"O Anemo Archon, please tell me... what have I lost...?"
"Why does my heart ache so badly, like a vast hollow I can't fill with anything at all...?"
"Why am I consumed with so much anger... Anemo Archon, please save me... tell me what's happened to me..."
Barbara's tear-filled eyes fixed on the stone statue of the Anemo Archon, her whole being brimming with devotion, praying only that her god would give her guidance.
Meanwhile, Kael followed Amber safely down, gliding through the air until they landed by the fountain.
"Mm, very good!"
Amber gave him a thumbs-up, pride shining in her expression. "I knew gliding would be simple for you. You've already grasped how to control the Wind Glider! Do you want to take the license exam right now?"
"Sure."
Gliding was a stamina-demanding exercise. You needed strong arms to hang from the harness and solid core strength to shift your weight and steer in different directions.
With his enhanced Strength and Stamina, Kael controlled the Wind Glider with ease.
He even felt like he was better at it now than he'd ever been in the game.
He followed Amber back toward the Cathedral of Favonius—the official site for the gliding license exam.
But as they climbed the last few steps, members of the Knights of Favonius patrol rushed up to Amber.
"Amber! We just received intel from informants in Springvale—Fatui agents have been sighted there. We need you to go investigate at once."
Amber turned to Kael with an apologetic look. "Kael, wait here a bit. Looks like your gliding exam will have to be postponed... Ah, right! I almost forgot. Here—this is the gliding manual! Study it for now. You'll need to know the theory part for the test."
Kael sighed. "Something this important, shouldn't you have given it to me from the start?"
Amber stuck out her tongue with a playful tone. "Hehe, I forgot!"
"Alright, go do your job." Kael took the slim booklet from her hands. "I'll wait here."
Once Amber left with the patrol knights, Kael sat down on a bench by the side of the cathedral, flipping open the gliding manual.
From here, he could see the green hills rolling beyond Mondstadt's gates.
Blue skies, drifting clouds, warm sunlight, and a gentle breeze—it all brimmed with life and freedom.
Compared to bustling Liyue, suffocating Inazuma, or enigmatic Sumeru, Mondstadt felt uniquely light and leisurely.
No wonder it was called the land of freedom.
And no wonder its people loved wine so much—life in Mondstadt made it easy to grow lazy.
Kael lazily skimmed the manual.
"When the world's first wind began to blow, the little birds longed for the skies..." He frowned. "Isn't this just a fable...?"
For Barbara, however, the Anemo Archon was faith itself.
Every time she was lost or in pain, she prayed to him.
But this time, no matter how much she prayed, the agony in her heart didn't lessen at all.
She'd once made a rule for herself: her 'moments of despair' could only last thirty seconds.
After thirty seconds, no matter what, she had to smile again.
But this pain was completely different from anything she'd felt before.
So different, she thought... not thirty seconds, not thirty minutes—maybe she'd never get better again.
"Anemo Archon..."
Barbara whispered through trembling lips. "Please... redeem your devout follower..."
And then—suddenly, it felt like something was guiding her.
In a daze, she slowly walked toward the cathedral's side door.
The moment she pushed it open, dazzling sunlight poured through the crack, filling the dim church with light.
Outside, on the bench, the soft glow of morning shone on Kael, as though outlining him in a halo.
He sat absorbed in the little booklet, not noticing that the side door had opened.
Barbara's gaze was instantly drawn to him.
Just one glance—and her unbearable pain eased, as though soothed away in an instant.
She'd found her salvation.
Barbara stared at him blankly, whispering under her breath.
"Anemo Archon... is this the one you've sent to redeem me...?"
Her stare was so intense, so focused, it was impossible to ignore.
Sensing it, Kael raised his head—
And saw a petite girl with pale golden hair standing in the doorway, watching him intently.
Her eyes, wide and filled with desperate hope, locked onto his.
Kael's heart skipped a beat when he recognized her face.
Barbara!
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Next Target 50PS :)