บท 23: 22. Mondstadt: A Blonde Bird?
The morning sun rose gently over Mondstadt, casting a warm glow over the city's stone streets and rooftops. The ever-present wind carried the familiar scent of dandelions and wildflowers as it breezed through the town square. I stood at the edge of the fountain, taking in the sights of the waking city. It amazed me how quickly Mondstadt had come to feel like home.
It had been three days since my last training session with the Knights of Favonius, and I found myself marveling at how peaceful everything seemed. The laughter of children playing in the plaza, the hum of merchants opening their stalls, the distant chatter of the townsfolk—it all had a calming effect, helping me forget the chaos that often brewed just outside the city walls.
Despite the tranquility, something about today felt... different. There was a slight disturbance in the air, something I couldn't quite identify. It wasn't alarming, just a nagging feeling that tugged at the back of my mind. I brushed it off, unwilling to spoil the morning with unnecessary worry.
"Morning, Tayden!" Amber's cheerful voice rang out, pulling me from my thoughts. She bounded over with her usual exuberance, her bow slung across her back and her glider strapped behind her.
I turned to face her, managing a smile. "Morning, Amber. How's everything going?"
"Same old, same old," she replied, her eyes gleaming with that boundless energy of hers. "I was just about to head out on patrol, but I figured I'd stop by and check in. You look a little... distracted?"
I glanced up at the sky, letting the breeze ruffle my hair. "It's probably nothing, but something feels off. Like... the air is more prickly?"
Amber frowned, following my gaze. "You've got pretty good instincts. Maybe we should look into it later."
I shrugged, trying to shake off the feeling. "It's probably nothing. Mondstadt's peaceful today, and I don't want to spoil it with paranoia."
Amber grinned and gave me a light punch on the arm. "That's the spirit! Besides, Jean would tell us if something major was going on. Speaking of Jean, you should probably check in with her. She mentioned something about a minor disturbance near Windrise."
"Windrise?" I raised an eyebrow. "The Abyss Order again?"
Amber nodded. "That's the guess, though nothing too major. Probably just a few stragglers, but you know how Jean is, she likes to make sure everything is handled thoroughly."
I sighed, rolling my shoulders to loosen them up. "I guess I'd better not keep her waiting, then."
Amber winked. "That's the Tayden I know. Always on top of things. Well, I'd better get going too. I've got a new route to scout out. Don't let Jean work you to death!"
With that, she waved and darted off, her glider spreading open as she soared into the air. I watched her disappear into the distance, shaking my head with a smirk.
As I made my way toward the Knights of Favonius headquarters, that feeling of disturbance in the wind only seemed to grow stronger. It was strange, but I had more pressing matters to attend to.
The headquarters of the Knights of Favonius was as busy as always. I walked through the bustling hallways, nodding to a few familiar faces. I headed straight for Jean's office, where I hoped to get more information about the disturbance near Windrise.
When I entered, Jean was at her desk, buried in a pile of documents. Her sharp blue eyes glanced up, and surprise flickered across her face as she set down her quill.
"Tayden!" she said, standing up. "I wasn't expecting you. What brings you here?"
"I heard there's been some trouble near Windrise," I replied, stepping forward. "I wanted to see if you'd like me to check it out."
Jean blinked for a moment, then nodded, relief evident in her expression. "Yes, I was actually about to send someone, but if you're available, that would be incredibly helpful. We've received reports of Abyss Mages and Hilichurls causing disturbances in the area. It's not an emergency, but I'd rather not let it escalate."
I studied the map spread across her desk, noting the marked location near Windrise. "I'll head over right away and take care of it. Shouldn't be too difficult."
"Thank you, Tayden," Jean said, though her eyes betrayed a hint of concern. "Please be cautious. I can't explain it, but something feels... off. There's a tension in the air."
I nodded, feeling the same unease. "You're not the only one feeling that way. I've noticed it too."
Jean sighed, her expression growing more serious. "It's probably nothing, but we can't be too careful. Let me know what you find."
"Will do." I gave her a nod and headed out of the building,
"Looks like I'm heading to Windrise!"
---
The walk to Windrise was calming. The fields surrounding Mondstadt were bathed in sunlight, and the wind rustled through the grass and trees. But as I moved further away from the city, the sensation of something being different only got worse. It was as if the Anemo energy around me was alive, reacting to my presence more than ever before.
I paused for a moment, rubbing the back of my neck as I glanced around. My skin tingled, a faint buzzing sensation under the surface that made me feel strangely alert.
"What... is this?" I muttered to myself. It was like the air was charged with static. Anemo energy had never felt this... volatile. I shook my head, trying to brush off the feeling. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe I was just being paranoid.
I pushed forward, finally reaching the open plains of Windrise. The ancient tree loomed in the distance, its branches swaying gently in the breeze. But as I approached, I quickly spotted the disturbance that Jean had mentioned—a Hilichurl camp near the base of the tree.
The camp was larger than I had expected, with several tents and supplies scattered around. I drew my sword cautiously, expecting to find a large group of enemies inside. But as I stepped closer, confusion washed over me.
Only a small handful of Hilichurls were lingering around the campfire, aimlessly milling about. I scanned the area, my brow furrowing. The camp was too large for the few Hilichurls present. It didn't make any sense.
"Where's the rest of them?" I muttered, feeling more uneasy by the second.
The small group posed little threat, so I quickly dispatched them, my sword flashing in the morning light as I cut them down. They barely put up a fight, their numbers too few to offer any real resistance. As the last one fell, I sheathed my sword, glancing around the empty camp.
Why were there so few? Where had the others gone?
Before I could puzzle over it any further, the wind around me picked up again, swirling with an intensity that made me freeze. My skin prickled, the Anemo energy in the air more charged than ever. I could feel it coursing through me, almost as if my body was reacting to it.
"What the—" I began, but then a deep, thunderous roar echoed across the plains, cutting through the air like a knife.
I felt my blood run cold.
Stormterror
"Not again," I whispered, fear creeping into my voice as I turned and looked back toward Mondstadt. Another roar echoed, louder this time, filling the sky. My stomach twisted in horror.
Without wasting another second, I took off running. My heart pounded in my chest as I raced toward Mondstadt, panic driving me forward.
"Why now?!"
The wind howled in my ears, and as I got closer, I could make out the dragon's massive form circling the city's skyline.
The wind howled in my ears as I ran, the walls of Mondstadt slowly coming into view. My heart pounded with fear and adrenaline, thoughts racing through my mind. I had to get there in time. I had to help. As I approached the city gates, the enormity of Stormterror's presence filled the sky, his massive wings casting shadows over the city.
I rushed into Mondstadt, weaving through the chaotic scene. Knights scrambled to set up defenses, civilians hurried for cover, and the air was thick with tension.
I pushed forward, my eyes darting upward, scanning the skies for Stormterror. But why is everything still so.. not broken?
Then I saw them.
Near the plaza, I spotted Amber standing with her bow drawn, her expression a mix of shock and concern. Beside her, a small floating creature frantically waved its arms. I came to a halt, trying to catch my breath, and focused on the scene unfolding above them.
"Hey! What are you doing?! " Amber's voice rang out, high-pitched and filled with alarm.
The floating creature beside her shouted in an equally frantic voice. "Aether! Are you crazy?!"
I followed their gazes, looking up at the sky. That was when I finally saw him, the blonde haired figure gliding through the air, effortlessly dodging Stormterror's attacks and striking back with bursts of Anemo energy. He moved with a speed and precision I'd never seen, launching powerful blasts that forced the dragon to reel back in fury.
I stood there, utterly frozen in place. My mind struggled to comprehend what I was witnessing. Someone, this Aether, was actually fighting Stormterror. Not running from it, not simply surviving its attacks, but going toe-to-toe with the dragon and holding his ground.
"How...?" I breathed, my thoughts racing. How was this even possible? I'd seen the devastation Stormterror could wreak, the power it commanded. It had taken the combined efforts me, Eula, and Amber to finally drive it away, nearly dying in the process. And here was this newcomer, a traveler, battling it as though it were an opponent he had faced countless times before.
The way he moved, gliding through the air with perfect control, the force of his wind-based attacks—it was unlike anything I had ever seen. For a moment, I felt as if I were watching a myth come to life, a story from legends unfolding right before my eyes.
Who is this guy?
I couldn't pull my eyes away. Aether's every move was deliberate and powerful. He was keeping Stormterror on the defensive, pushing the dragon back with blasts of wind that rippled through the air. Each strike made the dragon roar in anger, its massive form twisting and turning as it struggled to find an opening.
I had seen powerful fighters before—Jean, Kaeya, Eula, all skilled warriors. But this... this was something else entirely. Stormterror was a force of nature, a calamity that had left even Mondstadt's best struggling to keep up. And yet, there in the sky, this stranger, this Aether was holding his own, wielding Anemo energy with a precision and strength that made my head spin.
My heart pounded in my chest, my breathing shallow as I tried to process the scene. Someone was actually holding their own against Stormterror. It felt surreal, almost impossible.
This stranger was doing what none of us had ever been able to do alone.
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