New mission
I stood, my body still trembling from the exertion, the echoes of the Regisvine's final scream fading in the cold air. The ground around me was littered with shimmering fragments of ice, but among them lay the true rewards of my arduous victory: the rare materials the Cryo Regisvine had dropped. I carefully collected them, their crystalline forms still radiating a faint chill, and secured them in my inventory. They represented not just loot, but proof of overcoming a monumental challenge.
With the formidable boss defeated and its valuable drops secured, there was nothing left for me at the Thousand Winds Temple. My objective was complete. I turned, my gaze fixed on the distant silhouette of Mondstadt, a beacon of civilization and safety. The walk back would be long, but the thought of returning to the city, perhaps even running into Lumine and Paimon, filled me with a quiet satisfaction.
The journey back to Mondstadt was long but uneventful, giving me time to reflect on the brutal fight and my hard-won victory. My steps, though still a little heavy with lingering exhaustion, carried a new sense of purpose and confidence. As the familiar windmills came into view, and the grand gates of the city grew larger, a sense of relief washed over me.
Just as I approached the main gate, pushing through the last stretch of open road, a familiar flash of white and gold caught my eye. Lumine was standing near the gate, perhaps waiting for someone, or simply taking in the evening air. Her head snapped up, her gaze falling on me.
Her eyes widened, and a wide, genuine smile spread across her face. "Lance!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with unmistakable relief and warmth. Without hesitation, she broke into a run, rushing towards me.
As Lumine closed the final few feet between us, her initial joyous smile faltered. Her eyes, sharp and perceptive, quickly scanned my form. Though I was no longer bleeding or critically injured thanks to my system's rapid healing and the infirmary's care, the brutal fight with the Cryo Regisvine had left its marks. My clothes were torn and singed in places, especially around the chest where Dvalin had hit me, and though faded, a few deep bruises were still visible on my exposed arms and neck from my fall and the Regisvine's merciless attacks. There was also a lingering pallor to my skin, a subtle sign of recent trauma and immense exertion.
Her expression shifted from relief to immediate concern. "Lance! Are you alright? What happened? You look like you've been through a whirlwind!" Her voice was tinged with worry, her gaze fixed on the most obvious signs of damage.
"Whoa, easy there, Lumine," I said, offering a tired smile. I raised a hand, trying to calm her as she inspected my torn clothes and visible bruises. "It's nothing serious, just a few bumps and scrapes. I'm fine, really."
Paimon zipped over, hovering anxiously. "But Lance, you look all beat up! Did you fight a whole bunch of Hilichurls at once?"
I chuckled, wincing slightly at the movement. "Something a little bigger than Hilichurls, Paimon. I actually just came from the Thousand Winds Temple." I looked back at Lumine, a hint of pride in my voice despite the weariness. "I ran into a Cryo Regisvine."
Lumine's eyes widened even further, her concern deepening rather than easing. "A Cryo Regisvine?!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with alarm. "Lance, those are incredibly dangerous! You went after an Elite Boss by yourself?" She instinctively reached out, her hand hovering near my chest, as if to check for further injury. "Are you absolutely sure you're okay? Those things can be lethal!"
"Are you absolutely sure you're okay? Those things can be lethal!" Lumine insisted, her concern clearly outweighing my assurances. She didn't wait for a response. Her expression firm and resolute, she grabbed my arm.
"Come on. You're going straight back to the infirmary," she declared, her grip surprisingly strong.
"Hey, wait, I just left there! I'm fine, really," I protested, but it was half-hearted. I was exhausted, and her concern, while a bit overbearing, was also genuinely comforting.
"No arguments," she said, already starting to pull me towards the city's interior. "You just fought a Cryo Regisvine alone after being laid out by Dvalin! Sister Barbara needs to give you a full check-up, just to be safe. Paimon, go tell Sister Barbara we're coming!"
Paimon, surprisingly obedient, zipped off with a worried "Okay!"
After another thorough check-up by Sister Barbara, who tutted over my remaining bruises but ultimately declared me remarkably recovered, Lumine finally seemed satisfied. She still gave me a stern look about fighting Elite Bosses solo, but the immediate worry in her eyes had lessened.
"See? Told you I was fine," I muttered, flexing my arm as we walked out of the infirmary.
"Still, it's better to be safe," Lumine replied, though a small smile played on her lips. "Now that you're officially cleared... Paimon's stomach has been complaining ever since we saw you."
"Yeah! Paimon is starving! All that worrying made Paimon super hungry!" Paimon zipped around us, already halfway to the main plaza.
We headed straight for Good Hunter. The aroma of grilled meat and fresh vegetables wafted through the air, and it smelled heavenly after days of infirmary blandness. We found an outdoor table, and Paimon immediately ordered her usual Sticky Honey Roast, while Lumine ordered a large platter of Fisherman's Toast and Sweet Madame. I opted for a generous serving of Northern Apple Stew and some satisfyingly crisp Satisfying Salad – solid, hearty food that would replenish my strength.
As we ate, the conversation flowed easily. I recounted the full, harrowing tale of my fight with the Cryo Regisvine, from the initial sneak attack to the near-fatal blow, and my desperate, tactical comeback. I omitted any mention of the system, levels, masteries, or skills, simply explaining it as raw determination and learning from my mistakes. Lumine listened intently, her eyes wide at points, especially when I described being knocked out and then forcing myself back up to continue the fight.
"You really fought it after that?" she asked, impressed. "That's incredible, Lance. Most people wouldn't even dare approach a Regisvine, let alone survive a blow like that and then defeat it."
"It was... an experience," I admitted, spearing a piece of apple. "And a painful lesson in not being so reckless. But it dropped some really valuable materials."
Lumine nodded. "Well, you certainly proved your 'Shield of Mondstadt' title. And those materials will be very useful at the Adventurers' Guild or for crafting. You've definitely made a name for yourself in the past month." She then told me about her own recent progress, the new leads she had on Dvalin's corruption, and a few interesting people she'd met while I was adventuring.
We had just finished our meal, Paimon happily digesting her Sticky Honey Roast, when a Knight of Favonius approached our table.
"Traveler, Paimon, Mr. Lance," the Knight addressed us, bowing slightly. "Grand Master Jean requests your presence at the Knights of Favonius Headquarters. It seems to be urgent."
Lumine and I exchanged a glance. Another summons from Jean, so soon after Dvalin's attack and my recovery, meant something significant was happening.
"Right away," Lumine confirmed, rising from her seat. I followed suit, the hearty meal having fully replenished my strength.
We made our way back through the now-familiar streets to the imposing Knights' headquarters. The corridors, usually bustling, seemed a little quieter tonight, a subtle tension hanging in the air. The guard at Jean's office door nodded us through without a word.
Stepping inside, the first thing I noticed was that Jean was not alone. Standing opposite her desk, his back mostly to us, was a tall man with striking red hair that seemed to glow in the room's light. He wore a dark, elegant coat, and his posture exuded a quiet, almost aloof authority. His presence felt… different from anyone else I'd met in Mondstadt. More intense, perhaps.
Jean looked up as we entered. "Lumine, Paimon, Lance, thank you for coming so quickly." She gestured towards the man. "I believe you're acquainted with Lumine and Paimon, but this is Mr. Lance. Lance, this is Diluc Ragnvindr."
The red-haired man turned, his gaze cool and discerning as it swept over me. His eyes were sharp, intelligent, and held a hint of weariness or perhaps skepticism. He didn't offer a smile, merely a brief, almost imperceptible nod of acknowledgement. He was clearly not a man of many words or effusive greetings.
"So, this is the 'Shield of Mondstadt'," Diluc's voice was deep, calm, and held a subtle, gravelly quality. It wasn't a question, more of an observation. He clearly already knew about my recent exploits.
I met his gaze steadily, sensing an undeniable power beneath his composed exterior. "And you are the owner of the Angel's Share, I presume," I replied, recognizing the distinct aura of someone who commanded respect without needing to demand it. The tavern owner. This was the famous "Darknight Hero" of Mondstadt, though I wouldn't mention that.
A flicker, almost imperceptible, crossed Diluc's eyes, a hint of something unreadable. Jean cleared her throat, drawing our attention back to her. The formal pleasantries were done. It was time for the serious discussion.
Just as Jean cleared her throat, about to begin the urgent discussion, the grand office door swung open once more. Everyone in the room turned, expecting another Knight, but what greeted us was quite different.
A young man with light, flowing clothes and twin braids, holding a wooden lyre, strolled in with an easy, almost nonchalant air. He offered a carefree smile, completely unbothered by the tense atmosphere.
"Ah, am I interrupting something?" he asked, his voice light and airy, though his eyes seemed to twinkle with a deeper understanding. "It seems my friends have gathered."
Lumine's eyes widened in surprise and a hint of frustration. Paimon, however, zipped forward. "Venti!" she exclaimed, a mix of annoyance and familiarity in her tone.
Jean let out a subtle sigh, a blend of exasperation and resignation. "Venti," she acknowledged, her voice holding a strained patience.
Diluc, however, reacted with a visible twitch of his eyebrow, a fleeting expression of disapproval crossing his usually stoic face. He merely gave Venti a cold, unimpressed stare.
I, having only vaguely heard about him from Lumine, recognized him as the bard she sometimes mentioned. His whimsical presence was a stark contrast to the grave energy that filled the room moments before. He was the one, I realized, who had played the music that calmed Dvalin. His entrance signaled that this discussion was about to take an even more unexpected turn.
Venti sauntered further into the room, seemingly oblivious to Diluc's cold glare. He held up his simple wooden lyre with a flourish.
"Ah, the atmosphere is quite... heavy tonight, wouldn't you say?" Venti mused, his eyes twinkling. "But worry not, for I, the magnificent Venti, have arrived to lighten the mood! And perhaps, to shed some light on our dear Dvalin's woes."
Jean folded her arms, a hint of impatience in her stance. "Venti, this is serious. We need a plan, not a performance."
"Precisely, Acting Grand Master!" Venti chirped. "And my plan involves a performance, of sorts. You see, Dvalin... he is not truly evil. He is simply suffering, corrupted by the Abyss. His mind is clouded, his heart in pain."
He strummed a few soft, melodic notes on his lyre, and a faint, soothing breeze seemed to stir the air in the room. "The music you heard earlier, the one that temporarily calmed our great dragon? That was a mere whisper of the true power. I possess the very Holy Lyre der Himmel, an instrument of immense spiritual power. It is the lyre that was used by the Anemo Archon himself!"
He paused, a more serious, though still poetic, glint in his eyes. "With the Holy Lyre, I can play a song of purification, a melody that will cut through the corruption plaguing Dvalin's heart. It will remind him of his true self, of his bond with Mondstadt, and free him from the Abyss's insidious grip."
Diluc scoffed softly, crossing his arms. "A lyre? You propose to fight a corrupted dragon with a song, bard?"
"Not fight, Master Diluc," Venti corrected, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "To heal. To purify. It requires a direct connection to Dvalin, in the very realm where the corruption holds sway. But with the Holy Lyre, it is possible."
Lumine's gaze intensified, a flicker of recognition in her eyes. "You're saying you can purify Dvalin?"
"Indeed, Traveler," Venti affirmed, his expression momentarily losing its playful edge, replaced by a genuine earnestness. "But first, we need to retrieve the lyre itself. It is kept secure within the Favonius Cathedral. And then, we will need to face Dvalin in his true lair. A dangerous task, but one that promises to save our old friend."
Despite Diluc's lingering skepticism, the dire situation left little room for alternatives. Venti's bold claim, coupled with Lumine's quiet trust, swayed Jean.
"Very well," Jean declared, her voice firm. "If there is any chance to save Dvalin without further bloodshed, we must try. Venti, lead the way."
"Splendid!" Venti chirped, already turning towards the door.