Starfell Valley…
The moment the commission was issued, the gallant knights of Favonius and intrepid adventurers sprang into action. Mondstadt, a picturesque city filled with warm-hearted denizens, erupted in applause and admiration as Aether and Momon made their way toward the city gates. Their heroic stance against the colossal wild dragon had earned them the adoration and respect of the entire populace.
A swell of pride surged through Momon's heart, basking in the euphoria of being hailed as a hero and embraced by his newfound name. The warmth of the people's admiration washed over him, like a comforting cloak that wrapped around his soul. In the midst of the crowd's jubilant cheers, an unsettling undercurrent of anxiety pulsed through the air. Behind that enigmatic mask lay the ominous presence of a death deity, capable of reducing this thriving city to rubble with the mere twitch of a finger.
After completing their registration at the Adventurer's Guild, the group dispersed, each embarking on a different path. Aether accompanied Amber to the Temple of the Falcon, while Momon and Kaeya set their course for the Temple of the Wolf.
Momon delved into the history of these temples, discovering their ancient significance as sacred places where the people of Mondstadt once paid homage to the Four Winds. However, the passage of time had rendered them desolate and devoid of visitors.
Now, in the wake of Stormterror's wrath, these once-revered temples languished in obscurity, their hallowed halls abandoned. As Momon and Kaeya navigated through a harrowing gauntlet of monsters, they finally reached the Temple of the Wolf.
Standing sentinel before them was a stone gate reminiscent of those found in YGGDRASIL, evoking a sense of familiarity in Momon. The dilapidated ruins surrounding the temple affirmed Kaeya's assertion that this place had truly fallen into complete oblivion.
"This is the Temple of the Wolf, Momon," Kaeya remarked somberly. "It's a shame that the people of Mondstadt have forsaken these once-holy grounds."
Momon glanced at Kaeya, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "You seem quite reverent, Kaeya."
Kaeya offered a faint smile. "Not particularly religious, but I hold a deep respect for the divine. How about you?"
Momon pondered for a moment, his gaze drifting upward to the sky. "No..." he replied, his thoughts briefly straying to the Norse Gods and Christianity from his own world. However, he quickly realized that discussing the religions of his world here might raise unanswerable questions. "No, I don't," he finally stated, keeping the intricacies of his own beliefs hidden away in the recesses of his mind.
"All right, we've arrived. I can smell something burning inside. Let's proceed, Momon," Kaeya suggested.
Together, Kaeya and Momon entered the temple. The entrance enveloped them in utter darkness, but as they ventured further, a remarkable transformation occurred.
"Umm, Kaeya, have we stumbled into another dimension?" Momon questioned, his voice tinged with astonishment.
"Quite surprising, isn't it?" Kaeya replied with a touch of regret. "It's disheartening that these sacred places are left to fester with monsters and nefarious groups."
For Momon, the experience felt remarkably akin to the domains of YGGDRASIL, and this world was gradually revealing itself as a fascinating enigma.
Their exploration came to a halt as they reached a platform beneath them. There, a horde of dark creatures reminiscent of those Momon had battled while rescuing Tsarevich awaited them.
"Hey, Kaeya, are those creatures goblins?" Momon inquired.
Kaeya shook his head. "Not goblins, my friend. Those are hilichurls."
The creatures, patrolling and guarding the gate that led deeper into the domain, were caught off guard as Kaeya and Momon leaped into their midst. The hilichurls attempted to resist, but the two warriors proved to be formidable opponents. Within moments, the area was cleared of the hilichurls, and the gate began to creak open.
Together, they dispatched any monster that dared to cross their path as they ventured further into the domain. Finally, they arrived in a vast chamber, where a radiant stone emanated intense energy.
"So Stormterror is harnessing this to amplify his power, huh?" Kaeya remarked. "Let's put an end to it, Momon."
"Alright."
[ Lightning ]
Momon's magic shattered the stone into countless fragments, causing the overwhelming energy to dissipate.
"Very well done! Mission complete," Kaeya congratulated.
However, Momon's expression remained cautious. "I'm not so sure about that..."
"Huh, why, Momon?" Kaeya inquired, a hint of concern in his voice.
Behind a massive pillar, a diminutive, masked figure materialized and hovered ominously. Kaeya marveled at how Momon had effortlessly spotted the concealed creature.
"The Abyss Order! So you're the ones behind all this!" Kaeya accused.
"Hahaha!" The masked figure cackled wickedly. "Foolish humans, daring to meddle in the Abyss's grand designs! You shall meet your demise here! Hahaha!"
With swift determination, the Abyss mage summoned a protective shield around himself, conjuring bubbles as a prelude to his impending confrontation. But his preparations took an unexpected turn when a fireball plummeted from above, causing a cataclysmic explosion. The Abyss mage was ill-prepared for such a devastating attack; his shield crumbled under the spell's relentless onslaught, and his body was incinerated beyond recognition.
Kaeya couldn't help but be intrigued. "Ohoho, impressive, Momon. The little mage never even got a chance to unleash his bubbles. I think we're quite finished with this domain now."
"So, what's our next step?" Momon inquired.
"I'll explore this room for the time being," Kaeya decided. "You should proceed to the Temple of the Lion. Don't keep the librarian waiting, Momon."
Momon arrived at the Temple of the Lion with remarkable swiftness, touching down discreetly to avoid drawing attention. At the temple's entrance, he spotted a woman engrossed in a book.
Hoping that she had just arrived, Momon approached her cautiously. "Oh my~ you're already here. Have you finished at the Temple of the Wolf?" she inquired, her tone suggestive of curiosity.
"Yeah, and Kaeya decided to stay back to investigate," Momon replied.
The woman's expression shifted slightly, a hint of disapproval in her eyes. "How rude of Kaeya to leave you all by yourself," she remarked.
Momon, however, was quick to dispel any discomfort. "It's quite all right," he assured her. "I find it even more disrespectful to leave a lady waiting alone."
Her cheeks flushed with a tinge of pink, and she looked at Momon with a fond smile. "Oh my, such a gentleman," she cooed, her voice carrying a hint of admiration.
Lisa couldn't help but be taken by Momon's demeanor. While she couldn't discern his true race, he exuded the charm and poise of a noble character from the pages of a romantic novel.
They stood poised at the entrance of the Temple of the Lion, ready to proceed, but a voice interrupted their advance.
"Hey! Wait for us?"
Amber, Aether, and Paimon raced towards them, their footsteps echoing in their haste to catch up with Lisa.
"Oh, Goddess, sweeties, please slow down!" Lisa implored, genuine worry lacing her voice.
Amber reassured her, "Don't fret, Lisa. We couldn't bear to let you venture into the temple alone."
Lisa, finding solace in their arrival, said, "Don't worry, Momon arrived just in time."
From the shadows of the gate, the towering figure of the dark warrior emerged, his presence imposing yet reassuring.
"Hello, everyone," Momon greeted them with a nod.
Paimon, however, was momentarily perplexed. "Wait a minute, weren't you supposed to accompany Kaeya to the Temple of the Wolf?" she inquired.
Momon's response carried an air of nonchalance. "Well, we managed to complete our task there rather swiftly, so here I am."
Amber marveled at their efficiency. "That was impressively quick."
Momon turned to Aether, and with a nod, he confirmed, "Indeed, Momon and I found ourselves concluding our exploration of the domain simultaneously. It seems like the perfect moment to venture into this temple and complete our mission."
As they ventured deeper into the Temple of the Lion, Aether couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. His gaze was fixated on the gem-like objects that Lisa, Amber, and even Jean carried. These intriguing stones seemed to hold a significant role in this world, and Aether was determined to learn more.
"Lisa," Aether began, his voice tinged with curiosity, "I've been wondering about those gems. What exactly are they?"
Lisa turned to him with a knowing smile, her expression hinting at the mystique surrounding these objects. "Ah, you're referring to these? They're called visions."
Momon watched their exchange closely, recognizing that this might provide valuable insight into the world they were now a part of.
Aether pressed on, "Visions? What are they, and how do they work?"
Lisa, with an air of intrigue, explained, "Visions are extraordinary gifts bestowed by the gods of this world. They grant their recipients the power to manipulate elemental forces. Those who possess these visions, known as Vision Holders, can harness their elemental abilities through these gems."
Momon absorbed this information with fascination, his eyes filled with wonder. The concept of divine gifts and elemental powers was a stark departure from the magic systems he was familiar with in YGGDRASIL.
"Thank you for explaining," Aether said, his appreciation evident. "It adds another layer of intrigue to this world." he thought
As they continued their journey through the temple, Aether pondered the mysteries of this world and the role of its gods, eager to learn more about the wonders and secrets that lay ahead.
Lisa's eyes widened with astonishment as she looked at Momon and Aether, the two enigmatic figures who had just single-handedly defeated a formidable dragon. The realization that neither of them possessed a vision, a coveted source of power in Teyvat, left her both intrigued and bewildered.
"Defeating a dragon without a vision? That's truly remarkable," Lisa exclaimed. "But if you're not vision holders, then just where do you come from?"
Momon wore a thoughtful expression, carefully choosing his words as he replied, "Our origins are a bit... unconventional. You see, we don't follow the gods of Teyvat, nor are we among the chosen ones they favor."
Aether nodded in agreement, adding, "It seems my circumstances are quite similar to Momon's. We've had to find our own way in this world."
Lisa couldn't help but be drawn into the mystery surrounding Momon and Aether. Her insatiable curiosity compelled her to dig deeper, but she sensed their reluctance to reveal too much about their past.
Momon's penetrating gaze locked onto Aether, the firelight flickering in his eyes, betraying the intrigue and curiosity that welled up within him. He had long suspected that Aether held secrets as profound as his own, secrets that tied them to realms beyond the borders of Teyvat.
In the depths of his mind, Momon couldn't help but ponder, 'Yeah, you are not from this world too, aren't you?' The words remained unspoken, hanging in the air like a silent revelation, a question that begged for an answer.
Their shared journey was filled with enigmas and challenges, and as they ventured forth, their unspoken truths would continue to knit the threads of destiny, binding them inextricably together in a tapestry woven with the mysteries of their origins.
Lisa pointed towards a towering structure that stood as their final destination. "There," she said, her finger directed at the imposing tower. "That's where we need to go. Paimon, could you fly over there and break the stone that Storm Terror is using to gain his power?"
Paimon's eyes widened with a mix of fear and reluctance. "EEHHH! I do not have the strength to break a stone!" she protested, clutching onto her companions.
With a resigned sigh, Momon decided, "Oh well, guess we'll fly there."
He cast a spell, invoking a magic known as [Mass Fly], and suddenly, the entire group ascended from the ground, hovering in the air behind Momon. Lisa, Amber, and even Paimon couldn't contain their astonishment as they soared through the skies without the need for gliders.
"What is this, Momon?!" Lisa exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock. "I'm really flying without a glider!"
Amber struggled to put her amazement into words. "Wow, we are really flying, flying," she muttered, her voice tinged with disbelief. She felt a lot like Paimon at that moment.
In what felt like mere moments, the group arrived at the pinnacle of the tower. Lisa wasted no time in grabbing Momon by the arm, her curiosity burning brightly. "How were you able to do that, Momon? What kind of magic was that?"
Momon revealed a necklace in the shape of a bird's wing. "It's just a magic item," he explained casually.
Lisa's eyes glittered with surprise as she admired the precious accessory. "Woah, that's pretty. An item like this would cost millions of Mora if it were on the market."
Aether, in the meantime, swiftly destroyed the stone, announcing, "Done! For now, Mondstadt will return back to normal."
As the group left the temple, they were greeted by a sky that had cleared of the oppressive storm. Lisa couldn't let go of her curiosity. "Momon, where did you get that item? It's so precious!"
Momon maintained his air of mystery. "Well... I have a hobby of collecting rare items."
Lisa nodded in understanding, acknowledging that he wasn't inclined to share further details. "It's definitely a rare one."
Amber suggested, "Should we report this to Jean?"
Lisa reverted to her usual composed self. "Oh yes. Let's go back to the city and inform Jean that the mission is completed." Their adventure in Mondstadt had taken an unexpected turn, but they had achieved their goal and were now ready to report their success to the city's leader.