Venti hovered in mid-air, his cyan braids whipping in the wind. As his gaze swept over Lydia, his brow instantly furrowed.
The girl's face was as pale as snow. Cold sweat beaded on her temples and trickled down her cheeks, dampening the stray strands of hair at her temples. She gripped the hilt of Festering Desire tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.
The Scarlet Quartz and Starsilver she had been holding moments before had scattered across the ground. Now caked in mud, the ores had lost their luster, mirroring her own disheveled state.
A nameless fury surged through Venti, and his usually lazy eyes sharpened like blades.
With a flick of his fingers, the cyan Anemo energy erupted, swirling into countless razor-sharp wind blades that surged toward the four monsters.
"Those who dare harm my people will pay the price," Venti's voice held none of its usual playful tone.
Before the words had even faded, the Anemo energy had completely enveloped the Hilichurl Frostarm Lawachurl, the Rifthound, and the three Rifthound Whelps.
A few piercing shrieks tore through the snowy landscape as the four monsters were instantly shredded into a bloody mist by the wind blades. Not a single intact fragment remained—only the pungent Abyssal aura lingered in the air, churning the stomach.
Venti lowered his gaze to the ground. His Anemo energy extended in the direction the monsters had vanished, like invisible threads probing deep into Dragonspine.
Soon, he sensed intense Abyssal fluctuations emanating from even farther away.
A hidden spatial rift was continuously spewing out monsters shrouded in black mist, their numbers alarmingly vast.
Venti's heart sank.
As the Anemo Archon, he hadn't noticed the changes on Dragonspine at all during this time. It was as if an invisible force, like a barrier, had completely cut him off from the mountain.
"No time to waste. We need to retreat now," Venti said urgently, landing swiftly beside Lumine. "Monsters are still gathering deeper in Dragonspine. If we stay any longer, we'll be surrounded."
Before Lumine and Lydia could react, gentle Anemo energy lifted the three of them and carried them toward Windrise.
Moments later, they landed on the grassy plains of Windrise.
The instant her feet touched the ground, Lydia's legs gave out. She collapsed onto the grass, clutching Paimon, her voice still trembling. "Just now... I really thought we were going to die on Dragonspine..."
Her teeth chattered softly, making her words broken and unsteady.
Lumine gazed at the familiar large tree and the Statue of The Seven, her tense nerves finally relaxing. She let out a long sigh of relief, and the rapid rise and fall of her chest gradually slowed.
She turned to Venti, her eyes filled with confusion. "What exactly happened on Dragonspine? How could such tough monsters appear? I never encountered them when I explored before."
"I don't know either," Venti replied, his brow furrowed. "Lately, Dragonspine seems to have been shielded by a strange power. My winds can't penetrate it, and I've even lost contact with Albedo."
He turned his gaze toward Dragonspine, his expression grave. "I previously sensed an ominous aura spreading through Mondstadt. Following it led me to Dragonspine, where I happened to see you heading up the mountain. I rushed over immediately. Thankfully, I made it in time."
"Then... Teacher Albedo..." Lydia stood up, the hem of her snow-white dress brushing against the grass. "He hasn't replied in so long. Could something have happened to him?"
"Don't be rash." Seeing the girl's impulsive urge to act, Venti quickly reached out and grabbed her arm, his tone softening. "Albedo is the Chief Alchemist of the Knights of Favonius. He won't go down that easily. Rushing back now would only lead you into more monsters. You wouldn't be able to help him; you'd just be causing more trouble."
Lydia bit her lip, unconsciously clenching her fists.
She knew Venti was right. Without a Vision, she would only be a burden if she went. All she could do was clutch the hem of her dress and mutter under her breath, "But I'm still worried... He's never gone this long without replying..."
Seeing her look so wronged and helpless, Venti reached out and gently wiped a smudge of dust from the tip of her nose.
"Don't worry. I'll go to Dragonspine myself to find Albedo."
"Don't mind my usual carefree act. I'm still the Anemo Archon who protects Mondstadt, you know. I've got some power."
He paused, then pulled a fresh Cecilia flower from his clothes and carefully tucked it into Lydia's snow-white hair.
"Then you have to promise me you'll come to my birthday party! If you don't, I'll ignore you for the rest of my life! And I'll never go with you to Angel's Share to freeload drinks again!"
"Alright, I promise." Venti smiled and ruffled her hair, pressing down a rebellious tuft of white strands. "Once I find Albedo, I'll bring him back with me to attend your birthday party. We absolutely won't miss it. I swear on my name as the Anemo Archon."
Lydia tugged at Venti's sleeve, her fingertips clutching the fabric as her eyes filled with reluctance. "Be careful... Don't disappear without a word like Teacher Albedo."
"Don't worry, little drunkard." Venti gave Lydia a deep, meaningful look—a gaze filled with both admonition and lingering concern.
He nodded at Lumine, as if entrusting Lydia to her care.
Then, he transformed into a gust of wind and vanished.
Lydia chased after the wind for a few steps, her snow-white ponytail swinging wildly behind her, but she quickly stopped.
Staring in the direction the wind had disappeared, she whispered, so softly it was almost a murmur, "Teacher Albedo will be alright... right? And Venti will come back safely... right?"
She reached up to touch the Cecilia flower in her hair. The petals felt soft, but they offered no comfort.
Lumine walked over and gently patted her shoulder, her tone firm. "Of course. Venti is the Anemo Archon; he always keeps his word. They'll both be fine."
Lydia didn't reply, her gaze fixed on Dragonspine, lost in thought for a long time.
She carefully removed the flower from her hair and clutched it tightly in her hand. Dewdrops from the petals slid down her fingertips and dripped onto the grass, spreading into a small, dark patch—like her unspoken worries.
-
Meanwhile, Dvalin was sleeping.
Suddenly, the faint sound of space warping startled him awake. A rift, swirling with the black mist of the Abyss, slowly tore open beside him. From within, a dragon's roar echoed!
The sound was similar to his own, yet laced with utter brutality and madness.
Dvalin's eyes snapped open, his pupils filled with vigilance.
He raised his head and let out a majestic dragon's roar in response, his wings partially unfurling as he prepared for battle.
The next moment, a massive dragon shrouded in black mist burst from the rift. Its eyes glowed crimson, and its sharp claws, wreathed in the same dark mist, lunged viciously at Dvalin!
Just then, an Anemo-infused arrow shot through the air, striking the Abyssal Dragon's wing with pinpoint accuracy!
"Trying to harm my old friend? Did you ask for my permission?" Venti's voice rang out.
He had intended to head straight for Dragonspine but had sensed the abnormal fluctuations here and changed course.
Azure-green Anemo energy coalesced around him, the Elegy for the End already in his grasp. His eyes were locked on the Abyssal Dragon.
It was a dragon similar to Dvalin, yet different... an Abyssal "Dvalin"