Mondstadt, the City of Freedom and Wind, realm blessed by the gods.
Situated between towering mountains and vast plains, it has been caressed for millennia by breezes carrying the fragrant scents of dandelions and Cider Lake. These winds then gather the aromas of ripe fruits and fine wines, dispersing them throughout households with an air of peace and tranquility.
At the city's heart, the magnificent Cathedral of the Favonius chimed its resonant bells, facing the colossal statue of the Wind Archon at the center of the public square—a silent testament to the intimate bond between humans and deities in this ancient city of freedom.
At dawn, the cool scent of dew still lingered in the streets.
Mondstadt welcomed several unfamiliar guests at this hour.
"Crunch!"
A tall, silver-haired young man with star-like features and a stature as upright as a sword exuded an air of distant arrogance, typical of someone accustomed to authority. Yet, perched on his shoulders was a princess-like little girl with heterochromatic golden-gray eyes, delicately nibbling on a bright red Sunsettia Fruit.
Beside him, a spear-wielding maiden with serene green eyes resembled a warrior guard, while a gentle blue-eyed girl embodied a personal maid. These two enchantingly lovely girls, akin to elves, obediently followed the young man, their curious gazes taking in the vast and captivating Western-style cityscape.
"Zeke, I'm finished."
Sin wrapped her arms around Zeke's head, speaking from her perch atop his shoulders.
She had even consumed the fruit's core, clearly indicating she wanted more.
Zeke gently held Sin's legs to secure her better on his shoulders and softly replied, "Just wait a bit longer; it's not breakfast time yet. We'll find a renowned place soon to try some local specialties."
"Mm-hmm, I trust you, Zeke~"
Sin responded sweetly, her face beaming with an utterly charming smile.
Sin was the only wife who chose to remain by Zeke's side.
Upon entering this new world, Kiana, Bronya, and Fu Hua had voluntarily dispersed, heading towards the neighboring nation of Liyue, giving Zeke, Wendy, and Seele space to address their issues.
Unlike them, Sin preferred staying close to Zeke, showing little interest in exploring this so-called alternate reality.
Theoretically, Bronya could have taken Sin with her, but she opted not to interfere.
In matters concerning Zeke's emotions, Sin naturally played a central role. Kiana and the others might choose forgiveness and understanding, stepping back for the sake of two sisters who had long awaited their reunion. Consequently, it was equally reasonable for Sin to decide to stay.
As his wife, she held the inherent right to either avoid, observe, or intervene—her choice alone, unchallenged by anyone, including Zeke and Bronya.
Meanwhile, Wendy and Seele exchanged glances, stifling giggles behind their hands. Sin rarely displayed such endearing sweetness around others; she was typically as pliant as marshmallow fluff only when near Zeke and Bronya. The stark contrast amused both girls immensely.
"Hmm?"
Sin's eyes suddenly narrowed, casting a menacing glance at Wendy and Seele giggling below.
Instantly, they suppressed their laughter, feigning intense focus on walking—already quite lenient with Sin due to her unique personality, now that she was officially part of Zeke's family, they were even more cautious not to offend her.
"Hmph."
With a soft snort reminiscent of any ordinary girl's playful pout, Sin gently swung her legs from her perch atop Zeke's shoulders, occasionally tapping his sturdy chest. Her joy, blooming like a vibrant flower, was unmistakable.
The group of four strolled through the city steeped in exotic charm, observing this new world and its way of life.
After some time, Wendy spun the silver spear in her hand—a prop for concealing their identities—and glanced at the teal gemstone adorned with wing motifs hanging from her waist. She turned to Zeke and asked, "I heard the place where you first met Big Sister Kiana is also called Mondstadt. Why didn't she come along to see it... Do you think it's our fault?"
Wendy's softly spoken words weren't merely small talk; they stemmed from a long-suppressed sense of remorse.
Seele unconsciously wrung her fingers and glanced at Zeke with evident unease, clearly having pondered this issue herself.
Both girls were aware of the deep bond between Zeke and Kiana. Choosing Mondstadt as their first stop inevitably raised suspicions that he might want to reminisce about their shared past with her. However, Kiana opted to stay behind for the sake of her younger sisters, leading to their temporary separation.
Zeke paused momentarily.
This topic evidently touched a sensitive nerve, causing his expression to darken briefly.
In truth, Zeke had indeed planned to bring Kiana to Mondstadt right away, believing she would share his sentiment. But instead, that cheeky girl bolted off without him!
"Yikes! Suddenly feeling a chill!"
Liyue Harbor's densely packed buildings were just ahead, but Kiana rubbed her arms and shivered.
Fu Hua, the Book of Fuxi, and Bronya all glanced sidelong at her with knowing expressions.
"( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)" x3
Kiana asked, "Why are you guys looking at me like that?"
"Bro-nya senses someone's impending doom," replied Bronya.
"The Book understands Zeke's character well enough," chimed in the Book of Fuxi. "Who wouldn't know his intentions for choosing Mondstadt as our first stop? Trust Little Fuxi on this—he'll remember it for at least a hundred years."
Fu Hua sighed, "Kiana, this time, you really..."
Their words, tinged with either schadenfreude or helpless sympathy, left Kiana flushed red. Twiddling her fingers nervously, she finally muttered softly after a long pause:
"Well, anyway... I'll find some time to visit Mondstadt alone with him later! We're old married partners already; it doesn't matter if we wait a bit longer, right?" Kiana tried comforting herself, yet her trembling legs betrayed her unease.
***
"...It's okay," Zeke replied stoically, his expression unchanged. Naturally, the sentiment behind his "not just yet" was worlds apart from the Empress's version.
Wendy couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Hah! I don't believe for a second that you're not bothered!"
"Hmm?"
"It's nothing!" Under Zeke's death glare, Wendy swiftly changed her tune. Her eyes darted around, quickly finding a new topic: "Ahem! So, um, what is this world's ruling structure like?"
"Heavenly Principles resides high on Celestia, overseeing and governing the entire realm below. Below them are the Seven Archons, each controlling one of the seven elemental forces and ruling over their respective nations."
"How powerful is Heavenly Principles? What level of combat strength do they possess? Will they hinder our Empire's exploration and development of this world?" Wendy's demeanor turned serious, her hand holding the spear twitching slightly with anticipation.
Come to think of it, this was precisely the kind of work she did amidst the starlit skies of her own universe—suppressing various formidable entities obstructing the Empire's exploration and expansion. This Heavenly Principles might well become a source of merit points for her—although her primary purpose in coming here was travel and winning over Zeke, making money never hurt, regardless of where she found herself.
Zeke reached out, flicked his finger, and gently tapped Wendy's forehead.
"Ah! Ow!"
"Don't be hasty. Heavenly Principles was the executor of the previous civilization's Ark Project, now serving as a scattered vanguard for the Empire. She can be a valuable asset in our exploration of this civilization."
"Huh? Really? Then I guess we shouldn't take action... Wait, wasn't the Ark Project just about reaching the starlit sky? And according to Mr. Su, it seems like it failed anyway." Wendy rubbed her forehead, blinking confusedly.
She knew about the Ark Project, but it didn't seem focused on venturing towards the Sea of Quanta or the Imaginary Tree. Even if it were, encountering remnants of the lost previous civilization during an interstellar journey would be quite coincidental.
Zeke paused before responding, "Whether she originally was or not, she is now part of that legacy."
"Oh... So you entered this world slightly ahead of us to... cough! Alright, I know you're not completely deranged at least, definitely not someone who invades and destroys civilizations. As long as you have your limits, it's fine." Wendy said with a twitching corner of her mouth.
She could already envision the scene:
From her lofty position on Celestia, Heavenly Principles had been innocuously observing the world, perhaps even enjoying breakfast. Suddenly, a terrifying shadow loomed over her as the multiverse-level Great Demon King extended his iron grip towards the innocent and pitiful deity.
Whether it was a "friendly" negotiation akin to, "Miss Heavenly Principles, you wouldn't want the world you protect to be torn apart, would you?" or swiftly drawing his sword without warning upon seizing the Herrscher of Corruption's Core, or employing some other unique persuasion tactic, those details weren't the focus.
"Suddenly feeling a bit sorry for Heavenly Principles..." Seele murmured involuntarily, receiving Wendy's strong nodding agreement.
This was Zeke's consistent style.
Except during uncertain conflicts like the War of End, where he had no choice but to face them head-on, under normal circumstances, Zeke's intense protective instincts towards the girls around him made even the slightest risk feel unbearably prickly to him. For such a Zeke, taming the ruler of a nation before embarking on a journey seemed entirely reasonable, right?
Wendy and Seele exchanged glances, each revealing a smile.
Even if it seemed slightly exaggerated, who could resist feeling cherished and protected like this as a girl?