Mondstadt's cathedral plaza shimmered under a restless dusk, its cobblestones trembling faintly as the wind carried whispers of a divine clash and the fading echoes of a dragon's peace.
Ye Ruo had been the intended guardian of this fragile calm, his wind-woven senses savoring the aftermath of Twalin's redemption and the knights' triumph over the wilds.
Yet Lady, a blonde enforcer with a spark of icy vengeance, emerged as the unexpected storm in his day, her wrath a blade against the heart of Mondstadt's windborne soul.
Her fury—forged in loss and tempered by betrayal, a widow's unending grief—collided with Ye Ruo's unshakable will as a knight's past and a god's secrets unraveled in the twilight's glow.
The church loomed stark against the sky, its spires piercing the heavens and the faint musk of incense drifting from its shadowed halls.
Knights' banners fluttered—red and gold gleamed, winds sighed, a fleeting shield around sacred ground.
Ye Ruo stood—wind tugged his cloak, Wind Mysterious Sword pulsed.
"Fools—dare," he murmured, gaze sharp.
His white garb flowed—cyan gleamed, resolve burned.
Wendy shivered—lyre rested, green cape drooped.
"Ice—cold," he rasped, breath fogged.
His green eyes widened—fear flickered, strength waned.
Ying struggled—gold hair danced, wind pulsed.
"Trap—here?" she gasped, blade froze.
Her legs stiffened—ice gripped, will flared.
Paimon bobbed—"Help—now!" she squeaked.
Amber gritted—bow trembled, Pyro dimmed.
"Wind—save!" she growled, hands shook.
Lady approached—heels clicked, frost swirled.
"Barbatos—weak," she sneered, voice iced.
Her blonde locks swayed—vial gleamed, scorn reigned.
"God—falls," she added, conch glowed.
A subplot stirred—Fools crept, fire pulsed.
"Take—him!" a handler barked, debt flared.
Ye Ruo's wind roared—cyan lashed, foes flew.
"Back—off!" he shouted, tempest broke.
Ice surged—Lady snapped, cold screamed.
"Freeze—all!" she hissed, plaza whitened.
Wendy's legs cracked—ice held, wind faltered.
"Strength—gone?" he breathed, doubt swelled.
Ying's blade pulsed—wind strained, frost clung.
"Fight—still!" she vowed, arms trembled.
Amber's flame flickered—arrows iced, hope dimmed.
"Knights—stand!" she rasped, voice broke.
Lady's hand rose—ice gleamed, malice pulsed.
"Heart—mine," she sneered, fingers curled.
The system chimed in Ye Ruo's mind—panel glowed.
He smirked—wind flared, power soared.
[Ding, Customer Wendy completed Old Mond: Windborn Lament—Reward: Zephyr Lyre Shard.]
[Zephyr Lyre Shard: Binds breeze to the player's will, striking with airy grace; summons a gust to soothe or sweep; light as a bard's hum.]
Wendy with wind—spirit lifted.
A twist struck—storm clashed, ice shattered.
"Enough—now!" Ye Ruo roared, sword slashed.
Tempest met frost—gale tore, plaza shook.
"Fools—fly!" he barked, wind howled.
Handlers soared—walls cracked, bodies slumped.
Lady's ice pulsed—shields bloomed, steps faltered.
"Knight—strong!" she gasped, retreat snapped.
Ye Ruo grinned—"Mond—mine," he vowed.
Lady's eyes widened—shock flared, memory stirred.
"You—him?" she rasped, voice broke.
Her hand trembled—vial dimmed, past loomed.
"Rustan—lives?" she murmured, gaze pierced.
Ye Ruo blinked—"Who—me?" he mused.
A subplot brewed—Wendy gaped, lyre pulsed.
"Lady—knows?" he stammered, wind freed.
His legs thawed—relief bloomed, guilt lingered.
"Barbatos—fault?" Lady hissed, ice surged.
"Love—stolen!" she roared, frost lashed.
Ye Ruo's wind spun—cyan arced, storm held.
"Calm—now," he urged, voice steady.
Lady's glare burned—hatred flared, tears gleamed.
"You—took!" she snarled, conch flared.
Wendy's voice rose—"No—truth!" he pleaded.
"Ice—blind," he added, lyre sang.
A twist struck—Lady lunged, ice roared.
"Die—both!" she shouted, blizzard swelled.
Ye Ruo's sword flashed—wind sliced, frost broke.
"Stand—down!" he barked, gale surged.
Lady stumbled—ice cracked, balance swayed.
"Past—gone," he said, tone softened.
Her chest heaved—anger dimmed, grief swelled.
"Rustan—why?" she whispered, knees buckled.
Ying gaped—"God—knight?" she breathed.
"Truth—twists," Amber murmured, bow steadied.
Paimon clung—"Love—mess!" she squeaked.
A subplot stirred—Rosalia watched, shadows pulsed.
"Fools—flee," she hissed, spear gleamed.
Her dark eyes narrowed—vigilance burned, steps silent.
Lady's hand waved—handlers rose, retreat loomed.
"Heart—later," she growled, frost faded.
Ye Ruo's wind settled—cyan dimmed, plaza stilled.
"Threat—gone," he nodded, sword sheathed.
Wendy sighed—"Close—damn," he rasped.
"Bard—safe," Ye Ruo grinned, trust sealed.
A twist struck—system pulsed, mind raced.
"Past—mine?" he mused, panel glowed.
[System: Host's form shaped Rustan—past anchored, present forged; an echo, not a soul.]
Ye Ruo's eyes gleamed—"Time—bends," he murmured.
A subplot brewed—Lisa's home pulsed, dusk deepened.
"Ye Ruo—late?" she purred, tea steamed.
Her black silk gleamed—thunder hummed, ease flowed.
"Wind—flies," she mused, smile curled.
Jean's office glowed—quill scratched, duty held.
"Report—done," she sighed, brow eased.
Her green cape rested—resolve shone, peace bloomed.
Mondstadt sighed—god stood, Fools stalled.
Lady's vow lingered—ice pulsed, heart ached.
Ye Ruo's tale spun—valor reigned free.
The system pulsed—fame a rising gale.
His legend soared—Teyvat's winds sang deep.
***
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