That night, the Traveler and the others arrived at the Angel's Share.
Inside the tavern, Master Diluc stood behind the counter, polishing a glass.
The three of them turned their attention to the already-drunk Stanley.
["Stanley... tell me, what should I do?" Stanley muttered to himself.
"Wuu... Stanley..."]
["Why wasn't it me who died in the Mare Jivari back then? Why didn't your soul come to stop me even when I stole your name? Stanley!" he cried in agony.]
["If it weren't for protecting a rookie like me, you wouldn't have died in that windless place." He wallowed in guilt.]
["You already had the title of a great adventurer." 'Stanley' gritted his teeth. "But for the sake of a worthless person like me, you could never become a legend again!"]
["Stanley... I was afraid the people of Mondstadt would forget all about you, so I went around telling everyone your adventures."]
["I wanted all of Mondstadt to remember! That Stanley reached the heart of the Mare Jivari! That he was the greatest adventurer, that he's still alive!!"
"Still alive!!"]
At this point, 'Stanley' seemed to have made up his mind, whispering to himself.
["Stanley won't die! Because I am... I am Stanley!"]
[Then, 'Stanley' sighed mournfully. "I'm sorry, Stanley, I'm sorry... even I've grown old... I've grown old too!"]
After a bout of weeping, 'Stanley' finally regained his composure and turned to look at the Traveler and the others.
["You lot, how long are you going to keep eavesdropping?"]
He must have noticed them long ago—he just wanted someone to hear the secret buried deep in his heart.
Both were playing the role of another, yet compared to him, Furina could never share her secret with anyone. And she had to keep up the act for 182,376 days and nights.
How many times worse must Furina's suffering and breakdown have been than his?
===✧✦✧===
Just then, Jack arrived, bringing good news—his parents had finally agreed to let him become an adventurer.
Eager to share the news with Stanley, he noticed the man slumped over the table, seemingly asleep.
'Stanley' couldn't bear to face Jack. He was nothing but a cowardly fraud—how could he face the boy's pure, untainted passion for adventure?
["Mr. Stanley... huh? Did he drink himself to sleep again?" Jack was already used to it.
"See you tomorrow, sir. When you're sober, tell me more stories, okay?"]
After Jack left, 'Stanley' 'slowly woke up'.
["Thank you for not exposing my secret."
["I couldn't even bring myself to look at him just now. His passion for adventure is so pure, so untainted."
["But me? I'm just a tired, worthless fraud. That kid... he's still a bright-eyed rookie. I can't ruin his dreams."]
'Stanley's' voice was heavy with exhaustion. He was tired. He was old. He wanted to rest.
But Stanley couldn't grow old—Stanley was a great adventurer! His adventures could never end!
["I wouldn't say you're a fraud. After all, the adventures and experiences of [Stanley] were real," Paimon comforted him.]
["Stories... experiences... hah, forget it."
"Truth is, even my memories of adventures... of Stanley himself... have grown hazy."
"That's my biggest secret. My greatest fear!"]
Yes—if even he forgot Stanley, would Stanley truly die?
["All these years, I've lived for his stories. But his personality, his life... I can't even remember them clearly anymore... hahaha..." 'Stanley' laughed bitterly.]
To ensure Stanley remained a legend who survived the Mare Jivari—not a failure who died in a windless land.
He abandoned his own identity and lived as Stanley.
He could be the nameless rookie who died in that windless wasteland, but Stanley had to be Mondstadt's great adventurer—a living legend!
["The one thing I can't forget is that he died in the windless Mare Jivari. The wind couldn't carry his soul away!" His voice trembled with guilt.]
For the people of Mondstadt, dying where the wind could reach meant returning home. But what of those who perished where no wind blew?
["I'm old now. No matter how much I refuse to let go, I can't hold onto much anymore. I'm useless! Completely useless!!"
"An adventurer can't die like that! He just... can't... wuu..."]
'Stanley' buried his face in his hands, weeping bitterly—because the real Stanley had died for his sake.
===✧✦✧===
["Hans Archibald." A gentle voice called out.]
[Hans looked up in shock. "How... how do you know my real name?"]
I've already abandoned that name. I've already 'died' in the Mare Jivari!
Yet within the enclosed tavern, a soft breeze drifted in, as if transporting them to another realm.
["Wind? The wind I longed for but could never find in the Mare Jivari!"]
In this isolated space, only the two of them remained. Staring at the bard before him, Hans finally realized who he was facing.
["I... I've always believed... in your existence!"]
Hans' voice quivered—whether from excitement or fear that this was just a dream, he didn't know.
The Anemo Archon extended his hand, speaking softly.
["May I take care of your old friend's soul?"]
Hans slowly placed his hand into the Archon's. This wasn't a dream...
When he looked up again, the Archon had taken the form of the Stanley he had yearned for all these years.
Hans reached out desperately, but Stanley's soul only smiled faintly before dissipating, carried away by the wind into the skies above.
That smile... did it mean he forgave me?
Hans drifted into slumber.
Stanley's story had ended—but Venti's had not.
["Traveler, let's meet at the usual place."
"Mm. See you there."]
The two shared an unspoken understanding, as if they already knew where "the usual place" was.
They reunited atop the statue in front of the church.
Venti, holding a bottle of Dandelion Wine he'd gotten from Jack, began to tell the tale of Mondstadt's past.
["The form I take now... is just like that fake Mr. Stanley. It's borrowed from a friend of mine."]
As Venti reminisced, he began his story.
The tale I wish to tell begins in [Old Mondstadt]...
[After the story ended, Paimon couldn't help but ask, "And then? What happened to that friend you mentioned?"]
["Paimon, do you really want to know the rest?" Venti's voice was tinged with melancholy.]
The Traveler noticed the shift in Venti's mood and stopped Paimon from pressing further.
["Paimon, go pick a couple of apples," the Traveler said, sending her away.
"Why do you suddenly want apples now? Ugh, fine." Paimon obediently flew off to find some.]
Venti knew the Traveler had deliberately given him an out. Gazing into the distance, he murmured:
["Wine... the breeze... moments like these always make me remember the songs I learned from him."
["Soar, soar, like a bird in flight."
"See this world for me, and fly high into the skies above."]
===✧✦✧===
Act I of the Bard's Chapter: "If You're Trapped in a Windless Land" — End.
===✧✦✧===
Navia snapped back to reality, only to find tears streaking her cheeks—she didn't know how long she'd been crying.
After reading such a story, she almost wanted to start worshipping the Anemo Archon.
"Lucian... is all of this true?" Navia asked, her eyes red as she looked at him.
She didn't care how messy her crying face was—she just needed to know if the story was real.
"It's true," Lucian nodded.
Navia was an emotional person, and right now, she didn't need to be strong.
Her feet were no longer resting on Lucian's lap—instead, she hugged her knees and buried her face, quietly sobbing.
[Emotional Value Obtained: 100]
[Source: Navia]
[Content: The story of the Anemo Archon and Stanley... I wish it weren't true.]
Lucian tilted his head, watching Navia. "You're really crying?"
Though he'd written the story precisely to harvest emotional value, he hadn't expected Navia to break down so completely.
If she ever learned about Furina's story, what then?
Navia ignored the 'annoying' man, kicking her feet lightly as if trying to shove him away—but never actually hitting him. It looked more like she was sulking.
She'd never act like this normally—only when she was alone with Lucian.
Lucian smiled in satisfaction.
Now he didn't have to worry about failing to break people's defenses.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voiceline · Navia: About the Bard's Chapter
"The story of the Anemo Archon and Stanley moved me deeply... because I couldn't help but imagine Lucian in their place. If Lucian were to die... I don't even want to think about it..."