"I have always believed in Your existence."
The moment Eula spoke the name Barbatos on the light screen, a storm erupted in the hearts of Mondstadt's people.
For thousands of years, not a single citizen had truly witnessed the descent of the Anemo Archon.
All they had were ancestral records—stories passed down describing how Barbatos once sheltered Mondstadt.
And yet now—
He truly existed.
And when Mondstadt faced genuine destruction, their Wind God had answered.
"Is it really Lord Barbatos?"
"Can we even trust the words of a Lawrence?"
"It must be the Wind God—he's the one who brought Miss Alice back!"
"Deal with the traitor first!"
"May the Wind God protect us!"
Inside Mondstadt's cathedral, a twin-tailed girl knelt devoutly before the statue.
"May the Wind God protect us…"
Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
Jean was just as shaken.
"Lord Barbatos… the Wind God of legend…"
As the eldest daughter of the Gunnhildr Clan, Jean had never doubted Barbatos' existence.
Her family's history recorded his miracles in detail.
Long ago, amidst raging snowstorms, it was the thousand-year winds that guided her ancestors toward survival.
"So… it was the Wind God watching over us all along."
Only now did Jean fully understand the truth behind Dvalin's past turmoil.
The dragon calamity that once ravaged Mondstadt—and Dvalin's sudden disappearance afterward—
it had all been Barbatos' doing.
Just as shown on the light screen, Dvalin had returned to his role as one of the Four Winds, the Dragon of the East.
Guided by Barbatos, he had come to save Mondstadt at its darkest hour.
And then there was her—
The woman who struck fear into all who heard her name.
The Crimson Witch, Alice.
Liyue — Wangshu Inn.
Cloud Retainer's glasses slipped slightly as she jolted in shock, quickly adjusting them.
"…That woman?"
Zhongli's brows furrowed deeply.
Alice's existence was… exceptional.
She possessed a privilege no other being held—the freedom to move in and out of Teyvat at will.
A special authority granted directly by Celestia.
Even Morax, one of the most ancient gods, had never possessed such a right.
And yet, Alice was equally vital to Teyvat itself.
Her duty was to repair the world's "shell"—the barrier protecting it from Abyssal erosion.
The problem was her personality.
Wild. Unrestrained.
Her countless eccentric ideas had an uncanny tendency to make bad situations worse.
She truly lived up to the title "Witch."
Because of her unique importance to Teyvat, even the Seven were forced to turn a blind eye to her antics.
As for how powerful Alice truly was—
Zhongli had no precise measure.
But one thing was certain.
She was not weak.
"I wonder…"
"…between her and Dainsleif, who would prevail?"
Zhongli believed Alice's arrival would bring invaluable insight to Teyvat—information desperately needed.
[Kujou Sara]: "So it really is her."
[Yae Miko]: "Miss Alice made it back just in time."
[Barbara]: "And the East Wind Dragon… and the great Lord Barbatos… may the Wind God protect Mondstadt."
[Rosalyne]: "Heh. How much strength does a newly awakened Barbatos really have? Can he defeat the Fifth Descender?"
[Barbara]: "You Fatui are awful! How dare you speak of the Wind God like that!"
[Klee]: "Mama! Mama's here!"
[Alice]: "My precious Klee, don't be afraid. Mama is on her way back to Mondstadt—you'll see me very soon."
While traveling at full speed, Alice gently reassured Klee in the chat.
Yet inside—
She was a mess.
Nervous beyond belief.
Those who didn't know the truth might think Aerin had exaggerated Dainsleif's strength just to elevate himself.
But Alice knew better.
Dainsleif was never as weak as he appeared on the light screen.
He was genuinely powerful.
That he could be reduced to such a pitiful state in the future meant only one thing—
The Fifth Descender was far more terrifying.
"This is driving me crazy!"
"Damn it, Barbatos—dragging me into this war is just making me embarrass myself!"
Alice angrily ran her fingers through her golden hair.
The fact that Valkyrie Eula was shocked by her and Dvalin's arrival meant one thing—
Alice's appearance had completely exceeded Eula's original plan.
Future Barbatos must have learned—through the thousand-year winds—that Aerin intended to attack Mondstadt.
Desperate to save the city, he had dragged her back first.
"Barbatos. Dvalin. And me…"
"If all of us are present and Mondstadt still falls to Aerin…"
"That would be true despair."
Alice sighed again and again.
She was immensely powerful, wielded Celestia-granted privileges, and feared nothing across Teyvat.
In her life, fear had never been a word worth acknowledging.
But this time—
Facing Aerin—
She was truly shaken.
She knew she wasn't his match.
And the awakened Barbatos was far weaker than in his prime.
Even together, they stood no chance against him.
"And this future is being broadcast to everyone…"
"If I'm utterly defeated—or killed—by Aerin…"
"…Klee will see it."
"That would scar her."
"It would leave a shadow she might never escape."
Alice clenched her fists.
"…What am I supposed to do?"
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