The battle in the sky was brief but decisive. The Traveler, with her impossible, wind-defying grace, was a foe Stormterror had not anticipated. Harried and wounded by an opponent who could meet him in his own domain, the great dragon let out one last, mournful roar of frustration and pain before banking sharply, retreating into the churning, green-tinged clouds from whence it came.
As the colossal shadow vanished, the oppressive, hurricane-force winds began to subside, though the sky remained a turbulent, angry sea of clouds. The immediate, life-threatening danger had passed, leaving behind a city battered and bruised, but not broken.
A tense, weary silence fell over the Knights of Favonius headquarters as the key players gathered once more in Jean's office. The room was crowded, a strange, impromptu war council of two nations. Keqing, Ganyu, Yelan, and Ren stood alongside Jean, Lisa, and Kaeya.
The door opened, and Amber entered, her usual cheerful expression replaced by one of awed excitement. And with her was the girl from the sky.
Up close, the Traveler—Lumine—was even more striking. Her golden-blonde hair seemed to capture the light, and her eyes, a shade of pure, brilliant gold, held a depth that spoke of journeys across stars. She was accompanied by a small, floating, fairy-like companion with a starry cape, who was currently munching on a sticky honey roast she must have procured from somewhere during the chaos.
"Acting Grand Master," Amber said, her voice full of a breathless energy, "this is Lumine. I found her in the Whispering Woods, so I escorted her to the city. That was moments before Stormterror's attack."
All eyes turned to the newcomer. Jean's gaze was one of profound, weary gratitude. Keqing's was sharp and analytical, assessing the girl's power. Lisa's was full of a lazy, intrigued curiosity.
"You have our deepest thanks, Traveller," Jean said, her voice heavy with the weight of her city's near-destruction. "You saved countless lives today. On behalf of all of Mondstadt, I am in your debt."
Lumine simply gave a small, humble nod, her expression one of quiet, determined strength. "I was just helping," she said, her voice soft but clear.
"This changes things," Kaeya mused, his single, periwinkle eye fixed on Lumine with a cunning, calculating light. "Stormterror has been a threat for months, but never a direct, overwhelming assault like this. And now, a powerful new… ally appears, one capable of fighting the dragon on its own terms. The timing is most curious."
The briefing that followed was tense and focused. They discussed the extent of the damage to the city and the strange, corrupting energy that seemed to be driving the dragon's rage. It was Lisa who proposed a theory.
"The dragon is being influenced by something," she explained, her playful tone gone, replaced by a scholar's seriousness. "The ley lines around Mondstadt are in turmoil. I believe the source of the corruption can be traced to his old lairs, the temples that were sealed away after his last slumber. If we could purify them, we might be able to sever the connection and calm his rage."
Jean's expression hardened with a new resolve. "Then that is what we must do." She looked at Lumine, a formal request in her eyes. "Lumine, your power is unlike anything we have seen. We need your help. I know it is a great deal to ask of a stranger, but would you be willing to assist us in cleansing these temples?"
Lumine exchanged a look with her floating companion, who gave a determined nod, and then turned back to Jean. "I will help."
"Excellent," Jean said, a sliver of hope returning to her tired face. She then turned to the Liyue delegation, her expression turning apologetic.
"Lady Keqing," she began, "I must formally request that you and your people postpone your departure. The roads out of Mondstadt are no longer secure. With Stormterror in such an an agitated state, it is simply too dangerous for a large caravan to travel. I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to leave until we have resolved this crisis."
Keqing gave a crisp, understanding nod. "Of course, Acting Grand Master. We would not dream of endangering our people. We will remain in Mondstadt and offer whatever assistance we can until the threat has passed."
It was settled. The Liyue delegation, their simple trade mission now completely derailed, was officially grounded, caught in the unfolding drama of a neighboring nation's divine crisis.
Ren watched the exchange, his mind a whirlwind. It was all happening, exactly as he remembered. The meeting, the plan to cleanse the temples… this was the beginning of the Traveler's journey in Teyvat.
He looked at Lumine, this girl who had fallen from the stars, now burdened with the fate of a city she had only just discovered. He saw the quiet strength, the unwavering determination in her golden eyes. She was the hero of this story, the player character made real.