Nightfall descended.
A figure leisurely stepped through Mondstadt's gates.
Upon entering the city, the chaotic scene left Su Xuan momentarily stunned.
"Looks like Dvalin swung by this afternoon," Su Xuan mused to himself.
Just a glance around revealed that Mondstadt was far more devastated than he'd imagined.
Houses along one street lay in ruins, the massive windmill toppled to the ground with half its blade embedded in a rooftop.
This, perhaps, was the difference between the game and reality.
[Mondstadt After the Dragon Calamity.jpg]
[Not much different from what I imagined—the dragon calamity in Mondstadt still happened.]
[Speaking of Mondstadt's dragon calamity, it all traces back to Khaenri'ah.]
The ruined state of Mondstadt sent shivers through the beauties from other nations.
They never imagined Mondstadt would suffer such a disaster.
Even less did they expect its dragon calamity to be linked to Khaenri'ah.
[Back then, amid Khaenri'ah's black beast tide, an Abyssal creation named Durin—chasing after poetry and song—arrived in Mondstadt.]
[A great clash between man and dragon was imminent.]
[In the end, thanks to Mondstadt's Four Winds Guardians, the East Wind Dragon Dvalin defeated Durin.]
[Oh, and that mountain-sized skeleton on Dragonspine? That's Durin's remains after death.]
[Its heart still beats beneath the snow, rumored to hold the potential for revival.]
Jean, just returned from the ruins of one of the Four Winds Guardians, shot to her feet.
Lisa immediately shot her a look. "Don't get worked up yet, Jean. Let's see what he writes first before we act."
[Back on topic.]
[During the battle with Durin, Dvalin swallowed some of its blood while tearing into it, corrupting itself with the Abyss.]
[Dvalin fell into a deep slumber lasting centuries.]
[But the Abyss's mental corrosion proved too much, and it awoke this year.]
[Already addled by Abyssal power, poor Dvalin was then controlled by the Abyss Order.]
[The Abyss Order amplified its mental corruption with sorcery.]
[And kept whispering in its ear: Dragon, the people you protected have forgotten you. They've abandoned you. Be angry. Hate them. Seek revenge.]
[Dvalin woke up feeling betrayed and forgotten, so it attacked Mondstadt.]
[And Mondstadt's people didn't help—calling their former guardian, the East Wind Dragon, a 'Wind Demon Dragon.']
[Slapping the label of 'evil dragon' on the hero who once protected them.]
[Who wouldn't be pissed?]
[Dvalin went all-in, drawing power from the three ruined Four Winds Guardians shrines—shifting from harassing Mondstadt's outskirts to full revenge on the city.]
[But the state of those ruined shrines shows how little Mondstadt's people care about their former protectors.]
[Otherwise, why let the shrines fall into ruin?]
[A bit of annual maintenance would go a long way—at least showing respect for the heroes who once shielded them.]
The group of beauties found Su Xuan's words spot on.
A hero's banner must never fade.
Su Xuan looked up at the still-lit Angel's Share.
Pushing the door open, he found bartender Charles standing at the counter as if business were normal.
"Boss, open as usual?" Su Xuan asked politely.
Charles glanced at him, forcing a smile past his worried expression. "You look like an out-of-town adventurer."
"Mondstadt's dragon calamity has worsened lately. This afternoon, the main city took a direct hit."
"My old boss wants to lift spirits in these troubled times, so the tavern's open—and drinks are free."
"But..." Charles scanned the empty tavern and gave Su Xuan an awkward smile.
"Your boss is a real stand-up guy," Su Xuan chuckled. "Can I get one?"
Taking the drink Charles mixed, Su Xuan found a seat and continued updating his diary.
[Angel's Share's owner lives up to being Mondstadt's richest man—steps up when it counts.]
[In this crisis, he's letting people drink freely to boost morale.]
[Too bad, it's just me here.]
"He's at Angel's Share right now," Jean said excitedly.
Lisa stayed silent, gesturing for Jean to calm down with her eyes.
[That said, the storm over Mondstadt has cleared.]
[The Knights of Favonius Acting Grand Master, Jean, must have destroyed the energy source in the ruined Four Winds Guardians—with help from that yellow hair aunt.]
[Cutting off Dvalin's power supply.]
[Gotta admit, with Grand Master Varka taking four-fifths of Mondstadt's forces away, Jean's holding strong against the dragon calamity and Fatui diplomatic pressure.]
[She truly deserves her role as Acting Grand Master.]
[Of course, things went smoother than she expected.]
[Barring surprises, tomorrow at dusk, Wind God Barbatos will appear as a bard and trick the cute yellow hair aunt into helping purge Dvalin's Abyssal corruption.]
[Mondstadt's dragon calamity will end soon.]
[So the weary knights can rest easy tonight.]
Wind God Barbatos would appear tomorrow at dusk?
The women of Mondstadt instantly saw hope.
The legendary vanished Wind God Barbatos—they'd thought Mondstadt's protector god was dead.
Turns out, He had been watching over Mondstadt all along.
"Something's off," Lisa said, stopping the excited Jean.
"What's wrong, Lisa?" Jean asked, puzzled. "Su Xuan said it himself—Wind God Barbatos will appear and end the dragon calamity."
"What's the issue?"
"Jean, look closely. The key figure in ending it isn't Barbatos—it's this yellow hair aunt Su Xuan mentions." Lisa traced her slender finger over [start tricking the cute yellow hair aunt...].
"Su Xuan makes it clear: Barbatos needs the yellow hair aunt's help to purge Dvalin's Abyssal corruption."
"But who is this yellow hair aunt?"
The beauties stared at each other in confusion.
Plus, Su Xuan's diary mentioned Jean solving the storm over Mondstadt with the yellow hair aunt's help.
But in reality, after Dvalin left, Jean, Lisa, and the knights handled the ruined Four Winds Guardians themselves.
They'd never seen this yellow hair aunt Su Xuan spoke of.
"I have to go ask Su Xuan," Jean said, starting to rise—only for Lisa to pull her back.
"Rushing off like that could backfire if it upsets him," Lisa said seriously, meeting Jean's eyes.
Jean stomped her feet in frustration. "Then what do we do?"
"I'll go see him alone first, feel him out, then decide." With that, Lisa turned her ample, shapely legs toward the door.
At the threshold, she looked back at Jean. "Don't do anything until you hear from me."