As Stormterror left, the several black tornadoes rampaging through Mondstadt faded away with it.
Jensen descended slowly to the ground. Behind him, his Wind Glider gave a sharp cracking sound, then shattered into fragments that rained to the cobblestones.
"Jensen, are you alright?"
Lumine glided down after him, worry clear in her voice.
"No big problem."
Jensen lifted his hands to take a look. The webs between both thumbs and forefingers were split open, blood welling out in thin streams.
To swat a massive creature like Stormterror straight out of the sky, he had to endure an equal and opposite backlash.
He just had not expected the power of the Temples of the Four Winds to be that strong, strong enough that Stormterror had taken a direct hit like that without suffering any real injury.
"You are hurt."
Lumine tore a strip from the hem of her skirt and carefully began wrapping his hands.
Jensen could only let her do it. He had originally planned to go find Barbara.
With her, the wounds would have closed up in no time.
But now, going to her after letting Lumine bandage him would just feel wrong.
He could not bring himself to trample on her goodwill like that.
"Jensen, Lumine!"
Amber came running over from a distance. Seeing the shattered pieces of Wind Glider scattered across the ground, she patted her chest in relief. "Driving your Wind Glider that hard, it is a miracle it did not break apart while you were still in the air."
Everyone in Mondstadt had seen the battle that had taken place overhead.
"Relax, I know my limits."
Jensen smiled.
Still wrapping his hands, Lumine jabbed his wound lightly with a fingertip, silently telling him not to brag.
"Stormterror actually attacked straight into the city..."
Amber looked around at the surroundings, her expression turning heavy.
Even though the dragon had left, dark clouds still smothered the sky above Mondstadt. The light was dim, the gentle breezes that usually brushed the city had turned ice cold.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
From the steps leading up to the plaza of the Anemo Archon statue, the sound of applause suddenly echoed.
Kaeya walked up slowly, hands still clapping.
"Jensen is one thing. But this unfamiliar traveler here actually has the power to fight a dragon."
His gaze settled on Lumine, as if he wanted to see through her completely. "Are you our guest, or a new storm blowing in?"
"You are...?" Lumine asked, puzzled.
"Lord Who Crosses the Frozen Sea," Jensen supplied from the side.
"Oh, I see..."
Lumine nodded, though the title clearly confused her just a bit.
"Jensen, I told you not to randomly give me nicknames and then introduce me like it is the most natural thing in the world!"
Kaeya almost tripped, then hurried to correct, "Kaeya, Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius."
"Oh. Hello, my name is Lumine," she replied.
"Lumine is one of Jensen's people, then?"
Kaeya's eyes moved from the messy bandages to her face.
Lumine nodded.
She still remembered what she had been told. Inside Mondstadt, just dropping Jensen's name would earn her a lot of care and convenience.
Sure enough, she could see it clearly now in Kaeya's eyes.
The wariness he had shown her at first was gone.
"Here is how it is..."
Amber took it upon herself to explain the story of how Lumine had been separated from her brother.
"I see. In that case, welcome to Mondstadt. Though it is a pity you arrived at such a bad time."
Kaeya did not press with more questions. "In any case, for driving Stormterror away, let me thank you on behalf of the Knights first."
"And what about the reward?"
Paimon planted her hands on her hips and demanded with perfect righteousness.
She still remembered that after helping Amber clear that hilichurl camp, they had been given a Wind Glider and the promise of Sticky Honey Roast.
"Hmm... Mondstadt specialty Sticky Honey Roast?" Kaeya suggested.
"Sticky Honey Roast again?"
Paimon waved a hand. "I do not mind. That means we will have two portions now."
"Hahaha."
Kaeya could not help laughing at the little mascot.
It took him a moment to stop. "If Jensen and Lumine do not mind, could you both come to the Knights' headquarters? The Acting Grand Master asked me to invite you."
"Jean?" Lumine glanced at Jensen.
"Mm. We can go."
Jensen nodded.
He glanced down at his own hands. Lumine's bandaging skills were honestly terrible. She had wrapped them up like little rice dumplings.
He could not even hold a sword like this.
Lumine seemed to realize the bandages looked a bit ridiculous too, and her cheeks flushed faintly.
...
Knights of Favonius Headquarters.
Grand Master's office.
"Jean, there is no need to be this anxious. If you are going to meet Jensen and that traveler as Acting Grand Master, then you should stay properly in your office."
Lisa leaned lazily on the handrail of the stairs leading up to the library section, her voice unhurried.
Jean had already reached the door, but she had no choice except to turn back. "Stormterror seems to be active outside the city as well. After I meet them, I want to quickly..."
"No need to rush. I will be helping later too."
Lisa cut her off and looked toward the door. "See? Here they come."
Multiple sets of footsteps approached from the corridor.
Kaeya pushed the door open and announced, "Acting Grand Master, I have brought them."
"Finally."
Jean's unsettled heart seemed to find a point of rest. A small, relieved smile appeared on her face.
"Lumine, we meet again so soon."
"Mm," Lumine answered.
"This is Lisa, the librarian of the Knights of Favonius."
Jean made the introduction.
The woman in question wore the blue and violet garb of a mage. Long brown hair was tied into a single side ponytail that fell over her shoulder. Her gem green eyes shone with a lazy charm, and her figure was full and curvaceous.
The line of her delicate collarbone and the stretch of snowy thigh revealed above her over knee black stockings made even Lumine feel a little flustered, as if all her confidence had been quietly stolen away.
"Hello," Lumine greeted.
"Oh my, is this the sweet child who came to help because we are short handed?" Lisa smiled, eyes curving. "So cute."
"And Jensen."
She stepped up to him, draped an arm over his shoulder and leaned in close to his ear. "Finally willing to come see me?"
"Ahem."
Inside the room, the simultaneous sound of Jean and Lumine clearing their throats echoed in the air.