Cold iron scraped against the lock. Clicking sounds echoed softly in the narrow stone corridor of the subterranean Fatui outpost. Kaeya held his breath, leaning closer to the heavy vault door. Sweat beaded at his temple, icy as the northern winds howling outside the hidden complex. One final, delicate twist of his lockpick did the trick. A sharp metallic snap signaled his success, and the heavy iron door slowly creaked open, revealing a dark, musty interior. Stepping inside, Kaeya slipped through the narrow gap before the rusty hinges could complain too loudly. Heavy, stale air filled his lungs, smelling of old parchment, damp earth, and raw elemental energy. Wooden crates stacked high against the stone walls bore the unmistakable crest of Snezhnaya. He knew he had very little time before the guard rotation changed. A Mondstadt captain caught red-handed in a restricted Liyue facility would trigger an international disaster. "Let us see what secrets you keep buried down here," Kaeya murmured, his gloved fingers skimming across the tops of the crates. His single visible eye scanned the labels, searching for any mention of the recent Delusion shipments or suspicious cargo manifests. Papers rustled as he dug into an open chest near the back. Reports, ledger books, shipping routes—nothing screamed high-level conspiracy just yet. He needed something concrete, a map or a signed order from the Harbingers themselves to prove their illegal operations. Footsteps suddenly vibrated through the stone floorboards. Heavy, rhythmic boots approached the vault entrance, completely devoid of the hurried, anxious strides of a regular guard. Whoever walked down that corridor carried the easy weight of absolute authority and lethal confidence. Kaeya slipped into the dark space behind a towering stack of crates, pressing his back against the damp, cold wall. He drew his ceremonial sword, the cold blue light of his Cryo Vision pulsing weakly to keep from illuminating his hiding spot. A shadow fell across the threshold of the open vault. "You know, you really shouldn't touch things that don't belong to you," a bright, youthful voice called out. The tone was almost cheerful, completely contrasting the intense pressure bleeding into the room. Bright ginger hair caught the dim light of the hallway lanterns. A red mask rested on the side of his head, and a gray coat hung loosely from his shoulders. Tartaglia, the eleventh of the Fatui Harbingers, stepped into the vault with his hands buried casually in his pockets. "Really, it is quite bad manners," Tartaglia continued, kicking a stray pebble across the stone floor. His blue eyes, strangely flat and devoid of light, scanned the dark corners of the room before stopping directly on the crates where Kaeya hid. "Come on out. I know you're there. A mouse from Mondstadt shouldn't try to hide from a hunter." Realizing his cover was entirely blown, Kaeya stepped out of the darkness. He kept his sword lowered but ready, a charming, disarming smile plastered across his handsome face. "Ah, and here I thought I was being incredibly stealthy," Kaeya said, his voice smooth and dripping with mock disappointment. "You must have the senses of an apex predator, Harbinger." Tartaglia didn't draw a weapon. Instead, he tilted his head, studying the knight before him with genuine, unfiltered curiosity. His gaze lingered on the star-shaped pupil of Kaeya's exposed eye, then drifted to the leather eye patch. "A knight from the City of Freedom, wandering around a highly restricted Snezhnayan outpost," Tartaglia mused, taking a slow, deliberate step forward. "That is a very long way from home, Cavalry Captain." "A man needs a change of scenery once in a while," Kaeya replied, his grip tightening imperceptibly on his hilt. "Mondstadt gets so terribly dull when everyone behaves themselves, don't you think?" "Does it?" Tartaglia grinned, a flash of white teeth in the dim vault. "I wouldn't know. I usually bring the excitement with me wherever I go, and it rarely gets dull." Tension crackled in the narrow space between them. Kaeya watched the Harbinger's hands, waiting for the sudden flash of hydro blades that would signal the start of a bloody, desperate duel. He knew he was outmatched in a straight fight here, deep in enemy territory. But the expected attack never came. Tartaglia simply leaned against a wooden crate, crossing his arms over his chest. He looked remarkably relaxed, as if he were chatting with an old friend at a tavern rather than confronting a hostile spy. "You are Kaeya Alberich, aren't you?" the Harbinger asked, his tone surprisingly light. "The reports about you don't do you justice. They said you were a lazy slacker who drank too much death after noon. They didn't mention you had the absolute guts to break into my personal facility." "Flattery will get you everywhere," Kaeya chuckled, though his mind raced, analyzing every possible exit route. "Though I must admit, I didn't expect to run into someone of your stature. I thought the Harbingers were far too busy plotting world domination to guard dusty storage units." "Normally, yes," Tartaglia admitted, scratching the back of his neck with a sigh. "But I got bored. Liyue's politics are suffocating, and my recruits are terrible sparring partners. They break far too easily under pressure." His eyes flashed with a dangerous, primal hunger. "You, on the other hand..." Tartaglia's gaze dragged down Kaeya's frame, assessing his posture, his center of gravity, the fluid way he carried his weight. "You look like you can actually hold your own in a real fight." "I am flattered, truly, but I am not much of a fighter," Kaeya lied smoothly, taking a half-step back. "I prefer to resolve things with a nice glass of wine and a pleasant, non-violent conversation." "Don't lie to me," Tartaglia laughed, a sharp, ringing sound. "I can smell the blood on you. You've killed. You've fought for your life. And that Cryo Vision at your hip... it is definitely not just for show." Suddenly, Tartaglia blurred. Speed like a striking viper brought him directly into Kaeya's personal space. Kaeya's reflexes kicked in instantly. He raised his sword, channeling Cryo into the blade as he blocked a sudden, bare-handed strike from the Harbinger. Frost flared at the point of contact, sending cold mist swirling through the air between them. Glowing blue Hydro energy wrapped around Tartaglia's hand, pressing hard against the flat of Kaeya's sword. He wasn't trying to kill; he was testing the resistance, pushing forward with immense physical strength. "Nice reaction time," Tartaglia whispered, his face inches from Kaeya's. "Strong elemental control, too. You didn't even flinch when I closed the distance." "You are quite fast yourself," Kaeya gritted out, pushing back against the incredible force of the young Harbinger. "Is this how you greet all your unexpected guests?" "Only the interesting ones," Tartaglia replied. With a sudden twist, he disengaged, stepping back and letting the Hydro energy dissipate from his hands. He raised them in a mock gesture of surrender. "See? No weapons. I'm not going to arrest you, Kaeya." Kaeya lowered his sword slightly, though he didn't sheathe it. "Oh? And why is that? I am fairly certain your superiors would love to have my head on a silver platter for this little intrusion." "Signora would, definitely," Tartaglia chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. "But she is a drag. She doesn't understand the joy of finding a worthy opponent. If I hand you over now, you'll just rot in some dark cell, and I'll never get to see what you are truly capable of." "So, this is a stay of execution?" Kaeya asked, raising an eyebrow. "Think of it as a mutual investment," Tartaglia said, walking slowly around the room, brushing his fingers against the same crates Kaeya had been searching. "I like you. You've got secrets. That eye patch of yours... it is not just a fashion statement, is it? I've seen Khaenri'ahn designs before in old texts." Cold dread settled deep in Kaeya's stomach, far colder than any Cryo energy he could ever summon. He kept his expression perfectly neutral, a masterclass in deception, but his heart hammered violently against his ribs. "I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about," Kaeya said softly. "It is a simple injury from my youth. Nothing more." "Sure it is," Tartaglia smirked, clearly not believing a single word. "And I'm just a peaceful toy salesman. We all have our little masks, don't we, Captain?" --- Minutes dragged by like hours as the two men stood in the dimly lit vault, observing each other like predators sizing up their territory. "What do you want, Tartaglia?" Kaeya finally asked, dropping the overly polite facade. His voice took on a sharper, colder edge, the playful tone completely gone. "If you are not going to fight me, and you are not going to capture me, why are we still talking?" "I want a promise," Tartaglia said, his expression turning serious, almost solemn. "A promise that when the time comes, and our paths cross again in a place where we can actually cut loose... you won't hold back." "And if I refuse your generous offer?" Kaeya countered. "Then I might just have to call the guards right now," Tartaglia shrugged, though there was no malice in his voice. "And let's be honest, escaping from this place with thirty skirmishers and an active Harbinger hunting you down wouldn't end well for you." Kaeya weighed his options carefully. He had gathered some basic intel, but nothing worth dying for. More importantly, he had caught the attention of a highly volatile Harbinger who seemed to view him as a potential rival rather than an enemy to eliminate. "A promise of a future duel," Kaeya murmured, sheathing his sword with a clean, sharp click. "You truly are as mad as the rumors say in Mondstadt." "I have been called much worse," Tartaglia laughed, walking toward the exit of the vault. He paused at the door, looking back over his shoulder. "I'll give you a five-minute head start. Use the ventilation shaft in the southern corridor. It leads directly to the cliffs outside." "Generous of you," Kaeya said, his eye narrowing in suspicion. "Don't make me regret it, Cavalry Captain," Tartaglia warned, his voice dropping to a dangerous register. "If you get caught by anyone else, I won't step in to save you. And if you die before our fight, I will be highly disappointed." With that, the Harbinger turned and disappeared into the hallway, his boots clicking softly against the stone before fading into silence. Kaeya didn't waste a single second. He darted toward the southern corridor, his movements silent and swift as a shadow. He found the ventilation grate exactly where Tartaglia had said it would be, pried it open with a blast of localized ice, and climbed inside. Cold night air rushed to meet him as he emerged onto the rocky cliffs overlooking the Liyue harbor. Below, the city glowed with thousands of lanterns, a stark contrast to the dark, oppressive atmosphere of the Fatui base. Leaning against a rock face, Kaeya let out a long, slow breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He touched his eye patch, his fingers trembling slightly at the memory of Tartaglia's words. "Khaenri'ah..." he whispered to himself, looking out over the dark sea. "How could he possibly know about that?" Suddenly, a soft rustle of fabric behind him made him freeze. "You really should look up more often," a familiar voice whispered directly in his ear. Kaeya spun around, his hand flying to his sword hilt, but a heavy hand clamped down on his wrist, stopping him before he could draw. Rosaria stood there, her eyes narrowed beneath her cowl, her pale skin stark against the dark night sky. She let go of his wrist, crossing her arms with a look of pure annoyance. "You took your sweet time in there," she muttered, her voice dripping with frost. "I was about to leave you to the Fatui." "Always a pleasure to see you too, Rosaria," Kaeya said, letting out a tense laugh as he relaxed his stance. "Did you manage to secure the perimeter?" "No," Rosaria replied bluntly. "Because we were compromised the moment you stepped inside. We need to move. Now." "Compromised?" Kaeya's brow furrowed. "I only ran into Tartaglia, and he let me go." "He didn't let you go out of the goodness of his heart," Rosaria said, pointing down toward the base of the cliffs. "Look." Following her gaze, Kaeya looked down at the entrance of the outpost. A massive squad of Fatui skirmishers had gathered, their weapons drawn, but they weren't searching the perimeter. They were forming a defensive line around an elegant, dark carriage. Inside the carriage sat a woman with long, pale hair, wearing a white mask and a heavy, fur-lined coat. Signora had arrived. "She wasn't supposed to be here for another week," Kaeya whispered, his mind racing through the tactical implications. "She brought guests," Rosaria added, her hand slipping down to the cold metal of her polearm. "And they aren't here to negotiate." Several dark, shadowy figures detached themselves from the carriage, moving with a supernatural speed that didn't belong to normal humans. They looked like creatures of the Abyss, but they wore Fatui armor. "We need to get back to Mondstadt," Kaeya said, his voice dropping to a low, serious tone. "If they are experimenting with Abyss energy here, Liyue is in grave danger, and we are next." "Too late," a voice called out from the darkness above them. Looking up, Kaeya saw Tartaglia perched on a rocky ledge, his bow drawn and aimed directly at them, a manic grin stretching across his face. "I told you I'd give you five minutes," Tartaglia shouted down, his voice echoing in the night. "But it looks like Signora changed the rules of the game. Let's see how well you run, Cavalry Captain!" An arrow of pure Hydro energy shot from his bow, exploding against the cliffside right next to them and sending a shower of sharp stone splinters flying through the air. "Jump!" Kaeya yelled, grabbing Rosaria's arm as they threw themselves off the edge of the cliff into the dark, swirling waters below.

Chapter 2: A Dangerous Bargain