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Chapter 32: Jeanā"My Lord Barbatos!"
Jean wasn't much older than Keqing, but when it came to growthāboth in strength and maturityāshe was clearly ahead.
Of course, that wasn't to say Keqing was lacking, but Jean had some undeniable advantages.
She was the kind of person who exuded both youthful charm and the elegance of someone far beyond her years.
Aiden couldn't help but wonderāhow did Jean manage to feel both like a young girl and a mature leader at the same time?
A Formal Greeting
"Traveler from afar, may the Anemo Archon watch over you," Jean greeted, offering Aiden a knight's salute as he entered her office.
"Greetings, Acting Grand Master Jean," Aiden replied with a polite nod before handing her a sealed letter. "This is a letter from Ningguang."
"Please, have a seat," Jean said, leading Aiden to the sofa in her office. Lawrence, sensing the need for privacy, excused himself and left the room.
Jean broke the seal and quickly read through the letter, but her gaze occasionally flickered toward Aiden, who was watching her intently.
A moment of confusion crossed her face.
Why was he looking at her like that?
Was there something on her face?
But she had checked the mirror before leaving this morning!
Still, there was something unusual about this young man. His expression was warm and his smile carried a certain radianceāalmost like a breeze on a clear Mondstadt morning.
More importantly, his presence was steeped in the element of Anemo.
Jean had always possessed a natural affinity for the wind, a gift that few people knew about. Yet, in all her life, she had only ever felt such a pure Anemo presence from one other beingāBarbatos, the Wind Archon himself.
For a brief, fleeting moment, she even entertained the absurd thought: Could he beā¦?
No, that was impossible. He was from Liyue.
But thenā¦ how did he possess such a raw and untainted connection to the wind?
A Mysterious Traveler
After a brief pause, Jean spoke, a slight unease creeping into her voice.
"Forgive me for asking, butā¦ are you an adeptus from Liyue?"
Aiden blinked, momentarily caught off guard. He hadn't expected that question.
Shaking his head slightly, he replied, "No, I'm not an adeptus. I'm just an ordinary travelerāfrom another world."
Jean's brows furrowed. "Another world?"
The phrase stirred something in her memory. Alice, Klee's eccentric yet powerful mother, had once mentioned the possibility of travelers crossing between worlds. Such beings were extraordinarily rare and undeniably powerful.
Which meant this Aidenā¦
He was no ordinary traveler.
A Looming Crisis
"Along the way, I noticed that the situation in Mondstadt is far worse than I expected," Aiden said, his tone turning serious.
"The ley lines are in complete disarray, far worse than in Liyue, and monster activity is abnormally high. Have the Knights conducted any investigations into this?"
Jean sighed. "We're still investigating. Mondstadt has faced dragon attacks before, but never have the ley lines been this unstable. It defies logic, yet we've found no clear answers."
Aiden leaned forward slightly, his golden eyes sharp.
"During my journey, I also looked into the Wind Dragon that's been attacking Mondstadt. It bears a striking resemblance to your legendary guardianāDvalin, the Dragon of the East Wind."
Jean stiffened at his words.
"That'sā¦ impossible," she muttered, but almost immediately, a bitter smile followed.
"But if it is Dvalinā¦ why would he attack Mondstadt? He is Lord Barbatos' companion and our city's protector!"
Aiden exhaled softly. "You've forgotten, haven't you?"
Jean looked up sharply.
"In my world, there's an old saying," Aiden continued. "Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it."
"Dvalin did protect Mondstadt," he said. "But in return, what did Mondstadt give him? Even your Knights of Favonius no longer remember his sacrifice. That, Jean, is betrayal."
Jean's eyes widened in shock.
"No, noā¦ we've never forgotten Dvalin!" she protested. "We could just never accept the idea that our guardian would turn against us!"
She hesitated, then admitted, "We did have some suspicions. The wind itself feels wrong. But because it was Dvalin, we dismissed the possibility entirely."
Aiden leaned back with a knowing smirk. "I see. And yet, if I'm not mistaken, the Four Winds Templesāonce sacred sites dedicated to Mondstadt's guardiansāhave been abandoned for centuries."
Jean froze.
His words struck deep, like a cold gust cutting through her resolve.
"Thatā¦ that is our failing," she whispered, guilt flashing across her face.
The Temples of the Four Winds weren't just relics of the past. They had a roleāa purpose. They helped stabilize Mondstadt's ley lines.
By neglecting them, they had allowed the very foundations of their land to weaken.
"The Knights of Favoniusā¦ I have overlooked something vital," Jean admitted, her voice heavy with responsibility.
"From this moment on, we will acknowledge our past mistakes. We will no longer turn a blind eye to our history."
She placed a hand over her heart, determination burning in her eyes.
"Thank you, Aiden. Without your insight, we might never have realized this in time. The ley line disturbancesā¦ they must be linked to whatever has happened at the Four Winds Temples."
A Matter of Alchemy
With a renewed sense of purpose, Jean shifted the conversation.
"Regarding Lady Ningguang's request to have Albedo temporarily stationed in Liyue, the Knights of Favonius agree in principle. However, if Albedo himself refuses to leave, we cannot force him."
"That's understandable," Aiden said. "But I'd still like to speak with him personally."
Jean nodded. "Of course. If he declines, Mondstadt will instead send Sucrose along with several alchemists to assist in Liyue."
"Sucrose?" Aiden mused. "She's Mondstadt's second-best alchemist, isn't she?"
Jean smiled. "That's correct. While she may not be as experienced as Albedo, her expertise in bio-alchemy is remarkable."
Aiden considered the offer. "That would still be very helpful. Thank you."
A Knight's Hospitality
"You must be exhausted after your journey," Jean said. "And I assume you've yet to secure lodging?"
Aiden chuckled. "Given the current state of Mondstadt, I figured accommodations might be scarce."
Jean nodded. "Indeed, the city's hotels are overcrowded. If you don't mind, I would like to personally arrange a place for you to stay."
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "That's very generous of you."
Jean shook her head. "It's the least we can do. You've helped us more than you know."
"Then I'll graciously accept," Aiden replied.
To be honest, even if he hadn't, finding a place to stay in Mondstadt would have been a challenge. The thought of flying back to Liyue each night wasn't exactly appealing.
Of course, there was another optionāhe could stay on Celestia, which floated above Mondstadt.
But other than the Heavenly Principles and their enforcers, there wasn't a soul left there. And frankly, that place held no appeal for him.
"Please, come with me," Jean said, leading the way out of her office.
As Aiden followed her, he studied the Acting Grand Master with a thoughtful expression.
The Knights of Favonius were the soul of Mondstadt.
And now, a new thought crossed his mindāone that would change the course of events to come.
What would it take to invest in them?
And, more importantlyā¦
What would Jean say if he made an offer?