The streets of Mondstadt lay silent under the pale glow of the moon, the cobblestones glistening with a faint sheen of dew. The city, so vibrant during the day's celebration of Teucer's liberation, had fallen into a deep slumber, its citizens exhausted from the revelry. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of dandelion wine and the lingering warmth of roasted meat from the banquet at the Angel's Gift Tavern. The towering statue of Barbatos loomed over the plaza, its stone wings spread wide, a silent guardian watching over the city as the stars twinkled above, their light casting a soft, ethereal glow over the rooftops. The wind, ever-present in Mondstadt, whispered through the streets, a gentle breeze that seemed to carry the echoes of the day's joy—but beneath the surface, a darker storm was brewing.
Wendy, Ying, and Paimon walked through the deserted streets, their laughter echoing softly as they reminisced about the banquet. Wendy's green cape fluttered in the breeze, his twin braids swaying as he strummed a light tune on his lyre, his teal eyes sparkling with mischief. Ying walked beside him, her golden eyes warm with the glow of the moonlight, her blonde hair shimmering as she adjusted the sword at her side, her Anemo powers swirling faintly around her. Paimon hovered nearby, her starry cape fluttering as she giggled, her tiny fists clutching a leftover piece of sticky honey roast from the tavern. "That banquet was the best!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of delight and indignation. "But they wouldn't let me have any wine—hmph, I'm not a kid!"
Ying chuckled, her tone teasing as she glanced at her companion. "Paimon, you look like a kid—there's no way they'd let you drink," she said, her voice light but affectionate. "Besides, you had plenty of juice. Isn't that enough?"
Wendy grinned, his tone playful as he joined in. "Oh, come now, Paimon—wine isn't for everyone! You've got to appreciate the finer things, like a good song or a sweet treat," he said, his fingers plucking a cheerful melody on his lyre. "Speaking of which, I've got a new ballad in mind—'The Ballad of the Wind Dragon's Return.' What do you think?"
But before Paimon could respond, the air grew cold, a sudden gust of icy wind sweeping through the street with a force that sent a shiver down their spines. The temperature plummeted, the cobblestones frosting over as a wave of Cryo energy enveloped the trio. Paimon let out a yelp, her tiny body freezing mid-air as she was encased in a block of ice, her expression one of shock and indignation frozen in place. Ying and Wendy were caught off guard, their movements slowing as the Cryo energy wrapped around them, binding their limbs with icy tendrils.
From the shadows emerged a figure, her presence radiating an aura of arrogance and power. Rosalyn-Kruzchka Lohefalter, the Lady, the eighth of the Fatui Harbingers, stepped into the moonlight, her half-mask gleaming like a crown, her long golden-white hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of light. Her high-slit skirt revealed a figure that was both elegant and explosive, her Pyro Vision glowing at her waist, a stark contrast to the Cryo energy she wielded through her Delusion. Her blue eyes blazed with a cold, burning hatred, her lips curling into a sneer as she looked at Wendy, her voice a low growl. "Barbatos," she spat, her tone dripping with venom. "You thought you could hide from me forever?"
Wendy's expression shifted, his playful demeanor replaced by a carefully crafted mask of weakness as he raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Rosalyn… I don't want to fight," he said, his voice trembling slightly, his teal eyes wide with feigned fear. "Please, let's talk—"
But Rosalyn was beyond words, her hatred for Barbatos consuming her. She lashed out with a furious slap, her hand striking Wendy across the face with a force that sent him staggering back, his lyre clattering to the ground. Ying struggled against the Cryo bindings, her Anemo powers flaring as she tried to break free, her voice a mix of anger and desperation. "Leave him alone!" she shouted, her golden eyes blazing as she summoned a vortex, the wind swirling around her in a futile attempt to shatter the ice.
Rosalyn ignored her, her focus locked on Wendy as she advanced, her movements swift and precise. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a burst of Pyro energy, the flames coalescing into a sharp, fiery blade that hovered at her fingertips. "You abandoned Mondstadt when it needed you most," she hissed, her voice trembling with rage. "You let him die—you let us burn!" In a single, brutal motion, she plunged the fiery blade into Wendy's chest, her hand reaching through the illusion of his mortal form to grasp the Heart of God, the divine artifact that marked him as one of the Seven Archons.
Wendy let out a dramatic cry, his body collapsing to the ground as the Heart of God was torn from him, the green gem glowing faintly in Rosalyn's hand. Ying's eyes widened in horror, her struggles intensifying as she screamed, "No! Wendy!" Paimon, still frozen, could only watch in silent terror, her tiny body trembling within the ice.
Rosalyn held the Heart of God aloft, her expression a mix of triumph and bitterness as she glared down at Wendy's crumpled form. "This is what you deserve, Barbatos," she said, her voice a low growl as she turned to her Fatui subordinates, who had emerged from the shadows to flank her. "We're done here—let's go." With a final, disdainful glance at Wendy, she and her men vanished into the night, the Cryo energy dissipating as they left, the ice around Paimon and Ying melting away.
Xander stepped out from the shadows, his cloak blending with the darkness as he approached the scene, his expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. He had watched the entire confrontation from a distance, his A-level strength allowing him to remain undetected even by Rosalyn's sharp senses. He knew Wendy's act for what it was—a performance, a carefully orchestrated deception to let Rosalyn take the Heart of God without a fight. The Wind God's acting skills were impeccable, his cries of pain and weakness so convincing that even Ying and Rosalyn had been fooled. But Xander saw through the charade, his perception honed by his unique abilities.
"Okay, the show's over—stop pretending," Xander said, his tone dry as he poked Wendy with the scabbard of the Shadowfang Blade, his grin widening as he looked down at the bard.
Wendy opened one eye, his sheepish grin returning as he sat up, brushing the dirt off his cape with a laugh. "Ehe, you saw through me, huh?" he said, his tone light but tinged with a hint of nervousness as he clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture. "Please, keep this a secret, okay? I don't want everyone knowing I let her take the Heart of God on purpose."
Xander shook his head, his expression a mix of amusement and disbelief. "The Lady of the Fatui took advantage of the Wind God Barbatos's weakened state, slapped him, pulled out his heart, and took the Heart of God," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You could have just talked to her, you know—cleared up the misunderstanding. But no, you had to go for the dramatic route."
Wendy scratched the back of his head, his grin turning sheepish. "Well, you know… it's complicated," he said, his tone evasive. "Rosalyn's anger isn't entirely misplaced. Five hundred years ago, during the Cataclysm, I was exhausted after the battle with Khaenri'ah. I fell into a deep sleep, and Teucer was too injured to help. I couldn't protect Mondstadt from the monsters that came after—and Rosalyn… she lost someone she loved because of it. She burned herself in despair, and the Fatui saved her, turned her into what she is now. I thought… maybe letting her take the Heart of God would give her some closure."
Xander raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Closure? You think that's what she wanted?" he asked, his tone sharp. "She looked like she wanted to burn you to ash, not find peace. And what about the Heavenly Principles? Some say you're doing this to deceive the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles—but I doubt they're that easy to fool."
Wendy sighed, his expression turning serious for a moment as he looked up at the starry sky. "Maybe you're right," he said, his voice soft. "But I've always believed in freedom—even for someone like Rosalyn. If taking the Heart of God gives her a sense of control, a way to move forward… then I'm willing to play the part. As for the Heavenly Principles… let's just say I have my reasons."
Xander rolled his eyes, but he didn't press further. Instead, he turned to Ying, who was still unconscious on the ground, her breathing shallow but steady. He knelt beside her, gently lifting her onto his back, her head resting against his shoulder as he stood. Paimon, now free from the ice, shivered as she hovered nearby, her tiny body trembling as she looked at Wendy with wide eyes. "You… you're okay?!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of relief and confusion. "But I saw her—she took your heart!"
Wendy winked, his grin returning as he picked up his lyre. "A little trick, that's all," he said, his tone playful. "I'm a god, Paimon—I don't go down that easily. But let's keep that between us, okay? I've got a reputation to maintain!"
Xander snorted, adjusting Ying on his back as he started walking toward the Knights of Favonius headquarters, Paimon and Wendy following close behind. "A reputation as a weakling, you mean," he muttered, his tone teasing but laced with a hint of respect. He had to admit, Wendy's willingness to let Rosalyn take the Heart of God, even at the cost of his own dignity, showed a depth of compassion he hadn't expected from the carefree bard.
The Knights of Favonius headquarters loomed ahead, its stone walls illuminated by the soft glow of lanterns, the Anemo Archon's symbol carved into the archway above the entrance. Inside, Jean was still awake despite the late hour, her earlier tipsiness replaced by a pounding headache as she sat at her desk, poring over reports of the Fatui's activities in Mondstadt. The news of the attack on Wendy hit her like a thunderbolt, her expression darkening as Xander explained what had happened—carefully omitting Wendy's act, as promised.
Jean slammed her fist on the desk, her Anemo Vision glowing with a faint green light as her anger flared. "This is outrageous!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with fury. "The Fatui attacked our Wind God—Barbatos himself—in our own city?! They stole the Heart of God right under our noses! This… this is a disgrace!"
Xander leaned against the wall, his expression calm as he watched Jean's outburst. "It's pretty bad, yeah," he said, his tone dry. "Your Wind God got his heart ripped out in his own home—outrageous doesn't even begin to cover it. But the Fatui won't broadcast this to the world. Stealing a Heart of God is a big taboo—they'll keep it quiet to avoid international backlash."
Jean's shoulders slumped, her anger giving way to exhaustion as she rubbed her temples. "You're right," she said, her voice quieter now. "We can't let this leak out either. Mondstadt can't afford to lose face—not now, when we're finally regaining our strength. The people would panic, and our international standing would plummet. But this… this means we have to sever diplomatic ties with Snezhnaya. There's no other choice."
Wendy, still pretending to be weak, sat in a chair nearby, his expression a mix of feigned exhaustion and genuine concern. "I'm sorry, Jean," he said, his voice soft. "I didn't expect things to escalate like this. But I'll be fine—I'm a god, after all. Just… don't let this change how you lead Mondstadt. The people need you now more than ever."
Jean nodded, her expression resolute despite her fatigue. "I'll handle it," she said, her voice firm. "We'll deal with the Fatui tomorrow—tonight, we all need rest. Xander, thank you for bringing them here. You've done more for Mondstadt than I can ever repay."
Xander waved a hand dismissively, a grin tugging at his lips. "Just doing my part," he said, his tone light. "I'll head back to the hotel—let me know if you need me to deal with any more Fatui. I've got a few scores to settle myself."
As he left the headquarters, the cool night air greeted him, the streets of Mondstadt still silent as he made his way to his hotel. The events of the night replayed in his mind, a mix of amusement and intrigue swirling in his thoughts. He decided to hold off on the second creation video for the night, giving the Knights a chance to recover from the shock. Tomorrow, when their spirits were higher, he'd unleash a new video—perhaps one targeting Venti, a little payback for the bard's theatrics. And with his number of lottery draws accumulating, he looked forward to testing his luck, eager to see what new powers or rewards awaited him.
The stars above twinkled brightly, a silent witness to the night's drama, as Mondstadt slept on, unaware of the storm that had passed—and the greater storm that was yet to come.
***
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