Aether's expression was grave as he murmured to himself.
"Has a fallen Archon returned to life? Impossible… She is Egeria, the heart of the Primordial Sea. If she were to revive, the impact on the entire continent of Teyvat would be immense. How could it happen without a sound?"
The Abyss Herald said nothing. He stood quietly behind Aether, awaiting his decision.
After a moment of contemplation, Aether spoke to the Herald behind him.
"Find a way to test her true nature. If she truly is Egeria, then our subsequent plans will need to be adjusted accordingly."
"Yes, Your Highness, the Prince," the Herald replied respectfully, lowering his head.
...
Lora and Venti returned to Mondstadt from Stormterror's Lair. Because of the storm Dvalin had just unleashed, the entire city had been placed under lockdown.
The Knights of Favonius were conducting strict inspections on everyone entering and leaving, to prevent ill-intentioned individuals from causing trouble amid the chaos.
"Shall we continue drinking, Lora?"
After entering the city, Venti took a few steps toward "Angel's Share," then suddenly seemed to recall something. He turned back to look at Lora, who was still standing where she was.
Lora shook her head.
"After something like that, Lumine and Paimon are definitely searching everywhere for me," she said to Venti. "I won't be joining you. Once I've settled them down, we'll go retrieve the 'Holy Lyre der Himmel.'"
"Alright then! I'll be off!"
Venti waved goodbye to Lora and headed toward "Angel's Share."
...
After parting ways with Venti, Lora arrived at the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
She spotted Lumine and Paimon walking toward her, with Amber beside them—and the Cavalry Captain who seemed to view everyone as suspicious, Kaeya.
"Lora!"
Paimon spotted her from afar and waved excitedly. When she floated closer, she said, "We looked all over for you earlier and couldn't find you! I thought something terrible might have happened!"
"What could possibly happen to me?"
Lora replied helplessly. "Paimon, don't jinx me, alright?"
"So you're friends after all."
Kaeya stood to the side, glancing at Lora before turning to Lumine with a smile. "I met this young lady before and even took her for a suspicious character. But since she's your companion, her… peculiarities are much easier to explain."
"So you're saying everyone we travel with is abnormal?"
Paimon floated beside Lumine, arms crossed, half-squinting at Kaeya.
Kaeya waved his hands repeatedly.
"I never said that! Alright, let's not stand around outside. Acting Grand Master Jean has been waiting for quite a while. Let's go."
Lumine also said to Lora,
"Come on, Lora. Let's go meet the Acting Captain of the Knights of Favonius, Jean."
Lora did not refuse Lumine's invitation.
She followed everyone into the Knights of Favonius headquarters and met the Acting Grand Master, renowned among Mondstadt's citizens for her sterling reputation—the current heir of the Gunnhildr lineage, Jean Gunnhildr.
One of the Four Winds' guardians: the Lion of the South Wind.
Jean began by thanking Lumine for her considerable help in organizing Mondstadt's evacuation during Dvalin's storm.
She then expressed her regret that the Knights of Favonius were currently short on manpower and unable to fully assist Lumine and Lora in searching for their family.
Paimon waved her hands.
"It's okay! We understand—it's a special situation!"
Jean smiled and continued, addressing Lora and Lumine.
"Still, please don't lose heart. Lisa has already identified the source of the storm. I believe the dragon crisis will be resolved before long."
"Huh? Lisa already found the cause?"
Amber looked at Lisa in surprise.
Lisa smiled faintly, her expression tinged with charm.
"Of course. I've already traced the source of the storm."
Kaeya looked at Lisa and asked,
"So what is it?"
Lisa spoke slowly.
"The abandoned 'Four Winds' temples. Stormterror is able to unleash storms of this magnitude by drawing upon the residual power left within them."
"Which is why our objective is three of the four temples," Jean added. "As for why three, I believe everyone here understands."
Lora immediately raised her hand.
"Um… I don't. Acting Grand Master Jean, could you maybe stop speaking in riddles?"
"Ah…"
Jean froze for a moment, then coughed lightly into her hand in embarrassment.
"My apologies. I wasn't thinking. I forgot that you've only just arrived in Mondstadt and aren't familiar with our circumstances. Let me explain. The 'Four Winds' refer to the four guardians who follow Lord Barbatos, the Anemo Archon: the Dragon of the East Wind, the Wolf of the North Wind, the Eagle of the West Wind, and the Lion of the South Wind."
She continued calmly.
"The Wolf of the North Wind is our Grand Master, the Eagle of the West Wind is the Knights of Favonius, the Lion of the South Wind is myself… and as for the Dragon of the East Wind…"
"Stormterror, right?"
Lora interjected when Jean hesitated.
Before anyone else could react, Paimon's eyes widened.
"Huh? What? The Dragon of the East Wind is Stormterror? But isn't it the one behind the dragon calamity? Why—"
"Yes. The Dragon of the East Wind, Dvalin, is what we now call Stormterror."
Jean nodded, not denying it. "A god's kin turned its claws against the very city it once risked its life to protect."
"Why did it turn out like this?"
Lumine frowned as she asked.
"We don't know the exact reason," Jean shook her head. "The Knights of Favonius have searched through many ancient records, but with little success. Why the Dragon of the East Wind became Stormterror… I believe we'll only learn the truth after everything is over."
"Then why not ask the Anemo Archon for help?"
Lumine pressed.
Paimon nodded beside her.
"Yeah! Since something went wrong with the 'Four Winds,' why not let the Anemo Archon Barbatos handle it?"
Hearing this, Jean exchanged glances with Lisa, Amber, and the others, then shook her head.
"I'm afraid Lord Barbatos has not returned to Mondstadt for a thousand years. We have no idea where he is. Besides, matters we can resolve ourselves should not trouble a god."
"Maybe he's turned into a drunken poet, drinking away in some tavern,"
Lora said to Jean with a smile.
Somewhere in "Angel's Share," a drunken poet who had been pestering others for drinks suddenly shivered.
Jean's expression sharpened at Lora's words. She said solemnly,
"Miss Lora, while I understand you were joking, it would be best not to say such things in front of the Church. Otherwise, they may consider it blasphemy against the Anemo Archon."