The Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
As one of the largest powers in Mondstadt, the Knights of Favonius occupied one of the best locations in the city—second only to the Cathedral.
A three-story stone fortress complete with an underground library and a top-floor loft, it was the only structure of its kind in Mondstadt aside from the church.
Jiang Yan had never formally joined the Knights, but he had received approval from both the Grand Master and the Church to be specially issued a Favonius Sword. As a result, he carried considerable prestige within the Knights of Favonius.
"Boss Jiang Yan?"
"Do you need assistance from the Knights of Favonius?"
The two knights standing guard at the entrance greeted him warmly.
"Is Kaeya around?" Jiang Yan asked.
"You're looking for Captain Kaeya?"
"He is. He should be chatting with Wood in the first-floor hall."
They answered while placing their hands over their chests in salute, stepping aside to let him pass.
First Floor Hall.
Kaeya stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall as he chatted with Wood, the knight in charge of guarding the confinement room.
As the Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius, Kaeya was instantly recognizable—indigo hair cropped short, dark skin, and a languid demeanor.
He wore a white shirt open at the chest beneath a blue outer coat, paired with a blue-and-white cape. His Vision hung from a brown belt at his waist, while black trousers and boots completed his outfit.
No matter how one looked at him, there was an air of carefree roguishness about him.
To the young women of Mondstadt, such a handsome Cavalry Captain was more than worthy of being a dream lover.
In terms of popularity, only the wealthy Diluc could possibly edge him out.
"Immortal Lord Who Walks on Ice Across the Sea!"
Jiang Yan waved as he called out.
Since Kaeya was facing the entrance, he noticed Jiang Yan immediately.
"Boss Jiang Yan, how many times have I asked you not to call me by that nickname?"
Kaeya brushed back his bangs and covered his forehead dramatically.
"And really—why am I the only one who gets a nickname personally bestowed by you? Shouldn't that honor belong to Acting Grand Master Jean first? Someone insignificant like me should be spared."
The gesture alone would've been devastating—if any Mondstadt girls were watching.
"You're really calling yourself insignificant?"
Jiang Yan laughed.
"Sounds like you."
He exchanged a brief greeting with Wood beside him.
"Klee's inside again?"
Jiang Yan asked.
Otherwise, Wood wouldn't normally be stationed at the confinement room.
"Locked up by Jean," Wood replied with a pained expression.
"Apparently she went fish-blasting again."
All fish in Mondstadt's rivers and lakes were public property, protected by law—explicitly written into the Knights' code. Destruction was forbidden under any circumstances.
But Klee needed to test her bombs.
She couldn't blow up mountains—what if it caused a fire?
So the only option was water.
And water, unfortunately, always had fish.
Which meant Klee would inevitably break the rules.
Wood was at his wit's end. He didn't want to keep guarding the confinement room every day.
Worse still, he had to worry whether Klee might start some dangerous experiment inside. If there was suddenly a boom and the headquarters got blown up, who would take responsibility?
"I'll talk to Jean later."
Jiang Yan said calmly.
"I'll spend some time playing with Klee."
Now that Lumine had arrived in Mondstadt, the training plan he'd put on hold for a full year could finally begin.
"W–Wow… I'm deeply moved."
Wood said emotionally.
Jiang Yan quietly took a step away from him.
"So," Kaeya finally asked,
"did you come all this way to the Knights' headquarters just for that?"
"Of course not. I came specifically to see you."
"Oh?"
Kaeya raised an eyebrow, then placed one hand over his chest in a formal salute.
"To be of service to Mondstadt's pride—it would be my honor."
"You can save the flattery."
Jiang Yan didn't bite.
"I'm here to ask the Knights to help evacuate the citizens of Mondstadt."
"Evacuate the citizens?"
Kaeya looked at him in confusion.
According to his intelligence network, there were no signs of large-scale Abyss Order movements, nor any Fatui schemes in motion.
"If nothing unexpected happens," Jiang Yan said seriously,
"Stormterror will come."
"Boss Jiang Yan… do you have informants?"
That was Kaeya's first thought.
"Do you think informants can move faster than a flying dragon?"
"…Fair point."
Kaeya fell silent for a moment.
"But what's your basis? Mobilizing people on this scale without a convincing reason will cause unrest among the citizens—even if the Knights can carry out the orders."
The Knights followed commands—that was simple.
But the people of Mondstadt needed an explanation.
Kaeya was genuinely curious what Jiang Yan was relying on.
Jiang Yan obviously couldn't tell him the truth—that Stormterror, pushed beyond its limits, was finally about to attack the city.
He raised his hand.
A cluster of Anemo gathered in his palm.
"The wind direction," Jiang Yan said quietly.
"Ta-da~!"
"This is it—the Wind Glider!"
At the Statue of The Seven plaza, Amber proudly displayed the glider she had brought to Lumine and Paimon.
"Recon Knights use it to move through the skies, and the people of Mondstadt love it too."
"I brought you here so you could experience its benefits firsthand."
She introduced it enthusiastically.
"That sounds like a very persuasive sales pitch!"
Paimon clapped her hands.
"Well, wind is the soul of Mondstadt," Amber said matter-of-factly.
"Wind…"
Lumine equipped the Wind Glider, reaching out to feel the breeze blowing down from the mountains beyond Cider Lake.
She murmured softly to herself.
"Pay attention to the wind direction…"
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/MythArcStudio