You Lie

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Palace of Alcazarzaray, Sumeru

You look at Zhongli and nod.

He nods back and hands over the black pouch to you. There's a strong Adeptal power emanating from inside the pouch, probably the reason why the First Mora comes back to him no matter what. You think for a second that this item can probably be used to track someone, but the thought is so ridiculous that you just shake your head.

At the other side of the room, Alhaitham and Kaveh silently look at each other, they will remember this.

Dori's hands are outstretched towards you as you hand over the First Mora. She instantly takes it out and marvels at her new treasure.

"Thank you dear customers! Do you want to stay over for dinner? I feel like I suddenly want to throw a banquet!" Dori looks around before adding, "I feel like I want to have the most extravagant party Sumeru has ever seen!"

Zhongli clears his throat before saying, "I apologize but I need to head out for Port Ormos with the Crux soon."

Alhaitham adds, "We've just been through a tiring day, I'm going home."

"Well then, your loss," Dori says as she snaps her finger.

Goshtasb immediately comes with a box in his hands. He hands it to you gently and your fingers slightly brushes his, this skin contact makes the butler blush. Kaveh quickly steps in to usher you away, giving the butler an icy cold glare.

You quickly open the box and see the Anemo Vision inside. Though the Vision itself is plain, the intricate holder is what makes it really special. It is probably the reason why your Vision is added to the auction, everything about it looks exquisite.

"By the way," Alhaitham says as he hands you another box, "this is a gift from me and Kaveh."

Inside the box is another Vision holder, the same design as the Visions you see in Sumeru, as well as an ornate hair brush. There are small flowers carved at the back of the silver brush adorned with small pieces of moonstone.

"I think you should use this holder instead so that you would not have a hard time trying to hide your Vision. There are probably some Eremites that have seen this holder before and maybe hunting for it," Alhaitham explains as he fixes the Vision to the new holder for you.

The atmosphere is suddenly awkward, Rex Lapis forged the intricate holder and he just helped you regain it as well. You look over to Zhongli for help but he is currently talking with Dori. Alhaitham's suggestion is more sensible though, and you block the view from Zhongli as he finishes affixing the Vision to the new holder.

You want to keep the Vision with the new holder hidden for a while, just until Zhongli is gone, but Alhaitham insists on putting it on display. Kaveh moves closer and the two of them discuss where you should place it. You try to silence them and make excuses that you can discuss it later but the two are too engrossed with their discussion of the pros and cons of the places they think your Vision should be. Zhongli notices the commotion and walks closer, when he notices the change in the holders he gives you a small but sad smile.

Kaveh asks, "How about you, Rabbit? Where do you want to put your Vision?"

"Probably somewhere safe," you say as you look around your body, "and accessible. I don't want to lose it again."

"Put it on your sword hilt," Zhongli suggests.

You take the crystal sword and the hilt and, with the help of Kaveh, attach the Vision to the hilt. The crystal glistens in bright teal and you notice it has become imbued with Anemo.

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"How...?"

You raise the sword and swing it down. From your swing, a curved Anemo-like blade shoots off from your sword, slicing a vase cleanly in half without a sound. It is cut so well that the vase doesn't even topple at the sides. Your mouth drops in shock and nobody moves except for Zhongli who is currently chuckling at the side.

"That's about two hundred thousand Mora," Dori whispers.

You hear Kaveh whimper, "Oh no..."

"And the maker of that vase is already dead," Dori adds, "I can't buy a new one even if I want to."

Alhaitham shakes his head then whispers something to Dori, the merchant suddenly smiles then shakes his hand. Your excellent hearing has picked up everything they exchanged, Alhaitham has offered to pay for the vase in cash. You look away with your cheeks burning, you have to pay him back.

Once everything has settled down, you and your companions head back to Sumeru City. On the gates waits a stern-looking Cyno. He addresses the others calmly and they pass by him casually but he stops you. He nods at somebody behind you and the people around the gates suddenly turn around, multiple Matras in civilian clothes walk closer and surround you.

"By the power given to me as the General Mahamatra," Cyno's voice is deep and serious, you have never heard him sound like this before when he addresses you. "You are currently under arrest."

Kaveh steps towards you, "Wait, Cyno. What is this—"

Alhaitham stops him and pulls him back. He shakes his head slightly, which makes Kaveh look at you apologetically. Zhongli stands at the side, quietly watching everything. Your heart is pounding so hard as you look at the matras that surround you as well as Cyno. Though you know he is your friend, his duty to Sumeru comes first.

"Take them to the holding quarters, I will follow you soon after a word with the Acting Grand Sage."

The matra beside you, probably the next highest in rank, salutes at him before placing his hand on your arm and tugs you to start walking. The fight-or-flight instinct within you is screaming but you calm down when Zhongli gives you a small nod. You obediently follow them making sure your hood is covering your ears really well.

You can hear Cyno start explaining about the bodies they have discovered around the area where you and Zhongli were supposed to be located before the noise of the city drowns out his voice.

The adrenaline from the earlier fight starts to wane down as you quietly walk through the city, the matras around you just look like regular people and others pass by without knowledge that you are currently under arrest and being taken into custody.

When the matra takes you to a place somewhere in the Akademiya, they set down a glass of water at a small table before leaving. You quietly look around the holding cell, overgrown roots of the Divine Tree have broken some parts of the floor and the walls and it makes the area look kind of wild. The only way out is through an elevator in the middle, you just realized that you must have rode it down earlier but you were too scared to notice. You see some chairs beside the table where the glass of water was left for you and you sit down, patiently waiting for something to happen.

"Rabbit, wake up."

Cyno shakes your shoulder as you spring awake at your seat. The entire area has become darker, it's probably really late at night now.

"I'm sorry I fell asleep," your voice cracks when you speak. "Can you tell me what's going on?"

"I'll be conducting the matra lie detector test," he says as he takes out a device. "It's not that I don't trust you, I need to follow protocol."

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