The journey had just begun, yet Lumine and Paimon had already encountered two strange individuals.
Still in their novice phase, they couldn't make sense of what was happening and had no choice but to continue forward.
What followed aligned closely with the game's storyline. Paimon led Lumine to the Statue of the Seven, where Lumine touched the statue and gained the ability to wield Anemo.
Next, they proceeded toward Mondstadt. After passing through Whispering Woods, they encountered the Mondstadt Knights of Favonius' Outrider: Amber.
Amber conducted her routine inquiries about their origins and, after learning about their situation, mentioned that she was also heading back to Mondstadt and could escort them.
Thus, the three girls set off together toward Mondstadt. However, before they got far, they stumbled upon a Hilichurl camp.
"I didn't expect a Hilichurl camp to be this close to Mondstadt. For the safety of the people, as a knight, I must clear them out," Amber declared.
In the game, encountering a Hilichurl camp serves as a way for players to familiarize themselves with combat and introduce the concept of treasure chests.
However, this time, something interesting happened.
Amber and Lumine readied their weapons, preparing to attack, but when the Hilichurls saw Lumine, they suddenly froze in place!
They seemed overjoyed and, shockingly, instead of attacking, they all fell to their knees.
"Uh?"
This sudden development left Lumine and the others stunned.
"How strange. The Hilichurls didn't attack?"
Amber was astonished. As a seasoned Outrider, this was the first time she had seen such a phenomenon.
"It seems they are submitting to you," Amber speculated, glancing at Lumine. "Lumine, why don't you try telling them to leave?"
Avoiding a fight would be ideal, so Lumine nodded and addressed the Hilichurls: "This is not the place for you. Leave now."
As soon as Lumine finished speaking, something miraculous happened—the Hilichurls actually seemed to understand her words. They picked up their weapons and ran off.
"Uh?"
Even Lumine was dumbfounded by the scene, not to mention Amber.
"Wow? They just left without hesitation?"
Amber, ever observant and suspicious of unusual behavior, scrutinized Lumine from head to toe, her surprise tinged with skepticism.
"I say, are you some kind of Hilichurl chieftain or something?"
"Unjust accusation!"
Lumine waved her hands frantically. "I have no idea what's going on!"
Seeing Lumine's earnest protest, Amber sighed. "Fine. No matter what, at least the Hilichurl camp has been dealt with. Let's go. I'll take you to Mondstadt."
With that, she led Lumine and Paimon toward Mondstadt.
However, after they had left…
The Hilichurls, who had obediently departed earlier, gathered by a secluded riverside.
The furry Hilichurls began to shimmer with blue light, their forms shifting and transforming until they revealed themselves to be elegant Hydro Spirits.
"Lady Furina, the task is complete."
After reporting to Furina, the Oceanids leapt into the river and disappeared, blending into its currents.
On the road to Mondstadt, Lumine and Paimon inquired about the current state of the city from Amber.
"Mondstadt is currently suffering from a dragon calamity," Amber explained. "The Stormterror is attacking various parts of the city, plunging Mondstadt into chaos. Even the monsters that usually hide in the wilds are scattering in fear of the dragon, which is why we're seeing Hilichurl camps so close to Mondstadt."
To understand Mondstadt's current predicament, one must go back 500 years.
Five centuries ago, during the Cataclysm of Khaenri'ah, a dark calamity engulfed Mondstadt. At the same time, a monstrous dragon named Durin rampaged across the land, bringing destruction and slaughter.
At the time, Mondstadt was severely weakened with few defenders. The city suffered heavy losses under the combined assault of the calamity and the dragon.
The people prayed for the protection of the Anemo Archon, but the Archon was struggling with his own challenges. Instead, he sent one of his Four Winds, the East Wind's protector, Dvalin, to defend Mondstadt.
Dvalin rushed to the battlefield and engaged Durin in a fierce battle. The outcome was that Dvalin tore out Durin's throat, securing victory. However, Dvalin had ingested the dragon's poisonous blood during the fight, leaving him corrupted and forcing him into a deep slumber.
Now, five centuries later, Dvalin has awakened, but the poison from Durin's blood—an abyssal corruption—continues to torment him, eating away at his mind and spirit, causing unbearable suffering.
When Dvalin returned to see the city he once defended at the cost of his own life, he found that the people of Mondstadt had long forgotten him. Seeking solace from the Anemo Archon, he was met with silence as Barbatos remained dormant.
It was during this time of mental and emotional anguish that members of the Abyss Order approached him.
After Khaenri'ah was destroyed by Celestia and the Seven Archons, its people were cursed, transforming into monsters like the Hilichurls. Among these cursed beings, those who retained their intellect formed the Abyss Order. They pledged allegiance to Lumine's brother, Aether, whom they called their Prince.
The Abyss Order's goal was to exact vengeance on the Seven Archons and overthrow Celestia.
Using the curse, the Abyss Order magnified the abyssal corruption within Dvalin, amplifying his suffering. They filled his heart with hatred, driving him to despise the Anemo Archon and resent Mondstadt.
Eventually, under the influence of the curse and manipulation, Dvalin became a weapon of the Abyss Order, attacking various locations in Mondstadt and initiating the dragon calamity.
At the behest of the Abyss Order, Stormterror began assaulting key routes and locations around Mondstadt. This disrupted the city's trade routes, leading to severe shortages of supplies.
Mondstadt's citizens, living in constant fear, grew increasingly frustrated, urging the Knights of Favonius to end the dragon calamity.
Meanwhile, emissaries from Snezhnaya arrived in Mondstadt, seizing the opportunity to stir public opinion. They claimed that if the Knights of Favonius were incapable of resolving the crisis, the Fatui could step in and eliminate Stormterror.
However, Jean, the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, rejected the Fatui's offer of assistance for two reasons:
1. Dvalin is a companion of the Anemo Archon, one of the Four Winds that once protected Mondstadt. The city bore some responsibility for his current state, and the Knights were unwilling to resort to violence unless absolutely necessary.
2. The Fatui's intentions were far from altruistic. Their interest in defeating Dvalin stemmed from his connection to the Anemo Archon. They sought to use Dvalin to locate the Archon and steal the Anemo Archon's Gnosis.
The citizens of Mondstadt, however, were deeply affected by the calamity, living in terror day after day. The Knights' delay in addressing the crisis, coupled with their refusal of the Fatui's help, left the populace dissatisfied.
The Fatui capitalized on this dissatisfaction, stirring public discontent and exerting significant diplomatic pressure on the Knights of Favonius.
In such a dire situation, the Knights were in a precarious position.
However, three days ago, the Hydro Archon of Fontaine, Lady Focalors, secretly visited Mondstadt and held talks with the Knights of Favonius.
...
After dealing with the Hilichurl camp, Amber led Lumine and Paimon to Mondstadt.
"I'm glad to have met you both. Honestly, I owe you for helping resolve the Hilichurl problem so smoothly," Amber said cheerfully. "How about I treat you to a meal? The honey-roasted carrots at the Good Hunter are absolutely delicious!"
Amber led Lumine and Paimon to the restaurant and was just about to order when an unexpected event occurred.
The once-bright sky suddenly darkened with thick clouds.
A massive teal dragon soared across the sky, and Stormterror launched an attack directly on Mondstadt!
In an instant, gale-force winds, like a roaring tidal wave, swept through the streets of Mondstadt.
The once-lively streets descended into chaos. Pedestrians were knocked over, stalls overturned, tables and chairs were flung through the air, smashing into buildings, windows, and even people.
But it didn't end there. Stormterror flapped its colossal wings, summoning three enormous tornadoes.
Each tornado towered over a hundred meters high, dwarfing the city's buildings. If they rampaged through Mondstadt, the entire city would be reduced to rubble.
"Lumine, Paimon! Take care of yourselves. I need to evacuate the townsfolk!" Amber shouted, unable to spare any more time for them. She rushed off to guide the citizens to safety.
However, just fifty meters away, a strange wind suddenly surged around Lumine and Paimon. The wind spiraled upward, sweeping them into the sky!
"Lumine! Paimon!" Amber screamed in alarm. She desperately wanted to save them, but the distance was too great, and the storm was beyond anyone's control.
Amber and the onlookers could only watch in horror as Lumine and Paimon were carried aloft by the powerful winds.
But then, something unexpected happened.
As the wind carried Lumine and Paimon high into the air, it suddenly softened. Like a gentle hand, it carefully placed them on Stormterror's back.
"Huh?"
The sight stunned not only Amber and the citizens but also Lumine and Paimon themselves.
"Who am I, and why am I on Stormterror's back?" Lumine thought, utterly baffled.
They had no time to dwell on the question, though, as Stormterror was still a dangerous foe.
Lumine, having only just arrived in Mondstadt, had not yet received a Wind Glider from Amber.
In other words, Lumine couldn't fly.
Stormterror thrashed about, attempting to shake them off. Paimon, being able to fly, was relatively safe, but Lumine's predicament was far more dire. At such a height, falling would surely be fatal.
Stormterror began to tilt its body, intending to roll over and let gravity send Lumine plummeting to her doom.
Lumine's heart leapt into her throat as she braced herself.
However, as if receiving some unseen command, Stormterror stopped mid-roll, leaving Lumine and Paimon on its back.
It seemed ready to resume summoning destructive winds upon Mondstadt, but a commanding voice suddenly echoed from below.
"Anti-air squad, ready! Target: Stormterror! Fire!"
Acting Grand Master Jean drew her longsword, pointing it straight at the massive dragon in the sky.
At her command, a barrage of firepower was unleashed.
Dozens of fiery projectiles shot upward, streaking towards Stormterror.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions erupted across the sky, flames and shockwaves engulfing Stormterror.
The dragon let out a pained roar. Confronted with this unknown attack from the Knights of Favonius, it chose to abandon its assault and flee into the distance.
...
Mondstadt, Whispering Woods Area.
In a flat, open section of the region, Stormterror swooped low, tossing Lumine and Paimon off its back before flying off toward the ruins without even a glance in their direction.
"Ugh, my head is spinning," Paimon groaned, clutching her head as she got up.
"What was that all about?" Lumine muttered, equally disoriented.
Both of them were utterly bewildered.
First, they had encountered someone claiming to be a god, then a green-clad figure communicating with Stormterror, followed by a strange reverence shown by Hilichurls along the way. After finally reaching Mondstadt, they were caught in Stormterror's assault, only to be inexplicably whisked away by a mysterious wind and deposited on the dragon's back.
And now, the dragon had simply dropped them in the middle of nowhere and left.
"Seriously! It just threw us on its back and then dumped us here! What's its deal?" Paimon huffed, stomping in frustration. "The journey's barely three hours in, and we've already run into so many bizarre situations. It's infuriating!"
Annoyed, she hovered mid-air, venting her frustration. Lumine, too, was at a loss for words.
With no clear direction, the two were left with no choice but to continue onward. Whispering Woods was far from Mondstadt City, meaning they would need to camp and forage along the way.
...
Three days passed.
Despite the constant outdoor survival, the adventuring life wasn't entirely unpleasant. Finally, after three and a half days of traveling and camping, Lumine and Paimon returned to Mondstadt.
"Welcome to Mondstadt, travelers borne on the winds!" A knight of the Knights of Favonius greeted them warmly at the city gates.
However, their return to the city brought an unexpected turn of events.
As soon as they entered, a large contingent of Knights of Favonius surrounded them. From within the encirclement, a man with an eyepatch and a laid-back demeanor stepped forward.
"You must be Lumine and Paimon," he said casually. "Greetings. I'm Kaeya, Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius."
With a faint, mischievous smile, he continued, "After investigation, you are suspected of several crimes. I must ask you to come with us."
Seeing Lumine's guarded stance, Kaeya raised an eyebrow.
"Please cooperate. Right now, you are merely suspects. If the investigation proves you innocent, the Knights of Favonius will clear your name. However," his tone grew firmer, "if you resist with force, the situation will escalate."
At this, the knights surrounding them drew their swords in unison, their numbers and discipline overwhelming. Kaeya himself placed a hand on the hilt of his blade.
Realizing the futility of resistance against such odds, Lumine and Paimon reluctantly chose to comply.
Once inside the headquarters of the Knights of Favonius, they were brought before the full force of Mondstadt's elite: Cavalry Captain Kaeya, Spindrift Knight Eula, Librarian Lisa, and Acting Grand Master Jean.
The atmosphere was heavy as Jean stepped forward.
"Lumine, Paimon, you are accused of multiple serious offenses, including obstructing the Anemo Archon's efforts to save Stormterror, harming a god, and inciting Stormterror to attack Mondstadt."
"In light of these charges, we have decided to imprison you in Mondstadt's dungeon. A formal interrogation will follow shortly."
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