Since Grand Master Varka led the Knights of Favonius on their expedition, the position of Grand Master had been entrusted to the eldest daughter of House Gunnhildr.
Jean Gunnhildr.
Nineteen years old.
Her swordsmanship was the result of relentless training, and when it came to the affairs of the Knights, she devoted herself with ten times the effort she put into her blade.
To offer oneself wholly—this was the creed of the Dandelion Knight.
Though young and lacking seniority, from the moment Jean accepted the mantle of Acting Grand Master from Varka, Mondstadt's prosperity had only continued to grow.
What truly set her apart—what made people marvel—was that even under such crushing responsibility, the young knight still carried the same resolve she had possessed on the day she first received her knighthood.
And now—
This was the moment for which her chivalry existed.
Knights of Favonius Headquarters, outside the city.
The knights' morale burned high—
yet a heavy shadow lingered over their faces.
Because they knew.
They knew this was all part of Aerin's deception, and that knowledge only deepened their anger and pain.
Under Jean's command, nearly everyone had already prepared themselves for sacrifice.
The young Vision bearers—boys and girls still trembling with fear—did not retreat.
And yet all of this…
was merely a cruel joke devised by Aerin to humiliate Mondstadt.
The contrast was heartbreaking.
Mockery.
Absolute mockery, delivered by the invader.
The Abyss Order.
Aether shot to his feet, reaching toward the light screen—his hands passed straight through it.
"Your Highness!"
The Abyss Lector hurried forward, afraid Aether might collapse from agitation.
But even he hadn't expected what came next.
After Jean's rallying cry ended, the first to charge forward—
Was Lumine.
And trailing behind her, face pale with terror, was Paimon.
"She… she didn't leave Mondstadt?"
Aether stared in shock as Lumine rushed straight toward the mutated hilichurl army, frozen as though struck by lightning.
With Aerin launching a full-scale assault on Mondstadt, Lumine hadn't fled.
She stayed.
She was truly helping Mondstadt.
"My little sister really is…"
Aether faltered, at a loss for words.
Yes—
You once helped Mondstadt repel an assault of ordinary hilichurls.
But that was my army.
This time, it was an army of mutated hilichurls under the Fifth Descender—
the difference was night and day.
And more importantly—
Lumine was the Fourth Descender.
If Aerin knew Khaenri'ah's past so thoroughly, then Aether was certain he also knew Lumine's true identity.
They stood on opposing sides.
My own sister…
The image of Dainsleif lying like a dead dog flashed through Aether's mind, his heart leaping into his throat.
Even someone like Dainsleif—who opposed the Abyss and indirectly helped restrain it—had nearly been killed by Aerin.
So what would Aerin do to Lumine, a true Fourth Descender?
Aether didn't dare imagine it.
At this moment, even the citizens of Mondstadt were less anxious than he was.
["Lumine! Slow down!"]
Paimon's panicked cry echoed from behind.
This was her first time seeing hilichurls so… wrong.
On the night Mondstadt burned, Amber had personally come to Lumine with Jean's request.
Because of how strange these monsters were, Jean had hoped Lumine—who sought her lost sibling—would leave Mondstadt early, to avoid being dragged into disaster.
But Lumine refused.
If she knew the city was about to be attacked, how could she leave?
If all hope was truly lost…
then she would go.
But not before.
["The Traveler's so fast!"]
["Damn it, we can't fall behind!"]
["If we Knights are worse than an outsider, we'll be a laughingstock!"]
Lumine's charge ignited the Knights' spirits.
["Damn you, hilichurls!"] Mona grit her teeth and rushed forward.
I should've done a divination beforehand… at least to see if we'd live past today.
["Where did that old hag run off to at a time like this?"]
["If I die today, you'll never find a more devoted apprentice!"]
Fischl's lips trembled as the ground shook beneath her feet.
"D–d–don't underestimate the Prinzessin der Verurteilung…"
"O–Oz… attack!"
Most of the first wave consisted of ordinary mutated hilichurls and archers.
The distance closed.
Closer.
Closer.
Overwhelming tension pushed everyone's emotions to a fever pitch.
Lumine, gripping the Dull Blade, was the first to meet the enemy.
Without hesitation, she thrust straight for a mutated hilichurl's head.
The instant the blade struck—
She froze.
A strange force surged through her arm.
"This is…?"
It felt like a gentle wind wrapping around her body, reinforcing her strength.
Bang!
The strike landed.
Though it didn't pierce the creature's skull, the impact sent the mutated hilichurl flying several meters back.
Before Lumine could process what had happened—
A thunderous voice descended from the heavens.
"I lend you the thousand-year winds."
"Knights who defend Mondstadt—advance without fear."
A gentle breeze enveloped every warrior, filling them with power.
At that moment, everyone looked up.
A massive form soared across the sky, wreathed in emerald light.
"Dvalin?"
Jean froze.
She understood instantly.
The Knights—
were being empowered by the Anemo Dragon of the East.
Not only did the wind strengthen them, it also formed a subtle protective barrier.
"The East Wind Dragon?"
"But wasn't he—"
"Enough! Dvalin has come to defend Mondstadt!"
Dvalin's arrival sent the Knights' morale soaring.
Tornadoes lifted mutated hilichurls into the sky, igniting hope throughout Mondstadt.
And then—
Something even more astonishing followed.
A brilliant streak of fire fell from the heavens like a meteor, crashing straight into the heart of the enemy ranks.
BOOM!
The explosion drowned out the sounds of battle.
Fueled by raging winds, spirals of flame tore through the hilichurls, wiping out an entire wave.
"Who did that?"
Jean blurted out, barely daring to believe this sudden reversal.
She stared at the flames—
And within the blazing light stood a graceful figure.
"Ah, Jean~"
The figure stepped forward, walking through the fire.
"Has it really been that long since I left Mondstadt?"
"You don't even recognize me anymore?"
"That would make me very sad, you know~"
A collective gasp rippled through the battlefield.
The woman emerged from the flames—
A breathtaking face, waist-length golden hair, a crimson dress outlining a tall, elegant figure.
In her hand, she casually tossed a sphere that looked suspiciously like a bomb.
"Miss Alice!"
Jean cried out in delight.
High above, observing everything, Valkyrie Eula paused.
After a moment, she let out a slow breath.
"So… it's Miss Alice."
"And Dvalin as well."
"To think they would join forces and arrive together."
"If that's the case… then ordinary mutated hilichurls and archers don't need my direct control."
She murmured softly—then turned her gaze toward another part of the sky.
There, the winds churned violently, concealing an even greater presence.
"…So it is him."
"The legendary Anemo Archon—Barbatos."
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