OHDOM VOL 2. 16-30 (Patreon)

Chapter 16 - Andrius's Howling ProblemsAt Windrise, a massive oak tree swayed gently in the breeze. Beneath its shade stood the Statue of the Seven, bearing wings on its back and lifting an orb toward the heavens.This was the cradle of Thousand Winds. From here, Barbatos had swept away the frost and snow blanketing Mondstadt with the Thousand Winds. He'd softened the region's treacherous terrain and transformed a once perilous land into the most hospitable and fertile haven among the Seven Nations. It was here that the Anemo Archon began to change everything.The oak sheltered the statue from wind and rain, much like how the Lionfang Knight, Vanessa, had once sheltered all of Mondstadt-a symbol of the ancient, profound bond between mortals and gods.Wendy drifted down before the statue and circled around it, admiring the craftsmanship of Teyvat's sculptors. Then she flitted up into the oak and found a comfortable branch to rest upon, closing her eyes to relax.This place held special meaning for Barbatos too. If she stayed here long enough, maybe she'd even catch the Wind God himself waking up....Elsewhere, under the starry night sky, Angel had just returned home. She held up the Fatui-style eyepatch she'd designed herself and pouted unhappily."So much for this plan."The Fatui had such a terrible reputation that whenever something shady happened, people were quick to blame them without question.Unfortunately, she'd gotten carried away tonight and accidentally summoned a god's clone instead.Which meant her whole idea of disguising herself as a Fatui to observe Andrius was now totally useless. She spent the last two days studying the Fatui in secret to make sure her disguise was so flawless that even the Fatui themselves couldn't tell the difference.What a pity, it was wasted.She tossed the eyepatch into the fireplace and watched it burn to ash, making sure not a single trace remained before finally heading to bed.....[Good morning.][Morning.]At daybreak, the two Angels greeted each other.Now that she had an additional second clone original in Teyvat, her familiar Angel Network is back! That comforting sense of self is back!It was only two clones, sure, but that still meant her health bar had gone from one to two! The sense of security suddenly doubled!And since this Wendy-clone version of a god could openly research dangerous things like divine power, she could act as a proper frontliner in Angel's studies into Teyvat's energy systems.All in all, absolutely delightful.Angel got up, brushed her teeth, washed her face, smoothed her silky golden hair, and slipped into a red dress-adorably stylish but still proper-with white tights to match. Standing in front of the mirror, she looked at her cute, perfect self and gave a blank-faced peace sign."Yay~~"Bang!Amber burst through the door, panting.Angel turned around with an exaggerated look of "surprise.""Angel, something's happened! Lisa told me to come get you, quick-we have to go!"And so, early that morning, the citizens of Mondstadt were treated to the sight of the Outrider Knight dragging a tiny, adorable girl down the street at full speed....The two of them charged straight into Acting Grand Master Jean's office."According to Razor, something huge went down last night in Wolvendom. There was a massive battle, with wild winds and ice storms shaking the mountains. Elemental turbulence affected a huge area. The North Wind Wolf gave a warning howl, telling all the wolves and Razor to evacuate the region around the altar. But what exactly happened... no one knows yet. That about sums it up, right, little wolf?""Yes, Master. We left Wolvendom. But we didn't want to trespass on another pack's territory, so... I brought everyone near Mondstadt. Now, we need meat. To borrow. Later, we hunt, and return."The silver-haired boy spoke awkwardly, choosing his words with care according to the situation.Angel stared at him blankly-not because of what he said, but because he'd called Lisa "Master" too?"Well well, my little Angel is awake too?" Lisa chuckled, stroking Angel's head. "Come, meet Razor. He's another apprentice I took on before you. But unlike you, I only taught him how to control Electro energy."Her intimate tone and touch showed that Angel was the real successor to her teachings. Razor was more like a stray pup she took in.Angel nodded, then said seriously, "Master, I'm not childish enough to get jealous.""Hahaha~ That won't do. If you're not jealous, doesn't that mean you don't like me at all?""No no! I love Master so much! Super love!""Mmm~ Now that's more like it. And Master loves you super much too~~"The witch cooed, squishing Angel's cheeks with delight, her smile radiant and full of affection.Jean gave her friend a helpless look before turning to Razor with a more formal expression."The wolves of Wolvendom are the North Wind's kin. That makes them part of Mondstadt too. Please rest assured-until the situation is resolved and you're able to return, the Knights of Favonius will continue providing food. But I must also ask you to communicate with the pack. We can't afford conflict between the wolves and Mondstadt's citizens. Can you do that, Razor?""No problem. Lupical understand. Want peace.""That's a relief. Thank you, Razor.""No, no... We thank... thank Acting Grand Master Jean."Razor let out a breath of relief.The Wolf King's authority among the pack was absolute.If He commanded them to leave, they would not return until He gave them permission.But the problem was... the Wolf King didn't expect that the command he gave after slapping his head and howled out of his random orders caused a problem.The wolves needed the King's permission to return. But as long as they stayed away, they would never hear that permission.Which meant they'd be stuck outside forever.It wasn't until Razor had run with the pack all night that the issue dawned on him. As the last resort, he came to Mondstadt to ask the one person he believed knew everything-his Master-for help.Lisa gave Angel's cheeks a final satisfied squish, then said, "Actually, it's not that complicated. Something this big happened, so of course the Knights have to investigate. We can send a team into Wolvendom to check on the situation, meet the Wolf King, find out what went down last night-and while we're at it, ask when He'll let the pack return. Sound good, Jean?"Jean nodded gravely. "You're right. But Wolvendom is the Wolf King's territory. Few in the Knights know it well. And considering how serious this is, it's probably quite dangerous right now. Who do you think we can send?""...You don't mean me, do you?" Lisa pointed to herself, squinting in displeasure.Jean let out a sheepish laugh, stood up from her chair, and said with perfect formality, "Then I'll go myself. This is too serious for me to entrust to anyone else. And visiting one of the Four Winds-especially the Wolf King-should be handled by the Acting Grand Master personally. That would be more appropriate, right?""...Fine, I'll go. But you'd better have my afternoon tea ready when I get back."Lisa rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips.---Chapter 17 - Angel's First Research ProjectThey'd been best friends for years. Seen everything, touched everything-Can she still not understand Jean's tactic of playing hard to get?But what Jean said is indeed the truth.First off, visiting the Wolf King required someone of real standing. Otherwise, Mondstadt risked seeming disrespectful to one of the Four Winds.Second, to have fought with the Wolf King so fiercely that it shook the entire Wolvendom region and forced him to evacuate the whole pack? That kind of threat wasn't normal. It might very well be something at a god-level scale.And within the Knights of Favonius, only Jean and Lisa had the qualifications to face something like that.Maybe Albedo too, but the Chief Alchemist was probably buried somewhere in Dragonspine again, and when things were burning down, faraway water was no help at all.Jean scratched her cheek, then sat back down, a little embarrassed. She composed herself and spoke seriously:"Lisa, be careful. This really isn't normal.""I know. It might be something far beyond what humans can handle. I'll tread carefully. Come, little wolf, take me to your pack."Lisa turned, walking out with graceful, deliberate steps.Angel looked around, then waved obediently to Jean before trotting after Lisa.Jean smiled at the sight of her student's bouncing, energetic figure. But after a moment, she sighed."The Grand Master's only just left, and already the city's restless. Tensions brewing under the surface... even treasure hoarders from Liyue are showing up inside our borders. The Fatui are also-hm..."Jean thought grimly, These are troubling times, and found herself quietly praying to her faith for strength.A moment later, she couldn't help glancing toward the solitary confinement room next door."By the way, this time the confinement has been long enough, she will almost be released."Jean hesitated again when she thought about the explosion near the mountains last time....Angel followed Lisa, Razor, and Amber beyond the city walls.At some point, Razor shuffled closer to Angel and asked, awkwardly and earnestly:"You... Master's... student too?""Mhm.""Then... you're Lupical too. Next time... I'll give you... tasty meat."He smiled shyly, his eyes bright and honest, with a kind of purity rarely seen in city folk.Angel stared at his gaze for a long moment, as if trying to read something deeper. Then she smiled-just slightly."Thanks."Lisa nodded to herself, satisfied.Sure, one was just a ward she taught a few tricks to, and the other her true heir. But seeing them get along like this was a pleasant surprise.The group soon arrived at a clean, grassy plain by a stream near Mondstadt.Razor explained to the wolf pack what Lisa and the others were here to do, and about Mondstadt's offer of aid.Lisa followed up with a series of careful questions-timing, affected regions, exactly what the Wolf King had said, what the wolves had sensed from the wilds.Razor fumbled his way through as a clumsy translator, trying to express both sides clearly. Amber, meanwhile, took it all in with practiced ease. She'd clearly seen this kind of scene before.Angel, on the other hand, blinked thoughtfully.What unusually intelligent wolves. So this is how wolves in Teyvat behave? Or is it because they're divine familiars, and naturally possess sapience? Wait... that means... maybe it's possible?She touched her chin, and a plan started forming in her mind.The conversation didn't last long. They were still just wolves, after all, and the incident had happened without warning. There was only so much Lisa could get from them."They say you're helpers. Friends. So... they will carry you. Make you go fast," Razor explained.The wolves were offering thanks-and transport.Angel's eyes lit up even more."I'm coming too!"She raised her hand eagerly.Lisa shook her head at once."No way. That's the North Wind Wolf King you're talking about. One of the most powerful divine familiars under the Anemo Archon. You're still too young to be involved in something like this.""But I've already chosen my first research project. It's about wolves. And the Wolf King. I have to meet him.""Ah... that..." Lisa faltered.If it was just curiosity or clinginess, she'd never let Angel take the risk. But a scholar's first research subject-that was different. It mattered."I'll run if it gets dangerous. I'm really fast, Master Lisa.""Mmm... at least tell me what your project is?""The Feasibility and Methodology of Forming a Human-Wolf Joint Force. Step one: understand wolf behavior. Step two: consult the Wolf King.""...Where on earth did you even get that idea? But... academics do need imagination, and careful verification... Alright. But three rules: you stick close to me at all times, and if anything dangerous happens, you run. Immediately."Lisa hadn't expected Angel's first scholarly endeavor to be something so grounded. Not high-level alchemy. Not divine elemental theory. But wolves.Then again, the more she thought about it, the more it made sense.The Knights were painfully short-handed.And Wolvendom's wolves were no ordinary beasts. As divine familiars, their intelligence was astonishing. Their stamina and physical prowess far surpassed any other creature. If the approach was right, cooperation was genuinely possible.If they could build a model for joint operations-tapping into their speed, strength, and keen senses-it could dramatically ease the Knights' manpower problem."You really..."Lisa reached out and gently patted Angel's head, a look of both pride and pity in her eyes.So eager to help Mondstadt, aren't you?What a kind-hearted child.And if her student was this devoted to protecting Mondstadt, then as her teacher, Lisa had to match that dedication."Let's go. Little wolf, pick a few strong ones to carry us."The first step is to help the disciple confirm the wolf's physical strength and carrying capacity.....The wolves darted through the forest like arrows. Even with passengers on their backs, they tore through rough mountain terrain as if gliding over silk.Razor, Amber, Angel, and Lisa clung tightly to the wolves' fur as they rode.Amber and Lisa especially-each time the wolves leapt, their athletic bodies bounced with such intensity that their snow-white thighs and generous curves created a hypnotic, wordless rhythm. Angel stared at the beautiful scenery that was engraved in her heart without blinking."Shwoop~"She discreetly wiped the corner of mouth, moved to tears, and fished out a notebook on the wolf's back. With delicate care, she began jotting something down.They reached the edge of Wolvendom in no time.But there, the wolves came to a halt."Master... the Wolf King says... stay back. I..."---Chapter 18 - How About I Try FirstRazor was part of the pack. Naturally, he obeyed the rules of the wolves. The Wolf King's order applied to him, too.He couldn't go any further into Wolvendom.Lisa showed a long-known smile and raised her hand, patting Razor on the head."You and Amber stay here and wait. I know the way from here. If something happens and we don't come back, report straight to Jean, no hesitation. Got it?"Razor nodded hard.But Amber shook her head."My mission was to wait here, sure. But now that Razor's staying behind too, there's no real point in me just sitting around, is there? I should go in with you. I have a Vision. If things get dangerous, I can at least buy Angel a little more time."The outrider patted her chest with conviction and looked seriously at Angel.Obviously, as she said, if an irresistible crisis really occurs, Amber has the determination to sacrifice her life to protect Angel.Angel's heart moved, she raised her head and stared at the passionate female knight seriously....In the end, Amber didn't go.Lisa's reasoning was simple: if danger did arise, Amber would only get in the way.Protecting Angel already limited Lisa's mobility. Add Amber to the mix, and their odds of survival would plummet.Amber couldn't argue with that.Having a Vision didn't make all Vision holders equal. Amber could probably take on a hundred, maybe even a thousand enemies on her own. However, Lisa has reached a height where she can influence the astronomical phenomena with one person's power, and the numerical advantage has lost its meaning in front of her.That was why Jean had to send Lisa.When it came to matters involving gods, only a handful of people in all of Mondstadt were qualified to intervene-and Lisa was one of them.So, only Lisa and Angel walked the roads of Wolvendom.Lisa examined the trees twisted by wind and frost. Angel studied the plants along the path, and the traces left by the wolves."Mm, definitely signs of powerful Anemo and Cryo energy tearing through this place. You can still feel the lingering pressure of those two elements clashing." Lisa sighed, a little theatrically. "Ugh, all this wind... it's terrible for a lady's skin, you know~~"Lisa sighed and resentful.However, there was no fear.It's very simple. Although the power remains, the source of power has disappeared from the witch's perception.The incident had likely passed. Things were looking far better than she'd expected."Little Angel, could you at least pretend to be cautious?""Huh? But Master looks so relaxed.""I'm not relaxed. I'm on edge. Always stay alert when you're out in the wild. Danger can come from anywhere-monsters, wild beasts, the weather... or people. Especially people. And especially for lovely ladies like us. It's sad, but it's true-sometimes, humans are far more dangerous than the wilderness.""I understand, Master."Angel crouched and touched a paw print in the dirt. When she looked up, her eyes were clear and serious.She'd seen the heights of power in another world. She'd seen the best and worst of people.But Lisa, misunderstanding, thought back to Angel's past among thieves. That kind of group, twisted by desire and lawlessness-how much had this poor child suffered back then?"...But you don't have to be afraid. In Mondstadt, no one can bully you."Lisa's heart twinged. She stroked Angel's hair gently, full of tenderness.Angel nodded firmly.The two of them continued forward, exploring and observing along the way.Angel jotted down quite a few notes. Lisa, on the other hand, didn't feel like her investigation had turned up much.Eventually, they reached the Wolf King's altar."The destruction is really serious. Is it really the center of the outbreak?"Lisa stared at what had once been a ritual site. Now it was in pieces, barely recognizable.And then Lisa became embarrassed."According to the records, setting foot on the Wolf King's altar is the same as issuing a formal challenge. But to meet the Wolf King... we have to step onto it. Ugh, fighting really doesn't suit a lady. Jean's really putting me on the spot here.""Can't we just... explain? Tell him we're not here to fight?"Angel blinked innocently.After last night's scuffle, she had a strange sense that this fluffy, well-groomed wolf wasn't all that unreasonable.Surely, if they explained things properly, he'd understand.They were here on behalf of Mondstadt, after all. And they were trying to help his stranded pack.Lisa rubbed her temples."We'll have to try. But I'm worried he's the type to attack first and talk never.""Then... how about I try first? I don't have a Vision, and I'm small. One look, and he'll know I'm not here to challenge him.""No way!"Lisa glared, genuinely angry this time. She couldn't believe how reckless Angel was being.Angel reached out, smoothing Lisa's hand with a gentle touch."This project of mine-it's important. I'll have to speak to him eventually anyway. Instead of coming back alone next time, why not give it a try now? If it goes wrong, Master will protect me, right?""Don't be ridiculous. This is dangerous.""I know. But I think... I think the Wolf King wouldn't be so unreasonable, not if he's one of the Four Winds. And I believe in you too, Master. Please, just this once. Let me try~~"Angel blinked up at her with wide, glistening eyes, soft and sweet and full of pleading.To be honest, she isn't sure if Angel now has a sense of crisis at all.This was a god they were dealing with, not some fluffy mascot.Sure, the Four Winds were theoretically trustworthy. But Mondstadt hadn't had proper contact with the Wolf King in centuries. No one really knew what His mood or mindset was like anymore.And when a god was even a little bit unfriendly... it could be catastrophic to all near mortals.Lisa shook her head firmly."I understand how you feel. But the answer is no. Stay right here. I'll speak with the Wolf King myself."Seeing that Lisa wouldn't budge, Angel could only pout and step back to the edge of the altar.Lisa stepped onto the platform. A beautiful lantern formed in her hand-elegant and finely crafted, but instead of flame, it held a pulsing violet core of lightning.It was one of her alchemic weapons, forged by her own hands.A brilliant scholar wasn't always a powerful fighter. And a powerful fighter wasn't always wise.But Lisa was both. One of the most accomplished mages alive, she'd crafted countless weapons of immense might. Where most elites had one or two trump cards, Lisa had so many she could barely keep track of them all. In Mondstadt, she was the most versatile powerhouse by far.Only Albedo came close. Everyone knew he was strong-but no one had ever seen him fight seriously, so no one could say whether he was as versatile as Lisa."Awooo-"A deep, echoing howl rang out from the altar.---Chapter 19 - Wolfie's Paw-Paw PanicAndrius stirred from his brief rest, a towering spectral wolf emerging in a flash of power and majesty."Hm? Another challenger? What a surprise. Last night's battle was invigorating enough, but if it's another round of blood-pumping combat you want, I'll gladly oblige," the Wolf King declared with booming authority.Though in truth, he was actually kind of upset.He was exhausted in yesterday's battle, and now he doesn't have much strength. If there is another powerful god like that, the Wolf King will be embarrassed.Still, even if he was running low, a king had to keep up appearances. Andrius lowered his massive head, eyes sharp and forceful, pinning Lisa in place with his overwhelming pressure.Lisa simply smiled, calm and elegant, raising her lantern and curtsying with practiced grace."Honorable North Wind Wolf King Andrius, I am Lisa Minci, Acting Vice Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. I come as a representative of Mondstadt, not a challenger.""Hmph! Empty words. To set foot upon the altar is to honor the Wolf King's oath-by offering a glorious battle," Andrius growled thunderously.Inwardly, he sighed in relief.Thankfully, it's just a delegate from the Knights of Mondstandt. Most likely easy to to deal with.Just beat her casually without any effort. Stop when she can't hold on, and then ask her majestically on what she is doing here.Andrius readied his stage performance, unleashing a wave of icy pressure and divine presence.Lisa's smile stiffened. Internally, she cursed Jean's fake sisterhood. Her fingers tightened around her lantern."Wait wait wait! We're really not here to fight, big wolfie!"Just as the clash was about to ignite, a tiny flash of gold dashed between them-Angel, raising a tuft of fur over her head like a peace offering.Lisa gasped.Andrius exploded with fury."Outrageous! You dare defile the Wolf King's oath by sending a child without even a Vision into the ring? Do you think so little of-wait. These tufts...?"He blinked, confused.Angel gave a cheeky grin, shrinking a little under Lisa's death glare but holding her ground with an impish glint in her eyes.The fur had been plucked-stealthily-from a few wolves and Razor. All part of her plan to appease the great wolf."Big wolfie, Razor and the others left Wolvendom, but they're too afraid to return. So they asked us to check-when can they come back?""Come back? Didn't I already finish that-ah. Oh. Uh..."Andrius's mighty voice faltered, turning deeply awkward.He remembered now. In the heat of battle, caught up in the moment, he'd only told the wolves to evacuate.He'd forgotten to call them back.Given the generations of absolute loyalty his pack had shown him, if the Knights hadn't stumbled in to break the logic loop, he might've ended up the only wolf left in Wolvendom.The Wolf King stood frozen, claws pawing at the ground, visibly flustered.What now?If someone disturbs the Wolf King for the sake of the Knights' own affairs, then Andrius can of course fight at will. He not only vented his desire to fight, but also showed an arrogant and invincible attitude after the fight, and watched the Knights speak to Him respectfully..But this was different. They'd come to fix his mistake. To bring his wolves home.If he fought now, wouldn't that make him look petty? Unreasonable?Not every god was as shameless as Barbatos. Andrius still cared about dignity.Five minutes later, the three of them-Andrius, Lisa, and Angel-sat cross-legged on the only intact patch of stone in the ruined altar, facing each other like children in detention."Ahem! I see now. Yes, yes, I was overly focused on evacuating the area during the clash... didn't realize the wolves wouldn't know it was over... A rare, worthy opponent just got my blood boiling, hahaha..."Andrius tried to salvage his image.Angel rolled her eyes internally. Worthy opponent, my ass. You barely survived. This big wolfie really has no shame. No wonder he hangs out with Barbatos.Lisa, meanwhile, went pale at his casual words."Wait... Lord Andrius, did you say a worthy opponent? As in-another Archon?""A newly descended god. If you run into her, be polite. Otherwise, I'll have to call Barbatos to come patch things up."Andrius sounded nonchalant.In fact, He also thought of a lot of things in his heart.Barbatos wasn't dead. Not yet. So why had a new Wind God appeared?Combining that with knowledge of how divine succession worked elsewhere in Teyvat, Andrius could only draw one conclusion: Barbatos was going to die soon.He hadn't perished yet-but his end was approaching.That's why Celestia had dispatched a new Archon early, to ensure a seamless transition of power. Once Barbatos's ancient, accumulated divinity hit its terminal limit and collapsed into entropy, the Great Hymn of The Thousand Winds would surge back into a single point-and the Anemo Archon, ever carefree and unreliable, would transform into a cataclysm capable of flattening all seven nations.Celestia wanted the new god to take over immediately when that happened. They needed someone strong enough to subdue Barbatos the moment he lost control.Andrius turned his gaze toward Liyue.If this is happening in Mondstadt, then Liyue might have already crowned a second-generation deity. After all, their War God is older, stronger, and more dangerous than Barbatos. If he lost control, the entire world would be at risk.Still... what's all that got to do with an old wolf who's barely more than spirit these days?Andrius didn't think himself worthy to interfere in godly succession.And neither, frankly, were the people of Mondstadt.So he left it at that-enough to warn them not to accidentally provoke a new god into vaporizing their entire city.Lisa's brows twitched. Her heart was pounding."A new... god..."This news was really exciting.A new god had appeared in Mondstadt. Right when the Grand Master was away.If anything actually happened now, the current defenses of the Knights of Favonius might as well be made of paper.Lisa was a well-read scholar. She knew just how much devastation the Archon Wars had once brought. The more she thought about it, the more terrified-and powerless-she felt."Relax. As long as you don't go out of your way to piss her off, nothing will happen."Andrius spoke like a relaxed elder, full of wisdom and calm.Last night's fight had given him a sense of her temperament. She wasn't bad. Even when their battle ended unresolved, she'd stopped politely and even exchanged a few civil words. The way she'd appeared disguised as a Fatui agent definitely gave off an impression that she likes to have fun.What Andrius is actually worried about is that this new god became infected with Barbatos's whimsical troublemaking skills and really ascend into an unreliable God of Fun.Andrius's stomach churned thinking about it.---Chapter 20 - It's Bar-to-bas, Obviously!"Big Wolfie, what do the wolves usually eat?"​"Meat, of course. This vast forest is the wolves' hunting ground. They chase their prey through these endless woods, tear into flesh with fang and claw, and feast to their hearts' content. Some do fall to prey that fights back-but that only proves they were too weak for the wild. I can't help that... And stop calling me Big Wolfie! What kind of name is that!?""Big Wolfie, how many cubs does the pack usually have each year? Do some starve if there isn't enough food?"​"Of course. Prey in the wild isn't infinite. The pack can only grow so large. If there are too many pups and not enough to eat, then yes, some will starve. That is the law of nature. No room for pity... And I said stop calling me Big Wolfie!"Andrius let out an explosive howl-up at the sky, not at Angel. She was far too fragile. If he howled directly at her, she might just drop dead.Angel ignored the howls entirely, calmly scribbling away in her notebook, then continued her barrage of questions."Big Wolfie, I've still got lots more. Next one-"​"Big Wolfie..."​"Big Wolfie..."​"Big Wolfie..."Lisa sat to the side, one ear on Angel's questioning, the rest of her mind still turning over the bombshell about the new Anemo Archon.At some point, she found herself twitching at the corner of her mouth.Because under the repeated, completely unfiltered barrage of Big Wolfie, Andrius... was actually putting up with it.Sure, he sounded gruff and annoyed, but he never refused to answer. He even remained surprisingly patient."Tsk! Hey, you-Vice Grand Master or whatever of the Knights-what's up with this little runt?""I'm Angel! I may be young, but I'm already a senior scholar in the Knights of Favonius!"She proudly answered before Lisa could say a word, pinned her badge to her chest, and puffed herself up in front of the massive Wolf King.Andrius lowered his head. In those enormous lupine eyes, something gentle flickered."A senior scholar? At your age?"Andrius knew how humans worked. Usually, they were smart but weak, and scholars were how they made sense of the world and bolstered their own strength.A scholar that young was like a wolf pup who could solo a wild boar on its first day walking.She was a strong one.Andrius assessed her from both a human and a wolf's perspective, and arrived at a conclusion."You're not bad.""Right? I think I'm pretty awesome too, Big Wolfie.""How many more questions?""That was the last one for now. I want to ask Razor the rest. But... one last thing, Big Wolfie-would you be willing to let extra wolves join the Knights? We'd feed them, treat them as full members, care for them, train with them, and protect Mondstadt together!"Angel raised her hand excitedly, eyes shining with hope.Andrius exploded."You dare suggest my wolves become dogs for the people of Mondstadt?!""Not dogs-knights. I've seen the wolves outside. They're smart. If we take it seriously, we can absolutely get them working together with the knights.""You little cub... are you seeking death?!""Why not? If you're not okay with it, then just say so. We'll drop it. But I really think it would be good for both sides. The Knights are stretched thin, and your wolves are too many to feed. We help you care for the extras, and you help us protect Mondstadt. It's a fair trade. The books say Lord Bartobas and the Four Winds built Mondstadt together. That means it belongs to all of us, doesn't it? You, too. Isn't protecting it together a good thing?"The little girl looked up, eyes wide and bright, completely ignoring the killing intent pouring from the god.Lisa, meanwhile, was drenched in cold sweat. She was already calculating how fast she could grab Angel and bolt if it all went south.Andrius stared at the fearless child for one minute. Two.Then, under the unwavering gaze of those hopeful eyes, he slowly lay back down."...Explain your idea. And what did you just say about the Anemo Archon?""Bartobas, the Anemo Archon. Why? Did I say something wrong?""Bartobas? Hah! Can't believe you Mondstadt folk actually... still remember that ridiculous name! Ha! Yes, yes, Bartobas! That's him!"Andrius announced this with total solemnity, tail swaying behind him in slow, satisfied motions.After laughing himself out, he fell into silence.Starving due to overpopulation-well, that was nature's way. Nothing to be bitter about.But still. If there were other choices, who'd want to watch their own pups die?And that one line-Mondstadt is yours, too-had stirred up memories long buried. Back when Barbatos was still young, the Four Winds were close, almost like family. They'd gripe about Barbatos's antics together over drinks.Then came the slow divide. The Knights withdrew into the city. Andrius's spirit was left to linger at the altar. Dvalin was active for a while, but after killing Durin five hundred years ago, he'd vanished from the skies. Barbatos, linking it all together, had been worn down over centuries of protection and warfare. Now, he barely ever woke.Andrius felt a heavy mix of nostalgia and melancholy.He remembered when humans and wolves once fought side by side. The famed blade Wolf's Gravestone was proof of that ancient bond.So maybe Angel's "human-wolf alliance" wasn't so far-fetched after all.He decided to listen.The Anemo Archon's replacement draws near... Barbatos, when you're gone, how will Wolvendom and Mondstadt relate to each other? The new god will need new followers. An old wolf like me doesn't deserve to compete for that role. When that time comes, what place will Wolvendom have?Andrius sighed inside.How many more centuries could he even last after Barbatos was gone?Time was cruel. Once gods changed hands, old ties faded fast.So while he was still one of the Four Winds, while the Knights still needed help-maybe finding a lasting path for his wolves to coexist with humans... maybe that, too, was his duty.He quietly listened as Angel laid out her vision."Humans bring wisdom, wolves bring power and sharp senses. We cooperate on scouting, ambushes, wilderness operations...""Mondstadt provides food for wolves who choose to serve, and even takes in pups that can't be supported by the pack...""Wolves get knight benefits. As divine beasts of the North Wind, they'd have equal status-no being looked down on, no mistreatment...""The Knights would develop rations, shelters, medicine, and gear tailored for wolves...""Everything would be strictly voluntary. No wolf or human forced to cooperate if they don't want to..."Angel outlined her principles one by one-mutual respect, mutual benefit.Andrius listened, his eyes beginning to glow faintly."Ahem! Since you've shown such sincerity... I suppose... I could consider it. That is to say...""We'll start with test rations, shelters, and equipment. Razor will be our bridge. Once we're ready, you can send out a few volunteer wolves to try living with the Knights. Then we form a pilot unit-wolf knights-with Razor as their instructor. They train together, work together, iron out any issues on the fly."Angel made little hand gestures as she spoke, her whole face beaming."Once it's all in place, we can start expanding. Maybe later on, wolves can be hired as guards, guides, even coachwolves! Eventually, some might even become part of Mondstadt families. All of it starts right here!"Andrius paused, dignified as ever, before slowly nodding.Angel jumped up in delight."Then here's to a great partnership, Big Wolfie!""Er, yes... may our... partnership be fruitful?"Seeing her reach up both hands, Andrius hesitantly extended one massive paw.Her tiny hands grasped a single claw, and she shook it with glee.Lisa's eyes lit up. She reached into her Vision's storage space and pulled out a camera.Click!A perfect shot. It was supposed to record her experiments-but this? This was far more valuable.Back in Mondstadt, Jean had no idea she was about to receive a very mixed surprise.The good: their manpower crisis might just be solved.The bad: she'd now have to oversee the construction of a wolf-knight corps from scratch. Her overworked schedule was about to get even worse....."Tch... Did that brat outwit me last night? How'd I end up agreeing to all that?"​Andrius lay down again, mumbling to himself."Well, she came in person, so that's sincerity. Besides, I'm still the Wolf King. They've got to deliver results first. No loss to me."He grumbled, justifying it to himself."And also-Bartobas, huh? That's right. Next time the Knights ask about the Anemo Archon, I'm calling him Bartobas, too."Andrius's eyes gleamed.What? You mean it's Barbatos?Pah!He was the North Wind Wolf King, ancient comrade of the Anemo Archon himself-one of the Four Winds! How could he be wrong?Obviously, the humans had miswritten it. Passed down the wrong name.It was Bartobas! End of story!"Heh~~ Heh~~ Heh~~"Andrius imagined that cheeky bard waking up one day to find everyone calling him Bartobas.The thought alone had him wagging his tail and panting like an overexcited husky.---Chapter 21 - Where's My Dragon!?"North Wind's Wolf King... really is a good wolf,"​ Angel murmured sincerely, flipping through pages filled with densely packed notes on the walk back.Lisa twitched a smile and promptly bonked her on the head."You really don't care about your own life, huh? That was a god. If he'd really lost his temper, I might not have been able to save you.""But I succeeded!"Angel puffed up proudly, not a hint of shame on her face.Lisa groaned, facepalming with a long sigh."I didn't expect the Wolf King to be... surprisingly good with kids. And you handled it well, I'll admit.""Hehe~~"​ Angel scratched her head with a sheepish smile.Lisa shook her head again and this time let out a sigh of true relief."If you really can pull off this wolf-knight unit, we might finally ease the pressure on our patrols. That'd free up personnel to cover other gaps. If-and it's a big if-you can make those fancy promises come true and keep Lord Andrius satisfied.""Master, that's not just my job. I'll need Mondstadt's craftsmen and alchemists working with me.""Of course. You think I'd let my dear student get run ragged alone? But one more thing. Don't take what Lord Andrius said at face value. The Anemo Archon is Barbatos, not whatever nonsense Bartobas he spouted. Even ancient ruin records all say Barbatos. He was clearly teasing-don't let it get to you.""...What? It's not Bartobas?"Angel froze like someone just unplugged her brain for a second.Lisa had the distinct impression of seeing stars, equations, and existential dread flash across her student's face.Wait... she wasn't kidding about that name? I thought she was saying 'Bartobas' just to ease the atmosphere!"You've read a ton of books on Mondstadt's history, haven't you?""I thought they had a typo! I swear I heard it as Bartobas the first time!"Angel looked absolutely devastated, like a kid who grew up thinking birds were government drones and just now found out that pigeons are real. (This wasn't in the original but it was funny and was kinda better than was what written soo...)...Meanwhile, on the road to Windrise, a nun and a maid-knight walked side by side toward the Statue of the Seven beneath the giant oak."Noelle, thank you so much for coming today. It's usually the Church's job to clean the statue of Lord Barbatos, but everyone was so busy... I didn't know what I'd do without you.""Oh, don't mention it. As a maid of the Knights and a candidate knight myself, it's my duty."Sunlight bathed their young, delicate faces, soft and glowing.Barbara carried a bucket and cloth, while Noelle easily held up a heavy wooden ladder with one hand. They chatted and laughed as they made their way toward the statue.Don't be fooled by their girlish appearances.​ Barbara's control over Hydro made her a master of both healing and offense.​ Noelle's Geo could harden her body beyond steel, and with her natural strength, her greatsword blows were enough to floor even seasoned knights.​Unless it was a dragon disaster or some catastrophic beast wave, the two of them leaving town together meant they were plenty safe."Mm... mm... mmm~"Suddenly, a soft, beautiful flute melody floated down the path ahead.It carried a hint of melancholy but was hauntingly lovely, like a traveler looking back on their homeland one last time before setting out. It was full of gentle sorrow, yet rich with the promise of new journeys-comforting and hopeful.Even the wind itself seemed to dance with the tune, rising and falling in harmony, carrying it as far as it could go."Someone's playing the flute?""What a beautiful song... I've never heard it before."They exchanged a glance, then hurried their pace.Soon they arrived.The Statue of the Seven stood still beneath the oak's shade as always.But up on one of the high branches sat a woman-radiant and ethereal, almost otherworldly. A flute in her hands, her eyes closed, she played with serene elegance, as if she were part of the wind itself. The breeze swirled around her in adoration, lost in the music.Naturally, it was none other than Wendy-Angel's divine clone.She played a softened rendition of "Embarking on the Journey", her thoughts drifting toward the endless sky.And why play it now, just when Barbara and Noelle happened to be coming?No reason, really. It just looked incredibly cool.Boom-Suddenly, a powerful gale pressed down from above.A massive dragon shadow fell over the entire oak."Barbatos-! You're awake?!"A thunderous voice echoed across the land.Clatter!Barbara and Noelle both dropped what they were carrying in shock.Wendy sighed inwardly. Really? He had to wake up now?But she didn't stop playing. The melody flowed on, carefree and lilting, carried upward by the wind she wove with intention.It slipped into Dvalin's ears, easing the pain of the lingering poison within him. The gentle emotions she laced into the air soothed him, and the dragon slowly surrendered to the music, joyfully soaring in time with the tune.The Anemo Archon played above the oak. The dragon danced in the sky.A myth made real.For Barbara, a devoted sister of the Church, it was divine rapture.Her knees gave out instantly. She dropped to the ground and clasped her hands in prayer, eyes full of tears and wonder."O great Wind God Barbatos... O magnificent Dragon of the East...""Ah-oh! Great Lord Barbatos! Great Dragon of the East!"Noelle quickly followed, kneeling just a heartbeat late. But her devotion, like that of all Mondstadters, was no less genuine.When the music finally faded, Wendy lowered her flute and opened her eyes, smiling calmly and enchantingly at the worshipping girls below.Then, without bothering to respond to their trembling awe, she floated upward, rising lazily into the sky."Barbatos, you actually had time to mess around with Andrius-wait, you're not Barbatos? He's dead?"He is worthy of being the Dragon of the East Wind and the relative of the Wind God.He quickly came to the same conclusion as Andreus.Wendy, seated casually on the invisible wind high above, crossed her legs and smirked."You Wind God familiars are hilarious. You all react the exact same way. Relax-Barbatos isn't dead.""So he's almost dead then? Hah, unbelievable. That lazy bastard's finally burning out? You're telling me he might kick the bucket before even me or Andrius?"Dvalin shook his mighty head, clearly full of long-held grudges and complaints.Luckily, this was a private aerial conversation.​ He didn't have to project his voice across the region with a storm-just a direct exchange between dragon and god.Otherwise, well... Mondstadt would probably be on fire by now....Meanwhile, in the Stormterror's Lair-An Abyss Mage, after much sneaking and crawling through the ruins, had finally reached the heart of the wind dragon's domain."Keh keh keh! East Wind Dragon, prepare to become the great Abyss Prince's-wait, huh? Where's my dragon!? Where the hell is my dragon!?"---Chapter 22 - Way More Reliable Than BarbatosWendy spread her hands, baffled. Why did all these divine familiars seem so eager to curse Barbatos dead?"I honestly don't know how Barbatos is doing. Haven't seen a trace of the god myself. Who knows what kind of state he's in.""Probably not great. Otherwise Celestia wouldn't have rushed to appoint a second Anemo Archon. They're likely worried that once Barbatos dies, his lingering divine wrath could trigger a disaster."Teyvat's Dragon of the East, Dvalin, lifted his massive head thoughtfully toward the heavens.Wendy blinked. That... was a new theory. She hadn't thought of it that way before.But then she recalled the histories of other nations that had experienced divine succession. Her keen mind moved quickly, the logic snapping into place as her eyes lit up.[Wait-so it really works like that?][Apparently it does, huh!]As the 'new' Anemo Archon, Wendy looked at Dvalin with newfound tenderness."I heard you've been suffering from Durin's poison?""Yes. I doubt I'll last long once Barbatos is gone. So when the time comes... please don't let me cause trouble for Mondstadt."Dvalin, in his lucid moments, was calm, gentle, and dependable-far more reliable than Barbatos ever was.Wendy's gaze softened further. What a loyal companion... how did he end up suffering like this for so long?"Can I take a small fragment of the poison crystal growing on your back?""Hm? Why?""The Thousand Winds told me that the alchemist who made the poison dragon-Rhein Dotir-left behind a flawless homunculus who inherited all her knowledge. He's with the Knights of Favonius now. I want to give him a sample. He might be able to study it and develop a purification method. Of course, I'll be researching it myself, too. I want to help ease your suffering.""Wait... she left behind a homunculus? That's no small matter. You must be careful! What if he becomes another Durin-ARGH!"Just thinking about his ancient foe stirred Dvalin's inner corruption. The poisonous blood surged, and pain shot through his body. His great wings faltered. He began to fall.But Wendy immediately caught him with a soft cushion of wind.She floated gently to his side and knelt before his anguished face."Wuuu~ wuuu~"A familiar melody rose high into the sky-the original "Windswept Homeland", echoing softly over Windrise.Delicate and warm, like a spring fed by the very soul, the tune poured into Dvalin's body, soothing every tortured nerve.At the same time, the wind flowed over his back, brushing gently across the jagged poison crystal. A faint shimmer peeled off slivers of it and dispersed them into the vast sky and earth, where ley lines and wind currents worked to purify it.The music calmed Dvalin's spirit. The wind dulled the poison's sting.Bit by bit, the pain in his dragon eyes faded, replaced by calm. Then came gratitude, and even contentment.Only after the song ended did Dvalin rise again, flapping his wings with renewed strength."Thank you, the new Anemo Archon. I haven't felt this light in centuries.""It's just a tiny bit of help. It doesn't fix the root cause. I've already collected some of the poison crystal. I'll send it to that person for study. Don't worry. As the master of The Thousand Winds, I'll keep an eye on him. And he's not like Durin. He won't harm Mondstadt."Wendy lifted a hand and gently stroked the dragon's head. Her voice, like her wind and her music, brought peace just by existing.Dvalin leaned into the touch and murmured with a sigh:"It's good... that the second Anemo Archon is someone like you.""...Why do you and Andrius both seem so dissatisfied with Barbatos? Look at Mondstadt. Isn't it peaceful under his winds?""Sure, that part's fine. But the rest? Total slacker. He never works, always drinking, completely useless!"Dvalin grumbled on and on.Wendy, High-Emotional-Intelligence-Angel, simply smiled.These were gods and their familiars. Thousands of years of relationship. If they wanted to gripe, that was between them.But if she joined in? That'd just be petty.So Wendy just smiled."No one is perfect. Not mortals, not gods. That's why we have companions. We all have shortcomings. It's by supporting and complementing each other that we make it through the trials of the world.""...You're going to be so much more reliable than Barbatos. I swear it-I, Dvalin, will support your ascension as Wind God!"The dragon looked genuinely moved, on the verge of tears.Finally, he thought. Finally, someone who might actually be competent. Someone to share the burden of guarding Mondstadt.Barbatos, please just step down. Let her take over. Don't make me push you off your throne myself.Dvalin thrashed his tail in excitement.Wendy quickly reached out and patted his head to calm him."Whatever you're thinking, take it down a notch. The poison reacts to emotion. Until I find a solution, you have to keep calm.""Don't worry. I've lived with this poison for five hundred years. No one knows its limits better than I do. Even if we never find a cure, I'll manage. Barbatos himself couldn't do anything about it. After what you just did, I can probably stay clear-headed for another century. That's more than enough."A hundred years would be enough for the new Wind God to find a path. Then he could rest easy.But Wendy shook her head hard."Don't talk like that. We will find a solution. Just because the old Anemo Archon couldn't doesn't mean I can't. Believe me-I'll do everything I can to rid you of this poison. You're a dragon. You have a long life ahead of you. Don't give up so easily.""...Thank you. You really are so much better than Barbatos.""By the way, since you're already out, why not find a better place to rest? Maybe don't go back to Stormterror's Lair just yet.""Why not?"Dvalin blinked his huge eyes.Wendy's face grew serious. Because the Abyss Order is after you, duh.And I'm not about to let them turn one of my divine familiars into some corrupted demolition husky. That would be so embarrassing. Who wants to ride into battle with a mangy disaster-dragon at their side? Hell no. If is to meet the other Archons or Gods in land, she'd be so embarrassed on the spot."The Thousand Winds told me the Abyss Order has been making moves. With the Knights away and Barbatos asleep, they're planning to use Mondstadt as a forward base to invade Teyvat. There's evidence they're targeting you specifically.""GRRRAAAH! Those damned Abyss freaks! Wasn't the disaster five hundred years ago enough for them?! If they dare show their faces, I'll-!""Stop. Don't charge in. Calm down, Dvalin. I know you're powerful-easily equal to the gods themselves. But Durin's poison and the Abyss are linked. If they're coming for you, they've probably prepared countermeasures. They're not stupid. And the Abyss is Teyvat's greatest threat-even the gods must tread carefully."---Chapter 23 - The Great MusicianUnder Wendy's calming touch, Dvalin gradually cooled his fury."You're right. The Abyss is not to be underestimated. With the poison of the dragon still inside me, if I fall into their hands, the consequences would be... unpredictable. Your caution is justified, Wind God."The dragon's tone naturally shifted, now calling her Wind God.Wendy pretended not to notice and smiled lightly.​ "Thank you for understanding. I have my own plans regarding the Abyss Order. I intend to see exactly what they're preparing. If necessary, I'll invite the Geo Archon of Liyue and the Electro Archon of Inazuma to help beat them back.""But this is a matter for Mondstadt...""Dvalin, the Abyss threatens all of Teyvat. The disaster five hundred years ago didn't stop with us-it touched all Seven Nations. When it comes to the Abyss, either we leave them be, or we strike once, and hard, or they'll just keep coming back. That kind of endless cleanup would exhaust us all.""...That's true. What you say makes sense. Alright, I'll relocate somewhere more hidden for now."Dvalin looked at her with comfort and a glimmer of hope, as though seeing a new dawn rising over Mondstadt.Wendy reassured him further.​ "You'll have to rough it for a little while, but it won't be long-I promise.""Come now. For Mondstadt, what's a little discomfort? I should be thanking you for easing my pain.""In that case, would you like another tune? I've got all day today.""Yes! Please!"Dvalin perked up instantly.As an elemental dragon, Dvalin had no need for food or family. His only two pleasures were Mondstadt's free, open skies-and beautiful music.And as far as he was concerned, Wendy's melodies were even more exquisite than that drunken slacker Barbatos's ever were.Thus, the lovely and dreamlike music once again filled the skies above Windrise.Down below, Barbara and Noelle were practically trembling with excitement at the sight of the majestic East Wind Dragon soaring joyfully around the Anemo Archon like a child reunited with their mother.One song became two, then three...Only after the melodies faded and the wind quieted did Dvalin finally, reluctantly bid farewell, sweeping off toward the distant sky with noble grace and strength.And then, the eerie, otherworldly Wind God descended gently back onto her perch in the oak tree. Chin propped on her hand, she smiled lazily, golden eyes lowered toward the two lovely maidens below."Here to clean the statue?""Yes, O Wind God!""...I'm not Barbatos."Wendy gave them an innocent, faintly confused look, waving her hand casually.Noelle froze. Barbara, on the other hand, beamed in delight and instantly bowed her head."Of course, I understand! The Wind God dislikes being fussed over as a deity. In all the stories, He always descended as a bard or traveler, laughing and singing alongside mortals. We won't expose your identity!""Um... I mean, I really am not-""Barbara understands completely! You're not the Anemo Archon at all. You're just a passing, once-in-a-lifetime Master Musician, right?""...You know what? Call me whatever you want."Wendy offered an exasperated smile and gave up. She rested her cheek on her hand again, watching the two with warm amusement.Noelle's face lit up with realization.Of course. Someone who could play such celestial music, who made the Thousand Winds dance, who summoned the East Wind Dragon to circle and sway in the sky like a tame songbird...Even Dvalin, the East Wind Dragon, had shouted "Barbatos" the moment he appeared!And you're telling me she's not the Wind God?No one in their right mind would believe that.Noelle's firmly thought while glancing admiringly at Barbara.​No wonder she's a sister of the Church-she instantly understood the Anemo Archon's intent.Then, under "Barbatos's" gaze, the two of them sprang into action, fetching water, propping up the ladder, and preparing to clean the statue with almost military efficiency."Hey hey hey-no need to rush like that. And don't go scrubbing it spotless just because I'm here watching. It's just a hunk of stone. Not worth overworking two adorable girls over.""Anemo-ah, no, Master Musician! We always clean the statue with all our heart. Whether You're watching or not doesn't matter. This is the respect of Mondstadt for Barbatos, and has been for generations. It will always be so, for all the generations to come."Barbara's smile was radiant, her piety practically glowing with physical intensity.Wendy looked away awkwardly, unsure how to respond to such fervor.Instead, she summoned a breeze to swirl gently around them, lifting the heat from their skin and replacing it with cool air and bringing clean fruits."If you're thirsty, have something to eat. It's pretty hot today-stay hydrated.""Thank you for your grace, Master Musician! We are honored!""Thank you, Master Musician!"Their words called her a musician, but their hands folded in reverence the way one only did before a god.Wendy laughed softly and didn't press it.They worked hard, scrubbing and polishing the statue until it gleamed.Even though Barbara claimed they always gave it their all, after several passes they shared a look-then wordlessly decided to clean it several more times just to be sure.It was dusk by the time they finished. They sat together beneath the oak, quietly and reverently enjoying every last piece of the fruit Wendy had given them.Only then did they rise, standing respectfully before her."O great musician, we're about to return to Mondstadt. Is there anything else we can do for you? Or... may we have the honor of accompanying you to the city?"Barbara's voice was full of hope and humility.Though they were tired from the day's labor, the devoted nun felt nothing but boundless energy and joy.Wendy waved her hand breezily."No need. I'm fine here. If I feel like visiting Mondstadt, I'll show up on my own.""Yes, Master Musician!"They were disappointed, of course. But no follower would dare to pressure a god. Since She had spoken, they had only to obey.Yet Barbara suddenly thought of Jean-her sister.Jean was exhausted lately, burdened beyond reason by the Knights' growing crises.If she knew that the Anemo Archon had returned... she might finally breathe easier.But hadn't the god just said She didn't want Her identity revealed?Barbara was torn. Her devotion and her love for her sister pulled her in opposite directions, leaving her lost.Luckily, the gentle god noticed."What's wrong, faithful nun?""To be recognized by you, Master Musician... that is the greatest honor of my life!"---Chapter 24 - Recognition from the MusicianAfter her initial excitement, Barbara lowered her head in shame."Master Musician... Acting Grand Master Jean Gunnhildr of the Knights of Favonius is also my elder sister. She's under immense pressure right now, all because we're too short-handed. I... I'm afraid she won't last much longer. So... would it be possible to let her know of your arrival? It might help ease her burden, even just a little. I-I know it goes against your wishes. I confess my disobedience!"Her words came with both honesty and guilt. On one hand, she couldn't hide her worry for Jean. On the other, she was already full of regret for daring to go against what she thought was the Wind God's unspoken will.Wendy raised an eyebrow and chuckled."I thought it was something serious. If it'll help her, then of course I don't mind. I doubt the Wind God would be bothered by something this minor, don't you think?""R-Really?! Master Musician, your mercy and gentleness go beyond even the verses in the holy scriptures-no, no, mere words couldn't ever capture your greatness!""Alright, alright, if you keep this up the sun'll set before you're done praising me. Go on now. May the wind of the wild guide your path.""Yes, Master Musician!"Barbara nodded, eyes sparkling, and she and Noelle turned and headed back toward Mondstadt, nearly skipping with joy....That night, while Jean was still burning the midnight oil in her office, she found herself ambushed by two simultaneous reports of startlingly good news."I believe my report takes priority. Angel has successfully negotiated with the North Wind Wolf King. He's agreed to help us form a joint cavalry unit. This could drastically ease Mondstadt's manpower shortage-""Wait wait wait! My news is way more important! The Anemo Archon Barbatos has descended!""...What? The North Wind Wolf King actually agreed to- Wait. Barbara, what did you just say?"Jean, Lisa, Angel, Amber, and Noelle all turned in unison to stare at Barbara.The young nun froze, eyes widening. Tears welled up."I'm finished. I was only supposed to tell Jean, but I got too excited and told everyone... I'm finished. I've gone against the will of Lord Barbatos. Nothing short of death can atone for this betrayal..."And with that, Barbara collapsed to her knees and began weeping bitterly, trembling with guilt.Jean's office instantly descended into chaos....The next morning, Jean led Barbara to Windrise herself. With them were Lisa, Amber, Angel, and Noelle.Barbara had violated the will of a god. No matter the intent, she insisted on coming to offer penance.And the rest of them, who had heard what they weren't meant to hear, came along to do the same.Though Barbatos was the God of Freedom, and though all the scriptures described him as kind, joyful, and merciful-still, divine wrath was not something to take lightly.In Mondstadt, reverence for the Anemo Archon was a given.They arrived to find the Wind God resting high among the branches of the great oak, eyes closed in repose, wrapped in the embrace of The Thousand Winds.She was the picture of otherworldly allure. Her languid posture radiated a mesmerizing charm, her figure elegant enough to eclipse any maiden, and her porcelain face held a soft, content smile-as if she were some dreamlike spirit born of the breeze.Not exactly how the legends described her.However, the incarnation of gods is unpredictable and cannot be guessed by common sense.And with the way Dvalin had called out "Barbatos" in her presence and danced to her music with joy, there could be no mistake.They all fell to their knees.But before they could speak, the Wind God opened her eyes. With a flick of her finger, a breeze stirred, as if listening to some far-off whisper. Then, another motion, and a gentle, irresistible wind lifted them off the ground, setting them on their feet once more."I thought something terrible had happened. All this fuss over something so minor? Do you all think the Anemo Archon is that unreasonable?""N-No, of course not, Master Musician! But Barbara disobeyed your instruction, and that is an unforgivable sin. Please, punish me as I deserve!"Even though she could no longer kneel, Barbara still lowered her head in apology, eyes glistening with tears of regret. It makes people unsurprising that if she was given a knife, she would probably really commit suicide by slashing her neck or committing suicide by septum."Oh, stop that. You've done nothing wrong. If I punished you over something this small, then the Wind God would truly be the unreasonable one, wouldn't they?""Master Musician..."Barbara trembled with emotion, overwhelmed to the point of collapse.My god... acknowledged me.​My god... is so kind and merciful.​To serve Her is the greatest honor of my life.Wendy was beginning to panic at the intensity of Barbara's wide, shining eyes-eyes that were dangerously close to leveling up into full-blown cultist-tier zeal.So she quickly skipped past her and turned to face Jean, who stood with the calm and poise of a knight-but whose heart was visibly racing."You're the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius?""Yes, I'm Jean Gunnhildr. Since Grand Master Varka's expedition, I've been responsible for all the affairs of the Knights.""...You're very beautiful."Wendy gave her a once-over-subtle, until her gaze landed unapologetically on Jean's... generous curves. Then came the honest praise.Jean instantly turned bright red. Her composure faltered, and the knightly resolve slipped to reveal the bashful girl underneath."Th-Thank you, Master Musician. But my abilities are limited. I've failed to preserve peace in Mondstadt. I humbly beg your forgiveness-""Nonsense. You've done wonderfully. In fact, I think you're more than qualified to drop the 'Acting' from your title.""Ma... Master Musician..."Jean tried to keep a straight face, but the Wind God's words swept over her like a balm. A flood of emotion rose to her chest, and she couldn't stop the smile from breaking through.So many sleepless nights. So much pressure. So many times she doubted herself, wondering if she was failing her people-or the Grand Master's trust.But now-The extremely heavy psychological pressure was removed from her shoulders at this moment.Now she had the Anemo Archon's recognition. This proved that all that struggle... all those burdens... they weren't in vain.Wendy smiled warmly at the reborn fire in Jean's eyes."I heard you admire Vanessa?""Yes, Master Musician. The Lionfang Knight Vanessa's righteousness, bravery, kindness, and piety are what I've dedicated my life to emulating. If I could ever be near her level, I could die without regrets.""Haha, I'll give you righteousness, kindness, and bravery. But piety? You lot definitely misunderstood something there. Vanessa once shushed the Anemo Archon mid-speech-more than once, in fact. She even waved them off like a squirrel when they interrupted her work. Now that was a fun bit of history."---Chapter 25 - I'm Really Not BarbatosWendy wore a wistful expression, as if reminiscing about something long past.But the Mondstadters present were anything but calm."Wait-Lady Vanessa actually...?"Jean covered her mouth in disbelief.Barbara mirrored her expression, jaw slack with shock.Wendy looked leisurely at the two sisters, and smiled."She treated the Wind God like a friend, not a deity on a pedestal. I think... that's exactly what the Wind God always wanted. Admiration is often the furthest thing from true understanding. Maybe what the Wind God truly longed for wasn't blind worship-but a friend who could laugh, argue, and stand as an equal."Her smile softened, and a faint sadness flickered across her face.She hadn't said anything specific, yet somehow it felt like she'd said it all."Wind God..."The others exchanged glances, and a new understanding bloomed in their hearts.Then Wendy turned her gaze toward the horizon, her voice low and thoughtful."All seven nations are changing. The winds are shifting... hard to predict.""In Liyue, the oldest of the Archons walks a weary path, burdened with responsibilities too heavy for any one god. Even as he clings to strength, no one knows how much longer he can last. He's waiting-hoping-for a nation led by mortals. But what form will that future take...?""In distant Inazuma, our eastern bastion against the darkness overseas-once a land the other six should have thanked-the Shogun has locked herself away in Tenshukaku. She's handed all governance to decaying nobles. Her land lies in chaos. The Vision Hunt Decree, the Isolation Edict... they're tearing the nation apart. No one knows what she's thinking. But cutting ties with the six nations is easy. It is easy to leave from the Nations. If you want to reintegrate into the Seven Nations in the future, it is not that simple""In Sumeru, the Dendro Archon has willingly imprisoned herself at the hands of the scholars. Her connection to the people severed. She was meant to keep the Irminsul pure-but it's all gone to rot. If this continues, collapse is inevitable.""In Fontaine... the whole nation's like a satire. Is it still a country ruled by gods, or has it become a kingdom of dragons? Hard to say anymore.""In Natlan, there's war everywhere. Human against human. Human against god. Life vanishes like molten iron poured into sand. It's an ugly sight.""And then there's Snezhnaya... oh, Snezhnaya. Ambitious. So very ambitious."Wendy's voice remained gentle, but each word seemed to echo with the winds of every nation."Compared to all that, Mondstadt almost feels... blessed. Our skies are clear, our people live in peace. But Mondstadt does not exist in a vacuum. The demons overseas, the corruption in the roots of the World Tree, the fraying ley lines, the ever-watching Abyss... tug one thread and the whole tapestry shakes. Mondstadt wishes only for stillness-but the wind never truly rests. So tell me, Jean. How should we face the days ahead?"The weight of Wendy's words was immense.She'd said very little directly. But in her pauses, her shifts in tone, lay an impossible breadth of awareness. As if she was aware of everything that's happening in Teyvat from her gaze. No divine miracles were shown, but for a moment, they all felt the overwhelming grandeur of godhood.Jean broke into a nervous sweat."...Mondstadt must grow stronger. We must cultivate our people, strengthen ties with the six nations, and ensure that we can remain steady in the coming storms.""Bit of a safe answer," Wendy chuckled, "but look-you already know where to begin. So go on. Don't worry. The Anemo Archon isn't dead yet.""Yes, Master Musician!""Alright, off you go. I may be a carefree nobody with nothing to do, but all of you have duties to uphold. Run along now-run toward your dreams!"Wendy flopped down on a tree branch, swinging her arms like she was jogging in midair. Mischievous and adorable, yet the warmth in her gaze made it all feel sacred.Compared to those troubled gods she'd mentioned earlier...​Our Wind God was just too kind. Too wonderful.They all bowed in deep respect and turned to head back to Mondstadt according to God's will."By the way," Wendy added lazily, "just to be clear, I'm not Barbatos.""Of course not," Jean replied with a serene smile. "You're simply the greatest musician to ever pass through Mondstadt. Understood."Everyone wore that same we totally get it expression.Wendy sighed helplessly. She waved halfheartedly, then curled up on the branch, closing her eyes once more....On the road back, their steps were light.A breeze whispered past them.And in that wind, a violin sang out.Wuuum~ Wuuum~The sound was grand and mournful, echoing like the memory of an ancient and noble era.It was The Rains of Castamere, or something very much like it.​A tune perfectly fit for what Wendy had just said-a melody that mirrored the rise and fall of the Seven Nations.As they reached the city walls of Mondstadt, the music faded.Jean stopped."...Did you hear that?""It was beautiful... majestic... truly worthy of the Anemo Archon-I mean, Master Musician.""I heard history," Lisa said softly. "I heard the tales of knights who defended this land with sword and blood. The Musician was praising the generations who protected Mondstadt-and now that same praise has passed to us. Can you feel it? The weight of Mondstadt, resting on your shoulders?"Jean turned to the others with a smile.Angel blinked. Reading comprehension: 100 points.The others, too, beamed with pride."The Musician is telling us that everything we do matters. If we carry on the will of those who came before us, protect Mondstadt with our lives and hearts-then the Wind God will always be watching. And the Knight's Flower will bloom in every corner of our city."Jean's words burned with passion and certainty.So what if the the six nations are changing? Their God is watching. Mondstadt would endure.It can be foreseen that Jean's confidence that has overcome all its fears will bring many changes to the futureAs for Wendy-no matter how many times she insisted she wasn't Barbatos, everyone's response would always be the same:A knowing smile....(I kind of want to see what happens when the real Barbatos shows up and says, "Hi, I'm Barbatos.")​(+1. I want to see the chaos.)Angel and the rest, utterly unfazed, mused silently to themselves....But all of this didn't stop Angel from poking her head hesitantly through the door of the Cat's Tail tavern later that day."Hey! Look what I caught-a little Angel!"Margaret suddenly scooped her up from behind and plopped her onto her shoulder.Angel flailed in surprise, only to be immediately pulled into a warm hug and carried inside. Margaret set her down on a stool."Here to quit, aren't you, little Angel?"Her tone was knowing, but gentle.News from the Knights had spread. The little chef she'd once taken in had turned out to be a prodigy, handpicked by Lisa herself. Even slated to be her successor. She was genius meant for something far greater for the Knights.Margaret had known this day would come. She was already prepared to let her go.Even so, it was hard. She'd miss that sweet little face behind the kitchen counter.But it was for Angel's good, and for Mondstandt's benefit as well. So Margaret was ready to let go."I'm sorry, Boss Margaret," Angel said tearfully. "I have to help the Knights build the first ever wolf cavalry. It's a lot of work. I don't have time to fulfill my old promise. I can't help you expand your business and make the name 'Margaret' famous all over Mondstadt."She handed over a hefty bag of Mora, full of guilt.Margaret sweated bullets.​Although she accepted it as a joke at the beginning, Margaret is really a little lucky because Angel didn't have time to fulfill her promise.One should know that Mondstadt is the country that opposes power the most among the Seven Nations. The teachings of the Anemo Archon are freedom, equality for everyone. No one can ascend the throne. If Margaret really became something that shrouded Mondstadt, then all Mondstandt's people would mess with her next. The Knights and the Clan would probably rush over to kill Margaret."Thanks, really. I appreciate the thought. But you can keep your Mora. You've already done a lot for the Cat's Tail. The other chefs all learned so much from you-their skills are among the best in the city now. I should be thanking you."She ruffled Angel's hair.Angel looked up with teary eyes, then dove forward, burying her face in Margaret's soft chest with a little whimper and a big rub."I'll come visit often, Boss Margaret.""Aw, what's this? You're just joining the Knights, not leaving Mondstadt. Come by anytime. You get half-off, alright?""Boss Margaret, you're the best."Angel melted into her embrace, grinning into the fluff where no one could see. She was immersed in the beauty of Boss Margaret, and her lips couldn't help but open, but no one could see it.Margaret just thought the kid was sentimental and clinging.She had no idea Angel was taking advantage of her hug to get some benefits.In fact, it is still a pity that the plan of letting Boss Margaret's businesses cover the Seven Nations will be scrapped. Now the plan cannot keep up with the changes. Now she wants to change into Lisa's black stockings and long legs while also getting benefits while hugging her, so she can only endure the pain and separate from Boss MargaretOf course in the future, she will come here often to heal her mind and relax, while consolidating her persona as a cutie who is loved by everyone.Besides, the tavern still had catgirls.There was no way Angel would give that up."Boss Margaret... heehee... Boss Margaret...""There, there, my sweet girl~"For now, Angel could rest here just a little longer.The wolf cavalry construction work she found for herself into will be very busy next time, so she has to relax.---Chapter 26 - This Is How the Raiden Shogun Governs?Dragonspine. A land sealed in eternal ice and snow.Ordinary adventurers here would freeze solid within minutes of leaving their heat source. But through the blizzard strode one person at an unhurried pace, wrapped only in a white cloak, without even proper winter gear. The savage cold might as well have been a spring breeze for him.It wasn't until he stepped into a cavern packed with alchemical instruments and shelves of dense notes that his face came into view-elegant and flawless, as if carved from jade.It was Albedo, captain of the Knights of Favonius Investigation Team and Mondstadt's Chief Alchemist."This observation took me deeper into Dragonspine than expected," he murmured to himself. "I hope nothing urgent came up while I was away."With a wave of his hand, the fires and braziers flared to life, banishing the cold with comforting warmth. He didn't really need it-but since he was born human, he figured he might as well pretend to follow human customs."...Hm?"Approaching his desk, Albedo inspected his desk if the Knights left a letter for him, but he noticed something out of place.Not a letter, but a glass vial-inside it floated a single dark-purple crystal, radiating an aura both familiar and deeply unsettling.His pupils contracted.Below the vial lay a note.[To Mr. Albedo, whom I have long admired-greetings, and apologies for the intrusion. Please hear this request. Five hundred years ago, the East Wind Dragon Dvalin fought and defeated the evil dragon Durin. But in doing so, he was forced to swallow Durin's toxic blood, and has suffered its corrosion ever since. He now nears his limits. Word has reached me of your lineage-of your inheritance from the golden alchemist Rhinedottir. If anyone can devise a cure from this crystallized poison, it would be you. If you require anything during your research, simply speak into the wind beyond this cave. I shall hear it.​My deepest thanks.]Barbatos, wary of Rhinedottir's ties to Khaenri'ah-and half-expecting the blonde Traveler to solve everything anyway-would never have dared do this.But Wendy didn't have these concerns. She handed the poison to the expert directly. In fact, she kept some for herself and was already running her own private experiments.Albedo lowered the note and picked up the vial.A surge of old memories returned.Rhinedottir-his creator. His master.Durin-another of her creations. His brother.Secrets he had never told a soul.Who could possibly know the details of that ancient dragon battle? Who could have extracted a crystallized shard of Durin's poison from Dvalin? Who could know all of his most dangerous secrets?Albedo turned toward the blizzard howling outside. His answer came quickly."...Barbatos, aren't you worried I might..."Albedo was still a little hesitant and a little afraid that he might bring disaster.But the crystal in his hand that was laced with a faint Abyssal taint told him everything he needed to know-this was the Anemo Archon' trust.So the boy bowed deeply to the wind beyond the cave."To be trusted by someone like you... it is my greatest honor."It can only be said that Barbatos is indeed one of the oldest gods, and his courage convinced Abedo.With that, Albedo began examining the crystal, sifting through his vast store of knowledge for anything that might match....Meanwhile, Wendy was lounging high in the treetops, one leg draped lazily over the other, gold anklet catching the sun. She held a small wisp of poison between both her hands, swirling it slowly in the air."Abyssal energy," she mused. "A peculiar thing... It mutates both life and power, like Honkai energy. But while Honkai infects everything, this stuff targets living essence specifically. Strange, strange little thing. The Sea of Quanta really does contain all sorts of weird junk."She shook her head, and a flicker of Honkai energy burned the Abyssal traces to nothing.Although it is unique, Honkai is obviously more versatile.Sure, she could replicate Abyssal energy now. Angel's Authority of Reason allowed her to analyze and mimic it with ease.But Teyvat clearly wasn't fond of it-and vice versa.In other words, no Abyss-themed clones for the time being."Hmm... what if I use Honkai energy to purify Dvalin's poison?"A second later, she shook her head violently."Bad idea. Dvalin would probably die from the Honkai before the poison ever left his system."The thought was tempting, but also reckless. Honkai energy was no kinder to Teyvat than the Abyss.And besides-just a little more Honkai output, and someone upstairs might notice.She sighed, glancing upward at the false sky above.Back in the Honkai world, it was always Otto and Kevin that worried her.Now here, she had to be wary Celestia.​Angel-chan, why are you always under pressure?Sure enough, this is a challenge a Villain Boss must surmount.To become strong, she still need to become strong!Now then... should she crack the mystery of the Vision?Copying one would be simple enough. Angel's powers could easily replicate it, and the underlying principles weren't complicated.The risk is not knowing whether the connection between the Visions and Celesta is close. If someone comes to her because of the Vision, it will be more than worth the loss.Then again, The Heavenly Principles was probably still busy wrestling over the chunk of Honkai energy Angel left behind. With any luck, that tug-of-war would keep their attention for a while.And even if it didn't-she already had enough stolen divine power to make a dozen Wendy-Angel-class gods. Did she really need a few clones with minor elemental tricks?"...Well, only children make choices. As adults, we want them all!"Wendy and Angel smiled in perfect sync....The Thousand Winds blew to the mortal world flow freely.Not even the Raiden Shogun's thunderclouds-her curtain of endless lightning-could keep the breeze from crossing the sea.And today, a very special gust carried with it a crystal shard of purified energy, sealed in violet light, impervious to all other forces.It slipped through the skies of Inazuma, looking for a a decent place to land.Then she found that she didn't need to find it at all.There were corpses everywhere on the ground because there were battlefields everywhere."...Well then."The presence within the wind was silent for a beat, stunned.Although when she first got the information in the Thousand Winds, she only knew that it was messy here.But she didn't expect it to be so messy.This was...Is this how the Raiden Shogun governs a nation?"..."The wind swept over a small hill of bodies.Then-a whimper.A feeble moan, like the last flicker of a dying candle.A girl, pale as death, slumped in her shattered armor, blood gushing from a wound across her chest.Her eyes were gray. Empty. The kind of gaze that belonged to someone who was seconds from slipping away.[You're dying.]A voice, like a sigh, like a lament, floated on the wind and whispered in the girl's fading mind.---Chapter 27 - The Nameless Passerby, Kaguya-chan"Who... who's talking...?"[You're dying. So-any last wishes?]"...A ghost..."[Nope. Way scarier than that. So? Got a wish? I can make it come true.]"...Want... to live..."[Sorry. Can't do that. You're too far gone. I won't make it in time.]If this had been Angel in Mondstadt, perhaps-with fragments of the Authority of Death-she could've revived the girl, even if it meant risking detection by Celestia.But this? This was only a sliver of consciousness smuggled in on the wind-far too weak to save a life so close to its end."...Inazuma... save Inazuma..."[Alright. But in return, after you die... can I borrow your body?]"...A friendly ghost... that's... rare..."[What's your name? I won't use it. I won't taint your memory or those who loved you. I just need a shell. But I'll remember you.]"...Chisaki..."[Chisaki. A lovely name. I'm sorry we met like this. Goodbye, Chisaki.]A warm breeze wrapped gently around the fading girl, cradling her at the end of her life. Allowing her to bathe in tenderness in the last journey of her life....Angel, now washed clean in the ocean, let the blood drift away with the waves.But taking someone's body, even their identity, wasn't exactly decent.Back in the Honkai world, she'd already reflected on this. She'd been younger then, greedier. Some identities were just too useful to resist.Yeah... she had to admit, for Miss Final Boss, her moral compass sometimes tilted. She was working on it.In Teyvat, though, there wasn't yet any irreplaceable gain to justify such choices. So this time, she would be a little more refined about it."...But maybe this calmness of mine-does it mean I'm getting arrogant?"From the fear of destroying the world to becoming a God of the Earth, it seems that it was much easier in Teyvat?Her battle with Celestia had troubled Angel, but it also made it clear that Teyvat's water was far less deep than back home.In the Honkai world, she might drown.In Teyvat? She only needed to stand.She stood waist-deep in the sea, pensive. Doubting. Then she shook it all off."Self-reflection is important, but no one's harder to understand than yourself. Enough thinking-time to act."She began reshaping the body. Black hair like flowing ink, eyes deep as the night. A demure, graceful figure-slim and elegant, with the soft glow of a noble lady from the old capital.She was around 160 centimeters tall, delicate yet composed, the very image of a Yamato nadeshiko."...Perfect. I like this look."The sea in Inazuma was clear enough to reflect her new face. She paused, admiring it."Now then-no need to stress over identity. This country's in chaos. Outside the main cities, it's a complete mess. Make up any background and no one will question it. The Electro Archon is not the Anemo Archon-she doesn't have the ability to retrieve information from anywhere.""But I do need a name...""Kaguya. Houraisan Kaguya. Yes, that has a nice ring to it."Lifting a hand to cover her mouth like a prim princess, Angel-no, Kaguya-smiled with elegant restraint."My body's ready, and far enough from my other selves. Time to test it... the Vision."She raised her hand. A shimmering Hydro Vision materialized in her palm.And with it, information about Visions surged across the Angel Network's Teyvat relay.Moments later, Kaguya exhaled in relief."So that's how it works. Better than expected."Visions were tied to Celestia-more accurately, to the Heavenly Principles.However, the process of identifying worthy souls, granting Visions, and reclaiming them were all completely automated.No one was monitoring every Vision in real time.Which made sense. If someone was watching all the time, how did the Raiden Shogun get away with the Vision Hunt Decree without being immediately smacked down?Kaguya twirled the Vision in her hand. Soft Hydro energy flowed into her, warm and smooth.She waved a hand.A water dragon nearly ten meters long surged from the sea, curled through the air, then plunged back into the waves."The quality is insignificant, but it's also interesting.".She smiled, then dissolved the Vision back into energy.Chisaki had asked her to save Inazuma.Kaguya also felt that such a country was extremely inconsistent with her aesthetics, so it was time to change that.But first, she had to walk the land, see it with her own eyes. No rash decisions.Besides, in a land so obsessed with Visions, wielding one too openly might draw the wrong kind of attention, and she will stick like a sore thumb in the crowd.And Furthermore-in the eyes of those who understood such things, having a Vision marked you as someone whose will had been recognized by the Heavenly Principles. Which is the highest evaluation and recognition of one's personal will.Even if she hadn't thought of a use yet, she'd find one. Best not to waste it."Fufufu~"Kaguya gave a sly chuckle and began strolling inland to explore the battlefield.Only to trip over her own feet.Plop!She fell face-first into the ocean.Blub blub blub-Kaguya: "......"Angel: [...]Wendy: [...]It was the first time using a human body in Teyvat. The batch of Honkai energy smuggled in had only been enough for a single Dominance-Core level construct which resulted in poor control.This is a situation they expected....but they didn't expect it to be so embarrassing...Eventually, Kaguya did make it to dry land and ventured unto another battlefield."Stop right there!"Kujou Sara was leading today's patrol.As the front-line commander of the Shogunate forces, respected by all her troops, it was almost routine for her to personally scout the most dangerous and volatile zones.Kaguya's strange behavior of walking carelessly made it difficulty to prevent the patrol team from not discovering her, which alarmed the leader of the team.Sara narrowed her eyes. She stared at this woman before her who had a gentle aura, but her clothes were ragged and face dirtied, which made it awkward."Who are you?""Me? Just... a passing through nameless person."Kaguya brushed leaves and debris from her hair and shoulders. Her eyes shimmered with soft sorrow and bitterness.Sara's expression hardened. Killing intent flared."Nonsense. This is the front lines between the Shogunate and rebel forces. There are no passersby here. Who are you really?""I live that way. Seven or eight li from here. I farm. I heard battle close by this morning. When it fell silent, I came to look..."She paused, voice low."So many bodies. I walked a short distance and counted 774 corpses. That's not even all of them. Shogunate soldiers... Watatsumi warriors... all dead. Why? Why must it be like this?"Kaguya looked at Kujo Sara quietly. The rich shrillness and bitterness in her eyes made Sara withdraw her murderous aura.Along with her sight, breaking away without even looking at each other.---Chapter 28 - Inazuma Is Starving"General," one of the soldiers spoke quietly. "There is a village out that way. We gave them notice to evacuate some time ago, and most of them did leave, but..."But not all.There were always some who couldn't leave-the old, the sick, the frail.Kujou Sara was strict, but she wasn't heartless. The Shogunate didn't have the manpower to escort stragglers, and forcibly removing them would've meant killing them outright.So she had allowed them to remain.Her brow softened. "If you're a villager, then you should return quickly. This is a battlefield, filled with danger. We'll do our best to push the front lines farther from the village. The fighting won't reach your homes. You have my word."Kaguya smiled faintly. "Push the front lines farther? Heh. What difference would that make?"Sara's eyes narrowed. "You-""Trade has been severed. The high-yield crops imported from abroad have withered in Inazuma's poor soil. Just one or two cycles of planting, and the yields are already terrifyingly low. With no foreign fertilizer, the fields are going barren. And without those cheap, plentiful grains the other six nations used to sell us... well, we're going to starve. Not just my village-all of Inazuma. Every day, more people go hungry. Every day, more will die. I've seen it. I've seen the mouth of famine. Have you, General?"Kaguya's voice remained calm, her fingers absentmindedly brushing bits of gravel and leaves from her hair.Sara froze. Her pupils shrank. Even the soldiers behind her looked shaken.Inazuma will starve without trade?No one had ever said it that plainly before. And no one had ever put it so starkly-so inescapably-in terms of agricultural fact."Th-The Tri-Commission will find a solution! We won't let Inazuma fall to that state!""Will you?" Kaguya tilted her head gently. "Let's hope so. Let's hope so. When I'm back, fhe baffle will be finished and there will be more dead. This....is something pointless now. See you again."She bowed politely, then turned and resumed her slow walk toward the village.This time, as they watched her leave, the soldiers saw not just a girl, but a truth far too heavy to ignore."...Send a few men to follow her, at a distance," Sara ordered quietly. "Make sure she gets home safely. And verify she's not a Watatsumi spy.""Yes, ma'am!"Sara's eyes lingered in the direction the girl had gone. She straightened her posture."The Tri-Commission will resolve the food issue. So far, the front lines have had no shortages. That is proof enough. We must continue to believe in the loyalty of the Commission, and the wisdom of the Shogun!""Understood!" the soldiers echoed, straightening up.With that, the general turned away. But later that night, back at camp, Sara found herself putting brush to paper, writing a letter to her adoptive father-the head of the Kujou Clan.She asked about the nation's food crisis.But this letter is destined to receive no response.Of course the head of the Kujou Clan-the most powerful of the Tri-Commission-knew just how dire the agricultural situation was.But what of it?The suffering of the rabble should not reach the Shogun's ears. And as long as the Raiden Shogun remained ensconced in Tenshukaku, everything would appear stable on the surface.Whether his composure came from true loyalty or from his own addiction to power... that was something only he knew....Kaguya finally reached the village near the front lines.Despite tripping over her own feet a ridiculous number of times on the way back-enough that even the guards tailing her looked like they wanted to help-she made it.The village was nearly empty now.Only a handful of elders remained. Their sons, daughters, and grandchildren had long since left, hoping to escape the war and carve out new lives elsewhere. The elders had stayed behind, waiting to die.It was not abandonment. It was survival.The villagers are short of material capital, so they have to migrate for a long distance, avoid the battlefield, and then rebuild their homes in distant and strange places. The whole process will be extremely bumpy.The shogunate army only informed and did not assist in the arrangement of this process. Therefore, young and middle-aged people are prone to dying in this process, let alone the elderly. Taking them with them will only put the whole family at greater risks.For the sake of young people and children who are more worthy of protection, most of the elderly voluntarily request to stay.They guard a root here. If the war fades in time, they may be able to wait until the young people come back and reunite their families. If they can't wait, they can only assume that those young people are living well in the distance, and they have nothing to ask for.This... this was the reality of life for the poor, the nameless, the forgotten.And honestly, they were lucky Sara had turned a blind eye. A less merciful commander might have had them forcibly removed, or worse."Welcome home, Kaguya-chan.""Little Kaguya's back...""Look, Kaguya-chan, I found some good berries. We'll eat well tonight!"The few remaining elders called out cheerfully to her.Kaguya smiled and greeted each one in turn.Yes, she came here before she encountered Kujou Sara in the battlefield, while claiming to be a refugee with no family left. Layered in just enough mental suggestion to make them accept her-see her as one of the village's missing young, perhaps.Without that, this warmth might not have existed.Desperation breeds cruelty. It's not malice-it's survival. This, too, was human nature."I found out what's happening. The fighting's over, for now. It won't reach us here. You can all sleep peacefully tonight."Kaguya spoke gently, accepting the berry someone offered her. She bit into it.It was sour-intensely sour-but she didn't flinch. She even smiled."...It's sweet. Thank you.""Then eat more," an old man urged. "There's not much left to fill our bellies these days. Not sure if we'll even harvest anything this time around... Might not even be alive by then. If that happens, it's up to you to gather it, alright, Kaguya-chan?"A girl in tattered clothes, walking beside a handful of frail old people, disappeared into the village.Outside, the soldiers who'd followed her said nothing.They simply looked at one another, then turned and left, reporting back to the general.....Kaguya had intended to use this place as a base, to learn more about Inazuma's current state, observe, then decide what to do.Unexpectedly, she only managed to stay in this village for three days.The village burned.Crackle, snap-!The fire tore through the homes and fields, devouring the thatch and timber, setting rice shoots ablaze.She'd only gone to the river to fish, gather fruit, something to feed the elders.When she returned-everything was flames."My fields... my fields..."One of the old men stood before the burning paddies, his voice hollow with grief. His rice, his lifeline, his last hope-turned to ash before his eyes.Staggering, he stumbled forward and threw himself into the fire."Wait-!"Kaguya rushed to stop him. But she was too late....Or perhaps even if she'd caught him, what could she have done? What do you say to someone who has lost absolutely everything?His family was gone. His land was gone.What future did he have left to cling to?---Chapter 29 - I Will Strike at the HeartThe cause of the tragedy was simple.The Sangonomiya resistance was searching for a point to break through the shogunate's defenses. The shogunate, in turn, had sealed off many routes as they surrounded them. Eventually, the two forces clashed-and the shogunate's fire arrows rained down here.No one had intended to target the village, but its mere existence was treated as a mistake. Even though the villagers had lived here far longer than either army had set foot in the region.Kujou Sara had failed to uphold her promise.Kaguya stared at the wild berries and the still-twitching fish she had dropped at her feet. She looked toward the burning village, her lips tightly pressed together, saying nothing."Hooo-"The wind carried news from afar.This wasn't the only village near Tatarasuna that had been reduced to ash.On nearby Yashiori Island, Sangonomiya troops disguised themselves as shogunate soldiers and destroyed the seals suppressing a resentful deity. The deity's corruption spread, killing and driving the islanders mad. The Tenryou Commission, unable to contain the outbreak and unwilling to take responsibility, tricked the survivors onto ships, pretending to relocate them-only to disguise themselves again as rebels and sink the ships, leaving no witnesses. Blood and resentment still churned across the sea.Nazuchi Beach had become the central warzone. People died there daily. No one could say how many of the dead were actual soldiers, or just passing merchants and civilians slaughtered for military merit.And in lands beyond the warfront, the people-cut off from foreign trade-had already been struggling. Now, with the government extorting them in the name of war, there was nowhere left to survive. Hunger, displacement, chaos-everywhere."This place... is rotten. Completely rotten."Listening to the news on the wind, Kaguya's eyes turned darker than ink.[What will you do?]"The problem with this country isn't military weakness. It isn't external threats. It's that those at the top are either fools or villains. And the one at the very top is useless. So-I will strike at the heart."[Hmm. If you need support, just ask.]A god who understands nothing of governance, yet insists on controlling every aspect of national policy-and after making those decisions, doesn't even look outside to see how the people are suffering.What began as a divine disaster had become a human one-a flood of cruelty.Even someone like Angel, who prided herself on embracing the darkness, felt her fists itch with the urge to flatten Tenshukaku in a single blow.....Kujou Sara arrived in haste.She had learned there was a small village here-and after Kaguya's words the previous day, she'd grown curious. The girl seemed insightful, perhaps even gifted, and Sara had taken notice.But by the time she arrived, the fires were out.Only ashes remained.And Kaguya stood in the middle of them, dazed and silent."Are... are you alright?"Kujou Sara didn't know what to say.War was ruthless. A village that didn't evacuate would inevitably meet this fate. That was the logic she had always known. But facing this frail girl standing amidst the ruins, such logic felt unbearably thin."They're gone. Everything's gone."Kaguya's voice was light, almost ghostly, as she stood with her back to Sara.Even the stern-faced Kujou Sara showed a flicker of sorrow."Let's leave. The rebels might still be nearby-it's not safe.""The rebels? It doesn't matter anymore. We're all going to die anyway. We'll starve. Maybe... if all the starving souls and furious ghosts gather together... they'll finally be able to make the Shogun take a look at us...""..."Sara wanted to rebuke her-such blasphemy against the Raiden Shogun should not be spoken. But faced with the ashes of an entire village, she couldn't get the words out."I gathered those seeds with everything I had. I walked from Ritou to Inazuma City. Passed through Chinju Forest and the Grand Narukami Shrine. The shogunate was plundering everywhere. There was chaos everywhere. I couldn't find a place to plant.""So I crossed Tatarasuna. From afar, I saw Yashiori Island, already a land of death. So I turned back-and collapsed at the gates of this village.""I was too tired. I couldn't walk any further. So I asked them-Can I plant my seeds here?"Kaguya's voice was empty, lifeless. When she turned, her hollow eyes met Sara's-cold, unfocused."They were high-yield seeds. I had done the research, read every book I could find, chosen the best I could find. If I could confirm their yield here, I planned to distribute the next generation of seeds along the path I came.""Maybe then, fewer people would starve.""Maybe, before the Shogun came up with a plan, I could keep a little more of this country alive."As she spoke, her body swayed.Kujou Sara rushed to catch her."Guh!"A hot splash of blood soaked the girl's clothes-and spilled across Sara's face.Sara's heart clenched. She wanted to say something, do something.But Kaguya's gaze had drifted again-past her, into the distance.Was she seeing the people of Inazuma?Sara couldn't help but wonder."Maybe... maybe it was my fault. I knew planting here was risky. But I couldn't walk anymore... and the seeds-they can't stay viable forever. I was afraid... afraid they'd die before I could plant them...""So many are starving. So many looking for food. I... I couldn't help them... I couldn't..."The blood kept flowing from her lips as she collapsed fully into Sara's arms, eyes half-open, filled with despair."Hey! Don't die! Hold on!"Unleashing her tengu's divine speed, Kujou Sara lifted Kaguya and raced toward the camp.The soldiers left behind stood frozen, expressions grave."You all heard that, didn't you?""Search the area. Maybe we can still...""Move! Don't let her effort go to waste!"Birds of a feather flock together. Most of the people who can follow Kujo Sara and become her guards are soldiers with a strong spirit.Kaguya's words shocked Kujo Sara, and naturally shook the hearts of these soldiers. It would be better to say that compared to Sara, most of them who came from the grassroots had a deeper understanding of the value of food.Truthfully, they understood the value of food more than Kujou Sara ever could.....Kaguya lost consciousness.But at the same time, Wendy was very busy.She had to send little threads of wind, carefully brushing over the land of Inazuma, patching up the fabric of Kaguya's tale. All while avoiding detection by the still-hidden Anemo Archon.It gave her a raging headache.The thinking and workload in this is much greater than Kaguya's casual comment.[You'd better actually accomplish something, you know!][Take it slow. It'll happen.][Hmph!]Kaguya passed out peacefully.Staying in a state of emotional breakdown and physical collapse was easy-this was a corpse-body anyway. As long as she suppressed the output of her Herrscher core, the body's life signs would plummet rapidly.While unconscious, she was already strategizing next steps.Meanwhile, Kujou Sara was being crushed by guilt.As a soldier, battle was her duty. But this time, due to improper command and management, the war burned to innocent villages, and the efforts of a kind and compassionate person who was determined to save the people were burned down.Kujo Sara should have some vigilance and suspicion, but the military doctor reported that her mental strength was exhausted and her life was hanging on the line, shattered all the distracting thoughts.Who could fake that with their life?"High-yield crops... feeding the people of Inazuma...""What... have I actually done?"Standing at the edge of the bed, looking down at the pale girl, Kujou Sara clenched her fists tightly.---Chapter 30 - Kamisato's Costly Favor"The girl's condition is psychological. Normal medicine won't help much-perhaps just some restorative tonics. What she truly needs is peace, rest, and proper nutrition. To take care of herself and her mood. Only then might her vitality return.""In other words... the army camp isn't suitable?"Sara frowned deeply at the medic's words.She thought of the Kujou household. The patriarch's cold, strict nature-his obsession with hierarchy and class-he'd only worsen the girl's condition. If she really sent the girl there, it might just cost her life.She couldn't leave the girl in the hands of any Tenryou-affiliated family either.As for abandoning her? It's even more impossible for her.Her soldiers' mistake was her mistake. Their sin was hers to bear.And this girl wasn't just anyone-she was a wise person who cared about Inazuma. Sara couldn't let her fall due to their error.At this moment, one particular sibling duo came to mind.Kamisato Ayato, head of the Yashiro Commission-a shrewd politician.Kamisato Ayaka, the "Shirasagi Himegimi"-a tactical prodigy on the Go board who she wanted to fight the most. These are the beloved nobles who possess the greatest reputations in the public eye."A debt of gratitude, huh? Whatever. This isn't the time to worry about favors."It was absurd-using a personal favor on a stranger whose name she didn't even know. Especially against the Kamisato family who the Kujou clan despises.But when she thought back to the girl in the ashes, those dead eyes, the blood-soaked chest, the words spoken through trembling lips... Sara had no choice left....Thus, Kamisato Ayato and Ayaka received an unprecedented letter from Kujou Sara.Late at night, they sat staring at each other aftee reading the letter."...Ayaka, did I wake up wrong today? Why are we getting a personal request from Kujou Sara?""Brother, the issue must be with this 'unknown young lady'... Let me handle the arrangements. It's only recovery care. And knowing Lady Sara's character, she wouldn't send this without a reason.""Well... fine. She says the girl is gravely ill. I'll send our best people to retrieve her. We don't want this favor turning into a grudge."Ayato shook his head-but accepted the responsibility.Debts of favor were the hardest to repay.Especially with Kyujo Sara's leadership ability and serious and upright personality, the value of this favor is immeasurable.In comparison, the price is just to serve a girl and help others get sick, which is almost zero costs for the Kamisato family.This transaction is not unreasonable....So, when Kaguya opened her eyes and regained her control of her body, she found that she was already thousands of miles away."You're awake, miss! I'll go inform the Lady right away. Please wait here."The delicate maid smiled brightly and hurried outside.Another maid approached to help Kaguya up, offering tea, adjusting the pillows, asking after her comfort in the gentlest tone.Kaguya blinked, briefly confused-but only briefly.She had seen all kinds of situations. Or rather, very closely sly. She quickly acted and performed her acting skills, sitting there with lifeless eyes, wordless and motionless."This young lady, I am Kamisato Ayaka, the eldest daughter of the Kamisato family under the Yashiro Commission. I understand you have many questions. Lady Kujou Sara entrusted you to our care, hoping you could rest and recover here. She also mentioned that once you awoke, if you had any questions, you could write to her and...""My crops... my high-yield seeds... and the elders in the village... are they still alive?""I'm afraid I don't know what happened, but I can write to ask her. We have a direct channel, and messages travel quickly. Please don't worry.""Ask her! Ask her!"Kaguya grabbed Kamisato Ayaka's wrist. Though she looked gravely ill and weak, her grip was so forceful it made Ayaka wince in pain. Staring down at her face-to-face, Kaguya's hollow eyes were filled with a dark intensity, bordering on madness.Ayaka was shocked by this extremely strong emotion."Alright... I'll write immediately. Please don't be anxious. You need rest and peace to recover."Still, Kaguya clutched Ayaka's wrist tightly-not out of desperation, but she was actually admiring the delicate expression of pain on the noblewoman's face. This admiration was hidden as her own gaze remained blank, with a faint trace of hysteria.After a long pause, Kaguya finally let go.Ayaka forced a gentle smile to reassure her."Miss, I don't know all the details, but no matter what's happened, you must live first. Only by staying alive can you fight for the future. I'll send the letter right away, but please rest well so that you'll be strong enough to read Lady Sara's reply, alright?""...Alright."Kaguya responded.Her face was still lifeless, worryingly so-but at least she answered.Ayaka quietly exhaled in relief, rose, and headed out to write the letter."-Hiss..."Outside, Ayaka rolled up her sleeve to check her wrist, revealing the red marks from Kaguya's grip."Lady Ayaka, how could this be? That girl went too far! How could she treat you this way?""Don't speak of it. There must be something about to her. Now I understand why Lady Sara left her in our care. If she were sent to the Kujou estate, with its strict atmosphere... no, we must care for her well. No mistakes. Understand?""Yes, Lady Ayaka!"Only after seeing the servant off did Ayaka sigh, her mind circling back to Kaguya's earlier words."What kind of high-yield crop? And what village? How could she have contact with someone like Lady Sara?"It was becoming clear-perhaps her brother had underestimated the complexity of this favor.This was no simple matter.Still, Ayaka did as promised and wrote a letter detailing Kaguya's awakening and her urgent questions. Then, after a moment's thought, she added a request for more information about Kaguya herself.That intensity of obsession-bordering on madness-was far from ordinary.Whether for Kaguya's sake or out of respect for Lady Kujou Sara, one of the few righteous officials left in this chaotic era, Ayaka was determined to help. But without knowing the truth, how could she possibly act?She finished the letter and reviewed it carefully, ensuring nothing was left out. Then she sent it off with urgency using the Yashiro Commission's own channels-straight to the front lines at Kannazuka.....At the front lines, Kujou Sara received the letter. Upon reading that Kaguya had awakened, the weight on her chest eased a little. But when she saw the girl's questions, her heart sank.As expected, the first thing Kaguya asked about was her crops and her village.But the troops had scoured the ashes thoroughly. No crops survived, and no villagers were found alive.If she told Kaguya the truth...