Though a few monsters had slipped past Dvalin's claws, those weak creatures could never breach the defenses the Knights of Favonius had set up along the border. From the very beginning, Barbatos—who seemed to be slacking off—had already planned everything.
If things continued this way, in a few days, Barbatos would be back on the streets of Mondstadt, busking and mooching drinks. Just the thought of it was pleasant.
As the number of monsters emerging from beneath Khaenri'ah dwindled, the battle there was nearing its end. It would be over soon.
But just then, Barbatos caught a distant sound on the wind. He heard the wails of the people, the roar of an evil dragon. He knew that a new disaster had struck Mondstadt—one even more troublesome than the monster tide.
Forget the few knights stationed in Mondstadt—even if Arundolyn led the main army back, they could not defeat that fierce war dragon.
"Dvalin, something terrible has happened in Mondstadt. We must return at once."
For the first time, Barbatos's usual composure vanished, replaced by rare urgency.
Beneath him, Dvalin, soaring through the sky, asked in confusion, "A terrible disaster? Have the monsters broken through the knights' defenses? I was right—those knights are all useless."
As a powerful elemental dragon, Dvalin had little regard for the Knights of Favonius. In its eyes, even all the knights together were no match for it—mere ants.
But Barbatos disagreed. "Dvalin, you are still young. You don't yet understand the power of humans. You will, when you grow up."
Dvalin: "…"
Compared to Barbatos, who had lived for millennia, Dvalin was indeed a young dragon. But in truth, it was already a fully mature dragon. In the battles against the monsters, it had slain far more than Barbatos himself. Meanwhile, Barbatos had been slacking off even while fighting—sometimes pulling out a flask and drinking mid‑battle, showing none of the dignity befitting a god.
Though Dvalin silently complained about Barbatos, it was still his familiar and had to obey his commands. The moment Barbatos decided to return to Mondstadt, Dvalin turned around without hesitation, leaving the Khaenri'ah battlefield behind and flying toward the city.
...
Meanwhile, in Mondstadt, victory after victory had been reported, spreading through every street and alley. The people cheered. Arundolyn had won again. Soon, he would return with his victorious knights, and the entire city would welcome the heroes home.
Not only the common folk—no one was happier than Rostam, the Deputy Grand Master. Seeing those reports, the worry that had long weighed on him finally began to ease. He breathed a sigh of relief. He was happy for Mondstadt, happy for Arundolyn.
Then, opening a drawer, he found a sheet of letter paper. He would write to his beloved Rosalyne.
My dearest Rosalyne,
I hope this letter does not interrupt your studies. At this moment, your knight Rostam cannot wait to share the news of our victory with you.
Mondstadt has won. The Knights of Favonius have won!
Soon, your knight will appear before you—kiss your hand and ask for your hand in marriage.
Until we meet again, please keep the water clock safe. It will be the most beautiful testimony to our love.
Having been single for so many years, this was Rostam's first love letter. He knew no sweet words, no grand vows. He could only pour his truest feelings onto the page and send them across a thousand miles to his beloved. He believed that when Rosalyne received it, she would understand his heart and share his joy.
After finishing the letter, he carefully folded the paper and tucked it into an envelope. He called for a knight to deliver it by the fastest horse to Sumeru, to reach Rosalyne as quickly as possible.
But the letter had barely left Mondstadt when an urgent report arrived at his office.
"Deputy Grand Master—border emergency! Border emergency!"
A frantic knight burst into the room without knocking, gasping for breath. Seeing him, Rostam frowned. "Border emergency? What happened? Has something gone wrong on Arundolyn's side?"
If that were the case, even Rostam would be worried. The war had dragged on for so long, and Barbatos still had not appeared. They could no longer count on him. Their only hope was Arundolyn and his army. Arundolyn could not fail.
But the knight, too winded to rest, rushed to explain. "No—it's not Arundolyn. It's not the monsters. It's the southern border, near the snowy mountain, a massive venomous dragon—it has invaded Mondstadt."
The knight had run the entire way to deliver the news, barely able to speak clearly. He could only manage the key details: the snowy mountain, a massive venomous dragon, and invading Mondstadt.
Even Rostam, who had been basking in the joy of victory, furrowed his brow at those words. A massive venomous dragon had suddenly appeared from Dragonspine and was invading Mondstadt.
"What exactly happened? Tell me clearly," he demanded.
After catching his breath, the knight recounted everything known. It was a colossal black dragon, like an ancient war machine. As it flew overhead, it sang discordant songs in a thunderous voice, scattering its poisonous blood across Mondstadt's borderlands.
The moment the venom touched the earth, green forests withered, lively animals died, and the people living at the mountain's foot were consumed. The entire land reeked of that foul poison.
And the most terrifying part—that dragon, dripping with venom and resembling an ancient weapon of war—was heading straight for Mondstadt. Before long, the whole city would become a poisoned wasteland.
Hearing this, Rostam's expression darkened. He immediately gave the order: assemble every knight in the city and prepare for battle.