Teyvat sprawled before Ye Ruo's eyes, a vast canvas painted with winds and wonders.
He'd arrived in Mondstadt years ago, carried across worlds by a force he couldn't name.
The city of freedom and poetry welcomed him, its cobblestone streets becoming his new home.
Mondstadt's people lived with a carefree grace that warmed even the coldest hearts.
Blessed by Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, they reveled in endless harvests and cloudless days.
Famine never dared to cast its shadow over their vibrant lives.
With grain to spare, they crafted wines that flowed like liquid gold across Teyvat.
Mondstadt's reputation as a haven of fine vintages echoed far beyond its borders.
Bards sang of hope, their verses drifting on breezes alongside dandelion seeds.
Today, a restless crowd gathered outside the Wind and Bird bookstore in the city's heart.
The shop had blossomed into fame swiftly, its shelves a beacon for story-hungry souls.
Ye Ruo's novels, born from his restless imagination, were the spark that lit this fire.
He lingered in a shadowed alcove, watching the bustle with a mix of pride and dread.
Once, he'd been the Wind Knight, a celebrated blade among the Knights of Favonius.
His valor had etched his name into Mondstadt's history, a tale told in awe-filled whispers.
Now, he traded steel for ink, crafting worlds that captivated the city he'd sworn to protect.
His latest work, To Save Mondstadt: Idol Debut, had unleashed a storm of excitement.
Volume seven arrived today, the first 300 copies bearing his signature, a treasure fans craved.
Clerks darted through the throng, handing out books as the line stretched down the street.
Irene, a girl with sunshine-yellow hair, practically vibrated with anticipation in the queue.
"I've waited all week to grab a signed copy from Lord Ye Ruo, my absolute hero!"
Her voice quivered with the fervor of a true devotee, eyes gleaming with youthful zeal.
She'd abandoned her training session, too eager to miss this fleeting chance.
"It's infuriating how some snatch these up just to resell them at outrageous prices," she huffed.
Yuri, a married woman with a serene smile, stood beside her, unfazed by the complaint.
"Profit drives people, Irene, but Ye Ruo's rule—one signed book per buyer—keeps it fair."
A freckled girl nearby tilted her head, her brow furrowing with innocent confusion.
"Didn't he quit the Knights of Favonius recently? Why do you still call him Wind Knight?"
Irene flashed a knowing grin, her enthusiasm spilling over like an uncorked bottle.
"He's quit and rejoined more times than I can count, it's just his way."
"His victories outweigh the quirks, so the Grand Master and Jean let it slide," Yuri added.
The freckled girl scratched her cheek, her voice softening with a hint of embarrassment.
"I'm from Qingquan Town, only passing through after some time in Liyue's harbors."
"Reading Idol Debut stunned me—Barbara and Jean as idols saving Mondstadt?"
She marveled at the audacity, picturing the deaconess singing under dazzling lights.
Mondstadt's freedom was legendary, but this seemed to stretch even its boundless limits.
Irene chuckled, her pride in Ye Ruo shining as bright as her golden locks.
"When it's Lord Ye Ruo writing, no one blinks—he's untouchable in this city."
A man named Albert leaned forward, his eyes blazing with a fanboy's passion.
"Don't dismiss it—every idol in that book glows with perfection, especially Barbara!"
He clutched an earlier volume, his voice rising with reverence for his muse.
"She's portrayed as tireless, pushing through weakness to uplift her team, it's divine!"
Irene nodded silently, her thoughts drifting to Jean's portrayal in the novel's pages.
The acting Grand Master emerged as a majestic leader, tender yet commanding, a sister to all.
It fueled her dream of one day serving at Jean's side, easing her burdens.
Yuri sighed, her calm demeanor cracking into a faint, amused smirk.
"You're all so dramatic—I'm here for Detective Windhaven, a tale with real grit."
She preferred its mystery: two boys wielding Barbatos' power as one knight, guarding the city.
Ye Ruo listened from his hiding spot, their words weaving a tapestry of his unintended legacy.
His chest swelled with quiet joy, yet a shadow of unease crept beneath it.
Writing had been his sanctuary, a retreat from the chaos of knighthood and battle.
Then the system awoke weeks ago, a silent hum in his mind that changed everything.
At first, it sharpened his craft, letting stories flow like rivers through his eager quill.
Idol Debut was a whimsical gift to Mondstadt, a playful twist on its heroes.
Now, it ruled the city's imagination, and he stood at the eye of its storm.
Detective Windhaven followed, a darker yarn of Anemo-forged guardians in the night.
He'd thought it pure fiction, until whispers of masked figures reached his ears.
The system pulsed faintly, a thread tying his words to Teyvat's shifting reality.
Irene's voice pierced his reverie, bright and fervent as she clutched her prize.
"Lord Ye Ruo captures Jean so perfectly, I'd follow her to the ends of Teyvat!"
Albert nodded wildly, his adoration for Barbara spilling out in breathless praise.
"Her spirit leaps off the page—serious, strong, a beacon I'd weep for!"
Yuri shrugged, her tone dry but fond as she hefted her own purchase.
"Windhaven keeps me hooked with its twists, no idol glitter needed."
Ye Ruo slipped out the back, the crowd's warmth pressing too close for comfort.
He climbed a hill overlooking Mondstadt, the city's lights twinkling like fallen stars.
A bard's melody floated up, singing of the Wind Knight's valor and tales.
He settled on the grass, his latest manuscript resting unfinished in his lap.
Knighthood had once defined him, a life of blood and duty he'd embraced.
He'd felled monsters, secured trade routes, earned scars that still ached in the cold.
The system's awakening shifted the ground beneath him, subtle yet seismic.
His quill had become a wand, conjuring legends he hadn't meant to claim.
A tale of Rustan, a knight of old, now bore his face in tavern songs.
Verdant Warden, a guardian from his Liyue story, walked harbors in rumor.
He stared at the page before him, a new draft about a man defying fate.
The irony wasn't lost on him—his own fate twisted with every stroke.
Footsteps approached, a clerk panting as she held out a signed book.
"Sir, they're calling for you down there—will you come greet them?"
Ye Ruo waved her off with a tired smile, his voice soft but firm.
"Not tonight, let them have the stories—I need the quiet."
She bowed and retreated, leaving him with the wind and his thoughts.
The system thrummed, offering power he hadn't sought, titles he didn't want.
He gazed at Mondstadt, a city he'd guarded with steel and now shaped with ink.
His dream had been simple: a quill, a page, a life of gentle creation.
Now, Teyvat bent to his words, pulling him toward a throne he feared.
He dipped his quill in ink, determination hardening in his chest.
If the system insisted on legends, he'd write one where he stayed free.
The stars above held their breath, watching a man fight destiny with words.
Night deepened, the bard's song fading into the rustle of turning pages.
Ye Ruo wrote on, each line a rebellion against the myth rising around him.
***
Support me on Patreon to read 50+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Nocturnal_Breeze