"Hmph. Mortals like you can never truly fathom the trajectory of the Wheel of Fate."
Fischl raised her arm high, confidently striking a chuunibyou pose. "Since my loyal subject has not yet returned, I shall personally venture into this land to ascertain his whereabouts."
Beside her, Oz silently rolled his eyes and habitually translated: "My Lady means: She wants to go in and find Kael."
"Then let's go check!"
Paimon nodded quickly, planning to move.
However, in the next second—
A familiar figure suddenly appeared in the glow of the teleport gate.
Kael stepped out of the temple, a lingering indifference from his contemplation still on his face.
Looking up, he met Fischl's slightly stunned expression.
"Hmph..."
Her Highness the Prinzessin immediately withdrew her expression, turning her head away haughtily.
She snorted lightly, seemingly masking her concern just now.
Kael blinked inexplicably.
"...?"
Kael scanned the surroundings, finding others also staring at him in confusion.
Only then did he realize he seemed to be a "little late."
But Kael didn't explain much. He just shrugged lightly. "Let's go."
Seeing this, Amber didn't ask further. She pointed into the distance. "Next, we need to support Lisa and head to the Temple of the Lion."
Hearing this, everyone adjusted their state, ready to depart.
However, just then, Kael raised his hand.
With a gentle wave, pale blue ripples instantly appeared around them.
Spreading like ripples on water, wrapping everyone within.
Path Skill — [Ripple] activated!
Everyone's speed increased instantly.
Steps became lighter, as if the air had become softer, and the wind blowing against them brought unprecedented propulsion.
Immediately after, Lumine suddenly extended her hand.
Manipulating Anemo power, she turned into a gale, carrying the team toward the distance like an arrow.
"Oh oh oh oh!!"
Paimon instantly let out a scream. Her entire body was thrown out by the accelerated airflow, drifting wildly in the air like an out-of-control balloon.
"Wait wait wait wait!! This is too fast!!"
Paimon struggled to wave her hands in mid-air, trying to stabilize her body.
However, the speed was too fast. She couldn't control it at all, and was about to hit a big tree in front.
Smack!
Paimon face-planted directly onto the trunk, making a muffled sound.
Her entire small face was almost embedded in the bark.
Hands and feet spread out against it, like a mural slapped on by the wind.
"Waaah—Ouch ouch ouch ouch!!"
Paimon let out a painful wail, sliding down slowly, holding her head and spinning. "My head ahhh!"
"Hahahaha!"
Amber and Lumine couldn't help laughing. Even the corner of Fischl's mouth lifted slightly.
Oz flapped his wings, his tone calm. "It seems your flying skills still need training."
Paimon covered her forehead aggrievedly, rushing over to grab Lumine's clothes tightly. "No no no! I have to hold onto Lumine! If I fly any longer, I'll become a Paimon Kite!"
Lumine sighed helplessly, but didn't shake Paimon off.
She just patted Paimon's head with a doting smile.
Watching this scene from the side, Kael just shook his head helplessly.
With the blessing of Anemo elements and Path Power, their speed was extremely fast.
They sped all the way, rushing toward the Temple of the Lion.
Before long, a majestic yet slightly dilapidated temple appeared in everyone's view.
Towering stone pillars were broken, and ancient stone carving fragments were scattered on the ground.
The murals symbolizing the Lion of the South were mottled.
As if carrying the wind and sand and stories of a thousand years.
The temple door was half-open, seemingly waiting for the arrival of a hero.
However, at the entrance of the temple.
A figure was sitting leisurely on a stone.
Holding a thick book in her hand, purple lightning floating around her.
It was Lisa.
She was flipping through the book lazily.
Occasionally raising her hand to gently brush the hair at her temples.
Her purple eyes flickered with faint light, a look of leisure and contentment.
Just then, she looked up and saw Kael and the others rushing over.
"Oh my—"
Lisa blinked, the corner of her mouth lifting into a surprised smile. "Isn't this Amber and the Traveler? Why are you here? Did you already solve the matters at the Temple of the Falcon?"
"Mm-hmm!"
Seeing Lisa, Amber nodded excitedly.
Hands on her hips, she puffed out her chest somewhat proudly. "Mission successfully completed! We came to support you!"
Lisa was slightly stunned. She gently closed the book in her hand, her gaze sweeping over everyone, a trace of surprise flashing in her eyes.
"Your speed... is a bit too fast, isn't it?"
Lisa exclaimed, "If I remember correctly, inside the temple isn't just a matter of travel."
"There are monsters, mechanisms, and even ancient seals to break."
"Logically speaking, even if you finished the temple, you should have gone to the closer Temple of the Wolf first. But you came here instead... truly surprising."
Hearing this, Amber couldn't help but reveal a proud smile.
Pointing at Kael, she said with admiration, "It's all thanks to Kael!"
"Oh?"
Lisa's gaze fell on Kael, the corner of her mouth lifting into a meaningful smile. "It seems our new friend is like a mystery."
Amber waved her hand excitedly, starting to describe Kael's performance in the domain.
From increasing everyone's speed to endowing weapons with extra powerful strength, causing Fischl and Lumine's attack power to skyrocket.
Even making monsters briefly blind in battle, reducing a lot of trouble...
All this made the supposedly difficult domain trip unprecedentedly easy.
"In other words."
Amber concluded excitedly, "Mr. Kael's ability is simply the most perfect combat support!"
"Big Sister Lisa, I think Mr. Kael is very suitable to join the Knights of Favonius!"
"Truly a versatile ability."
After listening to Amber, Lisa chuckled lightly, her eyes flickering, as if thinking seriously.
She had to say, Amber's words really surprised her.
Whether in Sumeru or Liyue.
She had never seen someone who could coordinate so well.
Even without coordination, he was someone others would want to partner with.
Kael was truly too suitable as a partner.
For a time, Lisa's interest in Kael grew.
As for Kael, regarding Lisa's words, he just smiled faintly and said nothing.
Versatile?
He didn't think his ability was such a simple positioning.
Even fighting alone, he was top-tier.
Lisa looked at Kael's contemplation and smiled lightly.
Then she stretched lazily, stood up, and pinched her slender fingers. "Since you are all here, let's not waste time."
"Although I just arrived here and haven't had time to go in yet..."
"But with your help, it seems this domain trip will be much easier."
Saying this, Lisa walked toward the temple.
Her Electro Vision glowed slightly, surrounding Lisa with purple lightning.
Obviously ready for battle.
Seeing this, everyone stepped in immediately.
Entering the domain.
Although the domain space was different from the previous temple space.
It was also full of Hilichurls, Slimes, and other monsters.
However, this battle still didn't give Amber and the others any pressure.
Kael continued to grant weapon buffs to everyone, making Lumine, Amber, and Fischl's attacks sharper.
Wherever they passed, under a round of elemental attack bombardment...
All monsters were cleaned up in a short time, barely delaying any time.
Lisa witnessed this scene with her own eyes, raising an eyebrow slightly, unable to help but laugh in a low voice. "Oh my... It seems that in today's battle, I hardly need to act."
Paimon spun happily in the air, hands on her hips. "Hehe, of course! Kael's power is very strong!"
Amber nodded gently, looking at the gate ahead, saying excitedly, "Alright, let's continue forward. We'll reach the Stormterror Crystal soon!"
"Just need to activate this mechanism."
Saying this, Amber looked at the mechanism in front of the gate.
In front was a tall and heavy stone gate.
Covered with ancient elemental runes, faintly glowing, as if telling of the years it was protected by the Anemo Archon.
However, the stone gate was firmly closed, blocking the path to the Stormterror Crystal.
And right in front of the stone gate.
An ancient mechanism stood quietly on the ground.
It was a square stone mechanism with sharp edges.
Its surface was carved with complex inscriptions and runes, each side bearing a specific energy orientation.
Embedded in the center of the mechanism was an Elemental Core emitting a faint glow.
Like an Eye of Elements, silently guarding this gate.
It seemed to be waiting for a suitable elemental power to trigger it, reopening the closed gate.
Amber looked at the mechanism, hesitated, and didn't touch it immediately.
Instead, she subconsciously looked back at Lisa.
"Big Sister Lisa... why don't you activate this mechanism?"
Amber's tone carried a hint of caution.
Hearing Amber's words, Lisa blinked, a flash of doubt in her eyes. "Oh my? Why me?"
"Uh..."
Amber looked at Kael, Lumine, and Fischl beside her, her eyes drifting.
Finally, she lowered her voice and whispered, "We... when we were in the Temple of the Falcon earlier, we broke a Pyro Monument..."
Hearing this, Lisa's hand holding the grimoire paused slightly.
"Hmm?"
Lisa's elegant eyebrows raised slightly, a faint smile on her lips. "What did you say?"
"It's just... literally what I said..."
Amber explained with a bitter smile in a low voice. "Previously, Mr. Kael enhanced our attacks with some ability. As a result, when we used elemental power to light the mechanism, we accidentally cracked it... Completely destroyed it."
"So, you should try this time?"
"Although your elemental power isn't gentle—it's violent Electro—it hasn't been enhanced by Mr. Kael. Activating this mechanism definitely won't cause problems."
Hearing this, Lisa's gaze gradually became meaningful.
"Oh my~"
Lisa's voice rose slightly, speaking slowly. "Elemental Monument... that is an extremely sturdy ancient ruin mechanism. Even mages find it hard to destroy. You actually... blew it up?"
Lisa turned her head slightly, her gaze sweeping over Kael, revealing an interested smile. "Sounds like your experience was full of surprises. I sort of regret not acting with you earlier."
Amber and Paimon nodded repeatedly.
Lumine sighed helplessly.
Fischl held her head high proudly with an expression of "Our achievements are only natural."
Lisa looked at Kael thoughtfully and sighed softly. "Truly a mysterious little guy..."
However, since Amber made the request, Lisa didn't refuse.
She gently extended her finger. Purple Electro wound around her fingertip, light yet majestic.
That slender finger drew an arc in the air. Electro power wrapped gently around the core of the mechanism like a ribbon.
Click—
The mechanism emitted a low vibration sound.
The central elemental core lit up instantly, as if awakened, surging with subtle Anemo fluctuations.
Immediately after, the ancient inscriptions gradually lit up. A faint blue energy vein extended from the mechanism's carvings to the entire gate.
Vmmm—
The atmosphere of the entire temple seemed to undergo a subtle change.
The closed gate trembled slowly. Surrounding elements began to gather, as if opening a passage to the old ruins of the Anemo Archon.
Rumble—
With a dull sound, the gate slowly opened to both sides.
A fluorescent green light shone from the crack in the door.
Like some pure Anemo power leaping.
—In the depths of that door, everyone saw the target.
A crystal emitting a rich Anemo aura suspended in the center of the temple.
Its surface revealed a shimmer like stars, like the core of a storm condensed by some power.
Strong Anemo fluctuations surrounded it, filling the entire space with a faint gale.
"Stormterror Crystal."
Lisa said slowly, a smile on her lips. "Break this, and we can go back to rest."
"Thinking about resting fills me with motivation..."
Saying this, she stepped forward and worked with Amber and the others to break the crystal.
Instantly, the situation in the Temple of the Falcon reappeared.
Violent elemental power surged and then subsided.
"Dragon of the East, Lion of the South, Wolf of the North, Falcon of the West..."
Seeing this, Lisa sighed lightly. "They are the guardians of the Four Winds of Mondstadt, and the familiars of the Anemo Archon Barbatos."
"Dvalin—that is Stormterror's name."
"Before people called it a demonic dragon, it was the Dragon of the East among the Four Winds."
"This is why, among the powers of the Four Winds, Dvalin can only borrow three."
"From the beginning, it has already been burning itself out."
"Why does it do this?"
Hearing Lisa's words, Lumine looked confused. "Why does Stormterror go to such lengths?"
"I think... it's because of Hate."
Lisa pinched her chin, pondering. "It's hatred for Mondstadt."
"Driven by hatred, using hatred as a power stronger than the wind, transforming into a demonic dragon..."
"But, one of the Four Winds, why would it..."
Paimon was extremely confused. "Hate the city it was supposed to protect?"
"As a Mondstadter, it's hard for me to say it myself."
Lisa was silent for a moment, handing the book in her hand to Lumine while whispering, "Take it and read... This is a story that happened a hundred years ago."
"So thick."
Seeing this book, Lumine's heart skipped a beat.
This book is quite thick.
Can only put it away for now.
However, when putting it away, Lumine glanced at the name on the book.
[Breeze Amidst the Forest - Vol. 2]
"It's actually not Volume 1."
This thought appeared in Lumine's mind for an instant.
"Alright, let's go out."
Then, Lisa spoke.
Saying this, she walked toward the teleport array.
Seeing this, Lumine, Paimon, and Fischl didn't step in immediately.
Instead, they all looked at Kael in unison.
"Let's go."
Seeing the girls' gazes, Kael laughed dumbly. "I won't delay this time."
The delay before was him checking the [Tracks of Destiny].
This time he wouldn't check.