Valkyrie Eula always had a way of saying things that shocked people into silence.
Last time, she mentioned Mondstadt's legendary Wind God, Barbatos.
This time, she spoke of Bennares, the mount of Aerin.
And when Eula spoke of Bennares, the way she held her breath made it clear—
this was no joke.
That white dragon who served as Aerin's steed could freely alter the weather, wielding four different attributes:
Ice
Lightning
Fire
And a corrosive dark attribute that lay beyond Teyvat's Seven Elements
Even if people couldn't comprehend that strange dark power, the mere fact that one dragon could command four elements was enough to stun everyone into silence.
In Teyvat's common understanding, a being could only wield one elemental attribute.
A Vision determined a person's element—only one, never more.
Even the gods themselves merely stood at the pinnacle of a single element, possessing its authority but nothing beyond it.
Yet Bennares alone surpassed this rule.
If her power already seemed to transcend the Seven Archons, then what of her master?
What, exactly, was the true strength of the Fifth Descender, Aerin?
That question had already moved beyond the limits of human understanding.
[Yae Miko]: Sigh… this really feels hopeless. The Fifth Descender might not even be human.
[Rosaria]: It's hard to process. Eula said even with Barbatos' aid, Mondstadt still couldn't win.
[Barbara]: Rosaria, it's Barbatos—not "Batobas." And Eula has never actually witnessed the Wind God's power. She was only speculating.
[Eula]: Barbara has a point. I don't truly know how powerful Lord Barbatos is… I also don't understand why my future self would say such things.
[Signora]: But you really did toy with Mondstadt's knights. That Frostarmored Hilichurl King wasn't harmed at all—
you controlled it away, making it look like the Traveler had driven it off.
[Mona]: So we really fell into Aerin's trap… thinking we'd won through our own strength.
[Bennett]: Ugh… future-me was jumping around cheering…
[Fischl]: At least I didn't say anything. Otherwise this humiliation would be eternal.
[Mona]: That's because you were too scared to react.
[Lumine]: Stop. This is way too embarrassing.
[Paimon]: It's not your fault, Lumine! Aerin did it on purpose—he wanted you to believe you'd won.
Night had already fallen.
Lumine and Paimon had just arrived at the room Lisa had arranged for them.
What they'd seen in the future projection nearly sent Lumine straight to the grave from sheer embarrassment.
Borrowing the Wind God's power, gathering an enormous Anemo sphere, leaping dramatically over Mona and the others—
The movements were flawless. Clean. Heroic.
And after knocking back the Frostarmored Hilichurl King, Lumine stood there, hands on her hips, basking in praise.
"…Is future-me a complete idiot?" Lumine groaned.
"How could I believe that attack was enough to defeat it?"
"Unbelievable!"
She clenched her fists, itching to punch her future self through the screen.
Paimon hurriedly grabbed her from behind.
"C-calm down, Lumine!"
"No one in the future knew it was all staged!"
"Calm down, calm down!"
Their arguing drifted out through the window—
and into the ears of Lisa, who had just finished downstairs and was about to head home.
She glanced up, catching a glimpse of Lumine's shadow hopping around in frustration.
Lisa chuckled softly.
"These two really are in great spirits."
"They know Aerin may very well attack Mondstadt in the future, yet they're completely fearless… choosing to stay."
"They wouldn't seriously believe that just because they've met him once, they'll be spared, would they?"
Even a genius like Lisa couldn't quite grasp Lumine's thinking.
So she decided not to waste brainpower on it.
Better to go home, take a hot bath, and think carefully about how to change the situation—
if Aerin were to attack in reality.
Because Lisa firmly believed this:
Valkyrie Eula's words were not empty threats.
Eula might not understand Barbatos' full strength—
but Aerin certainly did.
And in his heart, he clearly wasn't worried about the Wind God at all.
Perhaps… he didn't even consider Barbatos a threat.
Lisa shivered slightly.
"Not even taking Barbatos seriously…"
"And he doesn't seem to fear the Abyss either."
"Then… is the only one who can truly oppose him the Fourth Descender from Celestia's side?"
But—
Where was the Fourth Descender?
Lisa paused.
Suddenly, a figure surfaced in her mind.
A girl with no Vision, yet able to wield elemental power.
Under the blessing of the thousand-year winds, her control over the elements surpassed almost everyone else.
Lisa slowly turned her head toward Lumine's room.
The two silhouettes inside were still hopping about, grumbling over their socially catastrophic embarrassment.
After a few seconds, Lisa sighed and smiled wryly.
"…Looks like I'm just too tense."
"Even my thinking's starting to regress."
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/nani_kaito