Seeing Leo collapse to the ground, Furina rushed over and tried her best to support him.
Shaking his face in a panic, she cried out,
"Leo! Wake up, wake up!"
There was no response. His breathing was faint, barely perceptible.
The members of the Black Heart Salon quickly surrounded Leo, but none of them knew what to do.
What should I do? What should I do?
Furina tried to lift Leo on her own, but his build was far sturdier than hers, and no matter how hard she strained, she could not move him.
Fortunately, the Salon members stepped in to help. With their aid, she managed to get Leo upright.
But when Furina looked around, she realized the grim reality—they were stranded deep in the wilderness, hours away from Fontaine's city proper. A healthy person could walk the distance, but an injured man…
The thought made her chest tighten. Furina's anxiety grew, tears welling in her eyes.
Seeing Leo's condition worsen, she hurriedly brought him into a tent, her hands trembling with unease.
"You can't die! You promised me you would protect me forever!"
Her voice cracked as she lay on his chest, crying helplessly.
"Ahem… Lady Furina, please don't press so hard on my chest. I'm not dead, just a little injured… and tired. I only want to sleep for a while."
Hearing Leo's faint, hesitant voice, Furina sat up at once, her gaze snapping to his lips, which moved ever so slightly.
"Ohhh! Are you really okay?"
Okay? Far from it! Leo thought bitterly. I was almost crushed to death by Lady Furina herself…
But he no longer had the strength to speak further.
The truth was, he had taken a direct blow from a Hilichurl King. And what manner of existence was such a creature?
It would not be an exaggeration to say that even a well-armed army might break ranks at the sight of a Hilichurl King.
That he could endure such a strike and not be reduced to pulp—and even strike back—was a miracle in itself.
As he focused inward, he felt the Anemo power circulating slowly through his body, bringing a sense of calm.
Master is truly incredible…
Furina, however, saw only silence. She tilted her head, confused.
"Why won't he speak anymore…?"
Yet she dared not touch him again, afraid that even the smallest contact might aggravate his injuries.
He's already been hurt twice… and now this is the third time…
Sitting quietly by his side, Furina replayed the scene in her mind.
In that perilous moment, Leo's first thought had been not to flee, but to shield her.
With his skill, he could have easily escaped the instant he spotted the Hilichurl King.
But he chose to stay.
On his youthful face, she had glimpsed a kind of maturity beyond his years.
Drying her tears, Furina pulled out a blanket and gently covered him.
Yet even that didn't seem enough—he was injured, vulnerable to the cold. What more could she do?
Biting her lip, she finally decided to slip beneath the blanket as well, inching closer to him, determined to share her warmth.
Though unconscious, Leo seemed to sense it. In the darkness of night, a faint blush colored his cheeks, his pallor fading bit by bit.
Inside the tent, Furina pressed close under the shared blanket, unable to fall asleep.
Her mind replayed his words of comfort from before, when he had torn away her garments only to shield her.
"Don't be afraid, Lady Furina. I still have a trump card."
And before that…
"Lady Furina, it's okay… it's okay."
He had spoken with a smile, hiding both his pain and his embarrassment, even as his body endured more than it should.
Tears filled her eyes again. I'll never forget that moment.
Yet amid her sorrow, she felt a warmth unlike anything she had ever known.
Even unconscious, Leo radiated heat that soothed her trembling body.
But outside the tent, another story unfolded.
A young man clad in green, harp at his back, stepped lightly into the night. Venti—the Anemo Archon, Barbatos—had come.
He looked toward the tent where his beloved disciple rested beside the Hydro Archon herself.
Scratching his head, Venti let out a half-laugh, half-sigh.
"Outrageous… absolutely outrageous. By my reckoning, my apprentice should be vacationing right now, perhaps even keeping me company."
Yet he had waited for days in Mondstadt, only to receive word that Leo would not be visiting after all. Saddened, he had drowned his disappointment in tavern wine.
Then, in the dead of night, he had suddenly felt Leo call upon the power of Anemo—a cry so desperate it startled him. Without hesitation, he soared from Mondstadt to Fontaine's wild highlands.
But the sight before him had pierced his heart.
What does this mean? After half a year apart, my precious disciple has been stolen away by another Archon?
"Am I too late?"
The forest gave him no answer.
Smiling faintly, Venti raised his lyre and plucked its strings. A gentle melody filled the air, carried by the wind.
Anemo swirled, gathering at the tent, threading softly into Leo's body.
The distant song reverberated through the mountains and forests, stirring untold tales.
When the melody finally ceased, Venti gazed at Leo's sleeping form. The wounds were not mortal; his disciple would endure.
"Oh, what am I to do…? My disciple has fallen in love with a foreign Archon."
Pinching his chin in thought, Venti pulled out a scrap of paper, scribbled a message, and tucked it into Leo's hand.
That done, a new fragrance caught his nose. His eyes sparkled when he spotted bottles of fine Fontaine wine among Leo's belongings.
Pulling one free, he read the label aloud with a grin:
"To the Knights of Favonius, Mondstadt—recipient: Venti."
"Hah! How thoughtful, little Leo."
Beaming, he gathered the bottles into his arms, then gave Leo a playful kick on the backside.
"Xiao Leo, Master loves you dearly!"
With those words, he vanished into the night.
But his wind still lingered, weaving around Leo, guarding and healing.
From start to finish, no one knew what had transpired.
—
The next morning, Leo opened his eyes. His body felt warm and whole; even the internal pain had ebbed away.
Startled, he looked himself over. Not only were his wounds gone, but his strength had returned.
Then, glancing at his hand, he noticed a folded slip of paper.
Unfolding it, he read:
Xiao Leo, I haven't seen you for half a year—why are you in such a pitiful state?
Your Master flew here from Mondstadt. I truly care about you.
Boohoo~ I waited so long, only to find my beloved disciple abducted by a foreign Archon. How heartbreaking!
Oh, and thank you for the wine. I've taken it. Until next time~
Also—remember, the winds favor you. Fear not. Master will always be here.
Leo's chest warmed.
No wonder, in that desperate moment when he had unleashed all his Anemo power, he had felt no fear. Deep down, he had known his Master would come.
Clutching the note tightly, he suddenly realized his other arm was weighed down.
Turning, he found a beautiful sight—Furina, nestled against his shoulder, her head resting on his arm. Faint streaks of tears stained her cheeks.
And what's more… they were under the same blanket, body to body!
But she had cried through the night.
Swallowing, Leo reached out and gently brushed the dried tears from her face, his heart softening.
From this moment on… I swear never to let Lady Furina cry again.
Feeling his touch, Furina stirred and slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze met Leo's—and the hand that tenderly caressed her cheek.
"Ah! Leo! How dare you sleep with me!"