Chapter 33 — Jean and King Arthur
"Captain Jean!"
"Good morning, Captain Jean!"
As Jean and Kael walked through the cobbled streets of Mondstadt, cheerful greetings followed them at every turn. Merchants waved from their stalls, children shouted from balconies, and even tired guards straightened their posture when they saw her.
Jean returned each greeting with a calm, practiced smile.
But Kael, walking beside her, could tell it wasn't genuine.
Her smile never quite reached her eyes.
When they finally reached a quieter street overlooking Windrise, Jean exhaled softly and let the tension drop from her shoulders.
"It's ironic, isn't it?" she murmured. "Even now, the people of Mondstadt look at me with such faith. They truly believe I can resolve the Stormterror crisis."
Her voice softened, trembling with exhaustion she usually hid.
"But the truth is… I couldn't. Not before. I didn't have the strength. I just—had to pretend. If I faltered, even for a moment, their fear would only grow."
Kael said nothing for a while.
He studied the woman beside him — young, yet burdened with the weight of an entire nation.
Barely twenty, and already shouldering the faith of thousands.
Was that truly fair?
After a moment, he finally spoke.
"In my world," Kael said quietly, "there was a king named Arthur. You remind me of them."
Jean blinked, surprised. "Arthur?"
Kael smiled faintly. "A legendary ruler who united their kingdom. Their story… might sound familiar."
---
The Tale of the King
As they walked beneath the drifting dandelions, Kael recounted the ancient tale — of King Arthur, the shining monarch who drew the sacred sword from stone, forged a fellowship of knights, and led a kingdom toward unity and hope.
He spoke of the Knights of the Round Table, of their code of chivalry — courage, honor, and sacrifice.
And finally, of Arthur's downfall — betrayed not by enemies, but by those closest to them.
Jean listened intently, her blue eyes reflecting the golden sunset. She said nothing until he finished.
Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she repeated,
"Humility. Honor. Sacrifice. Bravery. Mercy. Spirit. Honesty. Justice."
Kael tilted his head. "Those are the Eight Virtues of Knighthood," he said. "But you focused on that part instead of the tragedy?"
Jean smiled faintly, the wind catching a loose strand of her blonde hair.
"Of course. Tragedies are warnings. Virtues are guidance."
Her eyes shone with renewed conviction.
"Kael, I want to incorporate these Eight Virtues into the Knightly Code of the Knights of Favonius."
Kael chuckled. "You don't need my permission, Acting Grand Master. But… you really don't see the similarities between yourself and King Arthur?"
Jean's smile turned wistful. "If I could even resemble a fraction of such a leader, I would be honored. But I'm far from Arthur's level."
She paused, looking up at the drifting clouds.
"I know what you're warning me about — not to repeat Arthur's mistakes. But I'm not a king, Kael. I'm only the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. Mondstadt already has a ruler — Lord Barbatos, the Anemo Archon."
Her tone softened, filled with quiet reverence.
"Even though Lord Barbatos hasn't appeared for centuries, we still have faith that he watches over us… and that his winds will guide us when the time comes. Mondstadt belongs to all its people. That is what our Archon wanted — a city of freedom, not of kings."
Jean's words carried the clarity of conviction, but there was something deeper beneath them — longing, perhaps.
After a moment, she smiled again, more naturally this time.
"Still, hearing about Arthur made me realize something. I've been carrying everything on my shoulders, trying to solve every problem myself. Maybe… I need to rely more on my knights, too."
Then she chuckled lightly.
"And as for the idea of becoming a king… if I ever tried that, I'd probably be compared to the Lawrence Clan before I could even finish the coronation speech."
Kael laughed. "True. Mondstadt doesn't take kindly to authority."
He looked at her, admiration flickering behind his eyes. "But maybe that's why they trust you. You never ruled them — you simply stood beside them."
Before meeting Jean, Kael had viewed Mondstadt with detached cynicism. To him, it was a city too dependent on the freedom granted by Barbatos — free to sing, free to dream, and free to do nothing.
But Jean was different.
Where others saw freedom as an excuse to drift, she saw it as a responsibility to protect.
Now, he finally understood why Venti, Barbatos himself, trusted her more than even Falga, the Grand Master who had vanished beyond the northern seas.
---
A Knight's Home
After several minutes of quiet conversation, Jean stopped in front of a small, ivy-covered home on the edge of town.
"This is my personal residence," she explained, unlocking the door. "But I rarely stay here anymore. The headquarters demands most of my time."
She gestured for Kael to step inside. "If you don't mind, you can stay here. The guest room has fresh bedding."
Kael smiled. "Then I'll gladly accept your hospitality, Acting Grand Master."
Inside, the air smelled faintly of windblume and clean linen.
The decor was simple, practical — yet undeniably warm. There were framed sketches of dandelions, a few books on strategy and herbal medicine, and a single painting of the cathedral.
It was nothing like the ornate elegance of Keqing's home in Liyue, but it suited Jean perfectly — strong, disciplined, and quietly beautiful.
"You keep your house tidy," Kael remarked as he looked around.
Jean blushed faintly, brushing back a strand of hair.
"My sister, Barbara, visits often. She insists on cleaning and decorating whenever she can."
Kael chuckled. "She sounds like a sweet girl."
Jean smiled proudly. "She is. She's my little sister — and Mondstadt's Deaconess. She helps heal both wounds and hearts."
Kael nodded approvingly. "A family dedicated to service. It suits you."
---
Dinner and Ideals
"To thank you for hosting me," Kael said after a moment, "how about I treat you to dinner tonight?"
Jean blinked. "Dinner? That's not necessary. If anything, I should be treating you. You've already helped me more than you realize."
She hesitated, then laughed softly. "But… I won't lie. I haven't had a proper meal in days."
Kael grinned. "Then it's settled."
Her stomach betrayed her with a quiet growl. She quickly turned away, embarrassed, as Kael tried not to laugh.
"Fine," she said, her cheeks pink. "I'll accept your invitation."
As she reached for her coat, Kael pulled a small, well-worn book from his pocket — A Teyvat Travel Guide.
"I heard the author's daughter, Klee, is being cared for here in Mondstadt," he said, flipping it open. "Do you have any way of contacting Alice?"
Jean froze mid-step, surprise flashing in her eyes.
"You… know of Lady Alice?"
Kael smiled faintly. "Let's just say I'm interested in her research."
Jean's expression softened, though her curiosity deepened.
"Lady Alice is unpredictable, but she always seems to know when she's being talked about. If you're lucky, she might contact you first."
Kael chuckled. "I'll take my chances."
---
As they stepped out into the evening breeze, Jean felt a strange calm settle in her chest.
For the first time in weeks, the endless weight pressing down on her heart felt lighter.
She glanced at Kael — the traveler with eyes like golden storms and the presence of the wind itself — and wondered, just for a moment…
Who exactly are you, Kael?
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End of Chapter 33 — Jean and King Arthur