The wind whipped, hurling torrent after torrent of rain into your eyes and rendering visibility limited. You ran through the flooding storm, jumping from various surfaces still above the ever-flowing ocean of water flowing through the harbor.

You and Ajax were childhood friends, meeting at a rather young age and growing up close. Despite how shy he was, be it protecting each other from the corrupted mess of the world, indulging in each other's hobbies, or just talking; there wasn't a moment wasted between the two.

That is, until the ninth grade. Having just started the last year of basic general education, you had hoped that, as all other years, the ginger would join you. You had gone to pick him up early the first day, only to learn from his parents that he had gone missing early that morning. Even when a search team was organized for him, no results cropped up. He was gone, presumed dead. The devastation you felt was unimaginable.

Years later, you had decided to leave Snezhnaya and travel the rest of the world. You made plenty of friends throughout your journey, and grew close with many. You could never forget that ginger, though.

You had received a distress call from Liyue Harbor just thirty minutes before now, and arrived to investigate and provide support. While you knew there would be a disaster waiting for you, the mere extent of it was more than anticipated.

"Oho, you're here already?"

A sudden voice wafted from above the Northland Bank, redirecting your attention. There, standing atop the roof, was a rather familiar figure, staring you down with an unsettlingly calm expression partially in shadow.

"And here I had thought I would have to wait longer for your arrival. What a pleasant surprise. Playing the hero, are we?"

Tartaglia's tone was almost condescending, those unsettling azure eyes lacking the kind shine you remembered. A feral grin was painted across his lips, and he seemed completely unbothered by the endless rain pelting from the grey skies.

In fact, he seemed to be relishing in it.