AN: Hi. It's been a while. Quick summary for my old readers: Paimon is a lady of great wit and reasonable height, Aether runs on starlight but is pretty much stuck at 2% battery, and Springvale may or may not be burning. If any of those lines confuse you, you might be lost if you jump straight back in – it's been more than a year since my last post.
"Everybody, please, evacuate to the city! Follow the red bunny and request assistance from the knights-!"
"KREEEE-!"
Amber cursed and jumped off her perch. Not a moment too soon, as she felt the blast of anemo explode behind her. She clambered onto the path muddied by the creek's overflowing water, fighting against the wind to throw herself up and skid to safety.
She'd hated just about everything about this situation. It was supposed to be a dead standard patrol – chase off a few hilichurls, be on the lookout for anyone needing help, and make sure that the leylines were in a decent state without too many slimes or whopperflowers popping up.
Amber had noticed the telltale clouds of a storm brewing over Springvale, though, so she'd decided to stick around for the night. Do what she can to help with the inevitable repairs in the morning, maybe a few broken windows and some flooded paths. Make sure that everyone in the village came out of the storm alright.
Well, Amber nearly giggled hysterically to herself as she watched the dragon roar to the skies and saw how the winds grew to match it, it's still just a storm, right? Just one created by Dvalin itself-
"Outrider Amber, all of the houses on the left side have been cleared!" She didn't have to look to know that it was Noelle who had called out to her. "Noelle, requesting orders!"
"Great! Just do the same for the right-" she released a few quick arrows at the dragon as she backpedaled – they were ripped straight out of the air before they reached halfway. Despite the ever-growing storm, there wasn't any rain, which meant that the fire at Brook's house was still growing. "-I'll keep distracting the dragon, report back to me when there's no one left-!"
"That's done! Springvale is clear, I've checked it myself!" The hoarse voice of Draff was not something Amber wanted to hear, given that she had explicitly told him to evacuate himself, but the words were welcome all the same. She risked a glance after sheltering herself in a small alcove – he was supporting Old Finch as they slowly edged around the buildings, hugging the cliffs. The head hunter of Springvale didn't even have the grace to look apologetic as he shouted to her to be heard over the winds, ears swiveling this way and that. "Whole village is empty, I promise. Kätzlein's word!"
"…fine, now go, get the Grandmaster!" Surely Jean would know what to do in this situation. And Amber was going to have some words with the cat-man later on.
As she zigzagged through the road, she eyed the dragon perching on Springvale's only windmill as of today. Right now, despite Jean's briefing, she couldn't bring herself to care if it was under the Abyss's control or not. Sure, she felt bad for it – but she was a tad bit concerned with how it threatened everyone and everything within Springvale.
She skidded to a halt, met the purplish eyes of the dragon, and decided that it was as good a target as any, steadied her bow and pulled back-
She released the arrow.
It pinged uselessly against an anemo shield.
Amber swore that the dragon snorted at her, before opening its mouth. She was already sprinting away even before she saw the cyan build up.
"-darn it, stupid anemo shields- woaaah!"
The blast knocked her off her feet. Amber instinctively rolled into her fall, so very glad that she had the foresight to wear her wind glider goggles as she was pelted with the sand and gravel that swirled up. For a moment, she considered opening her wings to glide to a better position, before she realized how bad of an idea it was to be stuck to the whims of the very violent dragon.
Not to mention that flying during storms was technically illegal. Rule number three: to fly in a storm is to challenge the Archon of Electro in her domain, and She needs no second strike. Sure, practically nobody actually followed the rulebook, but the rules were still there for a reason!
She peered over the stone to check Dvalin, which was making itself comfortable on the windmill like a cat. Almost adorable, if one doesn't take into account the property damage. She winced as its claws tore off the roof and walls, and the wind grew even stronger. Trees groaned and ached, swaying in the wind as if they were nothing but reeds-
-and they were all bending in an eerie, circular manner, she realized. A spiraling pattern made from the outline of trees, with Dvalin and the windmill at the center. And yet, the dragon was content to focus on the one house on fire. It breathed out small puffs of anemo that let the blaze swirl and grow as it became the blazing heat of pyro, but also prevented it from joining the winds swirling around the village. Despite the thick, black smoke pouring out of the blazing house, none of the fire joined the circling wind.
No. Not just a circle, she realized. A tornado, one which they were right in the middle of.
Amber gulped. One errant hiss, and one spark of pyro born from the rising flames – and it was going to be a pyre of pyro, literally.
…this was so out of her league it wasn't even funny. The one saving grace was that Dvalin didn't seem to be interested in the fleeing village folk, but what was she supposed to do against an honest to archon god-?
"-Amber! There must be something we can do!" She snapped back from her thoughts, meeting Noelle's eyes. The maid-knight had joined her, clearly eager to do anything – and yet, she only looked to her for orders. "I-I can challenge Dvalin – maybe I could reach the blood clots, or if we destroy the windmill, or maybe we can clear a path for reinforcements, surely they must have noticed-!"
That's right. She had the highest rank here, didn't she? And whatever it was that the dragon was doing… Right now, only they could do anything about it.
Knights of Favonius lead by example, A familiar voice chided her. Limit the damage, keep the calm, and do what you can. Stick to your strengths, and remember-
One day, you might inherit this responsibility to watch over our home.
May her grandfather witness her boldness, then. Both hers and her friend.
She grabbed Noelle by her shoulders, staring at the younger woman's wide eyes. "Noelle, we're going to destroy the blood clots. We. Can. Do. This. But that fire is holding this entire place hostage. Shield me, then go crystalize the pyro at Brook's house before this whole place becomes a pyro storm!"
Noelle immediately straightened.
"Leave it all to me!" A shout, and they were both surrounded by the amber glow of geo – and finally, she could stand without fighting against the wind. Bless Noelle's sweet heart and whatever reason she'd been in the area. Amber promised herself to bug Jean about holding an entrance exam in the next few days. Captain Hertha could go fight a dragon if she cared enough for tradition.
With a nod, Noelle beelined straight towards the house on fire, her claymore starting to flicker like a golden flame. Amber didn't miss how Dvalin's eyes narrowed at her, nor how its throat glowed in warning.
She took in a deep breath. Time for her to do her part, then.
"Dragon of the East! Or should I call you Stormterror instead!?" Amber howled as she popped out of her cover, releasing her useless arrows once again. Already breathing out anemo towards Noelle, the dragon simply had to turn towards her for anemo to rip apart the ground, carving a path of destruction.
Before she could doubt herself and her harebrained scheme, she manifested two of her arrows in her hand and stabbed them through the shield from the inside. Then the anemo washed over her, and Noelle's shield flickered, her arrows acting as convenient chisels hellbent on fracturing the geo, and Amber anxiously prayed to Jean, to Gramps, to Barbatos himself-
The anemo cut off not a moment too soon. Noelle's shield shattered, and Amber grabbed the now glimmering arrows before the wind could snatch them first. She raised her head, eyes narrowed at the dragon no more than ten paces away. Dvalin tilted its head as if it was confused as to why the puny human was still standing in one piece.
"As long as the Abyss holds your mind, these skies aren't yours to control!" she scoffed, carefully stowing them in her belt. Her glove shook as it brushed against the azure tip – the breath of Dvalin, an anemo that felt more primal, demanding to be freed – right now, it was her best shot. "I'm the Mondstadt's Gliding Champion, the best Outrider there is! If you can't protect Mondstadt anymore, then I WILL!"
Dvalin's eyes narrowed at her and roared in challenge. And for the first time since it flew into Springvale, its four wings started beating in earnest.
One beat, then another, and it was all Amber could do to crouch low and fight against the stinging wind. It wasn't glowing with the typical anemo hue nor was it carving into her skin – no, there was only the slightest shimmer of anemo guiding it, as if-
Dvalin was looking down on her. Its dull gaze, tainted by the Abyss, looked down at her.
How. Dare. It!?
Pure, blazing fury lighted her heart, and maybe it wasn't the best of ideas, but she wasn't going to take that insult lying down. With a flick of her wrists, her wind glider appeared and spread its wings-
-and she was immediately flung backward and into the cyclone spinning around the town, nothing but a feather in the raging winds-
She knew that would happen, though.
Instinct born from experience guiding her, Amber twisted her body sharply, going with the current the dragon was providing. The winds were a dizzying, hungry beast that would have devoured any other person, but she was the guiding champion. The wings were practically a part of her – she knew exactly what angle to keep her wings at, and how big of a twist she would have to make to avoid the largest of the branches hurtling along.
And though she had never done this within a cyclone before…
Amber manifested her bow, mid-flight. Her form barely dipped as she drew one of her arrows tipped with the dragon's own breath, and nocked it as she hurtled along at dizzying speeds.
It was just releasing an arrow, she told herself. Never mind the winds hurtling her in circles, the dragon, the stray branches she had to dodge with a flick of her glider – it was a single arrow, with a target the size of Baron Bunny that was completely invisible if not for the occasional shimmer. Easy as cooking steak!
…if only the dragon wasn't staring her down, very interested in tracking the bright red human silly enough to throw herself at its winds. It blinked, and the air thickened itself around its back to form a physical barrier. It then utterly dismissed her again, turning towards the back of a frantically swinging Noelle with anemo coalescing at its tail.
Amber screamed out a warning, but she was so far away, and she could hardly hear herself from the winds while she was in the thick of them. The pyro was nearly out, but it was only one spark that had to remain that would- Archons above, what was she supposed to do-!?
Then Dvalin flinched. Before it spun, its tail lashing out – and crashing into a familiar ocean-blue greatsword.
A pure white gleamed. Cryo met anemo, and caused a swirl-
The village froze over in an instant. A wave of frost slammed over her, and she gasped as her precious arrow dropped from her suddenly nerveless fingers. She watched it detonate as it hit the ground, the anemo violently blasting outwards. Her glider stuttered and creaked but held – though with the winds suddenly gone, she was guiding slowly to the ground. She could see Eula directing the dragon's gaze at herself, not a glance toward her –
Oh, right. She still had her part to do.
Amber drew the second arrow drenched with the Four Wind's breath with trembling fingers. She eyed the shimmering clot of blood – both of the ugly, purple things and aimed towards the smaller one at its lower back. She breathed – the air that rushed into her lungs was cold, so cold, but she had to make this shot, to make use of Eula's opening.
Almost as an afterthought, she mixed in a bit of her pyro. Then she released her arrow.
"KREEEEE-!"
And when the dragon roared in agony as the blood clot nearest to its tail erupted in a gunk of anemo, pyro, and purple, Amber knew that the winds had acknowledged her.
-o-
The sound of a galloping horse on the stone path was exactly what Eula had expected when she sighted the first hints of smoke during her night patrols within the city. So, she stowed away the remnants of her midnight rations and strode up to the middle of the road.
Just in time for the Calvary Captain to nearly run her over. Adel skidded to a halt, and she acknowledged her efforts with a single pat.
"…you know very well how dangerous that was," Kaeya drawled. It was a monumental sign of his trust and experience that the horse could go from galloping to a standstill in a moment's time, she grudgingly admitted to herself. "What would you have done had I not stopped, hmm?"
What, was he implying he might have been unable to? That his skills might have disappeared alongside Varka? How worthless – and so, very much ignorable, for both the benefit of herself and him.
"I apologize, noble steed, but I require your services," she said instead, as she climbed behind Kaeya. To Adel's credit, she only huffed in annoyance. Much preferable compared to the exasperated sigh from her fellow captain. "Captain Kaeya, move over. And go towards the storm already, before I take even the reins from your hand."
"Yes, yes, onwards to the heart of the crisis." With a flick, the world began to blur as Adel began galloping in earnest. And yet, her fellow captain broke the silence – and she could hear his grin. "Do be careful next time, though. I would hate to have to worry Grandmaster Jean with news of your injury. I'm afraid I won't be able to survive her fretting over you-"
Vengeance was swift, as it should be against such an insult. "Should I tell dear Miss Adelinde about her namesake?"
A laugh – and she was satisfied with how absolutely normal it was – and thus, a clear indication of nervousness from the unflappable man. "Now, now, there's no need for that, Captain Eula. No need to trouble her with such trivialities."
Echoes on cobblestone grew muted after they crossed the bridge, thudding into the packed earth at a steady rhythm as their little game ended – in her absolute victory, as was the norm.
It wasn't long until they met with the folks of Springvale, four-fifths of the distance. When Adel slowed down at Kaeya's urging, she frowned – and would have leaped off to sprint the remainder, if it wasn't for someone grasping her cape tightly under their arm.
When-?!
She glowered at the snake sitting in front of her, who only gave her a shake of his head.
"Damage control," he murmured before the mob was surrounding them. She glared far ahead, at the storm obscuring the village instead of meeting the eyes of the village folk that had begun rushing towards them. She noted the anemo winds and the darkened clouds, peering through both to see flashes of the destroyed town underneath the moonlight.
"Please, everyone, remain calm!" Kaeya called out, and she was already humming his words out as she tried to make out what was happening within the village. With the sheer amount of smoke, she had expected ruins broken apart by swirling pyro, not a cyclone of anemo. "The Knights are aware of the situation, and are working to remove the Abyss's influence on Dvalin-"
"It's Captain Kaeya! You have to help us!"
Since they obviously couldn't help themselves, she scoffed internally.
"Stormterror, it's attacking us-!"
No, it was attacking the village – and deliberately fanning the flames to lead someone to it. Her mind went to the trio of archons, with Acting Grandmaster Jean in their midst.
"The young'uns are there, Amber and Noelle, you have to help them!"
"What?!"
Her eyes snapped towards the one and were met with the worried gaze of the Kätzlein hunter. He winced at her glare but nodded. "Told me to evacuate, she did, but she's not out of the storm yet-!"
"Gah!"
Later, she would apologize to Captain Kaeya about dragging him off his horse. In her defense – and she made clear to emphasize so within her apology – it was absolutely his fault for not letting go of her cape immediately.
She threw herself off Adel and began sprinting, her only concern being the dash of red she could now spot being flung around under the watchful eye of the dragon, her young, reckless friend battered and bruised by the winds, perhaps already-
No. Now that she was looking for it, she could see the both of them more clearly. Amber's glider was out, her wings twitching now and then, and had an arrow nocked. Noelle in her shield that protected her from the winds, the smoke, and the pyro, her claymore glowing with geo that crystallized parts of the fire with every sweep.
And the dragon's tail preparing to swing towards the maid-knight's back, a blade of anemo, condensed enough to pierce through geo. One that would crash into the remaining embers, and-.
For one agonizing moment, her heart stuttered. Save one, hurt another. Who do you value more?
…no, Amber would understand. She had a vision, she would be whole and hearty by the end of the day if Eula had anything to say about it, and her disgraceful thought over their friendship – as if such things are quantifiable – would be addressed later on.
The Song of Broken Pines rang out in harmony. Her great sword sailed through the storm wall, and the startled dragon lashed out with its tail to greet her.
Thus, the spin drift knight clashed with the wind's might and matched its blow with her strength alone.
Then with a simple twist within her, cryo enveloped her blade for a moment. But just a moment was all the elements needed.
Oh, if her ancestors could see her now, deciding to freeze the winds itself! Her father would have been proud, and that alone was enough to have her shiver in disgust.
The cold blasted outwards, the violent mix of cryo and anemo causing the nearby buildings to shudder from the arctic winds. She was spared from the worst of it as she was the initiator – the eye of the storm, as it were – and both Noelle and the dragon's shield held, but Amber…
She hid her sigh of relief as she saw her glide down in a controlled descent. Instead, she considered the dragon in front of her – one of the Four Winds, if twisted by the Abyss.
Perceptive. Could perform a potentially devastating strike its tail enveloped with anemo. Turned to the right to shield itself, matching the direction of the cyclone's winds. Raw anemo coated its skin, winds that would blunt her attacks. That was all she could test before she had to slide herself back from their brief exchange, avoiding its swipe with its claws.
"Greetings, Dragon of the East. I am Eula, of House Lawrence." She lifted her sword parallel to the ground, a direct challenge she issued while meeting its poisoned gaze. She would have to do without the customary nod this time, unfortunately. Its tail was alight, flickering with anemo that formed a sword to match her own – and she made absolutely certain to not react when she saw Amber nocking another arrow. "And for assaulting those I care about, I demand vengeance-"
The arrow struck true, and the dragon bellowed in pain.
But of course. Her dear friend was more than capable of seeking her own vengeance.
Eula was already lunging forward when the dragon instinctively turned towards her friend, aiming for the final crystal jutting out of its back, whatever abyssal spell hiding it having already been ripped to shreds-
But with a single flap of its four wings, the dragon leaped out of her swing. She threw forward a blast of cryo, launching her weapon as well in the return stroke, but the first was deftly avoided, while the second was knocked off course with its wings. Her heart froze once more – if Dvalin lunged at Amber, tail still alight with anemo, her dear friend now shivering on the ground because of her, eyes glaring in stubborn defiance even when defenseless-
Eula nearly sighed in relief when the dragon fled to the skies instead – nearly that is, and allowed herself a dignified huff instead. She watched the dragon flee upwards – and only her years of service as the captain of the reconnaissance company allowed her to pick up on three specks that followed the dragon above the clouds, alongside a fourth that was coming ever closer.
Was that… Acting Grandmaster Jean? She squinted. It was. Most likely due to the archons' intervention, then.
Only when she was sure the Acting Grandmaster wasn't signaling to her did she allow herself to run to Amber. She was quick to pat her friend's body down, noting the chill from the cryo, and quickly pulled her up from the ground. Warming her up steadily was essential, and the less contact with the chilled ground, the better.
"That was a job well done, Amber."
"Couldn't… get the… last clot… w-what?"
"And the fault lies within me. For that, I offer my deepest apologies." By now, she had pulled up her friend to her front, maximizing body contact to steadily warm her up. Few had the privilege to know, but her body ran warmer than normal – even more so than other wielders of cryo. It was what allowed her to enjoy her soaks in Dragonspine.
"But I am obligated to inform you that with a flagrant violation of the Guiding law." Eula was satisfied to hear a faint laugh from Amber, relaxing in her embrace. "Of course, I shall pay for the fees in your stead, and I shall petition to the Acting Grandmaster to purge the stain from your records-"
"Now, now, Captain Eula, Amber's a hero! Personally, I believe we should be celebrating Amber's first foray into law-breaking," said Kaeya, sauntering up to them with his usual grin. Noelle followed demurely from behind, already sipping at one of Kaeya's vials. Eula snatched the flask of cryo resistance from his offered hand, and carefully adjusted Amber's head to administer it. Naturally, she did it all with a firm grip, heedless of her friend's embarrassed whining and the maid-knight's blushing. It was times like this when Amber's and Noelle's younger age showed.
Apparently, Kaeya's teasing was yet to have finished. "Dear Captain Lawrence, you are aware she has a pyro vision, yes? Or did our Outrider insist on this treatment?"
Noelle's eyes grew wide while Amber squeaked, and Eula pretended to shoot her a concerned glance. It wasn't very often she could pull one over the young Outrider.
So, Eula pulled her even tighter, drawing out another squeak from Amber. "The last thing we need is a flash-melt from any lingering cryo to interrupt her internal balance. Residual heat from pyro is best left for emergencies." She met Captain Kaeya's smile with her own. "But you know this, Captain Kaeya. Whatever could you be implying?"
Noelle coughed delicately, before taking a step back. Amber flushed and stammered.
"But… what-? Eula, um-"
"Nothing, nothing, of course!" Kaeya shrugged, winking at Amber. "Perhaps mention the circumstances of your injuries in your eventual report, Outrider, to prevent any misunderstandings. Perhaps something like-" with that, he raised his voice, firm and commanding. "Everyone was evacuated safely, and Dvalin fled. Shock, sudden anemo, and minor cryo exposure are the extent of casualties among civilians. All thanks to Outrider Amber, maid-knight Noelle, and Draff Kätzlein's efforts. I recommend a night's rest for all three of them as their bodies regulate the sudden anemo exposure."
Amber frowned. "…yes- but Captain, Grandmaster Jean isn't here-"
Behind her, the flutter of a wing glider collapsing sounded. Kaeya and Noelle saluted – herself excluded as a patient was in her care – and the Acting Grandmaster Jean's voice rang out from behind her and Eula. "I'll set an anemo field so everyone can cleanse themselves, Kaeya – come with me to Springvale's residents. Fine work, Amber and Noelle – your work will be recognized, alongside Draff. Rest and recover; you two are exempt from the recovery efforts. Eula, make sure our heroes rest, and then begin to establish alternative housing options with Hertha." With that, she and Kaeya set out briskly, as if it was simply natural for her to be here. Leaving behind one pouting maid-knight, one amused captain, and one flabbergasted Outrider.
"…Captain Eula, I must protest, I am fully able and capable to assist in recovery efforts!"
"…Grandmaster Jean?! But, how-?"
Eula hummed contently. Her friends were still standing, and that was enough for now.
-o-
Jean was surprisingly agile when climbing onto the roof of a bar. Aether took her offered hand to pull himself up, Paimon appeared in a flash beside them, and Venti had been the first to fling himself onto the roof. With every tap of the archon's foot, the cyan circle of anemo underneath their feet deepened just a little more in color. He could feel the air rushing into the center, churning and begging for release.
Venti didn't miss a beat. "I'm assuming everyone has a glider, we're going in three-.
"Oh right, Aether, your gift!"
Aether nearly dodged the thing Paimon chucked at his face before her words kicked in. He grabbed the circular object out of the air and only had the chance to see a vaguely winged pattern inscribed into it before a tangled pair of black feathers sprang open in his face.
He spat out a stray feather. "What-?"
"-two-!"
" Emergency Act- Aether- license." Paimon rattled off some… legal jargon he only caught a few words of.
Aether just threw up his hands in exasperation. The winds pulsed beneath them one last time, before stilling.
"One and go!"
The world blurred, and they were in the skies.
What surprised him was the lack of the rushing wind he had anticipated – there was what felt like a gentle breeze, the wind pushing his back – and then, they were right below the clouds amid the night. Aether clenched the coin, wings somehow manifesting behind his shoulder blades-
He felt… whole. As if something had been lodged in his chest the entire time, only for it to melt away and let him breathe for the first time. Why was that-?
Wings. His wings. He twisted backward, and for a moment, he saw six golden wings on his back instead of the dull black. A mental flick, a tug on a muscle that didn't exist, and the black wings flicked themselves by his will. It felt rusty, and if it was any less uncomfortable, he would have torn it off, but it worked.
Stars above. He, one of the Celestial Twins that roamed the Path Between Stars, forgot that the skies naturally opened themselves for them. He, a Starwalker.
…had he just assumed he walked between stars until now?!
He instinctively flicked his wings in agitation, and nearly crashed into someone for his trouble.
"Aether, get your head out of the clouds!" Ah, that was Paimon.
"Sorry, not used to having only one pair of wings!" He called back, eyeing the coin in his hand. Could he get two more of these?
"…what?! How many did you have-?"
"Incoming-!" At Jean's warning, he glanced up.
He twisted out of the way as the icicle flew by him. A sudden frame of water appeared before him, and he instinctively tried to pierce through it with his new sword in hand – a mistake, he winced, as the unnatural wetness clung to him instead.
Sure, he could burn off the water, but he had to save his starlight for Dvalin. And the ice didn't seem large enough to actually damage him – it was just a cloud of pebbles, honestly. He twisted his body instead, his sword and shoulder out to block the few that would hit him-
But a vortex of anemo pulled the shards of ice off course.
"They're trying to freeze us!" Jean shouted, her blade alight.
Freeze? With that amount of ice – oh. It was hydro and cryo, not water and ice. Though he had a hard time believing he could be frozen just from a pebble of cryo.
Still, Aether nodded along as Jean continued, "One of them must be hiding the others-"
There was a whistle of wind.
Three arrows of anemo, large enough to qualify as spears pierced something – and the bodies of three Abyss Mages appeared. He could make out their distinctive red, white, and blue before they were shredded by the anemo arrows.
There was a moment of silence, as they looked for any signs of more attacks. He eyed the clouds above them suspiciously, using just a drop of starlight for elemental sight, but he saw nothing.
"…skies are clear from elements," Jean eventually called out, evening out to pull next to him. She looked calm enough, considering how they were all flying nearly at the height of clouds. But Aether caught her peering at the winds circling the village before them.
Paimon blinked next to him, scoffing. "Throwing out that much anemo for three mages? He must be losing his touch. Or is this for what happened two days ago?" Now that he had the mind to see it, he could see her wings – a night black glimmering with the occasional stars. It suited her.
With a gentle flap of his pure white wings – and somehow, it suited him as well – Venti appeared next to them, smiling flintily at the dissipating bodies tumbling downwards. "No no no, the wind doesn't hold grudges! We simply get even – and it is unfortunate for them that not even death can set them free of their sins. But anyways, Springvale is just over there-"
Then, there was a white flash, and the signs of Dvalin's rampage were visible even from where they were: broken windmills and buildings in ruin, with the last few puffs of smoke from a fire forcibly extinguished disappearing into the night.
And in the midst of it-
"KREEEEE-!"
-was Dvalin, thrashing in pain.
Venti faltered at the sight. "…ah, so the Knights destroyed one of the clots. Jean, start descending now if you want to check on Springvale. I know your heart demands it."
Aether only caught a moment of her relief before she saluted. "I will!"
Without another word, she dived down – and Venti immediately turned to him. His eyes were glowing with cyan, now – and then, another gentle breeze seemed to envelop him and Paimon. "Aether, Paimon, be ready – the thousand winds will let you soar freely. I'll block him off since my music should reach him with far more ease now. When Dvalin turns his back to you-"
"I destroy the clot without hurting him."
Venti nodded. "I would suggest using anemo, but if there's a reason you're avoiding it-"
"Aether, you can go all out, I'll be there to catch you. Barbatos, I'll let you drop, so don't do anything stupid," Paimon promised – then her wings snapped up. "Dvalin is coming-!"
That was all the warning he had before they were flung alongside the winds.
The world whirled. Up, down, up, down-
He spun around twice before he was able to right himself. Aether assumed that it was Venti's blessing that gave them any semblance of control as they were dragged alongside Dvalin's currents, but he could only reach for Dvalin's back, the final spike taunting him just out of reach.
Throwing his sword wasn't feasible, and he couldn't mindlessly throw out starlight. Anemo – it hummed within him, waiting to be reached for, to burst free, but he didn't know how to use it and it felt like a betrayal to himself-
"Dvalin-!"
And Venti appeared in front of Dvalin. Despite the howling winds, a clear note broke through the chaos-
With a desperate shriek that drowned it out and a sudden, harsh beat of his wings, the dragon lashed his tail upwards, with all the momentum of his flight gathered in one swing.
In hindsight, moving to block the dragon's escape was a bad idea.
A blade of anemo Dvalin had been preparing from even before he left the earth. The currents he was using to flee were worthy of one of the Four Winds. The Abyss's poison, as nebulous it may be with two of the clots broken, was still pumping through its veins and whispering hatred into its ears. The desperation of a cornered beast, maddened by pain.
Aether dove forward, the air nearly choked out of him as he tried to reach the archon. Paimon disappeared in a constellation.
But Venti was already dedicating himself to strum a tune. His eyes widened at the last moment, the air around him bending in his attempt to dodge-
The summoned winds were disrupted by the dragon's anemo blade.
The anemo caught Venti's shoulder, and-
-o-
As the god's lyre fell from the skies, for a moment, all of the winds of Teyvat stopped.
-o-
"Venti-!"
"BARBATOS-!"
Paimon was holding onto him in an instant, beneath the injured god's left arm as his white wings trembled and drooped. His right arm was-
Arther hissed at the sight but forced himself to study Venti. Face too pale to be healthy. Eyes still wide in shock. Instinctively clutching at his missing arm.
All that anger, your pain, this tension, the world's dissatisfaction – let the wind take it away and bear it in our steed. As we struggle for freedom, friends, and family, let us witness together this unfolding of a new chapter of Mondstadt's history!
Aether turned, drawing on the pure, unchanging desire to be free – and threw his sword at the still dragon.
His own anemo blade easily shattered the final remaining blood clot. Alongside his second sword.
Later, he would recall it as the first time he used an element of this world, matching the technique of a dragon of this world. Right now, he had to prevent this situation from devolving further.
Except for a small shudder, the dragon didn't even seem to notice that its shackles were gone. "…no. No, no, no no nonono-"
"Dvalin, calm down," Aether pleaded, none so gently slamming his hand against its forehead and shoving what starlight he had into the stunned dragon. Thankfully, without the clots, there wasn't any active resistance against his light. "I'm purging the last remnants of the Abyss – you are not the one at fault. And besides Barbatos is a god, right? One of the big Seven, he's probably not going to croak from your love swipe-"
Venti tried for a laugh. It came out rattling. "Tis' but a wound, truly, Dvalin, calm yourself-"
"Stop talking, you idiot!" Paimon hissed, doing her best to staunch the bleeding. Gods still bled red, Aether learned. "Are you an Archon or not, draw on your powers and heal yourself!"
The dragon only gazed forlornly down at the injured archon.
"It does not matter, Child of the Sun. I have spilled his blood. I have assaulted the city of winds, multiple times over – despite my pledges to protect them. I have made a mockery of fate, willingly or not, and the heavens do not look at such heresy kindly."
Fate. The word pounded in Aether's head. Fate must not be denied.
…when had he drawn back from the dragon?
"Dvalin, no, we still - we can solve this, you see," Venti pleaded. "Just… let us go to Venessa's tree and catch our breath first."
If anything, Venti's words made the dragon wilt even more. "…no. I will await judgment at the Tower. No one but I need to pay the price. …Lady Paimon-"
She frowned, her grip on Venti tightening. "Don't insult me. I'll look after him."
"This is farewell, then. Thank you, Barbatos."
With only a few beats of his wings, Dvalin left, leaving them gliding within the still night.
Paimon sighed, before looking at the despondent archon in her arms. "…okay, I'm positive your dramatic lizard is going to be an issue, but solve the more immediate one right now and heal yourself-"
"I… can't, Paimon." Barbatos laughed mirthlessly. "Two of my statues are broken. Dvalin believes himself worthless. So few believe in me now, and I'm hardly one to force my people to worship me. Not now, not ever."
They were gently floating down, now. His wings felt dull and lifeless – whatever favor Venti had granted them was long gone, leaving only the gentle sway as they descended with deceptive tranquility.
In the end, Paimon broke the silence, her voice a whisper as she trembled. "You… you absolute fool- You can't just- you can't just die like this-"
"Oh, but who said anything about dying?" Venti's head swiveled toward him. "Aether? A hand, if you will – ah, your left one, since you know, I'm…"
Aether tried for a smile to match Venti's own as he approached. "Missing your right. Yeah, I can see that, Venti."
"Right. Now, what do you think of me?"
A tentative friend. Mischievous and cheerful, yet quick to anger and slow to forget. An occasional liar.
A god who shouldn't die so easily.
A bark of tired laughter rang out from the Anemo Archon. "Hmm, good enough for me!"
Aether froze when Venti faded away in wisps of anemo, just like that. Paimon let out a strangled gasp – and despite everything, there were still tears in her eyes-
Well. This certainly brings back memories. But hey, I'm in good health in this form – all's well that ends well, yes?
Aether could only stare at Barbatos - except, now he looked to be a small dark puppet with a white cape draped over it. He floated over his hand, looking forlornly in the direction Dvalin had fled.
Paimon stared. Then she closed her eyes, and rubbed at them furiously, her hands shaking in – yep, that was most definitely anger. Oh dear.
…well, no time like the present! Paimon, I'm grateful for your tears, and Aether, you for your belief in me – but our adventure must continue! With a flourish, Venti turned towards them, determination blazing in his tiny beady eyes. We shall venture forth to the forbidden lands of Decarabian's Tower once more- eh?
Paimon gently pinched the edge of the wisp's cape. She smiled a gentle smile down at her prey.
…Paimon, it just completely slipped my mind to tell you how great you look at this point past twilight- ARGH STOP STOP PAIMON I'M SORRY-!
"NIGHT DAMN IT ALL, YOU COMPLETE ASSHOLE-!"
As Paimon furiously jiggled the anemo archon within her grasp, Aether exhaled slowly, gently guiding the lot of them to the ground.
All's well that ends well, indeed.
-o-
"Your Highness. I come bearing both grave and great news."
She sighed, twitching at the address. "Really, Revna? How many times have I told you to not call me that?"
"Precisely none, as I shan't hear any of it." A joke told without an inch of emotion said for her benefit only. It pained her heart, but she tried for a smile.
For a moment, she saw the green, earnest eyes that lit up as the once-librarian gushed over her favorite texts to study. But, no, there was nothing but the black void carved into the masks that hid their pain. Even their voices were scrambled into a grating chittering. The price that they all paid for going against them.
All but her. All but her, the outlander. And perhaps that was the cruelest curse of all.
"Your Highness?"
…oh. She relaxed the grip on her dull sword and watched it crumble to nothingness when dismissed. She turned back towards what once was Revna. "Sorry about that. The good news first?"
"Our hold on the Dragon was lost. Though a sliver of the False Sovereign's blood would linger, the clots have been lost, and with it our control."
"…" In the end, she could only sigh. Rage was too heavy an emotion; grief was a burden. It was better to keep moving. "I see. Once Lady Paimon entered the stage, that was to be expected. We were playing with something not even ours, anyway. In that case, let's focus our efforts here-"
"But I have seen it. The Eighth had come into conflict with his dragon."
"What the-" she shot up to her feet, and immediately regretted it when she bashed her head against the tunnel's ceiling. Blinking back tears while hissing out a curse, she focused on the infinitely more important bit. "Revna! Is that true?! Who saw it- and how? … and isn't that the good news?!"
The chittering 'laughter' echoed throughout. "I witnessed it myself, your Highness, cloaked in the Abyss's best. The trap drew the Eighth's gaze, my spells having dulled his senses until the village appeared to be on the brink of destruction – and they came to blows in the skies, the Sovereign of the Winds' descendant and the Anemo Archon. They destroyed the final remnants of your blood, but the dragon struck down its master, with a clean blow with its tail. The Eighth is in his diminished form once more, but I have procured this." Revna bowed, uncloaking something-
Ah… was that…?
Her mouth felt dry. She swallowed uncomfortably, the chill of the tunnel suddenly feeling much more oppressive. Her eyes couldn't leave it – she hardly could believe what she heard, but she was having more trouble seeing what was in front of her-
Revna tilted her head, before bowing once more. "…I could not recognize who Lady Paimon's chosen was, I can only ask for your forgiveness."
"No, no, that's nothing! We… we finally did it," the words felt foreign to her. She carefully studied what was in front of her, nausea swelling in a pit within her at how casually Revna held the... "We did it. We… we finally have evidence."
After all, a slip into elemental sight was enough to reveal the blindingly pure anemo from one of its… sides. Two different tinges of anemo of such purity that it could only belong to the Four Winds and the Anemo Archon.
Obviously seeing her unease, the evidence disappeared, and a soft form came over to embrace her. "All thanks to your Highness, your Highness."
She stiffened.
A moment later, she returned the hug, ignoring the far too light weight, the inhumane fuzziness, the cold of the mask, even the abyss-damned title – for once, that wasn't what was on her mind.
"No, we did it. Together. All of us."
She quietly berated herself – what had she been expecting, a signed form from the Archon stating he was mortally wounded by his fated partner? And of course, Revna couldn't see what was wrong with it, they had broken her, they had broken all of them, and they will pay-
She wasn't quite sure how long they were like that, but eventually, Revna withdrew herself. "The three brothers – should they tail the dragon further once they reform? Old Mondstadt is still abandoned but for the remnants of the old king."
"…no," she decided. They had to keep moving, besieged from all sides as they were. And besides, they've seen what they were ever hoping for. "We have seen the Eighth and Ninth re-entering the stage and can plan accordingly in the future. We have seen the fated pair, the Sovereign of the Skies' Descended and its Archon, fight one another, and obtained the evidence no can deny."
Paimon's champion was still unknown, but she could assume that they would be an extension of her ideals. Ideals were malleable – and so, perhaps she would be open to reason…
And besides, if Azure truly did manage to trap the chosen in a hydro bubble (and the old general was hardly one to boast), they were hardly a threat for now. She dismissed her errant thoughts and focused on what truly mattered.
"Spread the word, Revna. Operation Lawbreaker has succeeded."
She smiled, pushing aside whatever doubts she had. And as a sliver of happiness crept into her heart, she felt hope.
"…and report the actual good news first next time!"
And if Lumine giggled softly alongside her friend's cackling – well, there was nothing but the abyss to witness her.
AN: So, hi. It's been roughly one year and 2 months.
My writing stalled for a lot of reasons. There are personal reasons I'm not sharing, but there are some I don't mind. One: my application to major in creative writing was denied, making me judge every word I wrote. My chosen major is now completely different, and I couldn't justify writing fanfiction as practice. Two: ChatGPT exploded, and when combined with the previous reason, I couldn't see the point in writing at all for the longest time. Three: my interest in Genshin Impact took a hit as I played Elden Ring. And four: I'm still in university.
Really, I thought I would have been done with this – but I constantly found myself adding a sentence here and there. Just rereading my work again and again, cringing at some of what I wrote – but I didn't want to throw it all away. And then, when I had a small break and gave myself some time to sit down and write – I remembered why I wrote this in the first place. Writing was fun. Wrestling with storylines and portrayals of characters, trying to integrate what lore I remembered with gameplay mechanics – it was fun, in small amounts anyway.
So yeah. I'm trying to ease myself back into writing again. It's going to be slow, for sure. No promises for dates at all. But it really is cathartic to finally post this.
And some notes about the chapter:
I really had trouble with how to showcase the events. I wanted to show all the perspectives, and the end result was going back and forth temporally three times in total. I tried to make it as clear as possible within each loop what point they were at since I loathed the idea of having "twenty minutes earlier" tags. But yeah, probably will find a way to avoid this in the future.
Reminder that in canon, Stormterror made three-ish tornadoes within the city and the only casualty was the Traveler, and they weren't even injured. Like, how? So, Springvale and its windmills were my chosen victims to appease my desire for rightful destruction.
Amber really stole the spotlight in my ideas. Had to force myself to stop writing bunny puns since it kept knocking off any seriousness I tried to maintain.
…also, I honestly had to pause and think to myself: do I have a grudge against Venti? I'm going with no. I definitely feel that everything in Mondstadt went too easily in the actual game, which is why I'm adding to the conflict. That naturally translates to Venti's suffering – the Archon's state should reflect the state of their city, and Mondstadt is entertaining both enemies from within and out.
And you can't show me Venti in his marketable plushy form without implementing him into the story. Fixed that cardinal sin right away.
Thanks for reading! Hopefully, the next post isn't going to take a year ha.