Severin's thoughts drifted back to the day before his departure, to the moment when several Harbingers had visited his residence to present their gifts.
Among them, Capitano, the Harbinger known as The Captain, had offered Severin something far more valuable than gold—
Confidential intelligence from Natlan, the Pyro Nation.
Along with it came grave news.
"Your Highness," Capitano reported solemnly,
"Mondstadt's northern expedition has achieved temporary success.
However… Grand Master Varka has fallen in battle."
Severin frowned slightly.
"Capitano, Varka's strength rivals your own. Along the borders of ancient Khaenri'ah, there are very few things capable of killing someone like you."
Varka was the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, one of Mondstadt's strongest warriors.
Even Eula Lawrence, Jean, and Kaeya together would not have been his match.
Capitano himself had crossed blades with Varka more than once—neither side had ever gained the upper hand.
His death was unexpected.
"Reporting to Your Highness," Capitano continued,
"Outside the northern wall, a massive monster tide erupted. Over ten thousand Rift Hounds, accompanied by hundreds of large Ruin Guards."
"The expeditionary force repelled them, but at a tremendous cost.
When I recovered Varka's remains from those alchemical monstrosities… he was already at death's door."
Five hundred years ago, the Khaenri'ah had been erased when the Heavenly Principles led the Seven Gods in its destruction.
Its people were cursed, transformed into hilichurls, doomed to wander Teyvat in misery.
Yet in recent centuries, the ruins of Khaenri'ah had begun spawning ever more alchemical horrors—
Rift Hounds, undead venom dragons, and other aberrations.
Natural monsters and mutated beasts were numerous as well.
Last year, when Severin learned that a Snezhnayan border town had been annihilated by monsters, he personally intervened.
That very day, he slew two Dominant Undead Venom Dragons, then hunted down three Golden Wolflords without pause.
He still remembered standing atop the northern wall, drenched in blood like a god of slaughter.
The monsters fled in terror.
For more than half a year after that, none dared advance.
From that day on, Capitano and the other Harbingers truly acknowledged Severin.
To earn the loyalty of the proud Harbingers, overwhelming strength was the only answer.
But now—
Ruin Guards were awakening in droves, joining forces with the monsters to assault Khaenri'ah's border.
The seal placed there long ago by the Heavenly Principles was meant to prevent the Seven Nations from entering the ruins.
Ordinarily, the seal barred passage both ways.
Yet Rift Hound blood corroded the very fabric of the world.
Over centuries, the seal weakened, riddled with gaps.
Ruin Guards and Rift Wolves slipped through.
Most were destroyed by Snezhnayan and Mondstadt forces. A few escaped elsewhere.
But a tide of this scale—
It had never happened before.
There was only one explanation.
The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles had grown weaker.
Severin had long suspected this.
Three years ago, the Tsaritsa had managed to save him from the Sustainer precisely because she was already weakened.
Even so, the Tsaritsa had nearly fallen in that battle—escaping only with the full support of all Eleven Harbingers.
"Arrogant transgressor,"
the Sustainer's voice had echoed from the heavens.
"You bear a curse. Await your sentence of death."
Her words were etched into Severin's memory.
Perhaps she trusted the curse to finish him.
Or perhaps she was rushing to seal the spatial rift Severin had emerged from.
In any case, she left without pursuing him further.
Capitano's report continued.
"To prevent the expeditionary army's morale from collapsing, Varka requested that his death be concealed.
The command was transferred to Deputy Commander Simon Page, father of Jean and Barbara."
"Before he died, Varka asked us to create some trouble in Mondstadt.
He wished to test whether Acting Grand Master Jean was worthy of his position."
"The expedition must continue. Mondstadt still does not know of his death.
Your Highness—since you are heading to Mondstadt, could you fulfill his final wish?"
Capitano's voice held genuine respect.
"He was a warrior worthy of honor."
Severin had answered without hesitation.
"Of course. Varka died defending Mondstadt—he has my respect.
I will fulfill his final wish."
"Coincidentally, I already have plans in Mondstadt. Two matters, one stroke."
Now, back in the present.
Jean had shown unyielding resolve in her final moment—choosing death over submission.
With such a leader, the Knights of Favonius would never surrender easily, no matter how dire the future.
The words Severin left in her mind were both the fulfillment of Varka's wish—
And a reward.
"Schubert," Severin said calmly,
"proceed according to plan."
He lifted Jean in his arms and headed upstairs.
The Goethe Hotel, long prepared as the Fatui's headquarters, had reserved its most luxurious room for Severin.
He laid Jean gently on the bed, removed her white boots, and covered her with a blanket.
If not for propriety, he might have removed her tight trousers as well—sleeping clothed was never comfortable.
Outside, the storm had quietly passed.
Sunlight broke through the clouds, pouring through the window.
Golden light washed over Jean's face, serene and beautiful.
Severin recalled how Mondstadt's people spoke of her—
A steadfast knight. A kind-hearted woman. A dependable leader.
Disciplined, diligent, powerful—someone whose mere presence brought peace of mind.
Watching her steady breathing and mature silhouette, Severin felt a fleeting calm.
But it passed in an instant.
"Your Highness," the Mirror Maiden reported from outside,
"Captain Kaeya has escaped."
"Set an ambush at Dawn Winery," Severin replied immediately.
"He'll go to his sworn brother Diluc."
"Anything else?"
"Lisa, Barbara, Amber, and Klee have all been secured.
Several squad leaders have also surrendered."
"The Lawrence Clan followed your orders—anesthetics were used in the firearms.
Zero casualties among the Knights."
"Oh—and there's a strange case. A girl named Noelle insisted we arrest her as well.
If we refused, she said she'd duel us."
Noelle…
Severin almost smiled.
That was entirely in character.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with the Knights had always been her dream.
Even a timid maid could become brave.
It seemed many in Mondstadt would grow from this upheaval.
"Let her in," Severin said.
"Taking care of Jean will suit her well."
The Mirror Maiden hesitated.
"Your Highness… where are you going?"
"The rulers of Mondstadt have been taken. The city has fallen."
"The true master can no longer sit still."
Severin walked to the window, breathing in the fresh air after the rain.
His gaze settled on the towering Statue of Barbatos.
Atop the statue's outstretched palm sat a figure in a green cap and gray cloak, legs swinging idly like a child on a swing.
The bard waved and smiled.
"Barbatos…"
"You've finally shown yourself."
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