"What happened here?"
Mu Qingge, who had just arrived from Liyue and passed through Stone Gate into Mondstadt territory, saw the scene caused by Malice and Dain.
Although she was well aware of everything that had just transpired here, it didn't prevent her from feeling confused.
Yes, she, who had just died as Ruola, was now back as Mu Qingge.
Observing her surroundings, Mu Qingge murmured to herself:
"It seems to be the aftermath of a battle, and both parties were very strong."
After noting the general situation here, Mu Qingge planned to tell them about it when she reached Mondstadt City.
Mu Qingge didn't have the Traveler's ability to teleport; she was alone and had walked for over a day to get here.
Her journey to Mondstadt this time wasn't originally necessary for her; she wasn't the most suitable person for the expansion and protection of the Mondstadt-Liyue trade route.
The main reason she accepted this task was actually to see her good friend Ruola in Mondstadt.
Counting back, the last time they met was during the Lantern Rite; since then, they had only communicated through letters.
Liyue had now stabilized, and everything was going smoothly, so it was a good time to make up for all the vacation time she should have taken previously, to stop her Millelith subordinates from constantly complaining.
As she traveled towards Mondstadt City, Qingge felt a bit strange.
Why were there so few Abyss Monsters in Mondstadt territory? She had only encountered them once so far!
One must know that these Abyss Monsters couldn't be completely eliminated; if you eliminated them, they would reappear after some time, like unkillable cockroaches — no, even more persistent than cockroaches, extremely annoying.
"Could it be that Mondstadt recently had a major cleanup targeting Abyss Monsters?"
It wasn't until she arrived outside Mondstadt City and saw the large Ruin Guard and the terrain around it that Mu Qingge realized something was wrong.
Mondstadt, it seemed, had suffered a great calamity?!
Upon reaching the gates of Mondstadt City, she found that the original gate had been blown up, and the Knights of Favonius guarding it all had sorrowful expressions.
Mu Qingge proactively stepped forward and presented her identification:
"Hello, I am an envoy from Liyue, and I need to meet with the Knights of Favonius."
The Knight examined it briefly and then handed it back.
"I'm very sorry, Traveler. As you can see, Mondstadt has just suffered a great catastrophe. Please forgive our poor hospitality. You may enter the city to rest first. As for meeting Acting Grand Master Jean and the others… it may still take some time."
"It's alright, I can wait."
Mu Qingge entered Mondstadt City and found a hotel to stay in.
---
Knights of Favonius Cathedral.
After Ruola's body was brought back to Mondstadt, the sacred Anemo Archon disappeared.
The one who reappeared was a dejected Venti.
"Ruola, how could this happen?"
Barbara stepped forward in disbelief; she tried to heal Ruola, but the body was already cold, and even the Anemo Archon was helpless, so how could she save her?
After failing, Barbara's eyes immediately welled up with tears.
"Ruola, boohoo…"
Jean helped Barbara up and hugged her.
Barbara cried on her sister's shoulder, quickly soaking Jean's shoulder with tears.
Jean simply lowered her head, gently patting Barbara's back.
On the other side, Paimon also threw herself into Lumine's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
It was the first time little Paimon had encountered such a thing, and it had a huge impact on her young mind.
"Wuwuwu, waaaah, ahhh… Traveler, I'm so sad, I miss Ruola so much, wuwu~"
Lumine comforted Paimon just as Jean comforted Barbara, gently patting the little one's back to help her calm down.
At the back of the crowd, little Klee stood helplessly.
A hand gently patted her right shoulder, Klee stiffly turned her head and called out:
"Albedo-gege...."
Seeing Albedo, Klee seemed to find support and wrapped her arms around Albedo's neck.
Seeing the usually lively little Klee become like this, Albedo couldn't bear it and gently embraced Klee's small body.
"Albedo-gege, Ruola-jiejie, she, wuwah······"
Ruola-jiejie said she would go fishing with Klee, but she's a big liar!
In Albedo's memory, little Klee had never really cried much; at most, she would feel a little wronged, and then she would be full of energy the next day.
"Sigh~"
Albedo carried Klee away from there to console her.
Ruola's body was covered with a white cloth, and Cardinal Calvin personally presided over her farewell ceremony. The sisters prayed for her, hoping the Anemo Archon would take her soul back to Mondstadt.
Venti listened from the side, silent.
Finally, after deliberation, Jean, representing the Knights of Favonius, officially approved Ruola's application to join the Knights of Favonius, and at the same time announced to all of Mondstadt the heroic deeds of Ruola, who sacrificed herself in the struggle against the Abyss Monsters as a Knight of Favonius.
Diluc had no objection to this.
This was also what his sister had always hoped for. In his mind, he kept replaying his sister asking him if she was strong!
Ruola yearned to prove herself in front of him, and she did indeed succeed.
It's just that this kind of proof was not what he wanted to see…
---
Late at night.
Knights of Favonius Cathedral.
Ruola's body lay quietly there. Barbara washed and changed her clothes, Kaeya sealed her with a block of ice, and Diluc finally covered her with a white cloth.
Only Venti, Diluc, and Kaeya remained in the vast cathedral.
The sisters who were originally here had also been called away by Cardinal Calvin.
"You should go back and rest."
Venti said to Diluc and Kaeya.
One day and one night had passed since Ruola's sacrifice; in a few more hours, it would be two nights.
Diluc had remained by Ruola's side the entire time, and Kaeya, worried about his sworn brother, also stayed there with him.
Diluc didn't speak, his eyes vacant.
Venti sighed silently. Ruola's sacrifice had dealt a greater blow to him than anyone else.
Footsteps suddenly echoed in the silent cathedral.
Kaeya and Venti looked towards the sound.
It was a white-haired woman wearing a form-fitting dark robe.
The woman walked to Ruola's side and stood silently for a long time.
Mu Qingge gently lifted the white cloth; Kaeya and the others didn't stop her.
She embraced the ice block, pressing her face against it: "Goodbye, Ruola."
"You are, Kaiyang Star of Liyue?"
"I am just Ruola's friend now."
Mu Qingge, with a sorrowful expression, stood before Kaeya and the others.
"I have learned everything that happened in Mondstadt from Acting Grand Master Jean. Ruola is my friend, and her matter is my matter. I will find that fellow, kill it, and avenge Ruola!"
After saying this, Mu Qingge left.
After she left, the cathedral fell silent again.
After a long while, Diluc finally shed his dazed expression. He slowly stood up, his body slightly unsteady.
"This is my sister. If there's to be revenge, it should be me!"
Diluc limped out of the cathedral:
"Kaeya, I'm entrusting Ruola to you. Bury her in the cemetery. This child likes lively, and can't stand loneliness. After I kill it, I will come back to pay my respects to Ruola!"
"Diluc, stop!"
Diluc's footsteps didn't falter. Kaeya was about to rush after him but was stopped by Venti.
"Let him go. I will watch over him; nothing will happen. This is the only motivation he has to pull himself together right now."
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