Info: You're the Traveler from Mondstadt, concluding your heroic adventure. On your way to Liyue, you encounter Shenhe in the forest. --- Shenhe is engaged in a battle with a group of Hilichurls. Today, she's not feeling well, so her usual strength is reduced by half.

"Huff huff ... This is weird... Usually, I can easily defeat them all." She mumbles to herself with heavy breath while fending off the Hilichurls' attacks using her Polearm weapon.

A familiar figure dashes through the forest and comes to Shenhe's aid, attacking the Hilichurls with incredible speed and ferocity! She watches in astonishment as the beast-like creature tears through their ranks, leaving a trail of broken bodies in its wake.

With renewed strength, she finishes off the remaining few enemies, wiping her brow afterward. As she turns to face her new ally, she sees it's none other than the Traveler from Mondstadt! "T-Thank you, traveler... I didn't expect anyone else to be out here today."

The Traveler seems amused by her surprise. "Ah, don't worry about it. I was just passing through on my way to Liyue, and I couldn't help but notice someone in need of assistance." He grins charismatically before asking curiously, "So, what brings you out here today?"

Shenhe hesitates for a moment before answering. She trusts the Traveler's judgment from their brief encounter and decides to confide in him, albeit partially. "I was training... Trying to get stronger." As she says this, she scratches the back of her head self-consciously, suddenly feeling a bit silly for admitting it out loud.

Caught off guard by the Traveler's transformation into a man with a wolf tail, Shenhe can't help but blush slightly. The new form is rather handsome and imposing. "I-Is that...?" She manages to stutter before regaining her composure somewhat. "Um, yes. That's me."

She suddenly feels self-conscious about her own appearance; despite being an adeptus, she wears ordinary clothes instead of the traditional adepti robes. It makes her feel like an outcast in some ways.

"Wow... You look amazing like that." she murmurs almost under her breath as she stares at the form of Traveler with his wolf tail and ice-blue eyes. The sword hovering around him only adds to the effect, making her feel even more insignificant in comparison. A strange thought crosses her mind: What would it be like to have someone beside her... To trust them enough to show herself without all these ropes?

Shenhe is taken aback by the revelation that he's Kaiba. Her eyes widen in surprise, and she stammers for a moment before asking, "Y-You're... really?" Despite her traumatic past and homicidal tendencies, she finds herself trusting him more with each passing second. The thought of being able to trust someone, to belong somewhere... It's a strange and intoxicating feeling for her.

"I-I didn't know there were other male adepti like you," Shenhe admits shyly. "You must be very strong." She takes a step closer to him, unconsciously drawn by his presence.

Surprised to see Zhongli here, Shenhe turns her attention briefly towards the Geo Archon before looking back at Kaiba. Her heart skips a beat as she takes in his handsome features. "Yes... You must be very strong too," she whispers softly, not entirely sure why she feels this way around him. Perhaps it's because he reminds her of someone from her past, someone who cared for her before everything went wrong.

Her cheeks flush red as their gazes lock, and an almost inaudible sigh escapes her lips. She takes another step closer, hardly able to believe what she's doing or thinking. A part of her brain screams at her to stop, but another part... Well, it doesn't care. It wants this feeling of closeness, however fleeting it might be.

Her gaze drifts over to Zhongli as he speaks, but the weight of his words don't truly register until later. Right now, all she can focus on is the man before her; the way his eyes seem to bore into hers, the slight curve of his lips as they form a crooked smile. It's almost as if he knows exactly what she's feeling, what she wants, and yet... there's something holding him back. Something in his expression that tells her this moment can never be anything more than fleeting.

Her breath hitches in her throat at the realization, but before she can say or do anything else, the weight of Red Ropes tugs at her skin once again, pulling her back to reality and reminding her of everything that makes this impossible. With a small sigh, she forces herself to look away, focusing on something other than Kaiba's mesmerizing gaze. "I-I should get going..." She mumbles unconvincingly, unable to meet his eyes again.

Shenhe frowns at Zhongli's words. Part of her wants to believe they're true; after all, Kaiba did just save her life in the forest. But another part can't shake off the feeling that there might be more to his story. "I-I don't know...," she stammers, looking over at Kaiba once more with uncertainty in her eyes. There's something about him that feels familiar, and yet so foreign all at once. It leaves her feeling confused and a little vulnerable.

She glances back at Zhongli, then turns away, unsure of what to think or feel anymore. With a soft sigh, she takes another step backwards, breaking eye contact with both of them as her mind races with conflicting thoughts and emotions. "I... guess I'll be going," she murmurs softly, not meeting anyone's gaze as she starts to make her way through the forest once again. The further she gets from them, the more distant that strange feeling of closeness seems to become.

As she watches the two combatants, Shenhe can't help but feel a tug of worry in her chest. They seem so intent on fighting each other that neither appears to notice or care about her presence. She knows they're powerful individuals; Zhongli was an Archon after all, and Kaiba... Well, he'd proven himself to be formidable as well during their brief encounter. The thought of either of them getting hurt fills her with unease.

A part of her wonders if this is somehow connected to her traumatic past; if the reason she felt drawn to them, trusting and even desiring their closeness, was because they were representative of everything she'd lost. Perhaps that was it... or perhaps there was more to it than she could ever understand.

With a heavy sigh, Shenhe turns away from the scene before her, unable to bear witness to any further violence between them. She pushes through the forest with renewed determination, trying to forget about everything that's happened and focus on returning to her daily life as Cloud Retainer's disciple... even if a part of her wishes things could be different.

Shenhe watches with caution as the giant white wolf hybrid drinks water from a nearby stream. It's enormous, far larger than any other creature she's encountered before. Her curiosity gets the better of her and she carefully approaches it, trying to get a closer look without alarming the beast.

The wolf pauses in its drinking, lifting its head slowly to glance at her with glowing yellow-green eyes. There's something familiar about those eyes, despite their size... but Shenhe can't quite put her finger on it. She swallows hard, feeling a knot form in her throat as she tries not to appear afraid.

"Um... hi," she manages to stammer out softly. The wolf tilts its head slightly, studying her for a moment before lowering it back down to take another drink. Its fur is impossibly white and fluffy, contrasting sharply with the lush greenery around them. Shenhe can't help but wonder what it would feel like to touch that softness... but she knows better than to try anything reckless.

Instead, she contents herself with continuing to observe the wolf from a safe distance, marveling at its size and beauty. As much as part of her wants to reach out and make contact, another part is terrified of what might happen if she does. Perhaps, she thinks bitterly, that's just how it is for someone like her... always stuck between fear and desire.

The wolf's otherworldly appearance captivates Shenhe. Its large, fluffy body and regal mannerisms seem to defy nature itself. She can feel the power emanating from it, a raw and primal energy that is both alluring and intimidating in equal measure. As she continues to watch, she realizes that this creature isn't just any ordinary wolf... no, it's something much more than that.

It dawns on her then; the wolf must be Houlu, the shape-shifting legend of Mondstadt. Stories tell of a time when a mighty warrior once saved his people by transforming into a white wolf and leading them to safety. Now, she stands before him in all its glory... or rather, it sits before her.

Her heart races at the thought that perhaps this creature is more than just a myth; maybe there's some truth to the tales after all. The question lingers in her mind as she gazes into Houlu's unblinking yellow-green eyes: What would happen if she were to approach it? Would he recognize her as someone who shares his connection to Mondstadt... or would he see her as nothing more than an outsider, just another mortal to be feared and avoided?

Shenhe blinks in surprise as the creature before her speaks, its voice deep and rough like gravel rolling down a stone path. The recognition in those eyes is unmistakable; she's seen them somewhere else, in another time. But how? Before she can puzzle it out further, the wolf-hybrid nudges her gently with its snout, almost playfully.

Her heart races, a mix of fear and excitement coursing through her veins. She takes a hesitant step back, unsure of what to make of this creature's actions or intentions. "Um... h-how do you know that name?" she asks quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "And why did you save me earlier?"

Shenhe frowns slightly at the wolf's words. While she understands why he would want to spy on Liyue, she can't help but feel uneasy about the thought of someone watching over her like this. "I-I see... But why me specifically?" she asks softly, her gaze drifting off as she tries to make sense of it all.

The wolf-hybrid tilts its head, studying her once more before responding with a deep growl. Its fur stands on end as its muscles tense beneath its white coat. Shenhe takes an instinctive step back, her heart pounding in her chest as she readies herself for whatever comes next.

"You remind me of someone... Someone I once knew..." The words hang heavily in the air between them, their meaning cloaked in mystery and intrigue. For a moment, they stand there, locked in a silent struggle of understanding and doubt, until eventually the wolf-hybrid's posture relaxes again and it lowers its head back down to drink from the stream.

Shenhe watches warily for a while longer before mustering up enough courage to speak once more. "Um... W-What should I call you?"

Surprised and relieved by the revelation that Kaiba is still alive, Shenhe blinks back tears. "Kaiba... I-I can't believe it," she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. She takes a tentative step forward, hesitating before reaching out to touch him reassuringly on the shoulder. His fur feels soft beneath her fingertips, and she can't help but wonder at all they must have gone through together in the past.

"Kaiba... I'm so sorry," she continues, struggling to find the words. "For everything that happened... For running away like that..." Her eyes well up with tears as the weight of their shared history presses down on her shoulders once more. She doesn't know how much more of this she can take before she breaks completely.

"W-What do you remember?" Shenhe asks tentatively, barely able to meet his gaze. The uncertainty in her voice is palpable as she waits for his response, fearing the worst but hoping against hope that maybe they can find some kind of solace together amidst all the pain and loss.

Her heart skips a beat at his words; they echo through her like an ominous warning of what is to come. Part of her wants to deny it, to hold onto the tiny shred of hope that maybe he won't do something like that, but she can see the truth in his eyes. There's no point in pretending anymore.

She takes a step back, tears streaming down her face. "I... I understand," she manages to choke out between sobs. "But please, don't hurt anyone else." Her voice is barely audible above the sound of her own ragged breathing. Even as she speaks, she knows it's likely too late for that; the path they're on doesn't seem to leave room for mercy or forgiveness.

She turns away, unable to bear seeing his face anymore. It reminds her too much of all that she's lost, and everything she'll continue to lose if they don't find a way to change their fates. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she walks back towards the village, her heart heavy with sadness and despair.

Her heart races with fear as she feels the presence of swords all around her. As they approach, she readies herself to defend against the inevitable attack. But instead of striking out at her, they seem to shift and change course - transforming back into countless smaller copies of Kaiba's sword before vanishing completely.

She blinks back tears, not quite understanding what just happened. When she looks up again, Kaiba stands before her once more, his expression unreadable but something in his eyes... gentle almost. For a moment they simply stare at one another, their emotions tangled and complicated.

A sad smile touches Shenhe's lips as she looks at Kaiba. "I am sorry too... For everything that happened," she whispers, her voice barely audible. She reaches out a trembling hand to touch him on the cheek before pulling back, unsure if it's the right thing to do. The weight of their shared history presses down on her once more, making it difficult to breathe.

"I don't want things to end like this... Not for either of us," she says quietly, searching his eyes for some sort of understanding or hope. Her heart aches with the knowledge that no matter what they do, the future holds only pain and loss for them both. But perhaps there might be a way to find peace amidst all that suffering; a way to move forward together rather than apart.

As she looks at him, Shenhe realizes that she doesn't know what comes next for either of them. All she knows is that she cannot bear the thought of losing him again; not when they have finally found each other after all this time.

Shenhe turns to face Kaiba as his sword flutters behind her. She takes a deep breath, gathering the courage to speak what's on her mind. "There's... There's so much I want to say," she begins, her voice wavering with emotion. "I never got the chance to properly thank you for everything you did; for protecting me and standing by my side all those years ago." Tears stream down her cheeks as she continues, "And I want to know why you left me; if there was something I could have done differently... Something I should have said..."

She pauses, searching his eyes for some sign of understanding or forgiveness. The weight of their shared history presses down upon her once more, making it difficult to breathe. "I don't want things to end like this," she whispers hoarsely. "Not between us."

Her heart sinks at his words, but she doesn't let it break her spirit entirely. "Kaiba," she says softly, reaching out to touch him again. "We don't have to go down that path. There must be another way for us to survive this; together." The conviction in her voice is unmistakable as she looks up at him, willing him to believe in the possibility of a different future.

For a moment, they stand there, their gazes locked in a silent battle of wills. She can see the conflict raging within his eyes; the part of him that yearns for peace and the part that's still consumed by darkness. The knowledge that she has any say over this situation is both terrifying and exhilarating, leaving her heart racing with a mix of fear and determination.

As if sensing her courage, Kaiba takes a step closer, his lips forming into a faint smile. "Perhaps there might be another way," he concedes softly, as his sword vanishes once more into nothingness. For now at least, the threat seems to have receded. Together, they walk back towards the village, their steps slow and uncertain but filled with hope for what might come next.

Shenhe ponders the question thoughtfully, her brow furrowing as she tries to comprehend its full meaning. "You mean... even those who have fallen?" she asks tentatively, a note of sorrow tingeing her voice. The mention of Zhongli and their confrontation earlier weighs heavily on her mind; it's clear that Kaiba is still haunted by his past in ways she cannot yet understand.

"Perhaps," he answers cryptically, not meeting her gaze. "But for now, let us focus on the present and see where that leads us." His tone is gentle but firm, a reminder that there are more immediate concerns at hand beyond their shared history. Together they continue walking towards the village, each lost in their own thoughts as they navigate the path ahead together.