"No—!"
Klee cried out in despair.
She had invented the bouncing bombs herself. She knew their power better than anyone.
An unprotected Razor would be burned alive in an instant.
The thought of her friend dying beneath her own creation shattered her heart.
At that moment, there was only one thing she could do.
She covered her eyes, unable to bear witnessing Razor's death.
Flames erupted.
Smoke billowed skyward.
Then—
Klee heard heavy breathing, deep and oppressive, like a colossal beast awakening from ancient slumber.
Peeking through her fingers, she saw a sight that left her frozen.
A gigantic wolf king—its body formed of wind and frost—stood before her.
With its massive frame, it shielded Razor completely.
"Y–You're… one of Mondstadt's Four Winds… the North Wind Wolf, Andrius!"
Klee shouted in excitement.
She had seen Andrius's portrait in the Knights of Favonius library.
"That's great! We're saved!" she exclaimed.
"Quick, kill that bad guy over there! He's super evil!"
The North Wind King let out a long sigh.
"Child," Andrius said calmly,
"I am no match for the Prince of Snezhnaya."
Klee froze.
Her mouth hung open, unable to close for a long while.
The man before her…
Was not merely stronger than a Harbinger.
He was the Prince of Snezhnaya—
And even a guardian of the Four Winds admitted inferiority before him.
"But you needn't worry," Andrius continued.
"The Prince never intended to kill you. In his eyes, you are but ants. If he wished you dead, he would not waste words."
"But—!" Klee sobbed.
"He was going to kill Razor!"
"The Prince knew I am Razor's guardian," Andrius replied quietly.
"Only when Razor's life was truly threatened would I be forced to reveal myself. Everything he did… was to draw me out."
After calming Klee, Andrius's deep, ancient gaze turned toward Severin.
"Prince of Snezhnaya. The moment you and Dvalin arrived, I sensed you," he said.
"I did not appear because I am nothing more than a remnant soul bound to Wolvendom. I believed myself well hidden… it seems I underestimated you."
"If you were merely a remnant," Severin replied evenly,
"I would not have come today."
Andrius paused.
"Then… what is it you seek from me?"
With Klee present, the rest of their exchange unfolded through spiritual communication, unheard by mortal ears.
"Let's make a deal."
After a brief silence, Andrius answered,
"Please, speak."
Before a being of this level, there were few choices beyond listening.
Severin laid out the terms calmly.
"The countless wolves of Wolvendom are your weapons—your means of protecting Mondstadt. You have always trained and guarded them in secret."
"I want to lease control over the wolf pack—for three days."
"In return, I will order the Fatui to restore the Temple of the North Wind. The monsters will be cleared, the ruins rebuilt, and the people guided back to their former worship."
"Once revered by all, the Four Winds declined alongside the disappearance of Barbatos. As his familiars, your fate was never meant to end this way."
"Faith is the only path by which you may grow strong again. It is also the best way to ensure future generations never forget you."
Andrius regarded the wolves as his children. He would never casually send them into danger.
Yet the price Severin offered was impossible to refuse.
The temple had long fallen into ruin. The cost of restoring it was astronomical—precisely why Mondstadt had never undertaken the task.
Three days of control, in exchange for the revival of the temple—
It was an astonishingly favorable trade.
Still, one final concern remained.
"I must know why you need the wolves," Andrius said.
"If this is for unlawful slaughter or crimes against the people, I cannot agree."
Though forgotten by Mondstadt, Andrius had once been a Four Winds guardian.
He would never betray or harm its people.
Severin walked to Razor's side, slowly crouched down, and wiped the blood from the boy's brow.
His voice was low and steady.
"A false sky. Cycles of fate. A civilization in collapse," he said.
"Teyvat has always been shrouded in fog. The truth of this world is darker than you imagine."
"I want light to pierce that darkness."
"So that children like Razor and Klee need not fear the night.
So they are never abandoned in despair."
"Even if it costs everything—
I will make that light illuminate every home in Teyvat."
Andrius remained silent for a moment, then asked carefully,
"Prince… the wolves of Wolvendom cannot bear such a burden. Can you be more specific?"
Severin gazed toward Mondstadt, perched upon Cider Lake. His eyes narrowed.
"Mondstadt," he said,
"is about to fall."
Andrius's expression changed instantly.
So that was it.
The Prince of Snezhnaya sought control over Mondstadt itself.
For centuries, Mondstadt had thrived under the banner of freedom.
But only the Archon's familiars knew the truth—
When Barbatos vanished, Mondstadt lost its divine protection.
The old god was gone.
A new god never rose.
Beneath its strength, Mondstadt was hollow.
Had it not been for the Knights of Favonius holding the line, chaos would have erupted long ago.
Foreign conquest was a fate Andrius had long prepared himself for.
He simply hadn't expected it to arrive so soon.
"I understand your concerns," Severin continued calmly.
"I will not use your wolves to attack Mondstadt."
"Instead, for three days, they will remain in Wolvendom—awaiting orders and doing nothing."
The so-called lease was, in truth, a restraint.
With the wolves neutralized and Andrius bound to Wolvendom, the North Wind would no longer threaten Severin's plan.
The South Wind Lion Vennessa had long ascended to Celestia.
With Dvalin restricted and Andrius restrained, the so-called Four Winds were reduced to a single force—
The Knights of Favonius.
"Prince of Snezhnaya," Andrius said slowly,
"the wolves cannot stop your cannons… nor your will. I accept the deal."
"If three days are insufficient, we can extend it to seven."
"My payment does not change," Severin replied flatly.
In truth, whether three days or seven made little difference.
To Severin, even three days to take Mondstadt was excessive.
"You seem strangely unconcerned about what I intend to do next," he observed.
Andrius gave a quiet laugh.
"Nothing escapes your sight. Mondstadt is doomed to fall to you—
but I believe you will not harm its people."
"Heh."
Severin smiled faintly.
"Those who fail to see reality always bleed. Always sacrifice."
"I make no promises."
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