"Alright, I promise."
Kael agreed to Barbara's request without the slightest hesitation.
Tears didn't suit an angel like her. Right now, nothing mattered more than calming her down. He just wanted to make up for the pain he caused her in the Life Simulation.
Barbara finally noticed the small booklet Kael had left on the bench.
"Oh… the Gliding Guide. Are you planning to take the gliding exam?"
As a Mondstadt native, she was more than familiar with the Wind Gliders. The moment she saw the booklet, she made the connection.
"I, um, have the qualifications to supervise the exam too. If you want, I can supervise yours."
Kael remembered how excited Amber had been when she taught him how to glide and immediately shook his head.
"I already scheduled an exam with a Knight of Favonius. I shouldn't trouble you with that."
"I see…"
Barbara's disappointment showed for a second. She thought she could at least do something for him.
But she quickly brightened. "Then what are you doing next? You're a Traveler from another world, so you probably haven't explored Mondstadt properly, right? Let me show you around!"
"Well…"
Kael hesitated. He had already promised Amber he'd wait for her at the Church of Favonius.
But those bright eyes made it hard to say no…
He mentally calculated the time. Amber should still be on her way back from Springvale. He could spare a little while.
"Sure. I'll be in your care, then."
"Yay!" Barbara let out a tiny cheer before she realized how excited she sounded. She ducked her head, cheeks glowing pink.
"T-then… let's go…"
---
"This is the Knights of Favonius headquarters."
"That one is Cat's Tail. The food there is great. But I personally prefer Liyue cuisine. The dishes at Xinyue Kiosk and Wanmin Restaurant taste the best!"
"That's Mondstadt General Goods. You can buy lots of ingredients there."
Barbara walked ahead enthusiastically, introducing every shop and landmark.
Kael already knew all of this, of course. He'd explored Mondstadt a thousand times in the game.
But he didn't want to ruin her fun, so he pretended to listen with interest.
Before long, they reached the entrance of Cat's Tail.
A bunch of cats were sprawled out lazily at the door, basking in the sun with their bellies up. The moment Barbara and Kael appeared, the cats perked up like someone had sprinkled catnip, and they rushed over.
Several of them plopped right in front of Barbara, rolling over and offering their bellies for pets.
"Ah…"
Barbara froze, overwhelmed.
As a Hydro Vision holder, she carried a fresh, spring-like aura that small animals adored. And with her naturally gentle presence, resisting her seemed impossible.
Within moments, the space around their feet was filled with fluffy bodies.
Watching her flustered expression, Kael couldn't help smiling.
"They really like you. They're drawn to your kindness."
Barbara's face turned bright red. She crouched down to pet a white kitten showing its belly, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"You're the kind one… not me…"
Her voice was so soft Kael didn't catch it.
"Hm?"
Her blush deepened, but she forced herself to repeat it.
"I think you're the kind—"
A voice cut her off.
"Excuse me, are you Miss Barbara?"
A middle-aged man hurried over, eyes lighting up as soon as he saw her face. "It really is Miss Barbara! I can't believe I ran into you here!"
People who had been watching from a distance finally swarmed over.
"So it really was Barbara! I thought my eyes were tricking me!"
"Barbara! I love you! I joined your fan club! Please sign this for me!"
"Barbara—!"
The crowd surged forward, and the warm atmosphere between them vanished instantly.
More and more people pushed their way closer, surrounding her completely.
"Everyone, please don't crowd…"
Barbara tried her best, but the fans drowned her out.
Kael was shoved aside by the sea of people.
He frowned. These people were getting out of hand.
They knew Barbara was gentle, soft-spoken, and never good at refusing requests. That was exactly why they dared act so shamelessly.
Anyone less kind than her wouldn't put up with this.
"Kael…" Barbara's eyes reddened as she watched him get pushed farther away.
She felt utterly useless.
She'd wanted to show Kael around Mondstadt and maybe spend some time alone with him.
But it ended like this…
Why couldn't she ever do anything right?
If Jean were here, she would've handled the crowd effortlessly…
Suddenly, Barbara saw Kael forcefully parting the crowd, pushing through without hesitation.
He wrapped an arm firmly around her waist.
She froze just long enough to hear him say, "Return."
A powerful gust erupted around them, scattering the crowd as people stumbled back, unable to stay on their feet.
Kael spread his Wind Glider with one arm while holding Barbara close with the other, lifting them both into the sky with ease.
He'd held back when using his Vision. If he'd unleashed all his elemental power, the entire crowd would've been thrown into the air.
Barbara stared up at Kael's sharp jawline, dazed, before whispering the first thing that came to mind. (barbara got mogged)
"Wind Gliders… they aren't supposed to carry other people…"
"Oh, really? I haven't taken the exam yet. Didn't know that rule."
He said it with blatant shamelessness.
And honestly, until he passed the exam, no one could revoke a license he didn't have.
Barbara couldn't help smiling.
They drifted through the sky, Mondstadt stretching beneath them. The wind lifted her hair, the strands brushing against Kael's neck in soft, ticklish strokes.
Feeling his strong arm around her waist, Barbara blushed and gently rested her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
"If I were your exam supervisor, I'd fail you immediately… But the way you came through the crowd just now was so cool… I'd give you a perfect score…"
Kael laughed softly.
"Your grading system is pretty unique, Examiner Barbara."
The vibration of his voice through his chest made her realize what she'd just said. Her cheeks turned scarlet.
They glided all the way to the Church of Favonius.
Kael angled the Wind Glider downward and started descending, but as they got closer to the ground, he noticed a familiar figure waiting at the entrance.
Amber stood there, hands planted on her hips, glaring at him with the kind of intensity that made his whole body tense.