____________________
The decision was made. Now, comes the whirlwind of preparations that comes along with it.
The very next morning, the Grandmaster's office in the Knights of Favonius Headquarters was transformed into a hive of strategic activity.
The large oak table at the center of the room, usually a bastion of calm order, was now covered in various maps, trade ledgers, and intelligence reports.
Artoria stood at the head of the table, a stark, commanding figure in her teal and white uniform. The shard of Cor Lapis from the Qixing lay before her, a silent, stony reminder of the task ahead. Gathered around her are all the Captains of the Ten Companies of the Knights of Favonius as well as her 'Devoted Six', her most devout and trusted council, their expressions are a mixture of excitement, apprehension, and unwavering loyalty.
They were told about an urgent matter early that morning and was summoned by Artoria herself for a special meeting.
None of them knew what the meeting was all about, only that it was a matter of great national importance.
As the last of the personnels entered the room, Artoria gestured for them to take their seats. The atmosphere was tense, electric with unspoken questions. She let the silence hang for a moment, her gaze sweeping over each of her officers. She saw from their eyes their unwavering trust and faith towards her and her leadership. It was a weapon as powerful as her Excalibur, a shield as strong as Avalon.
Then, she spoke, her voice a clear, resonant chime that cut through the room's tension.
"Good morning, everyone. I have called you all here today to discuss a matter of the utmost importance. A matter that can potentially shape the future of our nation for years to come."
She picked up the letter from the Liyue Qixing, its dark blue seal a stark contrast to the pristine white of her gloves.
"Yesterday, I received this. An invitation, not to me as a private citizen, or even merely as the Grandmaster of the Knights, but addressed to the ruling authority of Mondstadt. An invitation from the Liyue Qixing to attend the upcoming Rite of Descension that will be held in less than four months' time."
A collective gasp rippled throughout the entire room.
Captain Yuan, the former Liyuen mercenary, leaned forward, his eyes wide with disbelief. Muscovado, the rotund but sharp alchemist, adjusted his spectacles, a flicker of intellectual curiosity was present in his gaze. Sir Hemlock, ever the stoic warrior, simply nodded, as if this was a challenge he had always expected.
"The Rite of Descension?" Captain Jonathan of the Cavalry Company breathed, the name itself a prayer and a legend in Liyue.
"Grandmaster, as far as I know, never in Liyue's history has a foreign ruler, let alone a Grandmaster from Mondstadt, been granted such an honor."
"An honor," Artoria corrected, her tone firm, "and a test. They are extending a hand, but it is a hand made of stone. They wish to see the mettle of the 'upstart' nation to their north. To understand the source of our recent prosperity. They wish to meet the woman who has brought order to the windswept plains of Mondstadt."
Artoria then placed the lacquered box at the center of the table and opened it. The Cor Lapis shard, with its Geo sigil, seemed to absorb the light in the room.
"They did not just send an invitation," she continued.
"They sent a key. A promise of an audience with the Qixing themselves. This is not a social visit. It is a diplomatic gambit of the highest order. And I intend to play it."
Her words settled in the room, replacing the initial shock with a sense of profound purpose. This was not a crisis. This was a moment of ascension.
Her 'Devoted Six', however, exchanged subtle glances. For them, this was more than diplomacy. Cardinal Theron saw it as a divine audience: their Anemo Archon, the true sovereign of Mondstadt, meeting with the ancient Geo Archon. Crepus Ragnvindr saw it as an opportunity for his Archon to leave an indelible mark on the rest of Teyvat. Melisa, Sir Hemlock, Captain Yuan, and Captain Muscovado saw it as a chance for their goddess to show her true power.
"I have already decided," Artoria stated, leaving no room for debate.
"I will be accepting the invitation. I will represent Mondstadt, and I will make it clear that the winds of change are not gentle breezes, but a gale that commands respect."
The room erupted in a low murmur of assent, a wave of fervent loyalty washing over the officers. This was what they had been training for, what Artoria's reforms had been building towards: a Mondstadt that could stand tall on the world stage.
"However," she raised a hand, quieting them instantly.
"This journey will not be without its risks. The political landscape of Liyue is as treacherous as the peaks of Jueyun Karst. The Fatui have a strong presence there, and their agents will surely be watching our every move. We must be prepared for every eventuality."
"Your orders, Grandmaster?" Sir Hemlock asked, his voice a gravelly bass.
"While I am away, the reins of the Order will fall to you, Sir Hemlock," Artoria announced, her gaze meeting the old knight's.
"You will be the Acting Grandmaster during my absence. I trust you to maintain the discipline and integrity we have fought so hard to restore."
Hemlock rose to his feet, placing a fist over his heart in a crisp salute. "It will be my honor, Grandmaster. Mondstadt will not falter."
"Mondstadt's economy and security must be supervised even when I am away. That means your department, Director Crepus," she said, turning to the red-haired nobleman.
"Will need to be more vigilant than ever. I plan to bring you along with Melisa in this journey as my personal advisors hence you must prepare for your temporary absence as Governor of the Wind Wheel Bank. Select your best team to govern in your stead. Make sure that any and all financial activities, even those involving the Fatui are to be reported directly to Sir Hemlock. The Wind Wheel Bank must be our fortress." She then paused, and looked at Crepus.
"I'm also entrusting you with a specific task while we are in Liyue. You have a mind for commerce. Assess their trade networks. Find their strengths, and more importantly, their vulnerabilities. Knowledge is our sharpest sword in matters of economy."
Crepus bowed his head, a glint of fierce intellect in his eyes. "Consider it done, Grandmaster."
"Captain Yuan," Artoria continued, her gaze shifting to the sharp-eyed scout. "You know Liyue better than any of us. You and your best Outriders will accompany us. Your knowledge of the terrain, the customs, and the less... reputable elements will be invaluable. You will be our eyes and ears on the ground."
A grim smile touched Yuan's lips.
"The Fatui think they own the shadows in Liyue. I will teach them otherwise."
Captain Hemlock once again joined in the conversation.
"Grandmaster, I propose that an entire contingent of 30 of our best veteran knights from the First Company accompany you in this journey, acting as your honor guard. Your security is our utmost priority, especially in a foreign land."
"A wise suggestion, Sir Hemlock," Artoria nodded in agreement.
"Approved. Select from your Company the best and finest. We go as emissaries of peace, but we will appear as a force not to be trifled with."
Artoria then added one more caveat, one involving her personal squire.
"Varka, my own squire, will also be joining us. This will be an invaluable learning experience for him."
With the main logistics settled, the council then went over other issues of local concerns such as the resource censuses, public concerns and other petitions brought forth by members of the various companies and departments within the Order. It took another 3 hours for them to go around every problem and concerns being presented.
The meeting concluded and her officers were seen departing with a renewed sense of purpose, their minds already racing with the upcoming preparations.
Her Devoted Six lingered for a moment, their faces filled with a fanatical devotion, before she dismissed them with a subtle nod.
Artoria was left alone in the now quiet office, the weight of the letter and the Cor Lapis shard a tangible presence. The logistical challenges were immense, but they were solvable. They were problems of logistics, of strategy, of might.
The real problem now, the one that twisted a knot in her heart, was waiting for her at home.
Her four precious children.
The issue was more personal in aspect, the one thing that none of her abled boy officers had the courage to state outwards during the meeting. The question was left hanging in the air and was left unspoken but felt by all who were present. By protocol, children, much less the heirs of one of the great houses of Mondstadt shouldn't be involved in this matter for their own safety.
However, for Artoria, the very thought of being parted from her children for a month was a physical ache, a hollowness in her chest that no amount of divine power could fill.
She left the headquarters, the evening sun painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, and made her way back to the Gunnhildr estate. The familiar sight of the beautifully renovated mansion, a symbol of the home she had built, should have brought her comfort but tonight however, it only amplified her turmoil.
____________________
(The Gunnhildr Estate)
Later that night, dinner, which was usually a cherry family affair was unusually quiet, her four children noticed the notable silence that permeated from their beloved mother.
The usual lively chatter that filled their dining hall was replaced by a subdued calm, and her children, more attuned to her moods than anyone, sensed it instantly.
Artoria was still thinking really hard about how she will convey the news to her children. She feared it would sadden them, particularly her youngest three—Barbara, Bennett, and Venti—who still struggled with a touch of separation anxiety if she was away from the mansion for too long.
Jean, her responsible ten-year-old, tried to ask her mother about what's going on.
"Mama? Is everything alright? You seem… distant."
Artoria just offered a faint smile, deflecting with a vague excuse about a long day.
"Just a matter of state, my dear. Nothing for you to worry your head about."
Later that night, after tucking her children to their beds, and her heart still heavy with unspoken words, Artoria finally resolved herself.
She would tell them the news tomorrow during breakfast. There was no easy way to do it, but it had to be done.
***
The following morning, the Gunnhildr dining hall was once again a scene of delightful chaos. Every meal was a feast, a testament to the divine appetites of its occupants!
Artoria herself could easily consume six courses, and her children had inherited this trait from her with gusto.
Jean, her eldest, was going through her fourth plate with finesse as she tried to imitate her mother's eating etiquettes, though she was already reaching for her fifth.
Barbara was busy on her third plate, a bit messier but just as enthusiastic.
Bennett's eating habits was a whirlwind of motion and chaos. The five year old little boy was seen shoving sausages and bacon into his mouth until his cheeks puffed out like a hamster.
Venti, now a child of five, was enjoying his meal with particular gusto, especially the apple tarts and apple juice the maids kept refilling for him.
Perched at the end of the table, Mini Dvalin was meticulously devouring a large steak presented to him on a silver platter.
The staff, led by Elspeth, watched from the sidelines with a mixture of awe and religious reverence. This was normal sight for them. Each meal was a sacred ritual, an offering to their goddess and her divine children.
As Artoria finished her seventh plate, she took a sip of her morning tea, and steeled herself for the next part. The moment had come.
With a heavy heart, she began, her voice softer than usual. "My dears, I have something to tell you."
The chatter subsided. All eyes turned to her.
"I will be going on a trip soon," she announced, trying to keep her tone light.
The effect was instantaneous. Barbara, ever the innocent, squealed with joy. "A trip! Are we going to the lake again, Mama?"
Benny's eyes widened, a bit of egg on his cheek. "An adventure! Can I come, Mama? I'll pack my explorer's kit!"
Artoria's heart clenched. "It's a… different kind of trip, my loves. An official one related to my work. As the head of Mondstadt, I've been invited to the neighboring nation of Liyue for an official visit."
"Liyue!" Jean exclaimed, her own eyes sparkling with curiosity. She had read books about the great merchantile nation to the south.
"Yes," Artoria continued, forcing herself to meet their gazes.
"And the trip might be dangerous. That is why… I…I will be going on this trip alone."
The air in the room seemed to instantly freeze. The cheerful clatter of cutlery stopped.
Jean's smile faltered, a deep line of worry forming on her young brow. "How long will you be gone, Mama?"
Artoria's throat felt tight. "Probably… a month at most."
That was the final straw.
"No!" The cry came from Bennett, who immediately launched himself from his chair and latched onto Artoria's leg, his face buried in her dress.
"You can't go Mama! You can't go without your best adventurer partner! Who's going to read me my bedtime stories and give me goodnight kisses?!"
The dam broke. Barbara's face crumpled, and a loud wail echoed through the dining hall.
"Mama! Don't go! Don't go for a whole month!" Tears streamed down her face as she slid off her chair and stumbled towards her, her little arms reaching up.
Even Venti, whose commonly the most composed of the bunch was overridden by his childish impulses, began to sob. The youngest of her children stretched out his little arms, crying, "Mama… Mama… up!" a clear and desperate plea to be held.
Jean, who always tried so hard to be the big girl, the responsible one, finally broke. Tears welled up in her bright blue eyes as her composure began to shatter like glass.
The sight was a physical blow. Their tear-streaked faces, their desperate cries—it was a lance sharper than Rhongomyniad, piercing right through her divine armor and striking at the very core of her being.
It shattered the carefully constructed logical facade she had built around her decision. Security. Politics. Diplomacy. What did any of that matter in the face of this raw, heartbreaking sorrow?
She was a goddess, a Grandmaster, and an Archon. But in that moment, she was only their mother.
Her resolve crumbled into dust. She bent down, sweeping a crying Barbara into one arm and a sobbing Venti into the other. She murmured soothing words, her voice thick with an emotion she rarely allowed herself to show.
"Shhh, my loves. Mama's here. I'm so sorry."
She looked down at Bennett, still clinging desperately to her leg, and then at Jean, standing frozen by her chair, tears silently tracing paths down her cheeks.
How could she have even considered leaving them for a month? How could she have been so blind?
Seeing her children's tears that brought an overwhelming pang of sadness in her heart, made Artoria remember a long forgotten name. A name from one of her past lives, the name of the soul that dominated her personality and actions for so long yet whose name she had initially forgotten….until now.
'Emily'
'Emilia 'Emily' Pembroke
Former materials engineer from the town of Whitland, Wales. A woman so dedicated to her line of work in London….that she had inadvertently deprived her young four year old daughter of love and care.
"Mommy, could you come over to our school's show and tell contest? My teacher told me that I'm one of the contestants! I..I promise to do my best to impress mommy!"
She remembered now, how she just casually ignored her little daughter's plea in favor of a latest project she had been working on whose deadline was in a few weeks time.
She remembered how her innocent daughter instead of just crying openly from rejection, just smiled to her and said, "Ok, but promise me mommy that you'll visit my school next time Ok?"
She…. remembered, that one rainy morning when the principal frantically called her through the phone, saying that an accident had occured and…..and….and….
Artoria broke down in silent tears as she remembered that painful day. She tightened her embrace to both Barbara and Venti, as she cried herself as well.
She…she was almost repeating that same mistake.
To put her own line of work above her own child…her own children.
She doesn't want to repeat that horrid mistake! Never again!
Then she made a decision. The main problem was security? So be it! She was a walking fortress, a living army. Her power was near absolute. She would be their security!
She would not fail her children ever again!
"I was wrong," she said, her voice clear and firm, yet laced with an overwhelming tenderness and tears that silenced their sobs.
"I was so, so wrong to even think of leaving all you here. I should have never suggested it in the first place."
She looked at each of them, her eyes promising a truth they could believe in. "So, change of plans. I'm not going alone anymore. In fact, I'm not going without any of you. I'm taking you all with me to Liyue."
For a single heartbeat, there was only the sound of their hiccupping breaths.
Then, as if a switch had been flipped, the despair vanished.
Bennett's head shot up, his tear-streaked face breaking into a beam of pure, unadulterated joy. "Really?! We're all going on the adventure?"
A gasp came from Barbara, who wiped her nose on Artoria's uniform. "We…we get to come with Mama? To see… Liyue?"
Venti, now secure in her arms, stopped crying and looked up at her, a hopeful smile spreading across his face. "Liyue… do they have apple juice there, Mama?"
And Jean, her responsible, wonderful Jean, let out a sigh of relief so profound it was as if she'd been holding her breath for an hour.
A genuine, tear-free smile finally graced her lips. "Oh, thank you, Mama."
Even Dvalin, who had been watching the proceedings with draconic anxiety, let out a small, happy chirp from his perch.
The sheer, unbridled joy radiating from them washed over Artoria, healing the ache in her own heart.
This was the right choice.
This was the only way. She was their mother, their protector, their world. To separate herself from them was to invite weakness and to repeat the mistakes of her past.
"Of course," Artoria confirmed, kissing the tops of Barbara's and Venti's heads. "What kind of adventure would it be without my best team?"
With her decision finally made, she set her next course of action. She gently settled the younger children back into their chairs, her mind already recalculating, replanning. The logistics had just become infinitely more complex, but the foundation was now unshakable.
"Elspeth," she called out, her voice carrying the familiar, authoritative tone that sent her staff into immediate, respectful motion.
The estate's stewardess appeared at her side in moments, her posture perfect, her expression attentive. "Yes, my most gracious Lady?"
"Summon Sir Hemlock, Crepus, and the others of my council to the mansion immediately," Artoria ordered.
"Tell them plans have changed."
____________________
(Later that afternoon at the Gunnhildr Estate, inside Artoria's personal office)
The news was met with a predictable, but no less frustrating, mixture of reactions.
Sir Hemlock's face, usually a stoic mask of scarred resolve, was a canvas of pure panic.
"Our Dearest and Most Benevolent Archon, with all due respect… to bring the children, the very future of the Gunnhildr line and your divine legacy, into the unknown heart of Liyue? The risk… it is incalculable!"
Captain Yuan, ever the pragmatist, folded his arms.
"The Fatui presence in Liyue is significant. A high-profile delegation is one thing; a delegation containing the heirs to a ruling house is a target they would find impossible to resist. The security nightmare had just been multiplied tenfold."
Even Crepus, her most stalwart supporter, looked concerned. "My Archon, the Qixing expect a small, elite diplomatic party. Arriving with an entire… family in tow could be perceived as an unseemly display, or worse, a sign of distrust."
They saw it through the lens of security, politics, and protocol. They saw liabilities.
Artoria on the other hand, saw the very heart of her world.
She listened to their arguments, her expression serene, letting their concerns wash over her. When they were done, she didn't raise her voice. She didn't need to. She simply let a fraction of her divine authority fill the room, a palpable pressure that was heavier than any mountain, more profound than any sea.
The effect was instantaneous, grounding the six people present in the room about the very nature of the being in front of them.
"You have raised valid points," she began, her voice deceptively calm. "You speak of risk. You speak of protocol. You speak of perception."
She stood, walking to the large window that overlooked her thriving apple orchard, the late morning sun glinting off the leaves.
"But you all forgot one fundamental truth. I may be going to Liyue as a Grandmaster but secretly, I am not going to there as a mere mortal envoy. I am not going to parley as a supplicant."
She turned to them, and her eyes gleamed with a light of divine power that made them all catch their breath. The light of the Anemo Archon.
"I am going to Liyue as a peer to its god. As the Anemo Archon, I will stand before the Geo Archon, Rex Lapis as an equal. And as a mother, I will stand with my children beside me. They are not a liability. They are my strength. They are the very reason I rule, the very reason I lead. To leave them behind would be to show weakness. To bring them with me is to show that my power is so absolute, my confidence so complete, that I fear nothing. Not the Fatui, not the mountains, not the Qixing themselves, not even Morax himself."
Cardinal Theron, the first to understand the theological significance of her words, lowered his head in reverence.
"Our Archon is not just planning to bring her children," he whispered to the others, though the entire room heard. "She is bringing her divine progeny. A statement to the old gods of Teyvat that a new era has dawned."
Artoria let that sink in. "The logistics will be handled. The security will be absolute. We will not arrive as a chaotic rabble. We will arrive as a family. A strong, united, and united front that will represent the essence of Mondstadt. And anyone—Fatui, Qixing, or otherwise—who dares to forget that…will answer to me."
Her declaration left no room for argument. The Devoted Six, their initial panic replaced by zealous conviction, knelt. "As you command, my Archon."
Artoria smiled at her most devout companions. They had been deeply loyal even before they had started worshiping her as a goddess. Maybe it was time for her to show some of her secrets to them, as a sign of her trust and grace, and to at least reassure them of her decision.
With her mind made up, she then did something that would further solidify her stand, give outmost assurance to her most loyal followers and would unfortunately… break their minds.
"There is no need to worry about the situation everyone. Afterall, who do you think I am?" she asked with a smile that was both loving and terrifyingly divine.
With a simple, elegant gesture of her hand, she unleashed her might around the room and called upon one of her most potent abilities. Artoria unleashed her Marble Phantasm.
The world dissolved around them. For a breathtaking, disorienting second, the familiar walls of her office shimmered like a heat haze. The scent of old parchment and polished wood was replaced by the perfume of a thousand impossible flowers, of clean, otherworldly water, and of an air so pure it felt like drinking wine. The floor beneath their feet became grassy, soft, and verdant. The ceiling vanished, replaced by a clear impossibly vast blue sky.
When the entire process was over, they stood in the middle of a vast landscape that defied all mortal comprehension.
A land of ethereal beauty, of flora that pulsed with gentle light, of crystalline streams that sang as they flowed. In the distance, impossibly tall mountains and beautiful forests of verdant trees reached for the sky, and at the very center of their view, rising from a sea of silver mist, was a tower of enormous proportions, made of gold and marble that seemed to stretch into infinity.
The Devoted Six were frozen, their minds utterly unprepared for the sheer majesty and beauty of the land laid before them. It was paradise. It was heaven. It was Avalon.
"Welcome," Artoria's voice echoed, not from a single point, but from the very land around them, "to my Inner World. The Land of the Faey, the Promised Paradise, Avalon."
Each of the six individuals present, members of her most devout inner circle, stood frozen in place, their breath caught in their throats.
Sir Hemlock, the grizzled warrior who had faced down hordes of monsters in his long career, felt tears welling in his eyes at the sheer, unblemished holiness of the place.
Melisa Minci, a woman of quiet intellect, sank to her knees, her mind unable to process the sublime reality before her.
Crepus Ragnvindr, a shrewd merchant who thought he understood value, realized he had never truly witnessed anything of worth until this moment.
Both Captains Yuan and Muscovado, men of action and pragmatism, could only stare, their tactical minds rendered useless by the impossible scope of it all.
And Cardinal Theron, a man who had dedicated his entire life to the divine, wept openly, for he was standing in the true, living presence of his god.
Cardinal Theron, amidst his cries, was the first to speak, tears still streaming from his eyes as he found his voice trembling with a mixture of awe and profound divine realization.
"By the gods… by Celestia… this… this is the True Heaven, isn't it? The fabled land from which the Anemo Archon...you my Lady, once ruled before descending to walk amongst mortals?"
Artoria smiled at the assumption, letting it stand. It was easier than the truth. "Something like that."
Melisa, her secretary and the mother to Artoria's 'self-proclaimed niece', managed to find her own voice, though it was barely a whisper. "My Archon… my Lady… how… how large is this… this place?"
Artoria's smile widened, a flicker of amusement in her divine gaze as she looked at the stunned faces of her followers. She paused, letting their wonder settle before she gave the answer she knew would shatter their understanding entirely.
"It's as large as I want it to be."
That statement did more than shatter their understanding; it completely obliterated it!
The concept of space, of dimension, of reality itself, was presented as a whim. The very laws of physics and nature were not laws here, but suggestions. The sheer, casual omnipotence implied in her words cemented her image as an all-powerful primordial goddess, far beyond any of the Archons they knew of. A being for whom reality was mere clay to be shaped.
Artoria let the profound silence hang in the air, allowing the weight of her revelation to sink in. She then gestured towards the magnificent tower in the distance, its peak seemingly brushing against the fabric of this inner world's sky.
"That," she announced, her voice regaining its authoritative tone, "is the Tower of Beginnings. My personal Bastion and Fortress, and the very heart this realm. And it is the solution to our logistical problem."
She turned back to her stunned followers, their minds still struggling to comprehend the reality they were standing in.
"I did not bring you here simply to display my domain," she explained.
"I brought you here to show you how I will travel. I will be manifesting a portion of that tower, a palatial segment of it, directly inside the carriages assigned to transport my family and my staff. To the outside observer, they will see nothing more but four carriages. To us, they will be a gateway to this place."
The Devoted Six stared at her, their minds reeling. The implications were staggering. The participants of this monumental journey could travel for a month across treacherous terrain inside the carriages, they would reside in a literal paradise. Comfort, safety, and abundance would be absolute. The security issue was not just solved; it was rendered nonsensical!
She looked at her military commanders, her expression serious once more.
"Hemlock. Yuan. This little ability of mine cannot be fully hidden away from the knights who will be accompanying us. Manifesting my realm inside the carriages would invite questions we could not possibly answer with simple deception. Therefore, you will select the retinue personally. Choose only those whose loyalty is absolute, whose hearts are true. For they, too, must be brought into the fold. They must know the truth of who I am, for my power will be their shield."
The two knights straightened, their mission now clear and infinitely more sacred than they had imagined. They were not just guarding a Grandmaster; they were protecting the living embodiment of their faith and her divine progeny.
"Understood, my Archon," they said in unison, their voices filled with a new, fanatical conviction.
Artoria then turned her gaze to Melisa, a softer expression gracing her features. "Melisa, I will grant you a special privilege. You may bring your daughter, Lisa, with us. She is my 'self appointed niece', after all, and I believe this journey would serve her greatly to further grow that highly amazing mind of hers."
A small, knowing smile played on her lips. "Though you must explain to her that any sort of magic that she might encounter on this journey is all part of 'Auntie Ria's special magic spell', understood? She is still too young to bear the full weight of this secret."
Melisa, overwhelmed by the trust and the honor, could only bow deeply, her heart swelling with a fierce, protective loyalty. "Thank you, my Lady. She will cherish the experience, and the secret will be safe with us."
Finally, her eyes landed on Crepus. "Crepus, I have another task for you. Our transportation must match our status. I will be commissioning four majestic carriages, worthy of Mondstadt's pride and dignity. Deck them in gold, in the symbols of the Anemo Archon authority, in the crest of the Gunnhildr family. Make a statement with our arrival."
She paused, then with a casual flick of her wrist, something impossible happened. A very large, sturdy leather bag simply materialized in her arms. She set it down on the pristine grass with a heavy thud that made the ground tremble slightly. The ties on the bag loosened, and a cascade of pure, gleaming Mora poured out, forming a shimmering mound that was knee-high.
Mora that her trusty little cheat of a Holy Grail had been shitting out for years now.
"Procure what is needed," she said, as if she'd just produced a pouch of coins, not a small fortune that could bankrupt lesser nations. "Let me know if this amount is insufficient."
The sight of the seemingly infinite Mora appearing our of thin air was the final nail in the coffin of their mortal comprehension!
Crepus, a master of finance, stared at the pile of wealth, his mind momentarily blank before practicality took over. He simply nodded, speechless.
"This is to be our reply," Artoria continued, her business-like tone returning.
"Draft a formal letter to the Qixing, stating my intention of visiting their nation with my family and a retinue befitting the glory of Mondstadt. Inform them that I am grateful for their invitation and I look forward to fostering a new era of friendship between our two nations. Melisa, I trust your eloquence in this matter. Have the draft ready for my approval by morning."
The meeting, or rather, this divine audience, concluded with her final words. With the same effortless grace with which she had brought them here, she willed them back.
The impossible landscape of Avalon dissolved. The scent of impossible flowers vanished, replaced by the familiar aroma of parchment and wood polish. The grass beneath their feet was once again the solid, dependable stone of her office floor. In an instant, they were back, the disorienting shift in reality leaving them breathless.
The Devoted Six stood in a daze, their minds still replaying the vista of paradise, the impossible tower, the casual display of infinite wealth.
They looked at Artoria, no longer just their Grandmaster, their leader, or even their Archon. They saw her now for what she was: a walking paradox of supreme powerand maternal love, a goddess who had chosen to make their lowly nation her home.
"You may all go, my faithful companions," she said, her tone dismissing them gently.
They filed out of the room, their movements slow, reverent. Each carried a piece of the wonder they had just witnessed, their faith and devotion now no longer a matter of belief, but of experience.
As the heavy doors of her office closed, Artoria allowed a soft sigh to escape her lips, a flicker of weariness crossing her divine features.
She loved her companions, she truly did, but their fervent, if occasionally misguided, adoration could be… draining.
She looked at the letter from Liyue once more, its Cor Lapis weight now seeming insignificant compared to the mountain of preparations waiting ahead. But for the first time since this all began, she felt not just ready, but eager. She was not a diplomat going to a foreign land.
She was a mother, taking her children on the most magnificent field trip in history.
____________________
The next few months leading to the trip were a whirlwind of excitement and carefully managed chaos that swept through not only in the Gunnhildr estate but all throughout Mondstadt.
The official news, that their beloved and revered Grandmaster would be leading a diplomatic mission to the nation of Liyue, spread through the entire nation like wildfire!
Excitement and hope bloomed in the hearts of the citizens. To them, this was more than a political visit; it was a declaration. Mondstadt, under their Grandmaster's leadership, was rising, its power and influence recognized on the international stage.
Bards from every tavern composed new ballads, singing a newer version of the classic song, "The Lioness of Mondstadt," whose central character would now be facing the stone-hearted Qixing and win glory for the Nation of Freedom. In the markets, merchants spoke in hushed, excited tones about new trade routes and the prosperity this visit could bring.
Within the walls of the Gunnhildr estate, the excitement was more personal, more frantic.
Jean, at the tender age of ten, had embraced her role as the acting princess of the traveling household with terrifying seriousness. She could be found in the estate's grand kitchen, holding a clipboard and ticking off items with an adorably stern expression.
"Elspeth," she would say in her most authoritative voice, which sounded remarkably like a childish version of her mother's.
"Please ensure we have at least three different kinds of dried fruit for Benny's afternoon snacks. His mood, and therefore our collective morale, depends on it."
She would then turn to a group of wide-eyed maids. "And you! A dedicated schedule for Barbara and Venti's daily voice lessons is non-negotiable. They must practice their new song, 'The Ballad of the Wind and the Stone,' for at least one hour every afternoon. Mama expects us to represent Mondstadt's culture with grace!"
The staff, utterly devoted to the entire family, followed her instructions with a religious fervor, finding the little demigod's commanding nature both charming and a holy mandate. Artoria for her part, would secretly hide behind the door to listen, suppressing a laugh at her daughter's micro-management. It was one of the cutest thing she had ever seen!
Barbara and Venti's preparations were a symphony of youthful creativity. In the music room, which was now draped in half-finished travel plans, Barbara would try on one of her dozens of new little dresses, twirling in front of a large mirror. "What do you think, Venti? Does this blue one make me look like the sky?" she would ask.
Venti, who was scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment with a crayon, would look up. "It needs more wind! Let's compose a song about it! 'Oh, Barbara in a dress of blue, sings a song so fresh and new!' he'd sing, before getting distracted by a passing butterfly out the window and starting a new, equally enthusiastic verse about the flying insect instead. They were a whirlwind of music and fabric, their shared passion creating a joyful chaos that filled the entire wing of the mansion.
Venti too would also occasionally have his quirky moments while preparing for the upcoming trip, were he can be seen swinging his blue colored toy sword with a gold-colored hilt around the hallways. It was enough for his two big sisters, Barbara and Jean to ask him curiously.
"What are you doing, Venti?" His older sister Jean would ask him as she passed by the hallway towards the kitchen.
Venti would then strike a pose, placing his toy sword to his chest while a piece of green colored scarf that was knitted for him by his Mama was chaotically wrapped around his neck. He had his green cap on, the one he received from Varka as a gift. He was trying to look as heroic as a five-year-old could possibly look!
"I'm practicing my stances, so I can protect Mama in Liyue from any bad sabers that may come our way! I'll be the greatest hero there ever was!" Their little brother's statement would leave them utterly confused though.
Bennett's preparations were the most… explosive. His room looked like it had been ransacked by a pack of hyperactive Hilichurls!
Child-sized packs were sprawled open, revealing an arsenal of toys: a wooden sword, a compass that for some reason was always pointed towards the nearest kitchen, a grappling hook made of rope and a bucket handle, and a map of the orchard he had redrawn and labeled "Map of Liyue's Treacherous Mountains." Dvalin, in his plush-sized form, was often the unwilling victim of these "adventures."
"Okay, team," Bennett would declare, propping the miniature dragon up against a pillow.
"We've successfully crossed the 'Perilous Swamps of the Laundry Basket'! Now we must climb the 'Cliffs of Endless Books' to find the lost 'Apple Tart of Ages'! For adventure and glory!"
He would then attempt to use Dvalin as a stepping stool, only for the little teal colored dragon to let out an indignant squeak then wiggling himself free from the hyper adventurous child's grasp, and finally hiding away under the bed!
Lisa Minci, the quiet intellectual, and probably the smartest kid in all of Mondstadt, became an invaluable asset in this chaos of preparation.
Melisa, her mother, had been granted the special privilege of bringing her along their travel, and the young prodigy took to her self-annointed role as "Junior Diplomatic Chronicler" with scholarly intensity. Artoria had gifted her a beautiful, leather-bound notebook with a silver Anemo emblem on the cover.
"Auntie Ria," Lisa had said, her eyes wide with genuine curiosity, "are there any specific geological formations in Liyue you wish for me to document? My reading indicates the Jueyun Karst are particularly fascinating, with their pillar-like structures formed by unique hydrological processes over millennia!"
Artoria simply chuckled at the kid's academic enthusiasm and ruffled her hair. Her self-appointed niece was just too cute and smart for her own good! She could already see why she'll become one of the most gifted students of Sumeru's Akademiya in the near future.
"Just write down whatever you find interesting, my little genius. Even if it's just the shape of the rocks or the taste of their almond tofu."
Thus, Lisa became Jean's quiet counterpoint. While Jean organized people, Lisa organized information. She was often found with Jean, her notebook in hand, making neat, annotated lists of potential things to observe, a thoughtful and serious expression on her young face that mirrored Jean's, albeit with a more academic focus.
Varka, now a strapping young man of seventeen, was in a world of his own. The training grounds of the Knights of Favonius became his second home. Under the combined tutelage of Sir Hemlock, Captain Yuan, Captain Muscovado, and Captain Jonathan, he was being forged into a knight fit to stand beside their great and legendary Grandmaster.
"Higher, Varka! A knight's reflexes must be faster than a liar's tongue!" Yuan would bark, throwing blunt wooden training stars at him from odd angles.
"Your stance is too wide for the corridors of Liyue's halls," Jonathan would advise, adjusting Varka's posture with a firm hand.
"A knight on a mount is one thing, but as a personal guard, you must be compact, precise. An extension of your Grandmaster's will!"
Varka absorbed it all, sweat, bruises, criticisms and praises alike, with a fierce determination. He was not just training for a trip; he was preparing to be worthy of serving the person who had taken him in, who had seen the spark of greatness in a wild boy from Springvale.
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The selection of the honor guard that will be accompanying Artoria's entourage was a solemn, secretivr affair.
In a secluded clearing deep within the vast apple orchard of the Gunnhildr estate, a place Artoria had warded with a bounded field, a power that defies the world itself, sixty-five of the most loyal, battle-hardened knights of the First and Fourth Companies gathered. They were the best of the best, warriors who would follow their captains Sir Hemlock and Captain Yuan to the ends of Teyvat without question.
They stood at attention, their armor polished, their swords and shields held with the pride of their station. They expected a briefing, a review of protocol.
They did not expect what came next.
Artoria stepped forward, her presence alone seeming to make the very air of the orchard hum with power. She was not in her usual Grandmaster's armor, but in a simple, yet elegant, blue and gold tunic, a far more intimidating sight.
"Brave knights of Mondstadt," she began, her voice calm, yet resonating with an authority that transcended rank.
"You have been chosen for this mission because your hearts are true and your loyalty is known. You are the shield that will protect our nation's emissaries. You are the steel that will represent our strength. But to do so, you must know the absolute truth of who you serve. You must know the truth about the one you followed as your Grandmaster."
She let her power unfurl, just a fraction of it. It wasn't a violent explosion, but a gentle, all-encompassing wave of pure, divine Anemo energy. It rustled the leaves of every tree in the orchard in perfect unison, though not a single breeze was felt. It lifted the knights' cloaks, making them billow as if in a cathedral.
They gasped, their disciplined formations wavering as they felt it—the unmistakable, overwhelming signature of something beyond mortal means. The power of a god. The very essence of the wind they had prayed to their entire lives, standing before them in human form.
"Your Archon has not abandoned you," Artoria's voice echoed, no longer just a sound, but a vibration in their very souls.
"Barbatos has returned years ago. And she has been leading you all along."
The secret ceremony was both stunning and cathartic. The sixty-five knights, now overcome with fanatical devotion that bordered on hysteria, dropped to their knees, swearing oaths of eternal secrecy and protection not to a Grandmaster, but to their revealed living goddess, the Anemo Archon, the Sovereign Ruler of all Mondstadt!
They left the orchard that day as more than soldiers; they were a holy order, the sworn guardians of the Anemo Archon herself and her divine children. Their purpose was now sacred.
Crepus Ragnvindr, ever the efficient operator, procured the carriages his Archon had requested him within three weeks time.
They were masterpieces of Mondstadt's finest craftsmanship, each a gleaming statement of national pride. Their frames were of polished oak, reinforced with gleaming steel, and painted in deep cerulean blue and gold. The sides were emblazoned not only with the cross-glider of the Knights of Favonius but also, at Artoria's quiet insistence, with a stylized, elegant version of the Anemo Archon's crest. They were magnificent, each one pulled by two of the most powerful and well-bred horses from the Ragnvindr stables.
The letter to the Qixing was drafted with Melisa's customary eloquence. It spoke of the Grandmaster's gratitude, her desire to strengthen the bonds between their two nations, and her joy in bringing her family, as was customary for a leader to present their heirs on such a significant occasion. It was a masterpiece of polite, firm diplomacy that framed their large retinue not as an imposition, but as a sign of respect and a desire for a deep, lasting relationship. The reply from the Qixing arrived two weeks later, cordial and accepting.
The stage was now set.
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Almost four months had passed since the invitation letter from the Qixing had first arrived.
Four months that transformed Mondstadt's anticipation into a palpable fever. The city was a tapestry of celebration, their pride in their Grandmaster and their hope for the future woven into every banner and song.
And so, on one crisp, early autumn morning, the journey had officially began.
In front of the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, a spectacle of power and pageantry was assembled.
The four magnificent carriages gleamed in the morning sun, looking less like vehicles and more like mobile thrones. Each one was a gateway to another realm, though only a handful knew it. To the outside world, they were carriages; to those inside, they would contain a piece of paradise itself.
Beside them stood a train of sturdy supply carts, each laden not just with provisions for the knights, but with carefully chosen gifts from Mondstadt—casks of the finest Dawn Winery wine, intricately woven woolens from Springvale, and delicate, silver-wind chimes crafted by the city's artisans. These were tokens of friendship, but also displays of Mondstadt's burgeoning industry and culture.
Guarding the procession on each side were two columns offifty knights from the First Company, a river of cerulean and silver steel. Their armor was immaculate, their lances bore banners fluttering in the breeze, and their mounts were the best of the Cavalry Company, each a powerful, disciplined warhorse.
At the rear, fifteen of the best scouts from the Fourth Company's Outriders sat on lighter, faster horses, their eyes sharp, their posture relaxed but ready, they are the unseen daggers of their entourage.
A vast crowd of several thousands had gathered in front of the Headquarters, a sea of countless faces that flowed from the main plaza out into the surrounding streets.
They had come to see their venerable leader and wish her safe travels.
They cheered, they sang, and they prayed.
The prayers were to Barbatos, asking their long-absent Anemo Archon to protect their beloved Grandmaster on her long journey, a delicious irony that Artoria felt with a private, weary amusement.
Inside the primary carriage, however, the atmosphere was one of pure, unadulterated wonder!
For the moment Artoria's four children, along with Elspeth, Crepus, Melisa and Lisa, as well as the rest of the chosen household staff had stepped inside, the mundane world had vanished.
They weren't inside a carriage anymore; they were in a vast, sun-drenched chamber within the Tower of Beginnings. Polished marble floors reflected the light from crystalline chandeliers. Luxurious, comfortable couches and armchairs were arranged around low tables laden with refreshments. Scrying glass serving as windows to the outside world are seen hovering at designated corners. Open balconies, shielded by an invisible barrier, overlooked the breathtaking, impossible landscapes of Avalon.
"Mama, your magic is the BEST!" squealed Benny, who was already rolling around on one of the plush, emerald-green carpets, Dvalin held triumphantly in his arms. "It's bigger than the whole city!"
Barbara and Venti were already at one of the open balconies, pointing excitedly at a forest with glowing silver trees. "Look, Venti! Maybe the trees over there sing songs!" Barbara chirped.
"Nah," Venti replied, with the worldly wisdom of a five-year-old. "But the wind that goes through them probably sounds super awesome!"
Jean, ever the responsible one, was walking with Lisa, her expression a mixture of awe and her usual seriousness. "Lisa, are you documenting this? Mama said you should take notes."
Lisa nodded eagerly, her notebook already open. "I'm making a preliminary sketch of the architectural style. The fusion of classical marble with the organic forms is… unprecedented. I shall title this section: 'On the Trans-Dimensional Aesthetics of Otherworldly Interior Designs.' "
Artoria watched them from inside the Headquarters through her scrying glass, her heart so full it felt ready to burst after seeing how happy they were. This was why she did it. This was what all the power was for.
Captain Yuan and Varka, both decked in their armor and uniform sat at the helm of the lead carriage, their faces masks of professional calm. Yuan's gaze swept the streets ahead, while Varka gripped the reins, a mix of excitement and trepidation in his posture. He was finally seeing the world outside of Mondstadt and at the side of his Grandmaster herself!
On top of the main balcony of the Headquarters stood Captain Hemlock, now Acting Grandmaster, as well as Muscovado and the rest of the Captains. Cardinal Theron stood alongside them as they oversee the departure of the most important person of their land.
Finally after much waiting, Artoria, the Grandmaster (and secretly the Anemo Archon) herself emerged from the main doors of the Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
The moment she stepped into view, the roar of the crowd swelled into a deafening crescendo! A sea of hands waved, and a chorus of voices, not just in common but in the old tongue of Mondstadt, rose to the heavens, chanting praises to the Anemo Archon and prayers for the Grandmaster's safety.
She stood there for a moment, a vision in her ceremonial armor, her golden hair catching the morning sun.
She wasn't just their leader; she was their hope, their pride, their miracle.
The weight of their faith was a mantle she had learned to wear, and on this day, it felt less like a burden and more like a cloak of invincibility.
With a final, graceful wave to her beloved people, a simple gesture that felt like a benediction, she turned and ascended the steps into her own carriage.
The heavy door shut behind her, and the noise of the ecstatic crowd was instantly muffled. The interior was a tranquil bubble of serenity, the air cool and scented with the impossible flora of Avalon visible through the large, paneled windows that were, in truth, windows onto her soul.
Her children immediately swarmed her.
"Mama! Mama! Did you see them? They were all shouting for you!" Jean said, her bright blue eyes shining with pride.
"They were singing!" Barbara added, clapping her hands. "Like in Ludi Harpastum, but for you!"
Artoria laughed, a warm, genuine sound that filled the entire grand hall. She sat down on a plush divan and pulled the children close, Jean and Barbara on her lap, with Benny and Venti scrambling to sit beside her. Dvalin waddled over and rested his plush head on her knee.
"They are my wonderful people," Artoria said, kissing the tops of their heads. "And they love their country very much."
From the driver's seat, Yuan gave the final signal—a single, sharp whistle. The procession began to move.
The carriages started forward with a smooth, almost silent glide, a testament to Crepus's procurement and the Ragnvindr proud horses. The columns of knights stirred to life, the synchronized gallops of their war horses a thunderous rhythm that beat in time with the city's heartbeat. They moved as one, a river of steel and cerulean flowing through the main streets of Mondstadt.
The people of the city lined the streets, a human tapestry extending all the way to the city's outer walls.
They threw flowers, they waved flags, and their cheers followed the diplomatic train like a trailing wind.
It was a parade, a festival, a pilgrimage all in one.
Artoria, watching from the window of her pocket dimension, felt a profound sense of love for her people and nation. For the home she had built and now led.
And now, with her family by her side, she was about to embark on a brand new journey that would take her into a new distant land and into the inevitable gathering that further benefit her country and people for years to come.
A new adventure had finally began.
(End of Chapter)
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(Class Specific Abilities)
- Since Artoria possesses all the abilities of her various forms, she can access the said abilities at her leisure.
- Here are some of it taken from her aspects:
A). Taken from the Goddess Rhongomyniad aspect/form
- Artoria can summon the Knights of the Round Table. However, they retain their free will, and as such, she has no way to make them follow her commands against their desires. She can further empower them by bestowing Gifts upon them, granting them special abilities.
- Artoria has access to powerful spells that allow her to create Enforcement Knights, beings that give off the magical responses of humans, but who are also close in form to Heroic Spirits. Due to her near limitless power, she can create vast armies of it if she wishes.
- Clairvoyance: allows Artoria to see new level of perspective on par with the most powerful of mages and sorcerers, able to understand both the ideals and purposes of her target. This skill was further upgraded upon her ascension and is now on par with those of the strongest such as Solomon.
B).Taken from Lancer and Mysterious Heroine X aspects/forms
- Riding (EX Rank): She is able to operate all vehicles and beasts freely including Divine Beasts and Dragon Kinds. Artoria can always summon her horse "Dun Stallion".
C). Taken from Ruler/Summer Bunny aspect/form
- Artoria possesses an extremely high magic resistance, invalidating the effects of most magecraft.
- Royal Card: This is a Skill that represents Artoria's ability to handle cards as a casino dealer, and throw them like daggers at enemies. Also, this skill brings HIGH AMOUNT OF LUCK when Artoria is doing any form of gambling, making her literally unbeatable in any gambling games.
D). Taken from Artoria Avalon (final ascension form of Caster Artoria) aspect/form
- Artoria Avalon/Caster is the second 'Fairy of Paradise', a being created by Faerie Britain's system akin to the Counter Force that the isle itself uses to fight back when it is in danger. Being born a fairy, this form allows Artoria access to latent skills such as Fairy Eyes.
- Fairy Eyes: a skill that allows her to see the true intentions of people and perceive the lies of the world. It also allows Artoria to see the 'True Names' and desires of people.
- Item Construction (B Rank): Able to create tools that harbor Magical Energy.
- Territory Creation (EX Rank):'The one who stands within the white walls of Camelot—stronghold of the Human Order.' She gives form to one of the greatest defensive formations in a confrontation with a "Threat to Humanity".
- Avalon le Fae (A Rank): A power concealed under the name "Protection of the Lake". The power possessed by Artoria to bless life and protect the target from all sorts of corruption.
- Magecraft: Allows Artoria to access all kinds of Spells like Heating, Detection, Healing, Linguistics, Camouflage, Lockpicking, Stealth attacks, Explosives, and Obstacles.
- Marmyadose: A large sword that has the appearance of a staff. It was forged by a God of Fire and granted to great heroes in the past. It is said that this sword exceeds Excalibur in power alone, and sometimes Artoria would use this large sword as a substitute for Excalibur.
E). Taken from Artoria Pendragon (Saber) aspect/form
- Artoria Pendragon is the legendary King of Knights, the one that ruled over the battlefields in the age of legends. In life, she commanded the Knights of the Round Table, the greatest knights to ever live and heroes that would later be sung of in legends. If summoned as a Servant, any of them would boast indisputable fame and strength,however, even among them, Artoria stands at the top.
- Instinct (A Rank): Artoria possesses the ability to always instantly identify "the best personal course of action" during combat. This is strengthened to the degree that it is essentially a sixth sense in the realm of predicting the future. Because this skill allows for the prediction of trajectory, it is possible to avoid attacks from firearms, and along with listening to the sound of cutting air, she can be said to have a protection against all projectile weapons.
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