"The story has come to a perfect end, hasn't it?" Paimon happily looked at Lumine.
Lumine, who had just removed the curse and poisonous blood from Dvalin, nodded, taking the opportunity to stroke the giant dragon's neck before stepping back a few paces.
Now Dvalin could mostly recover his senses. As for the misunderstandings between him and Venti, they could discuss those alone.
More than this place, she was more concerned about what was behind her...
Lumine silently turned her head to look. Acting Grand Master Jean was talking to Stelle.
Acting Grand Master Jean's state also seemed a bit off; her expression carried a maiden's shyness, and she didn't even dare to meet Stelle's gaze.
This made her internal alarm bells ring, and she pulled Paimon, who was flying in the air, down.
"Then I won't disturb you. You two have a good chat." Lumine said to Venti, and without waiting for Venti's response, she walked towards Stelle.
...
"Stelle."
"Is Dvalin alright now?" Stelle asked, looking at the golden-haired Damselette who had arrived in front of him.
"Mhm, mostly no problem." Lumine smiled and nodded, then couldn't help but glance at Acting Grand Master Jean. "What were you two talking about?"
"Nothing much, just Acting Grand Master Jean giving me a rundown on the Abyss Order," Stelle quickly replied.
"Oh~" Lumine nodded, not believing it at all.
A rundown on the Abyss Order?
Then Acting Grand Master Jean wouldn't be acting like a shy young couple, would she?
"Anyway, thank you so much this time, Lumine." Acting Grand Master Jean didn't notice Lumine's strange look, nor did she know what Lumine was thinking, only sincerely thanking Lumine.
"The Dragon Disaster could be resolved smoothly this time, all thanks to you."
"Ah, it's nothing, I didn't do much." Lumine rubbed her head and smiled.
If her contribution was significant, it was only purifying the Dragon Tears and the curse on Dvalin; it was nothing major.
"But in the end, the ones who solved the problem were two travelers from a foreign land," Diluc suddenly interjected coldly. "The Knights of Favonius... barely put in some hard work."
"The Knights of Favonius have many things to consider..." Acting Grand Master Jean sighed helplessly. Facing the Dragon Disaster and the monsters appearing everywhere due to it, the already understaffed Knights of Favonius truly found it difficult to do anything.
Not to mention having to deal with the Fatui's diplomatic pressure.
"Forget it, the outcome is good after all. Mondstadt should be back on track soon." Acting Grand Master Jean shook her head, looking at Dvalin and Venti in the distance.
She would probably be busy afterwards. The Dragon Disaster was resolved, but her work was not over. Whether it was explaining to the citizens or to allied nations, these tasks still needed to be done.
"Hey~ Everyone, come over here! Dvalin says he wants to take us back to the city!" Venti in the distance suddenly waved to the group and shouted loudly.
"Take us back to the city?? Ride a dragon back?" Stelle's eyes instantly lit up.
He had long wanted to experience what it felt like to be a Dragon Rider, but he never had the chance before.
"I don't need to." Diluc shook his head; he seemed uninterested in this matter. "Tell the Anemo Archon for me that I'll go directly back to Dawn Winery from here. I won't be joining everyone."
"But... Alright, I understand." Acting Grand Master Jean nodded, not continuing to persuade him.
Diluc left first, while the others went to Venti's side.
It seemed Dvalin had indeed talked things over with Venti; the entire dragon's demeanor was now somewhat different from before.
"Lord Diluc is leaving already?" Venti tilted his head in confusion, looking at Diluc's departing back in the distance.
"Yes, I'm very sorry, Ba... Sir Venti, Senior Diluc has something to do and needs to return to Dawn Winery first."
"Haha, thank you for still being willing to call me by that name, Acting Grand Master Jean." Venti was very happy. He patted Dvalin's huge dragon head beside him and then said to the group, "My old friend is going to give us a ride."
"Mmm..." Dvalin still seemed somewhat taciturn after recovering to normal.
He scanned the group, his gaze finally settling on Stelle.
Even when his consciousness was still chaotic just now, the dangerous aura emanating from this young man was still fresh in his memory.
Especially that strange stick flying past him; recalling it now still sent shivers down his spine.
"?" Stelle tilted his head in confusion, seeing Dvalin staring at him without blinking.
He thought for a moment, then reached out and waved, greeting him:
"Hi?"
After all, he hadn't formally chatted with Dvalin; previous interactions were when Dvalin was unconscious.
"..."
"Haha, you scared him a little just now, Stelle," Venti quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
"Is, is that so?" Stelle rubbed the tip of his nose. He had aimed at that fluffy thing, not Dvalin himself.
"Dangerous Damselette, inside you..." Dvalin ignored Venti's words and spoke on his own, wanting to say something, but a gust of wind blew past, and he immediately fell silent, not continuing his previous words.
"Come on up."
He didn't know what Barbatos was thinking, but since the other party reminded him, he wouldn't ask any more questions.
Anyway, for now, this Damselette held no hostility towards Mondstadt.
----------
Because Mondstadt City was still under martial law, and its citizens didn't know the Dragon Disaster had ended, entering the city rashly now might cause some degree of disturbance. So, Venti had Dvalin stop near Mondstadt City.
The rest of the way, they would need to walk back on foot.
Of course, Paimon probably wouldn't have to.
"Thank you, Dvalin," Venti said with a smile, stroking Dvalin's head.
"Barbatos, that Damselette..." Dvalin hesitated, glancing at Stelle in the distance.
"I've got it covered, don't worry."
Although Venti said so, Dvalin still found it hard to relax.
"Forget it, call me if anything happens." Dvalin flapped his wings and flew, circling in the sky for a bit before disappearing.
Venti smiled, watching Dvalin leave, then turned and walked to the group's side.
"It's finally over. How about we have a celebratory feast? At Angel's Share. Lord Diluc is so generous, he surely wouldn't be stingy with this meal, right?" Venti proposed with a grin to the group.
"Yay! I agree!" Paimon was the first to agree.
Although Venti's ulterior motive was obvious to everyone, the others didn't object.
"Acting Grand Master Jean, you come too. Put aside the Knights of Favonius's work for now," Stelle turned to Acting Grand Master Jean and asked.
"Okay, I'll be there." Acting Grand Master Jean smiled and nodded.
Stelle's invitation, she would not refuse no matter what, and besides, the end of the Dragon Disaster itself was a very worthy cause for celebration.
However, Lumine beside them pouted slightly.
She wasn't displeased about Stelle inviting Acting Grand Master Jean to the banquet; Acting Grand Master Jean should, by all accounts, attend the celebration banquet.
What bothered her was Stelle's way of addressing Acting Grand Master Jean.
She didn't know when Stelle had dropped the words "Acting Grand Master" and just called Acting Grand Master Jean by her name directly.
And Acting Grand Master Jean too, no longer called Stelle "Miss Stelle" as she used to.
This was clearly the result of their relationship growing closer, but Lumine had no idea when their relationship started to improve.
Truly frustrating...
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