"Favonius Cathedral detention room. We're doing time."
Lora shot Venti a resentful glare.
"Huh? We got arrested?" Venti froze for a moment, then stared in disbelief.
Seeing his reaction, Lora felt completely numb. She burst out angrily, "You've got some nerve! Who was it yesterday who swore the 'ever-present breeze' would keep watch? The moment I got my hands on the 'Holy Lyre der Himmel,' we were discovered! And the guard on duty was lying on the ground unconscious! Now look at us—the lyre's gone, and we're locked up!"
Venti hurriedly asked, "Then what do we do now?"
"..."
Lora stared at him with an expression that clearly said, Are you serious right now?
"What else can we do? We wait for someone to bail us out."
Venti pressed on, "Isn't there any other way?"
Lora looked at him, clenching her fists. "Of course there is. If you publicly reveal that you're the Anemo Archon, we'll not only be escorted out immediately, they'll personally hand us the 'Holy Lyre der Himmel.'"
"Uh… when do you think they'll be back?" Venti retreated to the door and peered through the small window at the situation outside the cell.
Lora closed her eyes and shook her head. "No idea. Lumine went with Acting Grand Master Jean to deal with the residual power in the 'Four Winds' temples. I think it'll take several days before they return."
"In that case…" Venti propped his chin on his hand, thought for a moment, then made a decision. "I'll take a nap!"
Lora: "..."
She now had a very serious question.
Could the "Judgment of the Raging Sea" kill the Anemo Archon?
Urgent. Waiting online.
…
Three days later, Barbara finally released Lora and Venti and brought them to the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
There, Lora also saw Diluc, standing with his arms crossed, an aloof expression that kept everyone at arm's length.
Barbara reported the situation to Jean.
When Jean and Lumine learned that Lora and Venti had tried to steal the "Holy Lyre der Himmel," both were greatly surprised. Paimon immediately blurted out, "What's the 'Holy Lyre der Himmel'?"
After Jean explained what the "Holy Lyre der Himmel" was to the curious Paimon, she turned to Lora and asked, "So, Miss Lora, why did you go and steal the 'Holy Lyre der Himmel'?"
"Yeah, yeah! Lora, why did you steal the 'Holy Lyre der Himmel'?" Paimon echoed.
Lumine didn't speak, but the look she gave Lora was filled with confusion.
"Yeah, why?" Lora spread her hands and looked toward Venti at her side. "Poet, explain yourself!"
"Huh? Me?" Venti pointed at himself, blinking with an innocent expression.
Lora: "..."
"Ahem… don't look at me like that!" Seeing her expression, Venti laughed. He composed himself, let out a soft breath, and addressed everyone. "Alright, I'll tell you why."
His voice gradually became ethereal and distant, and the others in the room unconsciously softened their breathing.
"The story I'm about to tell begins in ancient times, when the gods still walked the earth. The Sky Dragon descended from the heavens, filled with curiosity for all things in the world. Seeking answers, the dragon could not comprehend the chaos of the mortal realm. The Windborne Bard plucked the strings of the 'Holy Lyre der Himmel,' answering its questions one by one. The dragon was merely a curious child, flying freely and without worry, until today…"
As Venti spoke, the story of Dvalin, the Dragon of the East Wind, slowly unfolded before everyone.
When the tale ended, the room fell silent. In particular, the line he voiced—"Why do the people of today despise me?"—made those of Mondstadt frown deeply.
"But we never despised the 'Four Winds' guardian," Barbara said, clenching her fists as she looked at Venti. "It's just… whenever it appears, it brings storms and causes Mondstadt to suffer…"
"That's because it was corrupted by evil power and unable to break free," Venti sighed softly. "It's in pain. Stirring up storms and disturbing Mondstadt was never its true intention."
"Oh! I get it now!" Paimon said after thinking it over. "Because the 'Holy Lyre der Himmel' was once used by the Anemo Archon, you want to borrow it to restore Stormterror—ah, Dvalin—to normal, right?"
Venti looked at Paimon and smiled. "Well, I didn't expect you to be so sharp!"
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean? I'm not stupid!" Paimon stomped her foot in midair.
Jean stood in thought, then suddenly asked, "The story sounds very real and aligns with Mondstadt's history. But how do you know all this? Even within the Knights of Favonius and the Church today, very few people know about the connection between the 'Holy Lyre der Himmel' and Dvalin."
"Hehe, because I'm a bard!" Venti replied with a grin. "I know every story in Mondstadt. That's basic qualification for being a bard!"
Paimon narrowed her eyes. "Now that you put it like that, it suddenly sounds way less convincing. Lora, how could you believe anything this green guy says?"
"Why not give it a try?" Lora said with a smile. "What if the 'Holy Lyre der Himmel' really can calm the dragon calamity? Wouldn't Mondstadt be saved then?"
At that moment, she perfectly embodied someone willing to try an unverified bard's story for the sake of saving Mondstadt—instantly making her seem noble and selfless.
"I think it's worth a try."
Lisa, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke with a smile. She looked at Jean and said, "We've already tried so many methods. One more won't hurt. Like Lora said, if it works, Mondstadt will be saved."
Jean then looked at Kaeya and Diluc. "What do you think?"
"I have no objections. I'll follow the Acting Grand Master's decision," Kaeya said, waving his hand.
Diluc, standing farther away, didn't voice an opinion—though it was clear he, too, was inclined to try this unconventional yet potentially effective approach.
After hearing their views, Jean turned to Barbara.
"Barbara, you've heard everyone. For the sake of saving Mondstadt and Dvalin, could you lend us the 'Holy Lyre der Himmel'?"
"Sis… Acting Grand Master Jean, do you really believe what this bard says?" Barbara asked hesitantly. "What if… what if the story is false? The 'Holy Lyre der Himmel' was left behind by Lord Barbatos. What if it gets damaged?"