Meanwhile, inside the Cat's Tail tavern—
"Achoo!"
"My dear, beloved, charming, perfect bartender Diona… really, I swear, just one more drink…"
A green figure sat slouched over the bar counter, pleading pitifully with the cat-eared bartender.
"Just one more Cat's Tail Special… or I'll sing you a poem! No, ten poems—
Achoo!"
The green figure rubbed his reddened nose and stared at Diona with teary, hopeful eyes.
"Diona, just let him have one 'Cat's Tail Special.'"
The tavern owner, Margaret, looked sympathetically at the desperate bard—
the so-called Anemo Archon, Barbatos.
"If we let him pester you like this forever, nothing will get done."
"Hmph."
Diona's cat ears twitched as she shook her cocktail shaker angrily, a tiny tail swishing under the counter.
"Hmph. Drink this lizard–sea-salt concoction… and let it be the final chapter of your pathetic drunkard life…"
She was determined—today she would ruin this freeloading bard's tastebuds once and for all.
Gulp… gulp…
"Ahh… I've never tasted anything so wonderful! May I have another, miss?"
Diona froze.
"…A-another?"
Her eyes watered.
How can this still taste good!?
To this day, Diona continued her lifelong war against her cursed talent—
the "100% chance of mixing delicious alcohol."
No matter what bizarre concoction she attempted, the result was the same:
The Cat's Tail remained packed with satisfied customers praising her skills…
…and Diona could only puff out her cheeks in frustration.
"You drunkard bard! Don't get full of yourself!"
"Hehe."
Venti smiled that familiar irresponsible smile—
the smile of someone who had never paid a bar tab in his life.
Inside, though, he was already complaining.
Farmas…
He took another sip.
If he hadn't sensed that overwhelming, ancient "war" energy radiating from Lumine earlier, he never would've believed that the defeated Flame Archon still lived.
"And even if he's alive, he must be weak.
He used that much pyro power just to shield them from Dvalin's storm… He's changed a lot."
"What troublesome times…"
Venti sighed softly and downed the rest of his drink.
Time to slip out quietly.
"If you won't come find me, then I'll come find you, Farmas."
But just as he prepared to sneak away—
Diona's cat ears twitched.
A glass flew through the air.
"Stop right there! Drunkard bard, PAY YOUR TAB!"
"You drank three Dawn Winery's "Fontaine's Gentle Touch" and two 'Dandelion Wines,' not counting the one Margaret treated you to!"
A swirl of Anemo caught the glass midair, gently sending it back to the counter.
A soft breeze swept across the tavern, and Venti's figure vanished.
"Put it on my tab, lovely and adorable Miss Diona.
I'll pay it after I earn some commission money."
Diona stomped her foot in fury.
That green bard had never once paid for a drink since discovering the Cat's Tail—
but Margaret never minded, always willing to treat penniless poets.
Outside the Knights of Favonius Headquarters
"The citizens personally witnessed your battle with Stormterror.
Acting Grand Master Jean is quite interested in meeting the two… no, three of you."
Kaeya explained smoothly, walking alongside Lumine and Paimon.
Amber followed cheerfully.
They entered the Knights' headquarters.
"Master Jean's office is to the left. You three may go in.
Amber and I will wait outside."
Kaeya stepped back immediately—
almost too quickly.
"…Is Jean really that scary?"
Farmas wondered aloud.
From what he remembered, Jean was extremely responsible and diligent—
perhaps too diligent, running herself ragged and burning through a month's supply of coffee in two days.
Lumine gently pushed the office door open.
The first thing she saw was an immense bookshelf reaching nearly to the ceiling—
and the rich smell of coffee.
A blonde woman in a corseted uniform sat at her desk, brow furrowed in intense concentration.
Off by the shelves stood another woman wearing a purple witch's hat—
Lisa, the librarian.
"Ahem."
Lumine coughed lightly to get their attention.
Jean immediately looked up.
Her confused gaze softened with understanding.
"So Kaeya really ran away just to avoid being assigned to cleaning duty…"
She sighed and dismissed the thought.
"Welcome to Mondstadt, travelers carried here by the wind.
I am Jean, Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius.
And this is Lisa, the Knights' librarian."
Jean stood and approached them.
Lisa followed with a graceful sway.
"Oh my, travelers from afar?
Mondstadt hasn't had visitors like you in quite some time."
Lumine briefly explained her purpose—
searching for her brother—
and introduced Farmas.
"So that's why I sensed fire-element energy on you…
it came from this fire slime? Farmas?"
Lisa tilted her head.
"I'm from Munata. Temporarily staying in Mondstadt."
Farmas replied quickly—
unable to handle Lisa's overly curious gaze.
"Turning humans into slimes, hmm?
Sounds like exactly the sort of strange spell a bunch of Munata war maniacs would invent."
Lisa chuckled, then sighed.
"Since Stormterror woke up, he's been stirring chaos everywhere.
Mondstadt's elemental flow and ley lines are tangled like a ball of yarn clawed by cats.
Terrible for magic—bad for skin and mood."
Jean took a sip of coffee, then addressed Lumine clearly:
"If not for these disruptions, the Knights would have better methods to assist in your search.
For now, please remain in Mondstadt.
Allow the Knights of Favonius to resolve this crisis."