Mondstadt – Goethe Hotel, where the Fatui diplomatic delegation was staying.
Rosalyne had just finished lunch when her world collapsed.
He was already on his way.
—Su Xuan.
—That man.
"Inazuma isn't even settled yet, and you've already come running to Mondstadt!?"
Even the Doctor would have paused to gasp.
From Inazuma to Mondstadt was an entire ocean.
Yet he would arrive by nightfall.
If that was his casual travel speed…
Then this man could cross all of Teyvat's Seven Nations in a single week, just by taking a stroll.
Rosalyne's hands trembled.
"You were supposed to be sightseeing! Going around! Touching some grass! Why come to Mondstadt of all places!?"
She yanked open the curtains and stared at Mondstadt's windmills.
…It was peaceful here.
Too peaceful.
Too harmless.
Too much like that backwater fishing village Inazuma was mocked as in his diary.
"What could you possibly want here!?"
More importantly—
"I haven't even forced Barbatos to show himself yet!"
She grabbed her head.
"No no no— timing is all wrong! WAY too early!"
Mondstadt – Knights of Favonius Library
Jean's eyes lit with rare relief.
"Lisa, the traveler from beyond this world… is heading here."
Recently, the East Wind Dragon had gone berserk, causing destruction across Mondstadt's trade routes.
The Knights had spent sleepless nights struggling just to contain the chaos.
If Su Xuan came—
Maybe there was hope.
Lisa raised a brow, smiling slyly.
"Jean… you're not imagining a white-knight-saves-the-city fairy tale, are you?"
Jean went stiff.
"N—No! I simply— It's not—"
Lisa sighed dramatically.
"Your face already gave it away. You're practically sparkling."
Jean's blush spread to her ears.
It was true: behind the strict uniform and leadership, Jean had a heart that still believed in heroic stories.
"Even if he helped the Shogun in Inazuma, that does not mean he will help us."
Lisa flicked a page closed.
"The one who asked him there was the Shogun.
Do you really think Mondstadt can compete with that?"
Jean's hopeful glow dimmed.
"...You're right."
Lisa softened her tone.
"So instead of daydreaming, let's continue our work. I've already located the source of Dvalin's power corruption. We need to prepare."
Jean nodded.
Duty first — no matter what.
Outside Mondstadt – Starfell Valley
Lumine stood beside a cliff, looking toward the city just over the horizon.
If she kept walking, she would reach Mondstadt today.
But she did not take another step.
Hovering beside her, Paimon tugged anxiously.
"Lumine… are we really not going to Mondstadt? Su Xuan said he'll arrive today!"
"He knows everything! He might know where your brother is!"
Paimon herself had no diary copy,
but she could see Lumine's — because the diary stated:
[Paimon is a part of Lumine. Indispensable. Therefore, she can see.]
Which, frankly, Paimon chose not to think too hard about.
Lumine's brows remained knit tight.
"Paimon. It's because he knows too much… that I'm worried."
They were both travelers from outside the world.
Yet their situations could not have been more different.
Lumine—
Didn't even understand the rules of this world yet.
But Su Xuan—
He knew:
The Archons
Sky Island
The Heavenly Principles
Even forbidden knowledge no mortal should know
He talked about Celestia and "the one who governs this world" as if commenting on the weather.
And Lumine remembered—
She and her brother were stopped by a god from Sky Island.
A god who sealed them.
Lumine's voice dropped to a whisper.
"What if Su Xuan isn't a traveler like us…
but someone sent from Sky Island to hunt me down?"
Paimon froze.
Lumine continued:
"If he truly came here to find me— then there is no escaping him."
But running was still better than offering her neck.
At that moment—
A roar split the sky.
Wind howled.
A massive emerald dragon swept overhead, wings blotting out the sun.
Paimon shrieked, clinging to Lumine's hair.
"WHAT WAS THAT!?"
Lumine exhaled slowly.
"…It doesn't matter. We can't get involved."
She turned away from Mondstadt.
"Paimon. We're changing course. We stay far away from the city…"
"…until Su Xuan leaves."
Paimon swallowed.
"…Okay."
The two walked into the forest.
And thus—
The destined beginning of the Traveler's Mondstadt story… quietly collapsed.
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