Volume 5 – Chapter 29(Returning to Mondstadt)

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Author Note:

[ ] = When Twilight is speaking.

{ } = When talking through Telepathy.

' ' = When thinking in your mind.

<< >> = When talking with your Pokémon or Tamed Beast.

--- --- = When describing a certain period of time OR Another place.

** ** = Point Of View i.e., POV

/// /// = In Call

" " = System and when talking to it.

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A week later.

Lumine, Eula, Amber, Venti and Yuuya successfully returned to Mondstadt. Since everyone were injured, they took time to rest on the way. That's why it took them some days.

At first, Lumine thought of using teleportation point after witnessing everyone's conditions. Thinking they will get treatment fast in city. Though her hope came dashing when she tried it and realized she can't do so.

Yes, you heard it right. For some reason, teleportation points were not responding her. Let alone others, even she can't teleport herself.

She also noticed Yuuya trying to do the same but results didn't change.

So, they could only complete rest of the distance on foot.

By the way, Eula and Amber told Lumine that they met Primis and Makoto but got separated while tailing that Hilichurl. Hence, they were worried that they were still on the Dragonspine.

Still, Lumine calmed them down saying she had already received his message. According to her, five or so minutes after separating from Eula and Amber, Primis remembered something and left Dragonspine. Since he was going different way, he didn't meet up with Lumine, Venti, and Yuuya.

This relaxed them. Though they didn't know that Lumine was just making things up so that they would let go of the topic. Because she was certain that Primis was the responsible for that blue beam that vaporized that Hilichurl and made a deep hole in the mountain.

Why? The reason namely, Lumine had witnessed Primis strength before. Hence, making a hole in Dragonspine was piece of cake for him. Secondly, she received his voice transmission right after that beam disappeared.

In other words, all that time Primis was still on the Dragonspine and was watching their fight. But when he saw that they were at their limit, he made his move.

Anyway, Lumine kept quiet about it since she had a feeling that Primis didn't want them to know about it.

Throughout the way, they had conversation about that blue light. But later it turned that usual Hilichurl. Eula told them that during her years as knight, she had never faced or heard of such Hilichurl before. After all, Hilichurl were one of the weakest monsters of Teyvat.

For a such a weak monster to push them to the corner was truly shocking the extreme. Hence, they started speculating whether it was a new species of Hilichurl that was lying dormant till now. If it was then they must notify this news to the acting grandmaster so that she can decide the next course of action.

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--- Mondstadt City ---

Seeing Eula and Amber, the Knights at the entrance did a salute before letting them go inside.

Because of the healing portion that Lumine and Yuuya provided them, most of their injuries were healed. Thanks to that Knights didn't notice anything out of ordinary.

Arriving they all directly went towards the direction of Headquarters. In case there were more of those Hilichurl then people would be in danger.

???: You guys are back. Go to see you all are fine. Looks like mission went well.

Suddenly, they heard a voice and saw someone waiting for them in front of a restaurant. He was a tall tanned man with an eyepatch.

He was none other than Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius, Frostwind Swordsman, Kaeya.

Yuuya: Brother, how's you doing?

Seeing him Yuuya enthusiastically walked up to Kaeya and gave him a hug. Although Yuuya had lost all the trust of Lumine, Jean, and Lisa after trying to go against Primis. His so-called brotherhood with Kaeya still stands.

Patting his back, Kaeya spoke.

Kaeya: I am doing same as always. But why did you leave without telling me. I booked a whole pub so that we brother can drink all-night.

Yuuya: Well...something came up. So...

Scratching his head in embarrassment, Yuuya looked away. He can't just say outright that he planned on impressing and correcting his image in Lumine eyes by doing some heroic deeds. But the appearance of that unusual Hilichurl dashed all of his plans.

Seeing that Yuuya had no intention of explaining, Kaeya didn't force him.

Kaeya: In any case, you must be tired and hungry after spending time in forest for the last few days. So come, the food is on me.

Yuuya: That's...

Instead of answering right away, he glanced at the direction of others.

Yuuya: I need to repo----

Lumine: You shouldn't decline Kaeya goodwill. We will report to acting grandmaster.

Yuuya: Wha---

Next, without waiting for his response, Lumine left with others. Because Yuuya failed to initiate his plans, Lumine was still as cold as to him as before.

As if seeing his brother's distress, Kaeya put his hand over his shoulder and whispered near his ear.

Kaeya: Don't worry. She wants to hurriedly submit the report so that she can rest. That's why she was so-cold. Give her some time, I am sure she will come around.

After giving it some thought, Yuuya nodded.

Yuuya: Maybe you are right. Let's go. Today, I want to drunk myself till I fall.

Kaeya: That's my brother. Let's make it exciting by having a competition to see who will fall first.

Yuuya: I won't lose.

Kaeya: We will see. Come.

With this Kaeya took Yuuya towards the pub which he had booked before.

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--- At the front of Knights of Favonius Headquarters ---

Venti: Alright, guys. We will separate here.

Amber: Eh? You are going too.

Venti: Yeah. I have some matters to deal with.

Paimon: Hey, you can't go like this! We still need to talk about that crystal in your possession!

Coming out of Lumine, Paimon voiced out her thoughts.

Lumine: Um. The curse in it is very dangerous.

Eula & Amber: Curse?

Lumine: We will explain later.

Nodding their head, they didn't ask further.

Venti: You know what. I still don't believe there is such a thing. Are you sure certain?

Paimon: We are!

Venti: Then...…why don't you keep it with yourselves.

Paimon: We?

Venti: Yeah. It seemed that you are unaffected from that so-called curse.

Saying this, Venti took that red teardrop and presented them in front of Lumine.

Hesitating for a second, Lumine extended her hand and grabbed the crystal.

SHINE!!!

Venti: Oh…!

Suddenly, a faint sound was heard as the crystal slowly changed to a light blue color.

Amber & Paimon: Woah!

Venti: Hmm. You really do have some wonderful abilities.

'Lumine: Must be because I have from another world. I will ask Mr. Erste about it when we will meet.'

Venti: Somone like you is definitely going to end up getting written into this bard's poem. Oh, a hero so bright, should he stand in the light. Though stand in the shade, and you'll be met by a blad----

Lumine: Let's talk about it next time. Maybe after the situation of Stormterror will be resolved.

Venti: Ehe, you're right. I also don't have the time to compose the melody for you at this moment. Anyway, even if Dvalin is not taken down, his life will still wither away in the breeze. He'll burn himself out in the flames of anger.

Eula: Is there anything we can do to help? If one of the four winds is really in trouble, we Knights of Favonius will definitely try our best to be of assistance.

Amber: I also agree with Eula. After all, it's the Knight duty to help others in need. Whether human or dragon.

Venti: Just those words mean a lot, thanks. I also have my gratitude for purifying this crystal. But I have my own plans for what is to follow.

Paimon: What's that?

Venti: Seeing this tear has brought to mind a friend so dear.

Amber: Friend?

Venti: Heh-heh, one must be going.

Saying this he ran away to everyone's surprise.

Paimon: H-Hey! Where are you going?

Venti: To the "Symbol of Mondstadt's Hero." Bye-Bye~

He took his leave as Paimon kept on rubbing her little head in confusion.

Paimon: Symbol of Mondstadt's Hero?

Eula: It's that massive oak tree at Windrise. There is also a statue of The Seven underneath it.

Amber: I have heard about it before. It is believed that that tree has grown after Mondstadt Hero Vennessa ascended to Celestia around thousand years ago.

While they were talking among themselves, Lumine gaze was still at the direction where Venti disappeared to. She narrowed her eyes as she thought about something.

'Lumine: He is one who gave me power to fight against Stormterror. Not only that, the strength he showed against that unusual Hilichurl was not a thing that a mere bard is capable of. I have also asked Amber and Eula about him in the past days, but they also said they didn't know that Venti was that powerful. They had only seen him in a pub or singing in front of the statue.'

She put one of her hands on her chin and thought even deeper.

'Lumine: I have a feeling that even Jean, Lisa, and Kaeya don't know about it. Hmmmmm...…he is someone who can lend at hand against one of the four winds. He called Stormterror by its real name that not many know nowadays. He even called him a friend. His control over his Anemo element is almost flawless. As if Anemo is one with him. He even knows that Stormterro will die even if we don't do anything. He even has the way to help it. With all this, I come to one conclusion that Venti must be one of The Seven......... Anemo Archon, Barbatos.'

With this, they all entered the Headquaters.

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--- Outskirts of Dragonspine ---

 Two people could be seen looking at the devasted ice mountain from some distance.

One of them was a boy with pale skin and pale blond hair, pulled back into a half ponytail with braids and reaching his shoulders. He had softer turquoise eyes and a golden star-shaped marking on his throat.

The other person was a girl who tied her green hair into a low ponytail and was wearing a dark brown-rimmed glasses.

Boy: Hmm...I was thinking of investigating Dragonspine thinking it could help me in research but......…Just what happened here in the course of a week.

Said the boy while pondering about it.

Girl: Should…...we ask around. Maybe people living or knights stationed near noticed something.

Asked the girl slowly.

Boy: I agree with that. Still...…I want to walk around the Dragonspine and check myself.

Girl: Then we need to find the way to enter. It seems that all the precious paths were either got destroyed or blocked because of mountain's current condition.

Boy: Let's do that.

Girl: It will take a lot of time. After all, even if we find one, we still don't know if there are any monsters there. Not only that what if that path will also come to an end after we covered some distance.

Boy: Don't worry about it. I have inspected some parts of Dragonspine before. In an hour or two, I have confidence to find a save route.

Just when the girl was about to nod, an unfamiliar voice interrupted them from behind.

???: Sorry, but let alone an hour, you don't even a minute to waste now.

Turning, they saw a black-haired man with bluish-black eyes and a purple-haired woman with parasol in her hand.

Primis: Hello, Captain of the Investigation Team of the Knights of Favonius as well as the Chief Alchemist, Albedo.

After addressing the boy whose was named Albedo, Primis turned to the girl.

Primis: And the one who served as an assistant for Albedo, the Head alchemist of the Knights of Favonius, Sucrose.

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*A/N: Please throw some power stones.

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