To protect his dear friend, his homeland, and the singing maiden, Rostam left many contingencies, ensuring that even after his death, someone could safeguard all that he cherished.
In reality, Rosalyne's emotions remained calm. Though this was her own story, she could no longer recall it, as if she were reading someone else's tale.
In the story, however, Rosalyne's emotions were anything but calm, for she was about to leave for Sumeru to pursue her studies.
Before her departure, Rostam gave her an hourglass, telling her that when the sand ran out, it would be time for her return.
"The maiden didn't leave immediately. Her gaze lingered on Rostam, a flicker of expectation in her eyes. Surely, this taciturn knight would say something in this moment, wouldn't he?"
"Even if it was just a single word of hope for their reunion?"
"But he didn't. He only watched her silently until she faded into the distance."
"It's fine, there will be other chances, the departing maiden thought to herself."
"When the hourglass completed its cycle and the maiden returned to Mondstadt, the one who had gifted her the timepiece had already fallen prey to calamity."
"Her homeland had been ravaged by disaster, and her knight was not only hers."
"The knight fought to protect his home. He succeeded in defending it, but at the cost of his life."
"In the final moments of his life, the knight felt no fear."
"His thoughts were only of his disciple, his dear friend, and the singing maiden."
"The maiden clutched the hourglass, knowing that the words left unsaid that day would never be heard again."
"The returning maiden had lost the one she cherished. She rewrote that song."
"Dandelions drift away with the morning breeze."
"The autumn wind carries the fragrance of harvest."
"But no matter what kind of wind blows,"
"It can no longer bring your gaze to me."
"The maiden wept bitterly until her tears and her song ran dry."
"Her voice was no longer calm and enchanting; her tears turned into flowing fire. In her anguished wails, she became the Crimson Witch of Flame."
"With her life as fuel, flames replaced her blood, coursing through her body. Burning and pain would forever accompany her."
"She no longer shed tears, nor bled. Her body was consumed by endless flames, and her heart held only boundless hatred."
"The hourglass completed its cycle, but she did not see that knight."
"The hourglass completed its cycle, and the maiden's time ended there."
"The hourglass completed its cycle, and the Crimson Witch of Flame was born in that moment."
"The maiden: I had a long dream. I dreamed of you and me, reunited in the pure white world we created."
"But I have finally awakened from that dream. I have long been consumed by flames, and you have long returned to the earth."
"The burning Crimson Witch incinerated all the monsters of the world. Even if people feared her and drove her away, she never regretted it."
"Because she refused to witness another tragedy born of monsters."
"Hatred, pain—these I shall bear, and these I shall end. Only then can new hope arise. After the flames burn through, a brand-new world will emerge!"
"And I, too, will burn to ashes with those flames."
"She needed no understanding, no comfort, no redemption. The only ones who understood her loneliness and solitude were the birds that landed beside her."
"Were these the same 'audience' from back then? No one knew."
"The bird that landed beside her chirped and 'sang,' and she sat quietly, savoring a rare moment of peace."
"Just like back then, except the knight was no longer there, and the singing maiden had lost her voice."
"It seemed that among the 'audience' from that time, only the birds remained unchanged."
"In the end, the nearly extinguished Crimson Witch met the first 'Fool.'"
"The witch's flames were suppressed by the Tsaritsa's grace, and thus 'Signora' was born."
"The hourglass flowed once more, and with Signora's rebirth, her time began to move again."
"But Rosalyne had lost all her memories. She was no longer that maiden."
"Thus, Rosalyne died—not by the Raiden Shogun's blade. She had long been dead."
"She died the moment the hourglass ran out."
"This…" After reading Signora's story, the people of Mondstadt fell silent.
The Fatui, whom they had cursed, turned out to have once been a hero who saved Mondstadt.
They said they'd give her a couple of slaps—my mistake, I should slap myself twice!
Looking back now, it seemed that aside from her arrogant attitude and sharp tongue, Signora hadn't really done anything wrong.
She was practically just a diplomat, running errands the whole time.
Aside from slapping Venti and stealing the Lyre in Mondstadt, she hadn't done much else.
In Liyue, it was a "contract" between gods—she was just the errand runner who took the Gnosis.
In Inazuma, the plan was devised by the Doctor and executed by Scaramouche. Signora was, once again, just running errands.
The only place she'd caused trouble was Mondstadt, and compared to her colleagues, it barely counted as trouble. The real culprits stirring things up in Mondstadt were the Abyss Order.
After reading this story, more people began to feel that Signora had been wronged. Why did she only get half a day of mourning!?
Foreigners might think we can't afford to stop longer! A full day! One day for everyone!
Since most people learned about Signora through the prophetic books, they had already assumed she was dead.
As for Rosalyne herself, she brushed the ashes off her hands. Another book had been burned to cinders by her.
She didn't know how many monsters she had incinerated, but she had definitely burned plenty of Lucian's books.
After burning it, she skillfully took out another book and carefully placed it on her bookshelf.
"The past? I don't need it!" Rosalyne turned her head with a huff.
Perhaps the past her was a hero who saved Mondstadt, but that was the past—a past she had forgotten.
A forgotten past, free of attachments, she didn't need. Honors, emotions—none of it was necessary!
Let the honors of the past remain in the past. I am "Signora"!
The current me is the Eighth of the Fatui Harbingers—"Signora" Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter!
The current me is a "notorious" person, unworthy of the honors of the past or the sympathy they bring.
So let the past stay in the past.
The current me has my own pride and doesn't need sympathy.
But that was just her own perspective. Others didn't see it that way.
After all, you only lost your memories—you didn't die. You're not a replacement; you are the real person!
"Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter," Rosalyne murmured her name.
That was the name of the "maiden," not the name of her, the Fatui Harbinger… not…
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice · Rosalyne: About Lucian's Help
"I don't want to admit it… but still, I hope the next time he's in trouble, I can lend him a hand. That way, I can hold my head high in front of him again."