Author's Note: Short chapter for today, sorry it took so long.

"Woah.. It really is a dragon.."

"Shh, Lumine. It hasn't seen us yet."

"Don't shush me..! Besides, the rain is covering us pretty well. I'm actually more worried about that strange guy. Do you think he's talking to the dragon?"

"Dunno."

Both Aether and Lumine decided to follow the source of the faint roars coming in deep within the forest outside of the main city. The rain and thunder continued to fall on Mondstadt heavily, not only making your way through a forest during the night difficult enough, but with the rain and thunder there was no telling what the twins were going to face. And now as they both sneakily hide behind a tree, they spot the dragon they were looking for. Its flourecent blue hue lighting up the scales around its body as it sat there, its attention fully on the mysterious figure.

They both tried to make out how he looked like under the night sky, but all they could gather was some sort of cape and an odd hairstyle.

"It's alright, Dvalin. I'm here now. There is nothing to be afraid of anymore." The mysterious figure said to the dragon.

"Dvalin huh. Didn't that other guy called it Stormterror?" Lumine inquired.

"Maybe. I'm more worried about that guy, though. Is he a genius or a lunatic? Maybe he can talk to all dragons or something.

Before Lumine responded to his absurd question, she pointed out the strange glow coming out of Aether's chest.

"Aether.. you're glowing.."

"Wha-"

Aether raised his hand to his chest, accidentally triggering a small wave of anemo at Lumine, knocking her flat on her bottom.

"Gah! Dammit Aether watch where you-"

"Who's there?"

The twins turn to see the dragon become startled by their little stunt, flapping its massive wings and roaring point blank at the mysterious figure before flying away out of sight.

"Oh no! I'm sorry!" Lumine stated.

The figure took a step back before also disappearing out of sight, leaving the two twins with more questions than answers. Aether extends a hand to help his sister up, which she takes with a small sigh.

"You dummy."

"Hey it was an accident! Besides, my anemo just reacted on its own. You think the dragon had to do anything with it?"

"Ugh, who knows. Let's just go back and check on Merno."

"You wanna check on Merno? Shouldn't he be asleep by now?"

Lumine giggles at the thought.

"Merno never gets tired."

As Lumine started walking back, something caught Aether's eye. He elbowed his sister to catch her attention, pointing at the strange object laying there where the dragon just departed from.

"What's that?"

They both look at each other and carefully approach the object. Upon closer inspection, the object looked like a red teardrop shaped gem of some kind. Aether hesitated, but he picked it up regardless.

"What do you think it is?" Lumine asks.

"I'm not sure, but maybe we should bring it back to Amber in the morning. She might know what it is."

"Good idea."

[Page Break]

Merno had a lot to think about. He never really disclosed such secrets with anyone else other than Paimon, and the only thing he could think of was if he would even live long enough to regret it.

"You promised nothing would separate us.. You promised, Alena." Merno said to himself, holding the Baron Bunny stuff animal Amber left for him that night.

More importantly though, now he had more people to worry about. New friends, which meant he had to focus on them as well, not just on his search anymore.

"Paimon's back, Merno!" The little fairy said, stopping on her tracks when she saw the Baron Bunny. "Soo.. What did you guys talk about?"

Merno let Paimon throw herself into the giant size Baron Bunny, compared to her height of course.

"I told her about Alena."

"Huh? You did? Are you doing ok?"

"I'm fine. Aether and Lumine should know soon enough as well.. Maybe it's time I use their help to find her."

"Well wouldn't Alena get spooked by the others? I mean she only reveals herself to you, right?"

"I'm aware of that, but I haven't made any progress at all by ourselves, so maybe this is for the best. Their powers are incredible and besides.. Lumine is my friend. I can't leave her behind anymore."

"Well Paimon is very proud of you, Merno! We will find her for sure now!"

"I sure hope so, Paimon.. I sure hope so."

[Page Break]

"S-sister? What brings you to the cathedral this late at night? Is something the matter?"

Jean sighed and rubbed her temple sightly, turning to her sister Barbara, giving her a slight smile.

"I'm sorry to intrude like this, Barbara, but I need your help."

"My help?" Barbara tried suppressing a huge smile. Finally her big sister needed her for once! "Sure! Whatever you need, Jean."

"You're going to see Merno tomorrow morning again, yes?"

Barbara nods.

"Well.. has he every told you anything? Anything strange that you can think of at all the past few days?"

"None. The man doesn't speak to me at all. Besides the healing process takes a lot of energy out of him, so maybe that's why?"

Jean thinks about it for a moment before making her proposition.

"Barbara.. I need you to talk to him. I need him to open up to you about his secrets. I know he's hiding something and I'm afraid that if I don't find out what it is, Mondstadt might be in danger.. again."

"Me? I-I don't know if I can.. He doesn't seem like a bad guy.. I'm sure whatever secrets he's holding are just too personal or something."

"Barbara please. I really need you."

Barbara studied her big sister for a moment. Her eyes said it all. She works herself too hard to protect everyone in Mondstadt while Varka has been away, but she also believes that she's wrong about Merno. Yes the attack in Mondstadt from a while back had something to do with him, but she never felt any evil intentions radiating off of the man during their healing sessions.

Now Jean was practically begging for her to help her. This is all she has been wanting Jean to do for the longest, so how could she say no now?

"Very well. I'll try talking to him tomorrow, but please get some rest, Jean. It is very late."

"Thank you, Barbara."

[Page Break]

"The city of freedom, what means to be free? Oh mighty creature of the sky, tell me, why bring the sea? You glare and foster hatred for those underneath. Yet unknowing of those you sworn to protect despite their plea.."

With a gentle stroke of his harp, the mysterious figure disappears from sight, awaiting for what is yet to come.

[Page Break]

Merno awoke in cold sweat to the same reoccurring dream. He was tired of it, and he thought that maybe opening up to someone close about his secret would make it better, but it hasn't. He rolled to his side, wincing in pain as he accidentally rolled on top of his broken arm.

"Ahh that hurts.."

Paimon appeared in front of him, yawning and rubbing her eyes.

"Merno, you're awake!"

"Mhm. Another day.. Say, how come you choose to stay with me instead of disappearing? You can always reappear and stuff right?"

"Hehe. Paimon likes sleeping in your bag. It's comfy."

"Weird."

Merno carried out his daily routine, with one hand unfortunately, changing into his clothes with relentless curses to the stupid wolf for making him deal with life with one arm. Paimon hovers beside him, giggling as he struggled putting on a shirt correctly.

"Do you need help with that?" She asked in between giggles.

"Ugh.. Yeah."

Paimon helps the poor man finally fit into his tank top. He proceeds to put his arm back in the sling provided for him, a knock on the door catching his attention.

"Come in."

It was the familiar idol of Mondstadt. Barbara carefully studied him before giving him a small smile and entering the room.

"Sorry to intrude like this. Are you ready?"

Merno nods and sits on the table Barbara following suit as she prepared to do her healing ritual. Glowing water rose from thin air and enveloped his body, the eccentric but yet relaxing sensation of hot and cold entering his body. He shivered a bit and took a long sigh.

"Are you comfortable? Does it hurt anywhere?"

"I'm alright. Thanks."

Paimon kept watching in awe, never getting used to Barbara's amazing abilities. Barbara was in Paimon's top three list of favorite things in the world right alongside Merno and sticky honey roast simply because he made him feel better.

"Can Paimon spend time with the twins today? Paimon wants to fly with them today!"

Merno looked up at his companion.

"You're asking me for permission? You can do whatever you want, Paimon, I'm not stopping you."

"Hehe, you're the greatest!"

Without a second thought Paimon zooms out of the room with Merno shouting behind for her to be careful out there.

".. You're very fond of your fairy companion." Barbara says softly.

"I don't see why not. She's nice."

Barbara didn't exactly know how she was going to get such information out of him. What was she supposed to say? Is not like she could ask directly.

"So.. do you like Mondstadt?"

Merno's head was spinning a bit. It always did under Barbara's healing routine, hence why she always kept it silent most of the time so he felt it was a little out of character for her to ask such a casual question.

Or maybe he just thought too much into it of course.

"It's.. nice. I guess."

This was going nowhere. How could Barbara possibly continue the conversation and bring out his secret?

"You know.." Barbara started off. "I've always wondered what this city meant to the people living here. Sure we say Mondstadt is the city of freedom and romance, but do you think people find love simply because they live here? Is there some sort of magical feel in the air of Mondstadt? Or is it all within our minds?"

"I'm not sure where you're getting at, Barbara."

"Ah.. sorry. It's just that.. Well I've never properly introduced myself."

"I already know who you are. You don't have to."

Another minute of silence. Barbara was running out of options. It seemed easier the night before when Jean was finally asking for her help, but now that she was face to face with the man, it seemed impossible.

Until an idea popped up.

"So Merno-"

"Don't say my name."

"Err.. sorry. Umm, I just wanted to ask about your fighting style.. Did you really use a glove?"

Merno raised his eyebrow at this.

"Yeah. There's more to it than that, but yeah."

".. Would you mind telling me how it works exactly? I'm wary that your internal injuries may have been caused by your fighting style outside of your opponents' attacks."

"Wait I have internal injuries?!"

Merno winced a bit, turning around too fast to face Barbara at the mention of internal injuries. Barbara stopped the healing process for a second to ensure he was ok.

"N-no. Not anymore. You had some at the beginning but I made sure to take care of those as soon as possible. That's why I'm taking a bit longer on your arm.. sorry."

So she basically saved his life. He has been judging her all this time just for being Jean's sister when the girl went out of her way to save him from death's door.

"Don't be.. I owe you an apology, Barbara."

"Me? An apology? What for?"

"Tch.. I'm just being stupid. I don't think I've ever properly thanked you for saving my life. I guess I owe you one."

That was all she needed to bring a smile back to her face. She continued the process, placing her hands on his back this time to enhance the healing factor compared to its traditional method. Merno instantly noticed the difference, his head not spinning as much and the sensation increasing a bit.

"Woah what.. What is-"

"Don't worry. Sometimes my emotions come into play when it comes to my healing prowess. Please just relax."

The minutes pass in silence once again, Barbara eventually finishing up with the routine as she helped Merno readjust his sling a bit. She noticed the Baron Bunny sitting alongside his bed, her head tilting with curiosity.

"Is that.. Amber's?"

Merno glanced back, almost forgetting the stuffed plush being there in the first place.

"Uh.. yeah. She gave it to me."

"Oh.. right!"

Awkward silence ensures. There was no point in Barbara trying to get anything out of him anymore. It would be a potential disaster of hostility if it somehow went the wrong way, and frankly, she wasn't cut out for this. And now as she thought of excuses to fill her sister with, a new idea occurred to her.

She gave Merno one last smile and a blessing before making her way out of the room. She took a breath and leaned against the door.

"I must find Amber." She muttered to herself, not giving up on her chances to finally impress her sister and longtime rival.