Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It would be a very cruel joke, this one. A one extremely cruel joke. She had been watching over them for all this time. All of them, the allogenes. From the newest, to the first ones to garner a vision, to the gods who reward them visions. She knew better than anyone how the distribution of visions worked. Can even predict who and what element they’ll receive.

She had forwarded and rewound back time one too many times to know how one thing starts and ends. Even in her eternal slumber, she’d been stuck in a loop of time where no matter what she does, Teyvat burns to the ground. But then, in her last attempt to fix everything, just as she was at her wits end, something she has never seen before happened.

Twin stars burned bright in that fake sky. Looking out of place, ethereal and so magnificent as they pass through the seven nations. But they landed just outside the godless nation. One of them awoke, and the other one, peaceful in her sleep.

They felt familiar, of sort, but also quite unfamiliar. The first one to awaken welcomed themselves to the Godless nation. He mingled with them, shared stories, and celebrated with them. It seemed like a cruel joke. They were descenders. She can feel that. They are foreign beings who should not stay in this world. Because she knows all too well how much damage a descender can do. She didn’t expect for a descender to appear again.

The other one stayed asleep, even as the other placed five petaled flowers over her head. But of course, such peaceful times can only last for so long. The inevitable will continue to happen no matter what she does to try and stop or even mediate it. The arrogance of both mankind and the divine becomes their downfall. Many will be lost in this fight, from the gods to the civilians, no one is left untouched by the wheels of fate.

It is by this time that the other descender is awakened by their sibling, forced to flee from the destruction. But then stopped by the Sustainer of the Heavenly Principles, Asmoday. She never liked her the most. 

But as the twins are sealed off of their powers, she still tries to save her still. The other one, she couldn’t get a hold of anymore, but this girl, she can. She guides her soul to rest in the wisps of time, saved from the destruction happening to the land of Teyvat. She could do nothing with her nightmares, but a few blessings, she can grant.

She moves her in time [2] , 500 years away from the destruction. Mortal being would’ve been physically affected by the move in time, but unsurprisingly, this girl did not. Even after 500 years, her features remained youthful. The flowers in her hair remained untouched by time.

She’ll be the first step to challenging the loom of faith. The elements of Teyvat felt at peace with her, welcoming her gently as they awaited her adventures on the land.

And she watches over her. From Mondstadt to Snezhnaya. From Enkanomiya to Khaenri’ah. But still, she watches as she fights alone. No Gods to support her in her battle against the divine, no one that helped her in her times of grief. Where were the friends she gathered from her journeys? 

Why is it that at the end of the day, the secrets she held were kept from them? Why is she still fighting all of this alone even after solving problems for them? She doesn’t understand.

And so, for the first time in a long time while watching the Traveler, she rewound time. But this time, she paused it. Creating a space in time, not bound to the time outside. She took her time decorating the space. Making it seem comfortable for everyone. She had learned quite a few things from Khaenri’ah and Fontaine. Combining these two to create a theatre where her plan will come to fruition. It’ll be hard, exerting her powers to bring all the allogenes she deemed fit in this space, including the gods and dragons that still reside over Teyvat. But it’s nothing that will completely kill her. Right? Yeah.

And so, it begins with a snap of her fingers.

Chapter Text

It all seemed to happen so fast. One moment they were in the Cathedral returning the Holy Lyre to Barbara, and as they exited the Cathedral, a bright light engulfed them and then…

“Is everyone okay?”

Lumine turned to voice in surprise, it was Jean!

“What happened?” Barbara muttered. As she looked at her hand, she realised the Holy Lyre was not in person. “Oh no! The Holy Lyre!”

“What? Where is it?” Paimon chimed in worry.

“I don’t know… Oh no, may Barbatos forgive me. I have garnered sin after sin, will he ever forgive me?” Barbara cried in prayers.

Venti scratched his head and looked away, not quite knowing how to act around the prayer.

He turned to the rest of the room and finally noticed the other people occupying the room.

“Huh? These are…”

“What is it, Venti?” Lumine turned to where he was looking and it landed on other groups of people suspiciously looking around, types of clothing differ from each group. Just near them, a man in dark clothing was looking at Venti in surprise and questioning. There seems to be a silent conversation between them as Venti answered with a shrug and pointed somewhere.

Lumine followed it and it landed on a woman in purple clothing, clutching her head and softly shaking it as if awaking in a slumber. A woman with pink hair seems to be helping her as the people around her give her wary looks and avoid her presence.

“Woah, what is this place? It’s… amazing!” A blond man could be heard. He pulled out paper and quill from his briefcase as he drank in the whole place. “The ceiling and lighting is high enough, just the right amount to illuminate the place, but at the same time just acts like a mood light of sorts. Is this some sort of a scenery room? One where people can watch a play? There is no stage in front, but there are lines of seats. 10, 20, 30… Around a hundred seats? This is amazing. Maybe once art is allowed in Sumeru, we can create a place like this dedicated to arts and plays…”

“Kaveh.” A man with grey hair and a headset called the now named ‘Kaveh’.

“Hmm?”

“Shut up.”

Somewhere in the back of these men, a girl in blue clothing and hat hummed in thought. Her voice was loud enough that even Lumine could hear her.

“Well, if I must say, don’t you think this looks quite like our own Opera Epiclese?”

“That, I can agree with you Lady Furina.” The tall man next to her replied.

“Of course, she’d be here too,” Venti sighed.

“Who are they, Venti?” Lumine whispered to him.

“Hmm?” Venti turned to her, “Oh! I’ll introduce you to them later once we–”

Suddenly, the lights turned off as the empty blank space in front illuminated in colours. Almost like a…

Movie Theatre? Lumine thought. She’d seen some of them in some worlds. She didn’t expect this world to have those too, seeing Mondstadt’s quite less advanced technology.

“So, what you’re trying to say is that you fell here? From another world?”

“Huh? That’s…”

“That’s Paimon! Why is Paimon…” Paimon reacted, hiding behind Lumine.

The screen showed two stars drawn in the sand, and then transitioned to two stars in the sky travelling through the nations.

‘Huh? When have I seen that again…’ An Inazuma vagrant in light blue muttered. But shrugged as he continued looking for one small God he’s been trying to find ever since he came too. Where could she be hiding? Surely, she’ll have at least some answers that can explain why every vision holder from different nations are here. Even she’s here.

“But when you wanted to leave and go on to the next world… Your path was blocked by some unknown God?”

The scene showed two twins, the other one could be seen in the room with them, the other one was not.

“Oh, is that you and your brother, Lumine?” Amber asked, not quite wrapping her head around the fact that her new friend is from another world!

Lumine could only nod. Her eyes fixed to the screen, seeing this memory again is… difficult for her to cope.

Paimon pats her shoulder in silent comfort.

“Wait, THAT’S the Unknown God you were talking about?!” Paimon shrieked.

“Yes, why? Do you know her?” Lumine asked.

Paimon scratched her head and looked down, “Hehe, not really…”

“Huh?” Lumine was now confused.

As three red star-shaped portals opened, a woman stepped out of it. Different expressions could be seen in the Gods that knows the Sustainer.

“Outlanders, your journey ends here.”

Lumine took a step in alarm, “Who’re you?!”

“The sustainer of heavenly principles.” She answered. She summoned a cube in her hand, “The arrogation of mankind ends now.”

“Who is she?” A ginger man asked, “How can I get an audience with her for a fight?”

“Heh, still a fool, I see.” A man in light blue could be heard. He had a very striking large hat.

“Hmm? Scara!” The ginger called the man in surprise, “What happened to you? You’re all… bright now. I just saw you wearing that dark attire in the meeting yesterday!”

“What? You remember… What?” ‘Scara’ was very surprised. How can this be …

A large red cube appeared beneath the outlanders but they stepped away from the attack. Each of them summoning a pair of golden wings and swords. Attacking the Unknown God.

“You have wings?!” Amber reacted.

“Didn’t I mention it?” Lumine acted.

“But you said it was something similar to a glider! Not wings!”

The Unknown God raised a hand and summoned more red cubes after the travellers. They evaded with ease and each summoned an attack to the Unknown God, which she easily shielded herself against. She turned to look at Lumine, but she was quick to react and release her hold on her sword as it got engulfed with the Unknown God’s power. Her brother, however, was less unfortunate.

“Aether!”

It was too late, as her brother got sealed by the Unknown God. He transformed as the gold cube held by the Unknown God. Lumine quickly tried to surprise her with an attack from behind, her hand crackling with golden energy as she aimed towards the Unknown God.

A large explosion erupted, but the Unknown God remained untouched as the explosion was easily absorbed by her, along with Lumine herself.

“Wait, don’t go! Give my brother back!”

And then… Darkness.

Lumine’s voice could be heard in the darkness. Voice laced with grief and sadness.

“And just like that, the god took away my brother. Some kind of seal was cast upon me, and I lost my power. So whilst we used to cross world after world, we are now trapped here.”

“Oh dear…” A few reacted in remorse towards Lumine.

A certain pair of twins held each other's hand in comfort, they wouldn’t know what they’d do if one of them were to be taken away. Just like back then…

And then, the scene comes back to Lumine on a beach, drawing on the sand in recollection of what happened.

“How many years was it? I don’t know… But I intend to find out.” Lumine could be seen being in the presence of Paimon, “After I awoke, I was all alone — right up until I met you two months ago.”

“Yeah, Paimon really owes you for that. Otherwise, Paimon likely would have drowned!” A scene was shown of Lumin catching Paimon in a fishing hook, “So, Paimon will do her best to be a great best guide! We should head off, let’s get going!”

As Lumine stood up from the rock she was sitting on, the scene faded to black as the lights in the room lit up.

“Is the story finished?” A little girl covered with bandages and talisman asked.

“Hmm… For now.” The man with green hair replied with a gentle voice.

“I find this whole ordeal quite hard to understand…” A short man with red hair pondered.

“Never mind that, I still can’t find Nahida.” ‘Scara’ asked as he floated above the room with his vision.

“Wait… Ei, isn’t that…” A woman with pink hair gestured him to the woman in purple next to her.

Scara looked around the room for a moment before he tsked again and pointed to someone. “Hey, you, General Mahamatra. Have you seen Nahida anywhere?”

“Who?” The tanned man asked, not knowing who ‘Nahida’ is.

“Seriously? Nahida, you’re God? Lord Kusanali? Ring any bell?” Scara sarcastically asked, pissed. 

The man eyes him suspiciously. He knows where Lord Kusanali was prior to this day… But why is he calling her Nahida as though they’ve known each other for quite a while?

“What makes you think she’ll be here with us?” The man with grey hair and headset asked. Maybe interrogating would be the right word.

“‘Cause the Archons of both Inazuma and Fontaine are here? Heck if I know if Natlan’s and Snezhnaya’s are here. But I know for a fact that Barbatos and Morax are here — incognito .”

“Hmph, well that’s not a very nice way to out us,” Venti muttered quietly. Zhongli can be seen crossing his arms in thought.

“Barbatos is here?! Where?!” Venti suddenly exclaimed.

Four or maybe five individuals gave him blank stares for the poor acting.

“I’m here.” A small voice sounded at the very corner seat of the room, away from the other people.

“Barbatos?!” Barbara squeaked.

Then a giggle, “No, I’m afraid not.” A soft thud could be heard as she stepped down from her seat. But because of her height, she was towered by the chairs. Scara sighed as he realised this and floated down near her.

“Oh, hello.” Nahida greeted him. He extended his hand to her, “Hmm? Oh, I see. I failed to take my height into account, I’m sorry. This is the first time I am outside since…”

Four Gods perked. Since when? Even a God like Ei who traps herself inside the Euthymia comes out from time to time.

Finally, with the help of Scara, Nahida stepped on the chair again, but this time, sitting at the top of its back rest. Everyone can now see the little God of Sumeru, perched at the top of a chair, with an Inazuman standing next to her, glaring to the rest of the people in warning.

“My, what a sight.” A woman in pink hair giggled, nudging Ei. “Isn’t that your first puppet?”

“Hmm…” Nahida hummed, “From what I can understand, everyone here are vision holders of each nation. Probably even all the vision holders will be here. And along them are the Gods.”

“No one from Natlan is here, not everyone from Snezhnaya is even here.” The Inazuman with red hair raised his hand.

“I don’t know about Natlan, yet. But for Snezhnaya, I can see that all of her excellency’s Fatui Harbingers are here.

“You’re right about that.” A man with glasses and dark hair from the group spoke.

Everyone was quick to glare at the group.

“What a warm welcome.” A woman with black and white hair quipped sarcastically.

“But what remains unanswered is the fact that no one from Natlan is here, not even their archon. As well as the Tsaritsa. It seems tho, we are given the task to watch the Traveller’s adventure. Is it in search of her brother, or is it to uncover the secrets of Teyvat? I don’t know. But it does make me curious to know more about her.” Nahida continued. She looked up from her musing to see that everyone was now looking at her and it made her quite flustered, “Oh, well. You don’t have to listen to my words. Just because I am named the God of Wisdom does not mean I know everything. Since I am lacking evidence and facts right now, I can’t give you the full answer to every question.”

The Liyue man in dark clothing coughed caught everyone’s attention, “It’s quite alright, Lady Nahida. Though I am intrigued to know what you think of this place.”

“I as well,” Surprisingly, it was the Inazuma woman in purple that spoke, her tone was soft that caught some people in surprise as they often talked to her and she had a different tone then, “This place… I can feel ancient power everywhere.”

“That’s right. This place is filled with ancient power,” Nahida agreed. “The interior of this room is a mix of Khaenri’ahn and Fontainian architecture, most likely because they are the two nations that are most advanced, or in Kahenri’ah’s case, what it once was.”

It was not noticeable to everyone, but to those who knew him very well, you could notice how Kaeya flinched at the mention of a nation. An old man in the Fatui’s group eyed him for a moment before going back to Nahida’s form.

“I tried visiting Irminsul earlier. And while it did work, I gathered that the world outside of ours seems to have frozen in time. We are currently in a space where the outside world’s time is not in effect. It seems the person behind this has used so much power to even create this place, not even including the fact they brought allogene– excuse me, vision holders here. And Gods too. If I am right, doing all of this must’ve taken quite a toll on them, making them unable to summon vision holders from Natlan and it’s God and the Tsaritsa. They must be watching us somewhere, resting.”

She looked around to see everyone having different expressions from what she had just said. “Is it difficult to understand? Well, if I were to put it in an analogy, it's that we are in a reversed snow globe experience. Here we can do a lot of things, we can talk, play, sing, dance, and know a lot with each other. Basically anything seeing as your visions can still be used,” She pointed to Scara, who just shrugged, “But outside of this reversed snowglobe is a world frozen in time. Like instead of being inside the snowglobe for being frozen, they are outside , and we, the ones that can actually affect the snowglobe, are inside it. Make sense?”

“You and your ridiculous analogies,” Scara can be heard sighing.

“I guess that makes sense,” A girl with pink ombre hair muttered. 

“Does it?” A little girl in red looked at her brother.

“I wouldn’t worry too much about it, Klee.”

“Well, that saves me a lot of explaining. My biggest thanks, Buer.”

All turned to the source of the voice. A small wisp [1] could be seen floating down to them. 

That voice…! Venti’s immediate thought as his eyes grew in realisation.

“Istaroth…?” 

“Indeed, that’s who I am. The very God of Wind and Time.” The creature swoons in a circle, happy.

“I figured.” Nahida said, “You’re the only God capable of doing such feats. But I thought you were put in a deep slumber?”

“Never was I put in deep slumber, rather, I was everywhere and anywhere. Saving all those that I can save with my power.” Istaroth’s form glums as she floats to Venti’s head, “Nothing can really kill one that can control time, but only itself once I run out of time.[2] ”

“Run out of time? Is there another prophecy again?” It was the girl in blue attire and hat that spoke, the one called Lady Furina.

“Not a prophecy but a race against fate,” Istaroth said as her form faced the Traveler’s, “For everything, the past has been its kin, and the future, it may repeat again. One has ventured where it's already been, and another will witness the truth therein.

"I've observed your journey, where you've sought your fate's trend. Yet in your solitude, you stand lonely in the end. I yearned for a change, a bond on which to depend. So I crafted this bubble, with hope your ties mend. For trust must be nurtured, on this we depend, as we reveal our hands, to those we defend."

“Wait, you mean…” Lumine looks at Venti in concern, but he seemed to trust this Istaroth as he gave her a smile that says he’ll accept whatever it may cost.

“That means secrets being revealed to strengthen trust,” Scara said, he glared towards the Fatui Harbinger’s group and pointed to them, “Then why are they here? Surely even you know just how much havoc they created in this world.”

"I understand your worry, I’ve seen it through Lumine's endless travels. Yet you must know, better than all, a history can unravel. Is it not true for you, even with your own past's gravels? The Vision in your heart, an ambition’s grand redemption. It proves that even you, in your own unique travail. Accepted your past, embracing a future to travel.”

“The poems are making Paimon’s head squeezy,” Paimon whispered.

“And yet it tells us all we need to know.” Nahida hummed, placing a comforting hand to Scara. She may not know this person yet, but she can feel his genuine intentions towards her. “He’s from a different time, is he not, Istaroth? I can tell he’s been to Irminsul. And being to Irminsul with his past leads me to a certain fact.”

"Indeed, he hails from a time quite apart. Where memories vanished, leaving an empty heart. He made it seem as though he'd depart. Erasing his existence, a forgotten art. But here, in this world, is a new start. Where all know who you are, each part. In this realm, we will hold you close to heart. A tale remembered, not torn apart."

“Gee, thanks.” Scara sarcastically bit out. Nahida sent him a look for his action and he looked away, “Sorry.”

And then a chorus of laughter.

“Did he just say sorry?! HA!” The ginger could barely breathe from laughing.

A giggle, “Indeed, it is the first time I’ve ever seen him apologise so quickly to someone,” It was a girl with feathered hair pieces.

“Oh, I would pay a lot for him to say that again,” The raven haired man in glasses said.

“And he said he’s not a mama’s boy,” A fair lady snorted elegantly.

“And I am not !”

His shout went unheard.

“Well, I now advise you to take a seat of your liking. There’s enough room for everyone. And Buer is right, I am still in the process of recovering my powers to be able to bring Natlan and Snezhnaya here, as well as other Vision holders I might’ve missed. Not to worry, the world outside truly is frozen in time. Take your time to get to know each other however long you want. The play will automatically start once everyone is satisfied.”

That was all Istaroth said before her wisp form blew away into the wind.

A moment of silence passed by before someone coughed and started the conversation.

“Well, you heard her. We can introduce ourselves if we want. Don’t if you’re not comfortable still. I am Jean, the Acting Grandmaster of Mondstadt’s Knights of Favonius. It is nice to meet you all and I look forward to more meetings with you all. I hope that all of us here can be civil with each other, despite our past… disputes.” Jean casts a wary glance between Diluc and the Fatui Harbingers.

“Well said, Acting Grandmaster Jean,” Ningguang said.

“Just… Jean will suffice.”

“Duly noted,” Ningguang replied, “Well, I am Ningguang. The Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing. I suppose given my title, I will be the one overseeing my Nation’s people until our Archon steps forward himself.”

“No?” Ningguang asks as she looks around as a long silence lapses, “Well, I’ll take that as permission granted.”

All turned to the Inazuma nation’s group as they, in turn, seem to split themselves into two groups.

“Well, it seems our Archon is still quite shy after being forcefully awaken from her Plane of Euthymia.”

“Miko.” Ei softly said, but it was meant to be a warning which… Her people don't know what to make of it. Most of them expected her to just slice her in a second from the disrespect.

“I’m Yae Miko, the Raiden Shogun’s servant and friend. I oversee the Grand Narukami Shrine. My title allows me to oversee the entirety of Inazuma in Ei’s orders. And for those that haven't been to Inazuma, this here is the God of Eternity, the Raiden Shogun. Seeing as this is a place where inevitable secrets will be laid upon, then, I guess I won’t be saying much but to wait and see.”

“And I am Sangonomiya Kokomi, leader of the Watatsumi Island.”

“There’s a whole civil war going on in Inazuma because of the vision hunt decree that their Archon implemented. It’s why you can see that there are tensions between her people and her.” Paimon helpfully whispered to Lumine.

And then all was quiet as everyone turned to Sumeru. Even Nahida was looking at a certain someone, that certain someone was scribbling in his paper as the conversations went on. His hand stopped as the conversations itself stopped. As he looked up, he noticed that everyone had their eyes on him, all expecting him to say something.

“What? I’m not the Grand Sage, I’m a Scribe.” He said.

“Oh right, you’re not the Acting Grand Sage yet,” Scara helpfully chimed.

“Why would I take on something troublesome like that title?” The man turned to him.

“Beats me.” Scara shrugged.

“Him?! An Acting Grand Sage?! He’s too lazy for such a serious job!” The blond man, Kaveh, she remembers, laughs as though it was such an absurd fact.

The man glared at him but relented anyway, just so he could move past this situation.

“I am Al Haitham, a scribe. I don’t know what everyone expects from me, but we do have our Archon with us as well. I know not how the sages treated her, other than to take their words with a grain of salt. Still, please be kind to her.”

Nahida sighed, “Let’s just move on from this topic. Lady Focalors?”

“O-Oh, right. Ehem. My dear people, rich and poor, those with cups in hand and those with nothing at all, raise your glasses in celebration! If you don’t have one, then just raise your hand in lieu.”

Arlecchino on the side can be seen rolling her eyes as she settled on her chair. She’d heard this introduction one too many times.

“For I, Focalors, hereby present myself to all outside of my fortress. This is such a rare occasion as I am always very busy with the people of my Nation. Such momentous occasions shall be rejoiced in honour of… me!”

“Oh, Archons, there's two of them.” Amber muttered, looking at Fischl’s way. The girl had stars in her eyes!

A deep sigh can be heard amidst the short silence after the Hydro Archon’s introduction.

“Yes, thank you, Lady Furina, for your exemplary introduction. You may call me Neuvillette, Iudex of Fontaine and the leader of Marechaussee Phantom.”

“And he is also—” Furina wanted to say but was cut off by Neuvillette.

“Please say no more, Lady Furina. All will be revealed in time. I assure you we have a lot of it.”

“And I am Pierro. The Director of the Fatui Harbingers. How I wish for her Majesty to be here with us, but alas, we can handle ourselves fine.”

“Pfft, it won’t be easy handling a whole lot of circus in an area surrounded by people who detest you. Take that red head for example.” 

“Why am I being brought up in this conversation? Leave me out of it.” Diluc glared at them from his seat. Kaeya seems to enjoy the spectacle unfolding.

“What, want us to bring up your father instead?” Of all people, it was the Doctor to say this line. Even the other Harbingers knew it was such a low blow to mention. Especially knowing what they know.

“What?” Now it was both Diluc and Kaeya that stood up. Hands positioned to summon weapons.

“Now, now, please calm down, everyone.” Nahida’s voice stopped them from advancing further, “And that wasn’t very nice Scara,”

“When was I ever nice anyway,” Scara mumbled, settling back to his seat.

As the light slowly dims, the play starts.

Lumine’s voice could be heard from the screen.

“We had no time to say goodbye, so let’s not call it that.”

A melancholy music starts as it shows a scene of the sky, illuminated by stars and of falling stars.

An unknown voice of the man can be heard after. A narrator, perhaps?

“The war has already begun. It is just a continuation of past battles.”

The scene changes to a sea of In-Teyvat flowers, one that is familiar only to certain people.

“Hey, it’s the flower on the Honorary Knight’s hair!” Klee could be heard whispering to Sucrose.

“The gods goad us with the promise of their seven treasures. Rewards for the worthy. The doorway to divinity.

“Yet buried in the depths of this world lies smouldering remains, a warning to those that dare trespass.”

The scene changed to two travellers. Standing on the sea of flowers.

[That throne in the sky is not reserved for you]

“But mortal arrogation never stops.

“None will escape the flames.

See for yourself.”

“Who is that narrator?”

“He sounds… familiar.” Pierro muttered.

The screen showed a text.

{Mondstadt: The Outlander Who Caught the Wind}

“The dragon who defended Mondstadt for a millennium finally faces his perturbation. What does freedom really mean, when demanded of you by a God?”

The scene showed Diluc striking with his Vision.

“Now, why am I shown on the screen? They’re introducing Mondstadt, not me.” Diluc grumbled.

“Well, probably because you’re very involved with the Traveler during her journey with Mondstadt?” Jean tries to give an answer.

“Unless we see a pattern through the Traveler’s journey, we may never have the answer to that for now.” Heizou supplied.

The cathedral hymn of Mondstadt slowly faded as it changed to a more Liyuean theme. 

{Liyue: Farewell, Archaic Lord}

“The God of Contracts, senselessly slaughtered as his people watched on in horror. In the end, he will sign the contract to end all contracts.”

The scene switched to Ningguang, summoning her jade screen.

“Oh dear..” Yunjin muttered, hearing the ominous words of the Narrator.

“ Senselessly slaughtered?! ” Ganyu gasped.

“Who would dare—!” Xiao seethed.

“Now, now, why don’t we all calm down for now? Surely an explanation will come later.” It was the old lady, Madame Ping. How she was included in this room full of Vision holders, no one can really guess. Her gaze shifted to Zhongli, who had a very impassive expression amidst the surprised horrified people of Liyue.

The music changed to a battle song of Inazuma as the screen flashed out the words;

{Inazuma: Omnipresence Over Mortals}

“In the secluded land of the immortal Shogun, the Bakufu rules eternal. But what do mortals see of the eternity chased after by their god?”

The screen showed Ayaka, presenting her art sword.

“Woah, pretty.” Nilou mumbled.

“Ah…” Ayaka’s face flushed as she heard all the compliments of the crowd.

“M’lady is as pretty as ever,” Thoma says to her.

“That, I can always agree on,” Her brother, Ayato, says.

“Thank you, everyone.” Ayaka replies genuinely.

The song then changes to an upbeat music of Sumeru.

{Sumeru: Truth Among the Pages of Purana}

“The God of Wisdom's enemy is wisdom itself, and the oasis of knowledge is a mirage in the desert of ignorance. In the city of scholars there is a push for folly, yet the God of Wisdom makes no argument against it.”

The scene changes to Cyno, the General Mahamatra on the screen.

“What?” a series of reactions erupted through the crowd.

“Buer?” Surprisingly, it was Focalors who spoke to the little God. “You know, out of all of us Seven Archons, you are the only one none has met since your ascension. Even I've met the Raiden Shogun a few times.”

Now, all of them had their eyes on Nahida.

Nahida, who had created her own makeshift swing on top of her chair, looked down in thought. Scara had whispered something to her but she shook her head and looked up, meeting their stairs. 

“While I know a lot of you will come to an agreement that what the sages did is not right, I still don't blame them for the actions they took. They were right that the knowledge I had was nothing compared to my predecessor, I had to catch up to her in some way. So I don't blame them at all. If anything, I wish I could do more, just like how much she did for Sumeru. And maybe then my people will finally see me worthy as their Archon, but until then, I am still learning.”

“Predecessor...?”

“Is that why she is more known as the Lesser lord Kusanali?” Ganyu asked, genuinely confused. How could a whole nation act as though being appointed as their God is not enough?

“ ‘Lesser Lord?’ Then who's the–”

“Greater lord Rukkhadevata,” Nahida answered as she closed her eyes. “The first Dendro Archon.”

“But I thought…” Scaramouche's thoughts wandered off. Maybe he should converse with Nahida about this later.

Meanwhile, Venti had been seething on the inside. I can see it now. Just what those sages did to their God.

“I still don't think it should be you in Sumeru's introduction.” Tighnari whispered to his friend.

“Why not?” Cyno wondered.

A song of Fontaine lapses over Sumeru’s as text appears.

{Fontaine: Masquerade of the Guilty}

“The God of Justice lives for the spectacle of the courtroom, seeking to judge all other gods. But even she knows not to make an enemy of the divine.”

“‘Judge all other gods?’ Ha. How rich coming from someone who can’t even face the prophecy of her nation.” Arlecchino loudly comments on. “But my children do look pretty in this, don't you think?”

“Sure, whatever you say.” Childe mumbled, being unfortunate enough to be sitting next to her.

“You…” Furina seethed, but as she was just about to stand up and protect her honour, Neuvillette stopped her from rising further and shook his head.

Furina relented anyway. But it makes Neuvillette ponder quite a bit. Furina never talked about wanting to judge other gods, that was mostly him. So why is it mentioned there?

The music transitioned to a very familiar Natlan music.

{Natlan: Incandescent Ode of Resurrection}

“The rules of war are woven in the womb: the victors shall burn bright, while the losers must turn to ash. When the God of War shares this secret with the Traveler, it is because she has her reasons.”

The scene changes to a little girl with silver hair, destroying the ground with a grin.

“I wonder what secret Aym would share…” Venti wondered.

And then the music changes to the cathedral hymn of Snezhnaya.

{Snezhnaya: Everwinter Without Mercy}

“She is a god with no love left for her people, nor do they have any left for her. Her followers hope only to be on her side when the day of her rebellion against the divine comes at last.”

Nothing was said to this, even from the Fatui Harbingers. Because they know all too well that they will stand with the Tsaritsa, no matter what happens, nothing will shake their will inside this place.

The scene changes to show a single star in the middle of an unknown dark sky as the narrator continues.

“In the perpetual meantime of a sheltered eternity, most are content to live, and not to dream.

“But in the hidden corners where the Gods' gaze doesn’t not fall, there are those who dream of dreaming.”

{Khaenri'ah: The Dream Yet to Be Dreamed}

“Khaenri'ah…” Diluc muttered, casting an off glance to his estranged brother next to him. Kaeya was fully focused on the scene in front of them.

“Some say a few are chosen and the rest are dregs, but I say we humans have our humanity.”

The scene showed a blond man with a star in his eyes, depicting his nationality entirely.

The star in his eyes reminds the Mondstadt people of their own Cavalry Captain, not to mention the matching eyepatch placement.

"We will defy this world with a power from beyond."

“Now, you who has set foot in this world. Your journey has reached its end, but one final doorway remains.”

The scene changes to a moving shot through the sea of flowers. And to the end of it, Lumine can be seen looking lonely and alone, her brother is not seen by her side.

“Step forth, if you have understood the meaning of your journey. Defeat me, command me to step aside, show me that you are worthier than I to rescue him.

“Then, the threads of all fate will be yours to re-weave.”

Then the scene fades to darkness. The melancholic music continues as the voice of the Narrator comes back.

“My memory has all but faded completely… But I will always remember how much he too, loved these flowers.”

Chapter Text

While the lights hadn't turned on yet, the play hadn’t continued rolling. So they took this as a short break to discuss what was shown and… some conversations of some that needed to be said.

“Lisa.” Jean called her friend who seemed to be lost in thought.

“Hmm? Yes? What is it, Jean?”

“You keep spacing out and looking by the Harbingers’ way, what’s wrong?” Jean asked, worried for her friend.

“Oh nothing to worry about, just…” Lisa trailed off as the man she’d been staring at looked their way. Even with the mask covering his eyes, she can tell that he has his eyes on her, “Some familiar faces.”

“What’s the matter Mr. Zhongli?” Hu Tao asked the man next to her, “You’ve been awfully quiet, it’s scaring me .”

“My apologies, Director. There’s just a lot on my mind right now.”

“That much? I’d have expected you to bleed my ears off by now!” Hu Tao exaggerated.

“I’m sorry I worried you so much,” Zhongli gave her a comforting smile he could come up with. But it does little to ease the girl.

“Nahida.”

“Hmm? Oh yes, the Hat guy.” Nahida turned to him. He was only next to her after all. The only one next to her.

Scara went straight to the point, being used to her calling him Hat guy, “If you were to erase someone from the Irminsul, will you also be affected?”

“Are you asking specifically if I were to erase someone, or anyone in general to erase someone?”

“You, specifically.”

“Well, in the first place, even if it’s me who erased someone or it's you or anyone, my memory will not be exempted from the alteration of the world to accommodate the missing piece. Say if I remove the recipe for my favourite food in Irminsul, what happens will be that I never seem to have found a favourite food of mine at all.”

“Is there anyone that can be exempted from this alteration?”

“Probably the descenders, or outlanders as Celestia seems to prefer calling them. Because, well, they don’t belong to this world, so they are not included in the Irminsul.”

Scara was lost in thought for a moment, “I see. Thank you.”

Nahida brightened, “You’re welcome! I’m happy I could be of help to your research.”

Scara hid a smile behind his hand, “Yes, you were a lot of help.”

Once more the play continued in front.

“Oh, wooowwww!” Paimon’s astonished tone could be heard as the screen slowly lit up to see the two companions stand by the mountain with the view of Starfell Lake. 

A music of Mondstadt welcomes the two as they take in the view of Mondstadt. The first nation they will be travelling to.

“Hm,” Kazuha nods, “Even with the view of the nation alone, you can already tell that it is the City of Freedom.”

“Makes your problems away, doesn’t it?” Beidou nudges him, “It’s why I prefer going there if I want to take a breather. That, and because of their wines.”

“The water in Mondstadt is truly crisp and pure.” Neuvillette said out of the blue. Seemingly got himself a cup of water from somewhere.

“That’s a Statue of the Seven!” Paimon pointed to the Statue of Barbatos “There are a few of these statues scattered across the land to show the Seven’s protection over the world. And among the seven gods, this God controls the wind.

“Paimon’s not sure whether the god you’re looking is the Anemo God, but… Paimon’ll take you to the Anemo God’s place first, and there’s a reason why~”

Paimon then continues to lead the Traveller to the statue.

“As we all know, poetry and language flow like the wind… There’ll definitely be someone there who knows about your brother. At least, that’s what Paimon thinks!

“Whether the gods actually answer you is a different story. But, you never know unless you try. So let’s hop to it!”

The traveller can be seen often straying from Paimon’s path as she takes in things around her. Gathering whatever it is that she sets her eyes on.

“Well, you can’t really be a traveller if you don’t at least collect stuff from your travels.” Collei said.

“You can swim right over!” Paimon said as she herself just floated across the lake.

After swimming over, the Traveller sets her gaze to the statue and approaches it. Placing her hand over the statue, it glows to her touch. An Anemo particle emerges from the circle Barbatos is holding. It floats towards the Traveller as she absorbs the element and colours her clothing.

“That’s how you receive your element ability? By interacting with the statue?” Kaeya asked.

“Huh, I wonder if the same will happen if you interact with other Nation’s statues.” Albedo wondered.

‘That’s exactly what’ll happen,’ Scara thought to himself.

‘How curious.’

Scara jumped at the sudden voice of Nahida being in his head.

“Oh, sorry. Did I make you uncomfortable? You were just next to me, so it was very easy for me to hear your thoughts. I’ll make sure to keep my curiosity in check.”

Scara shook his head, “No, it’s fine. Do what you want. You just surprised me is all.”

Nahida looked at him for a quiet moment before saying, “Okay.”

“Ooh! Did you just feel the elements of the world? Seems all you had to do was just touch the statue and you got the power of Anemo!” Paimon said to her, “As much as they may want it, people in this world can never get a hold of powers as easily as you…”

“I think I know why, it’s because…”

“Ah-ha, it’s because you’re not from this world to begin with.” Paimon finished after her, “If we keep heading west from here, we’ll eventually reach Mondstadt, the City of Freedom.

“Mondstadt is the city of wind because they worship the God of Anemo.” Paimon continued, “So perhaps, because you got power from the God of Anemo, you can find some clues there.

“There are also lots of bards there, so perhaps one of them has heard news of your brother.”

Venti audibly sighed, “Unfortunately, even a renowned bard such as I has not heard anything of someone like your brother.”

“It’s okay, Venti.” Lumine said to him.

“The elements in this world responded to your prayers and Paimon thinks that’s a lovely sign.”

As the two continue their journey, Lumine is seen to be trying out her new found powers. 

“It’s quite surprising how quickly she figured out how to use her Anemo powers,” Candace said.

“Hmmp, I advise everyone to expect more surprising things to come from this traveller,” Mona suddenly said, her gaze not even leaving her scrying glass, “I bet you that even she doesn’t quite understand just how much power she holds in this land.”

“What are you betting on, food? Oh right, you don’t even have those too.”

“Ugh,” Mona stood up insulted, “Who dares?!”

Scara stuck out a tongue in her direction.

“These are the Anemo powers you got from the Statue of the Seven. Aww, Paimon’s so jealous! Why doesn’t Paimon get cool fighting powers?!”

“It’s because you’re only meant to be my emergency food, emergency foods don’t have to fight!” Lumine teased her.

“Paimon is not an emergency food! Stop saying that!”

Lumine continued on with their journey. She continued to collect more stuff she found in the wild, tested her powers, and fought some hilichurls she found on the way. 

However, as they were walking, something huge flew above them. A dragon!

“Wow! What is that?! There’s something huge in the sky!”

“Stormterror!” Diona squeaked in alarm, hiding herself behind Barbara’s arm.

“The dragon that’s been terrorising Mondstadt recently?” Freminette asked.

“Indeed, that’s Dva— Stormterror.” Jean inquired, “But before we were sent here, we were able to fix that problem. I assure you that he means no harm anymore.”

Neuvillette watched on in interest.

“It’s headed towards the heart of the forest! We must proceed with caution.”

The two entered the forest quietly, searching for a blue dragon.

“Huh? Look at that!” Paimon points somewhere as they hear a rumbling sound towards the place she pointed to.

Lumine hides behind a tree and tries to get a good look at the dragon, and in front of it was… someone?

“Venti? What is he doing there?” Yoimiya asked in alarm.

“He’s right in front of Stormterror!” Bennett said something painstakingly obvious.

“Don’t be afraid… It’s alright now, I’m back.” Venti said gently to the dragon.

“Is he talking… to a dragon?” Paimon wondered out loud.

“He is, isn’t he?” Rosario hummed.

“‘I’m back’... That doesn’t mean the way I think it means…” Kaeya mumbled as he glanced at Diluc, acting all bored in his seat, “Does it?”

“Think what you want.” 

The Anemo within Lumine pulsed as if in reaction to the interaction. This took the dragon by surprise as it roared and attempted to claw at the person.

“Who’s there?!”

The dragon continued to go out of control and the boy in green had no choice but to disappear in the winds. This caught the Traveler’s attention, but she doesn’t know where he went exactly. The dragon flew away and she saw something bright a top the platform the dragon was on.

“That was close! Paimon almost got blown away! Luckily, Paimon managed to grab hold of your hair! Thanks.” Paimon heaved heavy breaths.

“Good thing the dragon didn’t notice us.”

“Just what was that? Paimon thought we were gonna get eaten.” Paimon hummed, “It definitely has something to do with that weirdo who was talking to the dragon.”

“Is talking to dragons normal?”

“Of course not!”

The two of them caught something glowing from where the dragon was earlier, “Oh? What’s that? There’s some kind of shiny red thingy on the big rock over there… Let’s go take a closer look.”

“You know Paimon, I think you’re the one bringing Lumine to different kinds of dangers.” Amber deadpans at her.

“No I’m not! I’m guiding her to her best interests! Hmph, and besides, it’s all part of travelling.”

“Paimon’s never seen a stone like this before, so Paimon can’t tell what it is. All Paimon knows is that it’s dangerous. Best we put it away for now.”

Lumine stuffs the stone inside her bag, not noticing the way it brightened to her touch.

“Okay, we’ve got it! Now let’s get out of here.”

They continued on their way outside the forest, but a voice stopped them.

“Hey you! Stop right there!”

Amber made her sudden entrance to the duo.

“Is that how I looked to the both of you?!” Amber hid her face with her palms.

“What do you mean? Paimon thinks you looked so cool back then!”

“Stoooop.”

“May the Anemo God protect you, stranger!” She welcomes them, “I am Amber, Outrider for the Knights of Favonius. You don’t look like citizens of Mondstadt, explain yourselves!”

“We’re not looking for trouble,” Paimon said.

“That’s what all the troublemakers say.” Amber shot her down.

“Hello, I’m Lumine.”

“... Doesn’t sound like a local name to me.” Amber replied. “And this… mascot, what’s the deal with it?”

“Emergency food.”

“Hey!” Paimon was quick to react, “That’s even worse than being a mascot!”

“Isn’t lady Furina treated like a mascot by the entirety of Fontaine?” Charlotte questioned Navia.

“Fits her well, don’t you think?” Navia giggled.

“So to  sum it up, you’re traveling partners, right?” Amber clarified, “Well look, there’s been a large dragon sighted around Mondstadt recently. Best you get inside the city as soon as possible. It’s not far from here, I’ll escort you there.”

“Oh, aren’t you out here for some other reason?” Paimon asked.

“I am. But not to worry, I can keep you both safe while doing that too.” Amber assured them, “Besides… I’m still not sure if I can trust you two just yet.”

“Why so suspicious?” Lumine comments.

“Oh, ahh… I’m sorry. Probably not something I should say as a knight.” Amber said, “I give you my apologies, uh… strange yet… respectable travelers.”

“That sounded so fake!” Paimon whispered.

“It’s protocol, okay!.” Amber seemed to have buried herself deeper in her palms.

“Do you have something against the type of language usage prescribed by the Knights of Favonius Handbook?!” 

The three chatted as they helped Amber clear up hilichurl camps that’s been getting too close to the city. Amber lends us her help to put up missing posters around Mondstadt for Lumine’s brother.

After explaining about Stormterror’s effects to Lumine, Amber guides them to safely head towards the city of Mondtadt.

As they pass through the city gate, Mondstadt’s music welcomes them. A series of montages showing different views of Mondstadt is shown to the audience. It even showed the statue of Barbatos in front of the cathedral, where many people are seen praying.

“A city where you can literally and figuratively say that it's where you can get some fresh air.” Tighnari

“Everyone looks carefree and calm despite the looming dragon problem.” Dehya said.

“Why do the citizens of Anemo always seem so carefree?” Cyno suddenly said which caught everyone’s attention of those that didn’t know him. Those that did, however, already cringes without even hearing the joke he’s about to say.

“Please don’t—” Kaveh attempted to stop the atrocity of an incoming joke.

“Because they've mastered the art of going with the wind -tuition” Cyno said in his most dead serious tone ever. Everyone was silent so he continued, “Get it? Because wind-tuition sounds like ‘intuition’, and Mondstadt is the city of—”

In the quiet room, a loud laughter cut through it. It was Itto, laughing to the point of crying.

“Oh — that was a good one!”

“Let me officially introduce the city of wind, dandelions, and freedom — Travelers under the protection of the Knights of Favonius — Welcome to Mondstadt!” Amber officially greets them.

“Finally, no more having to camp outdoors!” Paimon breezes, “But, the city folk don’t look too cheery.”

“Everyone’s been put out of place by Stormterror recently. But everything will turn out fine as long as Jean’s with us!”

“Jean?”

“Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius— Jean, Defender of Mondstadt.” Amber said, “With Jean on our side, surely even the vicious Stormterror will be no match for us.”

“Heh, that title sounds too exaggerated for what it really is.” Jean tries to hide her flustered face.

“You’re too humble, dear.” Lisa said to her friend.

“Before I take you guys to the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, I have a present for you, Lumine.” Amber said, “It’s a reward for helping me clear out that hilichurl camp.”

“He-Hey! Why doesn’t Paimon get a reward?” Paimon argued.

“Didn’t she just float around and hide somewhere while they fought?” Faruzan pointed out.

“Hmph, maybe she ought to learn at least something about how to defend herself.” Al Haitham said as he wrote a note in his notebook about lending the fairy some books.

“Ahh… Because this reward is useless to you Paimon.” Amber said. “But, I’ll treat you to a traditional Mondstadt delicacy — Sticky Honey Roast.”

“Sticky Honey Roast!” Paimon lost herself to dream land, imagining herself already eating the meal.

“Come with me, we’ll head to the city’s ahh… high ground.” 

Amber leads them to the high she mentioned. And on the way, she tells them how Stormterror’s attacks have affected the people of Mondtadt’s business, except for the Tavern as it seems to be not affected by anything.

“So, the present I want to give you is… A wind glider!” Amber presented them a dark wind glider, “Outriders use them to ride the wind, and the people of Mondstadt love using them too.

“I brought you here to give it to so you can experience it right away!”

“Oh, you’re really excited about these wind gliders, huh!” Paimon said.

“Well that’s because the wind is the heart and soul of Mondstadt!” Amber inhales the wind and sighed, “Alrighty then, enough talk! Let’s give it a whirl!

“It’s easy to use, but you still need to pay attention to my instructions.”

Lumine glides down with ease and meets up with Amber down below easily.

“That was easy,” Lumine said.

“Well, she did have wings before. It’s all muscle memory to her now.” Gorou said.

Suddenly, the sky darkened above Mondstadt as the winds shifted harshly. 

“The sky…” Amber said.

A low rumbling could be heard in the distance. Like a storm incoming.

Stormterror emerged from the sky. The winds wreaked havoc on the city as everyone hid to safety. With a roar, he summoned a tornado all around the city, a huge one specifically around the statue of Barbatos.

While fleeing, however, Lumine was sucked into one of the Tornados. She managed to steel herself using the glider Amber had just given her.

“It was a good thing that Amber had given you a glider and taught you how to use it just before Stormterror came.” Sayu commented quietly.

“Well, if you say it like that, it sounds too much for a coincidence, doesn’t it?” Ayato marked.

“Huh? How are you staying afloat like this with just a Wind Glider?”

Suddenly, a mysterious voice joined their conversation.

“I’m preventing your fall with the power of a thousand winds.”

Lumine looked around, trying to find where the voice came from, but she couldn’t seem to pinpoint exactly where. It was almost like, it’s all around her.

“Now, concentrate. See yourself grasping the wind. Harness its energy.” The voice guides her.

“That voice sounds… extremely familiar…” Tighnari’s ear twitched. Trying to remember who had such pitch in their voice.

“Who… Who said that?!” Paimon looks around.

Lumine lets out continuous beams of Anemo towards the Dragon, while keeping herself balanced in her wind gliders.

“Who knew all we needed was just someone brave enough to be swept up by the winds of Stormterror in the sky? We could’ve saved ourselves a lot of time if we had just made Amber do that,” Lisa said with a sinister giggle.

“W-W-What?!” Amber shouted in alarm. She tried imagining the scenario. Sure she likes gliding, but if she were in the sky that high up…!

“Ahahaha~ I kid, I kid. Sorry to have you imagine that, dearie.” Lisa said with a wink. But Amber had her eyes panicking and doubling just the thought of doing it.

“Look what you did,” Eula puffed as she comforted the girl, whispering her lines of ‘I will have my vengeance for this.’

Storterror flees after Lumine showered it with attacks a handful of times. She safely glides back to the ground, the sky above them is dark still.

“A-Are you hurt?” Amber asked worriedly as she looked her over for injuries.

A sound of slow clapping broke through the scene as the view pans over to the source.

“You’ve actually got the power to go up against the dragon…” Kaeya said, “Are you a new ally… or a new storm?”

By this shot of Kaeya, those who hadn’t had the chance to be near him could clearly get to see his traits. Or one could suppose, only to those that know what to look for.

‘A Khaenri’ahn…’

‘What’s on your mind, Barbatos?’

‘Housing one of them… Clearly he has ulterior motives?’

‘But a Khaenri-ahn with a vision . That at least says a lot… But to what extent?’

‘Hmph.’

“I can practically hear all their thoughts from this heavy silence,” Kaeya chuckled. Only Diluc was his audience.

“Are you putting a mark behind your head? I can feel them staring .” Diluc grunted.

“Can’t say I hate the attention.” Kaeya shrugged, but Diluc knows how on edge he is at the moment.

Amber introduces them to Kaeya, they each express sincere gratitudes to the Traveller. Inviting them both to the Favonius Headquarters.

Inside the Headquarters, two women are seen inside an office. Jean looks up to the ticking clock, anxiety radiating to her behaviour as she stands up to make her way to the door.

“Jean, what’s the hurry?” Lisa closed the book she was reading as she turned to her friend, “I thought we agreed to meet them here.”

“There have been sightings of Stormterror outside the city. Once we meet, we must—”

“Relax,” Lisa said, her gentle tone sounds way too relaxed for someone having a dragon attack their city, “I’ll lend a hand when the time comes.”

“I bet she’s even too lazy to find it in her to fight.” Paimon whispers but everyone else seems to have heard her still as Lumine reprimands her words.

“Reminds me of a certain someone,” Kaveh snickered as he looked at the person next to him who’s still writing on his papers, where does he even keep those? And what exactly is he doing?!

The door to the office opens and comes in Lumine, Paimon, Amber, and Kaeya.

“Jean, I’ve brought them.” Kaeya said.

Kaeya tells them about what happened during the attack, up to when he was introduced to the Traveller and invited them there.

“... And once it was over, I brought them straight here.”

Jean nods to Kaeya and thinks for a moment before straightening up.

“Mondstadt welcomes you, windborne travellers.” Jean said, “I am Jean, Acting GrandMaster of the Knights of Favonius. This is Lisa, our resident Librarian.”

“Why is there a Librarian in a room full of knights?” Yanfei asked, genuinely confused.

“Well, Lisa is our most knowledgeable personnel, despite… her behaviour towards labour. We go to her when we are stuck with a problem or in need of information. That’s how much of an asset she is to the Knights of Favonius.” Jean answered.

“Oh! Are you sweeties here to help us out? You’re both so adorable!” Lisa cooed, “Sadly, the timing is regrettable.. Stormterror has caused quite a ruckus in the region since its recent resurgence.

“Simply put, Mondstadt’s elemental sphere and ley lines are now akin to a yarn ball in the paws of a kitten,” Lisa continues, “For a mage, it couldn’t get much worse. My skin is one elemental particle away from a full-blown breakout.”

Jean sighed, “If it weren’t for this interference, the Knights of Favonius would have better ways to help you than just putting up missing person posters. We simply ask that you repose in Mondstadt while we help you seek out your brother.”

“I really should help out, then.” Lumine decides.

“Paimon will help too!” Paimon said.

“Good. In that case, we need a plan.” Kaeya said.

The group then formed a plan with the Traveller to go  to the three Wind Temples to go after Dvalin’s source of power. The plan goes that for each temple, she will go with one each with Lisa, Amber, or Kaeya.

As the Traveler clears out the three WInd Temples, she ends it by clearing the last one with Kaeya.

“Quite rewarding, no?” Kaeya said as he dusts off his hands from fighting.

“We’ve seized another temple from Stormterror’s grasp!” Paimon cheers.

Kaeya turns back to them, “I can take care of the rest here. You go take care of other things while I’m at it.”

“See ‘ya later, then! Bye-bye!” 

The two waved as they left the domain.

As Kaeya waves at them until they’re out of sight, a sound of teleportation echoes behind a column.

“There’s no way hilichurls organised an ambush like this themselves— not with their limited mental capacity…”

“I had the same suspicion,” Sara hummed.

Kirara shuddered, “Most of the time, I’ve seen them walk right through their own bonfires and stand there for hours!”

“The only sane hilichurls I’ve seen are the ones on Fontaine,” Mika said, “The tall ones. Not the buff ones.”

“Even that’s saying something about hilichurls in general,” Charlotte said, “Something about those wanderer hilichurls just seems so weird and creepy.”

A hydro mage hilichurl steps out of the shadows, giggling.

“Thus YOU were behind this.”

The two stared at each other for a moment, sensing for the other to move.

The mage moved first, “Gohus, Chiso Vonph”

In the middle of its chant, blazes of fire entered the area, aiming towards the mage. In the middle of the flames, a form could be seen. Then, a hand held the mage’s head harshly, throwing it to the ground far away.

Kaeya lightly laughed, amused at the situation as Diluc went after the mage again.

“You know, they give off this vibe that they have each other’s back, but at the same time hate each other very much.” Itto loudly whispered to Shinobu who just held back a groan at his loudness.

“Knights of Favonius… Always so inefficient.” Diluc said.

Kaeya claps at his display, “Agree to disagree. But, your involvement in this just made things a whole lot more interesting.”

“He just hates everything in general.” Kaeya loudly said, to which Diluc attempted to beat the shit out of him like all loving brothers do.

“Shut up, I’m so sick of your voice.” Diluc said in gritted teeth.

Kaeya evaded his claws with obvious practice in a smile.

“Is this usually how they bicker?” Lumine asked Jean. The scene… oddly reminds her of how she and Aether would annoy each other.

“Trust me, it’s worse when they’re each standing.” Jean sighed.

After solving all the problems with the three Wind Temples, the sky above Mondstadt finally cleared up. The traveller allowed themselves to bid some time travelling around the Nation. Defeating hilichurls and slimes, harnessing their powers and honing it. Collecting chests and talking to the citizens about Stormterror and whether they’d seen her twin anywhere. 

“She seems very used to travelling and doing errands around,” YaoYao comments.

“Probably with years of practice. She’s mentioned how she and her brother have travelled from one world to another, right?” Chongyun said.

Lumine ends up running into Kaeya inside the Favonius Headquarters, telling them how he’s in dire need of help. Telling them a ‘secret’ of his past, how his Grandfather was a pirate. Saying that his eyepatch was proof enough of it.

Somewhere in the Harbinger’s group, a deep rumble voice groaned.

“Of all things, that’s the story you settled with?” Diluc dead-panned.

“Why not? Even I got you fooled with that same story.” Kaeya shrugged before avoiding an incoming punch with a snicker.

Kaeya got them in the palm of his hands the moment he mentioned ‘treasures’. She went around asking adventurers about the ruins, saving Kaeya’s informant, running around Mondstadt after the clues.

“Looking at it like this, how do I say this…” Noelle searched for a better word, “I feel bad for the traveller.”

“I agree!” Paimon said, “You really made us do all that, and the sword wasn’t even real!”

“It… wasn’t?” Klee is saddened. She was hoping for an epic story since it was Kaeya that said it.

“Oops..” Paimon covered her mouth.

Inside the domain Kaeya said, Lumine clears her way inside. But alas, there really was no treasure as a leader of a treasure hoarder group emerges, attempting to steal it from them. But Kaeya appears with knights and captures the guy successfully. All thanks to the traveller. 

“Aww…” Klee said, saddened for the traveller.

“Ohoho~ Such a skilled smooth-talker! Say, are you interested in becoming an employee of mine? I will pay you any amount you want !” Dori let out another maniacal laugh tha made almost everyone feel uncomfortable.

“How old is she again?” Sandrone, the Marionette, glared at the girl.

“Do calm yourself, Marionette,” Arlecchino said, “she is but a child.”

“An unusual one, at that,” Columbina hummed a melody, “But a lively one, I must say.”

“Now, now, ladies,” Pulcinella cuts in, “Do pay attention to what’s in front now.”

The story continues as Lumine meets up with Amber around the Cathedral, telling them that she’ll be in charge of giving them her own gliding licence; Explaining it’s important and uses. She gives them a manual that should help them understand the rules better, but later found out that she gave her a different book.

“When the first wisp of wind brushed across the land, birds that yearned for the sky had wings, but no way to fly.”

“People still read this story?” Signora huffed, “No one liked those in my time.”

“You’re the one making yourself sound old now,” Childe said, to which SIgnora glared at him.

“Well, children like to hear it as a bedtime story now.” Amber shrugged, “I know I did back then.”

Diona too, liked that story. But she’s not gonna embarrass herself by agreeing. It’s a kids story, and she’s not a kid anymore!

“They asked the Anemo God: ‘How can we reach the heavens?’” To which the Anemo God replied: ‘You have yet to find that which is most important’

“As the God spoke, the wind thrust the seeds of a dandelion high into the sky. The birds thrust out their wings, but the breeze was all too mild. Leaving them to stumble across the earth.

“So they went to the gorge, where the wind showed off its wild and incomparable strength. They threw themselves off the cliff, and flapped their wings amongst the howling winds, until they were able to fly freely in the sky

“To the Anemo God they went, to gleefully say: ‘We understand now! All we needed was a stronger wind to fly.’ In reply the Anemo God said: ‘What you lacked was not wind, but courage.

“‘It is courage that allowed you to become the first flying birds of this world.’”

“Many children’s courage starts from hearing this story,” Venti suddenly said, “Maybe that’s why the story is most popular in the childrens of Mondstadt. It’s through this story that they learn to fight through the howling winds.”

“That’s the most serious words I’ve heard from him since the first time I’ve met him in the tavern,” Diona whispered to Barbara, who just helplessly laughed.

As the Traveller finally got her own gliding licence, she left the cathedral, gliding through the streets of Mondstadt. She saw a familiar figure near a small fountain, talking to another person with a mask. It was Jean!

“Isn’t that Jean?” Paimon pointed to, “Seems she’s talking to someone… Let’s left her finish, then go say hi!”

The only thing they heard from their conversation was as follows:

“...which is what has brought us to this point in the first place,” That lady in mask said, “If you are unable to promptly deal with the Stormterror threat, then leave the defence of Mondstadt to the Fatui. We can put an end to Mondstadt’s issues. All we need to do is bring that monster to the—”

“‘Monster’?” Jean cuts her off.

“Yes. What’s your point?”

“Ah…” Jean sighed, now visibly angered by her expression, “I’d expect a more professional attitude from you diplomats. Yet, here you are saying you to ‘put an end’ to one of The Four Winds of Mondstadt?

“I won’t have any of this nonsense in front of the Knights of Favonius!”

The Fatui Diplomat had the nerve to crackle a laugh, “It’s not as crazy as you make it sound. Fine. That’s enough negotiation for today. At this stage, it’s simply… an amicable exchange of constructive opinions, no?

“I’ll be sure to make… thorough notes.” Was all the lady said before going inside the building.

Jean stood outside for a moment, cooling herself down before she turned to walk away but she spotted Lumine.

“Oh, Lumine, you’re back.” Jean said, “Thanks for your help. The elemental flow is finally stable. The aftermath of Stormterror’s last attack is finally settled for the moment. However, the pressure from the delegation has become too big to be ignored…”

“Delegation?” Paimon asked. “From Liyue Harbor or Inazuma City?”

“Snezhnaya. They choose to follow the God of Cryo.” Jean answered, “Their envoys go by a particular name: The Fatui. Heard of them?”

“Oh, them? They are super famous. Wait, infamous is more the word,” Paimon corrects herself.

“Everyone can agree that no one in this room likes those guys,” Scaramouche said, using his thumb to point to the group of Harbingers to which Childe reacts with an offended ‘Hey!’

“Well, it seems even the me in the near future will hate your guts, specifically.” Mona butts in.

“Who?”

“In approximately 1 yea—”

“Asked?”

Mona was dumbfounded but she found it in her to explode, flustered, as she threw a splash of hydro towards his face.

“Next, we’re gonna be learning about the principle of causation. Whatever you choose to do will always have a cause and effect, it’s a simple law. For example, when you choose to humiliate someone it becomes the cause, and the effect will be a revenge of throwing water towards you.” Nahida casually says to him, unbothered by the droplets of water from him.

“I hate this lesson.”

“People hate it when they’re being called out, in general.” Nahida said with a breeze. “But this is what you’ll get since I prefer not to resort to violence, and I don’t wear a chinela in my person.”

Scaramouche raised a brow at that, “Where did you even find out about that ?”

“The kids all seemed to have a dream about their mothers chasing them with it when they’re hiding something from them,” she shrugged.

“I don’t think killing Stormterror is the right course of action. The Cryo God’s Fatui has always coveted the Anemo God’s power.” Jean said, “I don’t believe they have Mondstadt’s best interest at heart.”

“Speaking of power…” Lumine said. “There’s something I need to show the Knights of Favonius.”

Jean agrees to go back to the Headquarters with Lumine. After Jean left and arrived with Lisa in tow, Lumine showed them the red crystal dropped by Dvalin.

“It’s a crystal embedded with some kind of power… Lisa, are you able to analyse it?” Jean asked.

“Let me take a look,” Lisa said as she continued to examine the crystal. “Hmm… I can see impurities in the crystal, but upon further inspection… No, I’m sorry. I can’t make a proper analysis at the moment. Give me some time. I’ll walk through the library’s restricted section.”

“I wouldn’t recommend attempting to be near one of those crystals,” Il Dottore suddenly said.

“What? How can you even…” Lisa wanted to ask something but held her tongue instead.

“Right. I’ll leave the research to you then, Lisa.” Jean nods.

“Understood. I’ll notify you all if I make any progress.” Lisa said, “Though I wouldn’t go getting your hopes up. They are incredibly ancient texts, not to mentio— Ouch! Gosh, that hurt!

“The impurities in the crystal… It hurts when I get close…” Lisa said as she took a stab back, “I see… It appears to react to Visions. The impurities and the elemental energy we embody repel each other.

“It’s strange, though. You have elemental abilities as well, Lumine, but doesn’t seem to be affected in the same way.” Lisa noted but Lumine said nothing, “Anyway, the crystal would be better left in the hands of my cutie. It will just be a pain if left with us — both literally and metaphorically.”

“‘Cutie?’” Lumine whispered, confused.

“Fascinating,” Jean remarked, “Do you know anything about what makes you special?”

For her part, Lumine shakes her head.

“Well, we sure do know now.” Xinyan said.

“I do not know what to make of it either.” Jean said but then composes herself after a second, “Well then, Lumine… The Knights of Favonius have another favour to ask of you. Please accept the title of Honorary Knight… and the gratitude of the Acting Grand Master.”

“Honorary Knight… of Favonius?!” Paimon repeated in surprise.

“We ask for your continued assistance in finding some answers.” Jean continued with a sigh, “Stormterror’s rage… and the strange crystals… I know Mondstadt’s peace hangs in the balance. May the wind open your eyes to the truth.

“We’ll meet back here if you find anything.”

The two left the Headquarters and went to a quiet area as Paimon talks to the Traveller.

“There’s something you didn’t tell them,” Paimon started, “The dragon and the crystal weren’t the only things we saw.”

“I don’t think he’s a bad guy.” Lumine said.

“So you do remember him, that green guy.” Paimon said and caught something to the area just below, “He looked just like that guy down there!”

Sure enough, Venti is seen running through the stairs.

“The exact same green, what a coincidence.” Lumine said, tone devoid of emotion.

“See? See?” Paimon hasn’t caught on. “Wait… Hold on a minute… That… That’s the same guy!”

The two followed after Venti, using elemental sight to see his tracks. 

“Not even Vision holders can easily access elemental sight for that long…” Neuvillette commented.

“Did you really have to climb that particular wall?” Lynette sighed, “There are stairs literally just next to it.” 

“Don’t ruin the fun, Lynette,” Lyney said.

The trail leads them to the Cathedral’s plaza, where they saw the green bard performing in front of Barbatos’s Statue.

Lumine neared the performance and stood entranced as the soft strings being plucked from the lyre played a gentle music.

“What is to be sung transpired in days of yore,

When the divine archons still walked the earth,

A dragon cast his curious gaze on the world below,

As he parted from the heavens that gave his birth.

The dragon sought truth amongst common folk,

But mortal trifles only fogged his mind.

The windborne bard strummed his strings dolce,

And the Holy Lyre answered his questions kind.”

“Is this… the story of Stormterror… Dvalin?” Neuvillete asked, genuinely curious about the story of another dragon kind.

“It is,” Venti answered, “How it began, and how it all happens to this day.”

“But…” Barbara finally voiced, “How could some ordinary bard possibly know all that about the Dragon?”

“But I'm not just any ordinary Bard,” Venti smiled at her, “I’m the best bard throughout Teyvat!”

“The dragon was but a child full of wonder,

And soared the heavens free from care.

The bard’s songs invited him to sing along,

For he yearned to let all perceive him fair.”

“A child? That dragon?” Klee asked.

“Well, like humans, dragons are born too in need of supervision,” Venti answered, “He, too, didn’t know everything about those that walked the earth.”

“You’re sounding less and less like a bard, and more like an old friend of his,” Yun Jin said.

“I bet you my Special Tea from Natlan, that bard is actually that Wolf on the North of Mondstadt.” Wriothesley whispered to Clorinde.

Clorinde thinks for a moment before nodding, “Then I bet a Tea Collection of your choice that he’s a God.”

“Seriously, a God?” Wriothesley snapped his head at her.

She shrugged before saying, “The more ridiculous, the better.”

“You two, please quiet down. I’d like to concentrate on the story better without you two making another bet” Neuvillette stared them down and they obliged. But not without sealing the deal with a handshake.

“Enchanting legends the bard and dragon were,

But the tides of despair soon engulfed the land.

The lion fang perished and the falcon flag slept,

As a vile dragon approached Mondstadt in a lone stand.”

“Durin…” Albedo whispered.

Veni silently hopes that Durin’s story be mentioned in Lumine’s travels. He is, after all, a pitiful dragon, manipulated and cursed to wreak havoc.

“Over the Cathedral loomed death and his friends,

Of the people’s agony the bard soon sang.

The soaring dragon heeded his grave calls,

And amidst the windstorms a brutal war sprang.

Blood of venom sent the sky dragon into slumber,

Only to awake to be expelled in abhor.

[Why do people in this age loathe me so?]

But the Holy Lyre replied no more.”

“Dvalin was… cursed?” Lisa realised.

“Durin’s venom laced blood… it corrupted him to an extent,” Albedo said, “That’s he became what he is now.”

“Wrath and woe, vigor and venom,

Poured from the dragon’s bitter eyes.

The dragon’s curse sprawled in silence,

But the lyre could no longer soothe his cries.”

“A tear!” Kirara’s voice startled everyone from the silence, “It was a tear! The crystals was a tear— MEOW!”

“I’m sorry, she can get really excited sometimes, hehe,” Heizou was the one to pull the youkai back to her seat, “Shhhiiii!” He mentioned for her to be quiet as her ears pulled down from being reprimanded like how her grandma does sometimes.

“Wait, you guys are…” Venti started saying, “Oh, that’s right! You’re the ones that scared Dvalin away.”

Lumine’s face cringed at the reminder for a moment when Paimon spoke, “Dvalin? Who’s that?”

“That’s Stormterror’s real name,” Lumine said.

“Huh? … Oh, right! Most people seem to call him ‘Stormterror.’” Paimon remembered but then turned to Venti, “Why do you call him that… are you meant to be close or something?”

“Oh, so close…” Venti didn’t even try to hide it.

“How close?” Keqing wonders.

“Hey, Lumine. Paimon thinks this guy has a screw loose…” Paimon whispers to her.

“Ahh… hi.” Lumine decided to say, ignoring Paimon.

“Good day, outlander. Seems we meet again. I’m Venti the bard,” Venti introduces himself, “Three-time winner of the ‘Most Popular Bard of Mondstadt,’ to be precise. So, what do you need from me?”

“Given you recognise us, Paimon doesn’t believe we need to explain any further.” Paimon said, “Of course it’s about Stormterror!”

“Storm…?” Venti played dumb.

“Hey! Cut it with the amnesia act!” Paimon yelled, “Alright. Lumine, show it to him.”

Lumine brings out the crystal. Only difference is, it’s a different colour now.

“Oh,” Venti’s eyes widened in recognition, “Isn’t this…”

“What?!” Paimon yelled in surprise, “The crystal has been purified? Since when?!”

“Last time I checked, it was full of impurities.” Lumine said, confused as well.

“Dvalin, he…” Venti’s tone shifted to a saddened tone, “The anguish he feels… has brought him to tears…”

“Tears…?”

Out of nowhere, Venti brings out another crystal tear. One that is still filled with impurities and showed it to the Traveller.

“Isn’t it harmful for a vision bearer to be near the crystal?” Keqing brought up, “Why is he fine when he’s even touching it?”

“Indeed a good point,” Neuvillette said, then looked over at Furina who was making it obvious that she at least knew something .

Sensing his stare, Furina turned to him for a moment, offering a mere shrug that the Iudex can see right through. Why is she even attempting to hide something from him?

“He was once such a gentle child. Now so full of rage and suffering…” Venti said before offering the crystal to Lumine, “I also came across a Teardrop Crystal. Can you purify it?”

As the crystal fell on Lumine’s palm, it glows brighter and slowly, the impurities extract itself from the crystal. Not even three seconds later, the crystal purifies in the presence of Lumine.

“Ehhh?!” Paimon exclaimed, she doesn’t know whether to be surprised, proud, or amazed at the spectacle she witnessed.

“You… really do have some wonderful abilities…” Venti said, “Someone like you is going to end up getting written into a bard’s poem— ‘Oh a hero so bright, should she stand in the light. Though stand in the shade, and you’ll be met by a blade…’”

“He made a poem on the spot!” 

“Such is the job of a bard,” Venti said with a prideful shrug.

“Alas… I’ve really not the time to compose a melody for you at this moment.” Venti said,  “Anyway, even if Dvalin is not taken down, his life will wither away in the breeze…  He’ll burn himself out in the flames of anger…”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Lumine offered.

“I really must thank you for purifying the Teardrop Crystal, it has helped me greatly.” Venti said, “But I’ve already come to devise my own plan.”

“A bard attempting to face a dragon?” Shenhe wondered.

“It almost sounds like the tales I’ve heard him tell,” Kaeya said, “You know, the ones of Old Mondstadt?”

“Where a bard led the revolution against the tyrant…” Barbara recounted.

“Oh? And what plan would that be?” Paimon asked, curious.

“Seeing this tear has brought to mind a friend so dear,” Venti muttered quietly, but not one Paimon couldn’t hear.

“...Friend?” Paimon repeated.

Venti shook his head with a sly smile, “Hehe! One must be going!”

“Hey! Where’re you running off to?!” Paimon stopped him.

“To the Symbol of Mondstadt’s Hero. Bye-bye~”

That was all Venti said as he walked away from them.

Paimon turned to Lumine with a look, “Huh… What do you make of that?”

“This ‘weirdo’ as you put it — we need to keep an eye on him…”

“As far as he’s concerned, you’re a weirdo too, ‘ya know…”

“You know…” Lumine started with a thought, “His voice seems familiar…”

“I got it!” Tighnari suddenly said that almost surprised Cyno next to him. He’s been really quiet since the whole interaction, even having his eyes shut for seconds long.

“What? What is it?” Cyno asked.

“The voice that we heard helping the Traveller while she was in the sky.” Tighnari told him, “It’s the same voice as him!”

“Oh, I see…” Cyno muttered, now deep in thought as he glanced at the bard, “Then that means…”

“But hasn’t he been said to be unheard from for hundreds of years now?” Kaveh asked.

“A God can still hear their people’s prayers even in our slumber.”

They all jumped when a small voice entered their conversation. It was Nahida who had unknowingly walked over to their spot as she held her hands in the air and one of her eyes closed, as if capturing something on the walls. ceiling, and ground. She was looking everywhere.

“And the Anemo God prefers to go into deep slumber than ruling his Nation. He only awakens in times of his Nation’s crisis and pleas for help.” She continued. When she noticed that their conversation didn’t continue after, she stopped whatever she’s doing and looked at them. “Oh, I’m sorry. Please don’t mind me and continue with your theories.”

“We… don’t mind.” Collie carefully said, “Are you looking for something, Lord Kusanali?”

“Well, my curiosity for this place got the better of me and I just must look around to satisfy them,” Nahida said with a shy smile, “My height doesn’t pose a disturbance so I took advantage of it. Hat guy wanted to go with me, but I told him to stay because his hat would be quite distracting.”

Sure enough, they can see him huffing as he glares at the screen where the Traveller is seen heading to Windrise, following after Venti.

“Can I ask you something, Lord Kusanali?” Nilou asked amidst her anxiety from her presence. It’s not that she’s scared of her, it’s just… something about their God is… concerning.

“Please, feel free to ask me anything,” Nahida offered with a kind smile that puts Nilou at ease a little.

“Where… For the past 500 years since your ascension, why have we not heard of you in any way of communication? Were you… were you also slumbering like the Anemo God?”

A heavy silence fell from the people from Sumeru as they waited for the little God to answer. All of them wanted to know the same thing.

“The Sages always said that you were in some kind of divine meditation or something that helps you gather more knowledge,” Cyno recounted, “Was what they said true? With the fact that you would choose to meditate than be involved with your people?”

“Perhaps, in a way, I was in slumber,” Nahida said, thinking as she answered, “But I was not in any way uninvolved with the lives of my people.”

“What… do you mean by that?” Layla asked in a quiet tone.

“You’ve heard of the saying that only children can dream, yes?” Nahida confirmed as they all nodded, “While I was… inactive, I could still visit my people in their dreams. What the sages said was not entirely incorrect. Dreams is where I collect most of my knowledge for this world, where I can understand human emotions and… To see where I can improve on as your God.”

“But, why?” Surprisingly, it was Alhaitham that voiced, “If you wanted to involve yourself in the lives of your people, why not step up and actually meet with us even as adults? Why settle for our childhood dreams?”

“Because, physically, I could not,” Nahida revealed which shocked them, “While my slumber was forced upon me, I still had my control over dreams. With that, I saw the lives my people had lived and wanted to live. I taught them how to write and read, and many things that they wanted to learn as their dream.”

“Is that why we can only dream as children?” Faruzan asked, “Nothing has changed since 100 years ago, I see. But why do you stop at children and not help us adults in our dreams?”

“You see, that’s…” Nahida wanted to continue, but she suddenly looked up and her eyes widened for some reason. “I see… Okay…”

The people of Sumeru glanced at each other, wondering what caught her attention.

“I’m sorry for that,” Nahida said with a sigh, “It seems I am not permitted to disclose the answer to that question. I’m really sorry I cannot satisfy your curiosity.”

With a small bow, she quietly walked back to her seat.

“So many questions were answered, but one still remained…” Candace muttered.

“I wonder if she’ll take Mora in exchange for the answer?” Dori giggled conspiratorially.

“I doubt any God would find the need for Mora,” Kaveh dead panned at her.

“Who knows~~?” Dori whistled, “Modstadt have their God singing songs for coins too Aha~ha~ WIll he accept a commission from a different Nation? What songs will he sing? Ohh~~ Maybe I’ll ask him after this Hehehe~~”

“Oh? What are you doing here?” Venti asked as he saw the Traveller approaching. “Though I was just wondering if you would happen to follow me…”

“I want to know more about the Anemo God” Lumine said.

“You speak of the God of Anemo, Barbatos? He already disappeared from Mondstadt a long time ago.” Venti said in reply, “Liyue and Inazuma’s respective gods of Geo and Electro are still present, but Mondstadt has seen many a moon since they last saw their own god.” He continued as he crossed his arms, “Why do you wish to know about the God of Anemo? Does it have anything to do with Dvalin?”

“Oh… Ahhh… It’s because gods…” Paimon wanted to say

“Yes, someone told me about Dvalin’s past.” Lumine said instead.

“Just how is it that everyone sees Stormterror? I’m quite curious.” Venti said, “That said, there’s no need to rush… I have not been back in a while, it seems there are a few who are unhappy with my arrival.”

Venti turned to the Eye of the Storm that suddenly appeared near the Statue of the Seven.

“Why would a creature born from a storm react to Venti’s arrival?” Barbara wondered.

“Seems the dragon wasn’t the only thing affected by this change in the wind…” Venti commented, “Now then, you were saying someone had told you about the dragon?”

Lumine nods as she recounts what Lisa had told her and what she heard from Jean.

“Is that so? Quite the scholar I must say, that Lisa,” Venti said in thought, “She’s not wrong. The conflict has reached this point, only because both sides have resorted to the use of force. His hate, however, did not arise from the people not making tribute to the Four Winds — Nor was it born from its own nature, but instead came about as a product of his degradation.”

“Degradation?”

“The black blood flowing through his heart has been torturing him for years.” Venti said, “That’s what has allowed him to be led astray by the lies of the Abyss Mage.”

“I think I’ve heard of them before in Mondstadt…”

“Correct. They are from the Abyss Order, an organisation comprised of non-human beings. They despise mankind.” Venti said, “I don’t know where they come from. All I know is that they hold deep hatred towards the human world. Many hilichurls out in the wild take orders from them and act as their weapons.

“Before arriving here, I too was like Dvalin, cursed and left to waste,” Venti continued, “But now, before us stands the Symbol of Mondstadt’s hero, the place from which Mondstadt rose. The wind amongst the branches is good, I love the way it smells… Being here with you beneath this great tree feels like when the tear was purified earlier. Like the poison is leaving my body…”

“So… how exactly did you get poisoned?” Paimon asked.

“Ahh… That would be because I tried to communicate with Dvalin earlier, but was… interrupted…” Venti said, sending a pointed look to the both of them, “As a result, not only did I not manage to help Dvalin break his curse, but instead, was also infected myself!”

“Why is a bard even attempting to communicate with a Dragon?” Rosaria said with a tsk, “Who does he think he is, Bartobas?”

“Sister Rosaria, you got it wrong again!” Barbara shrieked. With the knowledge of Barbatos being just around the corner, she could not relax. What if he punishes them for this unruly behaviour!?

“Oh. Then… Bar…sibatos?”

“NOOO!”

“Pff— Ehem…” Zhongli hid a snort, to which did not escape Venti’s ear and glared. Even the rest of the Archons were hiding a giggle, sans Furina ‘cause she’s actually hollering now.

But Venti just shrugged, he loved his people either way. 

“Oh, everything is looking bad for us. What if he hates us now and does not forgive us?!” Barabara panics. Jean tries to soothe her sister, but it falls on deaf ears, “And what is he saying to Sister Gotelinde?!”

Barbara is now standing up as she watches Venti’s conversation between Gotelinde, asking for the Holy Lyre.

“... Actually, I know a secret that can save Mondstadt from its current predicament.” Venti said.

“Oh, what a blessing from the God of Anemo!” Gotelinde said, “But you should report that to the Knights of Favonius. Why have you come to me?”

“Because you, dear sister, are able to help!” Venti said with confidence, “I’d like to borrow the Holy Lyre. With it, I’ll be able to help Stormterror—”

“Please see yourselves out.” Gotelinde cut him off.

“You really should’ve just come to me first, Venti,” Jean sighed, “If Lumine came with you, I could’ve at least heard you out and helped you acquire the Holy Lyre legally instead of stealing it!”

“It was a delicate situation,” Venti shrugged.

“It’s a vicious dragon indeed, but once the Acting Grand Master makes up her mind, nothing can stand in the Knights’ way.” Gotelinde said.

“That’s simply not acceptable! Wouldn’t Stormterror end up getting killed that way?” Venti argued.

“That foolish beast betrayed the winds. Not even the God of Anemo themselves would forgive it!” Gotelinde firmed, Venti hit a blunder in plans as he begged. “I’m afraid not, little bard.”

Gotelinde looked away from his pleading face in thought, ‘Strange… Somehow I feel bad rejecting this sweet child…’

“Then… I guess I’m left with no other choice. I cannot hide anymore!” Venti said with conviction. “My disciples, rejoice! Behold, the God of Anemo, Barbatos has descended!”

“WHAT?!” Barabara shrieked.

“PUFAHAHAHA” Furina laughed as she pointed to Venti, “You– You— HAHAHAHA— Maybe if you had at least transformed in front of her, it would’ve been more believable, you know!”

No one commented when a sudden breeze blew towards Furina’s way, disheveling her hair and hat.

“Wha–HUH? No, that’s… Oh no.”

Barbara slumps back to her seat, hiding her face behind her book.

The conversations continued between the people about the Anemo God being confirmed as the God as the Traveler’s journey continued, with Venti planning on stealing the Holy Lyre, which they already knew of since Jean mentioned it earlier.

“Who knew a God could act so carefree?” Gorou commented.

“Well, he is the God of Freedom is he not?” Ayato said.

“He embodies his title, that’s for sure!” Yoimiya giggled. How does the Raiden Shogun act unbeknownst to them, she wonders? Traditional?

The group consisting of Diluc, Traveler and Paimon enters the Fatui Hideout to Retrieve the Holy Lyre from them.

“No, NO! Don’t eat me! Ah? You’re… You’re human?” The Fatui Guard stammered

“That your guard, Signora?” Childe laughed.

“An incompetent one,” Signora glared, “I’ll make sure to remember him.”

“The entire floor’s defences… have been broken. I thought it was the Abyss Order attacking…”

“We have come for the Holy Lyre der Himmel.”

“H–How did you guys know the lyre’s here?” The Fatui Guard stammered, “The place it’s being kept is locked up tight. If you’re after the key, keep going further into the ruins! B-But don’t come after me!”

Lumine stared at him sceptically.

“I don’t know which one of the guards has it, but I’m sure you can find the guards and find out for yourselves.” he said, “Y-You just worry about yourselves! One of the Harbingers is already in Mondstadt. Signora. When she gets her hands on you, she’s going to string you up and torture you. When that time comes, don’t you dare say a word about me!”

“No need to.” Signora glares with a huff, massaging her temples. “I’[ll make sure to train them even harder after this.”

“Did he say Signora? What a strange name…” Paimon said.

“No. 8 of the Eleven Harbingers. Goes by the name Signora.” Diluc filled them in, “The fact the Fatui can run amok across the seven nations like they do is entirely because of the Eleven Harbingers. We need to act quickly before she gets wind of what’s going on.”

“Oh, that’s us.” Pantalone said, fake joy in his tone.

“Utterly risible.” Sandrone muttered.

The group scurried room after room, looking for the key and fighting Fatui Agents along the way to which they breeze through easily.

“Finally, the lyre is back in safe hands!” Paimon cheered as they cleared the last Fatui Agent and grabbed the Holy Lyre to safety. “Where did that guy go, though? He was here a second ago…”

Suddenly, a tone from outside the room interrupts them.

“Signora is going to end you. The songs bards sing of your demise will be so terrifying — the people of Mondstadt will never sleep again for the nightmares they give them.”

“Big talk for a guy who still ran off in the end… Chicken.” Paimon shouted.

The three of them exited the Hideout and returned back to the Tavern where Jean and Venti awaited their return.

“Welcome back!” Venti said when he saw them enter, “Ah, this is the Holy Lyre! You managed to retrieve it! The pattern of flowing wind carved on the rosewood… and the strings still feel cool to the touch too. Oh, the memories…”

“Is he even attempting to hide his identity?” Yelan dead panned.

“My guess is that he doesn’t try to hide it but at the same time.. Doesn’t exactly go out of his way to out himself?” Yanfei speculates.

“It’s like a slime at a fungi party who shows up in a bard’s hat and lyre, casually blending in by saying, ‘I have always been the best singing fungi,’ and the other fungus just assume it’s the latest trend in the forest.” Nahida jumps in.

When the crowd became silent after, she turned to Scara who had his palm on his forehead in exasperation.

“Was it still hard to understand?” She asked innocently.

“They just find the analogy surprising since it came from the God of Wisdom itself,” Scara only said.

“What do you think, Venti? Can you summon Dvalin?” Jean asked.

“Although this lyre is the real thing, I doubt it’s going to work.” Venti said, “As you can see, the lyre has been through a thousand years of history. Its Anemo power has run dry. In this condition, you couldn’t play music fit for even Diluc’s tavern with it.”

“Did you just borrow the Holy Lyre to play music for drunkards to hear?” Paimon pointed.

“Ehe.” Venti giggled.

“What do you mean ‘Ehe’?!”

“Anyway, we won’t be able to call Dvalin with it,” Venti ignored the fairy, “The lyre itself is fine, but the strings… You’re up, outlander!”

“I don’t know how to fix instruments.”

“Relax! It’s not broken,” Venti explained, “It’s just that the intensity of its Anemo power has greatly diminished. Do you still have Dvalin’s Teardrop Crystal with you?”

Lumine nods as she uses the crystals on the Holy Lyre. The lyre sparkles as it gives off a youthful glow, its whole base changing colour.

But the lyre is still far from completely replenished. They devised a plan to gather more of Dvalin’s Teardrop Crystal, with Paimon giving Venti the nickname ‘Tone-Deaf Bard.’

“Paimon has a way of keeping the conversations up,” Xiangling said.

“Indeed.” Yunjin agrees.

“This search reminds me of a feud I once had with the Fatui.” Diluc recounted as they made their way outside the tavern, “Six months ago, a thief stole treasure from the East Temple of the Four Winds.”

“Whoa. What was it? A cup used by Barbatos?” Paimon asked.

“Was there ever such a thing?” Venti is genuinely curious.

“No. Although if such a thigh existed, it would be very valuable.” Diluc said and continued, “Among all the relics they managed to dig up, one particular object was very rare… It was a vial which contained the Anemo God’s breath.”

“Relics come in every shape and form huh…” Paimon made a face. How would the Anemo God’s breath smell like? Wine?

“Anyone with an eye for fine art would like to add this relic to their collection. Once word got out, the Fatui started trying to seek it out as well,” Diluc continued, “They’ve made tons of counterfeits that can be found everywhere. In response, I just bought every one I could find, irrespective of its authenticity. We’re still at it now. I’ve bought more than two thousand fakes to date, and the Fatui are yet to find the real one.”

“Ah, yes. I remember funding for that project,” Pantalone remembered, “Though, at this point, I doubt it’s even real.”

“Genuine question,” Lyney raised a hand to Diluc, “Uh, why?”

“2000! Two-thousand!” Kaeya laughed at the absurdity of it all. Diluc, collecting their God’s breath. “You might as well just give him wine to drink until he burps it all up and collect them!”

“I was making sure the vial doesn’t end up in the hands of the Fatui, was it not clear enough?” Diluc defended.

“Well, you made it sound like some kind of weird fixation, so…”

“Ehehehehe~ They don’t know I was the one selling those counterfeits. I don’t have the original, unfortunately. I would’ve sold it to the red haired for a high price!” Dori muttered with a hysteric of giggles.

“Dori!” Kaveh gasped, having heard her.

The group continued their investigation for Dvalin’s tears. Conversating along the way. They learn of Jean’s simple way for an easy investigation and… her pet tortoise. Apparently, Diluc had one too as a kid.

“Ah, yes, he used to use that tortoise as leverage to get me to talk to him,” Kaeya reminisced.

“Worked too well, apparently,” Diluc grumbled.

“Well, you get what you wish for,” Kaeya shrugged.

The group then entered a domain where another tear is.

Paimon sighed, “We’re done gathering! That was hard..”

“It’s too early to relax. We’re still not done with Stormterror.” Diluc reminded, “Besides, the Fatui could also be planning something…”

As they made their way outside the domain, Jean couldn’t help but ask…

“Hey Diluc, I hear that the Fatui have recently proclaimed you ‘persona non grata.’”

“Hmph, what an honour,” Diluc said sarcastically, “Nobody was ever proclaimed ‘persona grata’ by the Fatui anyway.”

“What’s that?” Qiqi asked.

“It’s when a person is not welcomed inside their place or Nation.” Nahida answered for her.

“The Fatui? The diplomatic delegation from Snezhnaya? What have they got against Master Diluc?”

“The Fatui are a problem not only for the Knights — they also present a real threat to the whole of Mondstadt. And when it comes to threats against Mondstadt, Diluc is—”

“That’s enough, Jean,” Diluc sighed, “You knights are subject to too many restrictions. You can’t directly confront this so-called ‘diplomatic’ scum. Personally? I despise them.

“If I were to choose between ‘eating a Cryo SLime alive’ or ‘joining the Fatui’... I’d prefer to be crushed to death by a meteorite.”

“Hmp, be grateful all we gave you for all your actions against us is that title, boy ,” Pulcinella said with a gruff.

“I wonder what his reaction will be if he ever finds out?” Columbina’s soft voice aimed to inflict dread.

“Find out about what?” Diluc asked, tone hard. But all he got in return was a cold look from the group and a soft giggle from her.

The group returned to Dawn Winery where they had Lumine purify all the crystals they’ve collected and use it on the Holy Lyre. With the Holy Lyre now completely replenished of it’s Anemo Powers, they all decided that Starsnatch Cliff is the perfect place to summon Dvalin with the lyre.

“Everyone is finally here.” Diluc said as Lumine arrived with Paimon and Venti.

“What a view…” Paimon says, taking in the view from the cliff.

“Lovely for a fated reunion, isn’t it?” Venti said, “Well, we must be prepared for a fight.”

“Regardless of the outcome, things finally seem to be taking a turn for the better.”

“Huh! In the end, the solution to our problem was as simple as a traveller and a song,” Diluc jests. “I suppose the Knights of Favonius may have played a part in it too…”

“Oh, we get it, Master Diluc… Everyone, please step aside!” Venti told them and they followed. “I, the best wandering bard of the mortal world, shall begin my performance with the Holy Lyre!”

Near the end of a cliff, Venti played a song from the Holy Lyre. A melancholic music, one that would remind you of the past. The song echoed and flowed through the winds. Carrying it around Mondstadt.

The ground rumbles as the dragon they invited appeared. Strong winds appeared in the presence of the elemental dragon born from it.

“What has been done cannot be undone…” Dvalin’s words echoed.

“That’s… Dvalin’s voice?” Amber muttered.

“Dragon… big and blue… sad…” Razor empathised.

“If so, then why do I see sadness in your eyes?” Venti shouted, “Sadness that speaks of your yearning for this song…”

Dvalin growled, but it wasn’t an act of hostility…

“They are… communicating…  huh?” Jean perked when she spotted a figure besides the dragon.

A particle of ice shot the Holy Lyre, destroying it in one hit.

“No! Tone-deaf bard!” Paimon shouted in worry as they ran to him in defence.

“Do not be fooled by him, dear dragon…” A shrill voice said and a Cryo Abyss Mage emerged. “He left you to rot alone! Now he attempts to deceive you once more…”

Venti is seen cradling the arm that also took a hit from the Abyss Mage’s attack.

“Barbatos…” Dvalin’s voice is a mixture of fear and worry, and as well as… fury.

“Let your wrath fester! Mondstadt has already turned its back on you!”

“You!” Dvalin flew and shrieked in fury, “You were planning this all along?! To have me slain by them?!”

“No! It’s not like that!” Venti shouted, voice filled with worry for his friend. “Listen to me!”

“The time has come for the dragon to serve its true master!” The mage rejoiced in laughter, “While you bewail your pathetic selves and watch the world tremble in fear!”

Dvalin flew off with the Abyss Mage on his back. Strong Winds following his form.

“Dvalin…” Venti expression saddened for his friend.

“Barbat— Venti, please, be careful…” Jean assisted the Bard’s arm, attempting to heal it with her vision.

“Hehe… You’ve known my true identity for some time now, haven’t you Jean?” Venti said, with gratitude, “Though, I thank you for continuing to use the name Venti.”

“How’s the Holy Lyre?” Diluc brought up, “Can it still be played? Or does it need to be repaired?”

“Unfortunately, I think it’s beyond repair…” Venti said as he looked at the lyre’s condition.

“Dvalin is in a lot of danger…” Lumine said.

“No, we should make that Abyss Mage pay first!” Diluc said, voice filled with anger, “If we don’t fight the evil at its source, then we can’t save Dvalin at all.”

“In which case I shall call upon Outrider Amber to track it down.” Jean offered.

“No need,” Diluc said. “I eradicated one not long ago, in one of the Four Winds’ temples.”

“What? When?” Paimon asked.

“If you want to track those monsters down, then I’ll seek answers from my contacts. I’ve got other means for getting the job done.” Diluc said.

“Aw, Diluc…” Paimon cooed, “Though he dislikes the Knights of Favonius, he protects Mondstadt in his own way.”

“Oh? Why does our little Paimon sound so doting all of a sudden?” Venti teased.

“Wait for my word,” Diluc ignored them, “I’ll be sure to let the Abyss Order know that their blatant disregard for Mondstadt will not go unpunished.”

The scene darkened, to which they all thought would be the end of it for now. But then…

Lumine stood up suddenly.

“Isn’t that…” Scara recognised the form.

“Aether?” 

A blond in dark attire stood on a cliff overlooking Old Mondstadt. Two Abyss Mage bowed behind him as Dvalin flew over their heads.

The Cryo Abyss Mage teleports behind him and bows as well, to which had all of them fear for the worse.

“Your Highness… Your humble servant returns.” The abyss mage said as it bows.

The figure turned and faced their way, now revealing that he is indeed Lumine's twin brother, Aether.

“When your homeland returns to this world, we shall revel in its glory!”

And all turned black again as the light returned around them.

“This… doesn’t make sense..” A few turned a worried glance towards the Traveller, who’s finding it a hard time to believe what she had just witnessed.

“Traveller,” Nahida called carefully, “How long have you been in Teyvat?”

Lumine took in a few heavy breaths, calming herself before facing the God of Wisdom.

“I’m not sure,” She started, “One moment Aether woke me up with the sky turned red , saying that we had to leave this world, and then… The Unknown God happened and I woke up somewhere in Mondstadt,”

“Red sky?” Zhongli joined the conversation with a hardened look, “Could it be..? What else do you remember when you arrived in Teyvat?”

Lumine clutched her head, trying to remember.

“Not much of anything aside from the Sea of Flames. The monsters that fell from the sky, wrecking havoc, that’s all until Aether pulled me to escape.”

“Then, that means your brother was the first one awake before you,” Venti said, deep in thought.

“..but for how long has he been awake before you woke up, is the question,” Columbina adds.

“Probably long enough to understand this world better than you,” Pierro said, which brings them towards another question.

“And what about the second time around?” Furina wonders, “After the Traveller was sealed off her powers, why is it that she awoke just 500 years later from when they tried to leave? At such perfect timing for Mondstadt at that.”

“Who knew she could be serious like that?” Navia whispered conspiratorially to Charlotte.

“That is where I came in,” Istaroth’s voice echoed around the room.

“Istaroth?” Venti called.

“I apologise, I am still far too weak. I cannot even create an imagery of me,” The God said, “But I assisted the Traveller’s form after the Sustainer sealed her. After being sealed, she was in deep slumber, forced in a recurring dream of witnessing her brother be chained and impaled. I carried her through time [2] , healing the injuries she sustained. She was an anomaly, something unexpected, which sparked hope within me to change this recurring loop.”

“A loop? We’re… in a time loop?” Layla’s eyes widened.

“But that doesn’t make any sense… Or does it?” Mona’s eyes widened, bringing out her hydromancy. “The constellations. Past, present, and future.. Is that the reason why everything is already written in the stars?!”

“Wait till she finds out that the stars are a lie,” the Wanderer snickered.

“WHAT?!” Two astrologers shrieked.

“Perhaps,” Was all Istaroth offered as explanation, “And still, even with her arrival, the Traveler was dragged into this endless spiral. This situation is one I have not done before. Bringing allogenes and Gods into one space is one I couldn’t take like before. After the conclusion of Mondstadt’s Chapter, there will be areas outside to spend time to rest and converse. I’m sorry as I do not have enough energy to tell you more. All that I ask is to open your eyes and heart, let kindness pour.”

That was all she said as her voice slowly silenced, and her presence was not felt by anyone anymore.

Mona turned a heated glare toward the Inazuman next to Sumeru’s Archon, “This is not over!” She said as she returned to her seat with a huff.

The darkness in the room returned as they all seated. The screen flashed as the story continued.

It showed the group of five again in front of Diluc’s Dawn Winery. Conversing about the intel Diluc gathered.

“The Abyss Order… Enemies of the human race. Even the underground networks rarely come across any information on them,” Diluc started. “With that said, it was a bit of a hassle, but I managed to dig up a few clues.”

“Really? That quickly? You really are well connected, Master Diluc.” Venti praised.

“Come to think of it, Mr. Big Anemo God Barbatos — why exactly do you need the help of mere humans…?” Paimon asked.

“Ahh… How do I put it…” Venti tried, “‘The Seven’ as people now know them, were once known as ‘The Seven Archons. Each archon presides over their own part of Teyvat. That is the role the archons play. Only in performing this duty can we attain power, but I don’t like the idea of ‘ruling’ Mondstadt — and I don’t feel Mondstadt would really like it either.”

“‘Go forth and establish a city of freedom without rule.’ We have not forgotten Barbatos’ wish for Mondstadt.” Jean said proudly.

“Jean… You’re such a devotee!” Paimon swooned, “Maybe someone got a little too free and is just too lazy to care…”

“However it may have come to be… I haven’t been back to Mondstadt for an extended period of time,” Venti added, “Without a doubt, I am now the weakest archon among the Seven!”

“And that,” Furina snapped her fingers, “Is where he lies.”

“It’s not really lying if he’s only telling part of the truth,” Nahida says with a worried smile, expecting a debate in coming.

“Which still makes him guilty of lying! He’s not being entirely truthful , if I must say.” Furina poses.

“So… which is it? Is Venti the weakest or not?” Childe asked, excited to learn who the strongest is aside from their lovely Archon, the Tsaritsa.

“Seeing as our purpose in this space is to be open and understand one another, I don’t see the need to be untruthful,” Venti shrugged, “While what I said about governing over our nation can we attain power is true, it’s not all of it. There’s also the faith of our people [3] . Ever wondered why I only appear in times of need? It’s because people’s faith and prayers are stronger during those times. Which fills me with power enough to wake me up and use it to solve the problem.”

“There is also our Divine Ideals [3] ,” the Raiden Shogun spoke up, “If I were to say who the strongest is among the Archons, that would be Morax, the God of Contracts, where his divine ideals is of course, Contracts. Not only is he actively ruling his Nation and his people’s faith in him continue to prosper as Liyue itself is wealthy, his divine ideals spread even outside his nation through one thing, Mora. [3] Currency itself is a form of contractual exchange backed by a ruling authority.”

“Goodness,” Pantalone sighed, “So by being rich, I’m supposedly helping the Archon attain power?”

“So basically, how your ideals affect your subjects and faith as well as governance are ways you can attain power?” Baizhu confirms.

“I see…” Itto mumbled but then whispered to Shinobu, “I don’t understand a thing! Can you summarise it for me?”

Shinobu sighed tiredly.

The group went to where Diluc was able to track down the Abyss Mage and defeated it, noticing something, Venti realised where Dvalin really is. Explaining to them about the barrier that protects the harsh winds from the lair ever escaping.

“Which means we’re going to confront Dvalin?” Diluc confirms, “I’m fine with that… Jean is the one who wishes to avoid any direct confrontation.”

“No. When there are no other options left, it is my responsibility to alter our course of action.” Jean said, voice filled with conviction, “If slaying him is our only choice, I will gladly become the knight that leads the charge.” 

“Fortunately, we have yet to need to go that far,” Venti soothes them, “I mean that the Holy Lyre is not our trump card. Our real trump card? Lumine of course!”

“Lumine?”

“Is it because I purified the Teardrop Crystal?”

“Correct,” Venti nods, “But you have a much more precious forte. The impurities in the tears, and the curse that binds Dvalin belong to the same maleficent power. Which means…”

“You Tone-Deaf Bard, don’t you see how crazy this is?” Paimon disagrees in worry, “You’ve seen what Dvalin is like when he’s ticked off! Lumine will be swallowed whole before she even gets to lift a finger!”

“Weren’t we just talking about how I can fight?” Lumine smirked at the fairy.

“Nice plan. Worth a shot,” Diluc agrees.

“I am with you, Honorary Knight.” Jean offered support.

As they set off to the barrier to Stormterror’s Lair, their plans were delayed as a group of Hilichurls appeared to attack them. They successfully defeated them and realised that the Abyss Order were trying to stop their advances.

Venti was able to play with his ordinary lyre anyway. Playing a tune enough to break the wind barrier.

“It’s really surprising to know that even the simplest tune from him could solve even the most complicated problems,” Yanfei commented.

“Music from the Anemo God is the purest of its kind,” Madame Ping said, “Give him a worn out lyre and he’ll put a Lawachurl to sleep with it.”

“This is it. We are now entering Stormterror’s Lair.” Jean said, “Watch yourselves. Let’s move.”

They entered through a bridge leading to the entrance of the Lair.

“It’s stuck.” Paimon points out.

“It’S stUcK.” Venti parrotted.

“Ha-ha real mature.” Paimon crossed her arms.

“Hey, check out that roof. Is there a giant hole in it?” Paimon pointed.

“Hmm… I suppose we could make use of that wind current.” Venti said.

“Let’s make a detour then. Heading up!” Paimon cheers.

“Let’s make a detour then. Heading up!” Venti copied.

A few giggles erupted from them as they watched the conversation.

The group made their way safely to the top of the tower but they find that the ruins seem to be guarded by ancient seals. Lumine worked to finish the Lighting Ceremony and break the seal on Stormterror’s lair.

“I’m thinking about turning these adventures into songs after we’re done…” Venti said as the Traveller arrived.

“We’re practically old partners now.” Lumine said.

“Hopefully, this song will be sung for years to come by the people of Mondstadt, ust like the Legend of Vanessa.” Venti hoped.

“I have loved that song since I was small,” Jean said.

“Well, no child of freedom would find it in themselves to hate such a beautiful song!” Thoma said.

“How are you feeling today, Lumine?” Jean checks, “I am completely prepared and fully confident that we can do this.”

“Rest assured, I’m also completely prepared!” Lumine answers.

“Even Master Diluc accompanied us to the very end.” Paimon said. “Despite only being an accidentally involved… bystander. ”

“You shared your secret with me, and I only returned your trust to the same extent.” Diluc said.

“What about Venti?”

“It’s ‘freedom.’” Venti answers with a soft smile, “When you first arrived in Mondstadt, did no-one tell you that Mondstadt is the City of Freedom?”

“Amber…”

Venti laughs good-heartedly, “She really is a child of freedom! Mondstadt is a romantic city, without the reign of a king. And its citizens enjoy the most freedom amongst the seven nations.”

“Careful there Venti,” Kaeya said teasingly, “With an advertisement like that, we’ll find ourselves welcoming even the Fatui Harbingers under our roofs.”

“I don’t see why not seeing as even Buer is housing one under her own,” Venti said pointing to the mentioned person.

“Hmph, don’t lump me in with those guys,” Scara glares.

“Yes, of course. We’re not some Mama’s boy,” Signora laughed.

“Heeey, I love my Mom.” Childe opposed.

“You don’t count, Childe.”

“I hope the dragon that once protected Mondstadt will soon be free too…” Venti said. “No-one should have deceived him by telling him that Mondstadt betrayed him. And no-one should have told him that it was his eternal duty to protect the city. He has the right and freedom to choose his own way of life.”

Neuvillette takes in the words said to heart. What would the life in Fontaine be, without the prophecy looming over them?

“Look! There are two shiny spots on Dvalin’s back!” Venti pointed. “They appear to be poisonous blood clots that have coagulated on his wounds… The Abyss Order must have cursed the wounds. That’s what’s corrupting Dvalin’s mind. To save Dvalin, we’re going to have to get rid of those blood clots.”

“It was from the injuries he sustained in his fight against Durin, wasn’t it?” Albedo asked.

“Yes,” Venti nods, “When Dvalin struck the heavy blow on Durin’s neck that killed him, his blood entered his system and became poison to him. And the result of it is what we’re seeing now since the Abyss Order curse elevated the effects.”

As Lumine successfully destroys one of the blood clots, Durin descended a top of the tower where the group followed after and landed. They fight Dvalin, with the aim of removing the blood clot from his neck while he becomes immobile.

After many difficulties, they successfully remove the blood clot as Dvalin thwarts the pain and falls.

“Poor dragon,” Freminet said, holding his penguin Pers tighter, “I hope our Hydro Dragon isn’t as much as the Anemo dragon did.”

“It’s gonna collapse!” Eula said in worry.

The platforms each collapsed to the one the group had been standing on. Another platform made it’s way to them and destroyed the rest, the group having no way of saving themselves.

But Venti is seen peacefully falling amidst the chaos as the dragon’s cry can be seen and heard as it catches them.

“He’s good again!” Klee cheers.

Venti opens his eyes to clear skies. Laying at the back of Dvalin along with Jean, Diluc, Lumine, and Paimon.

Venti closes his eyes, reminiscent of the past, “It’s been a while since we flew like this together. Huh, Dvalin?”

“Just now… Why…” Dvalin wanted to ask. “Why did you not ask me to protect you like the last time?”

“Me not wanting you to listen to the Abyss Order doesn’t mean that you have to listen to me,” Venti says, “Freedom, if demanded of you by an archon, is really no freedom at all.”

Venti summons an Anemo Particle, a blessing from an Archon, and it lands on Dvalin’s form gently.

“Is this… the power of the Anemo Archon? But I am no longer part of Four Winds.” Dvalin said.

“Even if that’s so, you still protected us regardless,” Venti counters, “Now spread your wings of freedom, and go with my blessing.”

As the scene changes to the one inside an office, Jean’s voice narrated.

“And so, the Stormterror threat was quelled. I clarified the misunderstanding to the citizens of Mondstadt and let them know that they are safe. To them, it seems Stormterror attacked Mondstadt out of nowhere and then vanished just as quickly. They must be finding the whole ordeal very confusing.”

The voice turned to Venti as it shows him sitting on the hands of Barbatos’ Statue as Dvalin flies around Mondstadt before returning to his lair.

“However, winds change their course. Someday, they will blow towards a brighter future.”

The scene turns black, but the light doesn’t return. Still, a lot of things still hang in the air.

Kazuha wonders what it would be like, if their God were as welcoming to change as the Anemo God.

A day later. It said on the screen.

Amber welcomes the Traveller’s return outside of Mondstadt. She tells them about the situation in Mondstadt while they were away with Jean, and her suspicions that everything still feels weird. But then owns up to her promise to treat them to some food.

As Lumine walks through Mondstadt, she talks with the locals who had different opinions about the conclusion of the Stormterror incident.

Excited for the food, Lumine didn’t even notice the figure next to her as she speaks with Sara.

“Why so cold? I’ve always thought that we enjoy quite the intimate friendship.” Kaeya interrupted.

“Ah, the Handsome Mr. Kaeya,” Lumine teased.

“So you do feel something for me. And people say my charm is fake,” Kaeya grinned, “To bask in the presence of Mondstadt’s new big hero is quite the morale boost. And that’s coming from a knight.”

“Sweet-talking, sugar-coated Captain Kaeya.” Paimon resited.

“Haha, nonsense! I speak from the heart.”

“What are you doing here?” Lumine asked.

“Just looking for a quiet spot to collect my thoughts.” Kaeya answers.

“While all other knights are working hard to clean up after the battle…” Paimon said sceptically.

“Thinking can be an arduous task, you know. Believe me, I’d much rather be taking out trash.” Kaeya explained.

“So whatcha thinkin’ about, then?” Paimon asks.

“The Abyss Order,” Came his answer, “A dragon wreaks havoc in Mondstadt, and the Acting Grand Master leaves the city to combat the threat. Strategically, that’s the perfect moment for the Abyss Order to make their move. If you were the Abyss Order, would you squander this golden opportunity by sending in nothing more than a few hilichurls?”

“You’re right, it doesn’t add up.” Lumine agrees, thinking.

“To get to the bottom of it, I decided to wait. So I waited, and watched for their next move. Then came the day you made all hell break loose in Stormterror’s Lair, just as the hilichurls’ cries sounded from the city gates… That same day, I saw shadowy figures lurking in the city itself.”

“Inside the city?!” Paimon said in panic.

“Well, all the other knights were outside, fighting the enemy. As you can imagine, that left the inside of the city completely unguarded,” Kaeya said, “Except for me, of course. So I approached the Abyss Order infiltrators for a bit of… hmm, let’s call it fraternising. Through various means, I managed to gather some rather interesting intel. The situation is this: The Abyss Order… They are united under a single leader.”

“The Abyss Order has a leader?” Paimon confirmed.

“Yes. And it was this very leader who devised the plot to turn Dvalin into a weapon of war,” Kaeya nodded.

“What exactly did you have to do to find this out?” Paimon asked, horrified at the possibilities.

“Let’s just say I’m blessed with certain linguistic powers,” Kaeya laughs, “There’s more… The Abyss Order has a name for this leader. They call her ‘The Prince.’”

“Prince…”

“Aether…” Lumine mumbles… Eyes filled with worry and shaken.

“Now, I’m sorry to cut this intelligence briefing short, but I do believe I spy Amber heading this way…” Kaeya said as he glanced by their back. “I think she’s still angry with me for my absence from the defence effort during the attack… I’d better slip away before she notices me.”

“The least you could do was brief me, you know!” Amber said with a huff.

As Kaeya was already far away, Amber joined them in their seats with an annoyed expression.

“One minute I see Kaeya, the next he’s slipped away! Clear sign of a guilty conscience…”

“He does a lot behind the scenes…” Lumine tried to defend.

“You shouldn’t cover for a guy like him, Lumine,” Diluc said to her, “Saves you a lot of effort.”

“And here I was bailing you out many times in our teens,” Kaeya sighed, “Gee, you’re welcome, Diluc!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Diluc breezes.

The two ate their food and enjoyed a relaxing mealtime. They conversed about Lumine’s plan after Mondstadt, telling Amber that she plans to travel all the 7 Nations in search for clues about her brother.

“And she ends up being the Abyss Order’s leader,” Il Dottore sighed, but without empathy, “What a tragic twist.”

“Yeah, your opinion doesn’t really matter right now,” Paimon said with a huff.

“You’d think that by now you would have your guards down around us,” Sadrone said with a glare, “It was cute at first, but now this hostility is becoming annoying.”

“It’s only been no more than 4 hours, and that’s not even enough time for us to even get to know one of you,” Lisa said with a fake smile, “So forgive us for the hostility we aim at you, we mean no harm. Or at least for now.”

“Heh, you heard the witch,” Dottore smirked, “Play nice, everyone.”

The traveller then heads to the Cathedral where Amber said Jean was waiting for her.

“Oh, I think it was around this time before I was suddenly transported here.” Signora said with a chuckle.

“W-What do you mean by that?” Paimon asked, “Why’d you say that when she’s by the cathedral entrance?”

“You’ll see,” Signora said ominously, “Maybe this… thing will show us what’ll happened had we not been transported in this space.”

“That doesn’t sound very good…”

Lumine was welcomed by the Sisters and led them to where Jean, Venti, and Barbara had been waiting for her in front.

“This is Barbara, the Deaconess of the Church. SHe is here to retrieve the Holy Lyre der Himmel,” Jean introduces them.

“May the Anemo Archon protect you,” Barbara said kindly, “I’m not really in a position to speak compared to our Acting Grand Master, but I still want to thank you all on behalf of all Mondstadt for your assistance! Fortunately, everything was resolved peacefully… I can’t imagine how an all out war between the military and the dragon would have ended…”

“What a sweet girl, ohoho,” Madame Ping swoons.

“I’ve been reaaaally trying not to look but,” Itto whispers Shinobu, “Why is there an elderly in a place with bad people?!” 

“She’s from Liyue, so it wouldn’t be surprising if she ends up being an adepti of some sorts.” Shinobu tries to whisper back.

“Adepti? What’s that?”

“Now the Fatui have no choice but to keep their mouths shut.” Jean said, “They must be annoyed that things didn’t turn out as planned for them. This time, they even lost their best excuse to pressure the Knights of Favonius. Diplomatically speaking, they gained nothing, and on the contrary simply proved just how vexatious they can be.”

“Sounds like quite the story. So, did you bring the Holy Lyre with you?” Barbara looked at Lumine and Venti. “We cannot ask you to keep defending the lyre forever. The Seneschal has been pressing me for a while now…”

“We ahh… did bring it with us… Uhmmm… it’s just…. It’s a little…” Paimon struggles to find a better way to explain what happened to the lyre.

“Oh, don’t worry! I’m not here to collect rent! The church has always received special funding…” Barbara, bless her heart, tries to soothe their worries.

With a grimace, Lumine hands the broken lyre to Barbara.

“Aah..!” Barbara’s eyes widened.

Paimon looks away from the situation, Venti scratches his head, refusing to look at the scene.

Barbara gasps, nearly crying, “The Holy Lyre!” She fell to her knees in prayer, “Oh, Lord Barbatos… Even if I atoned for these sins for the rest of my life… it would still not be enough!”

“AAAHH! Must my embarrassment be shown to everyone?!” Barbara further hides herself behind her book.

“It’s quite a comical scene. With the Anemo Archon just being behind you as you pray is unforgettable.” Yae Miko laughs.

“This is a few minutes before we got here!” Paimon points out, “Just as we were heading out the door, this huge light just eats us up and poof! We’re here with everyone!”

“I guess that same experience applies to everyone,” Lumine said as the others nodded.

Venti heaves a deep sigh, feeling bad for his subject, “Oh, give it here…”

Lumine hands him the Holy Lyre and it gloves with Anemo Energy, restoring it to it’s original look.

“How could this—” Barbara stood up, fascinated as she grabbed the lyre from him and hugged it, “The Holy Lyre… but how?”

“Huh? Let Paimon see!” Paimon said, floating to get closer, but Barbara stepped back, shaking her head.

“No, no!” Barbara said with conviction, “I don’t know how you managed to fix it, but you’ll never touch the lyre again!” She said as she ran away with the lyre at hand.

“... We ahh… should really get going…” Venti said, already making a move towards the exit, “That trick I used to ‘repair’ the Holy Lyre… Hehe, I mean the magic I used… It isn’t going to hold forever you know.”

“What?!”

Venti gives them a salute as he exits his way out the Cathedra, with Lumine running after him.

“Does that mean the Holy Lyre is still broken?!” Barbara panics.

“Yeah, sorry about that,” Venti smiled sheepishly to which Barbara just slumped

Now, the scene showed Venti outside the Cathedral running. But then two Fatui Agents emerged from the ground, attempting to attack him from behind.

“Don’t tell me…!” Ei’s eyes widened.

“An assassination attempt towards one of The Seven?” Zhongli’s eyes widened, his grip on an armrest tightened enough for it to crack.

“Mister… Zhongli?” Hu Tao muttered in worry.

Signora laughed, “So this plan really did come forward after all.”

“This.. was your plan?!” Jean stood up, the first time she had raised her voice in anger.

“Oh relax, I wasn’t planning to kill him, though it is quite tempting…” Signora said, “But we did need something from him.”

Thankfully, Lumine arrived on time to deflect the attack with her Anemo, pushing the agents away. She charged after them, but they disappeared to the ground once again.

A heel stepped forward, and with a snap of her fingers, a blizzard appeared towards them, obstructing Lumine’s view. Venti was able to deflect the blizzard with his wind, but he found that his feets were stuck in ice continuously. He heard Lumine’s grunt as she was tackled by the Fatui Agents.

“At last, Mondstadt’s rodent ruler in the flesh.”

Signora appeared walking towards them, two Cicin Mage behind her. La Signora, The Fair Lady, The Eight of the Eleven Fatui Harbinger.

“Scurrying through the streets, looking for leftovers…” Signora grabs Venti’s face as she turns it as if to get a closer look, “Mondstadt call this a god?”

“Resident rodent… beats invasive vermin—” Venti tries to say but was slapped hard by Signora.

Lumine tries to fight at the scene, but with two agents immobilising her, she couldn’t do anything else.

“Don’t you dare speak back to me, insolent bard.” Signora glares.

Venti then unleashes a powerful current, enough to reduce the ice on his feet. And to the watchers, it felt different. It was like watching a person put on a show of power. One that misleads the other person.

“Absentee archon of Mondstand,” Signora said, undeterred at the show of power, “How impotent you have become…”

“That smirk you wear looks out of place, did you steal it from your master’s face?” Venti taunted.

Signora’s face hardened and blew him away with her prowess. As Venti was pushed back, Signora followed after with a blow to his chest, “Should have held your tongue.”

Venti’s chest glowed a teal colour, vanishing as Signora pulled something from it. Venti slumps to the ground after cradling his chest.

Signora hums as she raises the prize in the air, looking at it more closely, “So, this is a Gnosis? Wouldn’t be caught dead wearing this ugly thing in public.”

“Beauty is a waste… when the beholder has no taste…” Venti grunted out, taunting even when hurting.

Signora glares again as he kicks him further away.

“I never liked the way you do things,” Childe said, uncomfortable at the scene. Venti was still a God after all, what if someone attempts to do that to the Tsaritsa?

“I don’t remember asking you for pointers now, did I?” Signora said.

“Venti!” Lumine tries to get out of the Agents’ holds.

“Well, we have what we came here for,” Signora says, turning her back as she walks away, “Come. Before our dear Favonian friends arrive. Leave nothing for them to find.”

One of the agents hit Lumine hard by the back of her neck, putting her unconscious. She wakes up to Barbara tending to her, worry etched on her face.

“Ah! Honorary Knight, you’re awake!” She says. Lumine stands up quickly.

“Venti… Is he alright?” She immediately asked.

“Um… I wouldn’t say he’s ‘alright,’ exactly.” Barbara says in worry, “I found you lying unconscious outside the Cathedral, and used my elemental powers to heal you… That bard awakened first, but strangely my healing powers had almost no effect on him… This is the first time I’ve encountered such a patient. But he just said ‘it’s completely normal,’ and then got up and left the Cathedral…”

“He left? Already? Where’d he go?” Paimon asked in worry.

“The symbol of Mondstadt’s Hero, that’s what he said.” Barbara answered. “I wanted to stop him, but Jean— I mean, Master Jean said to let him leave. How strange.”

Lumine thinks she understands the way that Jean also understands…

“Paimon remembers Venti healing under that tree before…” Paimon adds and then whispers, “It’s probably due to the connection between Windrise and the Anemo Archon. Master Jean has figured it out as well, but we can’t tell Barbara.”

The two head to Windrise after a quick goodbye and thank you to Barbara. Once there, they saw Venti standing near the tree, his form glowing as the presence of the tree heals him.

“The wind amongst the branches is good, I love the way it smells…” Venti was heard muttering. He turns to Lumine with a low chuckle, “I said the exact same thing the last time. Ha… Why do I only say these things when I’m down on my luck?”

“So… what is a Gnosis?” Lumine went straight to the point.

“I am curious to know as well,” Ningguang says, the image of it not leaving anyone’s minds as they all want to hear the answer.

“Ah, so you noticed,” Venti’s tone was weak but sighed as he thought of the situation seriously, “This isn’t something I’m meant to discuss with ordinary people. But I suppose I can let you in on the secret.”

“Everyone’s in on the secret!” Klee says, trying to liven up the atmosphere.

Venti laughs as he cradles his chest, trying to feel the Gnosis inside him and sighs as he feels it, “I suppose.”

“As you know, Visions are external magical foci that only a small minority of people possess. They use these Visions to channel elemental power. In truth, every wielder of a vision is one who can attain godhood and ascend to Celestia. We call such people allogenes.”

“Godhood?!” Dori’s eyes sparkled at the childish thoughts.

“So we’re called allogenes… I thought it was just the Gods’ way of calling us people.” Baizhu muttered.

“Allogenes? Paimon’s never heard of them before.”

“Hehe, that’s because this is a secret that only archons are privy to. We don’t need primitive tools like Visions,” Venti explains, “Instead, each archon has an internal magical focus that resonates directly with Celestia itself… known as a Gnosis.”

“What about the thing hanging off your hip?” Lumine points.

“Eh-he, it’s just a glowing glass ball I carry around to avoid suspicion.”

A familiar cut-off wheeze was heard again from Neuvillette. He was quick to hide it this time, but it didn’t escape their notice.

“Apologies, it’s just,” He was trying hard not to laugh as he coughs, “I was just caught off guard by the absurdity of it all. Members of the Seven, donning a counterfeit Vision just to mingle with their people.. Heh— Sorry, please. Continue.”

Furina was seen covering her laughter with her hat. It was rare to see Neuvillette like this.

“I feel cheated… but I guess I’m used to that by now.” Lumine sighed.

“So who was that nasty woman who sent Paimon flying and stole your Gnosis?” Paimon said, annoyed.

“Her name is Signora, No. 8 of the Harbingers.” Venti answered, “She and the rest of the Harbingers have been given god-like executive authority by the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya, and with it, strength surpassing that of other mortals.”

“The Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya? Isn’t that…”

“Indeed. She is one of The Seven, the Tsaritsa who reigns from the Zapolyarny Palace, and the one person that the Fatui Harbingers all answer to,” Venti says as he looks down, “The Seven don’t always get along well, but still — I never thought that she would plot to steal another archon’s Gnosis.”

“What sort of god is the Tsaritsa?” Lumine asked.

“Ah… How should I put this?” Venti says, “Five hundred years ago, I knew her well. But I can’t say the same is true now. You see, a certain catastrophe happened 500 years ago, and after that, she cut off all ties with me. But we can save discussion of the Cryo Archon and the Fatui for another day. 

“Lumine, if you seek the rest of The Seven, many difficulties lie ahead of you still. You should head for Mondstadt’s neighbouring nation of Liyue. The Geo Archon who reigns there, unlike me, administrates his entire region personally. He only descends once every year to give his divine predictions, which set the direction for Liye for the rest of that year.”

“Even so, it sounds like he works much harder than a certain someone,” Paimon says, crossing her arms.

“In any case, this year’s Rite of Descension will begin in a month or two. If you miss it, you’ll just have to wait another year.” Venti informs them.

“Then, we’ll have enough time before that, then,” Paimon says, “Come on, Lumine, let’s go on an adventure for now!”

“One moment, Windborne Outlander,” Venti stops them from leaving.

“Sorry for borrowing the Statue’s Anemo power without asking…” Lumine says quickly.

“Just use it gratefully — or, better yet, treat me to a glass of dandelion wine,” Veti offers but then turns serious with a smile, “Traveler, as you set off on your journey once again, you must remember that the journey itself has meaning.The birds of Teyvat, the songs and the cities, the Tsaritsa, her Fatui and the Monsters… they are all part of your journey. The destination is not everything. So before you reach the end, keep your eyes open. Use the chance to take in the world around you…”

“I understand.” Lumine nods.

“Great. So that’s that for the Anemo Archon’s admonishments! Back to Venti Time!” Venti cheers, “If you want to chat, now’s the time! A bard stays not always in a single clime.”

“There’s nothing else.”

“Well then, best be off on your adventure! If the descension ritual you fail to tally, then another year you must dally.”

The screen ends as the lights return.

Venti sighed as silence followed after. Clearly, according to Istaroth, they are given breaks before another scene from the Traveller’s adventure is played next. No secrets to hide, everything will be out in the open in an attempt to help the Traveller in the future.

Venti stood up first, which had everyone turn to look at him.

“If you had asked for it, I would’ve given you the Gnosis myself, you know,” Venti sighed as he crossed his arms, turning to Signora, “I find no use to it now, and I would’ve gladly listened to whatever it is the Tsaritsa was planning.”

“Hmmp,” Signora crossed her arms and glared, “I do not beg. Plus, I’ve wanted to make you pay for your sins ever since.”

“As I thought,” Venti hums, “It all comes down to your past grief, Rosalyn.”

“You have no right to say that name !” Signora stood up, “Rosalyn is long dead — I’ve long burned her remains to ash!”

“And yet, you still carry the hydro timepiece he gave you [4] ,” Venti said, more quietly this time. “I know, your hatred isn’t towards me but to Celestia. I understand that seeing me reminded you of how Rostam died protecting Mondstadt. And he did. Honourably so. I heard his prayers amidst the chaos. Prayers for you . [4] ”

Signora looked down, her eyes cold as she brought out an old relic, a timepiece. “You don’t even deserve to utter his name.”

It was all she said before she left the room.

“In conclusion…” Paimon’s voice cut through the cold silence, “Signora was once Rosalyn… who was from Mondstadt?”

“Basically,” Childe joined in on their conversation, they gave him a sidelong glance to which he ignored, “I mean, who would’ve guessed someone as cold as her is a child of freedom? But anyway, hey, Master Diluc! Let’s fight!”

“Excuse me?” Diluc lifts a brow to him, wondering how crazy people of the Fatui Harbingers must be.

“Aww, come on. Don’t you remember me?” Childe opened his arms wide, “We used to fight each other to death so much back in the day! You know, when you were in this killing—”

Childe grins as he blocks a flamed-claymore to his face with his hydro weapons.

“Not inside the theatre, boys!” Lisa shouted at them as the rest exited the room, she turned to Kaeya with a smile, “Make sure no one gets killed, okay? Wouldn’t want the God of Time to use up her powers just to clean up their mess.”

“Sure. You just enjoy your chat with the others,” Kaeya nods at her. “You heard her, kids, do the roughhousing outside.”

“Fuck you.”

“So, from which point in time did you come from again?” Venti asks Wanderer, who insisted to join Nahida in her conversation with Venti. Lumine came with the man, and by extension, Paimon.

“When she made it through Sumeru,” Scara simply answered.

“Huh.. And you never once went back to Inazuma after you whole… redemption stuff?”

“Why should I?” His eyes narrowed.

“I don’t know, child support?” Venti jokes.

Scara snorted, “As if. I doubt she even knows about that stuff.”

Venti laughs in return, “I can see that. Say Nahida, why aren’t you at least a bit nerved at his presence? For all we know, he’s still in kahoots with the Fatui, you know?”

“Thing is,” Nahida ate a piece of her Baklava that came from who knows where, “His information in the Irminsul came with some kind of Manual.”

“What?” Even Scara was surprised as he looked at her, incredulous.

“I jest,” Nahida giggled, summoning something that oddly looks like a children's story book, “It’s more of a story about him, which, in a way, isn’t really about him. But this seemed to be made as a way to bypass Irminsul’s extraction of your data should you go through with it.”

“I see,” Scara mumbles, “So that’s how you preserved your memory of me.back then.”

“How was I?” Lumine suddenly asked, “The me in the future, I mean..”

Scara looks at her for a moment and thinks.

“Stronger? And wiser, I guess,” Scara said, “You’re still the same blonde running around and doing errands for everyone you meet.”

“No.. Aether in sight?”

“Not that I know of, no,” Wanderer sighs as the traveller’s gaze hardens.

“So, Barbatos,” Nahida said but Venti cut her off.

“No need for titles, Venti is fine!” 

“Then, Venti. You can call me Nahida as well,” Nahida replied with a smile. Maybe getting along with other Archons wouldn’t be so hard, “If the event of Signora will supposedly happen a few moments before we got sent here, does that mean you still have the Gnosis with you?”

“Safe and sound,” Venti said, putting his hand against his chest with a side grin.

“You don’t seem to be shaken as much, considering that the Gnosis is an important item the Celestia has given you?” Scara raised a brow in question.

“Well, I don’t really find any use for it anymore, honestly,” Venti says, “My divine belief isn’t entirely tied down to the Gnosis, and in turn, so is the source of my power [3] . For as long as I do not stray from my title as the God of Freedom, I’ll be fine without it.”

“Lady Furina?” Neuvillette muttered when he spotted her alone in a corner.

“.... feel her…” 

Nuevillette heard a weak cry from the Archon. Her voice sounded suddenly different from how she usually does. She is more like… the first years he’s met her.

“I didn’t quite catch what you said…” Neuvillette went down to meet her level on the floor. The others were far too busy in their conversations to notice their interaction. Luckily, they were in a far corner of this strange Garden, so they were out of sight.

“Furina…” Focalor muttered.

“What?” Neuvillette urged.

Focalor looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. Pitifully, as though she had lost something very important.

However, when she finally spoke clearly, Neuvillette didn’t expect her words. Doesn’t even begin to understand what it meant.

“I can’t feel Furina anymore…” 

Chapter Text

As the majority of the allogenes decided that they had consumed enough time for a break and to relax, they all returned back inside the theatre.

Everyone took notice how Neuvillette seems to not leave his Archon’s all throughout their break and on their way inside the theatre.

“What’s gotten to her?” Navia wonders as she notices the silver haired archon holding onto the back of the Iudex’s coat, seemingly lost in thought as the man guides her silently to her seat.

“The air around her feels... different,” they heard Venti say in front of them, who was accompanied by the Dendro Archon and the Wanderer.

As Nahida studies the Hydro Archon’s form, her expression becomes worried, “Something bad happened, it seems.”

“What does that mean?” Wriothesley turns his head in question, like a lost dog, watching as the two gods continue their way to their seats in a quiet conversation.

The group of Fontaine gives a last glance to their Archon, with varying expressions, before they all sit down.

“I’m really fine now, Miss Barbara,” Childe shamefully tried to assure her, “I’m used to getting injuries worse than this. I’ll be fine in no time!”

“No!” Barbara yelled as she pinched one of his burns that was now slowly healing thanks to her, “Not on my watch! Master Diluc was the one at fault as well, so as the Deaconess, it is my duty to oversee injuries sustained and given by one of us in this situation.”

“You really don’t have to…” Childe sighed, hiding his face with a hand.

“But I want to!” Barbara huffed, “So please, just stay put until you are healed to a comfortable degree.”

This is ridiculous, Childe thought. Does this girl have no fear of danger from my title? Or is she simply confident with the Knights on her back?

Childe decides to take a peek at the people behind her, glaring at him with a threat. Definitely the latter.

“People from Inazuma and Liyue are so quiet, are they not?” Kaveh muttered to Alhaitham.

“Except for the four teens from Liyue, the rest are either really quiet or reserved,” Collei said with a shudder from a memory, “The girl from Liyue gave me a funerary discount for some reason.”

“Give me that,” Tighnari ordered with a stern look as he ripped the paper in shreds.

“Well, if anyone from Inazuma is loud, it’d be that tall guy with horns,” Dehya pointed.

“Probably a yokai,” Alhaitham said, “Inazuma are known for being around them from their history.”

“One of them definitely includes that cat girl with two tails,” Faruzan said.

“And that lady with pink hair. Feels like looking at a fox!” Dori said.

“That lady with a mask,” Layla muttered, “I think I saw her with black wings earlier while she was stretching.”

“Everything easily captures a scholar’s interest, huh?” Ayato muttered with a sigh, but laughed after.

“Well, it seems we’ve captured their interest now,” Heizou shrugged.

“They wouldn’t be a child of Sumeru if they weren't born curious,” Miko said with a vixen’s grin, “It wouldn’t be so bad to be under their curious gazes, would it?”

“It seems… everyone is here…”

A voice formed to a wisp once again, descending to Venti. It settles with a quiet yawn by his hat.

“Istaroth? You okay?” Venti asks in worry.

“I will be…” She answers quietly, “I apologise greatly… It seems… I underestimated the power it would take to create all of this…”

Someone thinks otherwise, seeing through her lie. She was talking fine earlier, recovering well. And now she’s suddenly exhausted?

“What happened out there, Istaroth?” Ei asked.

Istaroth was quiet for a moment, contemplating. Then she sighs.

“Someone… a witch… she was able to bypass my power… I always did have… a bit of a problem when it comes to her… Now… she’s trying to get inside this space… I’m trying to hold her off for now… because she’s… too unpredictable for me… Her stance is unknown… Does she guide evil as well…? It is why I cannot be sure…”

“A witch? Which one is it?” Dottore asked. He’s had his fair encounters with some witches. Especially that frustrating Alice.

“From the Hexenzirkel… N…”

“Nicole?” Mona hummed openning her scry for information, “A guide that will never get lost…”

“Is she outside of time…? In the flow of time…? I’m not sure… She only appears… When a change in the world… occurs… When I appeared… Perhaps she appeared as well…”

“And now… it seems I will be unable to bring anyone else here any time soon… It’ll take… far longer than I wanted to… I had to improve my seals for this place against her… For that, I apologise…”

“Istaroth…”

“It’s okay, Istaroth,” Venti softly said, “You’re already doing all of us a huge favour. Everything you’ve done up to this point is greatly appreciated. Take your rest however long you want.”

The wisp shook her head, but she visibly relaxed by his words.

“Thank you… Barbatos… But I can’t rest for too long… Still… I was still able to bring him here…”

“Who…?”

Istaroth, as a wisp, floated up right for a bit, summoning a power she could muster in her form.

A particle of teal light slowly appeared as it expanded in size, like that of a balloon.

It lands on Venti’s ready arms, and their eyes catch the form of a tail and wings as the light disappears.

“Wait, is that…?”

“A dragon?” Freminett’s eyes widened as he tried to get a closer look.

“Dvalin?” Venti muttered.

Indeed, Dvalin rests by Venti’s arms in the size of a plushy. Had he not moved to yawn and flick his tail, they’d have thought it was an ordinary plushy.

“It looks like one of those Rex Lapis plushies, doesn’t it?” Ganyu asked Keqing.

Keqing spluttered and reddens, “Pshh, h-how would I know about such a thing?!”

“Hmm?” Dvalin’s voice sounded groggy from sleep, but they recognized it to be the less matured tone than what he had in the play they watched him in. “Where…?”

“You okay, sleepyhead?” Venti teased.

“Barbatos?” Dvalin looked up, eyes now appearing to widen, “When… did you get so… big?”

“No silly,” Venti giggled, “You just got smaller.”

“I… what?” Dvalin was entirely confused. He then looked around him, noticing the people that had been staring at him. Some in awe, some curious. And then at the wisp on top of Venti’s hat. “This feeling… Is that… Istaroth?”

The wisp waved its arm as greeting, before yawning and slumping from exhaustion.

“It’s a long story, but basically…” Venti recounted to Dvalin as short as he could about Istaroth’s plan by bringing them together.

“Then why bring me here? I’m a dragon born from the heavens. I know not how to help the traveller in her journey.”

“Because we'll require every aid the traveler will seek. From dragons to the extinct, in our quest to keep. I know the rise and fall, how their destinies tweak. And did you know? An intriguing whisper from the heavens does leak, concealed from those treading soil, sea, and peak.” Istaroth floats down and encircles Dvalin, as if excited to tell him what she knows.

“It tells of rebirth, a reform,” Istaroth says and almost immediately, Venti and Neuvillette’s eyes rounded, “A dragon born from the heavens is quite implausible, no matter how mighty they may be. A dragon formed from the art of khemia is feasible, but complications are always part of the decree. No dragon in any way can be made and born ideal, except through a rebirth that's key. So, the heavens scoured for the remnants of the Anemo Sovereign, using the power they received, you see.

“Archons are and will be bound to their sovereigns' element, their dominion sourced from them, so naturally, you convene in that realm's firmament. That too, is the same for you, Dvalin. You hold the spirit of the past Anemo Dragon Sovereign, to which Celestia sought and cherished with intent, till your emergence in the City of Wind, where you were sent.

“Still young and unaware, the Anemo Archon did steer, guiding you to grasp the New Era, devoid of dragons' reign. Celestia's grand scheme to dominate every sphere, to make dragons show compassion, drawing them near. So they wouldn't challenge human authority, no threat to revere.” Her tone ends solemnly, a hug to the dragon born with a cruel purpose.

“But now, you see, you have the freedom to choose,” Istaroth floats back to Venti’s hat and settles, “Unshackled from the heavens, your voice no longer to lose. No longer a puppet, no strings to misuse, in this celestial fuse.”

“I see…” Dvalin settles on, “I have always felt that my birth had been a deliberate plan… Thank you, Istaroth, for telling me about this.”

“It is my pleasure,” Istaroth replied, “And… I am sorry, Focalors.”

At this unexpected mention, all eyes turned to the Hydro Archon’s form, who had been uncharacteristically quiet in her seat. She met the Wisp’s gaze head on; eyes red from crying.

“I do not know what happened, I am unsure. But I will do my best to figure out the problem. I will search for her.”

“ Her ?” Charlotte muttered.

“Please, take care of yourself,” Focalors replied instead, a hand by her chest. “We will solve nothing if you fall, Istaroth.”

The wisp nods and then silently, her form vanishes through the winds.

“She just hinted that the world was once ruled by dragons, didn’t she?” Kaveh muttered.

“I’ve had the chance to study about fallen civilizations, so I can’t say I’m unfamiliar with the subject.” Alhaitham replied.

“What does that mean?” Kaveh asked.

“It means,” Alhaitham said as he brought out another journal from his person, “I know more than you.”

Kaveh spluttered and glared.

The Traveller is seen walking around Mondstand, hearing tales about some vigilantes. Thinking of a place where they’d gather more info about it, they head to Angel’s Share.

Charles tells them about a Darknight Hero and instructs them where they can gather more information about the figure.

“Oh, it’s this part now,” Kaeya humms, to which Amber was confused by his words.

“What kind of part?”

“The part where the Traveller learns about us more, I guess? The reason she gets closer to us.”

“I’m not following,” Mika says, “How is knowing about the Darknight Hero helps the traveller be closer to us?”

Lumine walks around the city, asking people for insights about the ‘Darknight Hero.’ Even including the conversation with Donna.

“I never understood her affections towards Master Diluc,” Amber sighs.

“It’s all in the books dear,” Lisa says.

“That’s…” Fischl tried to say something but held back, “For some reason, that really felt like an insult…”

Lumine stays up at night time, waiting for the appearance of the Darknight Hero.

As she walked around the City walls just behind the tavern, she witnessed a scene unfolding around it.

It was a red-haired man in dark attire, fighting off a Cryo Abyss Mage that had managed to infiltrate the City walls.

“Wait… Isn’t that…”

The Abyss Mage hauls ice towards the figure relentlessly, but the man was able to dodge it all skillfully, even when mid air.

The Abyss Mage summons a number of particles and shoots it to the man. It explodes to an encasing ice and Lumine nearly steps in but catches something at the middle of the Large Ice.

It brightens as it melts in the middle, the man, now recognised as Diluc, escapes the ice with his vision and weapon at hand. Directly going straight to the Abyss Mage with a slash.

“The Darknight Hero is Master Diluc?!” Paimon says, in awe and surprise.

“Of course it was him,” Jean sighs tiredly as realisation dawns.

“Well, who could’ve guessed it was him?” Lisa tries to supply, “He just got back after 2 years of doing something god knows what that made him persona non grata by the Fatui. But yeah, I see it now.”

“Where did the name even come from?” Diluc begrudgingly said. There’s no use trying to hide it, anyway. 

“Yeah, I wonder where,” Kaeya says with a shrug.

Diluc stares at him impassively.

“Why.”

“After managing to steer clear of the guards’ patrol route… I never anticipated I’d run into you instead.” Diluc said

“Diluc?! You are the Darknight Hero?” Lumine said in surprise.

“‘Darknight Hero…’? Sounds awfully derivative to me. Please tell me you didn’t come up with that.” Diluc huffed.

“How is this the first you’ve heard of the name? Every man and his dog in Mondstadt is yapping about the Darknight Hero!” Paimon shook her head at him.

“I do not concern myself with idle chatter… Though, I suppose I may take idleness of others as a sign that peace prevails.”

“It’s like I can still hear him through his words alone,” Pantalone said with a hum.

“I do wish I could hear his nagging once more,” Columbina sighs.

“But alas, he had it coming.” Signora finished.

“Huzzah! The great mystery of the Darknight Hero of Mondstadt… We solved it!” Paimon cheered, “Now then, Mr. Darknight Hero—”

“Please, stop calling me that. Seriously, it makes me uncomfortable.” Diluc interjects, a tinge of blush by his ear hidden by his red mane.

“Hah, not surprised. It’s the stupidest superhero name Paimon’s ever heard. You should come up with something original,” Paimon offered with a giggle, “Like… Captain Pie…”

“Pie?” Diluc stretched.

“Pie?” Lumine tries to guest.

“Don’t tell me it’s gonna be Pyro?” Kaeya deadpans. His idea is more original, thank you very much.

“Captain Pyro!” Paimon proudly completes, “Tell us Captain Pyro, what happened here today?”

Diluc stared at the fairy for a long, excruciating moment before he sighs defeatedly. Resigning to the ‘original’ title.

“It was the Abyss Order.” He said.

“Them again?” Paimon asked.

“I don’t know what the devil they’re plotting this time. It seems they’re performing some initial reconnaissance,” Diluc explains, “Considering that I’ve proven myself to be one step ahead of them on countless occasions, their persistence is… unusual.”

“Why don’t you get the Knights of Favonius to help?”

“Hmph. Who would be helping whom is debatable.” Diluc said with snark, “The Knights are, for the most part, an utterly incompetent bunch. I cannot trust them to take this matter over.”

“What could’ve happened for someone like him to harbour hatred towards their Nation’s protectors?” Cyno genuinely wonders.

“It’s… a very long story,” Jean sighs as Diluc didn’t answer. Even Kaeya seems to close himself off. “A story where one thing spiralled into another…”

“And one unanswered to this very day…” Il Dottore said in a whisper with a sinister smirk.

However, it was heard by those with sensitive ears.

“What’s past is past. I would prefer not to discuss it,” Diluc said. “Well, I hope this conversation has been of service to you — because I would like to ask for a favour in return.”

“Oh? What is it, Master Diluc? Your wish is our command!” Paimon said.

“You must keep my identity a secret,” Diluc said, “Above all, it is crucial that you do not let the Knights of Favonius know I am connected to any of this.”

“Isn’t really much of a secret now, is it?” Paimon laughs awkwardly through the still tense atmosphere.

“It’s okay, Master Diluc!” Klee’s voice rang, “Klee can keep a secret!”

“Sayu… can just hide when asked…”

“Hmph! At least there's more to him than just selling wines!” 

“Don’t worry… Qiqi will… already forget about it later…”

“Oh! I’ll just remind you to forget about the secret later if you forget to forget about the secret!” Yao Yao chirped.

“Ohoho~ Well, I can agree to keep such an important and serious secret! For a price, of course! How does two— HMPRHM!”

“Kids really are something else.” Kaveh said tiredly as he covered Dori’s mouth.

Nahida giggles at the scene but then feels a stare from the person next to her.

“What? I’m not joining their excited pleas,” She said.

Wanderer shrugged, “Kinda felt like it’ll complete the scene for some reason.”

“I’m 500 years old,” Nahida said with a huff.

“Sure, whatever you say.”

Diluc leaves, even as a few hilichurls made it to the gate, but left it for the Traveller to handle. Huffman encounters them, hearing the commotions of the fight. He invites them to the Headquarters, saying they have something of use for the Darknight Hero.

They see him just outside the headquarters, waiting for their arrival. He presents to them a note from the Abyss Order addressed to the Darknight Hero. Seeking audience and a fight.

“Why would the Abyss Order give a warning?” Jean wonders.

“Probably because the Darknight Hero’s identity is a mystery, even to them,” Keqing says, “This is a plan to corner him into making an appearance.”

“By targeting the place well protected by him…” 

Lumine quickly went to Dawn Winery, meeting Diluc there to quickly inform him about the war declaration. But Diluc cuts them to it, saying that he’s already gathered information about the issue.

They try to think of a plan to execute this issue safely, and Diluc informs them of his own plan, seeking assistance from the Traveller.

“Simple. When you don’t understand something, you ask.” Diluc explained half-heartedly. “I’ve already tracked down one of their strongholds… If you’re interested, feel free to come along.”

The three of them head to the domain DIluc tracked down. They both enter the domain. They reach the end of it, encountering a Hydro Abyss Mage, and defeating it just as swiftly.

“How did you find me here?! Favonian scum!” The Abyss Mage screeched.

“I am no Knight of Favonius. Now, start talking! Your plan, what is it?” Diluc interrogated.

“I see you’ve received our letter… But if you think I’m going to let you in on our secrets, I’m afraid you’re quite mistaken!”

“Hmph. You appear to have misunderstood the situation you are in.” Diluc says firmly.

“Burn him with Searing Hand!” Lumine instigated.

“D-Did you just use a Pyro Vision to shoot f-fire from your hands?! AAAH! It burns!” The Hydro Abyss Mage flails.

“Let’s see how long it takes for you to crack…” Diluc threatens.

“Burn him with Searing Hand again!” Lumine says again.

“Tsk. Must this show of violence be shown?” Arlecchino argues, “There’s children watching.”

“For once, I agree,” Albedo says, “Klee, please don’t take notes.”

“I can do that with my vision?!” Klee ignores him, stars in her eyes.

“Stop! Stop! P-please, the pain— I beg you… make it stop!” The Abyss Mage begs, “I’ll talk, I’ll talk! Ow ow ow… P-please, stop! I’ll tell you everything!”

“The Abyss Order, we’ve amassed a force bound by a shared hatred for the Darknight Hero…” The mage said as he cracked, “They… They will march on the Mondstadt city gates at 10 pm tomorrow night. That’s everything I know! Please… Don’t make me suffer those flames again…”

“That’s it? Well, I doubt you’d be foolish enough to keep anything else hidden,” Diluc says with a glare.

They leave the domain with the Hydro Abyss Mage writhing in pain on the floor.

After a short conversation with Diluc, Lumine and Paimon head back to the city to see what the Knights are planning.

Huffman sees them approaching and greets them kindly.

“Ah, it’s you two. I must admit, this issue of the Darknight Hero is proving to be something of a headache,” Huffman says. “We’ve just held a meeting to decide on an appropriate course of action. Can you guess what it is?”

“Join forces with the Darknight Hero?”

“No. That would send a signal that the Knights are in favour of the Darknight Hero’s continued presence in our city… which we are not,” Huffman explains, “Encouraging this kind of individual heroism undermines the Knights’ authority.”

“Oh. Well, what’s the plan then?” Paimon asks.

“Find out the Darknight Hero’s true identity, and offer him our protection.” 

“‘Protection?’ He seems to be doing just fine without your protection so far, y’know…”

“It’s a ruse.” Diluc sighs, seeing through their words.

Huffman snorted, “Well, since you’ve aided the Knights in the past, I might as well tell you.The offer of protection is just a ruse, in order for the Knights of Favonius to take over full — and exclusive — responsibility for this matter.”

“You aren’t gonna let the Darknight Hero be all heroic and stuff? Why not?”

“Firstly, to show the might of the Knights of Favonius — to prove to the people that without the Darknight Hero, they can still rely on the Knights to maintain peace and harmony,” Huffman explains, “Secondly, the Abyss Order have no mercy in their hearts. If anything happened to the Darknight Hero… It would only serve to further their nefarious ambitions.”

“Gosh… Paimon never knew the life of a knight involved so much untold anguish before.”

“But none of this will work if we don’t establish the Darknight Hero’s true identity in time.” Huffman stressed.

“There’s no need to despair, Huffman. Just follow my plan and everything will be fine.” Kaeya’s voice joined their conversation as he came down the stairway.

“Ah, Captain Kaeya,” Huffman saluted.

“Lately, Master Diluc has been working the bar at the Angel’s Share every night,” Kaeya supplied, “All I need you to do is keep him in your sight. Think you can manage that for me?”

“Yes, Captain Kaeya! …But, does that mean that…” Huffman lowers his voice, “Master Diluc is the Darknight Hero?”

“Who knows? It’s just a hunch. I’ve been known to be wrong on occasions.” Kaeya grins.

“Oh…” Lisa sighs, catching on to Kaeya’s plan.

“For all your slyness, must you complicate things?” Rosaria comments.

“An alibi,” Ayato says, “You’re helping him create an alibi.”

“How would I know?” Kaeya shrugs, “All this hasn’t happened yet for all of us.”

Lumine sets off to Dawn Winery once more to inform Diluc about Kaeya’s plan and involvement. They set off a plan to use this opportunity to create an alibi. 

Lumine collects the ingredients Diluc tasked them. A man next to Diluc receives the mist flowers and creates the bait from it. Diluc explains the use of it and how it can be of use.

After testing out the extract successfully, they all meet up to the Tavern to continue with their plan.

“Huh…” Tighnari remarks, “who knew mist flowers could be used that way… Why hadn’t anyone from the Akademiya discovered this?”

“No one probably thought of a way to attract hordes of slimes.” Cyno shrugs.

“I should try putting some extracts in your shorts.”

“Hey,” Cyno pouts, “I don’t wanna be in such a stickuation .”

“Oh, shut up.”

Lumine enters the tavern to see Diluc chatting with a nervous Huffman.

“Greetings, Mr. Huffman of the Knights of Favonius. To what do I owe the pleasure at this hour?”

“Oh, erm, nothing… Haha, I’m merely procrastinating. I thought I might indulge myself with a beverage or two,” Huffman hears the tavern door open and turns, “Ah, Traveller! Fancy meeting you here.”

“Oh, we were in the mood for an evening stroll.” Paimon says.

“What would you like to drink?” Diluc offers.

“I’ll have a Dandelion Wine, I suppose.” Huffman asks.

“Ooh, Paimon wants apple juice!” Diluc gives them a subtle nod and Paimon receives the sign, “Aw, but Paimon forgot to bring her coin pouch! Lumine, do you have any Mora on you?”

“Can I start a tab?” Lumine looks at Diluc.

“Apologies, we do not give credit here,” Diluc crosses his arms.

“Well, in that case… let this be my treat,” Huffman offered nicely.

“Poor Knight,” Xinqiu says, “And he was being so nice.”

“No need! We’ll be back in a jiffy~”

The two leave in a hurry as if going back to grab their wallet. But really, they were on their way to the city’s side gate to place the elemental bait. The two quickly return to the tavern before the slimes nears or anyone spots them.

The two return back inside the tavern in time to hear Huffman telling his heart out to Diluc after a few drinks.

“…Captain Kaeya is no doubt a formidable knight, but he also brings us more than his share of hassle…” Huffman says but then shakes his head, “No, this isn’t right. I should not be talking about my superior in such a manner. If her were to overhear me…”

“We’re back! Is my apple juice ready?” Paimon says loudly.

“One moment.” Diluc replies and turns around as a Knight barges in through the tavern door.

“Mr. Huffman, Mr. Huffman! A situation at the side gate! Everyone to the side gate!”

“What is it? What happened?” Huffman sobers up.

“It’s… slimes, Mr. Huffman.”

“Slimes? You see them all the time, what’s the big panic?”

“We do, but… Sir, there are more slimes out there now than all the slimes I’ve seen in my life added together!” The city gate guard stressed.

“Ahh… Whoah…” Paimon’s fake reaction.

“And here I was thinking her acting had improved,” Kaeya laughs, shaking his head.

“Paimon’s working on it!” Paimon huffs.

Surely this couldn’t be the Abyss Order’s secret weapon…” Huffman thinks, “But I have another matter to attend here—”

“Oh? The matter of your Dandelion Wine?” Diluc jabs.

“N-No, I… That’s not what I meant…” Huffman struggles.

“Hmph. So this is how the Knights of Favonus conduct themselves in a crisis,” Diluc naturally says in character, “The Abyss Order is encroaching on the city gates, and your response is to sit here… drinking wine? It’s like I’ve always said; The Knights are not to be trusted.”

“Cut the poor man some slack,” Yae Miko snickers.

“I…” Huffman was at a lost and sighs, “MAster Diluc is right, my conduct here has been below par. I shall set off at once. But first…” Huffman leads the Traveller in a corner for a favour. “I presume you know what this is about. Please watch Diluc for e — Do not let him leave under any circumstances! I must head to the side gate, but I’ll be back shortly. I’m counting on you!”

Huffman leaves in a hurry.

“Good. That’s him out of the way.” Diluc says.

“Everything’s going according to plan!” Paimon cheers quietly.

“I must get going, too. I won’t have a second to spare if I’m to be back in time.” Diluc says, leaving the Tavern together with Lumine and Paimon.

As monsters charge by the bridge, Diluc is seen walking confidently, fixing his gloves tighter.

“Ah, there you are,” Diluc says. He summons his claymore to view, flexing it for good measure, “Dealing with you will be the easy part.”

As hilichurls charged towards the man, he easily fought them off with his pyro-infused weapon. Slamming and slashing all that comes his way.

Two Cryo Abyss Mage appears and points an attack to him which he easily shielded with his claymore, throwing the weapon their way.

He follows after it, fighting off the surrounding enemies easily and with experience. Finishing them off with his signature burst.

Kaveh whistles, “His experience is showing through. Where does a tavern owner learn to fight that way, anyway?”

“What are you ogling about?” Alhaitham says, annoyed.

“Ogling?! I was just—!” Kaveh was about to flare but noticed, “Wait, why are you so annoyed?!”

“Ugh,” Alhaitham refuses the urge to roll his eyes, “Can you just focus, for once?”

“I was focused! You’re the one suddenly starting fights out of nowhere—”

“Classic Master Diluc — not a baddie left standing.” Paimon says cheerily.

“Nothing more than a few hilichurls,” Diluc says, “No time to chat. I don’t know how long those slimes will keep Huffman occupied. Best get back to the tavern.”

They all return to the Tavern quickly, avoiding any witnesses they may encounter. They enter with relief to see that Huffman hasn’t yet returned.

Huffman arrives not a moment later, panting from fighting and running to and fro.

“The situation is sorted now. I never expected that the Abyss Order’s army would turn out to be nothing more than a few slimes.” Huffman says through pants.

“That is a surprise,” Diluc says half-heartedly and sarcastically, “perhaps that Knights’ true calling is to be slime exterminators. Who knows, domestic pest control may turn out to be more valuable use of your resources.”

“Master Diluc, please, have you no respect at all…” Huffman say, looking by Lumine’s way and noticed the beads of sweat on her forehead. “Lumine, how come you’re sweating so much? You didn’t leave, did you?”

“No, it’s just really warm in here.”

“Is it…? But if that’s the case, why are you also out of breath?” Huffman stares at them, suspicious.

He looks around and asks , “Excuse me, sir. Might I be so bold as to inquire… Did you see Master Diluc— I mean, today’s bartender… Did you see him leave just now?”

One of the patrons answered.

“Master Diluc? Why no, he’s been behind the bar this entire time.”

“I see…”

“Mr. Huffman, your Dandelion Wine.” Diluc grabs his attention, “You ought to get back after this. Send my regards to the rest of the Knights.”

“Oh… Never mind, I must be going, I should report back. Here, take this as a token of my esteem,” Huffman drops a bag full of Mora. He turns around in thought, “How odd…”

“Phew! That was too close! Paimon was sure we were toast…” Paimon sighs.

“I foresaw this eventuality…” Diluc says and explained, “So all the guests here tonight, save you two, are my own people from the Dawn Winery.”

“They’re all in on it?” Paimon says, surprised.

“Not all of them…” A familiar voice entered their conversation once again, “Or should I say, not all of us .”

“Kaeya?! Where did you come from?!”

“I just picked a good spot to quietly watch the show,” Kaeya says all too charmingly.

“Whaa… You’ve been here this whole time!?” Paimon reacted.

“Correct. ‘The Darknight Hero’s Alibi’… I think it’s my perfect chapter so far. More intriguing than a fine wine.” Kaeya says teasingly.

Diluc grunts, “Sp? You plan to report everything to the Knights of Favonius?”

Kaeya actually laughs, “Come now, Diluc, you know me better than that. I have no interest in exposing secrets. I was just curious to see how far Mondstadt’s Darknight Hero would really go,” Tone contradicting his actions, “And you did not disappoint.”

“I have nothing to prove to you.” Diluc says sternly.

“Oh, naturally,” Kaeya breezes, “I must say though, one thing I didn’t see coming is that the mighty Darknight Hero would actually need help from other people…”

“Sorry, we’re closing. Please see yourselves out.” Diluc ignores the man.

“Alright, alright…” Kaeya held up his arms in mock defeat, but the disappointment in his tone is well heard, “I have no further need of wine to entertain myself tonight, in any case. Just one last thing before I go.”

“It had better be the very last thing.” Diluc says as he turns to look at him.

“I feel strangely comforted by the fact you now have an assistant, Diluc.” Kaeya says all too sincerely that it took Diluc off guard. “I hope you all have a wonderful night.”

That was all Kaeya said before walking out the tavern. Lumine and Paimon follows his move until he closes the tavern door.

“What was all that about?” Paimon wonders.

“Don’t mind him,” Diluc sighs quietly. “Thank you for all your help with this matter. This is a token of my gratitude.”

“Wow! Thanks, Master Diluc!” Paimon says, accepting the gift.

“I’m in the habit of working alone, but I did enjoy having your assistance this time,” Diluc says with a smile, “In the future, if there’s anything you ever need, you can come to me for help.”

The scene ends, showing Diluc Ragvindr’s Constellation by the end.

“Wow, we really learned a lot about Master Diluc here.” Paimon says.

“Hmm, but clearly not enough.” Yunjin says.

“Well, it is just the beginning. We’ll probably learn more about everyone as the Traveller’s adventure continues.” Kaeya supplies.

“It’s truly a wonder, though,” Mika raised his hand, “I heard that Master Diluc was away after… his 18th birthday. For about two years, I think?”

“Three,” It was Diluc who corrected the boy. Voice low, but clear enough. His eyes shut as he speaks, “I call it my ‘Solitary Sojourn.’ I travelled through the entirety of Teyvat, searching for the truth behind my father’s death. ”

“Crepus Ragnvindr…” Someone from the Fatui Harbingers laughed as they uttered the name. It was Sandrone, the Marionette. “Oh, dear… In your three years of solitary sojourn , however you might call it, you never once wondered why not even a name uttered about him was found? Not a name on paper, not a drop of information where there should’ve been?”

Her tone was cruel, mocking. Patronising in a way that Diluc feels a drop of ice cold water on him as he opens his eyes to eye her. Kaeya’s finger tips are cold by his arm, grounding him to his seat.

“Never once realised… why must it be him? Why was it on that specific day? Why must it be like that? Foolish, foolish thoughts, etcetera, etcetera…”

“What…” Diluc seethed from his seat, “… are you implying?”

“Information doesn’t come so easily now, does it?” Sandrone snapped her finger and giggled, sinister. “Oh, this is fun. Exhilarating. Tell me, how is it that his delusion is able to summon and manipulate chains?”

“How do you…”

“It’s one of a kind,” Dottore said, “ I made sure of that.”

“But that would imply…” Cyno muttered.

“That Diluc’s father is connected to the Fatui in some way.”

“Ah…” Columbina hummed, “What a refreshing melody…”

Chapter Text

“Ah…” Columbina hummed, “What a refreshing melody…”

It was the sentence that broke the camel’s back for Diluc. He stood up, eyes ablaze and fight ready while several pairs of hands tried to pull him back. 

The lights were still off, but the fire at the tips of Diluc’s fingers shone dangerously dark red . 

“Hands off.”

Diluc’s tone was in a growl, seething and barely restrained. His eyes never leave the Fatui Harbingers’ spot.

“Get a hold of yourself, Diluc .” Kaeya gritted, grabbing the redhead by his wrist. The unnatural fire Diluc emitted burned him, but he used his cryo to meet its intensity. THe elements melting with a hiss of smoke. “There are children around you.”

That reminded Diluc of their situation, at least, and his hands trembled to a fist in restraint.

Once the quietness finally lapsed for a good measure, Venti spoke up.

“Pierro, Director of the Fatui Harbingers,” Venti called out, a rare seriousness in his tone. “The Tsaritsa’s lacking presence in this room does not excuse your group to intimidate and terrorise the other nation’s people freely. One of the four shades, spent the majority of her power to give you a chance to redeem your ways. To give you a chance to justify your leader’s questionable orders against the other nations. If you cannot respect the other Archons except for your own, then at the very least respect The Higher Power.”

Quiet reigned once more. Diluc sat down, making his irritation known by the harshness of the action.

As though acknowledging the temporary peace, the screen shined once again.

Only this time, it did not show the blonde hair of the traveller.

Dirty concrete walls could be seen as the room is lit by a weak candle. Sick coughing noises echoed through the room as two familiar shades of red hairs were finally shown.

“Oh, that’s…” Venti perked up, eyes shining in instant familiarity. “Vannessa…”

“Did I wake you up?” Vannessa spoke softly to her little sister by the bed. Scars and dirt littered her hardened body. Strong sets of red eyes fondly looked down at her sister. “Sorry… I hope you ate some herbs today.”

Her sister’s green eyes widened in guilt, hands tightening around the thin blanket. 

Vannessa’s gaze hardened at the silent admission. Then her sister smiled weakly and Vannessa returned it, standing up as the chains and ball shackled to her feet clang as she walked.

The proof of her enslavement is present on her wrists as well.

“This is… Vannessa from 1000 years ago.” Jean’s voice was mixed with awe and grief. “The era when Mondstand’s Aristocracy reigned. The time when Vannessa has yet to plan overthrowing the Aristocracy.”

“To see the rise of one of Mondstadt’s greatest heroes in this manner…” Mika mutters.

“Pretty…” Klee says in awe.

Vannessa glanced at the floating island visibly close to the moon with a hardened gaze. She knelt down, the wounds on her legs looked new and fresh and no doubt still stings, but still she knelt in penitence. She clasps her hands in front of her chest and closes her eyes, offering a silent prayer.

Her sister had followed her outside, comforting her from behind.

“Vannessa…”

“Lind…” She gasped in alarm, her weak sister was out of her bed on this cold night. “You should stay in the house!”

“Look Vannessa…” Lind ignored her words and pointed to the sky instead, “... It seems closer than before. Celestia, abode of the Gods.”

“Are those… dragons?” Bennett gawked.

“Dragons were very active back in the day,” Venti nods. “The most active dragon during that time would be the infamous dragon, Ursa the Drake.”

Diluc clicked his tongue at the name. 

“It does seem close today. But you should head back to the house, Lind,” Vannessa said to her sister, gingerly holding her. “The Gods will be pleased with your recovery.”

Lind’s eyes widened, remembering something from her words.

“Oh! Vannessa, will the Gods grant you victory in battle if they’re pleased?” Lind sounded worried. “Can you choose not to go?”

“I must fight for Lind and everyone,” Vannessa says as she picks up her sister. “As for you, Lind, I’ll really be pleased if you go back to sleep.”

“Otay…” Lind mutters, sending one last look over the floating island. 

As they entered the house once more, a red thread swayed from Vannessa. It got carried by winds, ending up in the forest.

An Anemo magic circle appeared brightly from the ground where the animals scattered away, sensing the strong presence from within.

Under the moon and the Gods’ abode’s gaze, a feathered spirit rose from the circle, forming a familiar male.

It was Venti waking up. Looking exactly as he still does in the future-present.

“How long… have I slept?” He muttered as bright toned teal eyes opened.

“You really haven’t changed your appearance since even then?” Jean wondered. 

“Unlike someone whose appearance changes to be able to meddle with his people, I find my consistent look to be enough to go unnoticed every time.” Venti shrugged. “It’s worked for millennia and no one recognised me despite performing directly in front of the huge statue. It took me having to spell it out for people to start noticing.”

“Who… are you pertaining to?”

“My old friend Morax, of course!” Venti chirped loudly. Snickering, “I heard a story about that told how he once took in the appearance of a woman— ”

A lone, glowing rock had gone for Venti’s head then. He barely evaded the projectile with a surprised ‘whoop’. “That’s such an old approach, old man! Do something new.”

That’s as much evidence about the Geo Archon’s presence in this room they could gather, at least.

“Mondstadt, Crown of the North” — Venti’s voice sang.

“In the very beginning, Archon of the Winds, Barbatos scattered the snow, clove the mountains, and sowed the grains. Allowing his wandering kin to live off bounties of this land.

“The Wind Archon then imparted his wisdom to the people.

“They brewed wine, built windmills, and wove the flying wings.

“He then set aside special festivals and celebrations to give his people joy after days of hard work.

“Pleased with what he had achieved, the god then took his lyre and set off for the wilderness…

“But all that took place thousands of years ago. Mondstad is now ruled by magnates led by Lord Lawrence.

“The nobles own vast amounts of wealth and power, which they then used to enslave the people. The holy days that Barbatos set aside for the common folk are now exclusive privileges of the rich and corrupt.

“But the city also faces external threats. Ursa the Drake has attacked Mondstadt for many years.The magnates know they’re safe as they own the means to appease the evil dragon.

“But recently, the dragon and its demonic minions had become rather active. So as usual, Lord Lawrence and his magnates came up with a plan”

“Hmph.” Eula loudly huffs, “They are as despicable as my family tries to hail them to be. Truly a disappointment.”

Amber responds by a low laugh, unsure if she should comfort or agree with her.

Venti’s plucking with his lyre stops as the children that surrounded him looks in awe.

“And that will be 5 silvers for the Bard~” Venti says softly to the man selling apples.

“Since Silver is Rare, the song for this square doth fetch one hundred apples, grown with loving care…” Venti says, hands stretch to grab the apples when the seller reacted in worry.

“Just one?” Venti offers.

“No. That’s worth 10 coins.” The man shakes his head. “But I’ll offer you a one-coin discount for that fine-tune, Master Bard.”

“An apple cost 10 coins back then?” Zhongli mutters, “In Liyue, it had only cost over 3 coins back then.”

“The Aristocracy must be really making the inflation rates too high for their own gain.” Ningguang sighed.

“A picky audience, one must admit.” Venti agrees, a smile on his face. “Another tune then, to make you submit.”

Venti sat by the storage box, fingers strumming his lyre as his clear, melodic voice rang around the square. It had the people looking over his beautiful tune, in awe and in worry. In curiosity and interest.

“How can one sing songs of pleasure, in the lands of gnashing teeth?

“The Gods were gone, and left no treasure, ‘cept for carts of ashen grief.

“Thus fine songs lack rules for measure, and no dreams do the folks believe.

“In trepidation the wind still sings, fear not the darkness that evil brings.

“Feel on your skin the breaths of spring, herald of freedom, and the bane of kings.”

Venti bowed after his performance, his small audience clapping along.

“Doth this please you?” Venti asks the seller, “Despite a complaint or two.”

“Fine work, I must admit,” Begrudgingly the man nods. “Since you pleased my little girl, I suppose I can part with an apple.”

“Wise choice, but make it a few.” Venti bargains to which the man mutters to not push it.

Venti hums as he picks his apples from the cart. 

“Lad, I know you’re not from these parts,” The man said in a low voice, picking up his little girl away from Venti. “Word of advice: Not everyone here is as friendly as I. One can hardly find any honest folks left.”

Venti glance at him, worry on his face as he looked around the quiet plaza. 

“Nothing much, Master Bard. The city is in peace, just as the lord and his magnates want it to be.” The man says, barely comforting. “Make no mistake, they will keep it this way.”

Venti seems struck by a memory. People were dancing and singing back then. A boy spreading his music to an oppressed city.

“But since you asked what is happening to this city…” Venti snapped out when the man continued speaking. “ Ludi Harpastum will be held at the heights today.”

“What?!” Venti’s eyes perked up, “Did you just say Ludi Harpastum?!”

“Ludi Harpastum?!” Klee repeated, bringing out a ball she made herself. “Is Ludi Harpastum happening?! Klee wants to join!”

“Klee— did you make that?” Albedo points, trying to study if the ball was loaded with gunpowder.

“Ludi Harpastum?” Diona perked. Every kid in Mondstadt looks forward to the event.

As the Venti on the screen rambles about the original version of the event , the one sitting looks on sadly.

“I’ve read about the Aristocrat’s version of that celebration.” Eula spoke up. “Is it wise to have the children find out about it here?”

Venti reassures the worry that built up over the adults at this, “Knowing Istaroth, she will not show such disgusting scenes. I’m sure she’ll be able to control the narrative for that part, at least.”

Venti sticks out in the middle of the crowd by the Cathedral’s plaza. 

“Guess the Harpastum this year… the young Lord Lawrence will be getting it., again, for the 5th time!” Venti overheard from the crowd. “That spoilt lording is such a pig.”

“He’s been taking what he fancies, and now he’s after the girls as well.”

“Hush!!” 

“What happened to the girl?” Venti asked in an innocent tone and two men flinched.

“You’re not from these parts!” The man says and Venti nods. “The old tradition where the champion chooses the maid to toss the Harpastum…”

“Right?” Venti nods, having just talked about it earlier.

“Those traditions are over! Young Barca Lawrence, son of the City Lord, cancelled the games!” Venti’s eyes widened as the man continued on. “He now chooses a girl to his liking and gets the Harpastum himself!”

Surely, not?

“That’s not the end of it! After the feast…” The man continues, “He’ll take that poor lass home and…”

The words seem to distort as it reaches Venti’s ears. His expression darkened as the truths were laid out.

“The era before Vannessa’s rise as a hero is the darkest the Aristocrats had fallen in history.” Lisa tsked. “No offence, dear, but your predecessors did not deserve our Mondstadt’s mercy.”

“Seeing as their beliefs were able to carry on even after 1000 years, I can agree with you on that.” Eula mutters. “So no offence taken.”

Venti saw the frightened girl by the bell tower, holding the Harpastum. As she threw it, she had wished somebody else would pick up the ball and spare her.

And Venti did, realising just how greedy lording is planning something vile.

Barca Lawrence threatened Venti to give up the ball, but he ran away with it instead. He ran into Vannessa in the process, bringing him to his butt on the floor.

But as he looked up, a woman with familiar features was in front of him.

A flame touched Muratan? Here?

Even worse, the Muratan had chains and shackles around her limbs. 

With the pork lording focused on the redhead, Venti made his escape after casting a last glance over the woman.

“Is Miss Vannessa Master Diluc’s mom?”  Klee suddenly says. “They have the same red hair…”

“No, Klee. It doesn’t work like that.” Albedo was quick to correct her. “And besides, Miss Vannessa is from 1000 years ago. She can’t be Master Diluc’s mom.”

“But Mom is more than 500 years old,” Klee tilts her head, trying to make sense of the facts. “And they really have the same hair. We have the same hair and you’re my brother.”

“That’s really not…” Albedo attempts to explain further, but Klee seemed really insistent on the topic. “You can’t just assume family connections like that, okay Klee? It’s really rude.”

“But, why?”

“What you said would mean that Master Diluc could be related to anyone with red hair as him.” Albedo points to somewhere, “That would mean that the kind lady from Sumeru would be Master Diluc’s relative, but she can’t be. Because she’s born in Sumeru and looks nothing like Master Diluc or Miss Vannessa. Do you understand what I mean?”

Klee furrowed her brows in thought. “Maybe…?”

Venti giggles at their innocent conversation.

The scene showed Vannessa sitting quietly on the cold floor of her cell. The young lord had informed her earlier how he had his father buy her along with her entire clan, now belonging to the House of Lawrence.

Vannessa followed willingly, not wanting any of her family clan to join her inside the cell.

“Feel on your skin the breaths of spring. Herald of freedom, and the bane of kings~”

Vannessa looked up, surprised to hear the familiar voice singing, and saw Venti opening the door of her cell while the guards were fast asleep on the table not far from them. 

Venti had the keys twirling loudly on his hand. How the guards aren’t waking up, she has no clue.

And at the absurdity of it all, Venti makes himself comfortable by sitting down next to Vannessa on the floor as well.

“I know Venti’s a God and all, but how were you able to get them to fall asleep?” 

Instead of Venti answering however, Columbina was the one to enlighten them.

“One’s voice is a powerful tool. If used with the right tune, even the strong can turn a fool.”

Venti blinked, a passive expression on his face. “What she said.” He pointed a thumb towards the Damsellete.

“Thank you for what you did this morning! If it weren’t for you, I would not have escaped that lordling! That fat… thick…” Venti expressed to Vannessa, forming a shape between his palm about said lordling. “But helping me seems to have landed you in prison…”

“Prison matters not to me. I’m a slave warrior of the arena.” Vannessa dismissed his words. “This entire city is just a bigger prison for my kin and I. And stop with the rhymes. It irks me.”

“Alright, warrior.” Venti complied fondly. “This temper of yours is very Muratan .”

“Muratan?”

“Aye. A strong and proud people who dwell on the volcanic slopes of the West.” Venti described to her. “The Children of Murata, the Lady of Fire, and a hardy people blessed with a head of fiery-red hair. But they are few in number and seldom seen in the North.”

“Huh. I guess Klee does have a point to make.” Kaeya hummed.

“Is he talking about the Pyro Archon?” Navia asks. “I’ve never heard of any of the Archons having descendants. Much less the idea of them having children.”

“Oh, it’s possible alright.” Scara suddenly says, a growl in his tone. This had the majority of the people glancing at him with a curious gaze, but he only tsked and only had his gaze up on the screen where numbers of faceless red-haired Muratans were shown.

“The Lady of Fire?” Vannessa repeated.

“She’s also the Lady of War. Back on those days, warriors from every tribe would… perform rites of combat and celebrate victories in her name.” Venti says before huffing a snicker. “Come to think of it, she can be pretty obnoxious at times.”

“You speak as though you’re from those times.” Vannessa mutters unbelievably, “How old are you truly?”

“Perhaps it is alright to say for now that the Archons are also able to have their own children, though the ability of how differs from their ability and knowledge.” Nahida supplied to them, glancing silently to the Shogun’s way. “That is to say, it is unknown if the Gods are able to conceive their own child as the human way does. But the situation in Natlan in regards to their Archon is… complicated and different than how the other nation did with theirs.”

“Different how?” Alhaitham asks, curious. Knowledge about Natlan is scarce as no one from that Nation has ever travelled outside of their own. And with how their Nation’s environments are described as harsh and dangerous, not many dared to traverse it without expecting to lose something or someone doing so.

“While I have the means to know everything, it is not wise for a different Archon to speak for another Nation.” Nahida shakes her head. “I apologise. It may be better if we await Istaroth’s recovery of power so that we will be able to meet the people from Natlan and their Archon soon.”

“Speaking of which, where is your elder? He should have taught your people these knowledge.” Venti said.

“For as long as I could remember… My people have spent generations wandering in the seas of grass.” Vannessa told him with a downcast expression. “Everyone was hungry. There’s no time for legends or stories. The elders taught us what we need to survive. The Art of Combat. ”

“Oh…” Venti expressed. “... So how did you and your kin end up in Mondstadt?”

Vannessa’s grip tightened as the memory surfaced on the screen as she re-told of it. “In a winter 10 years ago, we were hounded by Ursa the Drake who starved us for 4 days.”

A tall and dark dragon stood in front of two red-haired. Angry and in-rage as the man in front of a scared and young Vannessa fiercely met its gaze. 

Venti was at a loss for words, knowing how Vannessa must’ve lost her spirits just by the memory of such an event.

“...Wow… That was quite a tale. I guess I should introduce myself.” Venti says, using a comforting tone. “The name’s Venti, a bard who sings for the people. Here is my partner I call Der Himmel , or the Heavens in common tongue.”

“The Holy Lyre!” Barbara squeaked. Falling into another praying session. “Oh, it was more than a tool for Barbatos… it was his partner and I did not care for it more!”

Venti sighed, all hopes of her ever letting it go went away.

“So… will you share your fair name?”

“Vanessa.” She offers.

“I am thinking about adding your name to my songs, Vannessa!”

“Uhm…” Vannessa holds up her hand. “My name wouldn’t rhyme well.”

“How about this?” Venti offers her one of his apples. “Will you be my friend, Vannessa?”

“Friend?” Vannessa gave a smile, accepting the apple. “I suppose we can start with that.”

They basked in the silence of the night under the moon glow. The floating island seen from their window. It reminded Vannessa of an elderly man’s words.

“... And so the great heroes will be chosen by the Gods to dwell with them in Celestia… They will become immortal, and protect the world with the Gods… So pray, for the Gods will hear the faithful.”

“I offer these words…”

Vannessa’s circumstances always reminded her how the Gods never did hear them, her and her kin.

“Can you tell me something about Celestia?” Vannessa asks which surprises Venti.

A memory of three dark figures appeared in Venti’s memory. Too short for anyone to guess who those were.

“Didn’t Miss Vannessa ascend to Celestia and become one of Mondstadt’s Four Winds?” Klee asked, remembering one of the stories her Mom had told her.

“Yes, Klee.” Jean nodded to the girl. “The Falcon of the West.”

“Perhaps we should leave this place first!” Venti says instead, giving an awkward laugh. “There’s plenty of time for songs about Celestia.”

“Are Archons not allowed to talk about Celestia?” Lumine asks, suspicious. It had been a long while since they last heard her voice.

“Yeah!” Paimon nods. “Like, who were those three creepy figures that had you looking disturbed?”

“Let me have some of my secrets to myself, will you?” Venti chided.

“I’ll stay here. The house Lawrence is our current master.” Vannessa says. “My kin will be punished if I run away. My final battle will be held tomorrow.”

Vannessa looked steeled with convictions as she says this as a fact.

“According to our contract, I’ll just need to win 12 battles and they will give my people freedom!”

“Listen to reason, Vannessa! You are dealing with people who cheat in a ball game!” Venti tries to persuade her.

“You are asking me to abandon Linda and my kinspeople…” Vannessa shakes her head. “I cannot do that, Venti.”

“Vanessa, staying will be a poor choice.” Venti says. “Leave with me and I’ll guarantee freedom for your people.”

“We’ve heard those words before. Most of my kin had forgotten what it meant to be free.” Vannessa said with a hardened tone. “We must fight and claim our own freedom. We can not beg for it. We must not kneel for it. Freedom given freely is only a guise for another shackle.

“Well, since you’ve put it this way…” Venti sighed as he turned, defeated. “I’m afraid I must part ways with you here.”

Only, when he turned, he had a satisfied smile on his face.

“My predecessors had indeed played dirty that time.” Eula clicks her tongue. The image of her predecessors showing up on the screen aggravated her. 

“Indeed.” Jean agreed heavily. “Not only did they endanger her entire family, but also used the very reason they ended up in an unfamiliar land with the dragon that terrorised them.”

And that, the screen showed them. 

Even the elderly and the children were brought forth into the battle arena. The dragon along with the flying hilichurls charged at them.

To make everything worse, the Lawrence Head ordered to loose arrows at those that attempted to retreat from the arena.

Vannessa became enraged at the scene of blood coming from her kin. The aristocrats were merciless as the Dragon terrorised them. She fought with all her might, the wails of her family reaching her ears.

“Despicable.” Dvalin mutters when he hears the roar of Ursa the Drake.

“Thankfully, I was able to end such cruelty.” Venti sighs, giving a comforting rub on the mini dragon’s head.

“The hour is nigh! Children under the desolate sky…”

The voice carried through the air as a figure appeared in the middle of the battlefield in teal light. Venti appeared, in all his Archon robes. “Let the winds be your guide!”

With a strum of his lyre, winds enveloped Vannessa’s form as she held the great sword tightly. She yelped when her body uncontrollably leaned forward and slashed the dragon by its neck.

“ Vade retro draco!”

Yellow sclera eyes met the strong teal eyes of the Nation’s Archon. The realisation of being met with a stronger figure had the dragon feel fear.

Understanding the warning, Ursa left with a last roar. Glaring at Venti. 

“Vade retro draco…” Lisa mumbles, trying to remember what the words translate to.

“It means ‘begone, dragon!’ ” Venti says.

“Ah, I thought it was an incantation of some kind.”

“Well… it could pass as one, I guess?” 

“You guess?”

“Venti!” Vannessa yelled in surprise once the shock of the dragon retreating wore off. “How did you…”

Venti approached her, the wings behind him flapping.

“You… are you the… The Wind God?”

Instead of answering her directly, Vneti placed an apple in her hand. Smiling at her. “Vannessa, can I add your name to my songs this time?”

Vannessa was at a loss for words. Everything made sense in that moment, the way Venti spoke and how he sang about the past. His words about granting her freedom had truth behind it, but he didn’t force her to accept his offer. Letting her choose for herself and instead helping her at the most needed moment.

Vannessa smiled genuinely. “I’m happy to be part of your songs, Venti.”

“You’ll be more than just a part. You are the hero of this new saga!” Venti’s face brightened at her answer. “You fought bravely for the freedom of your people. So, allow me to fight for your freedom as well. After all, we’re very good friends.”

Venti spoke as he rose himself higher to the top of Mondstad’s arena walls, looking directly at the Lawrence Head.

“Before I leave, Lord Lawrence… You said that if Vennessa wins, you will hand over your property and the keys of Mondstadt as well, right?” Venti points at him with a grin. “Play by the rules, for the Gods are no fools.”

“I’ve only ever read about this era in books,” Jean smiled. “It’s really an honour to be able to witness it to how it really happened.”

A singing voice of Venti continued the narration.

“And so peace and order was restored to fair Mondstadt, just as I intended when I raised the city after the first wars.

“My children deserve the joy of songs and dance, and the right to overthrow vile tyrants.

“To defend justice, and fight against the odious, flame-haired Vanness founded the Ordo Favonius.

“At the end of the sagas of flame-haired Vanness, the Gods gave her a seat in Holy Celest.”

“Does entering Celestia make you a God?”

“Huh?” Paimon perked up, looking up at the screen and to her partner. “Isn’t that voice…”

Venti’s expression looked distant at the question.

“In other, distant worlds… Pangu gave his blood to form rivers and sea.”

“Pangu…?” All the Sumeru scholars muttered, an unfamiliar name rolling off their tongue.

The screen showed of Vannessa in front of an opening door.

“The Gods sacrificed Parusha and cut his body in pieces… and then fashioned all living beings with those parts.”

“I’ve never heard about a Parusha…” Faruzan mutters, brows furrowing at the unfamiliar information. “Is he a God also?”

Vannessa seemed shocked at what she saw inside.

“The brain of the Giant Ymir became clouds. Their sacrifices seeded life in the unliving cosmos. These songs sing of primaeval ones.”

“Was there ever a Giant Ymir?” Scara turned to Nahida.

Nahida furrows her brow in deep thought, giving Venti’s form a wary glance. “... I don’t know. I don’t see that name being in Irminsul.”

Vannessa steeled her nerves and fiercely entered the door, revealing a stadium with many floors for viewers.

The door shut behind her, and then something formed with heavenly magic. A mighty falcon coming to life and flying away from Celestia.

“Oh, was that the inside of Celestia?” Childe asked in awe. It was definitely more inviting compared to the Abyss.

“It was the Vannessa’s ascension to Celestia…” 

Columbina seemed to have tensed at the sight of the building the first time it was shone.

The same Falcon flew over Venti, a familiar set of eyes glinting when it met Venti’s.

“She’s still keeping watch over Mondstadt after all these years.” Venti says.

The view panned to a familiar figure, quietly watching and hearing Venti’s stories by a rock.

“So it was you, Lumine!” Paimons seemed proud, whooping in joy. But then realisation struck her. “Wait, why are you there? And why is the colour of your gems orange?”

“Now I wonder if the World became a little bit stronger.” Venti says on the screen. Looking at Lumine. “She always hoped to see that happen.”

The screen turned black.

Songs of the Wind (End)

On cue, Istaroth appears once again in her wisp form.

“Good to see you regain some colouring, Istaroth.” Venti greets. True to his words, Istaroth’s form seemed brighter than she had been the last they saw of her. 

“I've barely touched the power I once knew, But still, your kindness shines right through.” Istaroth beams at him.

“I take it you are unable to bring forth another set of people?” Neuvillette guesses, voice patient. 

“Yes, 'tis true, the witch has ceased, For now, her grip has released. I ponder if I should let her through, but what will the others do?.” Istaroth sighs. “Allowing them, I fear, I cannot bear. For chaos may follow from that snare.”

“Witnessing a Witch’s Gathering should be avoided at all costs.” Mona nods.

“Indeed, just Alice on her own, could make the seeds of fate be sown.” Istaroth turns to Klee in an apologetic gesture. “Forgive me, Klee, my little friend. In time, I'll bring her in the end.”

Klee looks sad for a moment but shakes her head and gives Istaroth a bright smile. “It’s okay, Miss Istaroth! I’m sure my Mom will understand!”

“Wait– Alice is her Mom?!” Mona suddenly yelled in shock. “That hag has a child?!”

Everyone ignored Mona’s outburst as Istaroth continued speaking.

“I must confess, I do delay. The Traveller’s path is far away. Before we journey towards Liyue’s shore, I’ll share tales—just a few more.” Istaroth says. “And after one or two have passed, I’ll summon those from Nation vast. From Natlan’s people to those I’ve missed. Their presence will not be dismissed.”

“What about our Queen?” Pierro stood up. “It sounds to me that you do not have any intention of bringing her here with us.”

“She will be here, I give my word. But now, I trust not what you've heard.” Istaroth replied, unfettered. “Her webs of ties to Nations spread, and I must guard the path ahead. Tsaritsa’s love may cloak her heart, but with advantage, she plays her part”

“The Tsaritsa doesn’t need to sway us to follow her.” Childe spoke up, defensive. Ever the Tsaritsa’s loyal warrior. “We follow her orders because we chose to follow her Majesty. Not because she takes advantage of our love for her.”

“Your devotion’s known, child, and clear. I mean not to speak ill of her here,” Istaroth says composedly. “But see the full picture, I implore. So you’ll know if against the current you soar. Was it worth the trials you face? Or was it in your Queen’s embrace? Find your stance in what is shown, Not just in where your Queen is thrown. In her name, have you chosen right, or is there more beyond her sight?”

Despite their loyalties ever tied to the Tsaritsa, a number of the Fatui Harbingers took in the words of the higher being. After all, while all of them had sworn their life to follow the Tsaritsa’s cause, some of them knew in their heart that they would go against her should she cross upon their own deal-breakers.