Plop, plop.
Walking on the brown, muddy ground, Eula lightly stepped forward, leaving a trail of frost beneath her feet. Steadily walking on the icy surface, Eula looked up and gazed at the various puddles of different sizes scattered across the land. Streams of water flowed continuously toward the massive hollow in the center of the valley. She couldn't help but glance back at Klee, who was joyfully hopping around.
"Haha!"
Klee jumped into another puddle, watching the water splash high into the air, forming a small rainbow under the sunlight. A bright smile lit up her face. Spotting another puddle ahead, Klee prepared to jump again.
"Klee."
"Hmm?"
The small figure paused, tilting her head curiously toward Eula. "What's the matter, Sister Eula?"
"Hmm…"
Eula hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. "It's nothing. But I've remembered how you stole my credit this time."
Lowering her head slightly, Eula watched as Klee happily hopped past her, then turned to Hiroshi and asked softly, "If I had Klee's power, would I be able to fulfill my wish? To break the icy wall between Mondstadt and the Lawrence family, and bring back the frost that once belonged to Mondstadt?"
Her face filled with conflicting emotions, Eula looked at Hiroshi and asked, "Can you answer this for me? You're like me, an outsider in Mondstadt."
"I don't know," Hiroshi replied without hesitation. His tone was calm as he looked at the slightly disheartened Eula. "Your question has no meaning for me. I know about the issues between Mondstadt and the Lawrence family, but in the end, I'm just an outsider in Mondstadt."
"Here, aside from a few friends and family, I don't really care about much."
Looking up at the golden sunlight filtered by the clouds, Hiroshi said softly, "Although I might save Mondstadt in times of crisis, that's more due to coincidence and the fact that I have the power to do so."
"I'm not as great as the residents of Mondstadt make me out to be. Ever since I obtained my own estate, I rarely visit Mondstadt."
"Because most of what I care about is at home."
"But you're different."
Looking at Eula with a complex expression, Hiroshi pointed to the Frost Emblem she wore. "You may be an outsider to Mondstadt, but deep down, you're still part of it."
"You were born and raised here, so your goal is to reintegrate with Mondstadt."
"I, on the other hand, am a drifter. I like Mondstadt, but I have my own home."
"However!"
Clenching his fist, Hiroshi looked at the disappearing sunlight above and swung his fist forward. Golden light once again illuminated the land as Hiroshi smiled at the astonished Eula.
"But seeking power is never wrong."
"If your strength is great enough, you can change your family and its legacy."
"Break apart their so-called glory of the past, open their eyes once more, and help them see this new world anew."
Smiling at Eula, whose gaze grew increasingly bright, Hiroshi added, "If you're willing to change and admit past mistakes while working to correct them, then one day, Mondstadt's winds will embrace the frost once more."
"Got it!"
Eula looked up at the bright sunlight in the sky and smiled. "I'll remember this debt you owe me for persuading me to destroy the Lawrence family!"
"One day, I'll come back to settle the score with you!"
"Don't. I don't want to be on your revenge list!"
Hiroshi laughed, waving his hand as he walked alongside Kuroneko. "I was just fulfilling a request to guide you. If you're holding a grudge, aim it at the person who asked me to do it."
"A request?"
Eula turned to Hiroshi with a puzzled expression. "From who?"
"A bard," Hiroshi said with a helpless smile. "I'll probably get swindled by that slacker. He promised me a bottle of wine he's been hoarding for years as payment."
"But knowing that drunkard, I doubt he'll hand it over. He's probably drooling over that bottle right now."
Meanwhile, in Mondstadt's Windrise, Venti carefully unearthed a wooden box from beneath his statue. Looking around to make sure no one was watching, Venti quickly retrieved a bottle of wine from the box and replaced it with another bottle before burying it again.
Satisfied with his perfect work, Venti patted the soil back in place and smiled. "Looks like I haven't lost my touch."
Holding the dandelion wine he had just unearthed, Venti couldn't resist rubbing it against his cheek. "This is the dandelion wine I buried 500 years ago. After all this time fermenting beneath the statue, it must be the finest vintage ever."
His mouth watered as he grinned. "Hiroshi doesn't seem to know much about wine. Maybe I should taste it first."
"If I can't resist, I'll just play some songs at Angel's Share to earn another bottle and bury it again."
Nodding to himself, Venti smiled. "That's a good plan. I'm doing this for Hiroshi's sake. If the wine has gone bad over time, it'd be terrible. I'll take the risk and test it myself. What a good friend I am~."
"Stop right there!"
A hand suddenly emerged from the space beside Venti, giving him a solid knock on the head. The hand snatched the bottle from Venti and disappeared.
"Ow~!"
Clutching his reddened forehead, Venti looked toward Dragonspine with tearful eyes. The constant wind and snow seemed to have a large fist-shaped hole in the sky, through which golden sunlight streamed down like a sword.
"That was unnecessary, Hiroshi. I just wanted to help you taste it."
Pouting, Venti muttered. "But you did a great job with what I asked of you. Since I've paid you, I'll head back to Mondstadt to continue performing."
Turning toward Mondstadt, Venti chuckled. "But remember to open the wine with me. I rarely drink such good wine. Just thinking about giving it to you makes my heart ache!"
"Keep dreaming!"
Hiroshi's voice echoed around Venti as a gentle breeze swirled. "I'll drink it all tonight, not leaving a single drop!"
"Wait~!"
Turning to face a giant oak tree, Venti chuckled lightly. "But thank you, Hiroshi."
"Hmph!"
"You shameless bard. Using divine power to influence Eula's thoughts—you have no shame."
"Hehe."
Venti tilted his head with a grin. "It's just a little guidance from an elder. Don't make it sound so bad."
"Besides, Mondstadt can't stay this way any longer."
"A tidal wave is coming to sweep through Teyvat!"
"What do you mean? Speak clearly, you lazy bard!"
"Hehe~."
Waving at the breeze before him, Venti vanished in an instant.
"Mondstadt calls for the best bard in the world. I must go perform!"