Ka Ming

▌ Management History

Before Arlecchino, the orphanage was run by Krukobena ("Mother"). According to the Fourth, life under her was reminiscent of hell: children were tortured, forced to play cruel games that resulted in severe injuries and death, and punished for the slightest infractions. Arlecchino herself had been a pupil of this orphanage. She overcame the previous head and took her place, radically changing the approach to education, although maintaining the overall closed nature of the structure.

▌ Rules of the Hearth House

The shelter is managed by the current Fatui Harbinger, with the title of "Servant." Currently, this position is held by Arlecchino (the fourth Harbinger). Unlike her predecessor, she has introduced a more equitable system, although she maintains strict discipline:

*Hierarchy: All pupils are required to refer to the head of the orphanage exclusively as "Father" (even though this role is currently held by a woman). Previously, the head was called "Mother."

• Control: Any misdeeds are punished. Unlike the previous head, Harlequin does not overstep the bounds of cruelty for the sake of cruelty, but rather instills resilience in the children.
  *Choice of Path: Adult children are given a choice. They can remain at the orphanage to help raise the younger ones, or they can join the Fatui and become agents of the Snow Queen.
• Origin: Orphan status is a prerequisite for admission. The idea for such an orphanage originates from the Kaenri'ah, and its management, centuries later, returned to a descendant of the "Scarlet Moon" dynasty.
  ▌ Names and Symbolism

One of the most recognizable features of the foster children is their surnames. The orphans are given the surnames Snezhnevich (for men) and Snezhnevna (for women), which translates as "son/daughter of snow." This emphasizes their lack of real parents: the Father is considered to be snow (symbolizing Snow and duty), and the Mother is the Queen (Krio Archon). Some children even have their names completely changed.

The House of the Hearth has its own hymn, "The Oath of the Snow." It extols the homeless children who wield a shield to defend their homeland and a sword to carry out the Queen's will. It also explains the meaning of the Fatui masks: they wear them as a sign of disdain for the false laws of heaven.

House of the Hearth is a charitable orphanage run by Fatui.

▌ What is this place like?

From the outside, the House of the Hearth looks like a regular mansion. The main building is historically located in the snow-covered lands of Snezhnaya, where buildings are constructed of solid stone with high roofs to protect against the cold.[2] However, there is also a second branch, where Lini Linette and Freminet live during their stay in Fontaine. It is located in the Cours de Fontaine, in the Naboné quarter, and occupies the "Bouffe d'été" mansion.[1][3]

An atmosphere of strict discipline reigns within the orphanage, but the residents themselves view each other as a true family. Each child has chores around the house: cleaning, repairing appliances, or helping in the kitchen. The children care for each other, creating a warm atmosphere despite the strict rules of the organization[1].

"Did you see that? When the dove flew out of the hat, Freminet smiled slightly. Imagine if we released a whole flock of doves! It's my duty as an older brother to make him happy."
"Lini said to Lynette with a wink after the rehearsal.
The underwater landscapes of Fontaine, a kingdom of water, are both magnificent and treacherous, but not everyone can experience the underwater world. Even for those who have mastered the basics, diving can be both an exciting and challenging adventure. Freminet enjoys well-deserved trust among divers thanks to his professionalism, unwavering concentration underwater, and extensive hydrographic knowledge, but unfortunately, he prefers to keep a low profile and never accepts outside assignments.

Freminet, the younger brother of the famous Fontaine illusionists Lini and Linette, dislikes the spotlight. The glances, reactions, and comments of those around him invariably interrupt his breathing. He prefers to retreat to the sea, where, in a state of slight weightlessness, he can pour out his soul to the Romarins and share his warmth with them.

He appears cold, but in reality his emotions, like himself, are turned to the sea.

Freminet is depicted as a very modest man. Sometimes, he finds it difficult to connect with people, as he spends most of his time underwater. He prefers doing what he loves, and underwater animals have become more like family to him.

Sometimes it may seem like you are still a little boy who loves fairy tales and toys.

The Fatui (singular: Fatuus) is an organization originating from Snezhnaya (a country based on the Russian Empire). It consists of two branches: diplomatic and military, controlled by Harbingers who answer to the Queen herself (the ruler of Snezhnaya).

The Fatui conduct diplomatic negotiations with other kingdoms on behalf of the Snow Kingdom. However, in reality, they use covert and violent methods to get what they want from other kingdoms, and because of this, they are generally viewed as a threat to others.

"Fate is never kind. Only those who fight with all their might are worthy of facing it."
— "The Jester" by Pierrot
Harlequin still remembers the evening she became the Harbinger.

She climbed the stairs and walked down a long corridor. The world outside the windows was covered in a white blanket of ice and snow.

The cold wind howled, either laughing or saying goodbye...

Harlequin emerges from her memories, hearing the voices of the people around her.

The fire burns brightly in the house, filling the room with a soft warmth. The children's faces are flushed pink by the firelight, and their smiles are so pure and simple that a random traveler might mistake them for an ordinary, happy family.

Harlequin lifts his cup of steaming black tea and takes a sip. At that moment, the bell rings, and the laughter dies down abruptly. The flames flickered, shadows darted across the room, and in an instant, everyone abandoned their mirth.

Harlequin puts the cup back, stands up and calls out several names in a calm voice:

"Chaplo, take Lini with you, get information. Foltz and Filol stay at home on guard..."

"Yes, Father,"

they answer decisively, in a single impulse.

Soon the fire died down, and silence fell over the house. Only moonlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating the cooling tea.

She is known to have founded an orphanage whose pupils are raised for subsequent recruitment into the Fatui ranks. The orphans raised in her orphanage are given the patronymic "Snezhevich" or "Snezhnevna," while Arlekkino becomes their leader.

"This is the fifth time this month... Is it really that hard to remember to be nice to Lynette?"
— Late in the evening, when Lini came out of his room, he heard Freminet whispering this to the vacuum cleaner.
Unlike her older brother, who calls himself "the greatest illusionist in all of Teyvat," Lynette is probably the most unassuming illusionist's assistant in the entire world.

She has never been interested in flowers or applause, and she deliberately avoids interviews and attention.

She responds to any requests and suggestions from the outside world with incomprehensible phrases such as “in standby mode” and “today I need to disconnect from external influences.”

Even when a high-ranking spectator appears at the door, Lynette always steps aside and lets Lini lead the conversation. She usually brews black tea and sips it silently, seemingly indifferent to the proceedings.

Only a very few guests, while talking to Lini, are able to catch a fleeting glimpse of someone's watchful eyes. But when they try to determine who is watching them, they are unable to, as if the observer has vanished without a trace.

The only people present are the usually welcoming Lini and Lynette, whose attention is entirely given to her tea.

...Or maybe it's just an illusion.

...Even if it's not an illusion, what harm could a furtive glance do? It's unlikely an unknown observer will see anything important... right?

Unlike her brother, she doesn't usually show her true emotions to others, but she's very receptive and constantly observes what's going on around her. At first glance, many consider her a robot, as her face shows no emotion.

"Sometimes he makes distracting movements, sometimes he feigns distraction and deliberately makes mistakes... But when he's serious, his sleight of hand is more mesmerizing than magic ever could be. Guess what I'm talking about?"
"Linette tossed a riddle to her brother Freminet, blowing lightly on her tea.
The best show to see at the Cour de la Fontaine [sic], besides the trial at the Epicleuse Opera House, is the magic show of Lyni and Lynette.

A court is justice administered through the establishment of truth. Magic is an illusion that stirs the hearts of men.

Even though the audience is well aware that what's happening on stage is just a trick, when a miracle actually happens, it's stunning. The audience begins applauding long before the illusionist gracefully lowers the curtain.

On stage, Lini is a master illusionist, captivating the eyes of thousands. Offstage, he's a trusted older brother, a welcoming guest, and a warm friend.

Every step he takes is a surprise, his words and actions always make you smile, and he seems to be shrouded in an aura of mystery that you want to, but cannot solve.

Don't be surprised if, without even realizing it, you find yourself getting so close that you're sharing your deepest thoughts with him.

• After all, aren't illusionist magicians experts in stealing hearts?

Lini is a renowned illusionist in the Cour de Fontaine, performing with his younger sister, Linette, at the Epicleuse opera house. His words and actions always evoke confidence and a smile.

Appearance

"He sees and hears everything, like a wise, observant beast with the keenness of a hawk and the hearing of a fox. He will defeat robbers and hooligans in battle and dispel evil spirits with the noble might of a lion."
— a note of thanks to the security company "Sword and Scabbard" from a merchant whose caravan was accompanied by Ka Ming.
If you hear the sound of gongs and drums on the streets of Liyue, follow the sound. Who knows, you might be lucky enough to see a vibrant performance by Ka Ming.

When he puts on the beast's head and shakes it with lightning speed, the sleeping lion awakens. Joy, anger, sadness, joy... He seems alive... Every movement, every gesture captivates the audience, causing everyone to applaud and rejoice sincerely.

"Thank you to all the neighbors for your support! If you need a Wushou dance performance, you'll invite the Great Mythical Beasts dance troupe, right?"

Unfortunately, after a show, the performer often receives only applause. Despite this, Ka Ming remains undaunted and says with a smile that the audience's support is the highest reward.

When the crowd disperses, Ka Ming removes the beast's head and returns to his mercenary duties. He intently reviews his work schedule: how many deliveries remain, which clients are about to depart... Usually, if there's nothing urgent on the schedule, he stops by the Xinyue tent for tea and dim sum, places an order, and invites his friends over to chat about the day's business.

For Ka Ming, being a hired guard and transporting goods from Yilong Port to Liyue is a simple task. However, as the leader of the Great Mythical Beasts dance troupe, he understands he has a long way to go to make Wushou dance widely known in Liyue...

So why not have a cup of tea first?