The Test of Courage eventually ends up in a heartwarming drama between Youkai and humans. The three children Nilou and Noelle encountered earlier were Youkai as well, who longed for a festival.

During the entire event, Aether and Paimon encountered a Youkai who kept on threatening them not to interact with her, who finally revealed herself as Chizuru, a Tsukumogami born from a pair of Hagoita paddles. As it turns out, she isn't really confident in encountering others, and preferred to be alone. In the end, Chizuru participated in the festival as well before fading away happily, in front of a furious Ayaka.

Attempting to calm her down, Noelle (now in a dark kimono with rose patterns instead of that steel armor) asked Ayaka to play a game of Akitsu Hazura, or else known as Haneasobi. Although this ends up in another scowl from Ayaka as she teamed up with Noelle again, while on the opposing side is Aether and Nilou. However the both of them didn't team up well, resulting in them getting a losing streak.

"Noelle! You ruined it all up again, what on Teyvat happened?!"

"I don't know, Lady Ayaka! Please don't throw the blame on me..."

Noelle then looked at Ayaka's hand that is holding her paddle.

"Hey, wait a second! I understood now! You didn't grip the paddle correctly, that's it!"

"You airhead!" Ayaka shouted, before grabbing Noelle by the shoulders, before shaking her furiously.

"It was already embarrassing enough to be teamed up with you, and now you're saying I couldn't grip my hagoita right!? Who made you the Haneasobi expert anyways, missus straight fingers? Maybe it was your feet, not acting when the ball is close!? Have you ever think of that!?" Ayaka ranted, taking a deep breath at every stop. 

From afar, Ayato took a drink from his unusual looking cup which has a straw while Thoma stood beside him, together looking at the Shirasagi Himegimi with Noelle.

"Never before have I seen Ayaka being that lively."

"That maid is surely getting along well with her, huh Master?"

"Well, she did told me that Ayaka is her best friend. Seeing what they are doing right now just proves it."

After the festival ends, the group spent many months together, whether it be travelling the deserts of Sumeru, doing daily commissions, or even resting together in the Serenitea Pot, The day of the Lantern Rite come close, to which Paimon cheered up.

"Time flies so fast! Let's head over to Liyue for this year's lantern rite!" Paimon said.

"After months of exploring deserts, I think a holiday like this is something that we need." Aether said, before looking at the 3 girls behind him.

"I never went to Liyue before, but this lantern rite day, I want to see it!" Nilou exclaimed.

"Liyue? Then it is settled then, Aether."

"I shall follow you, Aether." Noelle bowed.

The group then teleported over to the streets of Liyue, and the first thing that Paimon wants is already obvious.

"Paimon votes that we meet Xiangling ASAP! Introduce her to these 3 and all..."

However, they all stopped at the Third-Round Knockout Teahouse where a familiar man sat on one of the reserved seats.

"Master Zhongli!"

"Oh, it is you, Traveler... And what's with these girls with you?"

"They're... Well, it's a long story, Master Zhongli." Aether chuckled.

They continued to converse with Zhongli after Ayaka and Nilou introduced themselves to Zhongli, who later wanted Aether to gather some nascent bamboo shoots for him.

"And, leave the Maid here with me. I have a pressing matter to discuss with her."

"Hm? Alright then. Noelle, Master Zhongli wants to speak with you, but from his expression I believe that it is private."

"Understood, Aether."

Aether, Paimon, Ayaka and Nilou then left for Qingce Village for the bamboo shoots while Noelle stayed behind.

"Have a seat."

"Understood."

"I sensed your power. I also heard about what happened in Sumeru, this may not sound admitting, but I am proud of you."

"Thank you. Shall we get down to discuss about this pressing matter that we may have?"

"Very well. I shall tell you a tale that has faded away in history, now most people see it either as a myth or even a fairy tale."

-----

Long ago, before Liyue Harbor became what it is today, Rex Lapis, in his dragon form was in a long conflict with another dragon of archon-level strength.

This dragon, imbues itself within thunderstorms, it's mane glowing in both the colour of lightning and purple, flies through the heavens above elegantly with it's serpentine body, summoning storms whenever the two met. Instead of the Raiden Shogun, this dragon was the original candidate as the Electro archon.

However, after a battle in which ends with Rex Lapis' victory that sends the dragon down to the earth before retiring to Liyue Harbor to live as the archon of geo, This dragon's body was never found. At that time, people say that it may still live, or it became one with the storm, which explains the rowdy level thunderstorms that naturally occur.

This dragon, is Shan Dian Long, also known as the Lightning Dragon. Once, it's roar pierced the skies and has shattered stars above it.

-----

"Shan Dian... Is this the pressing matter that you spoke of?" Noelle asks.

"Indeed. During the incident back then when Rex Lapis was supposedly killed, there are signs that Shan Dian is nearby, however it is faint. And after the incident it's signs disappeared only to reappear again after whatever has happened in Sumeru."

"If it has reappeared again... I can maybe locate it with Aether and the others."

Noelle closes her eyes to sense through the entire people that is in Liyue Harbor, and she saw an abnormal amount of electro coming out from one individual, but whoever it is, it is faint as it lays dormant within whoever it is inside.

"It seems that I can sense it's presence already, but then it hides itself. It is aware, from the looks of it. It lays dormant inside a human body."

"Continue your investigation. Whatever happens, make sure that this year's lantern rite will go on safely like the previous years. If Shan Dian really returned and causes a storm with it's power in the harbor, all will be lost."

"Understood."

Elsewhere, a girl with light purple hair puts down her brush in an inkwell, as she finished in creating a document for a music festival as an event for this year's lantern rite. Sparks of lightning appears from within her eyes, as she then looked out the window, at the direction of the Third-Round Knockout.