Chapter 3: Winds Beneath Ashen Skies

The golden sun dipped low as the group approached the outer edges of Mondstadt. Crumbling walls framed the horizon, their stones weathered by time and conflict, half-covered in ivy and scaffold. The wind carried the faint scent of dew-soaked stone and wildflowers—familiar to some, foreign to others.

Kiana raced ahead slightly, eyes sparkling. "It's so open! Even with all the ruins, it feels… free."

Elysia smiled behind her. "A city that dares to breathe again."

Noah's gaze swept the horizon. The Force was quiet here, but not silent. There was pain in the land—old, but not forgotten.

Lumine's pace slowed. She looked toward the fractured towers with a softness in her eyes. "Mondstadt's still healing. After Khaenri'ah, everything changed."

They passed through makeshift gates into the city proper. What once had been a grand plaza was now filled with tents, merchant stalls, and patchwork homes. Stonework mingled with timber frames and canvas awnings. People moved through the streets with cautious purpose—farmers, blacksmiths, herbalists. Survivors rebuilding a dream.

At a small inn on the plaza's edge, they found lodging. The innkeeper, a woman with streaks of gray in her hair and a knowing smile, welcomed them without question. "You're not the first wanderers we've seen," she said, handing them keys. "But something about your eyes… you've seen more sky than most."

That evening, the group gathered by the stone fountain in the city square. Children played tag nearby, and lanterns swayed above them, casting amber light.

Kiana leaned back on the edge of the fountain, legs swinging. "This place… I want to protect it."

Elysia plucked a few notes on a borrowed lute, a soft tune weaving between the sounds of laughter. "Then let's start by learning its rhythm."

Noah sat nearby, arms on his knees. "We're not here to interfere. But if the Abyss reaches here too…"

Lumine's voice was quiet. "It already has. Just not openly."

A thoughtful silence settled over them.

That night, they rested—not just sleep, but something deeper. A breath drawn between battles.

—

Morning light filtered through cracked shutters. Birds chirped softly as foot traffic stirred the streets below.

Downstairs, the scent of fresh bread and stewed vegetables filled the inn's small dining room. The group sat at a round wooden table. Locals filled other seats, murmuring over breakfast.

Kiana bit into a buttered roll. "Mmm—this is amazing! I could eat six of these."

"You already have," Elysia teased, sipping tea.

Noah stirred a bowl of porridge, gaze drifting to Lumine, who hadn't touched her food.

She set her cup down. "I was thinking… we should register with the Adventurer's Guild."

Kiana blinked. "The what now?"

Elysia tilted her head. "Is it some kind of local militia?"

Noah leaned forward. "Or a formal structure? What's their role here?"

Lumine nodded. "It's an organization that operates across Teyvat. Independent from the Archons, but respected. Adventurers take on commissions—monster hunting, escorting caravans, gathering rare ingredients. They support people who can't defend themselves."

"So... heroes for hire?" Elysia said with a smirk.

Lumine smiled. "More or less. And joining gives us access to local resources, information, and trust. We won't seem like strangers."

Noah nodded. "It will help us understand this world—and act when things go wrong."

Kiana beamed. "If we help out, people will see we're here for them. We could really belong."

Elysia looked out the window. "A place like this deserves to be protected."

Noah glanced around at them all. "Then we walk this path together. We help, we learn, and we earn the people's trust."

The others nodded.

As they stepped into the waking city, a quiet sense of wonder followed.

Despite being strangers, the people they passed offered nods and smiles. A merchant handed Kiana a baked apple sample; a blacksmith complimented Elysia's bow. Children waved at Noah, giggling at his polite, awkward nod.

A florist weaving crowns of wild violets offered one to Lumine with a gentle, "Welcome." She accepted it shyly.

A young boy tugged on Kiana's coat. "Are you a hero?"

She grinned. "Working on it."

Elysia helped an old woman carry a basket, humming a gentle tune. Noah assisted a carpenter loading planks onto a cart—no words exchanged, just understanding.

"They're so… welcoming," Kiana said, looking around. "I thought people might be wary."

Elysia's smile softened. "Their hearts are still open."

Lumine adjusted her crown. "That's Mondstadt. Freedom still lives here. Even after all they've endured, they choose trust over fear."

Noah looked toward the cathedral, banners fluttering in the wind. "Then we honor that trust."

—

Soon after, Lumine guided them to the Adventurer's Guild outpost—a modest, well-kept building at the city's heart. Its winged compass emblem gleamed above the doorway.

Inside, the air buzzed with life. Adventurers bustled about—submitting reports, accepting missions, sharing stories.

A young receptionist with an auburn ponytail looked up. "Ad astra abyssosque!" she greeted warmly. "Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild—our motto: 'To the stars and the abyss.'"

The group returned her smile.

"I'm Ellyn," she said, setting down her quill. "I handle new recruit registrations. The Guild operates across all of Teyvat—independent from the Archons, but deeply trusted. Our job is simple: help those who need it. Monster hunts, lost relics, missing people—if it's trouble, we're on it."

Kiana leaned in, grinning. "So… like heroes for hire?"

Ellyn laughed. "Pretty much. We need all the help we can get right now. The Abyss is acting up across the continent, and we're short on hands. Honestly, we've even started accepting help from cats. Literal cats."

Kiana blinked. "Wait—seriously?"

"Oh, very seriously," Ellyn said with mock gravity. "One brought back a whole crate of sunsettias once. Don't ask me how."

Lumine chuckled. "We'd like to register."

Ellyn beamed. "Great! Names?"

They gave them—Noah, Kiana, Elysia, and Lumine.

"You're not from around here," Ellyn noted, scribbling on her clipboard. "But hey, Mondstadt's always been a haven for wanderers."

She handed them each a wooden badge marked with the Guild's crest. "Welcome aboard. You can check the board for commissions—or speak with Katheryne once she's back from her rounds."

Kiana clutched her badge. "We're official now!"

Elysia tucked hers away with a smile. "So it begins."

Noah turned his badge thoughtfully in his fingers before clipping it to his belt.

Their journey through Teyvat had begun—and with it, the promise of something greater.