"Guards, I want you to monitor the airspace. If you see any signs of Stormterror or anything that poses a threat to our city, send word to the response team immediately."
"Yes, Master Jean!" The team of guards saluted before rushing to the walls, standing guard as ordered.
"Otto, are our patrol routes active again?" Jean asked Otto who had been accompanying her since dawn.
"Yes, Master Jean." Otto then handed multiple pieces of paper. "What is this?" He whispered, reading through the words before widening his eyes in surprise.
"Master Jean, this is...."
"A system that would hopefully improve our response time and evacuation efforts if a similar crisis happens in the future. Order the captains, well, however much that we have left to drill these into our knights."
"It would take time... But shouldn't we focus on the rebuilding efforts first?" Otto questioned. Jean stopped and glanced at him.
"They're knights for a reason, no? Let them feel the weight of becoming one." Jean continued to walk with Otto following her again.
"I have no time to waste. No one is coming to save us."
"What about Grand Master Varka?"
"He seems to be enjoying his expedition a little too much, Otto, considering that I still haven't received anything from him, nor did he send any messengers back here. Varka isn't coming back any time soon. It's time you start relying on what's present around you Otto, not unknown variables." Otto widened his eyes, understanding the weight of that implication.
"You are.... claiming the title of Grand Master for yourself?"
"I don't know what I'm doing anymore, Otto. But one thing's for certain, I want Mondstadt to stand tall."
.....
"So here's the plan. Lumine and Amber will head to a temple, while I will clear out another one with Lisa. Then, we will regroup with Kaeya and deal with whatever's in the third one." Lars explained as they were just a few steps away from exiting Mondstadt.
"Finally some alone time with you, cutie." She winked at him. Lars could only smile at her. "Let's make the most out of it then." He replied, causing Lisa to giggle.
"Let's move, Jean's counting on us to get on the offensive while she handles the city. We can't let her down now." Amber declared. They nodded as they began to exit the city together. It wasn't long before they split up, heading into different directions.
"I wonder what caused you to suddenly confront Jean last night." Lisa started the conversation. Lars shrugged.
"As you can see I gained nothing from last night.... Well maybe I did."
"And what would that be?"
"A reborn, formidable nation. One that knows reliability beats bravado. The age of unquestioned reverence ended yesterday, creating a city that values continuity over spectacle."
"Impressive. Though I am surprised that you put so much faith in Jean, even though you've only met her for a short amount of time." Lars smiled and shrugged.
"Guess I'm just really intuitive. I have to ask, what were you three discussing last night?"
"Oh it's nothing really, just some really big plans. I must say we had a very interesting discussion, one that lasted until midnight but only felt like a couple of minutes. I think Jean should be implementing some of them as we speak."
Mondstadt is entering a new age, and it's waiting for no one.
...
"You fight well, cutie." Lisa commented as she and Lars were fighting off hordes of slimes and hilichurls in the domain.
" You're not so bad yourself." Lars stepped to the side, allowing Lisa to zap the hilichurls in front of them. The hilichurls went down without a fight as they advanced through the domain.
"But on a serious note, how are you able to use the elements without having a Vision?" Lisa glanced at him. Lars shrugged, not knowing how to answer.
"I don't know, I just can. Even if I told you how I got my powers you wouldn't believe me."
"Oh come on cutie, I've heard and seen tons of unbelievable stuff in my life, I think I can handle whatever secrets you have." Lisa smirked at him. Lars smiled a little.
"Maybe later, I don't really feel comfortable telling you about it yet." Lisa pouted cutely at him.
"Aww...And here I thought we would have a bonding moment by you being vulnerable with me."
"Well Lisa, I don't mind being real with you, I'm sure you're a great listener, but this time is different. I can't just go around telling people about it."
"You don't trust me? You think I'll report to Jean?" Lisa asked. Lars stayed silent, confirming her thoughts.
"I see. Well, I'll hold off on that for now. But promise me, you have to tell me one day, okay?" Lisa pointed at him, a sweet smile on her face. Lars sighed and nodded.
"So persistent huh... I'll see what I can do, I guess." Lars had to be careful about this. Lisa doesn't know that he can resonate with all of the elements in Teyvat. Though he'll probably have to reveal that card soon when he encounters Stormterror soon. But who knows what she'll do with that information?
And besides, if he and Lumine's abilities were revealed, it would set off every nation's geopolitical smoke alarm. They'd probably be most quietly monitored beings in Teyvat.
'I'd give it until Liyue until both of us are on the world's radar. I mean technically we already are famous with my mysterious appearance, and me and Lumine's fight with the dragon.' Lars shook his thoughts off as he and Lisa picked up the pace. Lisa especially, wanting to rest as soon as she could.
"Here...Let's destroy it." Lisa pointed at the large blue crystal. Lars nodded as both of them raised their hands. Lightning crackled around Lisa's fingertips while Lars created a bullet of wind. As Lisa send out a bolt of lightning, he fired the bullet, both colliding with the crystal creating an explosion.
"Phew... finally. I can put my feet up for now." Lisa exhaled. Lars glanced at her with a smirk.
"Not yet, we still have to regroup with Kaeya and the rest before dealing with the third temple." Lisa had a disappointed look on her face.
"You guys are strong right? I'm sure you can handle it yourselves. My legs are too tired, unless..." She smiled suggestively at him.
"Unless you want to carry me the whole way~ Hihi, I don't mind—Kyaa!" Lisa had giggled before she gasped when her feet left the ground via Lars' Anemo powers. An instant later, she realized he had gathered her into his arms, carrying her bridal-style towards the portal that led them out of the domain.
"Wh-wha—" Lisa blushed at the unexpected move. She was just teasing, but Lars took it seriously. Lars looked down at her with a smirk.
"What? That's what you wanted right?" Lisa stared before she pouted.
"Hmph... Meanie..."
...
"This is... an interesting development..." Kaeya muttered, staring at Lars as he walked towards them carrying Lisa. Amber deadpanned at him.
"Lisa, did you force him to carry you here?"
"Well Amber, my legs were tired." Lisa explained, masking her embarrassment. Amber sighed and shook her head.
"You could've just went back to Mondstadt if you were tired, we don't mind." Amber said, though she secretly wondered how it felt being carried like that.
"Well, I'm here now, so there's no point." Lisa replied as she was gently set down by Lars.
"You just couldn't resist being a playboy huh..." Lumine mumbled as he stood beside her while Lisa was discussing with Kaeya and Amber. Lars only grinned at her.
"I don't know, all this talk sounds like you just want me to carry you." She rolled her eyes at his reply. Kaeya cleared his throat, gathering everyone's attention.
"Well, let's not waste anymore time, let's clear this temple out with a bang."
To be continued...