Chapter 13: Welcome to Mondstadt

"Oh shit!" Riven shouted, sprinting through the trees with Spark hot on his heels. And no—this time they weren't running from slimes or bandits.

This was a mission of urgency.

A very personal mission.

He ducked behind a tree, letting out a dramatic sigh of relief. "I was holding that in for way too long…"

Spark barked in reply.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Riven muttered, zipping up. "But hey welcome to Mondstadt, the City of Freedom."

He turned, and through the thinning trees of Whispering Woods, the city finally came into view—its windmills turning lazily in the breeze, rooftops glinting under the sun. Something stirred in his chest.

Was this… excitement?

He smiled to himself. Traveling with Mona and Spark wasn't just tolerable, it was… nice. Maybe even what people called happiness. Definitely better than wandering alone.

As they continued forward, the trees gave way to a wide road bustling with life. Merchants shouted over carts, travelers chatted with weary feet, and knights in polished armor nodded as they passed.

Riven sat up straighter, taking in the view. The sight ahead made him catch his breath not just the city looming in the distance, but a stunning statue beside a majestic tree that seemed to hum with power. It stood like a guardian of the land, timeless and serene.

But then, something shifted.

A chill crept down his spine, not from the wind but something else entirely. His gaze drifted—drawn to the towering, snow-covered peaks of Dragonspine. 

His breath caught.

What the hell was that…?

Far above, hidden among the icy cliffs, a lone figure stood against the howling wind. Her dark silhouette contrasted with the white snow. Her clothes, ill-suited for the cold, seemed unaffected by the frost. eyes narrowed beneath tousled hair.

"That presence…" she whispered. "How unpleasant."

Her breath curled like smoke in the freezing air as she recalled her master's words.

And yet…

"Yet he walks among the people of Teyvat."

She tilted her head slightly, studying the horizon with quiet intensity.

"Even stripped of his strength… I wonder. Is he still worthy opponent"

Her voice faded into the wind, but her watchful gaze never left the path below.…

Riven glanced away from the looming mountains behind him, a shiver crawling down his spine.

"Why do I feel like someone's watching me…?" he muttered.

The feeling lingered, cold and heavy but it quickly faded as the wagon rolled up to the gates of Mondstadt. Riven hopped off, stretching with a groan.

"No matter! Spark—"

Woof!

"—how about we get drunk, huh? I heard back in Oakfield that Mondstadt booze leaves a mark on the soul."

Mona whipped around and smacked him lightly on the shoulder. "Are you out of your mind? You can't give a dog alcohol!"

"But Spark wants to try it, right buddy?" Riven grinned, ruffling the husky's ears.

Woof woof!

"What a cute dog," a new voice chimed in. "But unfortunately, dogs aren't allowed to drink, at least not in public."

Riven turned to see a young man approaching with a confident stride and a mischievous glint in his eye. He wore a fur-lined cape and an elegant eyepatch.

"Hello young traveler. I'm Kaeya. Or… you actually look older than me—my apologies, sir."

"The hell—'sir'? I'm not that old," Riven huffed. "Name's Riven. Know any good places to drink?"

Kaeya chuckled. "Normally, I'd point you straight to the tavern, but… today's not a normal day." His smile dimmed slightly. "My adopted father passed away recently. Out of respect, most shops—especially the taverns—are closed for mourning."

Riven's expression softened. "My condolences."

Kaeya gave a small nod. "Thank you. Your kind words are appreciated."

"Well… that was awkward," Riven muttered, rubbing the back of his neck as he watched the young man walk away.

He turned to Mona. "So… should we find this Amber girl first, or grab an inn? I'm beat."

"I won't be needing an inn," Mona replied, adjusting her hat. "I'll be camping outside as usual. As for Amber, I think it's better to hand the bag over to the Grand Master directly. Amber grandpa was well respected, and I'm sure he'll want to hear about his passing."

"The GrandMaster, huh?" Riven looked up. The city bustled with life, far grander than sleepy little Oakfield. And those windmills… "How do those things even work?"

He blinked and turned back to Mona. "Say… any advice for me?"

"Yes, actually," she said, gesturing at the heavy pouch swinging from his belt. "Don't go waving your Mora around like that. You're basically begging to get robbed."

"Noted," Riven said, tightening the pouch.

"The Knights of Favonius headquarters is up those stairs, take a left you'll see a big building with a sign. You can't miss it."

"Wait, you're not coming with me?"

"Nope," Mona said with a smirk. "Busy woman. Places to be, fates to divine. See ya—it was fun. Hope I'll see you around."

She gave Spark a quick wave. "Bye, Spark!"

Then, just like that, she vanished into the crowd.

Riven stood there for a moment. "So… GrandMaster. That must be Varka," he muttered to himself, following her advice.

As he made his way through the city, his eyes wandered to the nearby shops. The weapons here were leagues better than the ones back in Oakfield—sharp, polished, and forged with real craftsmanship. He glanced down at his own sword, now looking a bit sad and browned from all the slime goo. He winced.

"Okay, maybe not shopping today," he muttered, tightening the string on his Mora pouch. "Gotta stretch what I've got."

He pushed onward until he reached the towering headquarters of the Knights of Favonius. Inside, a receptionist greeted him warmly.

"Hello! I'm looking for the Grand Master," Riven said.

"Ah, I'm sorry," the receptionist said with a polite smile. "You just missed him. GrandMaster Varka left on an expedition not too long ago. Acting Grand Master Jean is in charge for now, but she's currently tied up with urgent matters."

Riven let out a sigh. "Right. Figures. Thanks anyway."

As he stepped outside, his eyes widened—nearly popping out of his head—as a massive dragon soared overhead. Its mighty wings cut through the sky, casting a huge shadow across the city below. Gasps and whispers spread like wildfire through the crowd.

"Stormterror…" someone murmured.

Riven watched the creature vanish beyond the buildings, awestruck.

"Yeah… I think I'll stick to slimes," he muttered with a nervous chuckle.

Shaking off the moment, he glanced down at his clothes, dusty, worn, and definitely the only set he owned.

"Well, new city, new look," he said, eyeing a clothing shop across the street. "Time to upgrade before I start smelling like old rabbit stew."