You have to apologize."
Klee sniffled and walked up to the scorched, soot-covered dragon, bowing deeply. "I'm sorry... Big Flying Lizard... Klee was wrong. Will you forgive me?"
Dvalin looked at Su Han—whose fist was hovering ominously nearby—and then back at the tiny girl. He sighed, blowing a puff of smoke from his nostrils. "Fine... I'll just consider myself unlucky. Go play."
"Klee," Su Han added firmly. "Apologizing isn't enough. You caused those burns. You stay here with Karin's medicine and help heal Mr. Dvalin. It's your responsibility."
Klee slumped but obeyed, dutifully beginning to apply ointment to the dragon's scales. Su Han nodded in satisfaction and led the others toward the canopy.
[The Awakening]
At the peak of the World Tree, the emerald barrier had thinned. Hundreds of lower-tier sprites were fluttering about in anticipation.
"Father God!" they chirped in unison as Su Han arrived.
"Is it time?"
"The Mother Tree is ready," they whispered.
Minutes later, a series of green pulses rippled through the palace. The amber "coconut" shells began to crack. One by one, elegant figures emerged.
These were the Mid-Tier Elves. Unlike the tiny sprites, they possessed the stature of adult humans. They were born with intricate leaf-silk garments and weapons already in hand. Their beauty was ethereal, their wings shimmering with a translucent, diamond-like sheen.
The fifty newly born elves landed gracefully and knelt before Su Han.
"Mid-Tier Elves... pay our respects to Father God!"
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