Location: The Bridge to Mondstadt
Current Form: Human (Draconic Variant)
Status: Overwhelmed by smells, suppressing predatory instincts
The walk from Dragonspine to Mondstadt was uneventful, mostly because every Hilichurl within a five-mile radius sensed Raiden's aura and ran for their lives.
Raiden walked alongside Eula and Albedo, while Rosaria trailed behind in the shadows, likely keeping a dagger ready in case Raiden decided to snack on a merchant.
"So," Raiden said, adjusting the collar of his scale-woven robes. "This is the City of Freedom. It's... smaller than the map suggested."
"The map?" Eula asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Uh, the cartography charts I... acquired. From the Fatui," Raiden lied smoothly.
"Notice. Host's lying capability has increased by 5%."
They reached the stone bridge. A boy was standing there, feeding a flock of pigeons. Timmie.
Raiden stopped. His pupils slit vertically. To his dragon senses, those weren't birds. They were bite-sized protein nuggets.
"Analysis. Subject: Pigeon. Nutritional Value: Low. Taste: High. Recommended Action: [Black Flame] to roast instantly."
Raiden's hand twitched. A spark of black lightning crackled at his fingertips.
"Don't even think about it," Eula warned, grabbing his wrist. Her grip was strong. "If you incinerate Timmie's pigeons, the Acting Grand Master will deport you before you even step through the gates. That boy has... connections."
Raiden sighed, the lightning fading. "Fine. But they look delicious."
"You just ate an entire Snowboar King yesterday," Rosaria muttered from behind. "Your metabolism is terrifying."
As they approached the main gate, the guards—Lawrence and Swan—stiffened. They weren't looking at Eula (for once); they were staring at the black horns protruding from Raiden's dark hair and the glowing silver eyes.
"Halt!" Swan stammered. "Captain Eula, who... what is that?"
Raiden stepped forward. He didn't need to intimidate them; his passive skill [Dragon's Majesty] leaked out just enough to make the air feel heavy.
"I am Raiden Ragnvaldr," he said, his voice smooth and carrying an unnatural authority. "A consultant from... afar. I believe I have an appointment with the Knights."
Eula stepped in. "He is under my supervision. And Albedo's. Stand down."
The guards swallowed hard and stepped aside. "Y-Yes, Captain! Welcome to Mondstadt!"
As they walked through the streets, heads turned. People whispered.
"Look at his horns... is he an Adeptus?"
"He walked in with the Spindrift Knight?"
"He's kind of handsome, in a scary way."
Raiden ignored them, though [Great Sage] was furiously mapping the city layout, analyzing the structural integrity of the windmills, and scanning the menus of every restaurant they passed.
"Notice. Scent of 'Fisherman's Toast' detected. Scent of 'Sticky Honey Roast' detected. Hunger levels rising."
"Focus," Raiden told himself. "Politics first. Food later."
They entered the Knights of Favonius Headquarters. The atmosphere changed from bustling city to bureaucratic stress.
Eula led him directly to the Grand Master's office. She knocked.
"Come in." The voice sounded tired.
They entered. Jean Gunnhildr, the Acting Grand Master, was buried behind a mountain of paperwork. She looked up, her eyes widening slightly when she saw Raiden.
"Albedo. Eula. And..." Jean stood up, her gaze fixing on Raiden's horns. "I assume this is the 'Anomaly' Rosaria reported?"
"Raiden Ragnvaldr," Raiden introduced himself, offering a slight bow. "And I prefer the term 'is-sekai'd entity', but Anomaly works too."
Jean rubbed her temples. "Rosaria said you are a dragon. You look... surprisingly human."
"Alchemy is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural," Raiden quoted, grinning. "I come with a proposition, Acting Grand Master. I need residency. You need firepower. I believe we can help each other."
Jean crossed her arms. "Mondstadt welcomes visitors, but a dragon is a significant variable. What do you offer that the Knights cannot handle?"
Raiden stepped forward. He reached into his pocket (which was actually a portal to his [Stomach]) and pulled out a crushed, metallic object.
He tossed it onto Jean's desk.
It was the Delusion he had eaten from the Fatui Skirmisher, purged of its corruption but keeping the mechanical shell.
"I ate a Fatui squad in Dragonspine," Raiden stated casually. "Their weapons, their armor, and these... Delusions. I know how they work. I know their signal frequencies. And I know that the Abyss Order is planning a coordinate strike on the Wolvendom Ley Line in three days."
Jean stiffened. "How do you know that?"
"I ate an Abyss Mage, too," Raiden shrugged. "Memories are spicy, but informative."
The room went silent. Eula looked at him, impressed.
"Intel," Jean murmured. "And the strength to back it up."
"Ara? What an interesting guest we have."
The door opened, and a woman in a purple witch's hat strolled in. Lisa Minci.
Raiden felt a shiver. [Great Sage] warned him immediately.
"Warning. Individual 'Lisa' possesses high-level Elemental sensitivity. She is scanning your mana core."
Lisa walked a circle around Raiden, humming. She stopped behind him, tracing a finger near his horn.
"No Vision," Lisa whispered, her voice sultry and dangerous. "Yet your body is overflowing with elemental energy. It feels like... a storm trapped in a bottle. Are you sure you aren't a god in disguise, cutie?"
Raiden turned to face her. "Just a slime - I mean, a dragon trying to make a living."
Lisa giggled. "I like him, Jean. He's dangerous. But he's cute. Can we keep him?"
Jean sighed, the exhaustion returning. "Raiden Ragnvaldr. Until we can verify your intentions, you are to remain within the city limits. You will be placed under the direct supervision of the Knights."
"I volunteer," Eula said immediately. Then she paused, realizing how eager she sounded. "I mean... since I provided the blood for his transformation, it is my responsibility to exact vengeance if he goes rogue."
"Approved," Jean said. "Lisa, prepare a temporary ID. Raiden... welcome to Mondstadt. Please try not to eat the architecture."
As they left the office, a man with an eyepatch was leaning against the wall, flipping a coin.
Kaeya Alberich.
"So," Kaeya drawled, his single eye sharp. "New recruit? You made quite the stir at the gate."
Raiden stopped. He looked at Kaeya.
"Analysis. Individual: Kaeya. Origin: Khaenri'ah (Traces of Abyssal Curse detected). Threat Level: High (Political/Tactical)."
Raiden smiled. It was a knowing smile.
"Just a consultant," Raiden said. "Nice eyepatch. Does it help with depth perception, or is it just to hide the fact that your eye looks like the stars?"
Kaeya froze. The coin dropped, hitting the floor with a loud clink.
Raiden didn't wait for an answer. He walked past him.
"See you around, Cavalry Captain. Try not to freeze up."
Kaeya watched him go, his usual smirk gone. "He knows," Kaeya whispered. "How does he know?"
Night fell over Mondstadt. Eula had arranged a room for Raiden at the Goth Grand Hotel (on the Fatui's tab, ironically, which Raiden found hilarious).
But Raiden couldn't sleep. He climbed out the window and leaped up the cathedral, scaling it with inhuman agility until he reached the hands of the giant Barbatos statue.
Sitting there, strumming a lyre, was a boy in green.
Venti.
"I was wondering when you'd come up here," Venti said, not stopping his music. "The wind told me a new gale had arrived. One that blows from... outside the world."
Raiden sat down next to the Archon. "You're loud for a god who's supposed to be absent."
Venti giggled, putting the lyre down. "And you're loud for a dragon who's supposed to be extinct. You smell like Dvalin, but also like... something else. Something older. And hungrier."
Venti leaned in, his eyes glowing teal. "You aren't from here, are you? You don't have a Constellation in the sky."
"I'm the glitch in the system," Raiden replied, looking up at the fake stars. "I'm here to fix things. Or eat them. Haven't decided yet."
Venti laughed, handing Raiden a bottle of Dandelion Wine. "Well, as long as you don't eat me or my wine supply, we'll get along just fine. Welcome to the masquerade, Dragon-Boy."
Raiden took the bottle.
"Analysis. Substance: Dandelion Wine. Alcohol Content: 14%. Poison Resistance active. Result: Delicious."
He took a swig. "Cheers, Barbatos."
"Shh," Venti winked. "Call me Venti. Now, tell me... do they have apples in your world?"