Chapter 44 — The Role of the Church of Favonius
Barbara lowered her gaze, her fingers brushing the cool surface of the Hydro Vision hanging at her waist. The crystal pulsed faintly, reflecting the gentle blue of the morning sky.
She sighed. "Sometimes, I can't help but feel… disappointed. I've always been devoted to Lord Barbatos, yet the Vision I received wasn't Anemo, but Hydro."
Her voice trembled ever so slightly. "If I was truly blessed by the God of Freedom, shouldn't I have received his element?"
Kael tilted his head, studying her expression. "And what exactly is wrong with Hydro?"
Barbara blinked in surprise as he leaned back in his chair, his tone calm but firm. "A Hydro Vision isn't weak—far from it. Look at Tartaglia, the Eleventh of the Fatui Harbingers. He's one of the most dangerous warriors alive. Or Kamisato Ayato, head of the Kamisato Clan in Inazuma. Both wield Hydro, and both are terrifying in battle."
He gave a small smile. "In pure combat ability, neither of them is any weaker than your sister."
Barbara's lips pressed together, but the sadness didn't fade. "That may be true… but it only proves I wasn't chosen by Lord Barbatos. My Vision came from the Hydro Archon instead."
Kael glanced upward, watching the clouds drift lazily above Mondstadt's spires.
He exhaled softly. So, this is what troubles her.
How typical of Teyvat's faithful—to feel guilt over blessings they didn't choose.
"Barbara," Kael said gently, "have you ever considered that maybe the stories about Visions aren't completely true?"
She blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?"
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The Truth Behind the Visions
Kael rested his elbows on the table, fingers intertwined. "There's an unspoken understanding among the Seven Archons. They rarely interfere with one another's nations. You don't see Morax meddling in Mondstadt, or the Raiden Shogun handing out Visions in Liyue, do you?"
Barbara shook her head slowly. "No… but that's because—"
"—Because they agreed to it," Kael interrupted gently. "So if the Archons don't interfere in each other's lands, how could they personally hand out Visions to people across Teyvat?"
He leaned forward, eyes narrowing slightly. "To give a Vision, one would need to monitor every person in every nation. Every thought, every dream, every desire. Do you really think that's something the Archons do?"
Barbara's lips parted in shock. That… actually made sense.
Her whole life, she'd believed that Archons personally blessed chosen mortals with their elements. That a Vision was a symbol of divine favor, not a mechanism of some unseen system.
But if what Kael said was true—if the Seven weren't behind it—then who was?
She swallowed. "Then… are you saying Visions don't come from the Archons at all?"
Kael's voice dropped, low and measured. "There are whispers—rumors—that Visions come from a power above the Archons."
Her breath caught.
Above the Seven?
That could only mean—Celestia.
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Celestia's Shadow
"Lady Vennessa," Barbara whispered. "She ascended to Celestia after freeing Mondstadt. If anyone learned the truth about Visions… it must have been her."
Kael nodded faintly, his golden eyes reflecting the light from the window. "Perhaps she did. But Celestia isn't as kind as the legends make it sound. The heavens choose, yes—but not always for noble reasons."
He didn't elaborate further, and Barbara didn't ask. She didn't need to.
For the first time, the idea of Celestia filled her not with awe… but unease.
How could a paradise built on freedom and faith feel so distant from both?
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Strength Beyond the Sword
"Regardless," Kael continued after a pause, his tone softening, "you shouldn't feel inferior, Barbara. Maybe your talent for battle isn't the same as Jean's—but strength comes in many forms."
She looked up, hope flickering faintly in her eyes. "Really? Then… how can I help her?"
Kael coughed lightly. "Well… since you're not fond of fighting directly, why not look at things from another angle?"
She tilted her head. "But I don't have any special skills besides healing and… um, housework. Oh, and I can sing."
Kael smiled faintly. "You forget—music can heal more than the body. It can heal hearts."
Barbara blinked in surprise.
He continued, his tone firm yet kind. "Mondstadt is changing, Barbara. The people are anxious. Between monster attacks, food shortages, and the unrest in the countryside, fear is spreading like wildfire."
Her expression turned solemn. "That's true. The Church of Favonius has been working with the Knights to help where we can. We've been distributing food and water to refugees, offering shelter and prayer. But the people are still losing hope…"
She paused. "Unless Lord Barbatos intervenes himself, I'm afraid it won't be enough."
Kael nodded slowly. "Faith alone can't feed the hungry. But it can remind them why they fight to live another day."
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The Church of Favonius
Before coming to Mondstadt, Kael had assumed the Church was like those in old-world tales—corrupt, self-serving, and drunk on divine authority.
But the truth surprised him.
The Church of Favonius was, in many ways, purer than the Knights themselves.
Where the Knights had long struggled with internal politics, infiltration, and aristocratic manipulation, the Church remained remarkably disciplined.
Promotions within the clergy were strict and merit-based, overseen by multiple committees. Their hierarchy was designed not for luxury, but accountability.
And most surprisingly of all, the Church had its own internal supervision branch—trained not just in faith, but in investigation and law.
Many of its members were orphans raised by the Church itself, taught to serve both faith and justice.
So that's why Barbara turned out this way, Kael thought. She wasn't just raised to worship Barbatos—she was raised to believe in him.
That kind of faith couldn't be bought or faked.
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The Knights and Their Flaws
By contrast, the Knights of Favonius—while noble in purpose—were riddled with flaws.
Kael remembered the stories of Eroch, the corrupt inspector who'd sold Knight intelligence to the Fatui. Though he'd been purged under Jean's command, Kael doubted he was the only one.
There were always shadows lurking behind banners of honor.
Many noble families saw the Knights not as a duty but as a stepping stone to power.
Jean had inherited an order plagued by bureaucracy, favoritism, and cowardice—and she'd somehow managed to cleanse it without losing her idealism.
In truth, she didn't command just the Knights. She commanded their faith.
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A Different Kind of Faith
Kael leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a moment.
When he first arrived in Mondstadt, he'd expected to find corruption, greed, and decay. He'd even planned for it—he'd thought he might need to reshape the city from within, helping Jean purge the rot and rebuilding the Church's influence alongside Barbatos himself.
But the reality was far simpler—and far more complicated.
The Church wasn't the problem.
It was the people.
The same freedom Barbatos had blessed them with had made them complacent. Generations of peace had dulled their resolve.
They had forgotten that freedom had a price—and that even the wind could grow stagnant if it never moved.
Kael sighed softly. "Guess I'll have to find a different way to help Jean after all."
Barbara tilted her head. "Help her how?"
He smiled faintly. "By teaching Mondstadt how to stand again."
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End of Chapter 44 — The Role of the Church of Favonius