15 Years Later

Fifteen Years Later

Fifteen years have passed since the war.

Teyvat, once scarred by conflict, has fully recovered. Its cities, once battle-worn, now thrive in a golden age of prosperity. The echoes of war have long faded, replaced by the sounds of a people moving forward.

Snezhnaya, however, is a different story. Though reconstruction efforts have been relentless, entire regions remain in ruins, a grim testament to the devastation. Some cities shine with rebirth, but others are frozen in time, their streets still bearing the scars of artillery fire. The skies, once filled with the roars of jet engines and the wails of missile warnings, are now eerily silent—yet the ghosts of battles past linger.

In these fifteen years, the world has changed.

Some things evolved. Some traditions remained. And some legacies only grew stronger.

A New Era for Teyvat's Finest

The 405th Squadron of Charybdis Air Force Base—where it all began for Furina—no longer exists as it once did. Over time, it merged with the 1013th Squadron, forming an elite air wing known simply as La Waltz.

At the same time, the two legendary squadrons of the Teyvat Strategic Strike Group returned home:

Primordial Squadron relocated to Windrise Air Force Base in Mondstadt.

Waltz Squadron returned to Charybdis Air Force Base, Fontaine.

Though the war was long over, the spirit of these squadrons had not faded. If anything, they had only grown stronger.

The Legacy of Primordial Squadron

Under the ever-resilient leadership of Jean Gunnhildr, Primordial Squadron solidified its status as one of the most elite air combat units in history.

Jean herself had endured her share of trials. During the Battle of Morepesok, she lost her original F-15E Strike Eagle in combat. Stranded at a makeshift base deep in the flooded regions of the battlefield, she had commandeered an F-14B Tomcat—a relic from another era—just to stay in the fight. That same F-14B, its fuselage scarred and its wings worn, would go on to become a historical artifact, enshrined in the Mondstadt Air Museum, a testament to the resilience of its pilot.

As warfare advanced, Primordial Squadron underwent a fleet-wide modernization:

Amber's F-15E was retired in favor of an F-35C Lightning II.

Ningguang, Ei, and Mavuika followed suit, transitioning to F-35C Lightning IIs.

But the squadron was not merely maintaining its strength—it was expanding.

Former members of Nocturne Squadron—Lyney, Lynette, and Freminet—were reassigned to Waltz Squadron when their unit merged, flying upgraded Rafale M Evolutions.

New aces joined their ranks, each battle-hardened, each with a legacy of their own:

Mika Schmidt – Joined three years after the war.

Noelle – The youngest recruit in squadron history, enlisted at just 20 years old, six years after the war.

Xingqiu – Joined eight years after the war.

Sethos – The most recent addition, ten years after the war.

Only the finest ever made it into the Teyvat Strategic Strike Group. Every single one of them had survived real aerial combat. Every single one of them was an Ace.

Primordial Squadron had become a force beyond legends.

Waltz Squadron: The Evolution of an Ace

If Primordial Squadron was the hammer of Teyvat, then Waltz Squadron was its razor-sharp spear.

At its head stood Captain Furina De Fontaine.

Fifteen years had passed, yet she remained at the helm—undefeated, unstoppable.

Her original Rafale M, 1013-FF, the jet that had carried her through hell and back, was now a piece of history. It stood preserved in the Teyvat Air and Space Museum, its fuselage gleaming under the lights, its story told in every battle scar.

Now, she flew something even deadlier—a Dassault Rafale M Evolution.

Faster. Meaner. Sharper.

This was no ordinary Rafale M—it was an aircraft built for an Ace of Aces. Equipped with advanced thrust-vectoring nozzles, enhanced electronic warfare systems, and a cutting-edge AESA radar, it was an air superiority fighter like no other. It could outmaneuver, outgun, and outthink anything in the skies.

Unlike her old jet, which had worn a distinct custom livery, this new Rafale bore the standard Fontaine military gray. But on its vertical stabilizer, one thing stood out—a single, golden crown.

Her new callsign? 1310-FF.

October 13th—her birthday—reversed.

Her squadron had evolved as well.

Eula Lawrence and Collei had originally served in Primordial Squadron but transferred to Waltz Squadron upon its formation.

Both had once flown F-15E Strike Eagles, but their aircraft were retired and replaced with Rafale M Evolutions.

Over the years, seven new Aces joined their ranks:

Navia Caspar (Fontaine) – Two years after the war.

Yelan (Liyue) – Three years after the war.

Dehya (Sumeru) and Keqing (Liyue) – Four years after the war.

Shenhe and Beidou (Liyue) – Six years after the war.

Their fleet was unified. Their skills were unmatched. Their legacy was undeniable.

The Legend of Teyvat's Deadliest Ace

If there was one thing that never changed in fifteen years…

It was Furina herself.

Teyvat's Deadliest Ace.

The most feared pilot in the world.

Over 400 confirmed kills.

The woman who shot down the Sepharis Birds and ended the war.

She had been offered promotion after promotion.

She had every opportunity to rise in rank—to command entire air divisions, to lead from the top.

But she declined every single one.

Her reason?

"I don't want to be a General. I don't want to be a Commander. I want to be a pilot. I want to fly alongside my squadron, not above them. I want to train them in the way of the sky—not from a desk, not from a war room, but from the cockpit. If I take a promotion, I stop flying. And if I stop flying, I stop being me."

To Furina, rank meant nothing.

What mattered was the sky. The battle. The people beside her.

She had survived everything. She had watched war rip apart nations. She had bled for her country, for her squadmates, for the world.

But she was still here.

Still fighting.

Still leading.

Still training the next generation of Aces.

She had carved her legacy into the sky itself.

And fifteen years later…

That legacy wasn't just history.

It was still alive.

And it would never fade.

New Eridu, Inazuma

January, 2XX4

10 Months Before the 15th Anniversary of the End of the Snezhnayan-Teyvat War

The hum of an idling aircraft engine mixed with the rhythmic clinking of tools. The air inside the small hangar smelled of aviation fuel, grease, and aged aluminum—scents that had long become second nature to Grace Howard.

She leaned into the engine bay of her Beechcraft Bonanza V-Tail V35B, wiping a smudge of oil from the casing of the Lycoming IO-540B engine. With a practiced motion, she twisted her wrench and pulled out a spark plug from its socket. A quick inspection made her sigh in frustration.

"Ugh… Carbon deposits. No wonder she was sputtering during run-up yesterday."

Reaching for the next spark plug, she paused as the sound of approaching footsteps echoed across the hangar floor.

Without looking up, she called out, "Hey. If you're looking for the business jet hangars, it's the next one over."

A smooth, confident voice responded. "Oh no, sorry. You're mistaken. I'm actually looking for Grace Howard."

Grace lowered her wrench, stepping off the small ladder. Wiping her hands with an old rag, she turned to face the newcomer. Standing just a few feet away was a red-haired woman in a sharp, well-fitted suit.

"Yeah, that's me. May I help you, ma'am?"

The woman smiled and extended a hand.

"Apologies, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Himeko. I'm with Dassault Aviation."

Grace blinked. Dassault? What the hell would they want with her?

She crossed her arms. "Dassault, huh? Why's a big-name company like yours bothering with a small-time mechanic like me?"

Himeko chuckled, stepping forward. "I know you're not just 'some mechanic,' Ms. Howard. I know you restore planes—old and modern alike."

Grace nodded slowly. "Yeah, sounds about right."

Himeko smirked. "And I'm pretty sure you've restored a fighter before, haven't you?"

Grace exhaled. "Yeah. An F-16. It was a job for the Mondstadt Air and Space Museum."

Himeko nodded approvingly. "Well, I've got a new opportunity for you. One that involves restoring a truly legendary aircraft."

Grace raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious. "I think it's best we talk about this in my office. Not out here."

"Right," Himeko agreed.

The two stepped into Grace's small but well-kept office beside the hangar. As they settled in, Grace grabbed a pen and notepad.

"Alright," she said. "Let's hear it. What plane are we talking about?"

Himeko leaned forward, resting her arms on the desk.

"Dassault Rafale M."

Grace nodded, scribbling it down. "And the registration?"

Himeko's expression remained steady. "One Zero One Three. Foxtrot Foxtrot."

The pen in Grace's hand froze mid-stroke. Slowly, she looked up at Himeko.

"One Zero One Three Foxtrot Foxtrot?"

Himeko nodded, a knowing smile on her lips. "I think you know about this plane."

Grace scoffed. "Yeah. That's Teyvat's deadliest ace's Rafale. Furina de Fontaine's aircraft." She narrowed her eyes. "Isn't that plane supposed to be in the Teyvat Air and Space Museum?"

Himeko let out a sigh. "It was."

Grace's brow furrowed. "Was?"

Himeko leaned back. "The businessman who owned the museum was caught using it to launder money. Ten years ago, the museum shut down. Its assets were auctioned off—including Furina's Rafale. It was bought by a retired air force pilot and… disappeared."

She leaned forward again. "Until now."

Grace nodded, jotting it all down. "Go on."

Himeko continued, "The owner's son contacted us after his father passed away. He wants to donate the aircraft to the Fontaine Air and Space Museum—on one condition: it has to be restored to flying condition."

Grace frowned. "I saw the war documentaries. That plane's bent to hell. Isn't it beyond saving?"

Himeko exhaled. "It's damaged, yeah. Wrinkled, fatigued. But not everywhere. Only in the parts of the fuselage that weren't reinforced."

Grace tilted her head. "Reinforced?"

Himeko nodded. "Furina's Rafale wasn't a standard model. It was an experimental prototype—the Rafale Evolution. It was built for extreme maneuverability, meant to rival the F-22 and Snezhnayan jets like the Sukhois and MiGs. You've seen the footage—you've seen how Furina flew that thing."

Grace smirked. "Yeah. Cobras, Pugachev's… she made that thing dance."

"Exactly," Himeko said. "Along with enhanced flight controls, Albedo—our 'aircraft alchemist'—requested structural reinforcements. But since it was still a prototype, some parts of the fuselage were left standard."

Grace leaned in, intrigued. "But how the hell did an experimental prototype end up in Furina's hands?"

Himeko sighed. "A mix-up. We accidentally swapped a standard Rafale M with the Evolution and sent it out for painting. By the time anyone noticed, it was already delivered to Charybdis Air Force Base—just weeks before the war started."

Grace shook her head. "Why not take it back?"

Himeko smirked. "Because it was the perfect field test. Fontaine's Royal Air Force Academy's top graduate, going into battle with an experimental prototype? That was an opportunity we couldn't pass up. Every maneuver, every dogfight—her telemetry was priceless. After the war, we recovered the data from the Ousia-class carrier, Focalors."

Grace nodded. "I see. So why restore it now?"

Himeko leaned even closer. "Because we want it airworthy for the 15th anniversary of the war's end."

Grace scoffed. "I wish I could get it done in two years, let alone less than one. With a handful of us, that's at least two to four years of work."

Himeko smirked. "Who said it's just you?"

Grace blinked. "Huh?"

"The restoration site is at Dassault's Final Assembly Plant—Elynas Air Force Base. We already have a full team assigned to the project."

Grace slowly nodded. "Oh. That changes things."

She set her pen down and leaned back in her chair. After a moment, she looked at Himeko and grinned.

"Alright, Ms. Himeko. I accept your offer."

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work on Furina's plane."

Himeko smiled. "Glad to hear it, Ms. Howard."

She stood up. "Pack your things. We're leaving today."

Grace raised an eyebrow. "Wait, today?"

"Yes. We're on a tight schedule. Less than a year to get this plane back in the sky."

Himeko smirked. "Oh, and Dassault's covering all expenses."

Grace chuckled. "Well, can't argue with that. I'll see you back here at 2:30 sharp."

Himeko nodded and walked out of the office, leaving Grace alone.

She ran a hand through her hair, exhaling. "Well, damn. That's one helluva way to hire someone to restore a plane."

She glanced toward the hangar, where her Bonanza sat waiting.

"But of all planes… Furina's plane?"

Shaking her head, she got to work—buttoning up her aircraft before heading home to pack.

The next chapter of history was about to begin.

Elynas Air Force Base, Fontaine

The Next Day – 10 Months Before the 15th Anniversary of the End of the Snezhnayan-Teyvat War

The journey from Marcotte International Airport to Elynas Air Force Base had been long, but for Grace Howard, the real work was only beginning.

She leaned against the car window as Himeko drove across the base, her sharp eyes scanning the airfield. The moment they passed an old, isolated hangar on the north side, she sat up straighter. The building stood alone across the runway, its weathered exterior a relic of another time—forgotten, yet still standing.

"Huh. So that's where it is," Grace murmured.

Himeko, focused on the road, nodded. "Yeah. The team's already inside, waiting for you. This is your restoration project, so it's up to you to manage everything."

Grace exhaled slowly, nodding. "Right."

As they pulled up outside the hangar, Himeko clapped her hands together.

"Alright, team! Gather around!"

A group of nine approached, their expressions a mix of professionalism and curiosity. Nine wasn't much for a full aircraft restoration, but if they worked efficiently, it would be just enough to get the plane flying in under a year.

Himeko gestured to the first three. "These three specialize in avionics: Alhaitham, Asta, and Serval."

Serval, an older woman with sharp eyes and a confident stance, gave Grace a nod. "Nice to meet you, Grace."

Asta extended a hand, her warm smile offset by the analytical glint in her eye. "Pleasure working with you, Ms. Howard."

Grace shook her hand. "Likewise."

Next, Himeko introduced the structural team.

"Lumine, Aether, Gepard, and Ayato. They'll be handling all airframe repairs."

Lumine offered a small smile. "Nice to work with you. I heard about your F-16 restoration."

Grace chuckled. "Oh? Guess my reputation follows me."

Then, Himeko turned to the last member of the team. Before she could speak, Grace raised a hand.

"No need for introductions, Himeko." Her gaze locked onto the blond man before her. "I know exactly who he is. The legendary Aircraft Alchemist himself—Albedo."

Albedo chuckled as he shook her hand. "An honor to work with someone who specializes in restoring the old to new."

"Likewise."

With introductions complete, the team stepped inside the hangar.

Dust clung to every surface—the walls, the desks, the long-forgotten storage compartments. Yet, at the center of it all, beneath a carefully placed cover, it stood.

Furina's Dassault Rafale M.

A time capsule, frozen for fifteen years.

Slowly, they pulled back the cover, revealing the Élégante et Efficace livery—the deep blue and gold accents that once ruled the skies of war. The paint, incredibly, was still intact, shimmering even under the dim hangar lights.

Grace ran her hand along the dust-coated fuselage, fingers pressing against the cold metal.

"Did any moisture get in here?"

Himeko shook her head. "No. This hangar was built to withstand earthquakes, typhoons, storms, and heavy winds. Completely sealed."

Grace nodded. "That explains why it's in such good shape. No exposure to the elements… Even the paint is intact."

She stopped at the air intake, her brow furrowing as her fingers traced a subtle series of wrinkles on the fuselage.

"Here. Fatigue damage."

Albedo stepped beside her, inspecting the area. "Yeah… but it's minor. Doesn't look like a deep structural issue."

"Just surface-level cracks," Grace agreed.

From the other side of the jet, Lumine's voice rang out. "Another crack here!"

Grace and Albedo moved beneath the aircraft's belly, where Lumine pointed to a thin fracture along the lower fuselage.

Aether knelt beside her, running his fingers over the metal. "These will all need to be patched up."

Lumine pointed further up. "And what about these wrinkles?"

Grace ran a hand over them and shook her head. "Not structural. That's just oil canning—normal for a jet that's been pushed to its limits."

They continued the first round of inspections, marking down areas of concern. Despite the cracks, wrinkles, and aged components, the Rafale was in far better condition than anyone had expected.

As the sun reached its peak, the team stood before the aircraft, taking it all in.

A sleeping beauty.

Himeko turned to Grace. "So? Is it restorable?"

Grace exhaled, crossing her arms. "Definitely. For a plane that's been sitting here for fifteen years, it looks like someone was actually taking care of it—at least until recently."

She listed the key restoration tasks:

Structural Repairs: Crack patching and reinforcement.

Engines & APU Replacement: The current engines hadn't run in 15 years—full replacement was mandatory.

Avionics Inspection: The team would need to power up the systems to check the electronics.

She turned to Himeko. "When are we pulling it out?"

Himeko smirked. "Tonight. Midnight. We'll move it when no one's plane spotting and sneak it into the Dassault Main Assembly Line."

Grace grinned. "Alright. Looks like we've got a long day ahead of us."

Lumine then asked, "What about Furina's paint scheme?"

Grace smirked. "The livery's well preserved. It just needs detailing and a proper wash. Any new parts we replace can be repainted to match."

Himeko added, "We still have the original design drawings Furina submitted seventeen years ago."

"Perfect."

Aether glanced between them. "And does Furina know about this?"

Himeko shook her head. "Nope. She only knows that the Teyvat Air & Space Museum shut down and that her Rafale was auctioned off.

She doesn't know that we found it."

Grace's grin widened. "So we're planning to surprise her?"

Himeko nodded. "The goal is to have this plane airworthy by the anniversary. Its first flight in fifteen years will be during the airshow that week."

The team looked back at the Rafale, standing silent yet powerful in the dim light.

Furina's legendary warplane—abandoned, but not forgotten.

Now, it was their job to bring it back to life.

Project Waltz 1013 was officially underway.