From the top of the mountain, two figures are looking at the newly made grave. For a while, there were no words, just the sounds of a breeze that flowed at the top. If anybody had looked down, they would have been paralyzed in fear.
"...He would be glad to rest on the mountain he wishes to conquer."
Venerare said as she held Chara's hand for comfort. She was also affected by the sight of Leonard's dead body, but her reaction was different from Chara's. To her, she lost a friend, someone who she got along with.
She wasn't sure why Chara acted the way they did while they climbed all the way up. Did they get along with Leonard so well, did he have an impact on them? Many thoughts flowed over her, but she knew she wouldn't get a clear answer.
All she could do was be there for Chara. Ventus was at the top with them, but he figured he would give the two some space.
"Yeah… If his soul were still here. But at least he'll appreciate that his body will be buried to the very top he hopes to reach."
They said as they looked at the tombstone they made.
It said: Here lies Leonard the Adventurer - He had a dream, a dream he longed to achieve.
It was the least they could do for the man they respected. At least his body was able to reach the top. His spirit would be glad that he finally got to do what he dreamed of, even if he was no longer here.
"It is the nicest thing you did for him. Hopefully, it can bring him peace in the afterlife."
She honestly couldn't believe that they were able to reach the top. It was getting steeper and steeper for anyone to climb. It is difficult for a group to reach all together, which is the reason why only she, Chara, Ventus, and Barbatos are at the top.
"(The afterlife… Hopefully he reach heaven safely.)"
Chara thought of their own death, how they felt like they were trapped in the void for so long, without knowing where they'd end up.
They glance at the view, you can see so much at this kind of height. It makes it more worth it to reach the top than they realized. They let out a small smile as they nodded at Venerare's words.
"I hope so too… You know, it's beautiful, seeing such a view."
"It really is. I'm glad I got to view it with you."
A small blush appeared on their face once again. But they quickly shrug it off, for someone like them falling in love… It makes them wonder if they truly deserve to have a romantic relationship.
They tried to let go of Venerare's hand, but it seemed she gripped it so they wouldn't be able to let go. It also made them wonder if she had incredible strength.
"Do you want to stay here much longer? I don't mind staying with you."
They didn't respond, they just nodded. Venerare could only nod as she looked at Ventus who smiled at her as if he was saying he'll stay too for extra company.
But he stood up and carefully climbed down so that he could tell the others to head back without them.
Venerare smiled as she looked back at the view as she looked towards Mondstadt. She couldn't help but wonder just what everyone else was doing during the hours here.
Meanwhile, at the storm barrier, two hours ago…
"Phew, we're back! And this time, no blizzard and no god approaching."
Frisk said to the group behind them, finally reaching where they and Chara had arrived yesterday.
Only for a moment later did they realize that they should have kept their mouths shut. Because back in their words saying something like that would trigger a jinx.
"You know, the day I left this city, I felt nervous, I didn't know what we had to ensure the moment we exited the protection the God of Storms provided us, I never thought we had to endure a harsh blizzard, I never thought I lose my father, and most of all, I never knew it would give me strength, friends, and a purpose of what I should do."
Gunnhildr spoke as she looked directly at Frisk's face, her smile radiating determination and bravery.
"To help the people who are suffering under a tyrant's rule. To help not just my people but the people of Mondstadt too. You, Chara, and Barbatos are giving us the chance to gather forces, to strengthen our cause. We're one step closer to overthrowing Decarabian, and I could never thank you all enough for entering our lives."
Her words and her statements cause Frisk to feel appreciated, and that is something for them to think about. Suddenly, the moment she spoke, others spoke in; everyone thanked Frisk for what they and the others had done for them.
They help them to become strong, they help with things nobody could have prepared for, and they, along with Chara, even fight a god just to stop the blizzard that endangered those who couldn't find shelter.
Hearing more voices, every human Frisk had met, befriended, and helped, made them smile. It made them glad that their Kindness to them hadn't been for nothing but to provide them strength, a reason to feel determined to live.
But at the same time, it also made them sad, disappointed, and frustrated. They wished the humans back home were this thankful and willing to cooperate with them.
Ever since they freed the monsters, they have been treated as outcasts by all of humanity; some stupidly thought they were monsters themselves, which caused Frisk to ask those who appeared to be racist and biased if they had their eyes checked.
Thankfully there were still some humans who were willing to associate with monsters, to even befriend them. Even though the number was small, it slowly grew and that was enough for them. Hardship and struggle just for being friends with monsters, they understood what Chara had to deal with, but not the amount where they were willing to kill all humans.
But after the things they did, even if humanity never felt the damage they had caused to themselves, they couldn't fully blame them for being paranoid. They wonder what could have happened if Chara hadn't killed the Player that possessed them. Would it influence more trouble on the surface than what they did to the underground in the erased timeline?
Still, Frisk felt happy that they were being thanked for their help and Kindness.
"Thank you… For believing in me, my brother, my wind friend, and to suggest you all come along with me."
They opened their eyes as everyone was amazed by the four-point star pupils, some even worshiping such eyes. Gunnhildr however, blushes at the sight of the rare opportunity to see Frisk's eyes. She always wondered how they could see without opening their eyes at all.
"Alright! Let's head on in! …Actually, do we all need to go in as a group or do we go in one by one?"
They immediately began to walk straight to the storm barrier, only to stop as they were immediately cautious of entering a god's territory. A god that is stronger than Boreas.
"Perhaps it is best to enter one by one. We left Mondstadt as mortals, but now we are mortals with the blessing of Barbatos, while you have his blessing along with the God of Storms. There could be a chance for Decarabian to sense a group of blessed individuals, and if it connects to his barrier."
Gunnhildr spoke as she knew just how strong Frisk had become since yesterday. Meanwhile, Frisk just nodded at her words as they couldn't help but want to say he had the blessing of the Shade of Time but figured right now wasn't the right time to say.
Right now, they are thinking of how to avoid being undetected, it's not like they can hide their blessings from a god. And it is not like he had a cloak of invisibility to hide themselves from anyone including a god, or anything.
"If only Istaroth was here."
Frisk muttered as they watched the barrier, still thinking of ways to possibly get inside.
"You called?"
Frisk shot up as they looked around, swearing in their mind that they heard Istaroth's voice. But before he could have done anything, she responded.
"Oh! It seems you were able to succeed in winning your duel with Boreas. My congratulations to you Dreemurr."
Her voice echoed all over them as if she was speaking to whoever was able to hear her. Gunnhildr looked at Frisk in confusion, wondering why they had reacted the way they did.
"Uh, Frisk, did something happen? Are you alright?"
Frisk turned around seeing the confusion in her friend's eyes, realizing that they were the only ones who could hear Istaroth's voice.
"Nothing, I had a reaction of my own; it happens sometimes."
Which wasn't a lie as it sometimes happens. They had no control over whether their body shook for no reason.
They immediately spoke in their mind like how they had to stay silent while speaking with Chara to prevent others from thinking they were crazy for speaking by themselves.
"I would have appreciated it more if you had helped us."
"As I told you, I cannot fully intervene with what the Heavenly Principles started. If I had dared to even lift a finger to aid you physically, then they would have my head."
"But you're helping in the shadows. Surely you could have done more than just give us and others your blessing."
"Mr. Dreemurr, as an outsider of Teyvat, you don't fully understand what the Heavenly Principles are capable of. This world used to be ruled by seven powerful elemental dragons who were known as the Seven Sovereigns. The Heavenly Principles and us, the Four Shades, fought these powerful creatures for control of Teyvat as they showed pure strength, authority, and elemental abilities.
"The battle lasted for perhaps 40 years but we succeeded in defeating the Seven Sovereigns and took control of Teyvat. And that battle was so many years ago even long before the war started. We are not beings who you should underestimate, we have power that is greater than your broken soul, even if it fully repairs itself. We could easily kill you and your twin if you are proven to be dangerous and by their orders."
Her words send shivers down on Frisk's spine, they can easily tell how serious she is just by talking. Her aura and authority were already something they should be concerned about. But this information made them consider that the Heavenly Principles have the power and strength to take over the world.
Taking over a world that was once ruled by the Seven Sovereigns, declaring a war that no one could oppose. It can easily be seen as a being with malicious intentions. You could even think Istaroth was also a being with malicious intentions.
But there is also something they recall during their first meeting. Istaroth didn't like how the war started and how many lives it took. But she couldn't do anything as she is a being who is underneath the powerful leader. She even showed fear when she mentioned the Heavenly Principles.
It just proves that she and possibly the other shades couldn't do anything against the one in control. If they do, even a single action against the ruler, then their lives can easily be destroyed.
"...Just hearing this makes me consider your reasons for not helping as much as you are already doing."
"Thank you for understanding. I do hope this wasn't the reason why you wanted to speak with me."
Frisk immediately realized what they wanted to talk to her about; now they had the chance to speak. And now that they notice, it seems like time has been frozen, as if Istaroth had frozen time for their conversation.
"There is a reason why I wish to speak with you. I am currently outside of the storm barrier, and my companion thought that now that we have a blessing with me having three, including yours, it will attract the God of Storms. Is there a way for me to avoid being detected, as well as my companions?"
"Well, Decarabian shouldn't be able to sense your wind spirit blessing as he isn't a god so your companions will be safe. As for you, you have my blessing, and you should be able to use a bit of time to stop time completely for a few seconds, just enough for you to pass through the barrier without being detected at all."
"Is it that simple?"
They could hear her chuckle as if they still had so much to learn about their blessings.
"Yes, and honestly, as someone from another world, your blessings are different from those who also received them. You and Chara have the potential to uncover just what you can do with Anemo, Cyro, and time elemental powers. It is just the skills you both learned, you can also make new kinds of magic.
"As a person who can use magic, I believe it would be beneficial that you will create things that no one could possibly have dreamt of."
That made Frisk gasp as if they now had the chance to create a spell that they always wanted to do. The spell to do… Anything? They hadn't really thought of which spell they saw, heard, or read in fiction they should try to create. But if it can be created then it will be worth it.
"Guess I still have a lot to learn. Thanks, Istaroth! Wait, since I was able to talk to you, does this mean I will be able to speak to you whenever I can?"
"Not all the time, I am mostly busy with the things up here. You're lucky I am currently on a little break right now. But after this, you won't be able to contact me for possibly a while or a long time."
"Ah, I see (not really). I understand, I guess I was that lucky today. Talk to you wherever you're free."
"Heh, so this is what it's like to have someone to talk to… It feels nice."
Slowly and quietly, Istaroth's voice slowly echoed away; time began to move forward again; only a second had passed, at least in Frisk's (closed) eyes.
"Frisk?"
Gunnhildr's voice spoke as she noticed something else was on Frisk's mind. Before she could say anything they already had an idea.
"We'll do your suggestion, each of you take turns going inside, I doubt Decarabian will sense the blessing of Barbatos as he is a wind spirit while Decarabian is the God of Storms. Don't worry about me; I have an ability that will help me get through this barrier; trust me."
Frisk looked at their student with complete certainty which made Gunnhildr believe that they did what they could do.
And with that, everyone began to enter through the barrier one by one, up until it was Gunnhildr's turn as Frisk was the last one. They glance at this powerful barrier while having their half-SOUL out. They look directly at their SOUL and begin to use time magic.
Istaroth said they could stop time; they just had to fully put in the word to achieve it. Then suddenly, everything again began to slow down, but not the way Istaroth was able to do. But that wasn't the only thing that was happening, their SOUL was beginning to change its color.
From being scarlet red, it began to show a bit of blue that soon spread all the way until it covered the whole half-heart. The color was now light blue and cyan, not to mention they had put themselves from having Determination to Patience.
Frisk couldn't believe that their half-SOUL could still turn into SOUL Modes. More importantly, it was the first time ever they were in a mode that links to Patience. They weren't sure what mode it processed, but they knew it involved not being able to move at all as they had to stop while being near light blue lasers.
Frisk watches in awe as they notice a white half-line heart surrounding their SOUL as it is waiting for them to do something. They immediately tried to move, only to quickly realize how stupid it was as they couldn't move, then tried to move the line with their mind.
It was beginning to work as the line was moved away from their SOUL, then into the barrier, they wondered just how far they could move the line. They were able to somewhat feel where the line was going as it was still within the barrier. But soon they would feel that the line was through the barrier.
They weren't sure why the line was there, but they knew they would find out as they activated the power of the Patience Mode. They suddenly felt their body was quickly mode by a second as if they had teleported.
They were behind the barrier outside of Mondstadt City, and now they were within the barrier and inside the city. Frisk couldn't believe, the SOUL Mode for Patience was teleporting! Perhaps this kind of mode should be called Teleport Mode.
"Huh!?"
Frisk turns to see Gunnhildr look at them with shock and confusion. From her point of view, her instructor is behind the barrier, and suddenly, they appear out of thin air.
"See, like I said, I have a way to get through the barrier."
They said as their SOUL changed back from Patience to Determination. They were now filled once again with determination.
"Now then… Guess we all were able to make it through the barrier, and… Huh so this is Mondstadt."
They said as they looked at the city they had never seen, and to their eyes, it was completely different from what they expected it to be. Way different.