Night had fallen over the Cathedral of Favonius.
Gu Chen's trio arrived quietly, exchanged a knowing glance, and began their "operation."
Lumine and Paimon acted as lookouts outside—
ready to cause a distraction the moment anything went wrong, so Gu Chen could escape safely.
Inside the video, Gu Chen slipped through the shadows like a breeze, deftly avoiding every nun in his path.
Soon, he reached the cathedral's basement, where several Knights of Favonius were on patrol.
Each time a torchlight swept past, his figure flickered once—then vanished from sight entirely.
[Yanfei]:Mr. Gu Chen moves way too naturally. His timing's perfect, his route's clean… This isn't his first time doing this kind of thing. Repeat offender, I'd say!
[Furina]:I recommend the Knights of Favonius immediately press charges against Gu Chen!
[Kaeya]:Seconded!
[Jean]:Lady Furina, Kaeya—please, not now. (sweats)
[Venti]:Not gonna lie—he really is smooth with it. Look at that! He already got the Sky Lyre.
[Lumine]:Wait a sec—something's wrong!
[Lumine]:When I went to steal the Sky Lyre, the Fatui were already there! A Electro Cicin Mage took it before me, and that's how I ended up on the wanted list!
[Paimon]:Right! I remember that too!
[Alhaitham]:So it's evident—Mr. Gu Chen's presence has changed many events. But no matter how the route shifts, the destination of the story remains the same.
[Collei]:...Huh? I'm lost again.
[Tighnari]:He means the goal stays the same, only the process differs. Different paths, same endpoint—but the consequences of the detour are never identical.
[Collei]:Ooh, got it!
[Paimon]:Gu Chen took the Lyre so easily—wait, huh?! Why'd he bump right into Captain Jean on the way out?!
[Jean]:???
In the video—
Gu Chen had just stepped out of the cathedral, Sky Lyre in hand, when Jean appeared in front of the trio.
"You three… what exactly are you doing?"
Her tone was calm, but her eyes—
full of disappointment.
[Hu Tao]:Jean's expression screams 'heartbroken but professional.'
[Kaeya]:Jean: 'So this is what betrayal feels like.'
[Jean]:It's painful just watching… I can feel my past self's despair…
Gu Chen met Lumine's eyes.
Their tacit understanding had long since formed—
without hesitation, they sold Venti out on the spot.
"There was this bard," Gu Chen said calmly, "he told us that if we took the Sky Lyre, we could heal Dvalin."
Jean frowned. "That's impossible."
"I had my doubts too," Gu Chen admitted, "but he was very confident. So… maybe it's worth a try? If there's even a chance to save him, why not?"
Jean thought for a long while, then nodded slowly.
"Then I'll go with you. No matter what happens, I must ensure the Sky Lyre's safety.
If it truly can awaken the East Wind Dragon, all the better."
"Alright," Gu Chen agreed.
Soon, the four of them found Venti.
After a moment of thought, Venti began to strum his lyre and sing—
his melody weaving the tale of Dvalin, the Dragon of the East.
When the song ended, Jean's eyes softened; she finally understood the dragon's suffering.
They made up their minds—to head for Stormterror's Lair together and save him.
[Jean]:So because of Mr. Gu Chen, the entire course of the Stormterror incident changed my past life?
[Paimon]:Looks like Master Diluc's got no part in this version!
[Diluc]:Doesn't bother me.
[Kaeya]:Oh? Some people say they don't care, but deep down, they're aching to join the rescue squad, huh?
[Jean]:Wait, really? Diluc… you're like that?
[Diluc]:That's slander.
[Kaeya]:Relax, I'm just respecting your freedom of speech! Mondstadt's all about that, remember?
[Diluc]:You are from Mondstadt, right? I can't tell sometimes.
Kaeya grinned while Diluc looked two seconds from laughing in disbelief.
As the chatter continued, the rescue party in the video reached Starsnatch Cliff.
[Venti]:My friends, behold! The finest bard in all of Teyvat shall now sing for you!
[Zhongli]:By common reasoning, music can convey emotion. Look—Dvalin is already here.
In the video, Dvalin descended through the night sky, landing heavily before the cliff's edge.
His enormous head lowered, golden eyes glimmering faintly.
"There's nothing left to discuss," the dragon rumbled.
"Is that so?" Venti replied softly, gazing up.
"Then why do your eyes… look as though they still remember this melody?"
But before he could play, a sudden burst of elemental energy struck, sending the Sky Lyre flying from his hands!
Behind Dvalin floated an Abyss Mage, laughing wildly.
"Don't be fooled, poor dragon! He abandoned you long ago!
Look—he's here again to deceive you!"
"Barbatos…" Dvalin's voice trembled.
"Hate him! Rage! You've turned against Mondstadt—there's no going back now!"
"Are these humans… with you?!" the dragon bellowed, fury roaring in his throat.
Wind erupted in a violent surge.
Jean, Gu Chen, Lumine, and Paimon were all thrown back.
Venti shouted over the storm, "No! That's not true!"
The Abyss Mage only laughed harder.
"The dragon shall serve its true master!
You—stay here and drown in your weakness!"
Perched on Dvalin's back, the mage disappeared into the clouds as Dvalin spread his wings and flew away.
Venti watched him go, sadness written all over his face.
[Zhongli]:Did you notice? Dvalin called him… Barbatos.
[Venti]:You didn't have to point it out, old man!
Venti looked utterly dead inside.
[Kaeya]:Wait—what?!
[Barbara]:Huh???
[Rosaria]:That bard… is Lord Barbatos?!
[Kaveh]:Excuse me, WHAT?! Mr. Venti is Barbatos?!
[Lynette]:It's Barbatos, not 'Bartobas.'
[Kazuha]:I knew Venti's identity was unusual… but the Anemo Archon himself? So this is what the God of Freedom is like?
[Zhongli]:Incomprehensible. And yet… fascinating.
[Raiden Ei]:This… is how wind governs its nation? (confused)
[Nahida]:Ah… (stunned)
[Furina]:Hah?! This guy's the Anemo Archon?!
[Venti]:Sigh… see? I told the truth back in the cathedral, but nobody believed me!
[Venti]:Rejoice, my faithful followers! The greatest bard in the mortal realm—your most free-spirited god—stands before you! Shocked? Touched? Moved to tears?
[Dvalin]:Diagnosis complete: mentally unwell.
[La Signora]:Confirmed.
[Tartaglia]:That was… enlightening, to say the least.
[Jean]:Barbara, are you alright?
[Barbara]:...
[Rosaria]:She's in shock. (photo attached: Barbara wide-eyed and blank-faced)
[Jean]:Barbara, pull yourself together! Even if Lord Barbatos is like this, we can't change that!
[Xiangling]:Why's she reacting like that? I mean, sure, he's… carefree—but not that bad, right?
[Kaeya]:You don't understand. Every record in the cathedral portrays Barbatos as majestic, noble, radiant. So… yeah. You get the idea.
[Barbara]:Thank you all for your concern. My heart now feels… as cold as a blade of ice. (smiles)