The cliff overlooked a vast stretch of sky and stone, the wind stronger here, sharper carrying the distant scent of storm. Everything is green and the sky is clear and adorned with the sun, it is warm and the view is beautiful.
Jean arrived first, her steps measured, her cape still.
Noxira followed a halfstep behind, as she always did an looked around.
She stopped the moment she saw the edge and the air pressed against her, not violently but insistently and Jean noticed immediately but Noxira said before Jean could say something.
>>"It is beautiful here, the view is breathtaking."<<
Jean smiled gentle and nodded and answered.
>>"That's true, it really is beautiful here."<<
Before Noxira could say something, footsteps approached from the other side of the ridge.
Lumine emerged first, relief flickering across her face when she saw them and smiled at Noxira.
>>"Jean, Noxira"<<
Diluc followed, arms crossed and his gaze already scanning the sky.
>>"Successfully secured the lyre and we haven't missed it."<<
His eyes wander during this process into the distance and looked to the view enjoying the view internally, Paimon zipped then forward.
>>Noxira! Paimon helped both of them, and they both fought really well."<<
Noxira's smiled because of Paimon and her eyes lingered on Lumine grounding herself before drifting upward again, Noxira feels good at Paimon and Lumine and then a familiar voice hummed
Venti stepped forward the Lyre in his hand after Paimon gave it to him, his expression lighter than the air around them but his eyes were sharp.
>>"Alright. Let's call an old friend."<<
The wind shifted because of Venti who lifted the Lyre and the first notes drifted outward gentle, nostalgic, filled with longing and acquaintance for multiple notes and a moment, the sky listened.
After these moments Noxira's breath caught her vision blurred not from pain, but from memory.
A dragon's cry, not angry wounded a hand reaching, light breaking apart and a voice, distant but firm.
>>"Hold the pattern don't let it fracture"<<
Lumine noticed the shift in Noxrias behavior and immediately looked at her.
>>"Noxira?"<<
Lumine's voice cut through but it was too late, the wind screamed and the sky darkened violently as a massive shadow tore through the clouds and it is Dvalin and his roar shattered the air.
A Abyss mage was on Dvalins back and with a flick of his wrist he shot a projectile that hits the lyre, the strings snapped with a sound like breaking glass.
Venti staggered back as the instrument broke in his hands.
>>"The Lyre!"<<
Screamed Venti while Noxira dropped to her knees not in pain but in recognition.
>>He's not attacking... He's... He's in pain... He's hurt, he will flee..."<<
Whispered Noxira while she's shaking.
Dvalin's wings beat twice and then he was gone, silence crashed down afterward and Venti stared at the broken Lyre while Jean closed her eyes briefly and thought loud.
>>"So the corruption runs deeper than we thought.."<<
Diluc exhaled sharply and added to Jeans tought
>>"We'll need another way, there has to be another way. There is always a way."<<
Lumine knelt beside Noxira in worry.
>>"Hey Noxira, Stay with me looked at me."<<
Noxira nodded, tears slipping free without her noticing while she looked at Lumine.
>>"I... I almost remembered something... but sadly only almost..."<<
Lumine smiled slightly in understanding and hugged her and said comfortingly.
>>"Give yourself time. If you force it or rush it, it won't get any easier..."<<
The silence after Dvalin's departure felt heavier than the storm itself. The wind still moved across the cliff but it had lost its playfulness stripped down to something wary, distant and Jean straightened slowly, her expression composed but concern lingered beneath it because she noticed Noxrias behavior and turned her attention fully to Noxira.
>>"You handled that well... don't be so hard on yourself."<<
Jean said calmly, kneeling slightly to be closer to her level and put ver Hand on her Shoulder.
>>"but... I need you to tell me... what did you feel?"<<
Noxira hesitated and her fingers clenched tightly into the fabric of her sleeves and she take a deep breath.
>>"It - It wasn't fear..."<<
Said Noxira quite and shaked her head.
>>"It felt... familiar. Like something I should understand but can't reach anymore or can't understand anymore...?"<<
Paimon floated closer but unusually subdued.
>>"Paimon doesn't think that was normal Déjà vu... Why should it be a Déjà vu?"<<
Lumine nodded, her gaze steady on Noxira and Lumines started to thought.
>>"You reacted before anyone else did and not like you were predicting something... more like you remembered it..."<<
Noxira swallowed and started thinking about the Theories.
>>"I understand... but I think I don't remember him or perhaps... but I remember the pain it's not mine, it is his."<<
Jean exhaled slowly and added her thoughts.
>>"Then... whatever is tied to you, it resonates with Dvalin's corruption or with the power affecting him."<<
Jean stands up and strikes a thoughtful pose.
>>"Which means we shouldn't stay here any longer."<<
Venti was still staring at the broken Lyre, his usual lightness completely absent and he is lost in thought. Jean placed a hand on his shoulder and said.
>>"We'll find a way, but first we have to go back."<<
Venti smiled slightly and nodded, while he picked the Lyre up.
>>"Heh... I suppose even a bard has to admit when a song needs mending."<<
Jean turned to the group.
>>"Let's return to headquarters but Lisa will want to examine the Lyre and Noxira as well, if she agrees."<<
Noxira nodded and said determined.
>>" That's okay for me I want answers too."<<
The walk back through Mondstadt felt different than before and the city was alive, unaware of what happens. Civilians laughed, merchants called out, children ran past without a care in the world and Noxira noticed how the wind behaved here it flowed freely but around her, it slowed.
Jean noticed but said nothing, Inside the Knights Headquarters, Lisa was already waiting, leaning lazily against a desk. She was waiting for Jean, but her eyes immediately sharpening when she saw the Lyre.
>>"Oh my... that looks like trouble wrapped in nostalgia."<<
Venti sighed and smiled a bit by that comment.
>>"You could say that."<<
Lisa examined the Lyre carefully, her fingers hovering just above the broken strings with a thoughtful expression.
>>"The Lyre wasn't destroyed by force alone, Abyssal energy destabilized its structure."<<
She glanced at Noxira with a knowing smile.
>>"And you my little one, felt that disruption, didn't you, little cutie?"<<
Noxira nodded slowly and Lisa smiled fascinated, while took a thoughtful position.
>>"Fascinating little one..."<<
Jean crossed her arms and thought.
>>"Can it be repaired ?"<<
Lisa smirked knowingly and said calmly.
>>"Not by conventional means but... You're carrying something special, aren't you ? My dear?"<<
Lisa smiled knowingly and stepped closer too Lumine and Lumine hesitated, then took out the cleaned Tear of Dvalin and the air shifted instantly.
Noxira stiffened, not in pain but recognition.
>>"That's it... That feeling again..."<<
Whispered Noxira to herself and observed how Lisa carefully guided Lumine's hands as the Tear was brought close to the Lyre and the Light spread slowly, threads of Anemo resonance weaving themselves back into the broken strings. The Lyre didn't fully restore but it stabilized, the sound it made was faint. Incomplete Venti listened carefully and understood. He took the Lyre and completes the process.
>>"That's it."<<
After the Lyre was repaired, they discussed as a team what to do next, but they didn't do it alone. They went back to Dilucs bar, discussed everything together and they talked about after brainstorming together. That they have to go to Brightcrown Mountain, Venti he explained everything that needed to be said.