"Hey, isn't that Goodwin? I heard rumors he left with the Grand Master. Why is he in Mondstadt?"
"It really is Goodwin. He actually came back? Does that mean the Grand Master is coming back too?"
"If the Grand Master returns, we won't have to be afraid anymore! But… the Knights don't seem to have made any official announcement."
People watched Goodwin with suspicion. If he were delivering a message, it shouldn't be someone of his rank, any trainee knight would be enough. And his behavior was strange.
Goodwin used to be very gentle. Maybe he didn't literally escort old ladies across the street every day, but anyone who met him would receive help from him. Yet today, he looked tense and uneasy, completely lacking his usual confidence.
Even though he had mentally prepared himself, his legs still went weak the moment he truly had to face this.
He soon arrived beneath the windmill. Sitting on the bench was his lover, kissing a dandelion. The knight who had been avoiding reality for so long finally broke. He rushed forward, knelt in front of her, and choked out, "Glory, I'm back. I'm sorry for making you wait so long."
The woman flinched in surprise. When she heard that familiar voice, she finally realized it was Goodwin. She didn't know what had happened, but she quickly hugged him and comforted him, "It's alright. Everything is fine."
Hearing her gentle voice only made Goodwin feel more ashamed. He shook his head. "No… this is all my fault. I'm going to tell everyone what I did. Even if they curse me, I don't care."
"What?"
Glory didn't understand what he meant. The people around them, however, immediately perked up. They had followed him precisely because something felt off. Turns out there really was a scandal.
Goodwin looked around, then confessed the truth, how he fell behind, how he didn't dare return.
He expected scolding, mockery, and contempt. But surprisingly, the citizens forgave his cowardice.
Some even encouraged him:
"You disappointed her once, don't disappoint her twice, friend."
"Exactly. Don't be like Yan Ruyu, if you made a mistake, fix it while you still can!"
"Good thing you came back, pal. If you didn't, someone else might've stepped up to take care of Glory for you."
Amid the teasing, Glory suddenly said something shocking:
"Actually… I always felt that you never left."
"Huh? Why?"
"I may be blind and can't see anything, but every now and then, I feel someone watching me. The feeling is soft and familiar. But whenever I turn around, it disappears. Maybe once or twice could've been a mistake. But when it keeps happening almost every month, it can't be a coincidence. So I started posting commissions, hoping the wind would carry my thoughts to you. But… you never replied."
Her words shattered the last of Goodwin's composure. He burst into tears. "I'm sorry… I'm really sorry. Glory, it was my weakness that hurt you…"
"No. The fact that you came back is the best answer. So tell me, how did you finally make up your mind?"
"I… I came back because I read the Fox Spirit Matchmaker comic. I was afraid that if I hesitated any longer, I'd regret it for the rest of my life."
Those words instantly caused an uproar across Mondstadt.
Fox Spirit Matchmaker was already a hot topic. Now that Goodwin, the "cowardly knight," returned because of it, the story spread throughout the entire city. The already-popular comic became even more well-known.
...
Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
Su Han said to Lisa, "If Jean doesn't return today, I'll have to leave this afternoon."
"You just got here. Why are you in such a rush?"
"I have an agreement in Liyue. I need to deliver a batch of comics. If I don't return soon, I'll delay her departure."
Hearing that, Lisa felt troubled. Though the situation at Dragonspine was stable for now, the poison in Dvalin remained unresolved. If he couldn't recover, Mondstadt would always remain under threat.
"Can't you stay a few more days? At least until the dragon crisis ends. I can handle the comics, don't worry, you won't lose anything. And Jean needs your help too."
Her eyes were full of genuine pleading. If Su Han remained in Mondstadt, even if Dvalin appeared again, they wouldn't have to fear.
Su Han reassured her, "You don't need to worry. Someone can help you."
"Who?"
"The traveler you met yesterday, Lumine. She's not only powerful, she also has the ability to purify abyssal energy. Once I leave, you can ask her. Besides, I'm only gone for a few days. I'll come back later."
Lisa knew from his tone that he had already made up his mind. Persuading him further would do nothing.
Fortunately, Jean and her team returned that afternoon, covered in dust, clearly after many battles.
Lisa offered her a cup of black tea. "How is it?"
Jean changed into fresh clothes and sighed. "It's not good. The monsters inside are far beyond expectations. They can't be cleared out quickly. We came back to resupply. Also, how's the public sentiment in the city?"
"You don't need to worry. It's actually the best news. Su Han's comic is so overwhelmingly influential that everyone is busy discussing it every day. The fear from Dvalin's attack has been greatly reduced."
"Oh? I didn't expect such an effect."
Hearing that no chaos had spread, Jean finally relaxed a little.
Lisa smiled and said, "If you read the newest update, you'll understand why no one is thinking about Dvalin right now."
"What do you mean? Is it that good?"
"Not just good, meaningful too. Here, Su Han brought this copy for you. Want to read it?"
"Uh… wouldn't this be inappropriate?"
Jean really wanted to read it, but as soon as she reached for it, she remembered she was on duty and shouldn't slack off.
Lisa laughed softly. "Don't worry, my dear Acting Grand Master. I'm watching the door myself. Nothing will happen. And you've been working nonstop, you should relax."
"…Then you're not allowed to laugh at me!"
"Of course not."
With Lisa's guarantee, Jean finally opened the comic. For the next hour, the office was occasionally filled with the sound of quiet sobbing.
Jean once thought the earlier arcs were already emotional, until she read Yan Ruyu's story. Only then did she understand what "heart-wrenching" and "soul-crushing" truly meant.
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