Chapter 52 — Jean's Determination
Jean: "Be careful, Mr. Kael!"
Ningguang: "As one of the Eleven Harbingers of the Fatui, La Signora wields Cryo power granted directly by the Tsaritsa. Her strength is comparable to that of an Adeptus."
Zhongli: "Indeed. Each Harbinger stands as a vessel of the Tsaritsa's will and commands strength to match the immortals. However…" he paused, "…it is a pity."
The chat flowed through thought, faster than speech, but Kael barely paid it any attention. His battle had ended. Now, silence blanketed Mondstadt.
---
The Weight of Vengeance
Some distance away, Diluc clenched his fists, the quiet hum of his Vision flickering beneath his gloves.
His crimson eyes burned like smoldering embers.
The Doctor.
That name alone was enough to stir the rage in his heart. The man responsible for his father's death. A monster wearing the mask of a scholar.
"I've been patient for too long," Diluc muttered under his breath. "But when will I finally have the strength to take my revenge?"
Of course, he had vowed long ago that vengeance was his burden alone. No one else—neither Kael, nor Jean, nor even Barbatos—would carry it for him.
If he were the kind of man to rely on others for revenge, he could have easily spent the entire fortune of the Dawn Winery hiring assassins.
But that wasn't who he was.
Justice and vengeance would be delivered by his own hand.
---
Mondstadt's Forgotten Heroes
Jean stood nearby, her gaze drifting toward the horizon where the winds whispered over the city's rooftops.
"Mr. Venti," she said softly, "is Mondstadt truly meant to be like this?"
Venti tilted his head, half expecting the question. "You mean…" he began, "…forgetting its heroes?"
Jean nodded firmly. "Yes. The protectors of the Four Winds, the Crimson Witch of Flames—they gave everything for Mondstadt, yet the people betrayed and forgot them."
Her hands trembled slightly, but her eyes burned with conviction. "How can we call ourselves a city of freedom when we can't even remember those who sacrificed theirs for us?"
Venti fell silent. Then, with a faint, melancholic smile, he said, "That's why I became a bard—to make sure history is never lost to the wind. The people remember the Lawrence Clan's tyranny, but they have long neglected the courage of those who fought for them. That is Mondstadt's greatest failing."
Jean bit her lip, frustration tightening her chest.
Rosalyne—the Crimson Witch of Flames.
A woman who once saved Mondstadt, only to be cast out by the very people she saved.
Diluc, too, had left the Knights of Favonius—not out of pride, but because the organization refused to face its failures.
The pattern was too clear.
The heroes of Mondstadt were not dying in battle—they were being buried by the city's own ignorance.
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Jean's Resolve
"Barbatos," Jean said firmly, "I want Mondstadt to face its own history. When I return, I plan to investigate the failures of the Knights of Favonius and reveal the truth. A knightly order that hides behind honor but refuses to acknowledge its mistakes has no right to lead this city."
Her gaze hardened, her voice steady. "I'll record everything—the rise, the fall, the forgotten heroes. It's time their stories are told."
Diluc glanced at her, a hint of surprise flickering in his expression. "You realize that will make you a target. The noble houses still hold influence. The Knights' reputation is tied to their wealth and pride. If you expose them, they'll brand you a traitor."
He spoke from experience.
When his father died, the truth had been smothered by political corruption. Diluc's rage had clashed with the bureaucracy, and he had walked away, disgusted.
At the time, he had been seen as the Knights' rising star—their youngest captain, the heir apparent to the title of Grand Master. But when Jean emerged, capable and more politically "manageable," the nobles had rallied behind her.
Even then, Diluc hadn't resented her.
Jean had earned her position through strength and virtue—not manipulation.
He respected that.
His thoughts flickered briefly to Eula—the noble from the disgraced Lawrence Clan. No matter how hard she worked, Mondstadt's people still whispered the same word behind her back: traitor.
And yet, she continued to serve the city that refused to forgive her lineage.
Even Diluc found the hypocrisy unbearable.
Mondstadt prided itself on freedom, but it still chained its people with the ghosts of history.
---
Jean smiled faintly. "I understand the risks, but the nobles aren't my enemies. They simply follow the tide of influence. If that tide changes…" she looked out toward the sunset, "then so will they."
Diluc studied her for a moment, then let out a quiet sigh.
She might actually be right.
If Jean led a movement to restore Mondstadt's honor, the nobles would eventually be forced to adapt—or risk losing everything.
She didn't seek power. But her leadership could become the catalyst for change.
---
The Wind's Blessing
"Barbatos," Jean said quietly, "I need your guidance. The truth is more important than reputation. If the Knights are to stand for justice, we must first have the courage to admit our sins."
Her voice softened, filled with the quiet strength of conviction. "To ignore the past would be to betray Lady Vennessa's ideals."
At that name, Venti's expression changed. He gazed at her with a bittersweet smile and gently plucked a few strings on his lyre.
A soft melody filled the air, carried by the evening breeze.
"You remind me of her," Venti said. "That same fire… that same belief in freedom. I look forward to the day your story becomes a song."
Jean smiled faintly. "Then, Lord Barbatos, I promise—I will lead Mondstadt toward a better future."
As his melody faded, the wind around them seemed to whisper approval.
Jean straightened, the doubts in her heart dissolving into resolve.
"Alright," she said, turning to Diluc. "Let's finish clearing these monsters. Mondstadt won't save itself."
---
Kael's Quiet Observation
Meanwhile, Kael's livestream continued quietly.
He didn't interrupt the conversation between Jean and Diluc. He simply watched—and listened.
Through the chat interface, he silently added a new feature: the ability for members to voluntarily share their locations. It would help coordinate missions in the future.
With Barbara beside him, he walked along the gentle path leading to Starfell Lake. The world around them was calm—unnaturally calm. Monsters hid in the shadows, but none dared to approach.
Barbara's voice broke the silence. "Mr. Kael… I never realized how dangerous it's become outside the city." Her tone carried a hint of sadness. "If only Lord Barbatos were here… With his divine power, he could surely destroy these monsters in an instant."
Kael chuckled softly. "Perhaps. But if the people of Mondstadt rely on their god for everything, they'll never learn to stand on their own."
Barbara blinked, surprised.
"The purpose of power," Kael said, his voice gentle, "isn't to save others forever—it's to teach them how to save themselves."
The wind stirred the lake's surface as he spoke, rippling outward like spreading light.
For a moment, Barbara just watched him silently, then smiled. "I think… Lord Barbatos would agree with you."
Kael smiled faintly in return. "He already does."
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End of Chapter 52 — Jean's Determination