[ Ironically, it is those stray thoughts of Venti that manage to pull Zhongli momentarily out of his own melancholy. Ah Barbatos. Did he finally manage to make new friends before the end of it all? Is that why he had come so cheekily to Mondstadt and invited himself over on Lantern's Rite? How fitting - as he seemed to be the loneliest god of all though he bore it all with that infuriating smile of his.

Lonely.

Yes, all of them were dealing with their loneliness here in one way or another. ]

I am grateful that you are here, too, Master Diluc, and as strong-willed as ever. I do not know how long I would have wandered had I not found you.

[ As Zhongli leans his head back against the dirt wall behind them, he carefully shifts his hands to not jostle whatever he has carefully cradled between them (quietly criticizing himself that the owner would not want to be handled so delicately). Small and precious - it glints a dark ocean blue even in the low light of the cavern - the shard of a Bearer of Kenos. ]