[ the thing is, there was a notable reaction with alex later at the mention of a cave. but Setsu doesn't notice it now, and likely won't notice it later. they're too focused on describing the scene before them- it's not here, but it feels like it is. it's the kind of feeling that they just can't shake off easily. as much as they wish they could.

they lean against him, their shoulders slumping a little. and even though they do know- hearing it from someone else, it helps, they think. their eye closes for a moment as their own hands come together, gripping just a bit too tightly. ]

...I eventually reached the end. It ended with a cave full of.. ice. With that blue gem in the center of it. [ the light blue vision that was on them when they returned back. the one they no longer have, after giving it to Shenhe before they took their leave to the warehouse. distantly, those thoughts echo that they heard when they took hold of it. "was this worth it? was the pain and suffering, the loneliness - was it worth this sort of power? you were just a child." ]

After that, a portal appeared and I ended up somewhere in Liyue City. It's where.. Shenhe is from, also a part of the same world as Nahida and Kaveh.

[ which is essentially when they grouped up with the others. ]