"Then I'll see you off here?"
Xiangling, carrying a large piece of wild boar meat on her back, nodded to the group.
After leaving Draff's cabin, the group cooked one of the wild boars in Springvale and left the rest for Draff and the others.
Paimon held a skewer of roasted meat, its crispy skin glazed with a light golden hue, thanks to Xiangling's secret teriyaki-style seasoning made from Sweet Flowers and honey, smoked over a branch from a Pyro Regisvine.
"Alright! Goodbye, Sister Xiangling!"
Klee, her mouth greasy from eating, waved enthusiastically at Xiangling.
By the time the roasted pork was ready, it was nearly dusk. Xiangling, citing the need to gather more ingredients, bid the group a hasty farewell.
"Ah, Famas! This is for you!"
As Xiangling walked away, she suddenly remembered something and turned back. She untied a small bell from her waist and handed it to Famas.
"With this bell, all meals at Wanmin Restaurant are free."
Xiangling smiled brightly at Famas, then waved her hand. "Welcome to visit Liyue!"
Famas watched Xiangling walk away, then tied the bell to his waist.
Lumine, standing nearby, gave Famas a strange look and plucked a flower from her hair—a flower that never withered.
"Here, this is for you."
Paimon, noticing Lumine's blush, seemed to understand something and started teasing. "Hey, this is Lumine's favorite flower! Famas, you better take good care of it!"
Under the setting sun, the fiery sky illuminated Lumine as she handed over the pure white flower.
Famas looked at Lumine. Her pale golden hair fluttered in the wind as she removed the flower from her hair.
Since Lumine had awakened, this flower had always been there.
Lumine loved the flower she wore in her hair.
She had once taken it off, though it was just an unnamed white blossom. Yet, it was incredibly resilient, unaffected by wind or rain, as if protected by some invisible force.
"Thank you."
Famas solemnly accepted the flower Lumine offered and secured it to his collar with Pyro energy.
As the former God of Flame, Famas knew that the flower Lumine wore was the national flower of Khaenri'ah—the Inteyvat.
This flower only bloomed for two weeks, but once it left Khaenri'ah's soil, it would remain forever in full bloom until it returned to its homeland.
Paimon floated quietly beside Lumine, saying nothing.
Lumine tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, took Klee's small hand, and walked toward Mondstadt.
Famas followed behind.
Everything was so peaceful.
Until the three of them reached the gates of Mondstadt, standing on the stone bridge that was the only entrance to the city.
Klee, tired from walking, rode on Famas's shoulders, holding a Windwheel Aster she had plucked along the way, waving it like a real pinwheel. Famas held onto Klee's legs to keep her from falling, while Paimon lay on Lumine's shoulder, looking exhausted from overeating.
Lumine, with a gentle smile, gazed at Famas's profile, her expression filled with happiness.
Unbeknownst to them, two familiar faces were watching their return at the city gates.
"Klee!"
A clear, spirited voice called out from the city gates, startling Klee.
"J-Jean... Acting Grand Master Jean!"
Seeing the familiar figure in white in the distance, Klee, who had been smiling happily on Famas's shoulders, suddenly lost her joy.
Jumping down from Famas's shoulders, Klee quickly ran over to Jean.
Worried that Klee might get scolded by Jean, Famas and Lumine followed her to Jean.
"You all..."
Seeing the unusually united group, Jean sighed helplessly, completely ignoring the mischievous smile on Venti's face.
Only Paimon, lethargic, greeted Venti.
"Bard, good afternoon."
Venti nodded, then continued to watch the scene with a playful gaze as Jean picked up Klee by her backpack.
"Anyway, come back to the Knights of Favonius headquarters first!"
Jean carried Klee by her backpack and headed back to the Knights' headquarters.
Seeing Klee's pleading eyes, Famas wanted to help, but the sight of Venti's eerie smile made him feel like he was in danger himself.
"Ahem, Venti, long time no see!"
Famas subtly inched toward the city gates. A thousand years ago, there were no Statues of the Seven. Though he wasn't sure about the exact relationship between the Statue of the Seven and Venti, the look in Venti's eyes told him he needed to find a way to escape.
"Well, Paimon and I will head off first. We need to turn in our commissions at the Adventurers' Guild."
Lumine, sensing that the two had something to discuss, tactfully suggested leaving.
"Wait, Lumine, I'll go with you."
This was Famas's last lifeline. He couldn't let Lumine leave just like that. Just as Famas was about to grab Lumine's wrist, Venti grabbed his clothes.
Venti smiled eerily at Lumine.
"Then you go ahead, Lumine. Famas and I have something to talk about."
Seeing Venti's strange smile, Lumine wanted to say more, but Paimon suddenly flew off her shoulder and pulled Lumine toward the city.
"Don't look, don't look, Lumine. Famas and the bard must have something really important to discuss."
After Lumine left, Venti and Famas stood in awkward silence for a moment.
Then Venti pulled out a teal-colored bow from behind.
"Wait, I can explain!"
Feeling the Anemo energy gathering in Venti's bow, Famas immediately tried to flee. Pyro energy surged from the ley lines, propelling him backward.
"Don't even think about running!"
Venti, with his bow fully drawn, aimed at Famas's escape route and fired an arrow.
"You're serious?!"
Famas, who had just reached the middle of the bridge, scared off Timmie's pigeons and was then pulled back by a powerful suction force.
"War's Protection."
A Pyro shield formed around Famas as he was sucked into the storm created by Venti's attack.
"If I dodge even once, it would be a betrayal of War's Protection."
Famas rolled helplessly in the center of the storm as the Anemo energy battered his shield.
When the Anemo energy finally dissipated, Famas landed on the ground. Before he could steady himself, Venti pounced on him, pinning him down.
Sitting on Famas's chest, Venti vigorously rubbed Famas's face.
"You smashed my statue, you blew up my island!"
"You scared me to death!"
Venti gritted his teeth as he pinched Famas's cheeks, looking even more aggrieved than Famas.
"I... I... know, I'll... fix it..."
Famas stammered through his pinched cheeks.
"So, how do I fix the statue?"
A/n - Read chapters ahead on my patreon.com/nneol