Dusk settled like a thin veil, slowly draping itself over the rooftops of Mondstadt.
Lydia clutched the Holy Lyre der Himmel, wrapped in coarse linen, and circled the streets three times.
Finally, she stopped before Wagner's blacksmith shop.
She had no intention of returning directly to the Cathedral.
The mere thought of the Cardinal's stern face and Barbara's likely tear-streaked eyes made her shudder.
Wagner's craftsmanship is among the best in Mondstadt, she reasoned. Maybe he can secretly fix the crack in the lyre's body?
That way, she might face a little less scolding when she returned.
A wave of heat, thick with the scent of iron filings, washed over her. Several apprentices were gathered around an anvil, forging weapons. The glowing-red iron cast a shimmering light on their faces.
Lydia quickly hid the bundle behind her back, peeking out with just her eyes. "Is Master Wagner here?" she asked timidly.
"The master left the city early this morning and hasn't returned yet!" an apprentice with a ponytail paused his work, wiping sweat from his brow. His gaze softened unconsciously as it fell on Lydia. "Lydia, what do you need the master for?"
Another apprentice with a round face eagerly chimed in, his tone exceptionally warm. "Yeah, Lydia! Our forging skills are pretty good too! If you need anything, just ask. We'll do our best to help!"
Their eyes were filled with affection for Lydia. Her gentle nature, her constant willingness to help the citizens, and her endearing appearance made her incredibly popular in Mondstadt, especially among the younger generation like them.
Lydia felt a little flustered under their gazes and took half a step back. "It's... it's nothing major," she mumbled evasively. "I just wanted to ask the master for a small favor..."
She didn't dare mention repairing the Holy Lyre der Himmel, nor did she dare reveal what she held in her arms.
It was a Holy Relic of Mondstadt, recognized by nearly every citizen.
If it were identified, it could cause an enormous commotion.
"Then why don't you wait? The master might be back soon!" the round-faced apprentice quickly brought over a wooden stool and handed her a clean cloth. "We're almost done forging this sword. How about we have dinner together later? We even have your favorite apple pie!"
"No, no, I have things to do later. I wouldn't want to intrude on your meal," Lydia quickly shook her head, politely declining with a smile. "I'll wait here for a bit. If Uncle Wagner doesn't return soon, I'll come back another time."
Her mind was consumed with thoughts of repairing the lyre. She had no appetite to stay, nor did she want the apprentices to notice anything amiss.
Sitting on the wooden stool, Lydia clutched the linen-wrapped Holy Lyre der Himmel tightly in her lap.
Her gaze seemed to follow the rise and fall of the apprentices' hammers, but in reality, she was lost in thought.
What if Wagner can't fix it either?
Do I really have to carry this broken Holy Relic back to the Cathedral just to get scolded?
Her fingertips traced the crack in the lyre's body through the linen, and a wave of panic washed over her.
The sun gradually sank below the horizon. The apprentices had already packed away their tools and were setting the table for dinner.
Lydia stood up and waved to them. "I'll be heading off now. Could you please say hello to Uncle Wagner for me?"
"Sure thing! Be careful on your way home," the ponytail apprentice replied, not pressing her to stay, and watched her leave.
Lydia smiled, turned, and quickly walked out of the blacksmith shop.
The streets were sparsely populated, and the warm yellow lamplight stretched her shadow long behind her.
She walked slowly, clutching the bundle in her arms, mentally preparing herself for the scolding she was sure to receive.
She was so preoccupied that she didn't notice a flash of red in a corner of the city wall.
"Big Sister Lydia!"
A soft, slightly panicked voice suddenly called out.
Lydia whipped around to see a small figure with twin pigtails, wearing a red dress adorned with four-leaf clovers, crouching at the base of the wall.
It was Klee! And she was clutching an unlit Jumpy Dumpty.
Lydia's heart skipped a beat. She hurried over. "Klee? What are you doing here? Isn't it too early for you to be out of the confinement room?"
Klee rushed over and hugged Lydia's leg, her voice trembling with distress. "I was organizing my Jumpy Dumpties in the confinement room, and one of them accidentally blew a hole in the wall, so I escaped! Big Brother Kaeya is chasing me, and if he catches me, I'll get a spanking!"
Lydia looked down at the Jumpy Dumpty in Klee's hand and couldn't help but facepalm.
No wonder she's Mondstadt's biggest "munitions boss," Lydia thought. Blowing up the walls of the Knights of Favonius Headquarters... She's even bolder than I am.
She and Klee were "regulars" in the confinement room: Klee loved to blast fish, and Lydia loved to cause trouble with Venti.
Just a while ago, Lydia had seen Klee in the confinement room after a graffiti incident. They had occasionally been locked up together before, and over time, they had become good friends.
Klee always called her "Big Sister" in a sweet voice, and Lydia adored the soft, elven girl as if she were her own little sister.
"Shh—" Klee suddenly clamped a hand over Lydia's mouth, pointing nervously into the distance. "Big Brother Kaeya's coming!"
Lydia quickly clutched her own belongings and followed Klee into a nearby alley.
They watched as Kaeya and several Knights hurried past, his blue hair particularly striking under the streetlights.
"That Klee... where could she have run off to at this hour..."
Only when the Knights' footsteps faded into the distance did the two peek out from the alley.
Lydia poked Klee's forehead with a sigh. "Kaeya was right. Where are you off to, running out so late at night?"
"To play with Big Brother Albedo!" Klee chirped, shaking the Jumpy Dumpty in her hand, her eyes sparkling. "Big Brother Albedo said he'd teach me how to make new bombs!"
"Albedo?"
The name struck Lydia like a bolt of lightning, illuminating her thoughts.
She had met Albedo a few times and had even studied alchemy under him for a short while.
Back then, the arrogant and ambitious Lydia had believed she could master alchemy just like Sucrose.
So, she had followed Sucrose to become Albedo's apprentice.
The result... well, she either slept through his lectures or whispered secrets with Sucrose. Within a few days, she was "politely asked to leave."
Setting aside whether Albedo would actually teach Klee to make new bombs—it seemed rather out of character for him—a new idea sparked in Lydia's mind.
Albedo's alchemy was so incredible... maybe he could fix the Holy Lyre der Himmel!
Lydia suddenly crouched down. "Klee, do you know where Albedo is? I have something really important to ask him!"
Klee nodded eagerly and grabbed Lydia's hand, pulling her toward the city gates. "Big Brother Albedo is on Dragonspine! I'll take you to him!"
After just a few steps, Klee stopped and tilted her head, peering at the object Lydia was clutching.
"But Big Sister Lydia, what are you holding? You've been clutching it so tightly, it's so mysterious!"
Lydia glanced down at the Holy Lyre der Himmel wrapped in burlap, scratching her head in embarrassment.
"It's the Holy Lyre der Himmel... I accidentally broke it."
"Really? Big Sister, you're amazing! Acting Grand Master Jean said the Holy Lyre was left behind by the Archon. Even Klee has only seen it a few times!"
Little Klee activated her "Sparkling Eyes" skill, leaving Lydia momentarily speechless.
"Well, of course! You know who you're talking to," Lydia puffed out her chest instinctively, basking in the praise.
A few seconds later, she shrank back, feeling a pang of guilt.
This... isn't corrupting a child, is it?
Right, it's all Venti's fault! He broke his own stuff!
"Alright, Klee, let's go find Albedo first."
"Okay!"
The two small figures ran hand-in-hand toward Dragonspine.