Side Story: Letters Home

Dear Brother Nikolay:

I wonder how you're doing on your mission out there. Is the outside world dangerous? I've been listening to instructions and training diligently every day, and I'm always looking forward to your return.

After "Mother" died, the person who killed "Mother" returned to the House of the Hearth, and she called herself "Father." I used to be very afraid of her.

I always felt that the person who could personally end the life of a "mother" must be the most vicious and violent person in the world, and would definitely mistreat or even torture us.

But the first rule she established upon arriving at the House of the Hearth was that her brothers and sisters must never kill each other.

A few days ago, because his older brother Andrei hadn't eaten enough, he tried to snatch food from the plates of the younger children in the family, which led to an argument. Then, the "father" scolded Andrei severely. But a few days later, we had more and better food. I heard that the "father" had a fight with her other colleagues. I don't know the specifics, but I know that she was silently protecting all of us.

The House of the Hearth is doing really well now.

"Father" was usually Smiley Yanxiao, making her seem unapproachable. But after spending time with her, I realized that she was just not good at gentle words; deep down, she was exceptionally kind and had always silently protected us homeless children.

Brother, are you alright out there? Was the mission very dangerous? When will you be able to finish your mission and return to House of the Hearth?

I will grow up well here, live a good life, and wait for you to come home.

We have barbecue parties at home from time to time. My father allows us to bring our own ingredients and cook, which I really enjoy. You should come join us if you can!

Dear Dalia:

Receiving your letter and knowing everything is going on at home has put my mind at ease. I'm doing well here, so you don't need to worry about me.

Liyue must be one of the safest countries in the world. During my time stationed in the Chasm, I often fought alongside the local Millelith to wipe out the monsters causing trouble in the mining area.

They are a group of outstanding and admirable soldiers. With them guarding this area, the order here has always been very stable.

I am still shocked by the passing of my "mother". Firstly, I can't believe that someone as strong and superior as her could fall one day; secondly, I can hardly believe that the one who ended her life was one of our own children in the House of the Hearth.

I never denied her strictness. In the past, her rules were cold and harsh, and she never showed us any warmth. But undeniably, she was the one who held up the House of the Hearth, providing us, a group of displaced and homeless orphans, with shelter from the wind and rain and enough food to survive. Even if the warmth was meager, it was our only place of refuge during our youth. But I heard that the new head of the household treats you very well, so I am relieved.

My posting in Liyue will continue for some time, and I won't be able to return home for now. But please wait patiently; when the next shift change occurs, I will definitely return to House of the Hearth and be by your side as soon as possible.

When the time comes, I hope to meet that "father" in person.

Live well, enjoy the warm and peaceful days at home, and wait for me to come back.

Dear Brother Nikolay:

A new adult has arrived at the House of the Hearth; he's our new instructor, named Xingsu. He's completely different from all the instructors we've met before! He looks gentle and kind, but what's truly remarkable is that despite his seemingly frail appearance, his skills are exceptional, earning the utmost respect from all of us.

He was the best instructor we've ever had; he was incredibly good at teaching us!

The instructors in the past were all real soldiers, with tough and stubborn tempers, like baguettes that had been left out all night, dry and hard. But Xingsu was different. He was incredibly patient with each and every one of us kids. No matter if we made mistakes in training, didn't understand the concepts, or couldn't learn the movements, he would never yell at us. He would just guide us slowly and explain things in detail.

His teaching and training methods are very interesting. The boring coursework and training become easy and easy to understand after he explains and leads us. We all like him very much.

Moreover, ever since Lord Xingsu came to the House of the Hearth, Father has changed.

My father used to be a Smiley Yanxiao man, always silent and with a cold aura that made people hesitant to approach him. But since Xingsu came, I've often seen my father's expression soften unintentionally, and occasionally a faint smile appear on his face. He's become much more cheerful and gentle. The atmosphere at home is also warmer and more lively than before.

The Lyney I mentioned to you before seems to know something, because he always trains with Xingsu behind our backs. But when I asked them about it, he wouldn't tell us.

The House of the Hearth is getting more and more lively now. We are happy every day here. Brother, when are you coming back? I told Father about you, and she allowed me to contact you. She also said that she would make time to talk to you when you come back. I'm sure you two will get along well.

I will train diligently, live a good life, and quietly wait for you to come home.

Dear Dalia:

I have some wonderful news to share with you right away!

My older sister, Katarina, has been transferred to the Ninth Company! I've always been taken care of by her since I was little, and now we can fight side by side again.

And that's not all the good news. Our mission to defend Liyue is about to come to an end. Recently, the Liyue authorities decided to officially seal off the Chasm, and the Underground Mines will soon be completely closed. Several of my close colleagues from the Millelith have already begun to withdraw. Judging from the situation, it won't be long before the transfer order is issued to us, and we can also set off to return to Snezhnaya.

The thought of going back has already made me start planning. Once I'm transferred back, I'm going to take all the vacation days I've accumulated over the past few years in one go.

Ah~

The thought of no longer being bothered by annoying tasks, sudden alarms, or having to assemble in the middle of the night gives me hope for the future.

When I go back, I'll bring you a whole bunch of local Liyue snacks.

Many stories cannot be fully explained in a few words in a letter. I will tell you them slowly and in detail when I step back into the House of the Hearth, face to face.

Then it will be your turn to be the guide. You must show me all the changes that have happened in our family over the past few years. I really want to meet that mysterious Mr. Xingsu and my father in person and get to know them properly.

Dear Brother Nikolay:

I'm so glad to hear you're coming back! I'll definitely introduce you to some adults and my new friends when you do.

A sister named Clervie came to our house. She had long pink hair and was very gentle. After arriving at the House of the Hearth, she mainly worked in the kitchen, making many delicious pastries for us.

Her butterfly cookies are sweet, fragrant, and crispy, and her little cakes are soft and fluffy. Every time she finishes making delicious food, the sweet aroma fills the whole house.

As soon as they smelled the aroma, all the children would run to the kitchen, and those who arrived late would only get a small piece. In the past, we rarely had the chance to eat such delicious snacks, but now we can enjoy sweet treats every day.

Sister Clervie not only cooks, but also teaches younger children to knead dough and make tea snacks. Even if a child gets flour all over themselves, she won't get angry; she'll just smile and wipe our faces clean.

Mr. Xingsu would often come to the kitchen to help Sister Clervie prepare food. "Father" also seemed a little gentler than usual.

Everyone is still training diligently every day, but the air in the House of the Hearth feels warmer than before. I often think of my sister, hoping that you will finish your mission and return home soon, so that you can also taste Clervie's superb desserts.

Dear Dalia:

I'm sorry, I might be back at House of the Hearth a little later. We haven't received any evacuation notice, nor have any replacements come to take our place.

Panic gripped the camp; no one knew what the Fatui' leadership was planning. With orders delayed, we couldn't leave the mining area without permission.

But you don't need to worry too much about me. I will take good care of myself, be cautious in dealing with every danger, and do everything I can to protect my life.

Please don't worry too much about me. I will take good care of myself. You just need to stay in the warm House of the Hearth and study and train diligently under Xingsu.

Dear Dalia:

I'm sorry, please forgive me, but I may never be able to go back to the House of the Hearth.

I excitedly told you before that we were about to finish our mission and go home.

But now, I have nothing left.

We are trapped deep in the Chasm, and all supplies have been completely cut off.

The Millelith had already withdrawn completely, leaving only our group of Fatui stranded here alone in the vast, dark mining area.

There were no orders from above, no reinforcements, no supplies, and no one remembered that we were still guarding this dark and gloomy underground. We were like abandoned pawns, forgotten in the darkness of the Chasm, left to fend for ourselves.

Food supplies were long exhausted, and fresh water was running low. Everyone was clinging to life with their last vestiges of willpower. The dark mine tunnels were forever filled with the sound of the wind; damp, cold, and shrouded in darkness, there was not a glimmer of hope for survival.

Just a few days ago, a massive monster horde suddenly attacked our temporary camp.

In the pitch-black mine, rocks shattered and roars filled the air. We were already exhausted and out of ammunition and food, powerless to resist the surging monsters. In the midst of the chaotic battle, I tried my best to protect those around me, but there were just too many monsters, and we, who were out of supplies, were simply no match for them.

So I stayed behind and did my best to lure away most of the monsters, but I also lost contact with the main force. It's cold and damp here... I want to try the cakes and snacks you told me about, and I want to go home and pat your head again.

But I probably can never go back to the House of the Hearth.

I had longed to go home for countless days and nights, but all our expectations and promises were extinguished in this darkness.

Dalia, I'm so desperate. I can never go back to the House of the Hearth.

There is no light, no warmth, no hope here. More than half of our teammates are dead or wounded, and the rest are exhausted, numbly awaiting death. No one is coming to rescue us; the higher-ups have never cared about our lives. The mission we upheld, everything we sacrificed, was utterly meaningless from beginning to end.

I can never go back to the House of the Hearth.

I want to eat the sweet pastries you mentioned from Sister Clervie, I want to meet the gentle Mr. Xingsu you mentioned, and I also want to meet the new head of that House of the Hearth.

I'm sorry, Dalia, I can't take you to eat Liyue snacks, and I can't let you show me the changes at home.

I can't take it anymore; I can never go back to the House of the Hearth.

If this letter is fortunate enough to be returned to the House of the Hearth, my sister, please live well.

Enjoy the warmth of home, savor every sweet treat, and cherish all the kind people around you. Take a good look at our brand-new House of the Hearth for me, and savor this hard-won peace and tranquility for me.

(A letter, its paper crumpled and soaked with mineral water and dried, dark bloodstains, the handwriting illegible and crooked.)

Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar!

The leaders of the Fatui are a bunch of complete liars!

They never cared whether we lived or died! We were completely abandoned in this dark, sunless, the Chasm underground!

I just want to go home.

I just want to finish my mission and go back to House of the Hearth.

I just want to go home for a hot meal, take a vacation I've been saving up for years, see my new family, and hug my sister.

What did I do wrong?

I have served diligently and conscientiously, I have stood ready to obey orders without fail, I have never disobeyed any command, I have never shirked my duty, and I have never been negligent!

What did I do wrong?!

Why are you doing this to me!

Why did you take away my light, my family, and my only way home?!

I want to go home... I want to go home... I really... really want to go home...

(The note tucked between my fingers, the handwriting frantic and chaotic, the note crumpled and forcibly smoothed, stained with wet tears and red blood.)

We are children without blood ties, lowly servants in a place where even a speck of light cannot reach us.

In his left hand he holds a shield to protect his homeland, and in his right hand he raises aloft a sword that represents the will of the Snezhnaya Star.

He wears a crown that scorns the distorted principles of destiny, and stands at the feet of a false god and his enemies.

I will be the evil within good, the poison within medicine, the wolf within a lamb, the mercury within a golden cup.

Separate from brothers who are superior to blood brothers, serve parents who are superior to blood parents.

Dear Snezhevich, dear Snezhevna, dear brothers and sisters, if one day I stop and fall into a deep sleep under the birch trees, please continue on your journey...