Knights of Favonius Headquarters
Why hasn't he arrived yet…?
Jean glanced at the time again, impatience faintly showing. After a moment of hesitation, she made up her mind to go out and check.
"Jean, you're too anxious. Didn't we agree to meet them here?"
Hearing footsteps, Lisa closed her book and looked over lazily.
"The Stormterror seems to be active outside the city as well. Once we meet them, I want to take action immediately…"
Jean's expression was tense.
With one elbow on the railing and her chin resting on her palm, Lisa leaned casually:
"No need to rush~ I'll be helping too."
Creak—
The main doors opened. Kaeya entered with Lumine and Amber.
"Acting Grand Master, I've brought… some of them."
Jean raised an eyebrow. "Some of them? You didn't bring them all?"
Amber quickly explained,
"That traveler named Su Mo was worried about his bard friend, so he went to look for him first. But he said he'll come to the headquarters afterward."
"I see… In that case, Amber, go help him find his bard friend. He did help Mondstadt just now."
Jean completely understood the worry one has for a friend's safety. And after all — he helped drive Stormterror away. The Knights must repay such kindness.
"Eh? He already refused me earlier… said others in Mondstadt needed me more…"
Amber puffed her cheeks a little; she had wanted to help him.
"What a considerate child. Well, since he insisted, let's leave it at that for now. We're already short on hands for what's coming next. Ah—right, let's first greet our hero."
Lisa's gaze drifted toward Lumine.
"Sorry, nearly forgot—
Mondstadt welcomes you, travelers guided by the wind.
I am Jean, Acting Grand Master. And this is Lisa, our librarian."
Jean quickly introduced herself — nearly forgetting her manners just now. Lisa followed with a gentle, teasing smile.
"What an adorable pair of good-hearted children. I suppose the one who didn't come is the same?"
Lumine nodded slightly.
"Su Mo is very strong. If not for him, Stormterror wouldn't have been driven off so quickly."
This wasn't modesty — Lumine genuinely meant it. Without Su Mo, she wasn't sure she could have harmed the dragon at all.
"Oh my, now I'm starting to look forward to meeting this Su Mo~"
Lisa's violet eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Then… could you help me with something?"
Lumine finally raised the real issue — the reason she came.
"Of course. If it's something we can help with."
"So if I want to find my brother faster… I need to resolve the dragon disaster first."
After listening to Lisa's explanation, Lumine asked again to confirm.
"Yes. Stormterror's presence is heavily disrupting Mondstadt's elemental flow and ley lines. Without that interference, we would have better ways than wanted posters to search for your brother."
Jean nodded with solemn certainty.
"I understand."
Lumine accepted the arrangement.
"In that case, shall we discuss the operation plan?"
Kaeya stepped forward. It was time.
"Here's my suggestion:
I'll take the Temple of the North Wind.
Lumine and Amber, you handle the West Wind Eagle Temple.
Lisa, you take the Temple of the South Wind Lion.
If Lumine and Amber finish early, they can assist Lisa.
…Though helping me is fine too."
Jean hesitated, but Lisa patted her shoulder lightly.
"It's fine, Jean. You still have responsibilities only the Acting Grand Master can handle."
Jean gave a small nod.
"Be careful, all of you."
"Rest assured, Acting Grand Master. We're heading out."
The group departed.
West Wind Eagle Temple
"This is it — one of the abandoned Four Winds temples."
"Completely deserted for years… no civilians ever come here."
"Who knows, maybe a wild beast made a nest… or hilichurls built a camp."
"Sigh… even Stormterror himself abandoned his own temple…"
Amber gave a brief explanation after bringing Lumine to the front.
But then—
"Eh? Isn't that Su Mo over there? Why is he here?"
Paimon suddenly pointed to the distance.
Su Mo?
Lumine turned to look where she pointed.
"Huh? So it really is him… Su Mo!! Over here!!"
Curious or not, Amber still waved and shouted loudly to get his attention.
Finally noticed me…
Su Mo waved back casually.
He had originally come to check whether the temples had been cleared yet — but seeing Amber and Lumine here, he simply wandered nearby until they spotted him.
"You were looking for your bard friend, weren't you? Why are you here?"
Lumine asked once Su Mo approached.
"Ah… someone told me they saw my bard friend running out of the city, so I came out here to look. I think… I might've been tricked."
Su Mo said helplessly — already prepared for this moment.
"Don't worry, once we finish this mission, we'll help you find him!"
Amber hurried to comfort him.
"Thanks… So, what are you doing? Need help?"
"Of course! We're clearing this abandoned temple. With you here, we'll be much faster!"
"Then let's go."
"Mm!"
And the group entered the temple.
Later — after clearing the temples
"What? A human girl named Kallen Kaslana, sent by the Anemo Archon to save Stormterror? What kind of nonsense—
Kallen Kaslana? Ever heard that name, Diluc?"
After defeating the Abyss Mage who ambushed him, Kaeya had expected many things.
But not this.
Diluc shook his head.
"Never. But judging from that mage's reaction… it wasn't lying. And didn't our Anemo Archon show himself recently? He protected Mondstadt with Stormterror, after all."
Kaeya sighed.
"…We'll have to report this to the Acting Grand Master."
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