"Is that Mondstadt?"
Lumine gazed at the distant city. The breeze drifted past gently, carrying white dandelion seeds dancing in the air.
Beautiful—
if one ignored the storm clouds hanging from the sky and the sporadic wails of wind outside the city walls.
This beauty, unique to Mondstadt, was hard to put into words.
Perhaps it could only be described as… the beauty of freedom?
Farmas thought back to Munata.
Back then, the people of his nation could only set up one tent after another across the barren desert, or stack stones into crude shelters. Other than his own war altar, those were already considered the most "luxurious" buildings.
"Let's gooo!" Paimon waved vigorously.
She was admiring not Mondstadt's scenery but only its food.
Scenery could be seen anytime—
but good food must be eaten now.
"I know, I know."
They were close enough to clearly see Mondstadt's front gate.
Following Amber across the large bridge before the city, the group arrived at the gate. Two knights stood by the entrance, quietly observing everyone who came and went, ready to act if something went wrong.
"Tsk… these two look just like the old Northern Knights!"
Farmas lowered his body and stared at the gatekeepers.
He suddenly recalled Fargha, the Grand Knight of the Northern Expedition Legion—who single-handedly carved out the coffee trade route from Mondstadt to Sumeru.
"You guys wait here for a moment. I'll talk to them."
Amber strode toward the two knights.
Lumine saw Amber say something to them, then turn and wave the group over.
The three stepped through the gate.
Farmas could feel the knights' curious gazes lingering on him, but they didn't stop them.
Then he felt many gazes.
But Farmas wasn't bothered; he was too busy examining everything around him.
The Mondstadt before him was far livelier than anything he remembered.
Paimon was also looking around—but only for food stalls.
Lumine held Farmas in her arms, listening to Amber's introduction of the city.
"Let me formally welcome you. The City of Winds and Dandelions, the City of Freedom—protected by the Knights of Favonius! Travelers, welcome to Mondstadt!"
Amber marched proudly in front.
Paimon floated beside her and whispered to Farmas, "Finally no more sleeping in the wild…"
"But everyone here looks… kinda gloomy," Lumine observed.
"Probably because everyone's worried about Stormterror lately. But as long as Jean's here, it'll be fine!"
Amber's confidence practically glowed.
"Jean?" Lumine asked.
"Acting Grand Master Jean—Mondstadt's guardian! With her leading us, even a disaster like Stormterror is no match!"
Amber's cheerful voice stood out among the city's gloomy atmosphere like a ray of sunshine.
"Right! Before we go to headquarters, I've got a gift for you."
Amber's eyes sparkled.
"Lumine, you'll love it!"
"A gift?" Lumine blinked.
It should be the Wings of Wind, Farmas thought.
In his era, only birds and gods could fly. Now even humans could soar?
"Does Paimon get one too?" Paimon asked eagerly.
Amber scratched her cheek in embarrassment.
"Sorry… Paimon, you don't really need this kind of gift."
"So… that means no?" Paimon's whole expression drooped.
Amber panicked.
"After I finish today's work—how about I treat you all at the Hunter's Lodge? Honey-glazed roasted carrots!"
"Really!?"
Instant mood recovery.
"Deal!"
"What a glutton," Farmas muttered.
Amber led the three to a large open plaza before the church. She pulled Lumine to a corner and—like performing a magic trick—took out a pair of glimmering wings.
A Mondstadt specialty: the Wings of the Wind.
"With this, you can glide freely through the skies."
Lumine accepted the wings with a gentle smile and followed Amber's instructions to equip them.
The wings folded neatly and tucked away, light as a feather.
"Come try it!" Amber grabbed Lumine's hand and brought her up to a high platform.
"Just jump from here."
Lumine looked down. There were quite a few people walking below.
"Don't worry!" Amber thumped her chest proudly.
Farmas studied the wing design. As expected, a simple mechanism supported by upward airflow—suitable for basic gliding.
If he had to comment:
The lighter the person, the better.
Looking at Amber's slender waist and perfectly balanced proportions…
No wonder she's Mondstadt's gliding champion.
"Jean's hips—the soul of Mondstadt."
"Jean's waist—the blade of Mondstadt."
Farmas shook off the chaotic thoughts.
In the end, Jean still had the best figure!
"Farmas? Farmas?"
Lumine's voice snapped him back to reality.
"Huh? What?"
"You were definitely thinking something weird," she sighed helplessly.
"I'm going to fly now, okay?"
"Fly. I'll protect you."
Farmas formed two tiny, stubby protrusions—like little arms—and waved reassuringly from around Lumine's wrist.
"Whoa! Farmas, you're so cute!" Amber squealed.
With a light push—Lumine leapt.
A brief moment of weightlessness carried her into the air—
and Lumine began to fly.