The walk to the Knights of Favonius headquarters was a silent, tense affair. Amber kept shooting glances at Aether, a whirlwind of questions in her eyes, while Paimon nervously flitted between them, unsure of what to say. Kaeya led the way, his posture relaxed but his presence unnervingly observant. Aether could feel the Cavalry Captain's single eye boring into his back, analyzing every step.
[Analysis: Subject 'Kaeya Alberich' exhibits high levels of strategic curiosity and suspicion. Recommend maintaining cover story and deploying calculated misinformation.]
"Understood", Aether thought back. The memory of ROB's final warning was clear: his powers were a trump card, a secret to be guarded. Trusting anyone, even the seemingly benevolent Knights, with the truth of his isekai origin and his catalogue of broken abilities was a risk he couldn't take.
The headquarters was a grand, sturdy building, its interior smelling of old wood, polished metal, and parchment. They were led into a spacious office where two more key figures awaited.
A woman with blonde hair tied in a ponytail stood over a large map, her brow furrowed in concentration. She wore the formal uniform of the Knights, a white cape adorned with fur draped over her shoulders. She exuded an air of weary authority and deep-seated responsibility.
[Analysis: Subject 'Jean Gunnhildr.' Designation: Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. Element: Anemo. Disposition: Righteous, burdened, pragmatic.]
Leaning against a bookshelf was another woman, clad in purple and a wide-brimmed witch's hat. She held a book in one hand, a faint, knowing smile on her lips as her eyes, the color of violets, swept over Aether with open interest.
[Analysis: Subject 'Lisa Minci.' Designation: Librarian of the Knights of Favonius. Element: Electro. Disposition: Intelligent, perceptive,慵懒 (lazy) but dangerously observant. Caution advised.]
"Acting Grand Master," Kaeya announced, his voice cutting through the room's solemnity. "May I present our guest, Aether. He's the one who... persuaded Stormterror to leave our skies."
Jean looked up, her blue eyes wide with a mixture of hope and shock. "You faced the dragon? And you're unharmed?"
Before Aether could answer, Lisa pushed herself off the bookshelf, her smile turning into a playful, sultry grin. "My, my. And such a handsome savior we have. You can call me Lisa, cutie. And what's a charming little thing like you doing fighting dragons?"
Aether offered a modest, slightly weary smile, a facade crafted and perfected in real-time by Great Sage. "I was just in the right place at the right time. Or the wrong place, depending on your perspective."
"Tell us what happened," Jean urged, gesturing for him to take a seat. "Any information could be vital."
This was the moment. Aether began his carefully constructed report, with Great Sage feeding him lines, adjusting his tone, and monitoring the reactions of his audience.
"I used the Wind Glider Amber gave me to get some altitude," he explained, the lie seamless. "The dragon's own tornadoes provided the lift. Once I was close, I... I've always had a bit of a knack for Anemo. It's why I travel—to understand it better." He let a flicker of 'natural talent' show, a tiny, controlled wisp of Anemo energy dancing on his palm. It was enough to be impressive, but not enough to be unbelievable for an Outlander.
"I used the wind to create distractions, to sting it and draw its attention away from the city. I just kept moving, using the air currents, and eventually, it decided I wasn't worth the trouble and flew off."
Kaeya's smirk was razor-thin. "A 'knack'? You moved through the sky as if you were running on solid ground, cutie. And those 'distractions' looked an awful lot like powerful, concentrated blades of wind from where I was standing. That's a bit more than a knack, don't you think?"
[Warning: Subject 'Kaeya' is probing. Deploy deflection.]
"I've traveled through many lands with strong winds," Aether said, meeting Kaeya's gaze without flinching. "You pick up a few tricks. I was desperate. When a city is under attack, you find strength you didn't know you had." He infused his voice with just the right amount of earnest conviction.
Jean, ever the pragmatist, leaned forward. "However you did it, you have the thanks of the Knights of Favonius and all of Mondstadt. This 'knack' of yours... could you use it to help us again? We are struggling to find a way to deal with this threat."
Lisa chuckled, her eyes twinkling. "Oh, I'm sure our little cutie can do all sorts of helpful things. He's just full of surprises, isn't he?" Her words were a flirtatious purr, but Aether could feel the analytical mind behind them, probing just as deeply as Kaeya's, albeit with a much gentler, more dangerous touch.
"Of course," Aether said, bowing his head slightly to Jean. "I'll help in any way I can. I'm a traveler, but I can't stand by when innocent people are in danger."
The meeting concluded with Jean formally requesting his assistance and Lisa offering the resources of the library if he needed to 'research' anything. As they filed out, Kaeya clapped a friendly hand on Aether's shoulder, but his grip was firm, his voice a low murmur meant only for him.
"Such remarkable control for a simple traveler. It's almost as if the wind itself answers your call as its master. I'll be... watching your journey with great interest, friend.
Aether simply nodded, his expression neutral. Once outside, with Paimon buzzing around him with a torrent of questions he deftly avoided, he let out a quiet mental sigh.
That was close.
[Social integration and misinformation protocols were successful. Suspicion remains in subjects 'Kaeya' and 'Lisa,' but no concrete evidence of deception was discovered. The cover of a 'talented Outlander' is holding.]
Good, Aether thought. Let them be suspicious. As long as they don't discover the truth about ROB, the wishes, and the fact that I could probably solo their dragon if I stopped holding back, everything will be fine. He had his mission: find his sister and navigate this world without unraveling it completely. And step one was keeping his god-like powers a secret from the very people who saw him as their newest hope.
The heavy oak door of the Knights of Favonius headquarters clicked shut behind Aether and Paimon, leaving Jean, Kaeya, and Lisa in the suddenly quiet office. The weight of the day's events settled heavily upon them.
Jean let out a long, weary sigh, sinking into her chair. She massaged her temples, the image of the golden-haired stranger standing defiantly against a dragon burned into her mind.
"Amber," Jean began, her voice soft but firm. "You were with him from the beginning. What is your honest assessment?"
Amber, who had been unusually quiet, straightened up. "He's... strange, Master Jean. But not in a bad way!" she added quickly. "When I first met him, he cleared out a Hilichurl camp that was blocking the road. He didn't even use a Vision. He just... waved his hand."
Kaeya, who had been examining a bottle of wine he'd procured from a cabinet, paused. "No Vision? You're certain?"
"Positive," Amber confirmed, her brow furrowed in recollection. "It was the same kind of power he used against Stormterror, just on a much smaller scale. He created these precise, needle-sharp lances of wind that took out the Hilichurls with pinpoint accuracy. No chants, no focus. It was as natural to him as breathing."
She looked at Jean, her expression earnest but slightly apologetic. "Master Jean, I've seen you wield the power of Anemo. It's powerful and graceful. But his... his control is on another level. The way he created solid platforms of air, the speed of his movements... it's less like wielding an element and more like he is the element itself. I... I believe his innate aptitude might even surpass yours."
The admission hung in the air, a stark and uncomfortable truth. For the Acting Grand Master, the very symbol of Anemo's power in Mondstadt, to be potentially outclassed by a mysterious outsider was a notion that could shake the foundations of the city's confidence.
Jean took the assessment without flinching, her leader's composure intact. "I see."
Kaeya swirled the dark liquid in his glass. "A man with no Vision, wielding power that rivals an Archon's blessing, who appears from nowhere just as a cursed dragon attacks our city. The script writes itself, doesn't it? A little too conveniently."
"Kaeya!" Amber protested, her loyalty flaring. "He saved us! He put himself directly in harm's way to draw Stormterror away. He could have just run, but he didn't! However he does it, and wherever he's from, his actions prove he's a good person at heart. I'm sure of it!"
A soft chuckle came from Lisa, who was tracing the rim of her own teacup. "Oh, I don't think there's any doubt about his heart, dear. The question isn't about his intentions, but his origin. Power like that doesn't just appear. It has a source. And our little 'Cutie' is a locked book with a very, very interesting cover."
Jean nodded slowly, absorbing it all. "Thank you, Amber. Your insight is valuable." She looked from Kaeya's suspicious smirk to Lisa's knowing smile, and finally to Amber's defiantly hopeful face.
"We will extend him our trust, as is the Mondstadt way," Jean declared finally. "He has earned that much with his bravery today. But we will also be... observant. Kaeya, discreetly. Lisa, see what you can find in the archives about fighting styles that don't require Visions, or about lands beyond Teyvat."
"As you wish, Master Jean," Kaeya said, raising his glass in a mock toast.
"Of course, dear. It will be a fascinating research project," Lisa purred.
As they dispersed, Jean was left alone with her thoughts. She looked out the window towards the statue of Barbatos. A storm was brewing, both in the sky and in the form of a golden-eyed traveler. Whether he was the calm within that storm or its very eye, only time would tell. But Amber was right; his heart seemed true. For now, in a city built on freedom, that would have to be enough.