Not long after...
The Fair Lady arrived at the gates of the Knights of Favonius headquarters, surrounded by a group of Fatui diplomats.
The guards stationed here had been replaced.
They stood tall, their eyes fixed forward, their spirits visibly different—more confident and resolute.
In the face of the Fatui, they now carried themselves with greater assurance.
The Fair Lady merely glanced at them indifferently, unimpressed.
What did confidence and pride matter?
Before the might of the Fatui, they were all equally insignificant.
"Fair Lady of the Fatui, the Anemo Archon awaits your audience in his office."
"Audience?!"
The Fair Lady's tone sharpened, her face twisting with disdain.
Yet the knight guiding her showed no change in expression, speaking calmly, "We hope you will show respect. With a god present, not just anyone can afford to be insolent. Mind your words and actions."
"Is that so?"
The Fair Lady scoffed.
What did it matter?
This was not the god she served.
"Follow me."
The knight had no intention of engaging further.
Since she had come as a diplomatic envoy, it was only natural that someone from Mondstadt would receive her.
He only hoped this arrogant Harbinger would maintain proper decorum in the presence of a god.
Otherwise, the Knights of Favonius would never tolerate such disrespect toward the Anemo Archon.
Inside the office...
Only Venti was present.
Jean and the others had initially intended to accompany him, but he had declined.
The sound of high heels clicking against the floor grew closer.
Moments later, the door opened.
"Lord Barbatos, the Fatui envoy has arrived," the knight announced.
"Thank you. Let her in—I'd like to speak with her alone."
"As you wish."
The knight stepped aside.
The Fair Lady strode into the office, her gaze immediately locking onto the slender figure before her.
"How... unexpected," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"The Anemo Archon of Mondstadt actually responded so promptly this time?"
Venti's words caught in his throat.
He understood her meaning.
Back then, he had gone to Khaenri'ah, and then disaster struck.
The calamity swept through the nations, and Mondstadt suffered heavy losses.
His return had been "belated," but he had no way to explain his helplessness.
His expression turned complicated.
"Please, sit. I think... we need to have a proper conversation."
"A proper conversation?"
The Fair Lady laughed coldly.
"Do you really think there's anything left to discuss between us?"
She crossed her arms and sat down, crossing her legs in a posture of utter contempt.
"Perhaps... more than you think."
Venti reached into his robe and placed a chess-piece-like object on the table, sliding it toward her.
"I'd like to give this to you."
The Fair Lady shot to her feet.
She glared down at Venti, seeing the guilt and remorse in his eyes.
In an instant, fury ignited within her.
"Are you pitying me?!"
"No," Venti replied weakly, shaking his head with a wry smile.
"Compassion... I don't need it!"
It could have been taken by force.
But it could not be given as a god's pity!
"What is your real intention?" Her killing intent surged.
Venti sighed.
"Consider it... a final gift to a former believer of the Anemo Archon."
"Hahahaha..."
The Fair Lady laughed bitterly.
"How shameless can you be? How dare you even mention your believers?"
"She died. He died. They all died."
"While you were 'delayed,' your people perished one by one. Where was the Anemo Archon then?"
"Oh!"
She feigned sudden realization.
"He appeared at the tail end of the war—how noble! Cleaning up after the disaster."
Her eyes were full of mockery.
Venti opened his mouth but hesitated.
"I've heard you're Mondstadt's most beloved bard."
"With such a silver tongue, why are you silent now?"
"...I'm sorry. I was too late." His expression twisted in pain.
"Spare me the hypocrisy!"
Venti had no choice.
She refused to listen.
So he said, "No matter what you think, I'll tell you the truth now."
"Back then, I was ordered by the Heavenly Principles to join the campaign against Khaenri'ah... By the time the war ended, I returned to Mondstadt gravely wounded."
"I had almost no strength left—barely enough to drive away some of the monsters..."
"Dvalin—the dragon you call Stormterror—drank the poisoned blood during that time. It tormented him for five hundred years, and I, in my slumber, was powerless to help..."
"It wasn't that I didn't care. I simply couldn't."
One by one, lives had been lost in the disaster, and Venti had been helpless to stop it.
If only he had returned sooner, would fewer have died?
If he hadn't gone to Khaenri'ah, could he have protected Mondstadt?
There were no "ifs."
The Heavenly Principles' decree was absolute.
Venti had done everything he could.
Though he owed no one anything, the thought of those who had died defending Mondstadt weighed heavily on his heart.
The Fair Lady... was the only one who had survived from that era.
All of Venti's regrets and guilt were now directed at her.
"Whether you hate me for returning too late or come to understand... I only wish for the people of Mondstadt to live freely. And, if I may be greedy, I hope they can live without worry, witnessing all the beauty this world has to offer."
As he spoke at length, the Fair Lady slowly sat back down.
Her once-arrogantly crossed legs now rested properly.
Her hands, resting on her skirt, clenched into fists, nails digging deep into her palms.
"So you're saying..."
Her smile was twisted.
"I misunderstood you?"
Venti shook his head and pushed the Gnosis closer to her.
"I know you now serve the Cryo Archon. I don't know what else I can do, but please believe this—the Anemo Archon will always love his people, even those who once followed him."
Crack.
Her flawless skin split once more.
Scorching flames surged beneath, threatening to burst through the fissures.
The Fair Lady's face was expressionless.
A terrifying aura emanated from her.
"If the turmoil in your heart still hasn't settled..."
"Take it and leave."
"If you ever wish to return... the gates of Mondstadt will remain open to you."
With those final words, Venti stood and walked toward the door.
After a few steps, he glanced back at the Fair Lady, sighed silently, and left.
For a while, the Fair Lady sat in silence.
Then, she reached out and took the Gnosis.
Sunlight streamed through the window, making it gleam brilliantly.
She clenched it tightly.
Without a word, she stood and walked out of the office.
Step by step.
Flecks of ash drifted from her body, scattering in her wake.
Finally, she stepped through the gates of the Knights' headquarters.
The sunlight bathed her.
A gentle breeze brushed past.
The soft, ethereal voice of a god whispered:
"Being burned by flames is painful... Yet you, once despised and exiled, truly brought new hope. Rosalyne, you've suffered enough."
"The wind still walks with you."
The Fair Lady's footsteps faltered for a brief moment.
Fragments of ice, melted by the flames, dripped to the ground and evaporated in the lingering heat.
The wind blew past.
Rosalyne—the girl who had been scorched by fire and imprisoned in the depths of her own heart—finally found liberation.
She dissolved into the gentle breeze, meeting her true end.
All that remained was the embodiment of her lingering hatred—
The Crimson Witch of Flames.
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T/N:
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