Kiana and Zeke arrived at Yordle City—the place where Zeke had first made his fortune and their initial long-term residence.
They visited the former site of the manor to pay respects to Vera's father. Then, as per Kiana's request, Zeke took her to an amusement park.
However, reminiscing about past sacrifices and being close to Mondstadt, where they first met, stirred complex emotions within Kiana, dampening her enthusiasm for leisurely pursuits.
Their visit to Yordle City's amusement park was brief; they rode the Ferris wheel and shared a covenant-like kiss at its peak. Kiana only nibbled on Ulu Town's specialty cake before eagerly pulling Zeke towards the snow-capped mountains, heading towards the old Mondstadt town.
While the Far East was enjoying early summer warmth, Mondstadt on the other side of the planet lay beneath a thin blanket of snow—not just due to geographical differences but also indirectly caused by Honkai's rampant spread, leading to increasingly abnormal global climate patterns.
The crisis facing civilization manifested in myriad ways, and disrupted weather patterns were only one aspect.
"Huh? I thought Yordle City and Ulu Town seemed to be thriving—clean streets, people looking healthy... Why has Mondstadt been abandoned?"
Kiana pressed her hand against her forehead as she peered out, taking in the sight of crumbling ruins covered in snow. The silent wreckage bore no signs of human activity.
Zeke replied, "Yordle City and Ulu Town fall directly under Anti-Entropy's jurisdiction now, so naturally, life there is prosperous. Mondstadt's location couldn't keep up with the development needs of this new era. After the previous Honkai Disaster, the few remaining villagers completely gave up their isolated existence in the mountains and relocated elsewhere. Following that, I didn't invest any effort into rebuilding here, although it was within my means. However, I chose not to interfere with the region's overall planning for personal reasons... My apologies."
Zeke's reasoning was pragmatic, but from an emotional standpoint, it could be seen as undervaluing this significant place of their first encounter.
Kiana turned her head with a smile and winked.
"Why apologize? It's absolutely the right decision, isn't it? Memories belong solely to us two, but development affects everyone's lives. Of course, we should prioritize the needs of all!"
"Indeed, I knew you'd understand."
"Heh heh! Actually, this might be better. With no one around, our memories can remain preserved just as they were. If it had been like Yordle City, everything here would have changed beyond recognition, wouldn't it?"
Treading lightly on the snow, Kia circled Zeke several times, gracefully twirling with her captivating figure, laughter echoing joyously as her black skirt danced in the air.
Finally, her dance steps halted in front of Zeke. Rubbing her arms, she spoke with an exaggerated tone that seemed almost unreal:
"Oh my, it's snowing, and I'm feeling so chilly—I need to find something to burn, hmm..."
Zeke's gaze remained fixed on the girl, carrying an uncharacteristic tenderness he himself didn't notice, until she casually mentioned this.
Zeke rolled his eyes.
Who're you trying to fool?! With her current physique and the black armor's temperature regulation—even when just using leg bands—forget Mondstadt; Kia wouldn't need to rub her arms even at the Arctic.
Then, Zeke raised his hand, causing a shovel he had prepared earlier to descend from the air.
"I know what you're after. Go dig it up yourself."
They never returned to excavate the stash of charcoal they buried years ago. Knowing Kia's nature, once back, she'd undoubtedly remember to retrieve it for some fun.
Kiana accepted the shovel with a blink. "Aren't you coming, Zeke?"
"...It's boring, not worth my time."
"Eh? Don't be like that! Those are precious memories, cherished moments! Come along, let's go together~"
Smiling, Kiana took Zeke's hand and gently pulled him forward.
"You...don't remember where we buried it, do you?" Zeke, without resisting, deduced matter-of-factly as he matched her pace.
Kiana's smile faltered—too much time had passed; indeed, she no longer knew the way. Without Zeke, finding the exact spot would likely prove challenging.
She initially attempted to make excuses, but upon meeting Zeke's emotionless, deadpan gaze, her confidence crumbled instantly.
"Okay, okay, I really did forget. Can't you just play along? Why do you have to expose me?!"
Zeke stared straight at her.
Eventually, Kiana blushed, clutching her shovel and standing awkwardly, twisting with embarrassment.
"Aww, come on, Zeke, humor me a bit, pleeeease... I-I'll give you a reward!" Kiana tugged gently on Zeke's sleeve, coquettishly pleading with a playful pout. Her antenna-like hair swayed cheerfully, displaying a childlike innocence and stubbornness that could only be maintained when feeling secure—a quality Zeke wished to protect forever.
"All right, let's go."
Zeke started walking ahead, guiding Kiana through their journey.
"Woo-hoo!"
Kiana bounced excitedly, then raised her shovel and jogged to catch up.
"Heave-ho! Heave-ho! Heave-ho!"
In the serene, snow-covered forest, Kiana stood inside a small cave, shoveling dirt with all her might.
Truth be told, if she exerted just a bit more force, she could easily plunge the shovel deep into the ground and toss out large chunks of earth without breaking a sweat. But that wouldn't have been as fun.
"Still clinging to your childish whims?"
"What do you mean?! This is called ambiance! Ambiance, I tell you! You big dummy!" Stamping on the shovel, Kiana glanced up at Zeke's contemplative expression and rolled her eyes.
Zeke smiled faintly. "Keep up the good work, then."
"You're just gonna watch from the side, Zeke?"
"Well, what else should I do? Use Heaven's Fire Greatsword to dig for you?"
"...Point taken. Just hang tight; we'll have charcoal for warmth soon enough!"
Kiana flashed a radiant grin, showing off her sparkling white teeth—feeling like a devoted husband striving to care for his delicate wife. It may have resembled play-acting more than anything, but it was still about setting the mood, the ambiance!
Continuing her diligent efforts, Kiana swung the shovel until she reached the desired depth and uncovered the long-buried charcoal.
"Wow! I found it! Look what I dug up! Such pristine charcoal—just as expected from this young lady's burial!"
"It's soaked with moisture from the soil; it won't light."
"Just use Cleaver of Shamash to dry it off, Zeke?"
"...Why not ignite the Greatsword directly then?" Zeke replied, somewhat speechless.
As anticipated, Kiana pouted unhappily.
Zeke sighed helplessly. "Alright, you win."
With that, the burning Greatsword appeared in his hand. He plunged it into the ground, transferring heat beneath the surface to evaporate the moisture and release a burst of white steam.
Quickly, Zeke withdrew the sword.
Kiana crouched down and touched the exposed lump of charcoal. As expected, it felt completely dry now.
"Nice work, Zeke!" Kiana grinned widely, giving him a thumbs-up.
Shaking his head and sighing, Zeke felt his seriousness fading away—seriously, why did he so easily agree without even considering the implications? The Cleaver of Shamash isn't meant for play or simply to amuse Kiana.