The immediate aftermath of the battle was a symphony of chaos conducted in the key of relief. The sharp, acrid scent of ozone from vanquished elemental magic mingled with the earthy smell of trampled soil and crushed pine needles. The low groans of the injured trainees were a somber undertone to the sharp, authoritative commands of the newly arrived knights. I stood breathing heavily, my own lungs feeling strangely lighter, as if the very air had become more welcoming.
Jean, her professional demeanor cracking, was instantly at my side. "Artorius! Are you hurt? To awaken a Vision like that… the elemental energy… it can be a severe shock to the body." Her hands hovered near my shoulders, unsure if I was solid enough to touch.
Eula was a step behind her, her usual proud posture rigid with a tension that went beyond her normal defiance. Her cyan eyes, sharp and assessing, weren't looking at me, but at the glowing Vision on my belt, deconstructing the event, trying to fit it into her understanding of the world. "You were reckless," she stated, the words clipped. "To expose yourself as a target like that… foolish." There was no heat in her voice, only a deeply buried current of concern.
My attention, however, was drawn to the world itself. It looked… different. The gentle breeze wasn't just moving air anymore; I could perceive it as a tapestry of flowing currents, a river of invisible energy I was now irrevocably connected to. I could feel the eddies that swirled around the trees, the updraft created by a sun-warmed rock, the faint, sorrowful gust that sighed through the boughs of the defeated Samachurls. It was overwhelming, beautiful, and a little frightening.
The chaotic relief curdled into a tense silence as Grand Master Varka and Captain Kaeya approached. The other knights instinctively parted for them, their expressions shifting to one of solemn duty. Varka's gaze, which could be as warm and lazy as a summer afternoon, was now as focused and penetrating as a hawk's. He looked from me to my two companions, a flicker of pride in his eyes for their bravery, before his full attention settled on me. It was not a look of accusation, but of profound, demanding curiosity.
"Walk with me," he commanded, his voice a low rumble that cut through the noise of the clearing.
He led the five of us—me, Jean, Eula, and the ever-watchful Kaeya—away from the prying eyes and listening ears of the others. We stopped in a small, secluded glade where the only sound was the whispering of the leaves. Varka turned, his massive frame seeming to draw all the authority in the forest to him.
"The official report," he began, his tone formal and absolute, "will be concise. It will state that the final phase of the admission test was compromised by an unforeseen monster threat of significant strength. It will state that the three instructor knights, with the exemplary assistance of trainees Jean Gunnhildr, Eula Lawrence, and Arthur Aethel, successfully neutralized this threat, protecting the other trainees from harm. Lastly, it will document that during this crucible, Arthur Aethel's ambition and character were recognized, and he was granted an Anemo Vision."
He let the official version hang in the air, a clean, palatable story for the records. "That is what the scribes will write. That is what the rest of Mondstadt will know." He took a step closer, his shadow falling over me. "Now, I want the unofficial report. I want the truth. Tell me everything, son. From the moment you knew something was wrong."
This was the real test. I took a deep breath, marshaling my thoughts. My Tactics skill quietly hummed in the back of my mind, analyzing their postures, their expressions, feeding me data on how to best navigate this verbal minefield.
I began by describing the sudden, violent premonition of danger from my Instinct, calling it a "knight's intuition sharpened by the strange quiet of the woods." I explained how the real ambush felt different, chaotic and malicious, unlike the staged test. I detailed the flow of the battle, highlighting Jean's command and Eula's fierce flanking maneuvers. Then, I came to the crucial moment.
"I saw the other trainee—Tim—get trapped in that Hydro bubble. The Anemo Samachurl was summoning a vortex beneath him. I knew no one could reach him in time." I paused, then looked Varka straight in the eye. "I've had this for a day," I said, my hand resting on the now-vibrant Vision. It felt warm against my palm. "I found it yesterday. It was grey and lifeless. I didn't know what it was, only that it felt… expectant. In that moment, watching Tim rise towards his doom, everything else faded away. It felt like all my focus, all my will, my entire being, poured into it. I wasn't trying to fight. I didn't want to create a storm. I just wanted to reach him. To set him free."
I looked at the wind-swept leaves around us. "And the wind… it just answered me."
It was the most honest lie I had ever told.
Jean and Eula stared at me, their shock evident. The prior existence of the Masterless Vision was news to them, another layer to the enigma of their friend.
Kaeya, who had been listening with a placid smile, finally spoke, his voice as smooth and cool as river stones. "A noble sentiment, to be sure. And a remarkably precise first use of Anemo powers." He took a step forward, his single, star-pupiled eye gleaming with intelligence. "Most new Allogenes, in a moment of panic, are lucky if they can kick up a dust cloud. You, however, summoned a controlled updraft that lifted you without struggle. Your Anemo blade didn't shatter the Hydro bubble; it seemed to unravel it. The barrier you created didn't just block the enemy's attack; it harmonized with it and dispersed it. These are acts of immense control, not raw, untamed power. Where does such an instinct for the wind come from, I wonder?"
His questions were surgical strikes, each one aimed at the cracks in my story. I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my temple. This man was dangerous.
"Freedom isn't about chaos, Kaeya," I replied, choosing my words with care. "It's about control over one's self. Maybe the wind understands that better than we do. I've lived in the City of Freedom my whole life. Perhaps I was listening more closely than I thought."
Kaeya's smile widened, a silent acknowledgment of my verbal parry. He had tested my defenses, and I had held.
Varka let out a deep, hearty laugh that broke the tension. "Ha! A scholar's answer from a warrior's body! Well said, son!" He clapped me soundly on the shoulder. "An act of pure will to grant another freedom from certain death. If that isn't an ambition worthy of Barbatos's favor, I don't know what is." He looked between the three of us, his expression radiating pride. "Your performance today, in every aspect, has surpassed all expectations. On my authority as Grand Master, I say this now: Welcome to the Knights of Favonius."
The trek back to the city was a slow, weary procession. The adrenaline had long since evaporated, leaving behind an exhaustion so deep it felt embedded in my bones. Jean and Eula walked on either side of me, their usual banter replaced by a contemplative silence.
"A Vision," Jean finally said, her voice soft with wonder. "And you had the casing all along. Why didn't you tell us?"
"I didn't know what it was," I answered honestly. "It felt personal. Something I had to figure out on my own."
Eula nudged my shoulder with her own, a rare gesture of familiar camaraderie. "Hmph. Always so secretive. No matter. This just means my own vengeance will be all the sweeter when I eventually surpass you. An inert Vision is one thing, but a newly awakened one… you've set the bar high. I will have to redouble my efforts." Her words were a challenge, but her tone was that of someone who had just witnessed a friend achieve the impossible and was fiercely proud, even if she'd rather die than admit it.
We reached the crest of the hill overlooking the city. The setting sun bathed the windmills and red-tiled roofs in a warm, golden light. A new chapter was beginning for all of us. The name on my birth records, Artorius, felt like it belonged to the boy who had walked this path yesterday. A trainee, a child playing at being a knight. Today, I had answered a call, awakened a power, and earned my place. I was someone new.
That night, in the profound silence of my room, I finally allowed myself to fully process the day. I stripped off my dirt-caked training gear and sat on my bed, the moonlight pooling on the floor. I held my Anemo Vision. It pulsed with a soft, rhythmic cyan light, a tiny, captured star that hummed in perfect harmony with the night breeze. I closed my eyes, sinking into the familiar interface of my System.
SYSTEM ANALYSIS COMPLETE
New Power Source Integrated: [Anemo Vision - AWAKENED]
A fundamental connection to the elemental energies of Teyvat has been established. This power is external, drawn from the world and filtered through the user's ambition and will. It is distinct from the host's internal energy source, [Mana Burst].
New Skill Tree Unlocked: [Elemental Arts (Anemo)]
The user's innate understanding of wind manipulation has been cataloged.
Current Available Skills:
► Elemental Skill: [Palm Vortex] - Mastery 1.2%
*Description: Gathers the wind into the palm of your hand and fires it as a small, compressed burst of Anemo energy. This non-lethal blast is capable of staggering unshielded enemies, disrupting elemental auras, and interacting with environmental objects.
► Elemental Burst: [Cyclone Field] (LOCKED) - Mastery 0%
*Description: Creates a large, swirling field of wind at a designated point, continuously pulling in surrounding enemies and dealing minor Anemo damage over time. The vortex persists for a moderate duration.
*Unlock Requirement: Achieve 10% Elemental Mastery or perform a conscious harmonization with a significant source of natural Anemo energy (e.g., an Anemo Hypostasis, a major storm).
A flashing, red-bordered box appeared below it, demanding my attention.
[CRITICAL SYSTEM WARNING]: POWER SOURCE INCOMPATIBILITY DETECTED!
The host's two primary power systems, [Mana Burst] (Internal Origin, Pure Energy) and [Anemo Arts] (External Origin, Elemental Energy), operate on fundamentally different principles. Simultaneous activation is HIGHLY DANGEROUS.
[Simulation Analysis]: Attempting to channel [Mana Burst] through the [Anemo Vision] conduit or directly infuse an [Anemo Arts] construct will result in a 98.7% probability of catastrophic failure. Projected outcomes include vessel rupture (severe internal and external physical damage to host) and uncontrolled elemental detonation (a violent, unpredictable explosion).
► Synergy Research Protocol: Activated. Current Progress: 0.00%
The clinical, terrifying words sent a shiver down my spine. The System wasn't just warning me; it was showing me a vision of myself being torn apart from the inside out. My two greatest strengths were also my greatest liability. For now, they had to remain separate. The secret, overwhelming power of a Heroic Spirit, and the public, versatile power of a Knight of Favonius.
The next morning, we stood before the Grand Master once more, this time in the great hall of the headquarters. We were clad in our new uniforms. The fabric was stiff, the leather new, and the weight of the blue cape on my shoulders felt immense. I caught my reflection in the polished marble floor and saw a stranger looking back—a young man with blond hair, green eyes, and the unmistakable bearing of a Knight of Favonius.
Varka bestowed upon us our titles and assignments with formal solemnity. Jean's appointment to the administrative corps under her father's guidance was met with respectful nods. Eula's assignment to the Scouting Company raised a few eyebrows, but no one dared question the Grand Master's decision to place the Lawrence girl in a position of trust.
Then came my turn. "Knight Arthur Aethel," Varka announced, his voice echoing in the hall. "In light of your newly awakened and unique talents, you will be assigned to the 8th Company, under the direct command and mentorship of Cavalry Captain Kaeya Alberich."
A quiet but palpable ripple went through the assembled knights. The 8th Company was not a standard patrol unit. It was the intelligence division. The spies, investigators, and troubleshooters. To be placed there, directly under Kaeya, was both a great honor and a clear statement. I was being watched.
After the ceremony, we walked out onto the high balcony overlooking the city. The promotion, the uniform, the Vision—it was all real. No longer trainees, we were now guardians of this city of wind and freedom. Jean stood straight and proud, the shield in the making. Eula stood defiant and sharp, the vengeful sword. And I stood between them, a wild card with a secret power and a new name.
I looked at my Anemo Vision, its cyan gem catching the afternoon light. The tutorial was over. The game had just begun. And as I felt the familiar, calculating gaze of my new Captain from somewhere behind me, I knew the difficulty was about to be ramped up significantly.